Malice (17 page)

Tristan stared at him blankly.

Alex sighed. “There’s usually a period right after death when the spirit is discombobulated. Later, it regains itself. However, if left too long, floating around in the world, they start losing themselves again. There’s no real formula for how long each stage takes. It’s obviously best if the spirit just passes on right away. Sometimes, especially after a stressful death, that doesn’t happen.”

“So why are they here?” Tristan demanded. “They’re not buried here, are they?”

Alex’s face turned red. “No. They’re here because of me. They can sense me. I just recently came into my full ability. Spirits can sense it. Like a flare. I tend to attract them.”

Clarity dawned on me. “Is that why the spirits have been so active lately? When I come here at night, it seems like they’re everywhere.”

He nodded but held his head high. “Yes. I’ve been here most nights practicing. I draw them in, even if I don’t mean to.”

“Well, that’s…interesting.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.

“So you inadvertently drew Bree and Jude to you?”

“Apparently,” Alex wryly replied. “I don’t have a lot of control over who I pull in. Not yet anyway. I’m still pretty new at this.”

“But if they’re here they’re definitely dead.” Tristan wasn’t asking, he was stating. Alex nodded anyway. Tristan turned to me. “Do you think this has something to do with Levi?”

I shrugged out of confusion. “I honestly don’t know. But something is going on and this is the only clue we have.”

He returned his attention to the list he still gripped in his fingers.

“What do we know about the people on the list?” Tristan asked. “Maybe we should start with that. There has to be a common link.”

Finola scanned over it. “I don’t have anything in common with these people. I barely even know them. I mean, other than Alex. And until a few weeks ago, I didn’t even really know him.”

“I don’t believe the list is random. It can’t be,” Tristan pointed out. “There’s a reason some people are crossed off. It’s obvious that Bree and Jude are both gone. But the others?”

“I assume the star means they were important. That’s kind of obvious.” I didn’t comment on Magnolia’s status. “The question marks make me curious. What was he questioning?”

“And why did he cross most of us off. Not that I’m complaining,” Finola said with a shudder. “This doesn’t seem like the kind of list I would want to be on.”

“There must be something special about everyone here.” Tristan scanned the names again.

“Finola’s potion making skills are wickedly amazing,” Alex pointed out.

She blushed and deflected the attention away from herself. “Riley’s talented when it comes to spell casting. I mean, remarkably so. She’s better than most Lamia that have been at it for years.”

“What about you, Alex?” I asked as I turned to face him.

He shrugged. “Nothing special about me.”

A tiny, disapproving wrinkle appeared between Finola’s brows. “That’s not true.”

“Oh, Fin,” he said with a playful nudge, “you’re just biased.”

She smiled but shook her head. “I’m not biased. I heard your parents talking. They said—”

“Constance,” Alex interrupted, “I’ve heard her claim she could heal. Not just little things.”

He eyed up the flowers in my hand. I’d managed to use my magic to perk them up a bit. That was the extent of my capabilities as far as healing went. Not many of us could actually heal something with a heartbeat.

Finola frowned. “I heard about that. She claimed to heal a bird?”

I nodded in answer. “Yes, but she was never able to heal anything else.”

“Rumor has it that bird was just stunned,” I tacked on.

“That would be my guess,” Tristan said.

“I can’t think of anything else that stands out about her,” Finola said. “She claimed to have a special ability but probably didn’t.”

“Maybe that’s why she was crossed off,” Tristan suggested.

That could be true. I wondered why Alex and Finola were crossed off. Alex had been correct in his assessment of Finola. Her potion making skills were well beyond average. It made me wonder about him.

“What about you, Alex?” I asked as I tried to redirect the conversation. I looked at Finola. “What were you going to say?”

She shared a look with Alex. I got the impression he was silently pleading with her. She forced a smile and turned back to me. “Nothing. It was nothing important.”

I glanced at Tristan. He looked as suspicious as I felt. When it became clear that neither Finola nor Alex were going to be any more forthcoming, he moved the conversation forward.

“What about the other people on the list? Do we know anything about Bree?”

We looked around at one another. No one seemed to have anything to contribute.

“So is being extra-gifted the link here? Or not?” Tristan wondered. He turned to me. “It must not be if Magnolia’s name is at the top.”

Dread filled me. Since Magnolia’s name was at the top, I was almost certain that being extra-gifted most definitely was the link. I may even have admitted that if only Tristan and Finola were with me. I had promised Finola I’d be more open when it came to my opinion of Alex. That didn’t mean I was ready to trust him with my family’s secret.

Furthermore, it seemed as though he was clinging to a secret of his own.

I lowered my head, unwilling to look my two friends in the eye. I didn’t want them to be able to see the lie that they held.

“Let’s just forget Magnolia for now,” Tristan suggested. “She doesn’t fit with the others on the list anyway. I mean, she’s just a kid. The rest are closer in age. They’re all in our class. All seniors.”

“He was so curious about the families that had ties to the Striga. Do you think that’s the link?” Finola asked.

Alex’s expression clouded over. “Contrary to popular belief, my family does not, never has, and never will practice dark magic.”

Finola gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. Her tone was calming. “I know that. I wasn’t accusing. Remember, my name is on the list as well. Maybe that’s why we were crossed off?”

“Maybe,” Tristan hesitantly agreed. “I don’t want to say it, but there really was
something
about that guy.”

“Do you think he’s a Striga?” Finola whispered. She shuddered again as a breeze blew through the cemetery.

“I think he might be,” Tristan said.

I turned to him. “Why would you think that?”

“I…” He stopped himself. It had seemed as though he’d been on the verge of an important revelation. Maybe it had been my imagination. He mentally shook himself off and his expression became impassive. “I don’t know. It’s just a hunch I had all along.”

“So what was he doing in Granite Falls?” Alex said. “What was up with the list? Was he going to try to convert some of us?” he asked with a scowl.

“Maybe,” Finola offered up. “Or maybe he didn’t have to convert anyone. Maybe Bree and Jude were exactly what he was looking for.”

“You think they’re Striga?” I couldn’t keep the shock out of my tone.

“I don’t know. But it would make a twisted kind of sense, wouldn’t it?” Finola asked.

“He could be recruiting,” Tristan said quietly.

We all turned to him.

He gave us a sheepish shrug. “Rumors are saying that the Striga’s numbers are rising.”

“I thought those were just rumors.” They had to be.

“Rumors typically have a grain of truth to them,” Tristan argued.

“We’re getting away from the point at hand,” Finola quietly reminded us. “Bree and Jude? What are we going to do about them?”

“What’s going on here?” I demanded.

“Exactly what it looks like,” Tristan said with a shrug.

It looked to me as if Mom and Magnolia were leaving.

And that Cecily and Tristan were staying.

The trunk of Mom’s car was open, suitcases were stuffed inside. Cecily stood on the steps with her floral suitcase dangling from her hand. Tristan was beside her, a duffel bag filled to bursting next to his feet.

My heartbeat staggered at the sight of it. Tristan was staying here? In my house? I glanced at him, feeling something akin to panic. He shrugged like it was no big deal.

I shot through the front door and raced up the stairs. I had just come from Finola’s house. I’d gone there to get the latest update. Alex had contacted The Council. They had interviewed him extensively and were now officially looking into the matter.

Last night, after I’d come home, I’d told Mom everything I knew.
Almost
everything, I knew. I neglected to tell her that Bree had been pointing at me. Since we didn’t know why, it seemed unfair to make Mom worry unnecessarily.

The color had drained from her face as I told her about the spirits appearing. My sister hadn’t been more than a few feet away from Mom all day. She’d surreptitiously glanced at her, worry etched across her face, as I’d relayed what I’d learned.

When I reached Mom’s door, I found her bustling around. She was obviously checking for any last minute things that needed her attention.

“Mom!” I exclaimed as I burst into her room.

She gave me a warning look. Magnolia was sitting on her bed with a stack of books.

“Hey, Magpie!” I said cheerily.

Mom ushered me back out into the hallway. She pulled the door closed so that little ears wouldn’t overhear.

“I’m glad you’re home,” she said. “I’m sure you saw Tristan and Cecily downstairs. We have one couple who doesn’t plan on checking out for two more days. I needed to ask Cecily to stay. I finally heard from Myra. She agreed to see Magnolia right away.”

“Good.” That was the best news I’d heard in days.

Mom leaned in, her words so quiet I could barely hear. “I’ve decided against binding. I’ve asked Myra to strip her of this wretched power completely. It’s too much for one person to bear, at any age.”

I leaned back and looked Mom in the eye. She was determined, that was clear.

“Whatever it takes to keep her safe,” I said, wanting to show my support.

“We’re leaving soon,” Mom said. “I’d like for you to come with.”

“What?” I had not been expecting the request. “Mom…I should really stay here.”

“I thought you would say that,” she admitted. “I’m sure you don’t want to miss school.”

I nodded, though that wasn’t it at all.

“Does Cecily have to stay here? I can watch over everything,” I offered.

“No,” she said firmly, “you can’t. School, remember?”

“Does Tristan have to stay here too?” I whimpered.

Mom narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you and Tristan having problems? You two never have problems. You’ve always gotten along.”

If she’d been paying a little more attention to me, and a little less to Magnolia, she would’ve realized we were very much having problems. I was glad she’d been preoccupied. I didn’t want to delve into the issue.

“I’m sorry about whatever is going on between the two of you. I want to hear all about it when I get back. You know Cecily isn’t any more likely to let Tristan stay home alone than I am to let you stay home alone. So whatever it is,” she said with a sigh, “you’ll just have to get past it.”

Sure, we’d managed to spend the evening in the cemetery and it hadn’t been awful. But to have him here, in my house, under my roof night and day? It was too much.

“Please don’t make this more difficult for me than it already is.” She looked defeated and I instantly felt guilty. I knew she’d been struggling with her decision for awhile now. I was behaving childishly, selfishly, letting what happened between Tristan and I overtake my common sense.

This was bigger than anything going on between us.

My little sister’s life could be in jeopardy.

“Right, of course,” I said contritely. It wasn’t Mom’s fault I kissed a guy I never should’ve kissed. She shouldn’t have to be the one to deal with the fallout.

“There was an incident with our guests today,” Mom whispered. “Magnolia convinced Harold to read to her.”

For a moment I didn’t see how that was too much of a problem. Harold seemed like the grandfatherly type.

“You know Magnolia’s favorite spot to read.” I nodded. Curled up on her bed, that was her favorite place to read. Suddenly I realized how that could
very much
be a problem. “I was in the kitchen for just a few moments. When I came out Paulette, Harold’s wife, was looking for him. Magnolia wasn’t in my study where I’d left her. You can imagine his embarrassment when his wife and I found him with Magnolia, on her bed, lounging against her pillows.” Mom pinched the bridge of her nose. “It was all very innocent. He was reading to her quite animatedly and Magnolia was delighted. But he was horrified when he came to his senses. As was his wife. It made for a very awkward breakfast.”

My little sis was
this close
to becoming trouble with a capital T. Scratch that. She was already trouble with a capital T. She was on her way to becoming trouble with a capital T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

“I’m so relieved I didn’t send her to school this week,” Mom admitted. “What if she’d jokingly told someone to jump off the roof? Or what if she told a child to push another child off of the monkey bars? Someone could get seriously hurt.”

“Mommy?” Magnolia asked as she pulled the door open. “Are we leaving soon? I’m ready for our adventure.”

I dropped down to my knees in front of my sister. “You’re leaving
very
soon. Do I get a hug before you go?”

She nodded and an angelic smile lit up her face. I had no doubt Mom was doing the right thing. There were times that Magnolia could be a little rascal. But overall, she was a sweet girl. I knew if she ever seriously hurt someone, it would haunt her.

“I love you,” I said into her hair.

“You’re squeezing me too hard!” She squealed as she broke into giggles.

Less than half an hour later, my mom and sister were gone. I planned on hiding out in my room but before I could get there, Cecily called Tristan and me for dinner.

We had just taken our places at the table when a car drove up.

“That must be Harold and Paulette,” I said. They were the guests staying for another two nights. A single car door slammed. I stood to take a peek out the window just to be certain it was them. Though Mom had hung our “No Vacancy” sign, people sometimes still dropped in for information or a tour.

I peeked out the window over the kitchen sink. My heart stuttered and for a moment, I wasn’t sure it was going to keep beating. Julie’s shiny blond hair glowed in the light of the setting sun.

Julie?
Julie
was walking up my sidewalk to my house.

“
Julie
? What is she doing here?” I demanded as I turned to Tristan.

“Oh, goodness,” Cecily murmured. “In all of the excitement this afternoon, I think I forgot to mention we’re expecting company. She called the house earlier. She said that there’s a test in Chemistry tomorrow and was hoping for a study partner. I invited her on over. I thought maybe the three of you could study together.” She stopped talking as her gaze floated from me, to Tristan, and back to me again.

At least Tristan hadn’t invited her. But she was still here. And that was bad enough. It was more than I could take. A melancholy feeling washed over me. I hadn’t given myself time to process everything that had happened the last few weeks. Now, it hit me all at once. Not just the strain between Tristan and me. Compared to everything else that was nothing. Two of my classmates were dead. Or…
something
. My sister could be in serious danger. Mom had never gone anywhere without me before. Now, I didn’t even know exactly where she was going or how long she would be gone.

Julie Donovan traipsing up my sidewalk was just the cherry that topped my craptastic week.

I bolted from the kitchen, not slowing down as I raced to the front door.

I flung it open and darted out. My shoulder collided with Julie’s as I crossed the creaky floorboards and hopped down the steps. I heard a startled, delicate ‘umph’ cross her lips. I didn’t stop to apologize. It had been an accident. Not that it mattered. If Tristan had seen, he’d surely think I’d done it on purpose.

The gravel in the driveway crunched under my feet as I ran toward the trail that led into the woods. I didn’t dare look back. I didn’t want the sight of Tristan and Julie together, on
my
front porch, to be seared into my memory.

I pushed my way through the overgrown brush not slowing until I reached the stream. My chest heaved. Not from exertion but from the pressure of my pent up emotions. I let out a muffled scream through my clenched jaw as I kicked a rotting log. It was more solid than it looked and my toes throbbed.

“Dammit,” I grumbled as I tossed myself down on the bank of the stream. I felt like crying but refused to give in. Moments later, I was relieved that I’d managed to tamp down my emotions. I’d bypassed despair and was now headed straight for anger when I heard twigs breaking on the trail I’d just exited.

“Sam?”

I groaned at the sound of Tristan’s voice.

“Hey,” he said as he dropped down next to me.

“Where’s your friend?” I bit out.

He grinned at me and pulled me into a sideways hug. “I’m looking at her.”

I scowled back. I wasn’t amused.

He sighed and his arm slid away far too soon. “I sent Julie home. I swear I had no idea she was coming over.”

I shrugged and turned my attention to the water. I braced myself. I assumed he’d ask me asinine questions. Such as why I’d run off.

Instead, he ignored the matter completely.

“I’ve been studying this list,” he said. He leaned back as he dug into his pocket. He’d asked me for a copy so I’d given him one. Judging by its rumpled state he’d been carrying it with him all day. “I think I have it partially figured out.”

If he was willing to pretend the last five minutes hadn’t happened, so was I. I scooted a little closer as he unfolded the paper and settled the list onto his lap.

Granite Falls

Magnolia

Derek

Finola?

Bree*

Caleb?

Addison

Alex?

Constance

Riley?

Jude*

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

He began pointing at names. “The names that are crossed out,
just
crossed out, it could be coincidence, but they’re all only seventeen.”

“So…what? He took them off the list right away?”

Tristan nodded. “Yeah, that would be my guess. The names with question marks, they’re all eighteen. But he crossed them off anyway.”

“Why? What was he looking for?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure but I really do think that talent is the common link. This is what we know.” He held up his hand and started counting people off on his fingers. “Derek has amazing control over all of the elements, not just one. Fin, excellent potion-making skills. Bree, I’m not sure but it has to be something. My guess is that it’s something big. Caleb has a knack for charming objects,
big
objects, though he’s embarrassed about it because typically that’s a more feminine ability. Addison, she claimed she could wipe memories but I was always suspicious of that. Alex, he’s not talking but I know you saw the look he and Fin shared.” I nodded. “My guess is that he’s simply talented at what he does. Constance, well, we know she claimed to be able to heal but likely couldn’t. Riley, excellent spell-casting ability. Jude, he can heal. I mean, really heal.” He stopped to look at me. “I know for a fact everyone on here was either legitimately talented or at least claimed to be.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“When no one pays attention to you, they talk in front of you, assuming you’re not going to hear.” He shrugged like it was to be expected. “My guess is that Constance, and maybe Addison too, bragged up skills they didn’t really have.”

I was silent, mulling that over.

“Magnolia’s another one I’m not sure about,” Tristan carefully said. “I’m going to go with my hunch. I think she has a talent that you don’t want to talk about.” I bit my bottom lip and he continued. “And that’s okay. I get it. Sometimes, it’s dangerous if secrets get out. It’s better to keep them hidden. So I’m not going to press you on the matter. I’m just going to go with my hunch.”

I expelled the breath I’d been holding hostage. “You’re not wrong.” He stared patiently at
me a moment. “But that’s all I’m going to say.”