Phantom (Endlessly Book 3) (15 page)

21 CRAZY PLANS

That night I tossed and turned and looked at the clock. Finally I went out to run again, following the same routes, and suffering the same confusion. Though I knew leaving would make me a selfish asshole, I felt Ash would forgive me. If I’d known where to go, no other commitment would stop me. But I didn’t.

I’d left the door ajar
and slipped back in just before dawn. Lex stood in the kitchen, arms folded, as she examined me. I opened the fridge to get something to drink. Her eyes followed me. I pulled out a can of Mountain Dew, opened it, and gulped down about half.

“What?” I finally asked.

“You’re still alive, so you didn’t go to the beach.”

“Thanks for your concern.”

“You will be there today,” she told me.

I slammed the can onto the counter, spilling a little. “Yes,” I barked. “I don’t know why you’re so worried. You all want me to go after her.”

I left the kitchen, fought the urge to pace, and went into my apartment. Someone had hung my stupid wedding outfit on my bathroom door. I glanced at it, then went in to take a shower. Before turning on the water, I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair would need cutting before I could spike up. I hadn’t shaved in a few days, giving me the look of a real werewolf.

I looked like a hot mess — the kind of wedding guest who disrupts the ceremony, then pisses on the cake. No wonder everyone was so worried. A part of it was the gauntness in my face. It reflected my starved body — thin and pale. I hadn’t eaten any real human-powered nutrition — werewolf fuel — since all these fucking people showed up. Yet I didn’t feel hungry. That was strange.

I stripped and stood on the scale; I’d lost ten pounds. It had to be all that running.

But why was I running? Frustration and aggravation. Why was I frustrated and aggravated? Because I couldn’t find her. This chick would be the death of me.

I cut my hair, shaved and showered, but dressed in my normal jeans and t-shirt. The jeans were baggier than normal. I tried to eat but my stomach knotted up. Again and again I found myself rubbing my chest. When I wasn’t rubbing, I was pacing. I felt like I should be doing something; I didn’t know what.

Early that afternoon someone knocked on my door. I opened it to a bubbly Christina. My anger simmered as she bounced on her heels. Once she sensed it she stilled herself and tried not to cringe. I was sure all the mind-reading gave her a good sense of how I felt. I wondered if it was as bad as what Ash had dished out to me when I’d taken care of her.

“Close,” Christina answered, reading the question in my mind. She checked the hallway, then whispered: “Hers was worse.” Then she perked up, and said: “We need help taking stuff to the beach.”

“Like what?”

“Some tables, food, and the keg…”

“Can I drink if I take the keg down?” I asked. The thought of alcohol made me less grumpy.

“I don’t know. They don’t want you wasted.”

“Augh! Fuck ‘em,” I muttered. “What they don’t know won’t hurt ‘em.” I slipped past her, and went for the kitchen.

I tried to hide my devious smile as I entered the kitchen. Lex and Jenny were busy with food. Abby sat on the counter, watching the girls. Zola gave me a flat stare. I threw up my wall against them. Christina might not say anything about my drinking, but Zola would. Josh leaned against the counter eating fruit.

“Ready?” Josh asked.

I walked over to the bar and pulled out the tap for the keg.

“Now I am.”

Josh laughed, Lex frowned, and I addressed her concerns, saying: ”You know I won’t listen to you anyway.” I turned to leave.

“Jason, don’t… Josh…” Lex said.

I looked at Josh. He shrugged.

As we headed for the mudroom, Lex rushed after us, grabbing Josh’s arm. When he stopped she made a strange face, as if to tell him something.

“I’ll try,” he said.

I laughed, and climbed the stairs. The keg sat in a huge iced tub by the tree. Josh and I picked it up by its rope handles and carried it down to the beach. It seemed no heavier than a pillow. I would have done the job alone, but the psycho mermaid made going to the beach in pairs a standard operating procedure. When we reached the cliff the sun was shining and swells rolled through the water. The breeze was cool, but the sun was hot — a perfect blend.

“So what’s the big deal about me not drinking?” I asked Josh as I took the lead. I balanced the tub effortlessly as we carried it down the path in the side of the cliff.

“Ya know,” he said, shrugging. “They want everything to be perfect.”

We reached the sand, and set down the tub. “Nothing is perfect,” I said.

I tapped the keg, bled the first foam from the trigger, then stuck the nozzle in my mouth, reaping my reward. When I’d gotten a good start, I offered it to Josh.

He shook his head and took it. “They’re going to be so pissed at me if you get drunk.”

“Where’s Verloren? He should be here. We didn’t give him a proper bachelor party, but we could at least have him glassy-eyed for Ash.”

He pulled the nozzle from his mouth, spitting foam on the sand. “I don’t think you need beer for that. They’re probably fucking like rabbits. Someone will have to hose them down.”

We laughed, then stopped, leaving an eerie silence. Waves crashed, acting as the soundtrack to the alcohol.

“What about y
ou?” Josh asked. “Verloren said—”

“Is nothing fucking sacred around here?” My anger threatened a shift. I held myself together.

“Sorry man, shit…” He apologized, absorbing my anger with a shiver.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Me neither,” he mumbled. He plugged the nozzle in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

I watched the ocean. Josh drank a good share of the beer. This was easier than running around like a dog.

I looked at Josh. “Tomorrow I’m buying a plane ticket. I’m done here. I might go to Florida. It sounds good.”

”But it’ll stop after today,” Josh slurred.

“What do you mean?”

“Er… you know… the party’s over. No more weird suits or crazy plans.”

When he offered the nozzle, I declined. “We should get back. I don’t want them nagging me all day. I don’t think I have to tell you not to say a word about me leaving.”

He nodded, turned, and headed back up the cliff ahead of me.

I followed reluctantly. In my slightly buzzed view, everyone up there seemed strange. Some of it was the party, but I knew there was more to it than that. Josh stopped at the top, waiting for me. He pretended to admire the view, but he didn’t fool me. He was watching for mermaids, or worse.

We made more trips, carrying folding tables, and a twenty-foot canopy tent. We played with the tent until Coylene came down and got on our case about screwing off.
She and Abigail starting setting up food. She demanded that Josh and I go to get changed. When we raced back up, the running brought back the tug big time. When we reached the tree I wanted to just keep going.

In the game room Jack and Verloren stood stiffly in their wedding get-ups: black dress pants and black long-sleeved dress shirts. At least they weren’t insisting on ties. Josh went to his place to change.

I pointed at Verloren’s bangs. “Hey, silver surfer, aren’t you going to cut that shit?”

“Ash likes it long.”

“Anything for her majesty.”

I messed up his hair as I passed. Lex came in looking hot in a form-fitting red dress and makeup. I whistled at her.

“Damn it, Jason, it’s almost time,” she snapped. “Don’t mess with his hair.”

“You’re more nervous than a bride,” I said.

“Just do as I tell you.”

“What does it matter? It’s windy as hell. No one’s hair’s going to stay in place.” I noticed her naked feet. “Where are your shoes?”

“No shoes. We’re going barefoot,” Lex said.

Verloren and Jack weren’t wearing shoes either.

“Who makes these fucking rules?” I asked, stupefied.

“Go get dressed,” Lex commanded.

Christina appeared in a black cocktail dress. She bounced around smiling.

“Why is everyone acting stupid? It’s like fucking prom around her
e,” I mumbled. I got to my door and a thought hit me. “I’m going to be fucking pissed if I have to dance,” I hollered.

Laughter followed me inside.

22
NEW LIGHT

At sunset we assembled on the south end of the beach. The tide was low and waves crashed against the rocks. It was a soothing sound of repetition. The sand felt good on my naked feet.

No matter what they called this it
felt like a wedding. I had to stand like a best man next to Verloren. Lex stood opposite me, the same as a maid of honor. Hania stood in for the minister and the rest played their parts, forming a semicircle around us. It took forever for Ash and Abigail to show up.

Abby’s red sundress was trumped by Ash. The “bride” looked different and picture perfect. Ash wore a simple sleeveless black satin dress, long enough to drag behind her. She had tiny red flowers and rhinestones in her snow-white hair. The flowers trembled in the wind, but stayed put.

They came down the path, Ash lifting her dress
to expose bright red toenails that matched her manicure. Her dress accentuated her full breasts and hips, making my mind wander as a man’s does.

Larry cleared his throat. I fought a smir
k. Ash flashed me a look and dropped her head in embarrassment. For this one occasion she wore make-up. Her lips were blood red and her eyes seemed to smolder. In the hollow of her throat the small jagged rock hung from a piece of worn leather. It seemed oddly out of place.

Abigail stood with Jack and Sarah, as the two vampires shielded their eyes against the bright sunlight.

Beautiful and exotic, Ash took her place by Verloren. At that moment I was extremely jealous. How did a jackass like Verloren get a beautiful girl like her?

Kismet,
Verloren told me silently.

Yeah, how could I fucking forget about all that garbage? My chest tightened, but I ignored it, focusing on what was happening.

Hania stood with his back to the sea, holding a long red satin ribbon and a thin silver chain. He sang a song like a long, gentle lullaby. It was the language of the born knowing, and I didn’t understand a word. As I looked at the others I realized they didn’t have a clue either.

Only the dragons understood. They could read his mind. It hardly mattered. It was some version of a wedding ceremony. Zola and Christina watched dreamily. Larry held his human wife, Angie’s
, hand and nodded in apparent acceptance. Coylene smiled, comprehending every word, but Aubrey only gazed out at the ocean. Fabi stood off to the side, watching me anxiously.

Ash grinned at Verloren. Hania spoke as he lifted the ribbon and chain. I felt contentious enough to want an interpreter, but in truth we all knew what was going on. Verloren and Ashley faced Hania, extending the
ir entwined fingers toward him as he continued his lullaby. He wound the chain and ribbon around their hands, binding them together.

A deep ache filled me. I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly. My chest felt like fire. Larry smiled at me. Was he messing with me? As an air dragon he could manipulate h
is element. He read my thoughts and shook his head. He wasn’t hurting me.

Hania droned on. I caught Lex grinning evilly at me. I glared back at her.

My chest grew hotter and, gingerly, I touched my chest. If Ash was doing this she should knock it off. She glanced at me and a strange hiccup stuck in my lungs.

Ash and Verloren turned to each other, the ribbon and chain wrapped loosely around their hands. Hania continued his singing.

Tugging merged with fire, flooding my body. My heart beat faster and I began to pant. The pain increased with every breath, suffocating me. To quell the fire I held my breath, but almost passed out from lack of oxygen. When I tried to breathe normally I couldn’t help but pant. Only the roar of the ocean kept the others from noticing.

Verloren and Ash embraced
and kissed passionately, raising a brief cheer. I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe. My body trembled.

Verloren and Ash beamed. I rubbed my chest and glared at Ash. “Stop,” I whispered. ”You’re projecting something that’s killing me.”

She shook her head. “I’m not doing it.”

Verloren chuckled as I pressed my thumb into my sternum.
If it’s you, knock it off,
I told him. I tried not to talk. Vibrations of speech would only make it worse.

“Not me,” he said.

I looked around, trying to pinpoint the culprit. All eyes were on me, not the happy couple. I looked at them stupidly. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and I spun around. There stood the reason for all of it. The blood drained from my head and my body went numb. All I could feel was my heart hammering. I was face-to-face with her.

How could I have ever wanted Ash when there was Oz? She wore a simple red dress. The hem fluttered around her knees, exposing her tattoos. I saw inside of her. As her steel blue eyes looked into mine I fought to feel worthy. Wind whipped her hair. I wanted to fall to my knees.

Excited whispers filled the air. I panted, and my body shook. If I tried to move, I might have crumbled. I was speechless. She stepped toward me and, finally, I stared down at her as she smiled.

“I promised we would help you find her.” It was Verloren’s voice, but I barely heard him.

Oz touched my neck. Fire burned the back of my neck as she pulled me to her. She kissed me and I didn’t fight it. I crushed her to me, greedy for it. It wasn’t enough to have her. She needed to be a part of me; I needed to absorb her. Her touch released my pain and doused the fire.

As we broke our kiss I held onto her.

“I waited for you in Portland for a long time,” she said. Her husky voice felt like home.

She laughed, melting my heart. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, if I hadn’t fought it so hard… I flooded her neck with ravenous kisses.

Finally we looked at the others. “We did a sloppy job on purpose,” Ash said. “We thought if you shifted in Portland—”

“You guys are assholes, you know that?” I said.

Everyone laughed. “She was near,” said Verloren, “and it was hard keeping her quiet for the past couple of days. You kept pacing up and down the hallway. We thought for sure you were going to figure it out when you shifted last night.” He pulled Ashley closer.

Oz jumped, wrapping
her legs around me. I gripped her, giving in to an uncontrollable craving to kiss her. I walked toward the cliff as she clung to me.

“What? You guys aren’t staying for the party?” Verloren called.

The sun had finally sunk behind the waves. Ash ignited the bonfire. I sat Oz down in the sand and took her hand. She smiled at me and it felt like the only light source I needed. She took a step toward the cliff and pulled my hand.

I grinned over my shoulder. “I don’t think so.”

I turned to Oz, and forgot about them.