Prowl (13 page)

“Nothing,” I mumbled. I set the cup down. “Maybe you’re right. I‘m not feeling so great.” Before she could say another word I scurried down the hallway and slipped into my room, closing the door behind me.

“Go away?” Wesley asked in a wounded tone.

“She can’t see you, can she?”

“Who, Granny? Nah. Only you can. You’re special, Kenzie. You can see things others can’t.”

My heart warmed at the compliment. The anger I had felt just moments earlier dissipated. It didn’t matter what Rhiannon said about him. Wesley wasn’t dangerous. I was sure of it.

14

T
he music blaring through my headphones dulled the thoughts that filled my mind. It allowed me to stop the questions swirling in my head for just a little while. As I sat on the porch hidden in the blanket of night I saw Rhiannon come out of her house. As she locked her door the porch light illuminated her face. Her black hair, kohl lined eyes and blood red lips contrasted her pale face. After she locked the door she raced down her walkway, purse over her shoulder, black shift dress dancing around her white legs.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Oh.” She jumped, clearly startled. When she turned to me, her chest heaved with each breath. “I didn’t see you there.”

“I scared you this time, that’s a first.” I walked down the stairs and across the soft grass.

Rhiannon’s eyes widened and she backed away from me like I had two heads.

“What’s going on?”

“Um…nothing.” She swallowed, her neck swelling with the effort. “I…I need to go.”

“What did I tell you? She’s jealous.” Wesley appeared by my side. “She’s going over to her friend’s. She doesn’t want you to know.”

Rhiannon glanced in his direction, terror stricken.

“You can see him, can’t you?”

“Who?”

“Wesley.”

“No, but he’s here isn’t he? I can feel him. Evil is all around.” She shivered. “He’s hidden your aura. It’s like you’re dead too.”

“Ask her where she’s going. Make her tell you,” Wesley prompted.

“You still haven’t told me where you’re going.”

“None of your business.” Rhiannon spun around, raced toward her car.

I chased her. “You’re going out with your friends aren’t you?”

“Please just leave me alone.” Her voice wavered.

“Why haven’t you introduced me to them? You said you would.”

“I don’t know.” She shoved her key into the lock of the driver side door, fumbled with it. Her fingers quivered.

“Its cause you’re jealous of me, isn’t it? Because I have powers you don’t.”

“That’s it,” Wesley said, pleasure in his tone. “That’s my girl.”

My heart swelled with pride at his words.

“I don’t want your powers, Kenzie. You’re scaring me. At least I have control of my powers. You’re letting this spirit control you. Can’t you see what he’s doing to you? You look awful. You’re not acting like yourself. He’s evil, Kenzie.”

“Liar!” Wesley’s eyes darkened.

Rhiannon flinched like someone struck her.

“He’s destroying you. Why can’t you see that? Look at your eyes. They’re black. You look possessed.”

“Shut up! You’ll regret that,” Wesley hissed.

Rhiannon’s body flew backward as if someone had shoved her. She screamed. Her eyes were wide like saucers. Landing with a thud on the pavement, her neck snapped back, her head hit the asphalt. My heart stopped. Rhiannon shrieked and her head whipped from one side to the other like someone slapped her. Red palm prints arose on her cheeks.

“Wesley! What are you doing?”

I looked around but couldn’t see him. He was invisible.

Rhiannon’s screaming heightened, her face turned blue from the exertion. She writhed on the ground. I watched in horror as purple bruises rose on her arms.

“Wesley! Stop it. Please, you’re hurting her.”

Behind me I heard footsteps. “What’s going on?” Isaac ran from his yard.

The door to Grandma’s house opened and she bounded onto the porch and across the lawn just as the screaming ceased. Rhiannon cowered on the ground, twitching. Her gaze darted nervously around like a stray cat. It landed on me and she pointed accusingly.

“She did it!

“Did what?” Isaac asked breathing hard, sweat slicking his forehead. “What happened?”

“It’s that spirit. The one that possessed her.”

Isaac’s brow furrowed, studying me intently.

Grandma knelt near Rhiannon, studied her wounds. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I just need to get away from her.” Rhiannon scrambled to her feet.

Grandma turned to me. “What’s she talking about, Kenzie?”

“I have no idea. She’s the witch, not me.”

“Witch?” Grandma asked.

“Whatever.” Rhiannon rolled her eyes. “Just stay away from me, okay?” She climbed inside her car, turned on the engine and peeled out. As she drove away, I could feel Isaac’s and Grandma’s eyes burning a hole in the side of my face. I caught sight of Wesley hovering at the edge of the lawn. He flashed me an evil grin, causing my stomach to curdle.

“What was that all about?” Isaac asked.

I looked blankly at him, shrugged my shoulders.

“Why would she say that about you?” he persisted.

“I don’t know.”

“So she was just making it up?” he asked incredulous.

“Kenzie,” Grandma cut in. “Now would be a good time to tell the truth. Tell us what’s going on.”

“Oh, I see. So now both of you think I’m the bad guy, is that it?”

“No, honey.” Grandma’s hand rested on my shoulder. “It’s not that at all. But clearly something happened tonight and we’re just trying to understand.”

Bitter tears stung my eyes. “By blaming me?”

Isaac came close, looked deep into my eyes. “Tell me the truth, Kenzie. Have you been dabbling in the supernatural?”

“No.” The lie tasted like poison on my tongue.

Isaac sighed, his eyes betraying his disappointment. I could tell he didn’t believe me, and that hurt more than the accusations ever could.

I knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. I sat on my bed in the dark, my legs bent against my chest.

“It’s about time,” I said bitterly when he appeared.

“Nice to see you too, Kenzie.” Wesley sat on the edge of my bed.

“Why’d you do it?”

“She deserved it.”

I groaned in frustration, and put my head in my hands. Everything was spiraling out of control.

“I’m just protecting you.”

“Protecting me? By attacking my friend?”

“Some friend.”

“You hurt her, Wesley.”

“She was telling lies about me.”

“Who cares?”

“I care. I care what you think of me.”

His words caught me off guard. Could it be that he really did this because he cared about our relationship?

“I haven’t always been there for you, Kenzie. I want to make up for that.”

I softened. “I appreciate that, really I do.”

“Rhiannon’s not a good friend to you. She’s trying to poison you against me.”

“I understand why you were upset. But I don’t need you to beat people up for me, okay?”

“I’ll work on it.”

Satisfied with his response, I nodded. So what if he lost his temper? I knew he only thought he was helping me. Honestly, I was touched by how much he cared.

“You coming to church this morning?” Grandma asked.

“No.” I sat on the couch, flipping through a magazine. Sunlight streamed in through the window, painting yellow stripes on my legs.

“Why not?”

“It’s just not my thing, okay?”

“I thought you liked it.”

“Well, I don’t.”

Grandma sat next to me, a worried look etched on her face. She smelled like detergent and flowers. “What’s going on with you, Kenzie?”

“Nothing. I just don’t want to go. Why is it such a big deal?”

“It’s not just that. You’ve been acting strange for a couple of weeks now and then there was that whole thing with Rhiannon last night.”

“I told you that wasn’t my fault. What? You don’t believe me?”

She bit her lip and her coral lipstick stained the bottom of her teeth.

I shook my head in frustration. “See, I knew it. Wesley was right. Nobody else believes in me.”

Grandma cocked her head to one side. “Who’s Wesley?”

“He’s my dad,” I answered without thinking. Then I clamped my mouth shut, mentally cursing myself.

“Your dad? Kenzie what are you talking about?”

“Nothing. That’s not what I meant. Wesley’s no one. Just a friend.”

Grandma put her hand over my trembling one. “Look, you can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m here for you if you ever want to talk.”

I nodded. “You better get going. Don’t want to be late for church.”

“I can stay if you want.”

“No, I’m fine.”

She shot me one last worried glance before walking out the door.

“Wow, I thought she’d never leave.”

I gasped, startled at Wesley’s appearance. I didn’t know when I’d ever be used to him doing that. The room darkened.

“I told you all those Christians are the same. They only care about one thing and that’s getting people saved. If you’re not, they think something’s wrong with you. They’re the most intolerant, hypocritical people in the whole world.”

I bristled at the comment. “Well, I’m sure that’s not true of all of them.”

Wesley chuckled. “Why? You think that boyfriend of yours is any different. Tell me, where’s the first place he ever took you?”

“Sutter Street.”

“Okay, after that.”

“Miniature golfing.”

“With?”

I sighed. “His youth group.”

“Bingo. You should’ve listened to that Brooke girl. She knew what she was talking about.”

“He said she was just jealous.”

“Oh please. She was telling you the truth. All that guy cares about is getting you saved. ”

Angry, I stood. “I don’t have to listen to this.”

“So, you think he loves you no matter what, is that it?”

I turned to him, putting my hands on my hip. “Yes, actually.”

He approached me, his lips curling in an evil smile. “Think he’ll still love you when he sees these?” He pointed to my scars.

I hugged myself, covering the scars with my fingers. Shame burned through me.

“Or what about when he finds out about me? Think he’ll love you then?”

No.

I bit my lip, stared hard at my feet.

“That’s what I thought. Christians judge people like you and me. If he knew you were a cutter he’d want you to stop, to be perfect like he thinks he is. But there’s nothing wrong with cutting.”

My head snapped up at that. “What?”

“Yeah, if it makes you feel better I say do it.” He shrugged. “You should do whatever you want. That’s what life’s all about.”

I stood in front of the mirror, running the brush through my hair. My eyes were bloodshot and ringed with blue circles. I hadn’t been sleeping well. After fishing through my makeup bag, I retrieved some concealer and Visine. Using both succeeded in making me look a little less tired. Swiping some blush on my cheeks and gloss on my lips perked my face up even more. I spun in a circle, taking in my tank top and jean shorts. They hugged a little tighter than they used to. Grandma fed me a lot better than Mom ever did.

“Uh-oh.” Wesley materialized. “Better watch it or your boyfriend will be searching for a new girlfriend.”

Offended, I scoffed at him. “Isaac said I would be beautiful no matter what size I was.”

“And you believed him? Wow, you are gullible.” “Why would he lie about that?”

“Guys say whatever they can to get in a girl’s pants.”

“I thought all Isaac cared about was getting me saved. Isn’t that what you said yesterday?”

Black flashed in his eyes. “That’s true, but even as righteous as he is he’s still a guy and all guys think about is sex. Believe me, I’m a guy. I know. It’s the only thing we care about.”

“Isaac isn’t like that.”

“Oh, what? He’s perfect.”

“Pretty close.”

“Man, you are naïve. You really believe your dating the one perfect male in the whole world. He’s really got you wrapped around his finger. I should hang out with this guy, get some pointers.”

“Why are you being so mean?”

“I’m not.” Wesley came to stand next to me, filling the rest of the mirror. “I just want to help you. I know how you can keep that boyfriend of yours and I know that’s what you want.” He walked over to my dresser, plucked up one of my magazines. He opened it to a spread of models, all rail thin. “This is every guy’s fantasy. Any guy who says different is lying. Trust me.”