The Girl and The Raven (29 page)

Marcus was right. I am selfish.

We’re reading
The Catcher In The Rye
. I quickly get annoyed with Holden Caufield’s sarcastic, mocking tone. He thinks his life is tough? I’d switch places with him in a heartbeat.

Katie and I meet in the hall outside of the biology lab. Today we’re cutting open a frog, which has to be one of the more disgusting rites of passage. Katie and I take turns pressing identification pins into his organs. The whole process is ten times worse because of the formaldehyde. Since my visit with Jude, my sense of smell is way stronger and the fumes make my nose feel like it’s burning from the inside out.

Katie and I split up at the square walkabout outside of biology lab. I crane my neck and look up at the elaborate skylight.

“Don’t you ever get tired of the view?” Katie calls over her shoulder on her way to Spanish class.

“Never!” I grin, hoisting my backpack over my shoulder as I head to driver’s ed.

As I round the corner, I spot Dylan headed in my direction with a full posse of football players and the ever present Rachel. I quickly duck into the gymnasium, the one with a dozen arched floor to ceiling windows, and take the long way around to class. I get to drivers ed after the bell, but it’s worth a stern look from Mr. Sarti. I just can’t face Dylan after my total lack of effort to help Ethan and Brandi.

On Friday night, Katie and I head to the mall to shop for Homecoming dresses. Ms. Stevens promises Katie that she’ll stay on the opposite side of the mall while we shop. Once we’re alone, Katie goes into full rant mode.

“She’s so much more into fashion than I am, so she thinks she’s the only one who can pick out a nice dress. She just doesn’t get it. It’s
my
homecoming. I want to pick out my own dress!”

“We’ll find something awesome,” I promise her.

We head to Carson’s junior’s formal department. There are already a dozen girls combing through the dresses. Katie says hello to a couple of the girls and introduces me. She finds two beautiful dresses right away, but they’re strapless.

“Unlike Ella, I don’t have the boobs required for strapless.” She puts them back.

Sifting through dresses, I try to look interested. The dance is a week away and while I’m happy Marcus asked me, I’m having a hard time getting excited about it—or anything else. Having Jude as my father is just as depressing as having Momma as my mother.

As soon as I think it, I feel bad putting Momma and Jude in the same category.

“What do you think?” Katie holds up a purple dress.

I study the dress against her skin and shake my head. “Hmmm…no. It’s pretty, but I don’t think the color’s right for you.”

“Okay.” She slides the dress back on the rack.

A minute later she shows me a black dress. I don’t like that one, either, but the girl next to her loves it. Katie hands it to her.

I come to a devil red dress. Jude’s a demon. I’m a demon. I’m equal parts horrified by what I’m capable of and psyched about what the extent of my abilities might be. I know my abilities aren’t natural. Marcus called himself a freak, but that’s different. He’s beautiful, otherworldly, has wings. I’m the freak.

“What about this one?” Katie holds up a powder blue one-shoulder dress.

I nod. “I like it.”

She grins and dashes off to the dressing room.

I stop pretending to look at dresses while Katie’s gone. She comes out a few minutes later and twirls around.

“So, don’t you just love it?” she asks.

“Uh.” I’m pretty sure Ms. Stevens isn’t going to approve.

She bursts out laughing. “The look on your face! It’s priceless! ‘Uh’ pretty much sums up this dress.”

“Are you sure it’s a dress? Maybe it’s just a top and there are matching pants.” I laugh, relieved Katie won’t be dressed as a trollop at Homecoming.

We fall into a fit of laughter over the ridiculousness of the dress. Every time one of us catches our breath, the other starts all over again. Finally, she marches back to the dressing room.

I wipe the tears from my eyes and move to another rack. A dress catches my eye and I pull it out. It’s matte silver—or pale charcoal, according to the tag—and cut in the same one-shoulder style as the blue dress, with a jeweled neckline. Struck with a strange tingly sensation, I rush to the dressing room.

“Katie? I have a dress for you to try on.”

“I’m over here.” She waves her hand under the third door on the right.

“I wouldn’t have thought of this color for you, but…just try it on.” I slide it under her door. “I have a really good feeling about it.”

“I never would’ve thought of silver, either,” she says.

A few minutes later she opens the door and I gasp. “You look amazing!”

Her face breaks into a smile. “You think so?” 

“And it goes to mid thigh, so your mom won’t freak,” I point out.

I grab her hand and lead her to the huge mirror just outside the dressing room. Katie turns to the left and then to the right, studying her reflection. “It’s perfect,” she sighs. “I can’t wait for Trevor to see me in this.”

Watching her twirl in front of the mirror in the beautiful silver dress, I am suddenly so jealous of my best friend and her normal life I could cry.

* * * *

When Ms. Stevens drops me off, I find Bernard and Sheldon’s poker game in full swing.

“Lucy!” Sheldon calls out tipsily. “Good to see you, kiddo!”

Bernard waves me over. Based on the stack of chips in front of him, he’s winning. “Come in and say hello to everyone.”

I nod and smile. “Hi everyone.”

“No luck with a dress?” Sheldon asks, a little too loud.

I shake my head.

“We’ll go to State Street and find something.”

“ ‘kay, goodnight everybody.” I might as well have been talking to myself. A new hand has been dealt and everyone is focused on the game.

I’m so tired I decide to go straight to bed. I snuggle into my pillow. Whatever other craziness there is in my life, at least I have Sheldon and Bernard.

“Lucy!”

Opening my eyes, I see Uncle Zack. What is
he
doing here? Better yet, where am
I
? Zack and I sit in matching chairs next to each other, in the corner of a strange room. I gasp as the floor shifts beneath my feet.

“Come on, Lucy. If I have to suffer through this blasted party, then so do you.”

I look around the dimly lit room. Music throbs from the speakers. Strobe lights flash around the room. A crowd of people fill the room, some dancing, others drinking. He’s right—it’s a party, but different than the last one.

“I hate these things,” he grumbles. “Can we bail? I want to go home.”

“Where are we?” I ask tentatively.

Zack shoots me a look of irritation. “Did you hit your head or something? It’s Jude’s stupid party, thrown in my honor. I didn’t want a party, but did he listen? Hell no. He never does, unless I’m giving him legal advice.”

The music changes and a new song fills the room. It sounds familiar, but I can’t remember the name of the artist or the song.

Just then the ground dips and I shriek, grasping the arms of my chair.

“Yeah, the water’s rough tonight.” He looks off at nothing, drumming his fingers on the arms of his chair. “We need to get off this thing. Can you swim?”

We’re on a boat? A yacht, maybe, judging from the polished wood furniture, the fancy rugs and crystal chandeliers. Jude’s?

A burst of tinkling laughter erupts from across the room. I turn and see a stunning woman with blonde—no,
white
—hair pulled into an elegant knot, wearing a beautiful deep blue dress. She’s surrounded by several men and two brunettes. They’re all drinking champagne.

I turn back to Zack. “Why the party?”

“Jude talked my firm into giving me up. I’m one of the best they’ve got, but they’re letting me go. Bastards. I was comfortable there. Had a nice office. People left me alone.” He frowns. “Do you think he consulted me? Hell no. It’s only my life.”

“How can he do that?”

“Because he thinks he’s God, that’s why.” Zack leans in close. “Want to know what he said to me once?”

I nod eagerly.

“
The definition of God is a supernatural being worshipped by people.
He said that same definition applied to him, so therefore he and God are equals. Ballsy, isn’t he?”

“Gram would call it blasphemous.”

“Yes, she would!” He laughs, pounding the arms of his chair. “Of course, in my whole life, I’ve never heard her talk about Jude in any way that didn’t involve a lot of truck driver language.”

“Wait…” I shake my head. “Gram found out about Jude after I was born. Why would she talk about him to you?”

“
Au contraire
my dear niece.” Zack grins, a mischievous look in his eyes. “Or should I say
little sister
.”

My mouth drops. No way! I look hard at Zack and see him with a different perspective. Jude’s black eyes and build stand out. The three of us have the same black hair. Jude’s face when he laughed. He looked handsome and
familiar
. He looked like Zack! Or, technically, Zack looks like him.

“So that means Gram…” I blink rapidly. The horrible truth penetrates and I think I’m going to be sick.

“Yup, she did the nasty with a demon. Jude can charm anyone.” Uncle Zack appears nonchalant while my brain threatens to explode. “To be fair, she was going through a really confusing time with her own powers and religion. Her mother raised her as a witch and her father raised her as a Catholic.”

I groan and grab my stomach willing it not to spew chunks all over the shiny boat deck. “But…but…didn’t anyone else know? Persephone made a big deal about me being Jude’s only child.”

“No one else knows. I only found out after Jude and I started working together.” Zack shakes his head and scowls. “He nearly smothered me to death. Lunch meetings. Dinner meetings. So many meetings, some about work and some not. He didn’t spend that much time with anyone else.” He slumps back in his chair. “I didn’t like it, so I finally told Mom—Gram—about it. She spilled the beans about him being my father, but made me promise not to reveal his identity to your mom or my step dad.”

Zack sees the horrible look on my face and laughs. “Don’t fret, sis. You’re ahead of the game. Jude will teach you how to control your demon powers. Persephone and Henry will teach you to temper those abilities with good. You’re going to be powerful.” Zack leans in, narrowing his eyes at me. “Learn what you can from him, but watch out. He will consume you if you let him.”

I’m hit with a coldness that reaches my core.

“You’ll never be free of him. But Mom—Gram—would want you to stay away from the darkness. Jude will try to make you go there, but maybe you’ll be strong enough to resist.” He shrugs.

“I think I hate him!”

“So do I, but so what? Learn all you can, then focus on your own life. You’ll have a great one with Marcus or Dylan, once you decide between the two. Plus you’ve got Sheldon and Bernard. They love you more than you can imagine.”

Marcus or Dylan?

“There is no deciding!” I sputter. “Marcus—“

I’m struck with a major case of the willies. I turn and spot the white-haired woman again. She’s still talking to a group of partygoers but her eyes are focused on me. A flash goes off in front of my eyes and when the spots of light clear, the woman is back to her conversation. 

“Who is the white-haired woman over there?” I turn to Zack, but he’s no longer in his chair. He’s walking toward the exit on unsteady legs as the boat lurches in the violent water.

“Wait! Where are you going? I want to go with you.”

“Sorry.” He calls over his shoulder. “I’m getting off this damn boat. Go back to sleep, sis.”

I try to reach for him, but I can’t lift my arms. I try to call out to him, but I have no voice. He gives me a casual wave from across the room, then ducks through the doorway.

* * * *

Arnold arrives at eight-thirty a.m. sharp. I struggle to appear awake and cheerful during the drive, but I’m exhausted. I woke up feeling angry. I still haven’t figured out a way to save Ethan and Brandi. What if Mr. Douglas is at the house today? He’ll want to know what I’ve accomplished.

Mrs. Douglas meets us at the door and I see that, like Mr. Douglas, she is showing signs of stress. There are actual lines on her face, around her eyes and mouth. I guess Botox doesn’t work against demon threats on the lives of your children.

“Good morning, Lucy,” she says politely.

“Good morning.” I force a smile.

I hear the patter of feet and voices shrieking my name. Ethan and Brandi tackle me, smothering me with hugs. Glancing over at Mrs. Douglas, I see the pained expression on her face. Mr. Douglas told her. Does she also know that I’m supposed to help save them? I look away, not wanting her to see the guilt on my face.