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Zoe
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Tuesday morning I decided to lay out the groundwork for the upcoming long weekend, hoping my trip into Fairyland would only take four days. I had no idea how I’d explain a month-long absence. Like Sidelle said, we’d cross that bridge if and when it came to that.
I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where Dad was sitting at the table, reading the newspaper. I heard Mom in the laundry room.
“G’morning, Dad.” I opened the cupboard, took down a bowl, then walked to the fridge.
“Morning, sweetheart.” He peered over the paper. “Haven’t seen Shay in a while. You still seeing that boy?”
The milk carton almost slid from my hand. “Gah, Dad. Really?”
I didn’t need him to remind me that my boyfriend was missing—or rather, taken by demons. At this precise moment, Shay was probably being tortured for information about me. I hoped he wouldn’t tell them what they wanted to know, but I was painfully aware everyone had their breaking points. Especially under that kind of stress. I hoped he could hold on until we could find and rescue him.
“Whoa, there.” Dad threw his hands up, dropping the newspaper onto his lap. “I’m just asking. If you’re not, that’s okay, too.”
I shouldn’t have snapped. “Sorry,” I said. “I’ve been stressed lately. It’s the end of my junior year, I’ve been thinking about colleges, and the teachers have realized that there are only six weeks left, so they’re piling on homework with projects and final tests. Cali, Sidelle, and I have a huge project in English that the instructor announced yesterday. We haven’t selected a topic yet, because Mr. Anderson needs to provide the parameters and—”
“Stop right there. Sorry I asked. I understand you’re busy. Don’t worry about it. Take one thing at a time. The rest will fall into place.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath and sat at the table, cereal box in hand. “Since this week is a short week, the plan is to go to Sidelle’s house so we can start on the project.” I poured the round peanut butter balls of cereal goodness into the bowl, pleased with the story. After all, we were going to Sidelle’s house. Only it wasn’t actually in this world.
“Oh? What project is that?” Mom asked, entering the kitchen with a laundry basket.
“Zoe was telling me about an English project.”
“I was explaining to Dad that we need more information before we can pick a topic, but Cali and I are planning to be at Sidelle’s house this weekend, so we can get it started. Maybe even finish. Can I go?”
“Of course.” She tilted her head, smiling. “I suspect that when you say ‘Sidelle’s house this weekend’ you mean to say that you’re planning to stay there the whole time?”
If she only knew. “Uh, yes. That’s exactly what I mean. Is that okay with you guys? We’ll either be there or at the library doing research. We might even take a trip into one of the larger libraries in Minneapolis.”
“All right, but remember to eat ... and actually sleep some of the time.”
“We will.” I checked the wall clock and realized Kieran would be here any minute. I placed my bowl in the sink, grabbed my backpack, and ran out the front door.
Kieran’s Cadillac sat on the driveway, and he was leaning against the passenger side door. When he saw me, he smiled and slid his cell phone into his back pocket.
“Hey Z. I have some great news for you.”
“You do? What?”
“We might have a lead on where Shay is.”
It was good to hear there was at least some news. I ran to Kieran and gave him a hug.
“Where is he? Are we going to go get him? Is he hurt? He’s still alive, right?” My stomach dropped from his silence. Sure, it was great news, but it wasn’t what I’d hoped he was going to say. He had said the word “might.”
“Hold on. I know you have lots of questions, but I actually don’t know anything. Michael just told me that they have a lead, and they are taking the Reperio Team to check the authenticity of the source. We won’t know anything until later today, but I thought you’d want to know.”
“I do. Thank you, K.” I hugged him again. “What’s a Reperio Team?”
He grinned. “It’s like the Green Berets of the angels. They find things.”
That sounded positive. I nodded and moved on. “So it’s all good for this weekend. You’re coming with me, right?”
“Of course. Where you go, I go. It’s always been that way and always will be.”
I knew what Kieran said was true, but I didn’t like what he was implying. Consciously or unconsciously, he was reminding me that the Orders of the Enlightens don’t mix. Both Kieran and I were angels. Shay was a Nephilim. That meant we were not allowed to be together. It was just one more obstacle that Shay and I would have to overcome.
Kieran drove us to Coffee Grind, and we met up with Cali, Vash, Jackson, and Sidelle. I told them I was good to go for the weekend, and Cali said she was, too.
“Oh, and I have some great news,” I said. “Kieran told me the angels might have a lead on Shay.”
“Oh, Zoe,” Cali exclaimed. “That’s wonderful. I knew they’d find him.”
“They haven’t yet, so I’m trying to not think about it too much, or the shape he’ll be in when they do rescue him. But it’s a start.”
“He’ll be all right, Zoe,” Vash assured me. “He’s strong.”
“And he’ll come back to you,” Sidelle said. “Because he knows you’ll kick his ass if he doesn’t.”
I smiled as I headed over to order my caffeine fix. Shay had to be okay. He just had to be.
“You doing all right?” Jackson asked, sidling up to me. I hadn’t heard him approach.
I nodded. “I’m better now, knowing the angels are actually looking for Shay.”
“My guess is Kieran is the one who nudged them to continue to look for him. He’d do anything for you.”
“I know.”
He cleared his throat and looked down at the floor. “It’s not my place,” he said quietly, “but I see the way he looks at you. He loves you, you know.”
“I know, but I don’t see him like that. Shay and I were meant to be together.”
He shrugged. “Can’t comment on that one because I’ve never met Shay. All I know is what I see in front of me.”
“Thanks, Jacks. I appreciate you stepping up and saying that.” The girl behind the counter smiled at me, and I ordered my usual chai tea latte before turning back to Jackson. “Hey, how are you and Vash doing? I haven’t asked you since ... you know.”
“It’s tough, but we’ll get through it. Vash will be a great Alpha. He is a great Alpha. And it’s better now because he has Cali. It would’ve been harder if she hadn’t been here to support him. If he hadn’t found her when he did, I don’t know if he’d be where he is today. She makes him stronger.”
“How are you doing?” I touched his arm.
He sighed. “One day at a time. We all know this life is hard, but to see my father beaten like that? To have the demons kill him in front of his own pack and on our own property, well, that was brutal. And they will pay for it.”
“I’m here for you if you ever want to talk or whatever.”
“Thanks, Z.”
“Order up for Zoe,” the barista called.
I picked up the large white cup, and we walked back to our group.
“Some of the pack should go with the Reperio Team,” Vash was saying. “If they run into Marqs—and I bet there will be some wherever they are holding Shay—we can distract them enough to get Shay out.”
Kieran was nodding. “So instead of a recon mission, a rescue; we’ll skip a step.”
Vash nodded. “Plus, I’m betting some of the pack would welcome the opportunity to knock off a few more Marqs as a tribute to Keegan.”
“I’ll let Michael know. They can swing by the compound and pick up whoever you want to go.”
“Why don’t you and I go to my place to coordinate efforts? Jackson can stay here to watch over Cali and Zoe. It’s easier than all this go-between.”
“Sure. Zoe?” Kieran asked. “You okay if I’m gone for the day?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Sidelle’s here, too.”
Sidelle crossed her arms. “Yeah. What am I, chopped liver? The pup and I can handle things for a few hours. Today, we’ll continue as normal: school, then we’ll go to K’s house to run another simulator level.”
“All right. It’s settled.” Kieran nodded.
We piled into our respective vehicles to go to school, and on the short drive over, I let myself dream that I might see Shay that night.
“Oh, hey, K,” I said as we pulled into the parking lot. “You know that red car at the far end?”
“Yes? What about it?”
“I’ve seen it before. Maybe last week. There’s something familiar about it, but I can’t put my finger on it. It’s been driving me crazy.”
He shrugged and pulled into his usual spot in the last row. “It has to be someone new. Maybe it’s Aiden’s because Jackson doesn’t get his license until this summer.”
“I’ve seen it around town, but that was before Aiden moved in next door.”
“Maybe you saw a car like it?”
“Yeah, maybe.” I shook my head. “But it’s pretty unique. We don’t get high end sports cars in town, this far out of the cities. They all look the same to me.”
“It is a super special edition. Audi only made one hundred in that specific model of the R8 GT V10 Spyder.”
I stepped out of the passenger side seat, swinging my bag over my shoulder. “Of course you’d know what make and model it is. Boys and their toys.”
Kieran escorted me into the building and to my locker. He leaned against the wall until Sidelle arrived.
“Okay,” he said, smiling at her. “Changing of the guards. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I watched Kieran leave the same way we’d come. My stomach had tied itself into knots, so I tried not to think about Shay. There was no way I was going to work myself up when the mission was based on a lead, not facts. I wouldn’t get excited until I held Shay in my arms.
The day progressed like any other. As Sidelle had warned, the teachers piled on the homework, apparently forgetting that this was a short week and the year was almost over. Nothing strange or out of the ordinary occurred, and I didn’t have to babysit Aiden. In fact, he wasn’t even at his locker in the morning. He was in all of my classes, but the teachers kept us busy the whole time, so I never got an opportunity to talk with him.
By lunchtime, a massive headache muscled its way in, so I was glad I had this one hour to relax and not worry about equations, reading assignments, or the history of whatever. Our table members were noticeably fewer than yesterday. Aiden sat with the Triangles and the other preppies, which was fine with me. He needed to branch out and make his own friends. Then I saw him lay his hand on Morgan’s thigh, which confused me. I thought he liked Quinn. That two-timing, no good—
“It’s not like that, Zoe,” Quinn said, following my gaze. “We’re not dating or anything. He’s free to do whatever he wants and be friends with whomever.” She glanced around. “Where’s Kieran?”
“He had to stay after in one of his classes.” I took a bite of my sandwich. “I just thought that you guys kinda hit it off yesterday.”
“We did, but it’s not like you can fall in love the first time you see—Plus, I’m dating Caden.”
She stopped when I gave her a sharp look. Shay and I had known. Well, maybe not the first time. It had taken a few days, but the first time I’d seem Shay fighting off those two DKs, I decided he was the hottest guy I’d ever laid eyes on. When we found out what the electrical current between us meant, that had sealed it.
“Oops, sorry, Z. That’s yours and Shay’s story. But for others, it’s different. That’s all I’m saying. Yes, there’s something there, but I didn’t see stars. So don’t go over there and make a scene.”
I tried to look shocked at the suggestion. “Me? Make a scene in front of the Triangles? Never.”
She giggled. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen on its own. Besides, I heard that Caden told him we were going to prom together.”
I decided to drop it since she apparently wanted me to. “Do you guys think Aiden looks like Shay?”
“You still on that?” Sidelle asked.
“Yes, because you and Kieran don’t think so.”
“Maybe a tad,” Cali said. “It’s the eyes and hair, but different, you know?”
“That’s what they both said.” I tilted my head toward Sidelle. “But I—”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Shay,” Rena said. “Is he out sick?” She frowned. “Zoe, I’m sorry I was being a bitch to you. I don’t know what I saw between you and Aiden and I know you wouldn’t hurt any one of us intentionally.”
“Let’s just pretend that lab never happened.” I nodded to her.
Pushing thoughts of Shay from my mind, I enjoyed the rest of lunch. Just hanging with the girls did small wonders for my mind and spirit. It was a nice change from all the heaviness going on in my life. But I felt guilty for trying to ignore my heart’s pull.
At the end of gym, I was finally able to snag Aiden’s shirt. “How was your second day of school?” I asked.
“Good. Getting to know everyone.”
With that he headed into the boys’ locker room, leaving me dumbfounded. Wow, was that a brush off or what? I’d have to ask him about that if he was at his window tonight. A little miffed, I entered the girls’ locker room to change, reminding myself that in a few more hours, Shay might—I erased that thought, unwilling to get my hopes up only to have them dashed. Shay was still missing.
I met Sidelle outside the gym doors. “You ready to go to K’s?” she asked. “Did you bring clothes to change into?”
“Yep, I’m all set,” I said. “Is Cali meeting us there?”
“No. We’ll swing by her locker after this. Vash would have Jackson’s hide if he wasn’t with her at all times. If anything were to happen to Cali on his watch—”
“I get it.” I stuffed notebooks and textbooks into my purple backpack. We walked down toward Cali’s locker as the school emptied for the day.