Soul Thief Read online

  “Let’s just keep it to one lesson per day in the future, okay?”

  “Sure thing.” Leander smiled at me. He took a strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear.

  “Oh, damn,” I cursed. “I have a Spanish test tomorrow. An F is just what I need.”

  “You won’t get an F. Just this once, we’re going to cheat a little. How about during the test, you mentally ask me all the questions and I’ll give you the responses?”

  “I didn’t think Angels were allowed to cheat.”

  “We’re Angels, not saints,” Leander joked. “Besides, you deserve a break after all this.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled at him. “You’re a great friend.”

  “I’m the best. You’ll learn that in time. I’ll get going now.” He leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss on my forehead. “Goodnight, Riley.”

  Chapter 15

  THE NEXT MORNING, my parents acted like I was a basket case. Mom had made my favorite breakfast, pancakes. They acted all chipper toward me but shot each other worried glances behind my back, probably thinking I was so out of it that I wouldn’t notice.

  “I’m fine,” I said as I sat down at the table. “Yesterday, I finally remembered everything that happened at the accident and it shook me up. I watched something terrible happen to a little boy.” I let what happened linger in the middle as I looked at my parents, not wanting to say it out loud in front of Cass. “It was too much to take in all at once, so my therapist gave me some pills to relax. I’m fine now, I can handle it, but it was just too much all at once.”

  At least there was a core of truth in there. I still felt bad lying to my parents.

  “How long have you been seeing a therapist?” Mom asked. “We didn’t know.”

  “The school suggested it. It’s been helpful though.”

  “That’s all that matters, honey,” Dad said. He put his hand on mine and squeezed it. “You could’ve told us though.”

  “I didn’t want to worry you.”

  “We always worry, that’s our job,” Mom said. “But I’m glad you’re feeling better.” She looked at Dad when she spoke, and even though her eyes still looked worried, she managed to smile at me.

  I ate three times my regular portion of pancakes as if I hadn’t eaten in weeks. Even then, my stomach still grumbled and insisted I eat more.

  Dad started reading the newspaper. He browsed through the pages, occasionally reading headlines out loud or commenting on an article, as he always did, saying things like, “The weatherman was wrong again,” or, “A car bumped into another car at the mall parking lot,” or “Who writes this stuff?” Right after another one of those comments, he paused, frowned and read in silence.

  Mom dumped another load of pancakes in front of me. “What’s wrong?” she asked Dad.

  “Another girl died in town. Emily Green. Do you know her? The name means nothing to me. Does she go to your school, Riley?”

  “Nope,” I shook my head, secretly glad I didn’t know her. Poor girl.

  “She already had some heart problems though. She had several surgeries before, but they thought she was fine.”

  “That poor girl,” Mom said. “Maybe we should send them a card with our condolences even though we don’t know her parents. If they’re from town…”

  “Riles,” Cass interrupted the conversation by pulling my sleeve. “Will you go with me to Gran’s tonight? We’re making Halloween stuff.”

  “Did Gran put you up to this?” I asked.

  She pursed her lips. “Don’t you want to see Gran Herbie?”

  “Fine.” I sighed. “I’ll come along, but I have tons of homework so we’re not staying long.”

  Cass smiled and threw her tiny arms around my neck. “I love you, Riles,” she said.

  * * *

  At lunch, I ate like a pig again until I felt like I could explode, which was not a great idea since we had gym class afterward. I wasn’t too fond of gym, but I didn’t hate it like Michelle did. As we walked to gym class, Katie was thrilled that school would be over soon because she had another date with the mystery guy that night, and Michelle nagged like an eighty-year-old because she didn’t want to work out.

  “You wouldn’t complain that much if you worked out a little,” Katie told Michelle. “Why don’t you join Craig and me on our runs?”

  “Since when do you two run?” I asked them. “And why didn’t you invite me?”

  “No offense, Riles, but you’re as thin as a stick. We were afraid if you started working out, you’d disappear altogether,” Craig said.

  “Very funny.”

  “I’d rather go to Hell and back than work out,” Michelle said. “I don’t even get why gym class is mandatory.”

  “It’s only two periods. You’ll survive,” I told her as I pushed open the door to the girls’ locker room.

  “See you in five,” Craig said as he walked on. Gym was his favorite class of the week for an entirely different reason — the guys’ locker room.

  I changed into my ill-fitting gym shorts and t-shirt. “I wish we didn’t look so ridiculous wearing this, though.”

  “I think we look great,” Katie said as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. “I hope we get to play volleyball.”

  We did get volleyball, as it turned out five minutes later. Katie raised her arms in victory and her enthusiasm earned her the title of team captain. She winked at me and I relaxed, knowing that for once, I’d get chosen first. I wasn’t that good at sports, but Katie being captain was even better for Michelle, who always got chosen last.

  Katie picked me first and in the second round she picked Craig. “Come on, pick Michelle,” I whispered to her.

  “Fine,” she sighed. “I was already planning to, no need to nag. But Craig is good and I wanted to pick him before the other team could.”

  Michelle walked over to our team after Katie shouted her name. She didn’t look any happier than before. “I spontaneously get stomach cramps every time I’m in gym,” she said.

  Katie rolled her eyes. After we made two teams, we took our places on the court. I stood in back and Katie in front. We positioned Michelle in the middle.

  The game started, and for a while the teams were each other’s equal. I was amazed by how easily I flew across the field. I didn’t even break a sweat after I ran back and forth a few times. My physical condition had clearly improved since I got my powers.

  The other team hit a ball my way and I hit it back as hard as I could. I didn’t even think about it, I just slammed the ball.

  Time slowed down. The ball shot through the air like a cannonball. It flew across the heads of the other team, straight into the wall on the other side of the large gym. If that wall hadn’t been there it would’ve kept going. The ball collapsed against the wall and fell down with a whooshing sound.

  “Damn, girl!” Craig said, “Since when do you hit so hard?”

  The gym teacher, Mr. Reilly, ran across the room to get the ball. He lifted up a deflated ball that looked like an elephant had stepped on it. “Looks like Miss Scott ruined our volleyball.” He didn’t sound mad though and he went into the practice locker to get another ball right away.

  A red flush appeared on my cheeks. Every one of my class members stared at me. “You’re not taking any drugs, are you?” Michelle asked me.

  “What? Of course not.”

  “All right, just asking. That was insane.”

  “The ball probably had a leak already,” I said. “No biggie. Can we focus on something else now? The game, for instance?”

  The coach reappeared with a new volleyball. He threw it to the other team and we started playing again.

  Although I still ran faster than I did a month ago, I was careful not to run too fast or hit too hard. But then the ball came straight at me. Reflexes kicked in, I twisted and then hit the
ball back.

  “Phew, impressive!” Craig said.

  Michelle frowned. She stared at me intently as if she was looking for something, a secret maybe.

  I kept my expression neutral. “Lucky shot.”

  But my comfort zone had been torn down and I was afraid to move. When the bell rang about fifteen minutes later, relief flooded over me like a tsunami.

  We all left the field and headed toward the locker rooms. “Well played,” Craig said, slapping me on the back. “Never thought you had it in you.”

  “I’m not a total klutz, you know. But thanks,” I said.

  “What are you doing after school?” Katie asked when she joined us. “I was thinking victory drinks at the Shack before I go on my date.”

  “I wish I could,” I told her, “but I promised Cassie I’d go with her to Gran’s.”

  “What’s going on with you?” Michelle demanded as she came in a few steps behind Katie. Her forehead glistened with sweat.

  “What do you mean?” Katie put her hands on her hips.

  “I don’t mean you, idiot. I mean her,” Michelle pointed at me. “You’re different.”

  “Hey, don’t be mean,” Katie said, rushing to my defense.

  “Will you look at her? She’s not even sweating a little. Even you, little Miss Perfect, have sweat dripping down your shirt.”

  Katie stared down her shirt and then looked at me.

  “I have good deodorant,” I said.

  “There.” Katie shrugged. “Good deodorant. Why do you always have to make a fuss about everything, Mich? So not cool.”

  Michelle snorted. She walked passed me and took her t-shirt off. “Guess it’s all in my mind then.”

  “Darn right it is,” Katie said.

  I smiled and changed my clothes as well. As I pulled my regular shirt over my head, I wondered how much longer I was going to be able to keep up pretenses.

  Chapter 16

  GRAN’S SHOP WAS BURSTING with people as usual for this time of the year. It seemed like everyone was afraid to go into an herbs and spell shop unless Halloween was right around the corner, as if that gave them an excuse to dabble in magic. The shop may have all kinds of strange stuff but I doubted you’d find many Halloween decorations there.

  Cassie and I had walked to the shop from her school. It was a long walk for her little legs but for me it was a great way to think about something else besides being an Angel of Death and having to lie to my parents, my friends, and possibly even myself.

  The good thing about going to Gran’s was that she was in the loop. The bad thing was that I was still pissed off at her.

  I used one hand to push open the door of the shop, which was followed by a cling-clang sound, and the other hand to usher Cassie inside.

  “Gran!” Cassie yelled, rushing up to the counter. Grandma stood behind the counter talking to a customer, but apparently my little sister didn’t think it would be rude to interrupt her.

  “If it isn’t my favorite grandchild,” Gran said. She picked Cassie up and twirled her around. She winked at me as she put Cassie down, but I didn’t even flinch. I may have been acting a little bitchy but I wasn’t ready to forgive her yet.

  “You’ll need root of a snake,” Gran said to the customer, who I recognized.

  “Hey Mrs. Mayfield,” I said with a nod.

  Mrs. Mayfield was a tall, slim woman who equaled my Gran in height but was probably only half her weight. She had long black hair falling around her head like a veil. She was one of the regulars in Gran’s shop.

  “Hey, Riley,” she said, smiling at me. She blinked a few times and her expression turned darker. “You’re positively glowing.”

  “Um.” I looked to Gran for support, but Gran was too focused on Mrs. Mayfield to notice my distraught expression.

  “She knows,” Gran said.

  My mouth dropped to the floor. So this woman, practically a stranger, was in on it as well? Had the entire town known about my heritage except me?

  I clenched my teeth and waited until Mrs. Mayfield had left to confront Gran. I sent Cassie on a mission to find a proper place to put the Halloween decorations and waited until Gran returned from letting Mrs. Mayfield out before I ambushed her.

  “What the heck, Gran? Did everyone know except me?” I hissed at her.

  “Of course not… don’t be so dramatic,” Gran snapped. “Clara Mayfield is a very gifted witch. She helped me to bind your powers when you were a baby.”

  I frowned. “I thought you were a ‘very gifted witch’ as well. At least, that’s what you’ve always said.”

  “I am. But to bind powers like that you need more than one witch. My entire coven helped out.”

  “Your… you have a coven? Oh great. Exactly how many supernaturals are running around the streets of Fairhaven?”

  “Our city was built straight on a crossing of ley lines,” Gran said. “Every supernatural in this state is attracted to it. Not all of them come here, of course, but whenever they need more power than they naturally have, this is their place to go.”

  “Great.” I snorted to emphasize my sarcasm. “What else don’t I know?”

  “Not now,” Gran said. “We’ll talk when the shop closes.”

  I shrugged. “Fine.” The shop was going to close in ten minutes anyway. I helped Gran with the register and locking up once the last customer, a man looking for a love potion, had stomped out after Gran informed him love potions don’t exist. Truth is, they do, but they’re way too dangerous and what you end up getting is infatuation, not love. Huge difference.

  We went upstairs and I sat down at the kitchen table while Gran got scissors, orange and black construction paper, and even a few pumpkins to carve.

  “Awesome!” Cassie yelled at the sight of the scissors. She immediately attacked the paper.

  “Now, what else did you want to tell me?” I asked Gran. When Cassie was in the zone she wouldn’t pay attention to us anyway.

  “I wanted to ask how you’re doing. Your aura is all over the place.”

  “You can see auras now? Great.” I crossed my arms and leaned back in my seat. “I hate having to lie to everyone. I still haven’t gotten over how my Dad isn’t… you know.” Even though I was confident Cassie wasn’t listening to a word we said, I didn’t want to take the risk. “We had gym today and I screwed up. I moved too fast, I hit the ball too hard. When I don’t pay attention, I don’t know the end of my strength.”

  “It’s a lot to get used to,” Gran agreed. “Go on.”

  “Leander — my Guardian — took me to collect a soul. It was amazing but scary too, because afterward my energy had completely drained away. I slept for hours and no one could wake me up. Leander was scared I wouldn’t wake up at all.”

  “That’s normal,” Gran said. “When I found out I was a witch, my powers drained as quickly as a leaking basin whenever I practiced. It takes time. The more your powers grow the less energy you’ll use.”

  “That’s what Leander said. I hope you two are right.”

  “How is he? Your Guardian? Is he very strict, or is he nice?” Gran asked it innocently enough, but she stared intently at my face and I knew her well enough by now to know that she was actually asking an entirely different question.

  “Does my aura give that away as well?”

  “It calms down when you talk about him. Right now it’s a whirlwind, a tornado of emotions and thoughts. But when you mention him there’s a slight pause.”

  “And that means?”

  She shrugged, but a faint smile played on her lips. “You tell me.”

  “My parents think I went on a date with him. Long story.”

  “And did they approve?” Gran raised an eyebrow. “How old does he look?”

  “He looks about twenty.”

  “Lucky girl,” Gran joked. I
realized she was trying to cheer me up but she wasn’t really helping.

  “I wanted to kiss him,” I blurted out. I had no idea why I told her, maybe because she was the only person who’d fully understand the depth of what was going on. “Yesterday. We just finished building a mental barrier in my mind, I was dead tired and all I could think about was kissing him.”

  “Well, why didn’t you?” Gran asked. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard you talk about wanting to kiss someone. It’s always been, ‘Ugh, Gran, boys are yuck.’“

  “I didn’t say that,” I defended myself. “Did I?”

  “Yes… all the time. When was the last time you went on a date, other than the one you had with this guy?”

  “Um. It’s been a while.”

  “Like forever?”

  “Well, I did go for ice cream once…” I looked down at my lap. “Fine, I’ll admit it, I’m pathetic. Michelle goes on more dates than I do and she’s a self-proclaimed hermit.”

  “It’s not pathetic, Riles,” Gran said. She reached out and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “You’ve just never been interested in a guy, and that’s okay. You’re sixteen. It’s about time you were interested, sure, but if you haven’t met any guys worth liking yet, that’s fine.”

  “But he’s my Guardian. It would be wrong in about a thousand different ways.”

  “You want to kiss him, Riles, not marry him. It’s not like Angels are allergic to kisses. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  “What if he’s not interested in me?”

  Gran snorted. “Does he have eyes? If he has, then he’s interested.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Gran, I know you’re supposed to think I’m beautiful because I’m your granddaughter, but I guarantee not everyone will think the same way.”

  “If he doesn’t, then screw him.”

  “That would be tough because I’m stuck with him for the rest of my semi-immortal life. It’ll make things awkward.”

  “How long has he been alive?” Gran asked. “A rough estimate.”

  “I don’t know. I never asked. Where are you going with this?”