Soul Thief Page 12

  “I take it he’s been around at least a few centuries. Do you think it’ll be the first time someone hits on him that he isn’t interested in? I doubt that. You may still be in high school, sweet Riles, but he isn’t.”

  I bit my lower lip. “What do I have to offer a guy who’s lived in Venice in the 1700s, who’s talked to Queen Elizabeth I, who’s lived a hundred lives before?”

  “That’s the wrong question.” Gran shook her head. “You teenagers nowadays make everything over complicated. It’s not about what you have to offer. It’s about what you want. You want to kiss him? You go ahead and kiss him. Don’t think about the consequences, just do it. So he may reject you. Booyah, who cares, you still got that kiss. God knows, he may even kiss you back.”

  “And then what?”

  “Then nothing. Why insist on making this so complicated?” She shook her head. “In my day, we kissed anyone we liked, when we liked it and how we liked it.”

  “You were a new age hippie, Gran, I’m not.”

  “But you only live once, Riley, one lifetime to act a little crazy.”

  “Apparently my life span has been prolonged by a few centuries at least,” I said. “I’m not sure how to feel about that either.”

  “You count your blessings. Most of us only get a century at most. You’ll have many more centuries.”

  “But Gran… .the afterlife looks amazing. Not that I want to go right now of course, but it seemed like the kind of place I want to end up in within eighty years or so, when I’m old and withered. I want to be there with you, with my parents, with everyone I love, not stuck here on my own.”

  “There are ways to kill Angels,” she said to me. Her voice sounded harsher, and the grip on my arm grew tighter. “But it may well be possible that when the time comes you’ll have lost your desire to have an afterlife with the rest of us.” She paused and let go of me. “You shouldn’t think that far ahead in the future, sweetheart. You’re worrying yourself about things decades away.”

  “I know. It’s just that everything is ambushing me at once. And I’m totally failing school. Now don’t give me a speech about how school is important,” I told her.

  “I wasn’t planning to.”

  “Because I know it is, but I just haven’t had time for homework or studying.”

  “Life will relax again soon.” She patted me on the back.

  “Gran?” I asked. “I’m glad we talked.” I took her hand and squeezed it. Neither of us said anything, but it was obvious she knew I’d forgiven her and it was obvious to me that she loved me.

  “We should get going now,” I said. “How are your Halloween decorations going, Cassie?”

  As I suspected, she didn’t even respond. My sister was entirely “in the zone”.

  “If you need help with anything, you know where to find me. And when you finally do get around to kissing that boy, I expect a phone call,” Gran said. She pushed her chair back to get up and pulled me into a hug. “Take care,” she said, before kissing me on the cheek.

  “I will. See you Sunday at family dinner?”

  “Nope. I’m going dancing with this guy I met. His name is Randalph and I’ll tell you all about him next week at family dinner.”

  “Ugh.” I pulled a disgusted face. “How can you date someone at your age?” I teased her.

  Gran’s mouth dropped open, and I started laughing. “I got you there, right? Anyway, I’m curious about this Randalph guy. You better make sure you have a decent story to tell.”

  “Same goes for you,” she shot back at me.

  “Come on, Cassie, we’re going,” I said, shaking her shoulders slightly. Cassie looked up at me.

  “What do you think of my decorations?” she asked.

  “They look amazing. But we have to get home. Mom’s making chicken nuggets, remember?”

  “Yep. All right,” Cassie said, jumping off the chair. “You’ll use them, won’t you, Gran?”

  “Of course, honey,” Gran said. She lifted up one of the papers which Cassie had cut into the shape of an anorexic zebra. “Very Halloween-y.”

  I helped Cassie put her coat on. “You know, Riles,” she said while she pushed her arm through one of the sleeves. “I kissed a boy last week.”

  “Did you now?” I asked her. “Why?”

  “Why?” Cassie sniffed. “Because I wanted to, that’s why.”

  “And why are you telling me this?”

  “I heard what you said to Gran. If you want to kiss that boy, go kiss him. Don’t whine about it.”

  “I’m not… great, now I’m getting love advice from my six year old sister and my seventy year old grandma.” I sighed and put my hand on her back while I led her outside. Then I grabbed her hand.

  “You’re such a scaredy-pants,” Cassie complained.

  The worst part was that my kid sister was right.

  Chapter 17

  SATURDAY ROLLED IN before I even noticed the week had passed by. The schedule for the day was empty, which was the best thing that happened to me since the accident. I longed to spend a day doing nothing, besides maybe some homework and playing the new video game my Dad had bought halfway through the week, and which he’d kept nagging me to play with him.

  Leander was at a Guardian meeting, which sounded very much like an AA meeting or a secret cult meeting. He assured me it only happened once a year so I shouldn’t enjoy my new-found freedom too much. After spending several hours a day with him for the past few weeks, I sort of missed having him around.

  After breakfast and a long, hot bath, I got a call from Katie. “What’s up?” I asked as I picked up.

  “Do you want to hang out tonight?” Katie asked. “We’d go to Gravey’s place.”

  Gravey’s place was a fancy, uptown establishment for high schoolers who liked to spend their weekends partying and drinking non-alcoholic cocktails. It was expensive as hell and I’d wasted much of my weekly allowance there in the past.

  “I don’t know, I was thinking about taking a night off to relax, maybe even watch a movie. I rented the Phantom Menace already.”

  “Again with the Star Wars crap? Apparently Michelle isn’t my only nerd friend anymore.” Katie sighed loudly through the telephone. “Come on, Riles, it’ll be fun. Craig and Mich are coming too. And you know that guy I’m seeing?”

  “Yeah. What’s his name again?”

  “Myron. Jeez, is it too much to remember even for a day? He’s coming too, and he’s excited to meet all of you.”

  I sighed and looked around. I was sprawled on the couch and I’d already made quite the comfortable hole for myself. I had a large bottle of soda on the table and three bags of chips; I didn’t need to get up except for bathroom breaks.

  But Katie was really into this guy, and if I didn’t go she’d think I didn’t care, which wasn’t true.

  “Fine. What time?” I asked, immediately regretting it.

  “Awesome! You’re the best, Riles. I’ll come pick you up at eight. Wear something nice but not too nice. I don’t want him to look at any girl but me.”

  “How do you want to do that, blind him?” I laughed. “Trust me, Katie, he’ll only have eyes for you no matter what I wear.”

  “You better hope so,” she said. “I can’t wait for you guys to meet him. Should I wear the red dress we bought last month, or the black one I wore to Charlene’s party?”

  “Go for red,” I suggested. “You always look great in that.”

  “Thanks, Riles. See you tonight!”

  She hung up and I slumped back down in the couch. I grabbed the remote control and put the TV on.

  “Just another minute and then the popcorn will be done,” Dad said from inside the kitchen. He’d practically jumped up and down when I told him I finally had time to play the video game with him and then he’d decided to reward me with popcorn even
though it was still Saturday morning. Mom and Cassie had gone out shopping and I didn’t miss them for a second.

  I glanced at my cell phone. Should I text Leander? I could act cool and tell him that if he was bored tonight he could come join us at Gravey’s place. On the other hand, I’d see him on Monday, and if I texted now I might come across as desperate.

  Then again, it was just a friendly invitation. I wanted him to be my friend as well as my mentor, and that meant inviting him for stuff like this.

  I bit my lower lip. Go for it, Riley. Don’t be a scaredy-pants.

  I grabbed my cell phone and typed the first message that came to mind. Hey! My friends and I are going to this bar tonight, Gravey’s Place. If you aren’t dead from boredom by then, feel free to join us.

  Before I could stop myself, I hit the ‘send’ button and immediately wanted to slap my head into a pillow. If that text message didn’t have desperation written all over it, I didn’t know what had.

  Dad appeared in the doorway holding two huge bowls of popcorn. “Are you ready to lose?” he asked. “Because I’m going to kick your ass.”

  “We’ll see about that.” He gave me one of the popcorn bowls and tossed me the remote. “Game on,” I said.

  * * *

  At eight o’clock I waited in the living room, completely dressed up but in a sour mood. Leander still hadn’t texted back. Maybe I should’ve sent him a telepathic message instead. Maybe there was no cell phone reception at the Guardian meeting. Or maybe he was in the middle of some wild party with the rest of the Guardians. Either way, I didn’t want to send a message telepathically because it would look totally desperate if I sent a text message and then a mental one too.

  Regardless, I’d dressed up a little in the faint hope he’d show up to surprise me. I wore a dark blue skirt that came halfway down my thighs and a tank top that emphasized the small amount of cleavage I had. Even though Katie had specifically told me not to get too dressed up, I’d spent more time in the bathroom today than in our previous four trips to Gravey’s Place combined.

  Katie’s car horn blasted from outside. I gave Dad a quick kiss on the cheek, promised Mom I’d be home by one o’clock — the official closing time of the club — and ran outside. My heels, a good few inches taller than I usually wore, clicked on the sidewalk.

  Katie’s eyes went wide when she saw me. She looked gorgeous as usual, with meticulous make up and a beautiful, tight-fitting dress. I rushed to the passenger seat and got in.

  “I thought I told you not to get too dressed up. What’s this? I’ve never… are you wearing make up?”

  “I am,” I replied. “And relax, it’s not because I want to impress your date.”

  “Then why the heck is it? I’ve told you time and time again to dress up a little when we go out and you’ve always ignored my advice. Why go for it now?”

  “Because Leander might show up. I texted him about it but I’m not sure if he’ll come.”

  “Oh.” Katie grinned. “You’ve got it bad too, girl. By the way, did you read the newspaper today?”

  “No. Why?”

  “There was an article about that Emily Green girl who died last week from a heart attack. Her parents keep insisting she was fine,” Katie said as she started the car. “She had some heart issues, but years ago. She looked fine but she wore a heart monitor and the thing didn’t even act up.”

  “So what was it then if not a heart attack?”

  “Her parents think she was murdered.”

  I frowned and checked my make up in the mirror. “How can you murder someone and make it look like a heart attack? Even if so, were there signs of a break in? That theory doesn’t make sense at all.”

  “You tell me. I guess they feel guilty. Maybe they feel like they should’ve known something would happen. By blaming a third person they can push the blame away from themselves.”

  “Since when did you become so knowledgeable about criminal behavior? Watching too much CSI?”

  “Well, I was thinking about studying psychology after high school. The human psyche intrigues me.”

  “Good for you.” I was impressed — usually Katie didn’t manage to think even one day ahead. “If this is all thanks to that new guy you’re dating, then I like him already.”

  “Hah,” Katie replied. “You’ll like him. He’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”

  Chapter 18

  ABOUT HALF AN HOUR LATER, we arrived at the bar and found an empty table. Craig and Michelle walked in shortly afterward. Both were dressed in jeans. Craig wore a tight tee shirt and red skinny jeans that screamed for attention, and Michelle wore a loose-fitting floral jumper for the occasion.

  The club was already quite crowded. I recognized several people from high school. The lights were so low that it looked like the middle of the night inside the club, so I only recognized them when they were nearly in my face.

  The waiter came and we ordered a round of non-alcoholic cocktails.

  “So when will he be here?” Michelle asked. “You managed to spark my curiosity.”

  “He’ll be here any moment. He just texted me he’s running a little late,” Katie said. “How do I look?”

  “You look great,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “That’s about the tenth time you’ve asked though. Surely this guy must like you for more than your looks.”

  Katie sighed. “I know. It’s just that he’s way out of my league. You’ll see once he gets here.”

  The waiter came with our drinks and I glanced at my cell phone. Still no message back from Leander. I was an idiot. How could I think for a second that a supernatural being who has lived for centuries would even be remotely interested in me? Besides, maybe inviting him here wasn’t a good idea anyway. My friends might think it was great that I was dating my psychologist, but what if the other kids from school saw me?

  I looked up and spotted a faint, golden glow at the back of the club. I blinked a few times. Had Leander come here unannounced to surprise me? A wave of relief flooded over me.

  The golden glow approached us but I still couldn’t make out who it was. It might as well be Diane or another Angel. The glow was the only thing visible in the darkness.

  Then it stopped. I got the distinct feeling the supernatural being was watching me. Then it disappeared, simply teleported out of there.

  Nobody seemed to have noticed because there were no cries of surprise.

  The illusion that it might have been Leander was shattered, but who was it then?

  “What is taking him so long?” Katie muttered from beside me, and I forgot all about the Angel disappearing when it saw me. She pushed a few buttons on her cell phone, probably sending her date another text.

  “Maybe there’s a long line at the door,” Michelle suggested. She looked at me with a look that said if necessary I would have to do damage control. “I’m sure he’ll get here any minute.”

  Fifteen minutes passed, which we spent mostly by making jokes about our teachers, and Katie and I spent looking at our cell phones for more time than was normal. Katie tried to call Myron but he didn’t pick up.

  “I’m sorry to say this,” Craig said, “but I think he stood you up.”

  “He’d never do that,” Katie said. “At least, I hope not.” Tears in the corners of her eyes threatened to ruin her perfectly-applied mascara.

  I put my arm around her shoulders and shot a concerned look at her. In all the years I’d known her, I’d never seen Katie like this, so vulnerable. She must have it really hard for this guy.

  “What do you say we go dancing?” I suggested. “It’ll keep your mind off things. If he stood you up, then he’s not worth it.”

  “But I don’t get it,” she said. “He said he’d be here. He even texted me he was on his way. Then he doesn’t show up. What if something happened? What if he got into a car accident?”


  “You know what? If you like, we can go take a quick look outside. If there’s no sign of his car in the parking lot, or him standing in line to get in, then at least you know he’s safe. An idiot, but safe,” I said.

  “Fine,” Katie agreed. I took her hand and we went outside, making our way through the armada of dancing people all around us. The crisp night air swirled around my face.

  “Kind of chilly,” Katie said, wrapping her arms around herself.

  “There’s a line waiting to get in,” I said, nodding toward a long line of people waiting in front of the building. “Maybe you can look for him there, while I go check the parking lot.”

  “I’m not sure if it’s wise to split up,” Katie said.

  “I’ll be fine. Tell me what his car looks like.”

  “You can’t miss it.” She gave me the license plate number and a description — black low rider with tinted windows — and I hurried off toward the parking lot.

  I was never one to be afraid, but I was glad I had supernatural strength on my side now. A few guys hung out at the back of the parking lot and they started whistling suggestively and shouting at me as soon as they noticed me. I refused to acknowledge their existence and instead searched the place from top to bottom.

  “What are you looking for, girlie?” one of the guys asked. They wore hoodies so their faces were in shadow, but they didn’t look that much older than me.

  I ignored his question. There were a few black sports cars in the parking lot but none with the license plate number Katie had given me. Stupid moron of a guy, standing up my best friend. Stupid Leander, standing me up.

  “Are you all alone?” another guy leered. “It’s not safe to be out alone in the dark.”

  How cliché, I thought. The only cars I hadn’t checked yet were the ones closer to the little group. I was almost one hundred percent certain there would be no car to match Katie’s description but I’d probably end up feeling guilty all night if I didn’t check over there.

  I took a few steps toward the little gang of hoodies. My stomach clenched and a shiver of fear ran down my spine. Or maybe it wasn’t really fear, more like a warning. My gut told me not to get any closer and I decided guilt didn’t outweigh being attacked. Even though I had supernatural strength, it was still five against one.