Night World : Huntress Chapter 13

The kiss was warm and sweet. Not frigh tening. Jez felt up up herself relax in Morgeads arms before she knewwhat she was doing. His heart was beating so fast against hers. She felt dizzy, moreover safe, as well a wonderful geting. further the approach of his assessment was an an new(prenominal)(prenominal) thing. It was upright like the first cartridge clip that terrible, irresistible pull assaying to suck her soul prohibited and potpourri it with Morgeads until they were both one person. Until he knew her ever soy secret and she had no dress to hide.And the worst thing Was that she knew it wasnt Morgead doing it. It was that outside force doing it toboth of them, carrying them on helplessly.Whether we indispens adequate to(p)ness it or not. And we dont ask it, Jez told herself desperately. We both hate it. uncompleteof us lacks to divide our souls.But then why was he unfluste inflamed retention her, comfort kissing her? And why was she letting him?At that instant she felt his mind touch hers, r distri moreoverivelying through the smoke-screen of protection shedthr birth virtually herself to confrontation her thoughts as lightly as a moths wing. She recognized Morgeadsessence in it she could shade his soul, glum and bright and full of fierce emotion for her. He was openinghimself to her not resolveing to fight this or nonetheless holding cover song. He was passing play farther than the pull forced himto, giving himself to her freely.It was a gift that sent her reeling. And she couldnt resist it. Her mind flowed out of its throw accord totouch his, tendrils of thought wrapping close to his gratefully. The shock of cheer when she let it happenwas frightening-except that she couldnt be frightened some(prenominal)more, not straight off. And then she felt him respond, felt his happiness, felt his thoughts enfolding hers, holding her mind asmildly as his arms held her body. And white light exploded behind her look.Jez Morgead Whats p ersecute with you two?The thought was foreign, cold, and un wishinged. It broke into Jezs warm little humanity and rattled aroundannoyingly. Jez well-tried to push it away.Hey, look Im just trying to help. If you guys are alive, then, like give us a sign, okay?Morgead do a sound like a mental groan. Its Vol. I study to kill him.Im going to help, Jez told him. thence well-nighthing occurred to her. Oh- stop. W here(predicate) are we ?It was a good question. A weird but necessary question. It as well ask them a mammaent to untangle theirthoughts from to each one other and rise back to the real arena.Where they revealmed to be sitting under the ruins of a redbud tree, arms around each other, Jezs head onMorgeads shoulder, Morgeads face pressed into Jezs hair.At to the lowest degree we werent still kissing, Jez thought abstractedly. She could feel herself flushing scarlet. The restof the gang was stand up around them, looking down with hard roll spirits.What do you guys want? Morgead said brusquely.What do we want? Raven leaned forward, dark hair swinging. Jez actually saw both her midnight blueeyes underneath. You terce jumped off the roof just as the fire got out of control. We put it out andcame down to take on if you were still alive- and then we find you here hanging on to each other and totallyout of it. And you want to k straight what we want? We want to know if youre okay.Were fine, Morgead said. He didnt say anything more, and Jez understood. Neither of them had anydesire to talk about it in front of other people. That could wait until they were alone, until it was the right while.They didnt need to express this to each other. Jez simply knew, and knew that he knew.What about her? Thistle pointed to Iona, still asleep on the sidewalk.Jez was al correct moving to the child. She canvass the little body over, noted the all the same breathing spelling and thepeaceful expression.Shes fine, too, she said, cave in back. She held Thistles g aze. No thanks to you.Thistles cheeks were pink. She looked angry, embarrassed, and defensive. Shes just a human.Shes a kid Morgead yelled, wound up to his feet. He towered over Thistle, who suddenly lookedvery small. Which youre not, he went on unsym-pathetically. Youre just a-a sixteen-year-old ShirleyTemple-wannabe.All right, both of you Jez said sharply. She waited until they shut up and looked at her before continuing. You-be quiet and let me take care of things, she said to Morgead. And you-if you ever tryto hurt a kid again, Ill knock your head off. This to Thistle, who undetermined her mouth, but then shut it againwithout speaking.Jez nodded. Okay, thats settled. today weve got to get this daughter home.Val stared at her. Home?Yeah, Val. Jez picked the child up. In case you missed aroundthing, shes not the Wild force-out.But Val wriggled his broad shoulders uncomfortably and looked at Morgead. You mean youwere unseasonable? in that locations a first time for everythin g, right? Morgead glared at him.But, then-who is the Wild superpower? Raven put in quietly.Who knows? It was the first time hurl had spoken, and his persona was low and distantly amused.Jez glanced at him. His blond hair glinted in the red light of the sunset, and his dark eyes were mocking.I authentically dont think I like you much, she thought.But of course he was right If this kid isnt the one-well, I guess it could crap been anybody at thescene, she said loathly. Anybody worried enough to want to save her. One of the firefighters, aneighbor-anybody.Assuming the blue flash on the tape really was evidence of a Wild Power, Pierce said.I think it was. Jez glanced at Morgead. It sure looked like blue fire. And it certainly was some kind ofPower.And Grandma Harman dreamed about the Wild Power be in San Francisco, Morgead added. It allfits too well. He looked at Jez slyly. But it couldnt assimilate been anybody at the scene, you know.Why not?Because of what you said about that line in the prophecy. Born in the year of the blind Maidens vision.That means it has to be person born less than eighteen years ago. Before that, Aradia couldnt reservevisions because she wasnt alive.Goddess, Im slow today, Jez thought. I should have thought of that. She gave him a wry nod of obeisance and he re rancid it with a grin. Not maliciously.Its still not much to go on, Raven said in her pragmatic way. But dont you think we should go backinside to discuss it? Somebodys going to come along in the end and see us with an unconscious kid.Good point, Jez said. But Im not going up with you. Im taking the kid home.Me, too, Morgead said. Jez glanced at him he had his stubborn expression on. Okay, but just us. Two motorcycles are going to be fulgent enough. She turned to Raven. Therest of you can do what you want tonight try to figure out who the Wild Power is or whatever. Well suitable again tomorrow and see what weve come up with.Why wait? Val said. Its only if dusk. We could meet tonight-Tm tired, Jez cut in. Its enough for the day. And Goddess knows how Im going to explicate being gonethis long to Aunt Nan, she thought wearily. Not to notice missing school.Pierce was watching her with an odd expression. So youll have to announce to Hunter that we failed, hesaid, and there was a probing tone in his voice that Jez didnt like.Yeah, Ill tell him you screwed up, she said heavily. But that we still have some options. Unless youdrather I just tell him that youre all idiots and not price giving a second chance. She kept looking atPierce until he looked away.When she turned to Morgead he was scowling, but he didnt say anything. He silently started towardtheir wheel arounds.They couldnt talk while they were riding. Jez was too full of her own thoughts anyway.She was last free to consider those last minutes with Morgead.It had been amazing. Electrifying. But also enlightening.She knew now what had happened to them, what was happening. He had been right. It was thesoul-mate principle.So were soulmates. Morgead and I. After all our fighting and challenging each other and everything. Itsso strange, but in a way it claims sense, too.And its really a pity that even if we both survive the adjacent week or so, were neer going to see eachother again.The thought came from some deep routine of her that was utterly heartless and hard-nosed and saw everythingin the cold light of truth.Because unfortunately the universe had picked the amiss(p) person for Jez to be soulmates with. It hadpicked one that would hate her and want to kill her at once he agnise what she really was.Bad mistake, universe, Jez thought, biting down on a laugh. She realized, dimly, that she was verging onbeing hysterical.It had been such a long day, and she was so tired, and so hurt, and shed failed in her mission, and nowMorgead was in love with her, but there was just no hope. Small wonder she was punchy and anemotional wreck. She was lucky not to be railing off her bike.There really was no hope. hitherto in that last encounter, even when Morgead had been revealing his soulto her, Jez had managed to keep her own secrets buried. He didnt know. He had no idea that the girl hewas in love with was vermin. Was working with Circle Daybreak. Was lying to him to steal the Wild Power out from under his nose and end the hopes of the vampires for a world without humans.He was ambitious, she had always known that. All hed ever cared about was climbing high and gettingmore power. Shed promised him a position in the new world order-while all the time she was working ashard as she could to go for sure that the new world order never came.He would never forgive that deception. He would never even be able to construe why she had done it.So you have to forget about him, the cold-and-practical part of her mind said quietly. And there wasnothing inside Jez that even tried to argue.It was dark by the time they reached the Marina district. As they approached the accommodate project, Jezsaw flashing lights ahead.Police car lights. Well, that wasnt un holded. Ionas mother would have notified them by now. Jez justhoped she wasnt too worried.Idiot her mind said sarcastically. How worried do you expect her to be, with it getting dark and hereight-year-old missing?She turned into an alley and Morgead followed her.Well have to do a stupefy-by, she said over the thrum of the engines. Drop her by the police cars andthen shoot out of there. Theyll probably chase us. atomic number 18 you up for it?He nodded. We should go separate ways. Thatll make it harder for them to catch us.Right. You go on home once you lose them. So will I.She couldnt see his features clearly in the dark alley, but she knew he was looking at her. So will you?Go home?I mean Ill go to the place where Im staying.She expected him to ask about that, try to find out where it was, what she was doing. He didnt Insteadhe said, Do you have to?She bunked at him, startled. therefore s he frowned. Yes, I have to. I want to. Im tired, Morgead, andanyway Im not ready to be spending the night with a guy.I didnt mean that-Jez waved a hand. I know. Im sorry. But Im still tired, and- And Ive got other responsibilities thatyou dont understand. And if I stick around you any longer, while Im this tired, Im afraid that youregoing to find out what they are.And youre still mad, he said bleakly.Tm not mad- Or disgusted or whatever.What was he talking about? Tm just tired, shesaid firmly. Now lets drop the kid off, and Ill see you tomorrow.I- He let out his breath violently. All right.Jez didnt waste any more time. She unzipped her jacket, which had been holding Iona firmly against her.Then she sped out into the street.One block, two blocks. And now she was right beside the dark and remiss playground, and now shewas almost level with the police cars. There were several officers standing around talking, and severalother bystanders who might be neighbors.Jez targeted one of the neighbors.She swooped in toward the woman, who was on the outside edge of the sidewalk. She came up fast,then hit the brakes.Hey, she said. Here.The woman turned around and her jaw dropped. Jez didnt hesitate, just bundled Iona into her arms.The woman grabbed the childs weight automatically. introduce her to her mom, okay?And then Jez was roaring out and away. She could hear Morgead behind her, and shouts from thehousing project. Then a police siren.She glanced back. Morgead was just turning on a side street. He waved once at her, and then he was move off.Jez could hear more sirens now. She twisted the throttle and headed for the Bay Bridge.At least a pursuit was something she could enjoy.When she finally shook the police cars tailing her, she turned toward Clayton. She would havebeen worried about what her aunt and uncle were going to say if she hadnt already been too worriedabout Iona.Shell be all right, she told herself. She shouldnt remember anything, and her mom will take care of her.But Jez couldnt help but feel guilty and just plain sad. There was some sort of fond regard between herand the child. She felt-responsible for her, and not just because shed kidnapped and terrorized her.Nobody should have to grow up in that kind of place. I may have run around on the streets when I waslittle, but at least I had Uncle Bracken, and a nice home to go to if I wanted. Iona-she doesnt even havea safe playground. I should do something for her, but what can I do that would matter?I dont know maybe I can inflict her sometime. Maybe I can buy her a plant.There werent any easy answers, and she was drawing up to a neat white-livered frame house.Home.Time, Jez thought, to face the music. Uncle Jim and Aunt Nan and nasty little Claire. She just hoped theyleft enough of her alive so that she could call Hugh afterward.She pulled her motorcycle into the gafad, climbed off, and went inside. at all is bad enough, But to do it the day after you make us a promise-well, what a re we suppositional tothink? How are we supposed to trust you again?Jez was sitting on the blue floral set in the life room. The Goddard living room didnt get used much,only for very formal occasions.This was one of them. It was a court martial.And there wasnt really a thing that Jez could say to the humans she lived with. She certainly couldnt givethem any excuse that would make sense.First, ditching Claire even though you swore to us that youd let her drive you to school. Aunt Nanamiwas ticking items off on her fingers. Second, ditching school after you swore to us you werent going toskip again. Third, going off some place you wont even tell us about. Fourth, not even calling to let usknow you were still alive. Fifth, getting home at almost ten oclock at night-Uncle Jim cleared his throat. Nan, I think weve been over this already.A twain of times, Jez thought. Oh, well, at least Claire is enjoying it. Her cousin was standing at theentrance to the living room, openly listening. When she happened to catch Jezs eye she smiled brilliantly,her small face actually eager with smug satisfaction.Aunt Nan was shaking her head. I just want to make sure she understands, Jim. I thought sheunderstood last night, but obviously She threw her hands up.Well, the thing is- Uncle Jim cleared his throat again and looked at Jez. He looked uncomfortable hewasnt very good at discipline, but Jezcould see that hed reached his limit. The thing is that we cant just keep yelling at you. We have to dosomething, Jez. So weve decided to lock up your motorcycle. You cant ride it anymore, not until you con to be more responsible.Jez sat stunned.Not her bike. They couldnt take her bike from her.How would she get anywhere? She had to be mobile. She had to get to Morgead tomorrow-she had to get to Hugh sometime. She hadto be able to track down the Wild Power. And she couldnt do any of that without transportation.But she could see from Uncle Jims face that he was serious. Hed finally decide d to put his foot down,and Jez had gotten caught underneath it.She let out her breath. Part of her wanted to yell and storm and rage about this, to lose control andmake a big screaky fuss.But it wouldnt do any good. Besides, shed managed to keep her temper for almost a year with thesepeople, to live her double life as a student and vampire hunter and make it all work. To blow that nowwould be stupid.And another part of her was scared that she was even verging on losing control. That was what even aday with Morgead did to her. It cut through all her careful discipline and changed her back into a ravingbarbarian.Morgead she couldnt think about him now.Okay, Uncle Jim, she said out loud. I understand. You do what you have to.If you can just show us that youre tuition to be responsible, then you can have the bike back. Youhave to learn to take life more seriously, Jez.That forced a tired puff out of her. She was laughing before she knew it, and her aunt and uncle werelooking shocked and displeased.Im sorry, she said. Ill try harder.And Ill just have to take public transportation tomorrow, she thought when the lather was over and shewas free to go to her room. Even though thats a bevy more dangerous. I could get hunted down so easily. .. .You messed with the wrong person, you know? Claire said as Jez reached her door. You shouldnthave dumped me like that. You shouldnt make me mad.Yeah, Claire well, now I know better. Im terrified.Youre still not taking things seriously, are you?Claire- Jez round on the smaller girl. Then she stopped dead. I dont have time for this, shemuttered. I have to make a call. You just run along and harass somebody else.She shut the bedroom door in Claires face.Which, she realized later, was a mistake. At the time, though, she was too tired to think about it.She was too tired to think properly at all. Tired and distraught, with the feeling that everything was shutting in and happening too fast.And so when she picked up the phone to op erate Hugh she hardly noticed the little click on the line, and shedidnt stop for even a second to consider what it meant.