Dark Seeker Page 12

  He inched closer to her. “Let’s just say you’re wrong. Will you go with me to the dance?”

  “No.” She scooted to the edge of the cushion.

  “Is it because you don’t like me?” he pressed.

  “No, I mean, I don’t know,” she stuttered.

  Matt scanned the room and settled on the sofa table. Her rose was displayed in a small crystal vase. She hadn’t realized her mother put it there. “The day you saved me, I smiled at you after class.” He paused in thought. Janie’s eyes widened; he remembered. “I liked you before you stopped that vampire thing from draining my blood.”

  Janie thought back to the day of the match, at Ava’s locker between classes, before she had to rescue him from being killed by a Daychild that evening…

  As Ava bent over to retrieve her book, she saw Matt Baker exiting the classroom behind her. Matt offered Janie a genuine smile. Ava stood up, blocking Janie’s view of the star wrestler. Not that Janie cared. She had a job to do. That was it. Anything else just complicated things.

  “I didn’t smile back,” Janie said, returning to the present. “It’s not that I didn’t want to—”

  Matt waved it off, signaling that it was okay. “You don’t have to explain yourself. Biology kind of sucks, with all the cheerleaders, and Molly. I didn’t really expect to get a response from you.”

  She tried to explain. “Even if you did like me before that night, I don’t think me saving your life helped the situation. You don’t really feel the way you think you do about me.”

  “And how exactly do you know this, considering I’ve never told you how I feel?”

  Janie realized he was right. He’d never actually told her how he felt. She just assumed. She wasn’t the type jocks usually fell for. Maybe Isabelle was right. Janie had blown the whole situation out of proportion. Maybe she hadn’t Imprinted him after all. “I feel like a fool. I shouldn’t have assumed. I’m sorry.” She met his hazel eyes.

  A satisfied smile formed on his face. “So now that it’s settled, will you go with me? I’d hate to have to keep asking you every day so that you’d get so annoyed with me that you’d say yes just to get me to shut up.”

  “You’d do that?” It was creepy and romantic at the same time.

  “Do you really want to find out?”

  “What about Molly? Aren’t you going with her? She’ll probably try to blow up the school with her aerosol hairspray when she finds out.”

  “Does that mean your answer is yes?” He leaned in. She could smell the plastic edging of his varsity jacket and his musky cologne.

  “You didn’t answer me. What about Molly? I really don’t want to have to take down the cheerleaders.”

  “Janie?” He reached for her hand unexpectedly. She didn’t have time to pull back. His hand was soft and warm around hers. She found herself comparing it to Kai’s. Kai’s hand felt rougher and more temperate.

  She immediately pushed any thoughts of Kai from her head. It was finally clear now. She needed to end their friendship, or at least slow it down. She intended to tell him the next time she saw him. They were spending too much time together. Feelings complicate things. Distance, that is the answer.

  Maybe going to the dance with Matt would help keep her mind occupied until she left. Give her an excuse to stop seeing Kai. “Yes, I’ll go with you.” Her tone contradicted her words. Matt didn’t seem to notice.

  “Sorry to spring it on you at the last minute. I hope you have time to find a dress and whatever else you need.”

  “I’m resourceful.” Janie smiled.

  Matt stood, lifting Janie to a standing position by her hand. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”

  “I’ll be there.” She nodded awkwardly.

  Matt brushed a sweet kiss across the back of her hand—but the sparks weren’t there.

  Janie placed her Algebra textbook and spiral notebook into her backpack. Her second time in Algebra II, and she still couldn’t grasp it. Luckily, Ava had agreed to tutor her. She headed out the door. Clouds blanketed the sky, threatening more rain, maybe even sleet if the temperature kept dropping.

  She stepped on to the driveway and smiled. The dull gray asphalt appeared shiny and black, covered by the earlier rain. It was nice to be able to drive her Honda again. Janie ran her fingers over the smooth metal of the car’s hood and traced the fender with her eyes. Her car looked like new again. No large dent.

  “It looks good. You wouldn’t even know you hit a pole.” Janie spun around. Kai leaned against the driver side door, dressed in his usual tee with dark jeans and black boots. She glared at him. He threw his hands out. “What, you told me to knock, but there isn’t a door out here.”

  “You shouldn’t be here.” Janie shoved past him, holding her backpack securely over one shoulder. The smell of clean lavender hit her at once, making her heart race.

  “Are you mad?” He turned to face her, stepping back from the car door. “Did I do something to upset you?”

  She decided to confront him, to end the relationship right here and now. “No. I’m on my way out. Not everything is about you.”

  “Matt,” Kai grunted. Like Matt was a virus that had infected her. It was all too much for her to handle.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m going to Ava’s.” Janie jerked open the car door and threw her backpack over to the passenger seat. “Matt already came by. Again, not that it is any of your business.”

  “Did he profess his love?” he said flippantly.

  “You’re an ass.” She put one foot on the floor of the car and held the top of the door to steady herself.

  Kai stepped forward. He sounded serious. “What did he want to ask you?”

  Janie moved to get in the car, but something made her pause. Kai’s look, it was so. . .determined. He really wanted to know. “He asked me to the Homecoming dance,” she finally answered.

  “He asked you to a dance?” Any seriousness flew from Kai’s tone. He bent over into a laugh. His blond waves bounced around his head.

  “I’m leaving.” Janie plopped down into the driver’s seat. Kai held the door open so she couldn’t close it.

  “What did you say to him?” He tried to give the appearance that her answer didn’t bother him, but she could see the veins popping out of his skin; his blood raced violently within them.

  “I said yes.” Janie yanked on the door handle. “Now let go.”

  “You don’t actually want to go with him.” Although she knew he was anything but weak, he appeared frail. His strong, lean body slumped over the car door. Hard lines crumpled across his forehead and his scars seemed even more pronounced under the gray sky.

  “Yes, I do.” She made herself believe she spoke the truth even though every part of her screamed for someone else. This is exactly why I shouldn’t have let my feelings dictate anything.

  “What about us?” He let the door go, and defeated, he stepped back from the car. The grass crunched under his boots.

  Janie sat silently in shock. She hadn’t expected his question. “There is no us,” she breathed, feeling just as defeated as he looked. She knew she was the only one to blame for causing both of them pain. She could have ended it the first night she met him.

  Kai stood with his hands resting below his hips, thinking about something, maybe how to respond. “It’s because of what I am. I shouldn’t have told you. I should have let you think I was a monster.” He looked out into the street. A group of kids wearing heavy jackets played basketball in the cul-de-sac.

  Janie stepped out of the car. She stomped over to him, contemplating how to tell him how she felt. “What you are doesn’t bother me. I just don’t think we should be friends anymore. Ever since I met you, I’ve become sloppy, unfocused. I can’t allow my feelings for you to interfere with my job.”

  His eyes left the ground and traced a perfect line up the front of her until they finally reached her eyes. “So you do have feelings for me?”

  “T
hat’s not what I meant.”

  “You just said it.” He stepped closer to her, with an intensity so powerful it drowned out the world. Nothing else existed—the bouncing basketball on the black top and the laughter of playing children disappeared. Kai’s words flooded with raw emotion, a fresh wound that had been torn open.

  “Then I said it wrong. Kai, I can’t see you anymore.” She pushed against his chest, but he didn’t move. He grabbed both of her wrists and held her in place. His green eyes blazed with an impassioned craving to want and to be wanted.

  “You are the only person I have felt comfortable enough with to talk about my past. You can’t say you don’t want to see me anymore. You’re the only one who knows me.”

  “That’s not my problem.” She tried to turn away from him but he held her tightly in place.

  “You’re afraid,” he said.

  She laughed. “Afraid of what, you?”

  “You’re afraid of your feelings for me. You won’t ever let anyone in. You think that if you run from your feelings you won’t get hurt.” She yanked on her wrists. He finally let go. She threw her fists into his chest. Again he just stood, still and hard like a statue.

  “My mom loved my father and now he’s dead. It’s not worth it.” She pivoted around to leave.

  He shouted to her from behind. “What you’re doing with Matt isn’t right. You don’t feel anything for him. He’s safe.”

  “And you’re not.” She strode to her car. She wanted the conversation to be over. She didn’t want to discuss Matt, Kai, or losing her father anymore. All the topics were too painful.

  Kai materialized in front of her. Janie stumbled back, catching her heel on a lip of grass bordering the driveway. “You’re safe with me.” Kai wrapped his arms around her and guided her into his chest. For a moment she let herself have what she wanted. She let herself get lost in him. She dipped her head into his chest and let his heart beat loudly under her ear. “I know you feel it too,” he breathed into her hair.

  Janie raised her head. He stared down at her. She wanted so badly to tell him how she felt, but at what risk? He could leave, or even worse, die. She couldn’t go through losing someone else she loved. She’d seen what her father’s death had done to her mother. Is it really worth it?

  “I can’t. Please let me go,” she whispered.

  “Is that really what you want?” For the first time she felt his breath on her face. He was breathing.

  She exhaled. “What do you want from me? A week ago I didn’t even know you existed. Now you’re always around and when you’re not, you’re all I think about. I wasn’t supposed to meet you. I wanted to be alone.” His strong arms anchored her to him.

  “I don’t get you.” He lowered her back to arm’s length. “You’re so damn reckless, yet when it comes to me you proceed with caution. If it’s not because of what I am, then what is it that makes you so careful with me? You don’t react this way with Matt.”

  “I’ve really got to go. I have to study and get back in time to prepare for tonight. This isn’t what I need right now. Please let me focus on tonight.”

  “If you still intend to go through with this, then at least let me help you prepare. Don’t be so stubborn.” He looked deep into her eyes. She felt as if they could pierce her soul.

  “I’m not stubborn,” she said.

  “You’re stubborn.” He dipped his forehead into hers.

  “Okay, maybe a little. I’ll be back in a few hours. Why don’t we prepare at your house? I don’t need my mom finding out about any of this. She’s already going to be unhappy when I tell her I’m going downtown after Abram suggested I lay low.”

  “I’ll meet you here. We’ll take your car to my house,” he said. Janie slid her hand up his chest until her palm rested over his heart. He tightened at her touch. His words were sincere. “If it makes you more comfortable, I’ll be satisfied just to have you as a friend, but don’t walk away from me.”

  Janie drew invisible spirals on his chest. She couldn’t imagine how lonely his life had been. What it would be like to have nobody to confide in or laugh with. She always had her mother and Abram, even though Abram hadn’t been acting like himself lately. Something was bothering him about Kai; something more than what Kai was.

  As hard as she tried, she couldn’t be cruel to him. “I’m here,” she said. He cupped her cheeks. A droplet of rain splashed on her face. She glanced up to the sky. Was it a sign from her father? In that moment, she surrendered. Dad, I’ll try. But your death broke Mom. I’m afraid.

  “Are you still with me?” Kai’s white teeth sparkled through his smile.

  Janie blinked, bringing herself back to the moment. “How will you know when I’m home?”

  “I’ll be around.” He kissed the tip of her nose and removed his hands from her face. He walked away and disappeared around the side of her house.

  CHAPTER 11

  Janie drove up to her house. Kai appeared around the side of the garage. His hair and T-shirt were wet from the rain. Janie swallowed. The rain had molded the cotton to his chest. Janie quickly refocused her attention on a large oak tree in her front yard. Rain and Kai went well together. She didn’t need the temptation.

  Kai slid into the passenger seat. “Is something wrong?” he said. “Did you change your mind about letting me help you?”

  Janie shook her head, still focusing on the thick wet bark of the old oak. No wonder her study session went so horribly. She and Ava had talked about everything but her exam. Unable to think about anything but Kai, Ava had acted as more of a therapist than a tutor.

  “Then why won’t you look at me?” He placed his hand on her thigh.

  “I’m fine.” She quivered. “Are you ready to prepare?”

  He removed his hand. “I still think you should let me come with you tonight. You’re being ridiculous.”

  “If Jerome found out, he might refuse to help us,” she said.

  “And you’re sure we need the vamps to defeat Antony?” He ran his fingers through his wet hair, combing it out of his face. He looked down at his heavy jeans and T-shirt and grumbled, “I’m soaked.”

  “You can run through walls. You should have waited inside.”

  “Thanks for the tip.” He stretched his T-shirt away from his skin. It made a popping sound and adhered to his chest again. His wet clothing only distracted him for a moment. He let out a sigh. “Will you please consider revising the plan?”

  “You heard Jerome. Even if we decide not to accept his help and refuse to get Tanya back for him, he’ll take Antony’s side. We don’t need the vamps readily handing their venom over to Antony.”

  “I still don’t like it.”

  “This isn’t your decision. It’s mine, so deal with it.” Janie threw the car in reverse. He moaned. “So help me, Kai,” she warned, “if you even attempt to go near that lair.”

  “You’ll what?” He laughed. He grabbed the dashboard. “Cut the turn. You almost took out your mailbox.”

  “I did not.” She placed the gear in drive. “No back seat driving. I don’t tell you how to drive your motorcycle.”

  “Do you even know anything about motorcycles?”

  Janie ignored him. She headed toward the main road and took the interstate exit. “I think it’s time for you to tell me how you turn a disk into a Harley.”

  Kai retrieved the disk from his waist and flipped it between his fingers. “There’s not much to tell. It was a present from Albania.” He paused for Janie’s reaction, but she sat silently with her eyes on the road. “I needed transportation, and she thought stealing a bike wasn’t the greatest idea since I was newly ‘reformed,’ so she conjured up some spell and made me my own. I like my bike; it’s compact.”

  “What about the helmet?” Janie changed lanes on the interstate. Kai sucked in a not-so-subtle breath. “I’m fine. That car wasn’t even near me.”

  “Yeah,” Kai said. “Anyway, Albania has this strange obsession with safety. She made me prom
ise if anyone mortal rode with me, I’d have to make them wear a helmet. She originally created the one with flames.” He tapped her leg. “You know, the one you left in the city?”

  Janie had a flash memory of dropping the helmet after her head battered into a wooden door frame. “Yeah, I remember.”

  “I acquired the pink and the black one using my ability. It’s easy to get things when you can run through walls.” He smiled guiltily. “Albania wouldn’t be too happy with me.”

  “So, Albania wants you to stay on the straight path and keep the mortals you ride with safe.” Janie hesitated. “And how many mortals have you ridden with exactly?” He didn’t answer, making her regret her question.

  “One,” he finally said.

  “I take it that’s me?”

  Kai rolled his eyes and stared out the window, not playing along with Janie’s attempt to elicit information.

  “Well, Albania sounds like a good friend,” she said.

  “She is a good friend for some things. I don’t feel as comfortable with her as I used to. We’ve been through a lot together, but she has her own life. It’s not like it is with—” He pointed. “Take this exit. My street’s a block away. I thought we’d park your car in front of my house and head to the park across the street. It’s usually private, and we’ll have space to move around. Besides, if we practice technique, my house is too cramped—I’ve seen you fight.”

  Janie smiled.

  He hesitated and said, “I went back to the lair after I left your house this morning.” He refused to look at her. Instead he watched a woman walk her dog along the sidewalk. “No one saw me, and I was able to get a good look at the layout.”

  Janie stopped scowling and focused back on the road. He turned to explain. “There is an alley that leads around back. If you go in through the back, you might be able to slip in easier. The key is to go unnoticed for as long as you can.”

  “Do you have any idea where they’re holding Tanya?” She figured getting mad at him would be pointless. He only wanted her to make it out alive.