That was Bishop. I’d just seen through Bishop’s eyes.
What the hell?
Suddenly I realized everyone was staring at me. A few looked back at me as they handed their finished quizzes in to Mr. Saunders at the front of class. What had I said or done just now to draw this much attention to myself?
Class was almost over. A glance at the clock told me there were only five minutes left.
“Ms. Day,” Mr. Saunders said with a frown. “Are you all right?”
“I—I don’t think so.”
I thought he was going to get mad at me for interrupting the end of the test, but instead he looked concerned. “Do you need to leave?”
I just nodded, scrambled to get my things and bolted from class as if I was being chased. It kind of felt like I was.
Chapter 20
When I got to my locker, I collapsed to the floor and clutched my binder to my chest.
I’d just seen through Bishop’s eyes. And I had no idea if it was a vision of the future or something that was happening right now.
I could read the others’ minds if they weren’t trying to block me out, but not Bishop’s. I’d tried and it hadn’t worked. But this—it wasn’t like reading his mind at all. I couldn’t sense any emotions or thoughts from him, I’d just seen and heard exactly what he had.
And it had given me a major headache in return. I squeezed my eyes shut and rubbed my temples while I tried to breathe. When I opened my eyes again, Colin was kneeling next to me. I stifled a shriek.
So much for avoiding the ongoing problem he presented.
“Sam…hey,” he said cautiously. “Are you okay?”
I looked up at him. “I think I have a small chance for survival, but I’m not totally sure about that.”
“You’re funny.” He grinned a little, but a frown still drew his brows together. “What’s wrong?”
“I have a bad headache.”
“I’ll try to be quiet.”
“You don’t have to stay with me.”
“I don’t mind.” He sat down next to me and reached over to brush the hair off my forehead. Not good. He was way too close to—Snap! The hallway disappeared and suddenly I was back in the church.
“I need to find her.” Bishop sounded angry. “You can’t keep me here forever.”
“You’re not going anywhere near her,” Zach replied calmly. “Not when you’re feeling like this.”
“I’m fine. I’m thinking straight.”
“Doesn’t look like it from where I’m standing. The demons—well, they don’t understand why it’s such a big loss to know you’re cut off from Heaven—especially like this. But I do. To think there’s a chance it could be taken from me forever would be too much to bear.”
Bishop barked out a short, humorless laugh. “Are you trying to help or make this worse?”
Zach grimaced but moved closer to put a hand on Bishop’s shoulder. “Sorry, really. All I’m saying is you can confide in me, anything at all, for as long as I’m here. And when I go back, I’ll do whatever I can to help you. Connor feels the same way. I know you think she can help you, but she can only make this worse. Samantha’s dangerous, Bishop. You just need to stay right here and—”
Snap!
I was back in the school hallway as if someone had changed the channel on a television. Colin gripped me by the shoulders, and he looked confused and concerned. My head was seriously throbbing now and my heart pounded hard and fast. I pressed back against my locker, feeling the cold metal through my thin blue shirt.
Bishop wanted to find me. My heart swelled. I thought he might hate me now that he’d had time to process what happened last night, but he wanted to see me again. But they weren’t letting him.
“You’re so pale. Do you want me to take you to the nurse’s office?”
“No, I’m fine.” I made myself get to my feet. After opening my locker, I shoved my binder inside and pulled out my bag.
Zach was right. I was dangerous to Bishop. If I kissed him again, I could destroy him completely.
Colin stood up, too. “I’m worried about you.”
“Thanks, but…you don’t have to be.” I really didn’t want him involved in any of this. I was dangerous to more than just Bishop.
He sighed. “Look, I know you’ve been trying to avoid me all week.”
And here I thought I’d been all sneaky and subtle about it. And also, based on this conversation, a total failure.
He continued, “I’m sorry if it seemed like I was pushing you for an answer. I understand that you don’t want to mess up your friendship with Carly, but I do feel like we have something between us.”
I eyed him, wishing for the time when a high school love triangle might have been my biggest problem. “You think so, huh?”
“Well, yeah. Don’t you?”
I reminded myself that none of this was Colin’s fault; he was just an innocent bystander. But having him near me only made everything more difficult. My hunger had been MIA ever since I’d kissed Bishop, but it was beginning to make its thunderous return the longer Colin stood here. He smelled so good, I couldn’t help but notice.
Even though Colin being close to me did trigger my hunger, it was still nothing compared to what I felt when I was with Bishop. Colin smelled good and I felt that lure—but he wasn’t Bishop.