“Who was here?” I ask, trying not to sound as freaked as I am.
“It was so weird,” Jay says. “You should have seen Anna! What is that thing?” He points to the hilt. “It was all lit up. She moved so fast. I’ve never seen anyone move like that!”
She actually used the hilt? I stare at Anna, who’s pale, her lips in a stern line. Stray hairs are plastered to her sweating forehead. I take her face in my hands.
“What happened?”
“Three whisperers were on Jay. Two on Patti. One was trying to possess her.” Patti covers her mouth and gags. I can’t bloody blame her. “I killed four of them, but . . . one got away.”
“One got away,” I whisper. Anna and I stare at each other as it sinks in.
One got away. One who saw her with the sword. One is all it takes. It feels as if my innards are on a carnival ride, because this is it. This is the catalyst—the beginning of the end. Anna has started it, and she’ll lead us into it, and oh, God.
I stand, grasping my hair roughly. I feel the same nervous energy course through me as when I had to watch Anna work on New Year’s Eve, and when she entered the summit in New York the next day. That same bloody powerless feeling. I lean against the wall, my head spinning.
“Shite. Shite, Anna . . .” I’m not ready for this. It’s too soon. I’m not ready! A yell forces its way upward and out of my mouth, and I punch the wall with all my strength. My fist goes through drywall.
I have to protect her. I can’t let anyone hurt her. I know she’s strong, and though we don’t look at things the same way, or think things through the same, she is smarter than me in many ways. I know all of that, but I am still crazed with the need to hide her from the world.
I turn and lean against the wall, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes.
I’m not ready. . . .
“Kai.” Anna’s voice is clear and calm.
I drop my hands. She has brushed the stray hairs from her face. I don’t know how she can look so certain at this moment.
“I don’t think they know you’re here,” she says to me. “That’s to our advantage.”
I nod, though it’s hard to believe anyone’s got the advantage here but the Dukes.
“You’re not on the suspicion list,” she goes on. “So you can stay ‘in the know.’ We’ll go our separate ways and—”
“No,” I interject to stop her. She’s mad if she thinks I’m letting her out of my sight. “I stay with you.”
If she refuses, I will follow her. I stare at her, daring her to argue. She sighs and looks aside, thinking.
“Okay. Let’s get our stuff and get out of here.”
Bloody right. Together.
We say our good-byes to Jay and Patti. Anna hugs her mum tight, and then we run. I drive Anna’s car and she lies low in the backseat.
When an unknown number shows up on my mobile, I know it’s Father straightaway. I’d been curious to hear from him before, but now? Not so much.
“Hallo,” I answer.
“It’s Pharzuph.” I knew he was young and American now, but hearing his new voice is still fucking weird.
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you in Atlanta?”
“Not yet.” I glance at Anna, who’s bloody adorable in a baseball cap, and for half a second I’m distracted. And then young, twatty Pharzuph speaks again.
“Meet me at our former home tonight at nine p.m. I’m flying in, and we have some things to discuss.”
All I can think of is that I have Anna with me, and how fantastically horrible his timing is. “I’ll see you at nine o’clock, sir,” I say, like a good boy.
“Don’t be late.” He hangs up and my jaw locks with annoyance at his insolence. It’s a good thing we’ve got a seven-hour drive ahead of us, because it’s going to take at least that long to mentally prepare for this. I won’t just be swallowing my pride; I’ll be choking on it.
At eight thirty I’m back in my old room, and I feel no warm and fuzzy memories. In fact, I’m entirely creeped out to be back here, surrounded by the ghosts of my past.
I focus on the fact that Anna is parked up the street, and I’ve got knives in my pockets and boots—the blades have even been dipped in holy water. If demon legend is correct, holy water does more than repel demons—it’s like a poison to them, like prayer in liquid form.
I push my hearing down to where I know Anna’s parked, but I hear nothing. She is silent and unmoving. Good girl. Now I just hope she stays there. I hope she has no reason to come charging at the house, sword blazing.
Although, that would be a brilliant sight.
I pace the room. Perhaps I should go upstairs to wait, but this room feels like my territory. I’d prefer to meet here if he’ll allow it. I flick on my old stereo system and smile as the high volume vibrates the floor under my feet.
Screaming lyrics. The whine of electric guitar chords. An unrelenting drum beat. Lovely.
A strand of my hearing remains on the front door, so I know when Father comes in. I’m on my third Nine Inch Nails song. My hands clench and stretch open. Clench and stretch. I stare at the door. When it swings wide, a tall blond bloke stands there with his face scrunched in disgust. We are matched in body thickness, but he might have an inch of height on me. He carries himself like a wanker.
Three grungy spirits fly next to him and over him, filling the room with half their wingspans spilling through the walls. I hope they don’t venture around the premises during this visit.