The Locket

“Old news, right?” I replied, placing my hand over his, on the gear shift.

“Right! You really are something, Claire. I’ll never hurt you again,” he said, with so much sincerity my heart ached. He definitely deserved the happiness I saw in my vision.

When we reached the loft, Logan helped me from the truck again. As I hit the pavement, I stared at the tall building, suddenly feeling worried. The hairs on my neck stood up against the tension. I took a deep breath in, trying to calm my fears. Maybe I should go back and talk to Brent? Coming back here seemed like a good idea at the time but now, I sensed, I was making a huge mistake.

Breathe, Claire.

Assuming it was just the intense memories of the last time I was here and my distance from Brent, I took Logan’s hand as we walked towards the building. I would call Brent as soon as we got inside.

The smell of paint and fresh cut wood filled the air and I heard the pipes pinging. Through the ache and nausea, I climbed the stairs. This separation from Brent was already feeling worse than the last time. Feeling so weak, each stair seemed impossibly higher than the next.

I heard Logan speak. He sounded far away, although I felt him next to me.

“Claire, are you all right?” he asked, placing his hand under my arm to steady me.

“I’m fine,” I responded weakly. “I’m just not feeling that great,” I admitted.

“Because you need him?” Logan asked.

I didn’t respond. Logan supported me, helping me climb each stair until we finally got to his floor. When we reached the door to the loft, Logan released me. I slumped against the wall while he fished the keys out of his pocket. Before he put the key in the lock, he spoke softly.

“You don’t look well. I’m calling Brent as soon as we get inside. No arguments, okay?”

I nodded. I didn’t have the strength to argue with him even if I wanted too. Needing Brent to feel better, I didn’t even care about what happened at Layken’s house anymore. I raised my hand to tuck some stray hair behind my ear, and saw the unmistakable mark. Mandy had been adhered to. I saw the faint grey imprint of her palm on mine. It was the same hand I used to shake hers when we met. What does it mean? Did she lie?

Before my brain finished processing those thoughts, Logan opened the door, gasping, and shoved me forcefully against the wall behind him. I slammed into the wall so solidly I thought I went through it.

“Run Claire, now!” Logan commanded.

My legs weighed a thousand pounds. I

might as well have been stuck in quicksand. What the hell was Logan doing? Then I heard his voice. He was laughing, thanking Logan for bringing me here. Logan had betrayed me again. My heart sank. How I had been so blind? This was exactly why my parents taught me not to trust anyone and I foolishly had. But if he brought me to Kace, then why was he shielding me from him now?

“Bring her in here, Logan,” Kace called from inside the loft.

Logan looked back at me, his wide-open eyes filled with panic.

“No chance, Kace. I won’t let you hurt her,” Logan promised, grounding himself in front of me, his arms behind him on both sides of my body.

I peered over Logan’s shoulder, looking through the door. My heart pumped again, filling with relief. He had not betrayed me.

“You pathetic little human. Do you really believe you can protect her?” Kace sneered, coming into view.

I watched horrified as Logan was suspended in air and then sucked into the room. Kace’s arm was extended and then swung to the side. With his movement, I saw Logan fly through the air, hitting the wall with a noisy thud. I watched his limp body slide down the wall almost in slow motion.

Instinctively, I ran into the room and collapsed at Logan’s side. He wasn’t moving. I cradled him to my chest and pushed his soft blonde curls from his eyes, screaming his name, begging him to wake up. The door slammed behind me. I was trapped and alone with Kace – the man that was going to kill me.

“Logan, please wake up. Oh God, please.” He didn’t move. I placed my fingers on his neck and let out a breath of relief. Calm washed over me when I felt he had a pulse.

“Claire, come here,” Kace commanded, curling his index finger. His voice was low and demanding. You could hear in his tone he was used to getting what he wanted.

I hoisted myself up and marched toward him bravely.

“Let Logan go. This doesn’t concern him, Kace,” I requested, knowing he would probably deny me. But I had to try.

Kace shook his head deliberately, rejecting my request.

“You think I’m going to let him leave so he can go get your Paramour and that weak excuse for an Aegis?” he asked, hauntingly.