The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

I shook my head. "I should stay for the guys. If you could pick me up something, though, I'd appreciate that."

I was quick to pull out a twenty, so he wouldn't think I was asking him to pay, but he still grumbled.

"Or I can run out for something after you get back," I said.

"I'm not bitching because you asked me to grab you food, Maya. 'Course I will. But you shouldn't stay here alone, not when it looks like they've nabbed your friends."

That's what I'd been thinking, of course. What I'd been trying very, very hard not to think, because if I did, I'd slide into a full-blown panic. When Ash put that fear into words, I stiffened.

He sighed. "Yeah, you don't want to hear that. I'm not trying to make you feel bad. But if the Cabals have your friends, they might have gotten them to tell where they could find you."

"They wouldn't--"

"Let me try that again. They might have gotten Corey to tell them. Daniel wouldn't rat you out unless they stuck red hot pins under his nails, and probably not even then."

I glanced up at his face to see if he was being sarcastic. He wasn't.

"You guys are tight," he said. "Friends or whatever. But while Corey might be a good and loyal friend, he's not made of the same stuff as you two. I'm not saying he's a coward or anything. He's just . . . They could talk him into it. Tell him lies and shit until he really thinks he's saving your life by helping them find you."

Corey wouldn't be so quick to cave, but if they separated him from Daniel, he'd be uncertain, lost. He'd try hard to do the right thing, but eventually, they might be able to convince him that turning me in was the right thing. Especially if they knew I was with Ash. Corey hadn't trusted him. It wouldn't take much to convince him Ash was a traitor sent to turn me over to some even worse fate.

"I can leave a note," I said. "We have a pen and paper in our bag."

"Good. Just don't tell them where we're going."

"Can I draw a map?"

Now it was his turn to look over, to see if I was serious. I smiled and he shook his head, but I caught a hint of a return smile there before he told me to hurry it up.

FIFTEEN

THE CITY OF VANCOUVER is on a peninsula, bounded on three sides by water, so you usually need to cross a bridge to get from the suburbs to downtown. If you take the Lions Gate bridge--preferably not at rush hour--you drive through Stanley Park. That meant we had a pleasant evening stroll through the park to get downtown. Or I did. Ash seemed a lot more comfortable in the city proper.

By the time we arrived downtown, night had fallen. That made Ash anxious, but it didn't bother me. It was downtown Vancouver. As long as we didn't stray into a few bad pockets, we were fine.

I was wise enough to avoid suggesting sushi, but I did mention a falafel stand a few blocks away. From the look Ash gave me, that was just as bad. He wanted a burger. I knew a couple places that served amazing gourmet versions, including one just a block over that Daniel loved. But ten-dollar burgers were not on the budget, and even if I would have liked to treat Ash, he would have taken it the wrong way. So we settled for A&W.

Afterward, as we walked, Ash said, "You mentioned buying a prepaid cell earlier."

"Right."

"We should do that. In case you and I get separated." He paused. "Or for your friends. Uh, when they get back."

"You really think they were--" My chest tightened and I couldn't get the rest out.

"If they were, we'll deal. For now, you need that phone."

I peered down a street of closed shops and scattered bars. "It's a little late . . ."

"Corner stores sell them these days. Just gotta find one."

I wasn't sure that applied in Canada. We didn't have nearly as many cell providers as they did in the States. But I nodded and let him lead the way down the next street.

We'd gone down four blocks and into two corner stores with no luck. I wanted to ask the clerks if they knew where to buy a phone, but Ash wouldn't let me near the counter. I suggested he ask. He just rolled his eyes, as if I was naive to think they'd be helpful.

At the third store, a guy was outside talking to himself. Harmless, I was sure, but Ash insisted I go inside with him, though I had to wait by the door.

I heard the drunk guys before I saw them. They were loud enough that feline hearing was not required. They stopped outside the store and peered in. I stepped out of their line of sight, but not before I got a look at them. College guys, wearing sports jerseys and sloppy grins. They slammed the door open hard enough to make the clerk wince.