But her features rearranged themselves.
A broad forehead and small eyes took over Hallie’s face, unseeing. Thin lips formed words, something about a mistake. At first, anger distorted the expression, but it quickly turned to horror, and then the skin began to turn blue.
I was reaching out for her when Hallie’s facial features became more prominent, and she and the rip separated. She spun around, and almost as if she shoved him, the man fell backward into the veil, shimmering in the air. It zipped shut behind him.
I caught Hallie just before she hit the ground. We were still in the courtyard of Lafitte’s. After a quick check of the windows to search for peering eyes, I scooped her up in my arms and scanned the area for someplace safe. Going back into Lafitte’s wasn’t an option.
“Cab,” she said groggily, pushing herself out of my arms. “Get a cab and take me home.”
I flagged down a cab and helped her in, giving the driver the address to her house. I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her to my chest. Let the driver think we were making out. He’d seen her. I’m sure he wouldn’t blame me.
“Are you okay?” I whispered into the hair above her ear. “Is there anything I can do?”
She hung on to the front of my shirt and tilted her chin to look up. “No. But thanks for catching me.”
“What did you see?”
“You first. What did you see?”
Her jaw had gone slack, her eyes blank, and her limbs loose. “You were limp, staring out at the dark like you could see something playing out in it.”
Hallie nodded and then shivered. “I could.”
“Your face … it was like you lost yourself for a minute.” I didn’t want to tell her how much her features had changed. “Then you and the guy separated.”
“I did.” A deep wrinkle formed between her brows.
“Then the veil went dark.” Or sewed itself shut. I didn’t want to say it, because it sounded too crazy, and we were running high on crazy already.
She nestled into me and held on tighter. “I became someone else. A man, one who’d done terrible things, and another man was choking me. Then I was me again, and I … pushed.”
“Has anything like that ever happened to you before?”
“No.” I heard fear in her voice. I’d known her for a week, and I was certain Hallie Girard didn’t do fear. “You’re the expert. Can you explain it?” she asked.
“I don’t know the answer.” A primal drive kicked in when I looked into her eyes. “But I will.”
“I believe you.”
We reached her house. I paid the driver and helped her out of her seat. She held on to my arm, just until the cab drove off, and then she pulled away, promptly hitting the sidewalk on her knees.
“Damn!” She went on her palms next, uttering several more curse words.
Hallie prized her independence and I wanted to give it to her, but she was in obvious pain. I dropped to a squat beside her, resting my elbows on my knees, my hands outstretched.
“I’m not leaving you. I can help you get to your house, or at the very least, I can walk behind you. Whatever you want.”
“I don’t want anything.” She bit her lower lip as she stared at my hands. “From anyone. I can handle situations by myself. Usually. This … this is … different.”
I reached out farther. “It’s five minutes of assistance, just enough to get you to your room.”
“My room, huh? Are you trying to get another flash?”
“Not tonight. I won’t make any promises about tomorrow.” I smiled, and watched as the teasing softened her. When she smiled back, my heart gave an extra kick in my chest.
Hallie took my hands and I helped her stand. She held on tight, and when we reached her house, she stopped at the side entrance.
“I’ll take it from here,” she said. “Carl’s on duty, and he won’t rat me out or ask any questions. Thanks for getting me home.”