The Reckoning (Darkest Powers 3)

“Excuse me?” Tori said.

“It’s Derek,” he said to me. “I can’t wake him up. ”

We ran from the room. Derek was still in his bed, sprawled, the sheets draped onto the floor. He lay on his stomach wearing only his boxers.

I shook his shoulder. My fingers

were cool from the soda can, but he still didn’t move.

“He’s breathing,” Simon whispered. “He just won’t wake up. ”

Tori walked toward the bed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her give Derek a once-over.

“You know, from this angle, he doesn’t look too bad,” she said.

I glared at her.

“I’m just saying…”

I leaned over Derek, calling him as loudly as I dared.

“Personally, I’m more a running back girl myself,” Tori said. “But if you like the linebacker type, he’s-”

My glower shut her up.

“You’re in my light,” I said, waving her aside.

“Do you know first aid, Chloe?”

I shook my head.

“Then you’re in my light. Scoot. ”

I let her through. She checked Derek’s pulse and his breathing, saying both seemed okay, then leaned down to his face.

“Nothing weird on his breath. Smells…like toothpaste. ”

Derek’s eyes opened, and the first thing he saw was Tori’s face inches from his. He jumped and let out an oath. Simon cracked up. I madly motioned for him to be quiet.

“Are you okay?” I asked Derek.

“He is now,” Simon said. “After Tori jump-started his heart. ”

“We couldn’t wake you up,” I said. “Tori was making sure you were okay. ”

He kept blinking, disoriented.

“I have a Coke in my-” I began.

“I’ll grab it,” Tori said.

I turned back to Derek. He was still blinking.

“Derek?”

“Yeah. ” He mumbled, like he was talking through marbles, then made a face and cleared his throat.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

“Tired. Must have been sleeping hard. ”

“Like a rock,” Simon said.

“Do you feel groggy?” I asked.

“Yeah. ” He made a face again. “What’d I eat last night?”

A chill ran through me. “Does your mouth feel fuzzy?”

“Yeah. ” He swore and pushed himself up.

I grabbed the Coke from Tori as she came back. “He’s been drugged. ”

“Drugged?” Simon paused only a second, then said, “Andrew. ”

“I’ll grab our bags,” Tori said. We’d taken them to our rooms last night, worrying they’d be found in the closet downstairs.

I got Derek’s as he chugged the rest of the Coke.

“Andrew brought us sodas last night, before bed,” Simon said as he took his bag.

“And he said which one was Derek’s?”

“He didn’t need to. Mine’s always diet. ”

I looked at Derek as he wiped his hand over his mouth. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Yeah. Just let me get dressed. ”

Why would Andrew drug Derek? Were they coming for him tonight? Or had our paranoia been well placed and the group knew exactly what we were up to? Either way, our best fighter was out of commission.

“I’ll stay with Derek,” I said. “Simon, can you cover Tori and get to Andrew’s room?”

He glanced at Derek for confirmation. Derek blinked hard, focusing, then managed a slurred, “Yeah. Do that. ”

“But be careful,” I said. “There’s a good chance Andrew’s not in his bed. ”

They came back ten minutes later.

“He’s not here,” Simon whispered.

“What?”

“There’s no sign of him anywhere,” Tori said. “The truck’s outside, but there aren’t any lights on in the house. ”

“And his shoes are gone,” Simon said.

“Meeting someone,” I whispered. “Someone must be here to take Derek, and Andrew’s outside with him, trying to figure out how to do this. ”

“Or he’s been taken,” Tori said.

Derek rubbed his face, then gave his head a sharp shake. “Forget Andrew. Let’s just go and be careful. ”

Simon threw Derek’s arm over his shoulders, despite his brother’s protests. I carried Derek’s bag as well as my own; Tori had Simon’s.

We peered down the dark hall. Derek sniffed. The last trace of Andrew was old, meaning he hadn’t come upstairs since delivering the sodas. Derek stood at the top of the main staircase and listened, then shook his head. No sounds from below.

We headed for the stairs at the back of the house, the narrow ones we’d found earlier, probably for servants once upon a time. It was one area Tori hadn’t cleaned-nor had anyone in years, apparently, and I had to cover my nose and mouth so dust didn’t set me sneezing.

When we reached the bottom, I was in the lead, Tori right behind me, and Simon helping Derek at the rear. The stairs ended at a door. I turned the knob slowly, trying to be quiet. It twisted partway, then stopped. I pushed. The door didn’t budge.

Tori shouldered past me and tried. “Locked,” she whispered. “I thought you guys-”

“Checked all the doors last night,” Simon said. “We did. It was open. ”

“Move,” Derek mumbled, his voice still thick.

We squeezed aside. He wrenched the knob and the lock snapped, making me wince at the noise.

The stairs opened into a dark, low ceilinged room. An old pantry or something. Tori flicked on her flashlight. The room was filthy and empty-another reason no one used these stairs. This time, she was first to the door. I knew what she’d find even before she announced it.

“Locked. ”

“Seriously?” Simon whispered.