Echo (The Soul Seekers 2)

I fold my arms across my chest, challenging her to refute it. But she just rolls her eyes and says, “Well, who turned you into Dr. Phil?”

“Why don’t you give him a chance?” I urge. “Why don’t you plug your nose, close your eyes, and jump in? See how far you can fall without losing yourself? I’m pretty sure Harlan knows what he’s getting into. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t expect you to give up your career or even your name. I’m pretty sure he just wants you for you.”

Jennika takes a moment. Whether to consider my words or wait for the subject to die an inevitable death, I can’t be sure. All I know is that when she looks at me again, her voice is as resigned as the expression she wears on her face.

“You can either let me do your lips or you can continue to psychoanalyze me. Your choice, Daire. You decide just how soon you get out of here.”

Our eyes meet and I decide to let her have this one. By planting the seed, I’ve already won.

Then I raise my chin, pucker my lips, and settle before her again. Allowing her to swipe a thick layer of gloss across my mouth as I mumble, “I’m just sayin’…”

“Yeah, me too.” Her voice rings tired and agitated but in a good way. In a way that tells me she’s considering a future she’s denied herself for too long. “I’m just sayin’ too.”

twenty-seven

Dace

From the time I leave my place to the time I get to the Rabbit Hole, I must’ve checked my coat pocket at least twenty times. But that doesn’t stop me from checking again. Nor does it stop the sigh of relief when I find the small, wrapped package that contains Daire’s Secret Santa gift is still there.

Despite the fact that the heart-shaped turquoise piece far exceeds the twenty-dollar limit, at first glance it probably seems underwhelming. The beauty of the stone—its obvious hardness, luster, and gleaming sky-blue color—all signs of quality of the highest grade—are all there, but the gem holds a deeper meaning as well.

It’s meant to be an amulet—one she can add to her buckskin pouch along with all of her other talismans. It’s meant to protect her when I can’t be there for her. Turquoise is a healing stone. A protective stone. Said to ward off evil. And here in Enchantment, there’s no shortage of that.

I just hope I can explain it in a way that makes sense without sounding stupid.

I park my truck in the usual space and shoot for the entrance. Only making it halfway down the alleyway when Leandro steps out of the shadows, seeming to materialize out of nowhere.

“Dace,” he says, in a voice as sharp as his gaze.

I glare at the monster before me. The horrible, evil, self-serving freak who sired me, accidentally created me, the day he violated my mother—messed with her perception and robbed her of her innocence, effectively derailing her future.

The beast I will never refer to as father.

“Haven’t seen you in a while. You still work here?”

He keeps his tone casual, friendly, but I just shrug and check my pocket again.

He lifts his chin, peering down his nose in that probing way that he has. But instead of backing off like I usually do, this time I meet his gaze. Staring into those fathomless eyes—putting my new skills to use. Knowing I’ll have to confront my brother’s darkness before this is over, and choosing to meet it head-on.

“Sure you want to go there?” He grins in a way that pulls his lips wide, exposing a row of white teeth that gleam yellow under the glow of the streetlamps. “After all, you may not survive it. Your grandfather, Jolon, didn’t.”

I stare at him. Surprised to hear him admit it so freely.

“C’mon, son, surely you know the truth of your existence by now?”

“Don’t call me that.” I start to push past him, but he shadows me, gets right in my face.

“Don’t call you what—son?” He lifts a brow. “But you are my son. Whether you like it or not, you owe your very existence to me. I gave you life. I brought you into this world, and, believe me, I could’ve ended you just as easily. I could’ve snuffed you out years ago, but I didn’t. Ever wonder why?”

I stare into his eyes, not saying a word.

“I don’t like waste. Don’t believe in it. And I’m convinced that somewhere deep inside that pure and wretched soul of yours lurks a bitter black thorn that represents me, and I’m pretty sure you feel it too. You hate me. I can see the darkness growing inside you, and it pleases me immensely. Your hate gives me hope. If you nurture it, feed it, and allow it to grow, maybe you won’t turn out to be such a lost cause after all. Maybe someday you’ll be able to graduate from the lowly life of a Whitefeather to the exalted existence of a Richter. Of course, there’s no guarantee, but for the first time ever, I’m beginning to think it could happen.”

“You’re crazy. Insane.” I push past him, my shoulder butting hard against his.

“Have you seen your brother?” His gaze follows me, as I mutter under my breath and keep going. Aware of his voice calling from behind me, “If you do—tell him I’m looking for him. We need to talk before I head out of town.”

When I reach the door, I slam my hand hard against it but stop short of entering. I need a moment to slow my breath to a more even pace, rid myself of my anger so I don’t unload it on Daire. The last thing I want is to infect her with the bane of Leandro’s dark presence.