Aden closed the rest of the distance. Why arent you inside? Usually, they were doing chores this time of day.
Mr. Thomas didnt come in again today, Seth said with a shrug. He raised the butt to his lips and inhaled, his wrist turned so that Aden had a full view of the fanged snake tattooed there. We did our chores early and called it a day.
And then theyd snuck out to smoke. Dan would rage if he saw them inhaling cancer sticks, as he called them.
Want? Ryder asked, claiming the butt and offering it to Aden.
No, thanks.
Shannon finally approached, though he remained outside the little half-circle. Wheres D-Dan?
Ryder immediately looked down at his shoes. He handed the cig back to Seth and tangled a hand through his hair. He had to check on his cows or something and said hed be right back.
Maybe hed luck out, and Dan would arrive too late to take him to Dr. Hennessy. Like youre really that lucky.
Shannon motioned to the cigarette with a wave of his hand. T-then maybe you should put that out.
Ryders head snapped up, his eyes narrowed. Maybe you should make me.
T-thanks for the invite, but Ill pass. I mean, why b-bother? Shannons hands balled into fists, and the image caught Adens attentionas if it were important. As if it werelife-changing. Why? You already smell like an ashtray.
Tension crackled between them, thick and palpable. Usually, they got along just fine. Clearly, though, something had changed.
So, uh, whats Dan going to do about Thomas? Aden asked, hoping to distract them from their anger. He brushed off his uneasiness. There was no time to ponder it now.
Seth shrugged. He tried calling the guy, but someone else answered, a Ms. Brendal. She said she was his sister and that hed disappeared. She also said shed be by later to talk to us. Fingers crossed shes hot.
Guilt consumed Aden. Guilt and fear. Ms. Brendal. She claimed to be Thomass sister. If she had told the truth, she was a fairy. Which meant another enemy of the vampires would be coming to the ranch. Asking questions. Would Aden be forced to kill someone else? A woman this time? He shuddered. Please, God, no.
Gravel suddenly crunched up ahead, and Aden saw Dans truck coming up the long driveway. Nope. He wasnt that lucky. His stomach sank.
Seth tossed the cigarette on the ground and smashed the butt with his shoe. Ryder whipped out a tiny can of body spray from his pocket and hosed everyone down. Shannon coughed and glared, but didnt protest.
I better get going, Aden said, fighting dread and trudging forward. When he was certain the wind wouldnt carry his voice back to the boys, he muttered, Elijah, are we coming out of this unscathed?
Silence.
Aden stiffened, stumbled.
You might, the psychic finally said, but I dont know about us.
TELL ME ABOUT the voices, Aden.
I dont hear voices anymore, Dr. Hennessy.
Youre lying to me, Aden, and I dont like liars. Tell me. About the. Voices.
I dont hear voices anymore, Dr. Hennessy.
The same conversation had been replaying between them for over an hour. Aden was tired and fighting sleep, lying in the doctors plush recliner, the lights dimmed, and peering up at a plain white ceiling. His lids were heavy, keeping them open a difficult chore. Didnt help that soft music played in the background. Dr. Hennessy sat behind him, papers rattling every so often, but even that had a lulling effect.
Bor-ing, Caleb said with a yawn.
Lame, Julian agreed.
Remain on guard, please, Elijah said, but even he sounded fatigued. I dont trust this man.
Im always on guard, Caleb retorted.
This time, Julian yawned. Youre a liar, and Dr. Hen is pushy. Not a good combo.
Aden agreed.
and as you know, Ive read reports from your other doctors.
Great. Hed lost track of the conversation. So?
So, when you were younger, you told several of them that these voices are souls and those souls possess special powers.
I lied. No way would he trust Dr. Hennessy with the truth. That would only score him more medication, more sessions like this one. No one has special powers.
So you admit there are souls, then? They just dont have any otherworldly abilities?
He ground his teeth. No. I didnt say that.
Are you telling me that one of the souls can no longer time-travel?
Aden stiffened. Eve had been the time-traveler, sometimes sending him back into younger versions of himself. One wrong word, and he would change the future, sometimes returning to a different reality than hed left.
He didnt think he could time-travel now that Eve had passed on, and anyway, he was too afraid to try. The consequences were too vast, and he was too happy with his life. Well, most of it.
Aden, the doctor prompted.
Time-travel is a myth, was all he said.
As mythical as predicting when other people are going to die?
Yes, he croaked. Where are you going with this, Dr. Hennessy?
Oh, Im sorry. I must have given you the impression that its all right to question me. Its not. I ask. You answer.
Adens hands fisted. Hed had a lot of doctors over the years, but this one was by far the worst. As condescending as he was, Aden had to wonder if the man even had a degree. Better yet, how about if I just dont talk at all?
Thats all right, too, Dr. Hennessy replied easily, as if thats what hed wanted all along, surprising the hell out of Aden. Silence is better than lies.
They would see about that.
One minute ticked by after another, not a word spoken. Soon Adens eyelids grew even heavier. The ceiling began to blur, becoming one giant white blob. He blinked rapidly, trying to stay alert, but on and on the soft music played in the background. He thought he recognized the melody. Hush Little Baby. What an odd song to pick for grown patients. But even the voices quieted, listening, falling
Youre exhausted, Aden.
Yes, he found himself replying from a sea of black. Black? Yes, he thought. He was floating, the white gone, darkness all around him. His eyelids must have closed for good, then. He tried to open them, but they were glued together.
Youre relaxed.
Yes. And he was. Lost, still floating. No cares. No secrets or problems. Justfreedom.
Dr. Hennessy asked him another question, but he couldnt make out the words. They were too jumbled. Odd, then, that he responded anyway. What he said, though, he couldnt be sure. Again, odd. And yet, he didnt care. Such peace.
This was heaven, he thought. All that black. So tranquil. So quiet. He wanted to set up shop and stay forever. Perhaps Victoria could even join him. Yes. How kickass would that be? Just the two of them, floating and drifting and relaxing.
Victoria.
He frowned. Here was a care. A care he liked. The thought of her caused the sea to part in a thin line, a little light seeping into his awareness. Where was she? What was she doing? When would he see her again? Tonight, he hoped. They were supposed to meet up, werent they? Except, what if she stayed away, like shed done at school?
He was talking again, he realized, but again, the words were unclear to him.
He should leave the black. Victoria couldnt come here. There were no doors, only that tiny line of space. Wait. If there were no doors, how had he gotten here? And how was he supposed to leave?
A tiny spark of panic caused the line to widen, and more white flooded that endless sea of black. Another care. This one, he hated, but still he didnt want to shake it. This wasnt right. Something was wrong.
Aden.
The voice called to him, echoing. He should recognize it, he thought, panic rising. Who was here? He couldnt bridge the gap between question and answer.
Aden.
His name had been more insistent that time. MaybeElijah?
Aden!
Yes, yes. That was Elijah. What was Elijah doing here? How had Elijah joined him?
ADEN!
What? he found himself muttering, and this time he heard himself. His voice rattled inside his skull, and it was like being thumped in the brain, jolting him.
Aden, you have to wake up. I think he hypnotized you.
What! His eyelids popped open, practically ripping at the seams. His gaze roved, wild. Dr. Hennessy sat on the end of the recliner, one hand braced beside Adens knees, the other clutching a voice recorder. He was leaning forward, that recorder outstretched, mere inches from Adens mouth.
There was somethingoff about him just then. Underneath his plain, human exterior, Aden saw something soft, almost glittery. Somethingpretty. As if he had longer, thicker hair. Pale, like snowflakes. As if he had eyes of sparkling brown rather than dull and lifeless ones, and full, pouty lips.
His stomach rolled. He was not attracted to his doctor.
Instinctively, Aden shoved him and the doctor fell off the chair, thudding onto the floor with a gasp. What. The. Hell? What do you think you were doing? he demanded.
Dr. Hennessy pushed to his feet with as much dignity as he could muster. He still clutched that recorder, but he quickly stuffed the little black device into his pocket, slid his glasses up his nose and smoothed the lint from his shirt and pants.
I think thats enough for one session. Mr. Reeves is waiting in the lobby for you.
Bile rose in Adens throat, burning like acid. What did I say? What did I tell him? He had to get that voice recorder. And wasnt that just perfect? His to-do list lengthened every day.
Dr. Hennessy must have sensed the direction of his thoughts because he strode to his desk and punched a button on his phone.
Yes? a female voice asked from the speaker.
Please let Mr. Reeves know Aden and I are finished. He can now collect the boy.
Well played. Adens eyes narrowed as he sat up. There was nothing he could do now. Not without causing a scene. He would be back, though. And he would get that recorder. No matter what he had to do.
TWELVE
AT THE RANCH, Aden ate a sandwich. Or five. Afterward, he showered while Mr. Thomas stood in the back of the stall and yelled at him. He had his arms braced beside the nozzle, the hot spray hitting him directly in the face. He tried not to care that his first couples shower was with another guy.
You smell like my sister, the fairy ghost snarled. Where have you been?
So. Ms. Brendal had been telling the truth. Tell me about her. Your sister. Like, did she attack first and ask questions later? And had she been watching Aden without his knowledge? Other than the ghost prince, he hadnt been around a fairythat he knew of.
You will not touch her! Do you hear me? I will kill you first.
I hear you. I just know that itll be hard for you to see that threat through since youre dead and all. He shouldnt encourage a conversation, but he really hoped Thomas would accept what he was and quiet down. For the record, though, I have no intention of hurting your sister.
There was a heavy pause. Momentaryas always. I want to leave. Why cant I leave?
To depart from this world, you have to do in death whatever you regret not doing in life, he said, turning. That, he knew for fact, since that was how hed lost sweet, motherly Eve.
Thomas crossed his arms over his chest. My last wish was to kill you.
Then I guess were stuck with each other because you cant get your hands on a weapon. Aden twisted the knob, the water pressure easing, then stopping. He stepped out of the stall and grabbed a towel.
Thomas continued to rant, but Aden easily tuned him out. And not because of any medication.
On the drive home, Dan had told him to continue taking his new pills just to prevent another scare like yesterdays. Hed even walked Aden to his room and watched as he put a little white tab on his tongue and swallowed. Of course, the moment Dan had left, Aden had spit the pill in the trash. He must be getting better at compartmentalizing each distraction, as hed done with Shannon in the forest today. Or maybe he was simply too distracted to listen.
What had Dr. Hennessy done to him? Hed started to mention the forced hypnosis to Dan, but had changed his mind when Dan became a supporter of Operation Take Your Pills.
Frowning, Aden patted himself down and wrapped the towel around his waist. He padded through the hall to his bedroom. It was empty. Where was Shannon? He heard muttering from the other rooms, some of it angry, but the doors were shut and he couldnt tell who was fighting with whom. This late in the evening, the boys usually holed up and chilled with their roommates.
With a sigh, Aden dressed in his customary jeans and a T-shirt.
Youre going out again? Thomas gritted out, claiming his attention. The ghost paced from one side of the bedroom to the other. Where are you going? You cant leave me here!
Wear something sexier, Caleb said. Were gonna see Victoria.
Leave him alone, Elijah replied. We have more important things to consider. I mean, really. No ones mentioned Adens parents in days. When are we going to start looking for them? Finding them will benefit all of us.
His parents. Hed managed to walk the Forget Them path for days and Elijahs reminder was like being shoved in front of an oncoming bus.
Theyd given him up when he was a toddler, and hadnt checked on him since. For that, he hated them. Still. He had to talk to them. Sooner rather than later. They might know why he was the way he was. They might have a relative just like him.
More than that, however, he would be better able to search for information about Elijah, Caleb and Julian along the way. Like who they used to be, what their final wish had been. Then he could free them. If they still wanted to go.
You eager to pass on or something? Julian asked the psychic.
Aden had dreaded having this chat, too afraid of the answers.
Yes. No. I dont know. Im just curious about who I was. Maybe, like Eve, I knew Adens parents. Maybe I did something wonderful with my life. Knowing would benice. And if nothing else, the more we can find out about Adens abilities, the better equipped well be to help him deal with everything going on around him these days.