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Oh, God
. I threw my legs off the couch, but they shook too much to stand. Tears welled behind my eyes. I didnt
I didnt kill her.
I dont know why I said that. Maybe it was because deep down I wondered if Dee would automatically assume I was responsible for what happened to Carissa.
I know. Daemon told me everything. She unfurled her legs, lashes lowered, fa
You cant believe this happened? She nodded, and I tucked my legs up, wrapping my arms around them. I cant, either. I just cant even wrap my brain around it.
Dee was silent for a moment. I havent talked to her since
well, since everything. She tipped her head down and her hair slipped over her shoulders, shielding her face. I liked her and I was a complete bitch to her.
I started to tell her that she hadnt been, but Dee looked up, a wry smile on her lips. Dont lie to make me feel better. I appreciate it, but it doesnt change the fact. I dont think I even said two words to her since Adam
died, and now
And now she was dead, too.
I wanted to comfort her, but there was a gulf and a ten-foot wall topped with barbed wire between Dee and me. The electrical fence surrounding the wall had disappeared, but there wasnt any level of ease between us, and right now, that hurt more than anything.
Rubbing a kink in my neck, I closed my eyes. My brain was sluggish and I wasnt sure what I should be doing right now. All I wanted to do was mourn my friend, but how was I supposed to grieve someone who no one in the outside would knew had passed?
Dee cleared her throat. Daemon and I cleaned up your bedroom. Um, there are a few things that werent salvageable. Some clothing that was burned or torn I threw away. I
I hung a picture over the crack in the wall. She peeked up as if gauging my reaction. Your laptop
Its not
in functioning shape.
My shoulders slumped. The laptop was the least of tonights causalities, but I had no idea how I was going to explain that to my mom.
Thank you, I said finally, voice thick. I dont think I couldve done that.
Dee twisted a strand of hair around her finger. Minutes passed in silence and then, Are you okay, Katy? Like, really okay?
Shock caused me to take a few seconds to respond. No, Im not, I said truthfully.
I didnt think so. She paused, wiping under her eyes with the palm of her hand. I really liked Carissa.
Me, too, I whispered, and there was nothing else to be said.
Everything that came before tonight and everything wed been so focused on seemed almost unimportant, which those issues werent, but a friend was dead-another friend. Her death and her life was a mystery. Id known her for six months, but I hadnt known her at all.
Armentrout, Je
Opal ( A Lux Novel)
Chapter 26
Playing sick on Tuesday, I stayed home and vegetated on the couch. I couldnt do the school thing. See Lesa and know her best friend was dead and pretend I didnt know a thing. I just couldnt do it yet.
Every so often, I saw Carissas face. There were two versions: before last night and afterward. When I saw her and her funky glasses in my memories, my chest ached, and when I saw those vastly empty eyes, I wanted to cry all over again.
And I did.
Mom didnt push it. For one thing, I rarely skipped school. And secondly, I looked like crap. Being sick didnt take a leap of faith. She spent the better part of the morning coddling me and I soaked it up, needing my mom more than she could ever know.
Later, after she went upstairs to get some sleep, Daemon showed up unexpectedly. Wearing a black cap pulled down low, he came in and closed the door behind him.
What are you doing here? It was only one in the afternoon.
He took my hand, pulling me into the living room. Nice jammies.
I ignored that. Shouldnt you be in school?
You shouldnt be alone right now. He twisted his cap around.
Im all right.
Daemon shot me a knowing look. Admittedly, I was happy that he was here, because I did need someone who knew what was really going on. All day Id been ripped apart, caught by guilt and confusion, tossed around by sorrow I couldnt really even grasp.
Wordlessly, he led me to the couch and stretched out, tucking me against his side. His heavy arm around my waist had a soothing weight. Keeping our voices low, we talked about normal things-safe things that didnt slice through him or me.
After a while, I twisted in his arms so that our noses brushed. We didnt kiss. There wasnt one shenanigan going on between us. We held each other, though, and that was more intimate than anything else we couldve done. Daemons presence eased me. At some point, we dozed off, our breaths mixing.
My mom had to have come downstairs at some point and seen us together on the couch, just the way we were when I woke: Daemons head resting atop mine, my hand balled around his shirt. It was the scent of the coffee that roused me just around five.
Reluctantly, I pulled out of his embrace and smoothed my hands through my hair. Mom stood in the doorway, one leg crossed over her ankle as she leaned against the frame. A steaming cup of coffee was in her hands.
Mom was wearing Lucky Charms pajamas.
Oh, holy Houdini. Where did you get them? I asked.
What? She took a sip.
Those
hideous pajamas, I said.
She shrugged. I like them.
Theyre cute, Daemon said, taking off his hat and ru
Its okay. She waved him off. Katy hasnt been feeling well, and Im glad you wanted to be here for her, but I hope you dont get what she has.
He cast me a sideways look. I hope you didnt give me cooties.
I huffed. If anyone was spreading alien cooties, it was Daemon.
Moms cell went off, and she dug it out of her pajama pocket, sloshing coffee onto the floor. Her face lit up, the way it always did when Will called her. My heart dropped as she turned and headed into the kitchen.
Will, I whispered, standing before I realized it.
Daemon was right behind me. You dont know that for sure.
I do. Its in her eyes-he makes her glow. I wanted to barf, like, seriously. Suddenly, I saw Mom on the bedroom floor, lifeless, gone like Carissa. Panic blossomed and took root. I need to tell her why Will got close to her.
Tell her what? He blocked me. That he was here to get close to you-that he used her? I dont think thats going to lessen any blows.
I opened my mouth, but he had a point.
He placed his hands on my shoulders. We dont know if it was him calling or whats happened to him. Look at Carissa, he said, keeping his voice low. Her mutation was unstable. It didnt take long for it
to do what it did.
Then that means it held. He wasnt making me feel better about anything right now.
Or it means it faded off. He tried again. We cant do anything until we know what were dealing with.
I shifted my weight restlessly, watching over his shoulder. Stress built in me like a seven-ton ball that settled on my shoulders. There was so much to deal with.
One at a time, Daemon said, as if he read my thoughts. Were going to deal with things one at a time. Thats all we can do.
Nodding, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My heart still raced. Im going to see if it was him.
He let go and stepped aside, and I hurried to the door.
I like your pajamas better, he said, and I turned. Daemon gri
My jammies werent much better than Moms. They had, like, a thousand pink and purple polka dots on them. Shut up, I said.