The Gathering (DR) Read online

  "With a Cabal? Are you all crazy?"

  "That's what I thought," Hayley said. "When you break it down, though, Daniel's right--it's our only real choice."

  I played the recording. Silence followed. Ash broke it.

  "You get what he's doing here, don't you, Maya? He's using you to bring in these other subjects. You turn them in, like some kind of bounty hunter." He met my gaze, his eyes shuttered. "I can't believe you'd do that."

  "She's not," Hayley said. "Did you even listen to the tape? Calvin is telling us exactly where the Genesis subjects are because the St. Clouds already know."

  "So he's 'Calvin' now?"

  She met his glare with one of her own. "That's his name, isn't it?"

  "Hayley's right," Daniel said, his voice taking on his calming tone. "By talking to them, we'll be warning them. Then we'd try to persuade them to join us in going back and negotiating."

  "With the wrong Cabal," Ash said. "The St. Clouds sold you guys to the Nasts. The St. Clouds have your parents. The St. Clouds own these Genesis kids, and the St. Clouds are the ones who know where they are."

  "You heard the tape," I said. "Antone says the St. Clouds don't want our parents--they're just stuck with them. They can't exactly fob them off on the Nasts. As for the Genesis kids, their medical team is gone. Died in a fire at the lab. All except one doctor, who's with the kids now--an aunt. The St. Clouds don't really want them back. For the right price, they'd let the Nasts take the Genesis kids and our parents off their hands."

  "And then what?"

  "Then we prepare," Daniel said. "We take their training. We take their medical care. We take their protection. We pretend we're going to grow up to work for them and we use that to learn everything we can about them."

  "Then we fight back," I said.

  Ash sputtered a laugh. "Against a Cabal? The biggest Cabal?"

  "Yes. It won't be easy. It won't be soon. But we'll take our time. We'll grow into our powers. Then, one day, we get free of them. For good."

  The debate continued. It really was Ash against everyone else, which felt completely unfair. Finally he threw up his hands, muttered under his breath, and stalked off.

  "Damn," Hayley murmured to me when he was gone. "Figures, doesn't it? The hotter the guy, the bigger the jerk."

  "I'm not really seeing the first part," I said.

  "Which is good." She grinned. "All things considered."

  "True. But, while Ash can be a jerk, I see his point on this one. Going back feels like throwing up a white flag."

  "But it's negotiation, not surrender. And it's not permanent. It's like a covert operation. Using our heads."

  "That's the plan," Daniel murmured. "But I agree with Maya. I'd be more shocked if Ash agreed."

  "I'll go talk to him."

  THIRTY-FIVE

  I FOUND ASH BACK by the old camp. He was sitting on the ground, legs pulled up, just staring into the forest. I approached slowly, making enough noise so I wouldn't startle him.

  When he looked over I said, "Getting used to it, huh?"

  He lifted his brows.

  I waved around us. "The forest."

  "Right. Yeah." He gazed out again. "Never really been in one this big. I know this isn't big for a forest, just . . . It's different." He paused. "No people. I can see why you like it. It feels like . . ."

  "Home."

  He shrugged that off, making a face. Another moment of silence. "If you've come to talk to me about this negotiating crap--"

  "I haven't." I sat down beside him. "I just want to . . . check in with you. I know this isn't the resolution you want, and I'm hoping you don't decide to cut out."

  He glanced over. "Cut out?"

  "Take off. Leave. We're not at the point yet of making an absolute decision. So I'm hoping you'll stick around until we are. And then I'm hoping you'll give it more thought."

  "Have I bolted yet?"

  "No, I'm just--"

  "Well, don't."

  He studied me for a moment, then said, voice lowered, "I'm not our mother."

  I nodded. Another minute of silence. Then I said, "He . . . Calvin . . . Antone." I sighed. "I don't know what to call him."

  "Just not Dad, I bet."

  I shook my head. "No, never. Calvin, I guess. He told me what happened to you. What our mother did."

  He snorted. "Yeah, I can just imagine his version."

  I told him what Antone said. He listened, then shrugged. "Close enough, I guess. So what's he been doing? Sitting back and watching me?"

  "Looking for you. He'd get updates from one of the parents you were in contact with, one working both sides--trading information between the St. Clouds and your contacts."

  He cursed at that. Really cursed. For a while.

  "But that contact wouldn't tell Calvin where you were. I think he was trying to protect you."

  He met my gaze. "He was protecting himself and his kid. Don't sugarcoat things for me, Maya. Ever."

  "I'm sorry." I paused. "Do you know anything about a guy named Lucas Cortez?"

  "Huh?"

  "He's the son--"

  "Oh, I know who he is. I'm just really hoping you aren't asking because the Cortezes are getting involved in this. Because if they are, we might as well throw in the towel now. One Cabal is tough to outrun. Two? Damned near impossible, as you've noticed. Three?" He shook his head.

  "They aren't involved. But someone mentioned Lucas Cortez as a crusader against Cabals. That might be a backup plan, if you know anything about him."

  "I know he's the son of a Cabal CEO. I know he's the supposed heir to the Cortez Cabal. I know he used to be a crusader, until his brothers got murdered and he had to step up in the family business."

  "Oh."

  Ash shrugged. "Some say he's still helping supernaturals. Some say it's a front and he's luring them into the Cabal. Cyril Mitchell believed he was still helping, but there's a reason he never went to him for help. Or to the interracial council that's supposed to help supernaturals. Because they can't fight the Cabals on big things like this. If the Cabals want us, they'll get us. That's the way it works in the world, Maya. The good guys have ideals; the bad guys have cash and firepower. You can guess which one wins in a real battle."

  I could tell he'd worked this through long before now, probably some cold and hungry night when he just couldn't take it anymore. He'd come to the conclusion that this Lucas guy and the council couldn't help. I agreed. The Cabals had massive corporate and supernatural resources. Which was why we had to deal with them or spend our lives running.

  "We need to get going," Ash said, standing. "Can't take a chance they'll find a way to track you."

  We started to walk.

  "So, this Rafe," Ash said. "He's really your boyfriend?"

  I looked over sharply. "What does that mean?"

  "Nothing. Lot of guys. It gets confusing. Especially when you seem to hug all of them."

  I made a face at him.

  A few more steps. Then, "He's a skin-walker, right?"

  I nodded.

  "That makes sense, I guess."

  This time, I didn't ask what he meant by that, just kept walking.

  "Like I said, though, I don't want him following you off to shift. You need to be careful or he'll take advantage. Which he'd better not do while I'm around."

  I could say that I'd been successfully dating so far without a brother to watch out for me. But it was kind of sweet, in a misguided "girls need a guy to look after them" kind of way.

  "He doesn't take advantage," I said. "If he did, I wouldn't have let him come with me. Hell, if he did, I wouldn't be dating him."

  "Good," Ash grunted. A few more steps. "Is he shifting yet?"

  "Nope. Developmentally, the guys are all lagging behind." I shot him a grin. "As usual."

  He rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, and we continued on to the campsite.

  THIRTY-SIX

  THE KEY THE HALF-DEMONS had given me was for a gym locker. We wer
e at the gym when it opened that morning, Daniel and Ash sneaking in to retrieve the contents--fake IDs, real passports, tickets, and everything else we needed. Then we were off.

  One long plane ride took us across the country. A bus carried us over the border. A second bus deposited us, the next morning, in the small Pennsylvania town near where the Project Genesis subjects were hiding. According to Antone's message, we had a ten-mile walk. That didn't sound too bad to all the Canadian kids, who heard "kilometers" instead. The extra six kilometers were a lot when you were running on junk food and a few hours of sleep.

  Daniel suggested we try to get better food from a corner store before we left. When he asked for fruit, the clerk pointed to dusty cans of peaches.

  "We're not on the West Coast anymore," I murmured.

  "Thank God," Ash said, grabbing two chocolate bars in one hand and a Coke in the other.

  "There are protein and energy bars over here," Daniel said. "We'll get that, milk, and some juice."

  Ash stared at him, then at the rest of us as we headed for the milk and juice.

  "You guys aren't really teens, are you?" Ash said. "They've brainwashed you into miniature adults, full of responsibility and good eating habits. I'm surprised you haven't bought a--" He noticed the toothbrush in my hand. "Seriously?"

  "Haven't used one of those in a while, huh?" Hayley said. "Let me guess. You haven't been dating in a while, either. News-flash: the two are not unconnected."

  He scowled at her. "I have one in my pack." He pointed to Rafe's toothbrush. "Have they infected you, too?"

  "Your sister gave it to me. I think it's a hint. Use it or keep my distance."

  Another scowl. "Better keep your distance anyway. We don't have time for that crap."

  Rafe was about to shoot something back when Daniel waved us to the register. "We're losing daylight, guys. Time to move."

  We were careful on the walk, though Antone had said not to worry about being spotted by the St. Clouds. They were only doing periodic spot checks on their wayward subjects.

  As for how they found them, a werewolf bounty hunter had tracked down the group a few months ago. That's when the St. Clouds had decided to let them stay "on the run" for a while. Wear them down until they were tired of hiding. It's not like they were going anywhere. Sure, after a few months in one place, they'd hit the road again, but they kept the same van . . . which now had a tracking device on it.

  "What types have we got again?" Ash asked as we hid in the forest behind the Genesis subjects' farmhouse.

  "For the kids--werewolf, necromancer, witch, and sorcerer," I said. "For the adults, a sorcerer and a doctor with necromancer blood, but apparently no powers. I'm guessing the werewolf explains the conveniently located forest."

  Daniel nodded. "He's also the biggest threat."

  Ash snorted. "Your average wolf is about seventy-five pounds. Even Maya could take him on in her cat form."

  "Um, thanks," I said. "But you weren't paying attention to Antone's message, were you?"

  "Considering how long it was, I don't think anyone was. The guy just goes on and on. I see where you get it from."

  I made a face at him. "He said that werewolves in human form have the same extra-sharp senses as skin-walkers, but they get super strength, too."

  Ash shrugged. "And we get agility. Ever seen a boxing match? Speed and agility win over brute strength."

  Daniel cut in, "How about we just avoid spooking them into a confrontation?"

  "Where's the fun in that?" Corey said.

  Daniel ignored him. "Okay, guys, let's get this rolling. It'll be less threatening if we show up in daylight. Corey, Rafe, and Ash are staying behind. Hayley? You're coming with Maya and me. We could use your help."

  "Oh?" Hayley perked up. "What do you need me to do?"

  "Smile and look blond," Ash said. "Which you're good at."

  She scowled at him.

  "Except the smiling part," he continued. "You have some trouble with that. They want you because you're window dressing. Blond, perky, and completely nonthreatening."

  Daniel shook his head. "Let's go."

  The place was a two-story old farmhouse on a dirt road with no neighbors in sight. It was bordered on either side by fields and backed onto a forest. We went straight to the front door. I knocked. No one answered. I tried again and put my ear to the door, but it was quiet.

  Daniel walked out to the barn, which seemed to be used as a garage. "Empty," he said after peering through the window.

  "Seriously?" Hayley said. "What'd they do, go out for pizza?"

  "They've been on the run for months," I said. "They'll be trying to live as normally as possible."

  "Great. Now what?"

  "We wait in the forest," I said.

  We didn't dare leave a trail heading straight to the woods. Antone's note warned that the werewolf would be able to track us by smell, so he'd likely know strangers had visited his house. Better to lay a trail heading back to the road, as if we'd been just salespeople at the door.

  I'd found a tree earlier with a good sight line to the house. Rafe volunteered to watch with me. Ash insisted on joining us.

  When it was almost dark, I climbed down and conferred with Daniel at our temporary campsite. He wanted to give it another hour. We did. Still no sign of anyone.

  "It's too late now," I said when I returned to Daniel. "I say we wait until morning."

  "Agreed. Though it may take all of my special persuasive powers to keep the troops from mutinying." He tried for a smile, but it was strained.

  "Are you getting any sleep at all?" I asked.

  "I'm fine." He caught my look and some of the steel went out of his shoulders. "Yeah, I'm tired. But I can rest soon."

  "Tonight?"

  He shrugged and gazed out at the forest.

  "How are you doing otherwise?" I asked. "We haven't had much time to talk."

  "We haven't had any time to talk." He paused and managed another wan smile. "Sorry. Obviously we can't expect time alone right now. It's just . . ."

  He rolled his shoulders and looked away. He was right, of course. It wasn't the time. But I didn't care. I wanted to be with him. Alone. We hadn't really had that since I'd escaped the Nasts, and I longed for it. Just a few minutes alone with him to talk, to relax. I felt guilty about it. Felt insufferably selfish. But it's what I wanted.

  "Let's go talk now," I said. "Rafe and Ash are standing watch. Corey and Hayley are dozing." I looked around. "I saw a stream that way. I say we be completely irresponsible and sneak off duty. At least for a few minutes."

  A more genuine smile. "Sounds like a plan."

  We got about five steps when brush crackled behind us. Rafe stepped through.

  "Hey," he said. "Ash is getting antsy. Have we got a plan?"

  "Actually, Daniel and I were just . . ."

  I trailed off. When I glanced at Rafe, I couldn't think up a good excuse to take off with Daniel, and I felt like we needed one.

  "Call Ash down," I said. "It's conference time."

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  NO ONE WAS HAPPY about spending another night in the woods. We were on the run, Ash said, so why the hell wouldn't we come knocking in the middle of the night? He had a point, but my gut told me it was better to wait for daylight, and Daniel agreed.

  We found a place deep in the forest patch and settled in for the night. Before we did, I suggested we take turns patrolling and standing watch--in hopes that that would let Daniel get some rest. Even Hayley agreed. We could see the toll this was taking on Daniel, when he was still recovering from his accident, and we really needed him in top shape for the next step of persuading these people to listen to us.

  Part of my plan, too, was to take first round, and that way, if Daniel still wanted to talk, he could slip out with me. Except Rafe offered to share my shift and I couldn't say much about that.

  We headed out to patrol so we wouldn't disturb the others. After we'd circled the campsite a few times, Rafe caught my
hand and tugged me behind some bushes.

  "I think we're supposed to be standing guard," I said.

  "Mmm, maybe, but that sounds like a token protest."

  His hands circled my waist. I hesitated, about to say it wasn't a token protest, that we had to be on guard in case the werewolf--or anyone else--came out here and found strangers sleeping in the forest.

  Even as I thought that, though, I felt silly. Paranoid. The forest was silent. There was nothing wrong with a brief break. God knows, a few days ago, I wouldn't even have thought of protesting--just one look in Rafe's eyes and caution be damned. Another sign I was stressed and anxious, I guess.

  I kissed him and it only took a moment for me to lose that hesitation. His fingers moved against my bare skin where my shirt had lifted from my jeans. I eased back and looked up at him, smiling lazily, my eyes half-closed, feeling drowsy and happy as his scent washed over me.

  "This is when it's perfect," he murmured. "When we're alone like this, when you kiss me like that, when you look at me this way. I see that and I don't have any doubts that this will work."

  I smiled wryly. "Oh, I have some doubts our plan will work. It's just a lot easier to forget them right now."

  "I don't mean--" He cut himself off and nodded. "I think it's the best we can do. Doubts are expected."

  He bent and kissed me again and it was a strange kiss, one that kept picking up, then slowing down, like running uphill. I'd feel that heat, then he'd pull back a little. Kiss me harder, deeper. Pull back. Finally he broke it off and stepped away so abruptly that my hands fell from his neck.

  "I didn't mean the plan, Maya. I meant us."

  "Us?" My heart picked up speed. "Doubts? What's wrong?"

  He took another step, and I wanted to pull him back, just say, Whatever it is, forget it. But I just stood there, heart thumping.

  "I don't want to be that guy. I really don't."

  "What guy?" I said. But I knew. I knew and I braced myself.

  "The guy who has a problem with his girlfriend hanging out with another boy. I'm not like that, Maya. I don't get jealous unless there's a reason."

  "Is this about what Sam said? That story she told? She made that up to--"

  "I know she did."

  "Then why . . . ? Is it because I was worried about Daniel?"

  "No. Yes. No." A sharp shake of his head. "Getting jealous because you're worried about a friend who was hit by a car? What kind of jerk does that? I knew you'd be worried. Hell, I'd be concerned if you weren't worried. But when I'd see how worried you were, I'd feel . . ." He let out a soft snarl and kicked the ground as he turned away. "I'd feel like a jerk. I want to be okay with your friendship. I really do. But little things keep piling up and I keep thinking about what Corey said, and . . . and I'm not okay with it."