22. Emmy
“Tell me everything.”
Makayla practically bounces with excitement. As soon as she closed the door behind us, she began grilling me. I haven’t been able to get a word in so far, but it seems she’s slowing down, so maybe I’ll be able to.
“I need all the tea,” she says. “It’s been so long since I’ve had a girl’s night with a real-life woman, and I miss it.”
“What about the Valkyries? You don’t talk to them?”
“Sure, I do. I mean, I’m one of them. But I was one of you for way longer.”
I sit on the bed and lean against the wall. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation and not losing my shit about it.”
Makayla laughs at me, but there’s no meanness in the lilting sound. “Trust me, I get it. It’s a lot to take in. But you’ll get used to it.”
“I know.”
And I do know. From the get-go, there’s been a part of me that was drawn to Inferno. It’s scary and exhilarating, and somehow, absolutely… right.
She gives me a knowing smile. “Good. Now, spill… all the tea.”
It crosses my mind that she and Steph would get along great, but I have no idea how that would even work or if it’s even possible.
“Not much to spill,” I respond. “Inferno carried me out of a fire when I was little. Saved me then and apparently, will save me now.”
Makayla’s brows shoot up. “Oh my Odin,” she exclaims. “I remember that fire. I was really young when it happened, but it made national news. We had fire drills every week for months when school started back up the following year.”
It saddens me to know that my trauma extended well beyond my hometown. I’ve always been so focused on what it did to me that I hadn’t considered how it affected others.
“Yep, that was because of us.”
“There was another survivor, right? A little boy?” she asks.
“Yeah. Josh Greene. Inferno rescued him too, but died when he went back in.”
“Did they ever figure out what happened? Or why the fire department wasn’t able to save anyone?”
“It was determined to be arson, but they never had a suspect. As far as the fire department…” I shrug. “There were several fires across town that day, and their resources were spread too thin. By the time other units arrived to help, it was too late.”
“Such a tragedy.” She grabs my hand and squeezes. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad Inferno got you out. You seem good for him.”
“You’ve barely seen us together,” I remind her.
“And he didn’t bitch or moan a single time during those few minutes,” she teases. “Trust me, that’s an improvement.”
“Is he that bad?”
“It’s not that he’s bad. He’s… sad, I think. Or he was. More than the others, he obsessed over his death. I’ve talked with Eir, his Valkyrie, and she’s given me some insight into the man, and he needs some happiness in his afterlife. And I think you’re the one to bring it to him.”
My heart expands at the idea. Everyone is so accepting of me, and Inferno treats me like gold. There’s no doubt in my mind that what I feel for him is love. But is it the kind of love that can withstand time and a division of worlds? Am I willing to die in order to be with him sooner?
So many questions.
My cell vibrates, and I pull it from my back pocket. I glance at the screen and see a notification for a text. I open it and read the message from Steph.
Steph: Call me now. Emergency
“Uh, I need to make a call,” I tell Makayla, hopping to my feet. “Where’s the restroom so I can have a little privacy?”
“Down the hall on the left. Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly, grateful she isn’t pushing for more info. “I hope so.”
When I enter the bathroom, I shut and lock the door behind me. It’s not that I don’t trust the people here and more about not wanting Steph to accidentally overhear anything that might be said in the background if the guys emerge from their meeting.
I open up to my contacts list and scroll until I reach her number. Lifting the phone to my ear, I wait for her to pick up.
Only it’s not her voice on the other end of the call.
“Emmaline Daniels,” the man sneers. “I’m so glad you could make time for me.”
“Put Steph on the phone,” I demand, anger and fear surging through my system.
“Steph can’t come to the phone right now, but if you’d like to leave a message, I’ll be sure she gets it when she wakes up.” He pauses. “Or better yet, if she wakes up.”
“Who the hell are you? What do you want from me?”
“I’m your friend, the one who’s been sending you love letters and that amazing gift.”
“Where’s Steph? What have you done to her?”
My panic rises, but I manage to keep my voice from cracking. I wish Inferno was here. He’d know what to do.
“I’m going to text you an address. Meet me there in thirty minutes, and this can all be put to an end.”
“I’m not meeting you anywhere.”
“Meet me, alone, or Steph dies. You don’t want to be the reason she dies, do you?”
“No, of course not.”
“Thirty minutes, Emmaline Daniels. And if you aren’t alone, everyone dies. Understood?”
The man doesn’t give me a chance to respond before he disconnects the call. Seconds later, a text comes through with an address that I recognize as being located in a very rural part of the county.
For a split-second, I consider crashing the meeting and getting Inferno, but I dismiss that thought very fast. The man said everyone would die if I’m not alone, and I believe him.
Maybe I’ll die anyway, but would that be so bad? I could be with Inferno then, right?
Mind made up, I quietly open the door and peek into the hall to make sure no one is around. Slowly, I made my way to the main room we entered when we arrived, and I slip out the front door.
I’ve never been so appreciative of my stubborn nature as I am at this moment because I have my car and don’t have to figure out how to steal a motorcycle and then ride the thing.
I know as soon as I start the engine, there’s a good chance that my getaway will be heard, but I can’t worry about that. I have to go to the address the man gave me.
It’s my turn to save someone.