Chapter 23 #2
“You’re right.” She dips a few pretzel sticks in peanut butter, and I relax into the sofa more.
“I’m relieved. I know it sounds bad, but I’m so grateful that there’s an explanation for it all.” Sol laces her fingers through mine, and there’s no judgment in her eyes. “I’m glad you’re okay, of course. I’m just really thankful that I didn’t have to make that choice even though I was willing to.”
“I would never ask you to choose between us, Hawthorne. I’d never revel in you losing one of the people you love most.” The truth of it wraps around me like a blanket of reassurance. “Now we just need to make sure that Ivan doesn’t get a second chance.”
Before I can respond, Mendez comes out. “Who’s next?”
“I’ll go. There’s not much to tell, so let’s just get it over with.” Kissing Sol on the top of her head quickly, I follow him back into the room.
Jay is still restrained, but most importantly, himself. Leaning against the wall behind him, I give them the floor to ask their questions.
“When did you know something was wrong?” Hale asks and picks up her pen.
“I was looking for them since I saw Jay’s car parked out front, but when I found the dining table knocked over and the door wide open…
I didn’t come to the right conclusion, but I panicked all the same.
” Jayden looks over his shoulder at me. “I’m sorry, Jay, but I didn’t know what to think. You haven’t been yourself.”
He nods solemnly.
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice, didn’t think to question it sooner.”
“It’s not your fault. I didn’t even suspect…” His eyes go distant for a minute, and guilt rocks through me. How much has he suffered that none of us will ever really understand? But that’s a conversation for another time. Who knows where Ivan is planning his next move?
“Anyways, I ran out there, aimlessly at first, but then I heard Jayden’s voice.
Thankfully, just in time. I didn’t think so much as act when I placed him in the chokehold.
All I knew was that I needed to get him away from her as quickly as possible.
But I couldn’t bear the idea of going straight to harming him. I’m glad that intuition paid off.”
“What was he doing when you found them?”
“He was about to stab her and—”
Zoey holds up their hand, turning their attention to Jayden. “Where did you get the knife, Dash?”
“I don’t know. I just had it.” He shrugs.
“Did you recognize it, Hawthorne?” Everyone turns to me.
“No. I’ve never seen it. I didn’t get a good look at it, though. It was so dark out there. Plus, I was more worried about getting us all back here.”
“Do you think you could take me back to where you left it?”
“I’m sure we could find it in the morning.” It’s already so late it won’t even be all that long until sunrise.
“Afraid of the dark, Phantom?” Ozzie calls me by my nickname out of habit. He’s in work mode.
“I mean…have you been out there after dark? I’ve seen what I needed to see, and I’m not interested in finding out what else might linger out there.”
“I’m with him.” Hale raises her hands as if in concession. “I don’t fuck with whatever creatures might stalk between the trees.”
Ozzie rolls his eyes, but I turn to Zoey to get their opinion.
Zoey nods. “Yeah, let’s do that. I want to see if I can get a read on it, find out where it came from.” They check their watch. “It’s not like anyone’s gonna happen upon it.”
“Anyway, that’s really it. I didn’t see much, and when Jayden finally regained consciousness, he was himself.” I turn to Jay. “Did you remember anything else?”
“Nope. It’s all dark. Cold. Isolating. Darkness.” He shudders.
“I guess it’s Sol’s turn then, I’ll go grab her.” When they don’t object, I follow through.
Sol’s staring into the fire again, the orange flames making her glow like a beacon. She’d consider herself more of a dying star. If she is, she’s a supernova. I can only hope I pass over to the other side permanently before her because she’s everything.
“They’re ready for you,” I say quietly. She still jumps at the disruption.
“Thorne,” she gasps. “I didn’t hear you come in. Sorry…”
“I didn’t mean to startle you. They sent me to get you if you’re ready.”
There’s a moment of hesitation, but she just nods. Before she gets far, I grab for her hand and tug her toward me.
“You told me everything, right? He didn’t do anything else to you, did he?”
Her eyes widen. “No. No, of course not.” She’s taken aback by the insinuation, but I hadn’t thought to question it earlier, and I needed to know. There wouldn’t be peace if I didn’t ask.
“I told you everything.” She cups my cheek, stroking my scar with her thumb, and I lean into it, so ready for it to just be the two of us.
For us to finally have some peace. To be like the old days when we were just two people spending simple, rainy days listening to records on repeat, or traipsing through the redwoods under the afternoon sun.
But I guess things were never really all that simple for her; I was just naive, oblivious to so much of her suffering. How many of those nights did she spend frozen in fear next to me or trembling under Ivan’s touch?
Holding her closer, I revel in the miracle that it truly is her here in my arms. That she’s made it this far—no thanks to me. She’s been so strong, my cursed little nightingale, forced to fly away, now trapped here with a broken wing.
As much as I want peace, I want to make him pay a bit more.
“We’re close to cracking this. I can feel it,” I say against Sol’s hair. “He’s getting sloppy, acting desperately. It’s almost over.”
She looks up at me, and it’s not hopeful per se, but there’s something close to it lingering just beneath the surface, and that’s good enough.
“I’ll see you in a bit.” Standing on her tippy toes, Sol kisses me too quickly and leaves me behind, craving more of her like always. If I’m being honest, I could never get enough.
As soon as the door shuts behind her, I’m seized by an incurable restlessness, one that forces me to pace and gnaw at the skin of my thumb until it’s mangled.
Thankfully, the door opens, and I think I might at least be able to enjoy the peace of her sleeping beside me for a little bit, but out step Ozzie and Jayden.
“What’s going on?”
“Bathroom run,” Ozzie states flatly.
“Oh, all right.” Eyeing the singular cuff around his wrist, I fight the urge to cast suspicion on him. None of this is his fault, after all. He has human needs just like the rest of us. Besides, Mendez is a big guy.
Desperate for any kind of distraction as this night drags on, I pull out my phone and let myself zone out to the next episode of my show—I need to see what my favorite gay vampires are up to.
I’m once again thankful for Hale harassing me until I finally gave it a shot.
She was right, it’s definitely up my alley. She never lets me hear the end of it.
I’m watching the bonus content when Sol sits next to me, resting her head on my shoulder and letting out a deep yawn.
“I think we should call it a night,” I say as the group starts to file in. “There’s plenty of room for you all to crash here.” Looking at my phone, I check the expected time for sunrise. “We can get a few hours, just to refresh, and get up with the sun to go grab the knife.”
“Sounds like a plan, but umm,” Hale raises her arms and dramatically swings from side to side. “Where the hell are Jayden and Mendez? We assumed they were out here with you to make her more comfortable.”
“Wait, they didn’t go back in there with you?”
Zoey shakes their head, their eyes widening as we all come to the same realization.
“Fuck,” I gasp as I jump up from the couch and blaze a trail to the bathroom. Pounding against the thick wood with my fist, I call out, “Jayden, are you guys in there? Open up.”
No response. Trying the handle, I meet some resistance, like there’s a weight against the door, but with the added weight of Zoey by my side, we manage to push it open.
“Ouch, shit,” Ozzie groans from the other side.
“Mendez, what the hell? Is it just you in there?” Zoey shouts through the small opening.
“Yeah. Goddamn, I feel like I was hit over the head with a cement block or some shit.” There’s an uncoordinated struggle as he pulls himself to his feet in the tight space.
When he opens it, there’s blood along his hairline, but it’s mostly dried. Likely nothing serious, but still.
“Where the hell did that little shit go?” Without waiting for a response, I run to the living room where I left Sol. It’s empty. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?” Hale asks when she reaches my side. “Wait, where’d Sol go?”
“My money is on Jayden—I mean Ivan. He must have taken her or something.” It’s a struggle to keep my voice even as a million horrific possibilities run through my head.
“Let’s split up. You and Zoey take downstairs; Ozzie and I will take upstairs,” Hale instructs.
Signaling to Zoey, we communicate silently, moving forward carefully. If he’s in Jayden’s body, he’s limited to basic human senses. He shouldn’t be able to see us coming, which at least evens the playing field.
We clear the kitchen first, then the workroom, followed by the guest bedroom. There’s a dead woman sitting at the vanity, staring at her reflection—something to deal with later—but no sign of them.
Shooting off a text, I check in with Mendez.
Hawthorne:
Okay?
Ozzie:
All good.
No sign of them, though.
There’s not enough time for the full panic of that statement to hit me before the distinct yelp of Solaneen’s pain beckons me to the kitchen.
I stagger to a halt when I enter, finding Sol on her knees and Jayden behind her, with his hand tangled tightly in her hair and a knife pointed at his own throat.
When his eyes roll up from the floor to meet mine, there’s no sign of my best friend.
The whites of his gaze match how hollow he is.
Just a void, a vessel. Bile rises in my throat.
“You have five seconds to vacate his body.” I aim for control, while my world is fracturing beneath my feet.
A mocking, wrong laugh escapes him. “Or what?”