Chapter 65: First Date
I let Brad push in my chair and resisted the urge to wiggle it out a little. He really was a strong boy.
He beamed at me from his own seat as he slid into it, automatically reaching for my hands. Was it weird he sat next to me rather than across? I wasn't in a position to care. As soon as he touched me I was all his.
"You look beautiful." I let the lie go. A glance in the mirror on my way out to his truck told me I looked okay. But if he was in the mood for flattery, I'd take it.
"I've never been here before." I looked around the dated and slightly tacky Italian restaurant. It was kind of quiet at the moment and terrible Muzak filled the air but none of it mattered.
"I wanted to take you somewhere special." His green eyes were delicious. But were they a little tired? Hadn't Mrs. Collins mentioned he wasn't well? Maybe he used it as an excuse to get away from Suzanne. I wished I'd thought of it.
My demon squirmed under his attention but didn't complain. I was ready to give her a smack down if she interfered. This was my first real date as boyfriend and girlfriend and I was not about to mess it up.
I caught our bow-tied waiter smirking at us and pulled back as he slid my menu between Brad and me.
"Anything to drink?"
"Two diet Cokes," Brad said, eyes never leaving me. Such devotion. I forgave him for ordering for me. I had to let go of independent Syd a little. The part of me that wanted to scowl and get a ginger ale just to piss him off.
I think the need was tied to my demon so I shoved it aside.
"My dad brings me here sometimes," Brad said. "Do you like Italian?"
His sudden concern was heady stuff.
"Sure," I said, opening my menu. His hands caught it and took it from me as he smiled.
"Trust me."
Again the minor rankle. Whatever. It was his money. Still, for some reason, his attitude chilled my mood.
He must have sensed it. "Are you all right?"
I took the easy out and blamed it on Suzanne. "Just, you know. The hospital."
Brad's eyes were so sad as he nodded. "I do. She's... she's just not okay, is she?"
Wow, that was an understatement. Unless my being there triggered more of an outburst than he saw. I didn't think of that.
"What did she say to you?" I leaned forward and took his hand again, running my fingers over the back of it. His skin felt really warm. Almost too warm. Before I could ask him if he was sick, he spoke.
"Not much," he said, confirming my fears. "She just mumbled a lot about getting free and tried to pull herself out of the restraints." I could tell it was really troubling him. "Her mom is a mess."
He could say that again. If only she knew her daughter was possessed by an evil entity wanting to destroy all of us she'd be in even worse shape. Maybe even strapped down in her own bed. The image of the matching set screaming for freedom made me flinch.
Brad kept frowning, even when the waiter brought our drinks, ignoring the fizzing glass sitting next to him. I took a sip of mine just to buy time. The last thing I wanted was for our special dinner to turn into an emotional mess like my afternoon with Alison.
I just didn't think I could take that kind of stuff from my boyfriend.
I thought of a safe question. "How's soccer?" Brad played in the school league to keep in training for football. I immediately regretted bringing it up because it reminded me of my own loss.
But my distraction worked and he brightened. "Awesome! It was a great suggestion, Syd, thanks. Coach is trying to convince me to play in college instead of football."
He meant university, right? He'd been scouted for football at Notre Dame, was super pumped about it. "Wow," I said. "Cool."
"It's a little late," Brad said. "I just decided. I took the scholarship."
"The one at Notre Dame?" Now that was WOW.
"No silly," he laughed. "At State. So I can be close to you."
My heart plummeted into my stomach. Was he serious? Brad had been scouted by some of the best schools in the country and he picked State because of me?
"Are you insane?" I pulled back from him so fast I almost tipped my drink. "What were you thinking?"
He frowned a little. "I couldn't just leave you here, Syd. You have a year of high school left."
"Then what?" I asked as the waiter approached. He must have understood the look on my face because he spun and walked away again.
"Then we go to college together," Brad said like it was the final word on the matter.
I couldn't speak for a long time. When I finally did, I pulled the parent trump card.
"What did your dad say?" Brad's father was his biggest fan. There was no way he would let his prized football star of a son throw away a chance like Notre Dame because of some girl.
Hang on. I was that girl. Still. Damn it!
"I haven't told him." Brad suddenly wouldn't meet my eyes. "Besides, he's pretty busy right now."
"With what?" Brad's dad was the local sheriff and by the time those words were out of my mouth my stomach dropped even further. Only one thing could distract Sheriff Peters from his son's career.
"There's been a couple of people disappear," Brad said, confirming my fears. "Since the weekend. He's pretty worked up about it."
I felt frozen, unable to breathe or move. I forgot to tell my mother about the first one. Now a second person was missing? It couldn't be a coincidence, especially considering the shape Suzanne was in.
The creature was feeding off normals and when it was strong enough, it would come after the family.
I practically fell out of my seat as I sent my power out like an arrow in search of my mother while scrambling to my feet at the same time. I felt her touch me and acknowledge my fear before sending a tendril of soothing and love she left behind when she severed the connection.
Brad stood beside me, hand on my elbow, holding me up. I pulled away from him and hugged myself. I ignored the waiter who hurried toward us.
"I have to go." I was already backing up, jumping at the jab of a table in my hip as I impacted it on the way by. "I'm sorry. I'll see you later."
Before he could follow me or even say a word I headed for the door.
It was eight blocks to home and I ran every step.
I was a panting and aching mess by the time I pulled myself to a halt at my gate. I'd lost a lot of my conditioning from soccer and struggled for wind. I kicked myself internally. Time to get back into running. Seemed like I needed that skill in my crazy and screwed up life, so no excuses.
"I hope everything is all right."
I spun, heart in my throat, demon at the ready, and came face-to-face with Demitrius Strong.
He was the last person I expected to find at my door. The fear and concern I felt at our first meeting came rushing back and I danced away a step, hands up in front of me.
He just smiled his cherubic smile and did nothing but wait.
By the time I caught my breath I felt a little stupid but also creeped out that he knew where I lived. And he knows about the family. That can't be good.
"Fine." I finally answered his question. "Just out for a run."
In designer jeans and flats. Yup. That was believable.
He let it go. "I hoped to talk to your mother." Demitrius gestured at the front door. "However, it appears no one is home."
Just my crazy grandmother who would turn him to an itty-bitty pile of ash and grease if she managed to get out. I shrugged.
"Sorry," I said. "Try back later."
It's not like he blocked my path. He was pretty small after all, even in his flawless suit. But something about how he placed himself made it hard for me to get around him without touching him.
"Excuse me," I said at last.
"I wanted you to have these." He slid a small stack of folded papers from inside his jacket and held them out to me. I didn't sense anything on them so I took them, glancing at the top one.
There was a logo, a sword crossed with a torch and a crucifix in the middle with the heading "Chosen of the Light" across the top. It looked like a religious pamphlet.
Tacky.
"Um, no thanks." I tried to give them back but his hands were clasped in front of him.
"You can be saved, Sydlynn." He seemed so sincere I actually listened. "It's not too late for you, my dear."
Why was I the target of this crackpot all of a sudden? Life was so unfair. "There are tons of other people out there who I'm sure would love for you to save them." Or bore them to tears. Or give them the willies. He was welcome to take his pick.
"Your family is the next on our list," he said as if that answered everything. Wait, they had a list? "And you, Sydlynn, have been selected as the perfect messenger of our beliefs."
He was trying to convert me? Was he serious?
"You have such a wonderful and varied life ahead of you," he said. "In fact, the opportunities for you in our organization are an excellent alternative to the depravity you've been brainwashed into believing is your only path. Wouldn't you rather live it as a contributing member of society?"
"As opposed to what?"
"A demon parasite," he said so calmly and matter-of-factly it took a moment for me to register what he meant.
"Sorry?" My demon shrieked at him, struggled to be free, tore at me inside until I had to slap her down to get her to stop. She continued to spit and hiss at him while he went on.
"If you would only allow us to help you, we of the Chosen have been freeing those with evil in their souls for centuries. All we want is for you to be happy. And normal. And Syd, I know it's what you want, too."
Maybe six months ago. Before my mother almost gave everything away to save me. As much as I would like to be free, I knew it was never going to happen. Not only was it impossible, I'd already sucked up the truth of my responsibilities.
"Too little, too late, dude," I said. "Thanks but no thanks." Again, I offered him the pamphlets.
Instead of taking them, he smiled at me again, the joy of it lighting his clear eyes.
"Keep them," he said. "Read them. And know I am your friend."
With that, he walked away.
I dashed inside and locked the door behind me. I had to tell my mother. She needed to know this crackpot knew about us, the family. About witches.
And he was normal. Sort of.
I stared at the stack of literature in my hand for a moment before tossing the bundle to the table where they spread out like a deck of accusation. I'd given up on leaving, abandoning my family. Hadn't I?
Hadn't I?
***
