13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga) Read online

  She crossed her heart and kissed her finger. I took her at her silent promise that she wouldn’t share it with them so they could gloat. They like to do that if I put up a fuss and then it turns out that I like something. It was the same way with dates. I fought them hard and refused to eat them, and then they snuck it into a dish, and I chowed down like there was no tomorrow, thus handing them the win.

  Pride. It sucks.

  The phone rang, and she rushed to it, taking the call, and I waved to her. She turned with it cradled against her jaw and waved back at me. Her elation soon turned to sadness again because it wasn’t who she wanted to hear on the other end of the line. I thought about Mr. Jenny as I made my way to the front door. Maybe I should talk to him. We seemed to have a good relationship, and he did say that his door was always open to me…for anything. This constituted as something, something big to my aunt, and because it mattered so much to her, it mattered to me.

  22

  I stepped out into another gray day. Gloomy to some, becoming normal to me. I guess gloom is subjective, as most things are. I closed the door behind me and made my way down the steps. I glanced back and spotted Bela in a window. He meowed at me, who knows what he said. Maybe ‘Don’t come back.’ I grinned at him, and he disappeared. I sighed. I hope he didn’t leave because of me. I guess that doesn’t matter as much as his return. My aunt could at least be happy about that.

  I moved down the steps, practicing caution. I still felt sore; my muscles ached, but the throbbing in my head had since passed. I could deal with the rest, the headache, not so much. I hated them and hadn’t suffered from one for a few months. They came on after Midnight disappeared and insomnia moved in. That, along with dark circles, weight loss and retreat had triggered this entire thing, which brought me to Port Royal.

  I took my last step and grinned. I had successfully made my way down the steps without any major issues. Conquering this told me I could handle the rest with ease.

  I made my way down the sidewalk and finally lifted my head, feeling secure in the fact that I could walk without gawking at my feet and silently will them to do what they were designed to do.

  I stumbled when I spotted the long black limousine that sat parked on the road directly in front of the gates. My heart skipped a beat. It could only be one person. Thorn.

  I happily made my way out the gate and stepped up to the car as the driver, who was dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and thin black tie, reached out with a black gloved hand and gripped the shiny handle. He opened the door, and I couldn’t see anyone inside because it was dark, due to the tinted windows.

  “Thorn?” I asked into the darkness.

  I bit my lip and made my way inside, taking his other hand and allowing him to help me. I leaned back, and the door closed. The interior lit up as small lights popped on along the floorboard. I flinched when I spotted the man sitting across from me. The gasp followed, and I reached for the door as my fight or flight response kicked in. The man half grinned and leaned forward.

  “Echo Navarri, I’m Eyota Vega, Hawthorn’s father. Please don’t be frightened.” His voice was calm, soothing and thickly laced with a Romanian accent. His eyes were soft and inviting, not so unlike his son’s. In fact, they shared the same jawline but Eyota’s hair was dark, looked black in this light. It was cut cleaner than Thorn’s with a thick part on the right side which left the bulk of it pushed to the left. A little bit of curl teased the edges of his bangs which sat against his pale skin. His lips were not as full as Thorn’s were, but still carried a naturally red tint, which they also shared. Similar enough to ease the tension and I believed him. My eyes studied his mouth when he spoke again. His teeth were white and perfectly straight. Now I knew where the bulk of Thorn’s attractive attributes had come from, they all sat right here in front of me.

  “I apologize. I should have received you myself and not allowed you to enter this car under false pretenses, upsetting you was not my intention.”

  I leaned back into the leather and shifted my weight. I placed my hand on my lap, and his eyes lowered, studying every little move that I made. I felt like I was under a microscope, but it didn’t bother me. Somehow he made me feel safe.

  “False pretenses?” I repeated, and he half grinned. The edge of his lip curled just as Thorn’s had on a few occasions. His eyes floated upward and landed on mine.

  “Yes, naturally you expected to see my son, Thorn.”

  I swallowed hard and then bit into my lip, releasing it as he gripped the top of his cane, which sat at an angle in front of him. He drew honesty out of me with little to no effort at all.

  His gloved hand tightened and then released when I spoke up. “Yes. I thought he was in the car.”

  He sighed. “Again, I apologize, but I found it impossible. You see my curiosity always gets the better of me when it comes to my family, and Thorn, he is my only son, and heir, so naturally I had to see who he was enamored with, and here you are.” He waved a hand like he was showing me off.

  My heartbeat sped up. The word enamored lingered between us until I blinked and stared down into my lap. To be honest, I felt like I may be addicted more than enamored, and by the way Thorn acted, he may be the same.

  My eyes shifted, and I parted my lips. “Romanian?” I asked, totally dodging the subject.

  He tilted his head. “Frumoasă Lebădă.”

  I smiled. “I don’t think I’m beautiful, or a swan, Mr. Vega.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I see that I’ll have to watch what I say around you in my native tongue.”

  “Only if you’re hiding something.” The words tumbled out before I could catch them.

  He laughed and adjusted his hand on the top of his cane. I could make out a gaping mouth and sharp fangs on what seemed to be the head of a wolf. He noticed that I was studying it and removed his one hand, gripping the neck and showing me the handle.

  “Hellhound.” He said with authority. “Fiercely loyal and viciously obedient.”

  My eyes lit up. “What?”

  He explained himself without sounding annoyed. “A demon dog usually sent to retrieve the souls of those who are damned.” He smiled. “All legend, of course.” He tilted it and eyed the tip of his cane with gratification. “I find them fascinating, as I do most things that seem impossible.” His eyes returned to me as if he was comparing me to these things.

  I swallowed hard, and he grinned when he lifted it and stared into the mouth. “Do you believe in folklore, Miss. Navarri?”

  I tucked my hair behind my ear and kept my eyes on the silver head. “I thought you were....”

  He tilted his head. “What?”

  “Religious.”

  “There are many religions.” He stated.

  He grinned. “So do you?”

  “Do I what?” I asked.

  “Believe in folklore, Miss. Navarri?”

  I cleared my throat. “I believe in science.”

  He lowered the handle and tapped the cane on the floor. The limousine started to move, and I felt a slight sway as we made our way down the road. “That’s right. Why would I think that you would entertain the thought of it when you are the daughter of Peter and Alice Navarri, world famous explorers who dig up relics for a living?”

  “They don’t think of themselves as famous and I really don’t believe that they consider it a living. My parents are passionate about what they do.” I muttered.

  “Yes, passion can be a dangerous game, can it not?”

  I looked down in my lap. Of course, it was dangerous. This life had taken a terrible toll on our family and yet they still insisted on doing it. I guess a tiny part of me hoped that after Midnight…well, maybe, they would stop and settle down.

  He interrupted my thoughts. “Are you familiar with the saying…curiosity killed the cat?”

  I narrowed my eyes and the car stopped. The d
oor opened, and I sat there feeling oddly rejected. His courteous manner had made way for another feeling, one of aggravation. I wasn’t sure why it had happened, so I nodded to him because I did understand the saying, very well.

  I took the drivers hand, and Mr. Vega sat forward. “I am very sorry for your loss. Losing a sister, a twin, must have been very hard. I’ve lost people along the way, including Hawthorn’s mother, Misha. So my condolences are sincere.”

  I paused and looked back at him. “Thank you. I…I appreciate that.”

  “Miss. Navarri?”

  “Yes?”

  “We’re having a dinner party soon, to celebrate my son’s birthday. I’d like to invite you to our home.”

  “His birthday?”

  “Yes, he’s turning eighteen. He didn’t mention this to you?” His grin seemed to be mocking me. I straightened my shoulders. “I’ll have to tell my aunt.”

  He sighed. “I wouldn’t mention it to Luna, she isn’t very fond of me, unless you want to run the risk of not being able to come. It’s up to you.”

  I bit my lip and fidgeted with my hands. Of course, I wanted to come.

  I shook my head. “I don’t like to hide things.”

  “Oh, what’s the fun in that?” He asked with a wink.

  “So?” He added.

  I nodded to him, and he gripped the top of his cane and gave it a firm shake.

  “Excellent.” He leaned forward. “Now remember, it’s a surprise so not a word, understood?”

  I gave him one last nod. “Say it.” his eyes darkened.

  “Not a word.”

  The door opened, and I got out. Mr. Vega leaned forward and winked at me. “See you soon, my beautiful swan.” I felt a chilled breeze sweep over me, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. The driver shut the door, returning to his side and got in. I turned and watched the car pull away, taking my reflection with it.

  I lifted my hand. “Wait, what day?”

  I looked up, and Port Royal High was standing in front of me.

  One thing was for certain. Thorn Vega was his father’s son, through and through.

  23

  “Danny.” Tailor laughed and placed her hand on his chest, giving me a quick glance and then returning her attention to him. He had noticed me once or twice while she clung to him, but said nothing, even though he looked like he wanted to. I made my way past them and reached for my locker. My pace was slow but at least there was one, and for that, I was thankful.

  I fumbled with my lock and then lost my grip, and it clanged against the metal when Bri leaned in and spoke to me. Her voice was just a little higher than Mattie’s, but I had never felt odd around her. Tailor was the one who seemed like a lion when Bri was the lamb.

  “Hey,” She leaned against the locker next to mine. I finally conquered my combination and the lock clicked.

  I muttered under my breath. “His name is Daniel, not Danny.”

  I opened it up and had to jump back as two books fell out and hit the floor at my feet. I narrowed my eyes and leaned down, along with Bri, and collected them. One I recognized, the other I didn’t. My memory flared, and I remembered the spine and the lettering in Mr. Jenny’s hand. I placed my hand on the cover; it couldn’t be the same book. I shrugged it off as I stood back up, grimacing as my calf ached. Bri took my elbow and helped me to my feet; I returned her favor with a modest grin. She looked down in my hand and then back up to me.

  “So you’re alive!” she said, and I nodded to her.

  “I may be faking it; I’m not sure yet.”

  “Well, I’m convinced that the only way you can escape this town is to die.”

  She pursed her lips and peered back at Tailor.

  I stared at Tailor and Daniel. “Or graduate, which I will, and then I’m moving away to someplace that has sun,” I added.

  “Sun?” She waved her hand. “Completely overrated. Besides, it ages the skin, and who wants to get old? Yuck.”

  “Getting old isn’t so bad. It’s natural.” I said, being completely honest with her. I may love paranormal romance books with immortals in them, but I accepted my mortality without resistance.

  She laughed and tilted her head. Her pigtails swung from one side to the other. She had cut her bangs, they now sat across her forehead, right above her perfectly shaped eyebrows. The style was cute on her and suited her round face. She looked younger now, only because of the hair and required outfit, which matched mine. I eyed her black and white Port Royal patch, and she fingered at it. “It’s new. The Royals decided we needed one on the jackets.”

  “Yeah, I have a hoodie.” I bit my lip. The thought of Thorn’s hand unzipping it made the butterfly’s start swirling in the pit of my stomach.

  She crossed her feet over and glanced behind her.

  Tailor’s sharp giggling cut through the air and I looked over and stared at her as she leaned up and whispered into Daniels’ ear. I looked down and then placed the books back in my locker. Bri turned and pressed her shoulders against the metal. She glared at the two of them, and for a split second, I thought I detected some jealousy. I guess I don’t blame her. If she had been Tailor’s friend since birth, then the addition of a boyfriend messing things up would definitely suck.

  She sighed. “He’s nice.” I turned and nodded to her.

  “Daniel?” I asked.

  She grinned and pushed herself from the lockers. “He’s sweet, too sweet for her.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “He’s cool.”

  She looked at me and pointed in their direction. “That doesn’t bother you?”

  I looked down at my shoes and tried to adjust my feet. My shoulder ached, and I wanted to ignore it. “What? Him and Tailor? No, why would it?”

  She bit her lip and then let out a sigh. “I thought you two were, you know…a thing.”

  I laughed and rolled my eyes. “A thing? Us? No. Totally in the friend zone.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and stared me down. I laughed again. “What?”

  Her eyebrow rose. “You sure? I mean, you showed up with him at the party.”

  I adjusted from one foot to the other. “And Mattie, we all came together, remember?”

  She grinned and leaned in. “I thought maybe the three of you were, you know…dating.”

  I narrowed my eyes. It flustered me. “No!” My voice rose, and I had to calm myself and lower my tone. I leaned in, and half whispered. “No, I…no. Mattie is just a friend and so is Daniel, and Mattie and Daniel are cousins.”

  “Like that stops people.”

  I shook my head. “Why would you even think that? And no, gross. They would never.”

  She took my books and held them in her hand. “Maybe I was hopeful.”

  I had to absorb her words and then it hit me. Bri must like girls and maybe she…oh man.

  I looked at her, and my cheeks reddened. “I’m not that way, I mean, it doesn’t bother me that people are at all…I don’t care, but I like boys.”

  She nodded to me. “Well, you can’t blame me for trying.”

  “So…you and Tailor?” I left it there, and she looked back at her. “Yeah, but she’s open to dating boys, so that leaves me on the sideline whenever she gets curious, but she always comes back, always. She gets bored, and she loves to mess with Thorn.”

  “Thorn?” I asked, and Bri winked at me. “Tailor and Thorn used to be a thing.”

  “Oh,” I said, and she shook her head. “But that was so long ago. Totally old news.” I shirked off the thought of Tailor and Thorn once dating. That explained pretty much everything. Tailor was jealous of me. I turned my attention on Bri. Her sad expression made me feel terrible for her. I could remember listening to my parents argue one night, and my mom said something that stuck with me.

  ‘If someone doesn’t make you a priorit
y in their lives then that says more than words ever could.’

  Of course, she was referring to his affair. My dad had been caught first, prompting my mom to go off and have one of her own. I don’t think she ever really forgave him for it, but oddly enough, Midnight’s disappearance brought them closer together than they had been in years. I’m not calling it a win. I would rather have my sister here and deal with two Christmas’s, two Thanksgiving’s, and the shuffling between houses or dig sites. I think that her death had saved a failing marriage when nothing else could.

  Or did it? They may just be delaying the inevitable.

  I heard a voice behind me, and it ended my inner monolog and returned me to the land of the living. I turned, and Mattie stood there, puffy eyed and sniffling. I stepped toward her and placed a hand on her arm. “You okay?”

  She cleared her throat. “Yeah, I’m okay.” Her denial was glaringly precipitous.

  Bri noticed, too. “Boy?” she asked, and I glanced at her and back to Mattie.

  Mattie laughed and rolled her eyes. “No, it’s nothing. Really.”

  I spoke quietly. “Your mom wasn’t happy then, was she?”

  Bri leaned in and Mattie scowled at her. “Just because I danced with you doesn’t make us BFF’s.” Bri stood straight up, and the soft look on her face was replaced by disappointment. She shuffled her feet, and I felt bad for her, too. “Mattie.” I eyed Mattie and then glanced at Bri.

  Mattie sighed. “Okay, fine. She flipped out on me. It took every promise I had to stay here. She was determined to drag me back to Crow’s Landing and ground me for the rest of my life.”

  “Ridiculous,” Bri said with wide eyes and Mattie nodded to her. “Yes, totally ridiculous. It’s not like she doesn’t have the money for me to go here, she’s just a control freak and thinks she knows what’s best for me, but she’s never home!”

  I spoke up, not to upset her but to try to offer some clarity. “Maybe she, I don’t know, misses you.”