The Reckoning Page 31

  Sol shook her head.

  “No, I don’t think so. Why?”

  “It’s happened twice now, which I thought was strange since there wouldn’t really be any reason for a breeze in here.”

  “That would be strange.”

  “It…” Tristan faltered, tried again. “It also happened the night the Elders introduced--”

  Sol’s eyes had gone wide before Tristan had finished her sentence, her face turning so white that Tristan grabbed her arm in alarm.

  “Mom? Are you OK?”

  “Trinity,” Sol whispered urgently. “Seal. I want you to seal, and I don’t want you to unseal no matter what anyone says to you, OK?”

  Tristan hurriedly sealed, her heart starting to pound. Olivia, having watched the exchange from across the way, rushed over.

  “What’s going on?”

  “We need to have a family meeting tomorrow,” Sol said, turning and touching Umbris’s shoulder. He bid Ventis goodbye and joined them, Evander closing the small circle they formed.

  “What’s wrong?” Umbris asked, looking at Sol’s distressed face with worry.

  “Family meeting tomorrow.” Sol looked at Umbris, who, after a few beats, nodded, understanding crossing his face. He looked at Tristan, Olivia, and Evander, his face grave.

  “Have either of you felt this breeze Trinity mentioned?” Sol asked the twins, who shook their heads.

  “I need you to tell me immediately if you do, do you understand?”

  Olivia and Evander nodded seriously. Evander opened his mouth, but Sol shook her head.

  “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  “Are we in danger?” Olivia asked calmly, but Sol and Umbris didn't respond right away.

  “You could be.”

  The Wallaces turned to find Celes looking just as grave as Umbris. He swept his hand in an arc over the five of them, which Tristan knew would temporarily shield them from intrusion from everyone, even the Elders.

  “All of us?” Olivia asked him, and Celes nodded.

  “We talked about this the last time you came to New Orleans,” Celes said, addressing Sol and Umbris. “The suspicion we had about Orion watching you. It's no longer a suspicion.”

  "Is he closing in?” Tristan asked, her stomach dropping.

  “It seems that way, but it's hard to tell. The Elders are the most powerful in the community; their abilities are almost limitless, though it's their duty to keep themselves in check. We know what we do about Orion because he's permitting that much, but there's no telling what he's really up to at any given time.” Celes addressed Tristan's parents again, “The best thing you can do is go on as normal; the less you know, or appear to know, the better.”

  “Is he targeting Trinity specifically?” Olivia asked, and Celes visibly hedged, saying nothing.

  “Celes,” Olivia said, a pleading note in her voice.

  “He could be,” Celes said finally, looking at Olivia and then Tristan with an expression that said he was sorry to be the messenger. “Again, it's almost impossible to tell, but I overheard your conversation just now about the breeze and… I can't say I’ve felt it either, which makes me think only Trinity has, intentionally. She's the eldest and she's up next to join the community, so it's not a stretch to think he'd be paying special attention to her, even teasing her.”

  All eyes on Tristan. She looked back at everyone, lifting her chin and mentally shelving her nerves.

  “I'm not going to live in fear over this. I assume if he's particularly interested in me, he'll eventually come for me no matter what I do, and I'll deal with it then.”

  “I won't let that happen,” Sol said fiercely. “He won't be coming for any of you. Mark my words.”

  Chapter 28

  February saw Jamestown Academy’s Valentine's Day dance, and Tristan very, very, very, very reluctantly agreed to go with Beckett. Emmeline and her friends had returned to school just in time for the dance, and Tristan was anticipating a verbal Valentine's dance massacre, which didn't exactly thrill her.

  Even more reluctantly, Tristan agreed to let Olivia dress her for the dance. It was this decision that led to Tristan shaking her head, unable to stop, as she looked in the mirror a mere half hour before Beckett was set to arrive to pick her up.

  “No. No, no, this is not going to work. I look completely ridiculous, Oceana.”

  Her dress was red, and comprised of two pieces -- a sleeveless, intricately embellished cropped top, and a short, flouncy tulle skirt with an embellished high waistband. On her feet were the same black leather booties she'd worn to the Solstice Celebration, and Olivia had styled her hair into an updo, with a French braided fishtail that swept back into a loose bun at the crown of her head. She'd also done Tristan's makeup -- completely neutral except for a fire engine red lip that Olivia swore would survive the apocalypse, not that Tristan wanted to test that theory.

  “You look completely amazing, you mean,” Olivia corrected, coming to stand beside her. “You're gonna knock Beckett’s socks off.”

  For herself, she'd gone with a short, backless champagne colored dress, with a deep v-neckline, spaghetti straps, and all-over beading in a creeping ivy pattern. For her own hair, she'd pulled it back into a wide, loose braid and woven a thin vine of tiny, faux ivory flowers through it. Her makeup was also neutral, including her lips for a change, and she looked ethereal, like a sprite or an alien from planet gorgeous.

  “Oceana, I never wear this kind of thing. I don't know what I was thinking, I--”

  “You were thinking that you looked beautiful in it, and you were right,” Oceana interrupted. “You are beautiful, Tristan, and your body is banging. You should show it off more often. Now let's go downstairs; our dates will be here soon.”

  Beckett's face when he came through the front door of her house made the dress worth it, Tristan decided, watching Beckett take her in. He looked stunned, and, as he raised his eyes to hers, Tristan had to suppress a shiver.

  “Hi,” Tristan greeted, as he approached, dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and red tie.

  “Hi, beautiful,” Beckett referred to her by the now-familiar pet name, which always made Tristan smile.

  Beckett slipped a rose corsage onto her wrist and then took her hands, looking her over.

  “You look incredible, Tristan.”

  “Thank you. You do, too.” Tristan meant it.

  After Sol and Umbris had taken photos of Tristan and Beckett, Olivia and Tyler, and the four of them together, they finally left the house, getting into Beckett's Jeep.

  “No Evander tonight, huh?” Beckett asked.

  “He's on a date with Ellie. She said she'd die before she stepped foot back in Jamestown, so they went to dinner and a movie in Winslow,” Olivia replied, and Beckett laughed.

  “Fair enough.”

  They arrived at the school before Tristan had time to prepare herself, and Beckett waved Olivia and Tyler ahead of them, stopping Tristan and sliding his hands up and down her arms as she twisted her fingers together.

  “I'm not going to let anyone ruin your night. You're here with me, you are more beautiful than any other girl here could even hope to be, inside and out, and we're gonna have a good time. And if we don't, we'll leave and start our camping trip early. OK?”

  “OK.” Tristan smiled at Beckett, who smiled back at her before kissing her and taking her hand firmly in his.

  Tristan wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting the dance to be like, but the reality was much more boring than whatever she’d been imagining. After his pep talk, Beckett and Tristan had caught up with Olivia and Tyler, entering the academy together and taking a seat on the bleachers among most of the other attendants. There were some round tables with chairs set up near the bleachers, covered in long, shimmering white tablecloths with centerpieces of rich crimson roses, but they were all already occupied. To the far left of where the foursome sat, there was a long table laden with a punch bowl, small cups, and various finger foods. Straight across
from them, on the opposite side of the gym, was the DJ, and to their far right was the backdrop and set for the official Valentine’s dance photos. The entire gymnasium had been transformed into a veritable explosion of frothy, red, white, and pink decorations, and Tristan looked around in half-wonder, half-revulsion.

  “Wow,” was all Tristan could think of to say, and Beckett, Olivia, and Tyler nodded in agreement.

  They sat there for a while, chatting, and eventually the boys wandered off to get drinks and food. Tristan looked around nervously, feeling strangely exposed without Beckett beside her, and Olivia squeezed her hand.

  “Try to chill out,” Olivia said, not unkindly. “I don’t think Emmeline and her friends are going to try anything, not so soon after coming back and definitely not with teachers crawling all over this place.”

  She had a point, and Tristan nodded, her shoulders relaxing.

  “Plus, I’ll clock anyone who tries anything.” Olivia’s voice was casual, and Tristan laughed, though she knew Olivia meant it.

  Once Beckett and Tyler had returned and they’d eaten and drained their cups, Beckett stood, holding out his hand.

  “Shall we?”

  As though Beckett had timed it himself, the DJ began to play a slow song that Tristan didn’t recognize, but that moved pleasantly through her ears. She smiled, standing and taking Beckett’s hand. They walked to the dance floor, Tristan ignoring the looks they were getting in favor of looking at Beckett.

  Beckett took Tristan in his arms, pulling her close. He was warm and solid, familiar, and Tristan smiled over his shoulder at the feel of his fingers against her bare skin. As they danced, she thought again about how strange it was to still be partially in disbelief that she was dating Beckett Benson, but also to partially feel like their getting together had been a reunion after a long, long time apart. She shivered, realizing that side of things was more than likely their destiny connection, and Beckett pulled back to look at her.

  “Are you OK?”

  “I’m fine.” Tristan gazed at him, and she watched his eyes take in hers, their aquamarine depths seemingly fathomless, saying more than he’d ever said aloud.

  The song ended and Tristan blinked, breaking their stare. Beckett looked dazed for a moment longer before smiling and running a hand through his hair. There was a look on his face that Tristan was having trouble reading, and she briefly frowned.

  “Are you OK?”

  “I’m… fine.” Beckett shook his head, his face clearing, and Tristan made a mental note to ask him about it later.

  “I’m going to run to the bathroom,” Tristan told him, looking around for Olivia.

  “Do you want me to walk you?” Beckett asked earnestly, and Tristan laughed.

  “No, it’s OK. I’m going to grab Olivia.”

  Beckett nodded, and Tristan made her way to Olivia, gently touching her arm. Olivia turned sharply, her face relaxing when she saw it was Tristan.

  “On edge much?” Tristan asked, and Olivia made a face.

  “Ha ha. What’s up?”

  “Can you come to the bathroom with me?” Tristan asked lamely. She felt embarrassed, but was grateful that Olivia nodded readily.

  “Sure. Let’s go.”

  The sisters exited the gym and walked the short distance to the bathroom, passing various couples who were making out in the shadowy hallway. The bathroom was empty save for one occupied stall, and Olivia leaned against the sinks, waiting for Tristan, who quickly did her business.

  Tristan was washing her hands, Olivia using her pinky to fix her eye makeup, when the stall door behind them opened and Eva Revet exited, bringing with her such a malevolent air that even Tristan felt it sweep over them. Olivia turned immediately to face Eva, while Tristan eyed her in the mirror. Holding Tristan’s gaze, Eva wordlessly walked up to the sink beside her, washing her own hands and then just standing there, continuing to stare, dripping water all over the floor and her tall black heels.

  Tristan would not be the one to speak first. She stared back at Eva, her body tense, anger slowly creeping into her bones and muscles. In vivid clarity she flashed back to the afternoon of her attack, to Eva’s smirk as she strolled by, knowing full well what she’d done and what she’d done nothing to rectify.

  As though Eva could read Tristan’s thoughts, an identical smirk crossed her strangely wan face. Tristan gripped the sink’s edge, and Olivia stepped around her, planting herself firmly in the narrow space between the two of them.

  “Can we help you with something?”

  Eva, maddeningly, still said nothing. She merely stared down at Olivia, her eyes as hard as the tile beneath their feet, shadows etched into the skin beneath. The smirk left her face, and again Tristan felt the absolutely wretched vibes rolling off of her in waves.

  “If you think you’re intimidating us, you don’t know us at all,” Olivia spoke in a low, hard voice, leaning towards Eva until their noses were practically touching. “If I were you, I’d stay far away from my family.”

  “Is that a threat, Olivia?” Eva finally spoke, her voice brittle, almost hoarse, which Tristan also found extremely odd. She frowned.

  “It’s a word of advice,” Olivia responded icily. “Advice I wouldn’t advise going against.”

  “You have no idea who you’re messing with,” Eva said, sneering, looking almost amused.

  “I am not messing with anyone,” Olivia shot back. “But you apparently haven’t learned your lesson. Was a month-long suspension not enough for you? Will you risk expulsion in your senior year?”

  Eva started to answer, but Olivia cut her off.

  “I don’t care. Stop trying to intimidate my sister. This is the last time I’m telling you.”

  “You’ll be sorry. All of you.” Eva bent her head so her eyes were level with Olivia’s, and Tristan felt Olivia move back just a fraction of an inch. Eva stared at her for a few long seconds more, then walked out of the bathroom, not giving them a backward glance.

  Tristan blew out a noisy breath.

  “Gods, she’s creepy. Should we go back to the gym?”

  But Olivia didn’t move. Tristan frowned again.

  “O?”

  Tristan walked around the front of Olivia, looking at her. Olivia looked terrified, which threw Tristan’s stomach for a loop. She grabbed Olivia's shoulders, giving her a gentle but firm shake.

  “Oceana.”

  Olivia looked up at Tristan, and gradually the fear faded from her face.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know,” Olivia whispered, trembling. “I don’t know.”

  The bathroom door opened and one of Olivia’s fellow underclassmen, Samantha Braje, entered, giving Tristan and Olivia a funny look.

  “Are you OK, Olivia?” Samantha asked, looking at Tristan with a mixture of nervousness and suspicion.

  Tristan glared at her while Olivia smiled at Samantha, nodding.

  “I’m good, thanks. Tristan, shall we?”

  Olivia took a deep breath and turned her smile on Tristan, who nodded and reluctantly followed her out of the bathroom.

  “What happened?” Tristan asked in a low voice, when she saw there was no one within earshot at their end of the hallway.

  “I thought I saw…” Olivia trailed off, shaking her head. “Nothing, it couldn’t have been. Eva is just super creepy, like you said. She really freaked me out back there.”

  “You thought you saw what, Oceana?” Tristan asked quietly, not letting it go that easily.

  “Nothing. Really.” Olivia gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve been so stressed lately, and not sleeping well, and I think I’m just a little more paranoid than usual. Plus you know, I am pretty tough, but I’m also pretty small, and sometimes my brain forgets that and then remembers it at the most inconvenient time, usually when I’m toe to toe with someone who has a half a foot on me.”

  She was lying, but Tristan would not keep pushing her here at their school. She made another
mental note to follow up with Olivia about it tomorrow, nodding mildly in the meantime.

  The rest of the dance was uneventful, Eva nowhere to be found. Tristan relaxed enough to enjoy herself, and didn’t stiffen up too much when Beckett and Emmeline’s mutual friends came over to chat and dance beside them. A few times, Tristan did catch Emmeline throwing bitter looks her way as she danced with Beckett, but nothing more came of it.

  Still, the end of the dance in sight was a relief, and Tristan rolled her eyes, giving in with a laugh, as Beckett pulled them over to the photography station, not missing the chance for them to have their souvenir photo taken. He stood behind her, solid as a brick wall, his body pressed against hers from chest to knees. He wrapped one arm around her waist, the other holding her arm in the typical “prom pose”, and Tristan hoped her smile didn’t give away her accelerating heart rate.

  He held her just as close for the last dance of the night, singing along with an again unfamiliar song in not a terrible voice, right in Tristan’s ear. She smiled, resting her temple against his cheek, listening.

  ***

  Once the dance had ended, Tristan and Beckett parted ways with Olivia and Tyler, who were spending the night at Tyler’s house, and headed off to Tristan’s house to change and make their way through the woods to where they’d be camping. Umbris and Sol had gone out for the evening, and Ember was still out with Ellie, so the house stood empty and dark as Beckett pulled into the driveway.

  “I’m not sure when my parents will be home, so let’s be quick,” Tristan told Beckett, who nodded as she unlocked the door. She pointed down the dark hall towards the kitchen. “There’s a bathroom right in that hallway to your right. I’m going to run up to my room.”

  Beckett hesitated.

  “Uh, is there a light we can switch on?”

  Tristan smiled, hitting a switch on the panel beside the door.

  “Sorry.”

  “No need. I’m just not real crazy about big dark houses.”

  Tristan gave him another apologetic smile and kissed him quickly, scurrying upstairs. She was back down in record time, having changed into her favorite dark wash jeggings, warm black boots, and a thick black sweater over a white tank. She’d left her hair and makeup the way it was, and Beckett eyed her in appreciation when she came into view.