Split at the Seams (37 page)

Now I really felt sick in the stomach. No wonder they all shared the same pallor. “Mace did that to you as well?”

“He did it many times, and for many years. After a while, your system gets used to it, but the physical effects eventually take a permanent toll.”

“But Mara was kept in that state long enough to have her body and spirit severed…” I let my voice trail off. “How did you withstand years of it?”

Roe’s faded eyes met mine. “A charmed adrenaline shot is the only thing that works.”

“I wish I’d known that before Mara died.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“No, it’s not your fault.”

“I’ve been brought back with adrenaline many times. I was pretty much a prisoner, the Council’s property. I used to be an instructor, a catcher before that, but they pulled me from the role because I taught the girls what they considered to be too much. You helped me escape and saved these girls. Now, I believe I can facilitate them enough to overcome this.” He paused for a moment, licked his lips. “But Ms. Aikan’s a little different because she was pushed faster and further than the others. She’s more like me—she’ll suffer deeper than these other girls and she’ll probably reject your help. She’ll say she’s okay, but she’s not. Make sure you watch her closely.”

“How did you get caught up in all of this?” My stomach dropped at something he’d said. “Wait a minute. Did you say you were a catcher?”

A small, rueful smile twisted his thin lips. “I’ve been involved for a long, long time. And yes, I was a catcher. I worked with Professor Spooker before the council was even established.”

“But only females can be catchers.”

His beady eyes twinkled. “Yes, they can.”

“Are you telling me you’re a—”

“Yes, that’s what I’m telling you.” He paused for a moment. “But this is a conversation for another day.”

I couldn’t believe it. Roe was a woman? This was
definitely
a conversation I wanted to have some other time.

“The professor really was a good man, but he was too trusting and lost everything he worked so hard to prove. All he wanted was to be taken seriously by his many critics.”

At least Oren and I had gotten that much right.

After seeing the professor’s condition for myself, I would do whatever I could to help his legacy. And with the turmoil the Council was facing, as well as the scrutiny of a police investigation, this might be my opportunity to change their tyrant ways. I wasn’t going to take their shit anymore. I’d paid my monetary dues, and nearly paid with my life as well.

“Anyway, I appreciate your generous hospitality and offer my home to you if you ever need it.” He smiled. “Please, consider me a business associate.”

“You know, I might take you up on that.”

“I hope so.” Roe extended his right hand and I shook it. For someone who looked so gaunt and weak, he had a firm grip. “You’ve always been so nice to me, always respectful and helpful when there was no real need to be. I’ll never forget that.”

I shrugged. “You deserve my respect. You always did.”

Roe released my hand and took a step back. “I’ll wait for you to contact me. I know you’ve got some personal issues that need your attention first.”

I nodded and watched him head for the cab. He made his way into the passenger seat, and the four of them waved as they pulled away. I stood there for a few moments, enjoying the quiet street and letting my mind wander. I couldn’t believe Roe wasn’t a man. Sure, there’d always been stories and rumors about him, but never would I have guessed the truth.

The sun was low in the sky. It was late afternoon but still a bright and sunny day. February had ticked over into March and I could feel a slight autumn chill in the air.

This past summer had been crazy and filled with too many surprises. I was ready for things to calm down a little with the new season.

At least the street once again felt like it usually did. No more threats in the shadows. Well, at least not yet. I wasn’t stupid enough to assume everything was far from over, but I was starting to accept it and would battle to the very end.

If everyone thought I would eventually inherit some scary, dangerous power, I had to do whatever I could to claim it before they could. Obviously, the
Obscurus
intended to take it away from me, but I wasn’t going to wait around for them to have another go.

It was time to be proactive and try to beat them at their own game.

Finally, I stepped inside and locked the front door. Oren’s defenses weighed heavy around me, but in a comforting way. The incantation that had saved my life with Mauricio was constantly on the tip of my tongue, and my silver dagger nearby.

As I walked through the silent house, I realized I’d been enjoying having company. I’d shared this house with Grandpa for so long, I’d gotten used to having a housemate.

Sure, Papan was still technically staying downstairs, but he hadn’t been back for a few days. After helping me, his own injuries had needed the extra healing time, and he’d decided the quickest and best way to combat them was to spend several nights and days as wolf, instead of man. He also had the annoying job of watching over Vixen, visiting her at least once a day to make sure she was coping. So far, she hadn’t turned into anything, but her bite wound was still there. It hadn’t faded when Mauricio died, like mine had.

I wandered into the living room and debated whether to switch the TV on and flip through the channels for a while, but I wasn’t in the mood. Maybe I could grab the USB drive Lavie had given me and start looking through it. No, I wasn’t ready yet. I needed to stall a little longer.

Instead, the vase with drying rose petals caught my eye.

I grabbed the bouquet of wilting flowers from the mantle and dumped them into the trash. I then grabbed the sunflower seed packet and headed out to the backyard. They deserved a home outside, deserved to live under the sun.

I’d already planted all of them in the soil—luckily I’d found some in my garage—by the time I heard the wolf whistle.

A smile curved my lips before I looked up. “Hey, Papan.”

“Foxy Lady, what are you doing?”

I pushed off the grass and turned to face him. He was wearing a pair of faded and dirty jeans, his chest and feet were bare. I wondered how many of my neighbors had actually seen him arrive this way. He looked like a sexy adventurer.

“I guess the new and improved protection barrier doesn’t affect you, huh?”

He shook his head. “I come with nothing but good intentions.”

“Glad to hear it.” With all the uncertainty I knew lay ahead, I needed some good intentions. If Papan was the one offering them, then better for me.

“So, what are you doing out here?”

“I just planted the sunflowers you gave me for Valentine’s Day.” I shook the envelope in front of his face. “Well, except for this one. I’m keeping this one separate because it’s got a pot with its name on it.”

“Of course,” he said with a wink.

“So, are you here to pick up your things or are you staying?” I swallowed the lump in my throat, hoping he wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t ready for him to leave yet.

“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay for a little longer. My injuries are mostly healed, but yours aren’t. I’d like to take care of you for a change.” He took a step, his green eyes darkened. “Do you still have other houseguests?”

I shook my head.

“So we’d have the whole house to ourselves?”

I nodded. “And I’d love to have you be my nursemaid.” I took a step closer.

“Then it would be my honor to stay.”

We were now standing so close I could feel his breath on my hair. It was getting hard to breathe because I wanted to touch him so bad. He saved me the trouble by wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer. He covered my mouth with his and I lost myself in the passionate kiss.

I don’t know how long we stood there kissing, but I enjoyed every moment of it. When he pulled back, I missed his arms around me.

“Do you mind if I take a shower?” He caressed the left side of my face softly and looked like he wanted to say something else but didn’t.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Oh, before I forget, here’s the out-of-state catchers’ info I told you about.” Papan held out a thick envelope he’d pulled out from his waistband. “Hopefully this can help you wash your hands off the Council.”

I took it from him.
Talk about great timing.
“Thanks.” I was curious about how other states handled the catching business, without the Council’s involvement. It would fit in perfectly with my new rogue status.

“Are you heading inside?”

I nodded and took his offered hand.

Together, we climbed the stairs and walked back into the house. Papan locked the back door behind us. Before leaving for the shower, he pushed me up against the wall and kissed me very thoroughly.

“I’ll see you soon,” Papan said, disappearing down the stairs to the bottom level, and leaving me alone in the kitchen.

I placed the envelope on the table. I wasn’t in the mood for light reading at the moment, so I decided to round up ingredients for some grilled cheese sandwiches. But my replacement phone, sitting beside the envelope, caught my attention.

I picked it up and checked my messages. I was hoping to find one from Ebony, but she hadn’t called. It looked like Jonathan had stopped calling too, which was a good thing. Instead, I listened to the only other message I had. The one I’d been avoiding for almost two weeks because I didn’t recognize the number.

“Hi, Sierra Fox, my name is Willow Moss. You don’t know me, but I just found out that you’re my…half-sister.” The voice sounded young and hesitant, as if she was nervous. “I was hoping to meet with you, because I’ve been seeing some really weird things for years, and it’s getting worse now. I hope you can help me.”

I listened to the message another three times before putting the phone back on the kitchen table and slumping into one of the chairs. My intention of getting some food ready vanished because I barely had the strength to stand.

My life was uncertain and dangerous, and just when I was sure I could take control of it, something else threw me off course.

I can’t believe it. I have a sister, and she wants to meet me.

About the Author

Yolanda Sfetsos has always had a wild imagination, and often found herself making up stories in her head. When she was in her teens, she started putting some of those ideas on paper.

She loves to dabble in a variety of genres but especially enjoys writing urban fantasy, futuristic, and Sci-Fi tales—all with a dark, paranormal edge.

Yolanda lives in a suburb of Sydney, Australia with her small family. When she’s not writing, she’s either thinking about it, researching, reading, walking, or watching her favorite TV shows. Or maybe she’s on Twitter.

You can visit her website at:
www.yolandasfetsos.com

Look for these titles by Yolanda Sfetsos

Now Available:

Recast

Wither

Clash

Sierra Fox

A Patch of Darkness

All it takes is one weak seam for everything to fall apart

A Patch of Darkness

© 2012 Yolanda Sfetsos

Sierra Fox, Book 1

In a perfect world, Sierra Fox would have stayed away from the Council she left years ago. But in this world—where spirits have the right to walk among the living—it’s her job to round up troublesome spooks and bring them before that very same Council.

Though her desk is piled high with open cases, she can’t resist an anonymous summons to a mysterious late-night meeting with a bunch of other hunters, each of whom seems to have a unique specialty. The news is dire: something is tearing at the fabric of the universe. If the hunters can’t find who or why in time, something’s going to give in a very messy way.

As current cases, family secrets, new clues and her tangled love life slowly wind themselves into an impossible knot, Sierra finds herself the target of a power-sucking duo intent on stealing her mojo. And realizing she holds the key to the last hope of sealing the widening rift.

Warning: Spook catching: may contain traces of ectoplasm and otherworldly nasties. Not recommended for those with allergies to ghosts, demons, and with boyfriends who think your power is theirs. While reading, avoid dark patches and stay to the light.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
A Patch of Darkness:

It took me longer than I expected to find my way out of the cemetery. I got lost, thanks to several stranded spirits who hounded me even when I pretended I couldn’t see them. Every step managed to get me deeper and deeper into the concrete jumble of the buried dead. With my head filled with a thousand thoughts, I just couldn’t see straight.

In the end, I had to jump the fence because the gates were locked and night had fallen. The 4WD parked in front of my car had left, so it probably did belong to Oren.