Chills crept down my spine.
Ever since I’d woken up from that fitful rest, I’d felt different. It was a subtle feeling, though. More like a hushed expectation—you know, like that creepy silence before a bad storm. Nobody had said I looked any different, and I hadn’t noticed any manifestation of über powers. I wasn’t sure that Anubis had granted me gifts—I mean, the dream seemed so fuzzy now. But maybe they hadn’t kicked in yet. Or maybe I was way too concerned with dreams and destiny.
Still, the chill didn’t dissipate. To my left, I saw a flicker of black. When I turned to look, nothing was there. But I could feel something. Someone. Frowning, I stepped into the empty space...and felt as though I’d fallen into a snowdrift. It was like standing in the Arctic Circle.
In the blink of an eye, I saw a boy leaning against the wall.
His eyes, the amber color of Nonna’s sun tea, filled with surprise. For a second. Then his expression blanked.
I looked him over, head to toe. His chocolate-brown locks brushed his shoulders. His face was angular, his lips a slash of angry red. His T-shirt, jeans and sneakers were all black. Usually, one-themed looks totally didn’t work, but for him...yeah. Black was the new hot. He crossed his arms, which showed off his muscles big-time. It also tightened his T-shirt to reveal the flat plane of his stomach. He couldn’t have been much older than me...maybe a year or two. Was he a senior? I didn’t remember ever seeing him before.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“You can’t see me.” The voice whispered over me. I’d been around enough zombie-making magic to know how it felt. And his command held magic. Oh, no, he did not. What kind of necro-idiot tried to use his mojo on a living person? Did I look like a corpse? No, TYVM.
“Hel-lo,” I said, irritated. “I’m looking right at you.”
One chocolate eyebrow rose. He studied me, taking in my red short-sleeved cowl-neck top, faded blue jeans and black peep-toed shoes. Hmm. Was I imagining it, or was his gaze lingering on my cleavage? His eyes meandered back to mine. “You’re new.”
“I’m new? I’m standing in my own house, where I’ve lived my whole life.”
He looked at me, one eyebrow raised, his gaze assessing. “Definitely new. And mortal, too.”
“Mortal?” I asked. “You mean like every breathing human being on earth?” Sheesh. I didn’t know him, but that didn’t mean much. Some of the people I’d invited had brought along friends who attended different schools. I couldn’t quite get over the weirdness that he seemed perplexed by the fact I was an actual human being. He peered closer, as if doing so might give him a better view of my so-called mortality.
“This is...unexpected,” he said.
He was kinda creeping me out, especially the way he was looking at me—as though I was some kind of science experiment gone terribly wrong. I put my hand on my hip. “So, who are you?” I asked.
For a moment, he looked like he wasn’t going to tell me. Then he said, “Rath.”
“Rath?” I know I looked skeptical because...c’mon. Rath? Who names their kid Rath? “I’m Molly.”
“Molly. Never met anyone like you. You’re odd.”
My mouth dropped open, and I was so stunned by his comment, I couldn’t make with the words. Then Rath looked around, his expression tense. “This is my show tonight, rewbie. Got it?”
What was he talking about? And what was a rewbie? The derisive tone he used suggested he wasn’t calling me a pretty gem. I snapped my mouth closed. “My house, remember?” I pointed to myself. “Birthday girl.”
“Well, I’d say happy birthday...” He shrugged. “But it’s not gonna be particularly happy.”
“Rude much?” I asked, stung by his prediction.
“Truth is truth, brown eyes.” He eyed me. “How about I just say congrats?”
“Gee, thanks.” I layered on the sarcasm, but he wasn’t fazed by it.
Rath cocked his head, his gaze going distant. “Finally.” He tapped my nose. “Watch and learn. And don’t get in my way.” He moved past me, taking the glacial air with him. I found myself standing alone near the foyer, shivering. Watch and learn what? I had no idea what the guy was talking about. Too bad that in his case, cute meant cray-cray.
The front door opened. The rocks that had been tumbling in my stomach sank all the way to my toes and anchored me there.
Rick stood in the doorway.
And beside him, possessively clutching his arm, was Mina Hamilton.
Rick had brought Mina? My heart kicked into overdrive, and I felt my face go hot. So. Embarrassing.
Rick shook off Mina’s curled fingers and walked toward me, grinning. He looked happy to see me. The tight feeling in my stomach loosened. He reached me in three long strides and handed me a wrapped gift. “Happy birthday, Molly.”
“Um...thanks.” My gaze went over his shoulder to Mina. To make my party sooo much better, I saw her two best friends, Danette and Kylie, lurking behind her. Terrific. Rick’s gaze met mine. He mouthed the word sorry.
Mina and her minions approached, scorn in their gazes as they assessed my house and my guests and my party-in-progress. I felt lame. Really, really, horrifyingly lame.
“Nice party,” said Mina, her voice filled with contempt. She slung her arm over Rick’s shoulder. “Remember my Sweet Sixteen, Rick? Remember that present I gave you?”
Rick’s face went red. He pushed off Mina’s arm. “Go home,” he said. “You weren’t invited.”
Mina was obviously stung by Rick’s response. Her blue eyes snapped with fury. She glared at me, looking all beautiful and rich and vengeful. “Is that true, Molly? Me and my girls aren’t invited?”
Her voice rose, and the room behind me went silent. The music suddenly seemed too loud. I cleared my throat. “You’re welcome here,” I said. “It’s cool.”
“See, Rick?” she pointed out in a saccharine-sweet voice. “It’s cool.”
She pushed past us and her hags-in-waiting followed her. On the up side, Mina being at my party meant points in the popularity column. On the down side, she would probably do something nasty, or at least humiliating, and I would have to throw myself under the school bus to escape the fallout.
Not that I’m being dramatic or anything.
“She just showed up at my house. I tried to shake her, but she followed me here. I’m sorry, Molly. I know Mina isn’t always...nice.”
Try never.
“You dated her for a long time,” I said, unable to keep the accusation from my tone. “She can’t be all bad.”
His face went red again, and I realized that Mina had been a full-service girlfriend. Another wave of embarrassment heated my cheeks. I knew about sex, okay? And I knew that kids my age had sex. But I wasn’t ready to do it. I had to tell Rick, because if he was just trying to get in my pants, then we were over before we’d begun.
“I can’t be like her,” I said softly. I stared at the present. It was thick and rectangular. A book? Disappointment pricked me. Rick had gotten me a book? “I’m not... I won’t...” I looked up, unable to say what needed to be said.
He looked around, then took me by the elbow and steered me through the kids to the fireplace. It was the only space that didn’t have people crammed into it. I put the book among the piled gifts and then turned toward him. “Rick—”
“Mina and I are over. I don’t want her or her poison.” He drew me into his arms, right