More Than Flesh & Bone
Chapter 41
HUNTED
What the actual fuck?
My heart beat in erratic rhythms as my doppelganger lifted her Ray-Bans and my own blue eyes stared back.
I wish I had something clever to say. I'd like to think that I could handle this craziness with the same laissez-faire attitude I approach life with.
But let's be real. This is me we're talking about.
Hammer meet nail.
"Who the fuck are you?" I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest.
"My name is Thana," she said, striding forward with a sleek gate. "Daughter of Death."
It was eerie to see my own body move with the litheness of a predator. My eyebrows drew together as my thoughts started whirring.
There was a moment there where I heard her words, but they didn't really compute with my short-circuiting brain. I was either in shock or having a seizure.
Judging by the continued stream of consciousness, shock was winning. Though I wasn't willing to rule anything out just yet.
"But I'm the Daughter of Death…" I started. For some reason. It was the 'Daughter of Death' comment that snagged my attention the most. While I didn't even know what it means to be one, I was already territorial of my title.
I mean, I did just save, like, all the zom-reaper dudes from death.
Being a supe freak was now my schtick.
I didn't know who this forest green-haired broad was, but until I did, I was going to pull one from Missy's book. Stick to my guns. Or in this case, my foul mouth and charming personality.
"And my sister," she said, finishing my sentence, though not the way I would have expected. "My twin." Her gaze drifted over my shoulder to where Tracey's ghost was hovering. She gave him a pointed look before looking to me once more.
"I don't understand," I said slowly. "I don't have a sister."
Even if I did have a doppelganger. Weird. Next level kind of weird.
Like some Twilight Zone shit.
"You did," she said, but it came out closer to a purr. She leaned forward and lifted one of my snow-white locks, twirling it in her finger. "Before you were reborn."
Up to that point, time was moving slower for me. My thoughts were tripping over one another, trying to come up with who the fuck this girl was. I mean, she looked like me, she dressed like me, if it weren't for her corporal form… I might have thought I was hallucinating. Maybe I accidentally split a piece of my soul… just like Zayne.
But here she was, a second version of myself standing in the flesh.
The idea of having another twin seemed crazy… until you remembered the little tiny fact that apparently, I reincarnated.
Was it possible that a past version of me, wasn't just me?
I looked at Trace. "You're seeing this too, right?"
Some of the seriousness drained from my brother's face as he gave me an annoyed twist of his lips, followed by a very dramatic sigh. "Yes, Addie, I see her too."
"Just checking," I muttered.
Sheesh. You'd think for being dead, he'd be less irritable since I was going to bring him back. Fucker.
At least I wasn't hallucinating. That much was clear.
"I can assure you, I'm quite real, Addison. I know this is probably a shock to you, and you've always been a bit unpredictable when given surprises, but there's no other way to really say this." She took a deep breath, and all I could think about was the fact that this was not how I planned to spend my morning. I was starting to wish I'd never left the pool house, which is crazy because you'd think that I would want to know if I had a twin running around, right? Well. That was probably the shock. Takis were really good at getting someone over shock, though. "You and I were the original Daughters of Death in this realm," Thana announced, putting an end to my meandering. Her next words were an icy bucket of water over my head. "We created the zombies. We maintained the order in the supernatural world. You and I."
I opened and closed my mouth. "I freakin knew they were zombies and not reapers…" I muttered more to myself more than her before eventually settling on the most important and obvious questions.
"What happened, then?" I asked. "Why was I killed? How was I killed?"
"A monster." Her eyes flashed with cold fury. I felt the chill from it deep inside.
"A monster?" I repeated, not letting my unease show. I used my dubious tone of voice and narrowed my eyes.
"From the realm of death," she said. "It's been hunting us. After your first death, we were separated, and it took many years to find you. By then it was too late. You died again. This happened several times along the way. But I've found you now…" Her words trailed off as she released the lock of hair and cupped my cheek. "We'll be together again. I've grown over the centuries. My power has grown. I can keep you safe where others cannot." Her skin was cool to the touch. Her expression genuine. Sincere.
"How did you find me?"
"Death," she said simply. "I felt your presence enter the spirit realm. There's only one person who is my equal in everything. I knew it was you."
Well, that seemed to make sense. As much as any of this did.
It was a lot to take in, though. Something nagged in the back of my brain. Like she wasn't telling me the complete truth.
"You've been in town for a little while now," I said, shaking off her hand. She had no outward reaction. No surprise. No hurt at my movement. Nothing.
The inhumanness of her reactions, the way she oscillated from sincere to cold so rapidly… it was more than unsettling.
"I needed to assess the danger." She gave me a sad look then. One corner of her mouth curving down. "The monster is a clever beast. It hides in those you know. I needed to interact with them as you, so that I could see if it's already found you."
"And?" I prompted slowly, watching carefully. "Has it?"
"It's on your trail, but I don't believe it's infiltrated those close to you yet. It took out the witch you were talking to because she knew too much." Her eyes slid sideways once more, to where Tracey still wavered. "You should be careful interacting with ghosts too much. They work with the monster. Spy for it. You shouldn't trust anyone."
"Anyone but you?" I said. It was only a moment, but a flash of annoyance crossed her features as she realized how that sounded. The more my shock at seeing her wore off, the more I was coming back to my senses.
"Well…" she started, but I cut her off.
"You seem to know an awful lot about this monster, and yet it's me that's died multiple times." I put my hands on my hips, my suspicion mounting.
"I know a great deal because we're the ones that created it."
I blinked twice. Now that I was not expecting. Before I could gather my thoughts and come up with a response, Thana continued talking.
"We created it together and unleashed it upon the world. Something soured in it along the way. It wanted power for itself. So it turned on us. I wanted to put it down, but you thought you could save it." She smiled again, but it wasn't happy. It was almost pitying, but with a hint of warmth. "You always were soft."
I let out a snort of derisive amusement. "Yeah, right. Warm and fuzzy, I am not. Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm about the furthest thing from soft that you can be."
Thana studied me, her blue eyes cool and assessing. There was a detached calculation there that I didn't recognize. Had I ever looked at anyone the way she's looking at me? Instead of replying, she lifted her right shoulder in a bored shrug I definitely recognized. It was beyond creepy how her mannerisms were so like mine, and yet it was like meeting an alien. She possessed an otherness about her that I wasn't sure what to do with.
Was I supposed to trust her?
Hardly. I knew almost instantly that wasn't happening anytime soon. I'd lost too many people to trust someone that shared my face, showing up in town right after Eliza was murdered. She claimed it was a monster, and her explanation sounded good. Almost a little too good, though.
She may be who she claimed, but something told me I didn't have the full picture.
And really… how could I? She claimed we'd been here since the beginning of time basically. There were a lot of questions to ask and a lot of ground to cover before she got anything resembling trust.
I glanced over my shoulder at Trace, wondering what he was thinking about this turn of events.
His body was tense, but his face was unreadable, giving nothing away. That, in itself, was telling. Trace didn't trust the bitch either. But was it because she was claiming his twin title, or for another reason?
Until I dealt with Thana and got Trace alone, it was clear I was not going to solve that riddle.
"As enlightening as this is, I was sort of in the middle of something with my actual twin, so how about you schedule something with my assistant, and we continue this conversation another time?"
There. That was subtle… Sort of.
Thana frowned, looking entirely too disappointed with me. "I know this isn't easy for you to believe after everything that's been happening around here, but you need to listen to me. You're in danger, and the only one who can keep you safe is me."
"I've been doing just fine on my own," I said, my voice hard this time.
That was a bit of a stretch. I'd died what, four times now? Five? Not a great track record… unless you consider the part where I came back each time more powerful than before. That was pretty cool.
The look in her eyes shifted then, almost like she'd decided to try a different tact with me because the whole 'your life is in danger' thing clearly wasn't working like she'd planned. "Addison," she said, reaching for my hand.
Energy tingled through me at the touch, and once again I stepped out of her reach.
Her expression turned mournful. "I have walked this realm alone for almost four centuries, searching for you. Trying to save you. Only to be too late every time. You are my sister. The only one who is my true equal. Don't you see? We need each other. It's the only way we can defeat this monster."
There was an earnest sincerity in her voice that had been lacking until now. I wasn't sure how to feel about it, but it was obvious to me that Thana truly believed what she was saying. Then again, Zayne had believed in what he was doing too. Belief didn't make someone trustworthy.
"Look," I sighed. "I have a lot going on right now. This whole monster business is just the icing on the cake… and while you may be my long lost-twin… I have a brother I'm trying to save, because he's the twin I know."
"I'm not asking you to run away with me. I know you too well to think that would ever happen. I just want to be a part of your life again," she said softly.
Indecision warred within me, but one thing was clear. This chick had answers. Answers about who and what I was. I couldn't completely blow her off. Not yet.
And really, I wasn't sure if I wanted to.
While I didn't trust her at all, I did get the distinct impression she felt attached to me. There was a kinship of sorts. It couldn't hurt to listen and see how this played out. I'd lost a lot of people lately… my eyes strayed to the spot where my father had been before he disappeared.
Maybe I could gain some too.
"I don't trust you," I told her.
Disappointment flashed through her expression as her lips pressed together and the corners of her eyes tightened. "I can't change that until you let me."
"I know." I crossed my arms over my chest as I regarded her. A pang went through me. Something I didn't understand, but I wanted to. "Here's the deal. I'm interested in staying alive instead of starting all over again. Teach me what we are, how to control my powers, and how to defeat the monster. I want to know everything… the good, the bad, and the ugly."
"That's not something you can learn overnight," she said.
"If it were, I'd be gravely disappointed in the universe for giving me something that easy for once," I replied in a bland tone.
She snorted, grinning over at me. "I suppose there is that," she said, coming closer once more. "You know... you have no memory of me. You don't know how much we've been through yet. Even after all this time, though, you're still the same."
"Don't be so sure," I said, pulling away. "We might have the same face. The same origin. A shared history. But I don't remember it. In this life, I'm Addison. I had a twin brother, my best friend is a succubus, and my boyfriend is a reaper…."
"Zombie," she corrected.
"Whatever… Point is… you may have been around a while, pretending to be me… but you don't really know me."
"No," she said softly, stepping up beside me. "But I will."
My phone dinged in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the text from Zed.
"Where are you going?" she asked, following after me as I started walking toward the parking lot.
"The Council called a meeting. Every supernatural in Seabrook has to be there."
Cool fingers brushed my arm. I glanced over my shoulder.
"But you're not a supernatural," she said.
"Yeah, but they don't know that." I considered that for a moment as I resumed walking. "Well, most of them. The Brotherhood has some inkling." Pausing, I called out, "Trace?"
He popped up in front of me. "Yeah?"
"Meet me at the morgue tonight. We're going to find you a body."
His gaze slid sideways, toward Thana. He clearly didn't trust her, but he kept those thoughts to himself for the moment as he nodded once, then disappeared.
"He doesn't care for me," she noted in a shrewd voice.
"You just barged in and claimed to be my long-lost twin from another life. He's skeptical," I said, making my way to the car once more. "Reasonably so."
Reaching the Impala, I flung the door open and hopped in. On the other side of me, Thana did the same.
"What are you doing?" I asked her.
"Coming with you," she answered like it was obvious.
"You can't come to a Council meeting."
"Why not?"
I put on my own pair of Ray-Bans and started the car up. "Because they don't know you, and they don't know what I am… and I'm trying to keep it that way."
She squinted at me. "Why?"
"Because…" I reached for words. "… because they can't know."
"That's a dumb reason."
"Hey! You're the one that just said a monster is hunting me," I argued.
"Yes," she agreed with an emphatic nod, her tone of voice sarcastic. "The supernaturals knowing what you are won't make a difference. The monster will find us in the end. It always does. In the meantime, I'd like to stay close to you. I know you don't trust me, but I want to make sure you're safe."
I put the car in reverse as I considered her words. The fact of the matter was, I didn't really want to let her out of my sight either, but I was pretty confident strolling into a Council meeting with a surprise twin from a past life was not going to do me any favors. I had more than enough on my plate without having to try and explain Thana's presence as well.
"How 'bout his…" I said, eyeing her as the car started moving, "why don't you hang out with my aunt while I take care of zombie business? Then, when I get back, you and I can have that heart-to-heart."
I could see the desire to debate the point with me. It was written all over her face. It was a look I knew because I wore it all the time. It was the same battle that was constantly raging inside of me. The need to argue. To prove that my way was right.
I let out a little breath. Stubborn people were a real pain in the ass. This must be what Zed deals with whenever he's trying to convince me to just listen to him. The thought brought a small smile to my face, and I shook my head.
"Listen, I know you don't like this plan, but this is the way it needs to be. Regardless of your stance on the zombies, and supernaturals in general, things are… tenuous right now. Let's not throw the Daughter of Death grenade in the mix just yet, okay? Not until I've had a chance to wrap my head around it myself."
Thana fell quiet beside me, her arms crossed over her chest. "Fine," she agreed, blowing out a breath of her own.
Oh, Missy was going to love this. We only just got rid of one hostage for her to keep an eye on, and I was already bringing home a second. My eyes slid to Thana. Not that she knew that was the real reason for my suggestion. Let her believe whatever she wanted. Missy… and her machete… would watch this girl like a hawk.
I sped down Mansion Lane, pulling up the drive to my house in less than five minutes. Zed was already waiting outside, his eyes widening slightly as he noticed the figure seated next to me in the Impala.
Killing the ignition, I popped out of the car.
"Zed, there's someone I'd like you to meet."
His eyes narrowed on me. "I thought you said you were at the cemetery?"
"I was."
Zed pressed his lips together and eyed Thana, who was out of the car and leaning against the passenger door. "Is this some kind of fucking joke?" he asked, looking between us.
I let out a humorless laugh. "Not unless the joke's on me. Zed, meet my…" I paused to look at Thana, "what did you call yourself? My true twin?"
She eyed Zed shrewdly and gave a single nod.
The mistrust was evident in the hard lines of Zed's face. This introduction was going to get ugly fast if I didn't play this right. "Thana has been looking for me. She says she's here to help me deal with whatever it is hunting me and to learn more about my powers. I'm going to have her keep Missy company until we get back from the Council meeting and have the chance to chat more."
While I was talking, I was staring hard at Zed, communicating with my eyes everything I couldn't say out loud. Trust me. Go with this. We can talk about everything when we're alone.
His expression was still hard, but he gave a slow nod.
"Your name is Thana?" he asked.
She lifted an eyebrow, her expression one of utter condescension. "She didn't stutter," Thana said.
Zed didn't wilt under her tone as he said, "Thana means death."
A cold smile curled around her lips. "I am a Daughter of Death. Just like Addison."
"Hm." He turned, angling his body away from her and toward me. "Can we talk?"
"On the way to the Council meeting. You said it was starting soon, and I don't think your dad will appreciate us being late," I said, moving past him. He grabbed my forearm, making me pause.
"Addie…"
"Later," I said softly, a promise in my voice.
Our eyes met, and his burned with questions. Heat stirred in my veins as his grip loosened, sliding down my arm as I stepped toward the door.
"Alright." He squeezed my hand once and let it go.
I flung the front door open. "Missy?"
I only had to call out once. Missy came around the corner wielding a scythe. She spun it around in a showy maneuver, but when her eyes fell on Thana, her grip slipped. The scythe slid sideways a foot before she regained her hold. Six inches of blonde hair streaked with gray fell on the floor.
"Who's this?" she asked, holding the weapon in one hand as she strode forward.
"Thana. She's…" My words trailed as I struggled to find an adequate answer. While Missy had seen me do things other zombies couldn't do, we'd never gone into the differences… or the small fact that I was just another reincarnation of myself and had lived countless other lives before now.
"I'm Addison's twin," Thana said, taking it upon herself to speak. "Her true twin."
Missy's eyes narrowed, her thin lips pressing together. "I hate to break it to you, but I was there the day that girl was born." Missy pointed in my direction. "She came out with a brother, not a sister."
"In this life," Thana corrected. "In her original life, it was only her and I. You and her brother might be family in this reincarnation…"
I held my hand up for Thana to stop because she was not making this situation any better.
"Okay, look." I let out a sigh. "I wasn't completely upfront with you about everything. Right before we brought Zayne back and told you I was a reaper…"
"Zombie." Thana corrected again.
"Not the time…" I said with a forced smile before turning back to Missy. "Anyway, we learned that's not quite true. I'm what's called a Daughter of Death. No, I don't know what all that means yet. Thana found me at the cemetery this morning, though, and she says we're sisters. Or we were."
Missy's eyes were bouncing between Thana and me, a small wrinkle deepening between her brows.
"We still are," Thana insisted like I wasn't speaking. I shot her another pointed glare, and she gave me the same look right back.
"Anyways…" I drawled, looking away from her. It was just too eerie. "There's a lot going on right now, and I have some explaining to do, but the Council just called a meeting, and Zed and I can't be late."
"Should I prepare the basement for our guest?" Missy asked with just enough of a smile it should have been disarming. I recognized the code, however. She wanted to know if Thana was a friend or an enemy. I wish I knew the answer.
"No… I don't think you guys need to be that formal. Maybe just hang out in the kitchen?"
Missy's eyes narrowed as she tried to suss out any hidden meaning in my words. I mean, I thought it was pretty obvious. The kitchen is where the knives were. If things went squirrely, Missy wouldn't be caught without a weapon.
Zed tapped his foot beside me. "Addie, we should really get a move on."
"Yeah, okay." My eyes darted between Thana and Missy one last time. "You two going to be okay?"
Thana gave me a wide smile. "I'm going to enjoy some time getting to know my new family."
Missy's expression was harder to translate, but the not-so-subtle shift of her grip on the scythe was unmistakable. "We'll be fine. You two run along. I'll just give Thana a tour of my machete collection."
Worry sat like a ball of lead in my stomach, but this really was my best option for the moment. I had to trust that Missy could take care of herself and pray that Thana's motives were as pure as she claimed.
"Alright, let's go," I said to Zed, turning back to the door.
He was already holding it open.
I'd barely put the car into drive when Zed was demanding answers.
"Spill it."
My eyes darted to the rear-view, although I wasn't sure what I was expecting to see… we'd only been gone for about ten seconds.
"It's exactly like I said. She found me talking to Trace. Claims she's here to help. I didn't have enough time to interrogate her before you were blowing up my phone."
"A single text is hardly blowing you up."
I rolled my eyes. "It was the subtext of your text."
"Subtext?"
I nodded. "All broody and demanding."
"I don't brood."
"Sure you don't, hot stuff…. Hey, speaking of… are there any Takis still stashed in the glovebox?"
Zed was shaking his head beside me. "You can't just change the subject because you're suddenly hungry."
"What?" I threw him a cheeky grin. "I worked up an appetite last night."
His eyes smoldered as they met mine, but he didn't give in. "Her timing is too convenient. After all those weird sightings of you… Addie, she looks identical."
"Well, duh. I mean… she's my fucking twin, Zed. As for the sightings, I know. Believe me, I haven't overlooked it, but I haven't gotten a chance to properly question her, but her story lined up with Eliza's warning. I think she's telling the truth, but if she really is who she says she is, we have literally thousands of years to discuss it… and given how little we know about what I am, I wasn't passing up my only opportunity to learn. I couldn't let her come with, but I don't trust her enough to leave her alone. This way, we know where she is, and we can get answers as soon as we're done with the Council."
The muscle in his jaw flexed, but he gave me a tense nod. "I guess it's our only option for the moment."
"So… do I get those chips now?"
"Just drive, Addie," he said, sighing.
"I think I've more than earned it… I did just save every one of your frat brothers, and I gave you at least three mind-blowing orgas…"
A purple foil pack smacked the side of my face.
I was too busy multitasking as I drove and opened the bag, that I didn't even bother to complain that my new boyfriend had just pelted me in the face with my favorite snack. Sometimes a girl had to pick her battles, and somehow I had a feeling that there were some big ones on the horizon.