Chapter 34

"Caleb, it's Reid."

"Yeah, man? You ok?"

"…"

"Reid, you're out, right?"

"Yeah. I got bail. You?"

"Mmhmm. Same with the others, but Ty's still in the hospital. I was contacted by one of those… the priestesses. You know, the Daughters of Sappho or whatever they call themselves. They want to help."

"Caleb, we gotta split."

"What?"

"They're gonna find out, man! We can't keep this a secret!"

"Calm down. It'll be ok. We'll figure this out. We've got help, remember."

"I can't- Don't tell me to calm down."

"Look, I know it seems bad. Remember when they thought I was some psycho arsonist?"

"…they still think you're a psycho arsonist. Only now, they think you're a kidnapper, too. Lucky they haven't fuckin' pinned you for murder."

"Reid. Listen. We can-"

"Shit, Caleb, you listen! Something's… something's happening to me."

"What are you talking about?"

"I- I don't know. Something's… it's… it's bad. Like there's someone- something- in my head."

"…like voices?"

"It's weird, ok?! I don't fucking know what's going on, but it isn't good, and I think something real bad is gonna go down. I have to get out of here. You guys should come. We can't get out of this. Me, especially. They think I killed that bitch, Caleb! And I don't even know if I did or not! And with this… this thing…"

"What exactly is happening, Reid?"

"I had… it was like a blackout. I just… I heard… it was saying things. Like, telling me to… do stuff. Bad shit. And it threatened you guys, and- and Kat. It sounded… it was me, Caleb. I have to leave. We have to leave. Just the four of us. Take the attention off the girls."

"Reid, you're talking crazy."

"Are you listening to me?! Look, I'm getting out of town. I have to deal with this, without blowing someone else up."

"You didn't-"

"You saw that house. I gotta go."

"Reid. Reid!"

888888888

"So you ran off with this boy why?" Kat slumped in her chair, rubbing her forehead. Why couldn't she just tell the goddamn truth? For once? She'd had full intentions of telling her father everything. Dad, I'm a werewolf. I just killed someone, but they're blaming my boyfriend, the warlock. Only… only it hadn't exactly come out that way. After binging on two boxes of macaroni and cheese with orange juice, she'd sat down in the living room and opened her mouth and-

"Well, we were going to have a party in this old house, only one of Reid's friends brought beer, so we had to clean that up, and then we were carting it down to the basement but I tripped over a blacksnake and fell down the stairs and hit my head, and Reid had to go call 911, only the phone lines had been cut because the friend who brought the alcohol also brought his aunt, who's an escaped convict, and she was psycho, and she-"

Kat was interrupted by the humming tones of the doorbell. Oh, thank god.

"I'll get that. It could be the police." Possibly not the best thing to say, but… She walked quickly to the door, still in her bathrobe, and started twisting her hair into a knot at the back of her head as she opened the door. Her hands froze, the coil of hair slipping from her grip to slap against her back.

"Hey, babe," Reid said. His blond hair was mostly slicked back wetly from his face, as if he'd just come from the shower, with a few rogue strands arching over his forehead. There was a bruise covering one side of his face that hadn't been there the last time she'd seen him, and there were purple dashes beneath those piercing eyes. He looked oddly frail in his white T-shirt, his hands surprisingly bare of their usual half-gloves.

"Reid," she said on a breath, stepping out the door. He backed up to let her out, and they stood silently on her porch for an instant. Invite him in? Hell, no. Dad would flip. So-

She kissed him there on the doorstep, her arms going around his neck like they'd always belonged there. His hands came up to tangle in her hair for an instant before sliding down to the small of her back, his fingers brushing against the belt of her robe. He kissed her like she was the only thing left, and she returned it with her heart and soul. The wolf mates for life, and Kat's lupine spirit had already made the connection to this strange, mysterious boy.

She tasted hunger, raw and unsteady, as well as fear and something oddly metallic… like blood, only vaguely unpleasant.

When they pulled back, gasping, Kat searched his face, confused.

"What-"

"I just wanted to tell you," he said, "you were a great lay."

"What?" She stared at him, seeing nothing in those quicksilver features, those flashing eyes. He held up his hands.

"Don't take it the wrong way. Like I said, you were great. Just what I needed at a time like that." He shuddered. "Anyway, I just thought I should stop by and see how you were doing." Frowning, she folded her arms.

"Um… I'm fine, I guess. Are-"

"Good. Well, see you around," he finished lightly, turning. Kat whipped out a hand and grabbed his arm.

"Wait! What the hell is this?"

"What? We're being accused of some serious shit here, Kat. It's every man for himself. Or girl for herself, in your case," he added musingly. Kat blinked, trying to process this.

"You- what are you saying?" He looked back at her, looking confused for a minute. Then, he gave a short, disbelieving laugh.

"You- wait. You didn't- You didn't think we were together or anything, did you?" Kat's mouth fell open slightly, her eyes opening wide.

"I… You…"

"I don't do relationships," Reid said casually. "It was fun, we both needed it, and we make a good team. I foresee a long and enjoyable friendship," he finished mockingly. There was an instant, as he said those damning words, when Kat physically felt her heart stop beating. It was true, she now realized: he had never said he loved her. In fact, now that she thought about it, he'd said the opposite: 'Fuck love'. The wolf inside her was crying out, howling with confusion and abandonment… and then with rage.

"You… you asshole!" He backed up, but she'd already grabbed him by the neck of his shirt. No longer did he look frail and bruised, Kat noted with a sneer. Now, he looked perfectly- fine-

"Hey, hey, watch it," Reid yelped. Kat spun with him, slamming him into the closed door of her house. She ignored the twinges of pain from her bandaged hands, as well as the way Reid stiffened.

"You bastard," she hissed. His chin was set, the point hard and determined. His eyes were like blue ice as he stared her down. Kat shoved aside her broken heart with a snarl. "You dare come here and treat me like this, after all I- Fine. A good team? A long and enjoyable friendship? I'll give you long and enjoyable. If you ever come anywhere near me again, I'll make your death so long you beg for it, and I'll enjoy every last second." By the end of her threat, Kat's voice was so arctic that Reid shivered. She dropped him, shoved him aside, and slammed the door on her way inside her house.

Once she was gone, Reid picked himself up, straightened his clothes, and walked quickly to his car, stolen from his mother. He slid behind the wheel, grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the passenger seat, pulled his newest lighter out of the backpack in the back seat, and lit up. He didn't actually smoke the cigarette, just held it and let the feel of it calm him as he drove one-handed. He held that cigarette all the way out of town, until the burning end scorched his fingers cherry-red. Cursing, he dropped it, pinching the burned fingers together until he cried out.

Had to do it. Now she won't try to follow me. Had to keep her safe.

The pain from his fingers died down, so Reid bit his lip instead. Hard. Hard enough that his eyes starting tearing up. Hard enough that, with the pain, he felt just a little bit better about what he'd done to Kat Teague. When his lip went numb, and the guilt came back full tilt, Reid pulled over and lit another cigarette.

"Fuck," he said quietly, shaking his hand. There was a new blistery circle where he'd ground the lit end. Just another scar. The pain stayed this time, fiery streaks of agony rushing up and down his hand. He held his burned hand out the window, letting his head fall back against the head-rest and closing his eyes. He would not cry.

Had to do it. Had to.

Of course you didn't have to. You could have killed her instead. Then, you wouldn't have to worry about her anymore. Wouldn't have to be so bound by some girl. Why should she influence you? You've got way more power than she'll ever have. She has no say in your life. You gonna let her rule you?

Shut up. Shut the fuck up.

Why should I? I have a point. You know I do.

No you don't! I'm getting rid of you.

You can't get rid of me. You are me.

Reid opened his eyes, staring blankly at the road for a long, tense moment before he pulled back onto the highway.