Almost Midnight (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3.5)(94)

All of a sudden she heard footsteps. The workshop located behind Holiday James’ cabin was off the beaten path. Fredericka didn’t get a lot of company, which was exactly why she liked it. The only one who’d seen her work was Holiday, who also happened to be the owner of the school. Which was another reason the interview frightened Fredericka.

Moving to the opened window, she pulled air through her nose to see who trotted through the woods toward her. Instead of picking up a scent first, she heard the rush of waterfalls. What the heck? She’d woken up in the middle of the night hearing it, too.

Then catching the scent, Fredericka hurried over to the chair where her long-sleeved shirt lay and slipped it on over her tank top.

She’d barely gotten the shirt on when Kylie, a chameleon, the rarest species of supernatural, knocked. “Fredericka?”

The door swished open. Fredericka shot in front of the display. Her shirt slipped off her shoulder but she snagged it back before Kylie’s gaze went there. “What?”

“Holiday sent me,” Kylie said. “Someone’s at the office to see you.”

“You must have misunderstood.” Fredericka stepped forward, hoping the girl would step out. No such luck.

“I don’t think so.” Kylie made an apologetic face.

Oh, please, no one had come to see Fredericka. Case in point, she’d been here six months and hadn’t had one visitor. On Parents’ Day she always found a place to hide out. The last thing she wanted was for her peers to start feeling sorry for her. That was worse than them judging her.

Kylie remained in the doorway. “Holiday said she tried to call you, but you didn’t answer. She texted me and asked me to see if you were here.”

Fredericka pulled her cell phone from her back pocket. It was out of battery again.

“Then let’s go,” Fredericka said, certain Kylie had misunderstood the reason Fredericka was being summoned, but eager to get the girl out of her private haven.

Fredericka gave another wave toward the door. Kylie leaned to the right.

“Wow! Did you make those?” The girl moved around Fredericka. She touched a necklace. Fredericka almost told her to keep her paws to herself.

“Ricka Lakota Designs,” Kylie read then looked back. “Ricka. I like that. Is that your nickname?”

“No.” Fredericka emotionally flinched. And after hearing the name from someone’s lips, she knew her next order of business was to change her logo.

“Can we go?” She motioned to the door for the second time.

“Sorry.” Kylie backed out.

Fredericka locked the door. Kylie waited to walk with her. Any other person would have skedaddled, especially after Fredericka had been so curt. But Kylie wasn’t just anyone.

Not only was she the rarest of supernaturals, who could go invisible—and yeah, Fredericka had actually seen her do it—but unlike so many of those here, she was the type who tried to see good in everyone. The poor thing had to look long and hard before she spotted any in Fredericka. Especially considering they’d had a rocky start. Like boulder-size rocky.

Kylie had taken the one guy Fredericka had thought she loved. Key word, thought. Not that Fredericka held it against Kylie now. Lucas had been the one pursuing the relationship. Fredericka had come to see that.

They started down the path. The cool breeze, scented with wet earth, whispered through the trees and brought with it the sound of rushing water again.

Fredericka stopped and glanced back in the woods. “Do you hear that?”

Kylie glanced over her shoulder. “Hear what?”

“The water.”

Kylie’s eyes widened as if Fredericka had asked something weird. “You hear the falls?”

“Yeah. Why? Is that bad or something?”

“No, it’s just…”

“Just what?” Fredericka asked.

“Usually, when you hear the falls, it’s calling you.”

“Why would it call me?” Fredericka asked.

“Normally, it’s when the death angels are trying to communicate with you.”

“Oh, I have nothing to say to them.”

“I don’t think they call you to the falls to punish you,” she said, reading Fredericka’s fear.

Fredericka’s shoulders tightened. She didn’t like being read. And she sure as hell didn’t want to be called. “Well, if they want me, they’ll have to text me.” And she hoped like hell they didn’t. The death angels were spirits who held supernaturals responsible for their actions. Fredericka had more than her share of negative checkmarks on her conduct card.

Kylie shrugged and they continued on. Before they even got past Holiday’s cabin, the girl spoke again. “Why don’t you want anyone to see your work? It’s amazing. I’d give anything to have talent like that.”

Call it stupid, but the compliment fell like soft rain on Fredericka. “How about I swap you my jewelry-making talent for the ability to go invisible?”

Kylie laughed. “It’s not nearly as cool as it seems.”

“You aren’t gonna convince me,” Fredericka said.

“Seriously,” Kylie said. “That necklace was gorgeous.”

“Thanks. I guess I’ll know for sure tomorrow.”

“What’s happening tomorrow?” Kylie sounded genuinely interested.