Untouched (Denazen #1.5)(8)

I turned around just in time for Dez to collided with me, wrapping her arms around my neck and planting tiny kisses up and down the side of my face. I encircled her waist, lifting her feet from the ground, and twirled her once. “I did okay?”

“Okay?” Kiernan breathed. “I’ve never seen anyone move like that! I think I’m in love…”

I squeezed Dez once more, then set her down. I didn’t want to hurt the girl’s feelings, but she needed to know the truth. “I’m sorry…I love Dez.”

Dez laughed and took my hand.

“You—huh?” Blinking several times, she shrugged and waved us forward. “Whatever. Come on. Let’s go check on the Jipsey.”

…



“This is Madame Jewel,” Kiernan said, stepping into the room.

She greeted the old woman—who reminded me a lot of Ginger, my grandmother—with a hug.

“She’s been here forever. Used to work with my mom.”

Jewel gestured to the two seats across from her and sank down into her own. “You’re here for a reading?”



“Dez and Kale are new friends of mine. We’re hanging out, trying to get to know each other, and we thought it’d be cool to have readings done.”

Jewel smiled. Wrinkled lips parted to reveal several large gaps. Missing teeth. She must have gotten into a fight at some point—and lost. “Of course. Anything for you, dahling.” She turned to Kale. “You first, handsome. Take a seat and fork over them digits.”

I sank into the chair but wasn’t sure what to do from there. I didn’t know what numbers she was asking for, and I felt stupid asking.

Dez took the seat beside me and held out her hand. “Me first.”

Ah. Now I understood. The woman had wanted my hand.

She looked at me, then turned to Dez and shrugged. Taking Dez’s hand, the woman closed her eyes, and Dez held back a laugh. I guessed she didn’t like playing pretend any more than I did.

They sat like that for a moment, maybe two, before Jewel’s eyes flashed open. “Sixes?”

Dez pulled her hand away and jumped to her feet. I did the same, tense and ready to fight.

The old woman rolled her eyes. “Sit down. We’re sisters, you and I.”

Was she kidding? “No, you’re not. First of all, you’re far too old to—”

Dez smiled. “She means she’s a Six, too, Kale.”

“You can see the future,” I said, understanding now. I turned to Kiernan, who was standing to the side, grinning. “The real deal?”

She nodded.

Jewel snapped her fingers to get our attention. Yes. She definitely reminded me of Ginger. “The three of you must leave here. You’re in danger.”

Dez stomped her foot and blew at a stray hair that had fallen into her eyes. “What else is new? Can you elaborate? Is this danger in the form of a stuffy lawyer-wanna-be with a receding hairline and seriously questionable morals?”



Instead of answering Dez, she turned to me. “He is coming.”

Dez leaned forward. She said something to Jewel—something about Denazen—but I wasn’t paying attention.

He is coming.

Such a simple statement—it could have meant anything. Dez’s cousin, Brandt. Possibly even our friend Dax. He knew where we were. We’d been checking in with Dez’s mom, Sue, regularly. But danger? That meant Denazen.

“He?” I asked. My throat felt dry, and everything had gone cold and flat. Like soda without the bubbles…

“Kale?” Dez asked. There was worry in her voice. She turned to Jewel. “Who are you talking about—my father?”

Jewel kept her eyes on mine and laughed. “Your father? No, child. He is nothing compared to this man.”

“That’s a little vague…” Dez grumbled.

“I cannot give you specific details without touching Kale’s skin…” The old woman winked. “And we both know I can’t do that.”

Kiernan stepped up to the table. “So they’re on the level?”

Jewel nodded. “They are. You should go with them. I don’t know when they’ll arrive. It could be today, it could be tomorrow.” She held out her hand. “Let me do a quick read for you. Maybe I can—”

Kiernan shook her head and stumbled away. “No—I’m good.”

Jewel didn’t say anything. She only watched the purple-haired girl with an odd expression.

“You still haven’t told us who is coming,” Dez said, standing.

Jewel sighed as she stood and turned her back on us. After a moment, she made her way to the other side of the room, pushing through a thin black curtain. Over her shoulder, just as she disappeared from view, she said, “The nightmare man. The nightmare man is coming—and he has plans for you both.”





6


Kiernan rolled her eyes. “Well, all righty, then. Have a nice day to you, too, Jewel…”

“So should we go?” Dez leaned back against the table, craning her neck to see out the windows. I knew what she was looking for. Agents.

“What was she talking about? What’s a nightmare man? Is that a Denazen thing?”

“I can’t be sure,” I said, trying to process the thoughts in my head. I was sure, though. The thought had been there all along. The watched sensation back at Kiernan’s. The white flashes in the crowd. The man… He was here. In the back of my mind, I’d known.