Beautiful Darkness(56)

It was another guy.

Ethan! You have to go.

I'm not going anywhere.

Ridley stepped in front of me, the dancers swelling around us. “Slow down, Boyfriend. I knew you had guts, but this is crazy.” She sounded concerned, like she actually gave a crap about what happened to me. It was a lie, like everything else about her.

“Get out of my way, Ridley.”

“You're done here, Short Straw.”

“Sorry, the lollipops don't work on me, or whatever you and John are using to manipulate Lena.”

She grabbed my arm, her icy fingers cutting into my skin. I had forgotten how strong she was, and how cold. She lowered her voice. “Don't be stupid. You're way out of your league and way out of your mind.”

“You should know.”

She tightened her grip on my arm. “You don't wanna do this. You shouldn't be in here. Go home before —”

“Before what? Before you cause even more trouble than usual?” Link caught up to me. Ridley locked eyes with him. For a second, I thought there was a flutter, the slightest spark in her eye, like the sight of Link called up something almost human in her. Something that made her as vulnerable as he was. It disappeared as quickly as it had surfaced.

Ridley was rattled and starting to panic. I could tell by the way she was unwrapping a lollipop before she could even get the words out of her mouth. “What the hell are you doing here? Get out of here now, and take him with you.” The playful tone was gone. “Go!” She shoved us both as hard as she could.

I stood my ground. “I'm not going until I talk to Lena.”

“She doesn't want you here.”

“She'll have to tell me that herself.”

Say it to my face, L.

Lena was winding her way through the crowd. John Breed hung back, his eyes fixed on us. I didn't want to imagine what she must have said to him to keep him there. That she would handle this? It was nothing, just a guy who couldn't get over her? Some desperate Mortal who couldn't compete with everything she had now?

Like him.

She had John, and he had me beat in the only way that counted. He was part of her world.

I'm not leaving unless you say it.

Ridley dropped her voice, more serious than I'd ever seen her. “We don't have time to screw around. I know you're bent outta shape, but you don't understand. He'll kill you, and if you're lucky, the rest of them won't join in for fun.”

“Who, Vampire Boy? We can take him.” Link was lying, but there was no way he wouldn't go down swinging, either for me or for her.

Ridley shook her head, pushing him farther back. “You can't, you idiot. This is no place for a couple of Boy Scouts. Get out of here.” She reached for Link's cheek, but he grabbed her wrist before she could touch him. Ridley was like a beautiful snake — you couldn't let her get close without the risk of being bitten.

Lena was only a few feet away.

If you don't want me here, tell me yourself.

A part of me believed if we were close enough, I could break whatever hold Ridley and John had over her.

Lena stopped behind Ridley. Her expression was unreadable, but I could see the silvery streak where a single tear had fallen.

Say it, L. Say it, or come with me.

Lena's eyes flickered, and she looked past me to where Liv was standing at the edge of the dance floor.

“Lena, you shouldn't be here. I don't know what Ridley and John are doing to you —”

“No one is doing anything to me, and I'm not the one in danger here. I'm not a Mortal.” Lena looked over at Liv.

Like her.

Lena's face darkened, and I could see her stray curls beginning to twist.

“You're not like them either, L.”

The lights in the bar flickered, and the bulbs shattered over the dance floor, sending sparks and tiny pieces of glass over both of us. The crowd, even that crowd, started moving away from us. “You're wrong. I am like them. This is where I belong.”

“Lena, we can figure this out.”

“No, we can't, Ethan. Not this.”

“Haven't we made it through everything else together?”

“No. Not together. You don't know anything about me anymore.” For a second, something passed across her face. Sadness, maybe? Regret?

I wish things could be different, but they can't.

She started to walk away.

I can't go where you're going, Lena.

I know.

You'll be all alone.

She didn't turn around.

I'm already alone, Ethan.

Then tell me to go. If that's what you really want.

She stopped walking and turned slowly to look at me.

“I don't want you here, Ethan.” Lena disappeared across the dance floor, away from me. Before I could take a step, I heard the rip —

John Breed materialized in front of me, black leather jacket and all. “Me neither.”

We were only a few feet apart. “I'm going, but it's not because of you.” He smiled, and his green eyes glowed.

I turned and pushed my way through the crowd. I didn't care if I pissed off someone who could drink my blood or make me jump off a cliff. I kept moving because more than anything else, I wanted to get out of there. The heavy wooden door slammed behind me, shutting out the music, the lights, and the Casters.