slid the cap back onto the bottle and gave it a couple of shakes; apparently, it needed to fit snugly. She smiled sweetly, turning to face Nikki. “About that blood …”
Chapter 9
I don’t think it’s a good idea, Kay.”
Nikki noticed the nickname and Raven’s tone of voice as he said it. It raked against her spine.
“Raven, it might buy you more time. We’re leaving within the hour, and I can drop the bottle out in the desert. The seeker likely won’t pick up the scent until the blood touches the ground.” Kaylyn placed her slender hand on Raven’s arm. “Nikki needs time.”
That seemed to be enough motivation for him. His eyes caught Nikki’s as she began to say no.
“Nikki, I’m not going to argue about it.” Raven’s voice rose a little.
“I’m not giving her blood. No way. Too dangerous.”
Kaylyn and Raven shared a sort of conspiratorial look, then the blonde singer was back at the table.
Nikki started to move away, but Raven’s arms surrounded her. When Kaylyn swung around with a cheese knife in her hand, Nikki screamed and tried to wriggle free.
Cold first, then a burning sting as the blade sliced her arm. It didn’t hurt that bad, but emotion welled in her. Maybe because these two were putting their lives on the line while she tried to stop them—just like a bratty kid would stop her mom from pouring peroxide on a wound to clean out the infection. Tears stung her eyes and her nose tingled. Ugh. She hated that. She looked away, off to the left, as if courage was hiding in the corner and she only had to make eye contact to possess it. But no courage came, so she bit her bottom lip while Kaylyn held the bottle to the edge of the cut, where a fine line of blood flowed.
Kaylyn’s voice was annoyingly soothing. “I’m sorry we held you down, Nikki. But if you’re anything like the girls Raven usually goes for, it was the only way.”
Just when I figured I couldn’t possibly feel any worse …
Kaylyn pressed her shimmery lips into a straight line. “I appreciate that you’re worried about my safety. But believe me, I can handle myself, and I won’t take any stupid risks.”
Not trusting her voice, Nikki gave a quick nod and uttered a thank you.
“Okay, you guys need to go.”
Raven bent and kissed Kaylyn on the cheek. The whole exchange made Nikki’s world tilt. Kaylyn was trying to help, but again, Nikki’d been bullied into doing what she didn’t want to do. Was she ever again going to have control over her life?
Yes. One day she would. Deep in her soul a promise bloomed, and she knew with absolute certainty that one day she’d choose her own destiny. Awareness filled her. She didn’t deserve the people she’d been given, and yet here they were.
She didn’t deserve the unmerited favor that surrounded her on every turn. And yet, it sought her like flowers seek the sun.
The sensation overwhelmed her. Something deep within her was changing. Her gaze trailed to Raven first, then to Kaylyn. It gurgled in her stomach and rose to settle in her chest.
A bit confused by it, she stood statue still as waves seemed to flow both outward and inward at the same time, washing over her flesh and splashing through her system.
The green room looked a little brighter. Had someone turned up the light?
“What is it?” Raven’s voice reached her through the veil.
She whispered, “Faith.”
Kaylyn clapped her hands. “Raven, she’s tapping in.”
By the time they made it to the church in Philadelphia, Kaylyn had contacted her friend Pastor Layton. The forty-something man ushered them in and closed a massive door behind them. Nikki recognized his face, especially the dark hair and green eyes, from TV, although she hadn’t known his name. He was probably on some church show she’d flicked past a thousand times on Sunday mornings.
A gargantuan sanctuary swallowed them, lit only by some dim overhead lights, and she took it in as they walked. At the edge of the chair-filled room a door was propped open, spilling bright light into the space.
Nikki chewed on the inside of her cheek. Guess they didn’t have such a great turnout for the prayer meeting. But as they moved to the door, a low rumble of voices grew louder. Pastor Layton turned and addressed Nikki with a smile. “I’d like you to meet your intercessors.”
“My intercessors?”
Pastor Layton grinned. “Yes, they’ve been praying for you for months. But yesterday