When The Grave Calls (The Veil Diaries #9) - B.L. Brunnemer Page 0,46
me. “If it is your necromancy, then you could be a lot more than we ever thought.”
I swallowed hard. “Again, what does that mean?”
She met my gaze. “You could be even stronger than you are now.”
“Is that good or bad?” I asked softly.
Her brows knit together, the worry plain on her face. “I honestly don’t know.”
Chapter 8
Tara
Dad pulled into a gas station after being on the road for hours. Needing to pee, I climbed over a sleeping Tank and opened the door as soon as the SUV came to a full stop, then ran for the station, racing towards the restroom sign.
Thankfully, it was clean.
On my way out, I made a point to stop and grab a packet of licorice. The gas station attendant took my money without a word. His gaze was fixed on a small old VCR television set that was playing a black and white movie on the back counter. I stepped out of the store just as another SUV pulled into a spot in front of our car at the pumps. Something about it had me hurrying back to Dad’s side as he filled the tank.
No one got out of the other vehicle.
“Get in the car,” Dad ordered.
My heart jumped as I hurried to do what he said, only for another car to pull in behind us. “Dad.”
“We’ve got another one,” Maria announced as she got out, her hand under her jacket at her waistband. “Get in the car, Tara.”
I hurried into the vehicle, slammed the door, and hit the lock while Maria moved to the front of the car and Dad moved to the back of the car. “What the hell is going on?”
Tank and Kita were suddenly awake and moving. Tank moved between me and the door while Kita moved to Jess’s side. Both of their ears were up, their hair on end.
“We were followed.” Lucy shifted, pulling out several vials of colored liquid. “Here, if you get grabbed, break it on their skin.” She forced one into each of our hands as she watched the windows.
I shared a look with Jess. Her eyes were wide, her face pale, but the way she moved to Kita’s side let me know she was ready for whatever came next. Okay. Okay. I turned to my own door and waited as no one got out of the car in front of us. How the hell did they find us? We’d been driving all day. Dad used an old paper map, not even turning on the GPS!
My heart hammered in my chest as I waited in the tense silence.
“Oh, shit.” Lucy’s voice dragged my attention to the front of the car.
The SUV doors opened. Maria stood firm, pushing back her jacket and showing the sidearm.
Two women emerged, standing in their doors.
“That won’t protect you,” one announced, her voice muffled through the glass.
Maria pulled her sidearm. My heart leaped into my throat. I reached over and clung to Lucy’s hand.
Maria aimed at the woman. “Would runed bullets? ‘Cause, that’s what Lexie gave us.”
The witch’s smile faded, her hand turning over palm up.
The gas attendant stepped out of the gas station door and lit up a cigarette. Maria tucked the gun back down by her thigh, hiding it from the worker’s sight. The witches dropped their hands to their sides.
The silence stretched impossibly long as the two groups faced off with each other, neither advancing nor retreating.
The gas nozzle popped.
There was the sound of the nozzle being taken out. Dad was soon at the driver’s door. “Maria.”
Maria kept her firearm out as she climbed back into the car. Dad jumped the curb and squealed out of the gas station.
“How’d they find us?” Maria asked as she looked out the window. “They’re following!”
“I don’t know. They shouldn’t have been able to,” Dad snapped as he pulled out his phone. “We’re going to need some help.”
Lexie
I was walking down the long hallway in the basement when Isaac came down the stairs and spotted me.
“Hey, Red. I was looking for you.” His grin faded once he saw my face. “What’s wrong?”
“I just finished practice with Uma,” I said.
His brows drew down. “How’d it go?”
I shrugged. “I … I don’t really know.”
He took my hand and pulled me closer. “What happened?”
“Apparently, I have some weird ghost-like powers.” I looked up at him. “Why can’t I be normal?”
“What’s a normal necro like?” He grinned.
I shrugged.
“Because then you wouldn’t be you.” He bent down and brushed his lips against my cheek. “And I love you.”