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“Your ability has obviously grown stronger, or you’re able to control it better.”
Kate nods. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s because you have a gift too. It could be that we have similar energy or odeon.” She shakes her head. “I can’t believe what your great aunt did. She killed an innocent woman...”
I swallow hard and picture the scene in my mind’s eye. It’s not something I’ll be able to forget anytime soon. Frida committed a murder and covered it up as an accident.
“I don’t understand why Charles went along with it. Why didn’t he say what really happened? I mean, she was his girlfriend, and Frida killed her.” This is hard for me to say. It’s all so incomprehensible.
I didn’t know much about my great aunt, but I assumed she was a loving, strong, upright person. And now I find out it wasn’t an accident; it was pure hate. She wanted to see Charles’ girlfriend dead. I get goosebumps on my arms and start to shiver. How am I supposed to deal with this information?
“Charles seemed to be afraid of her,” says Kate. “Which isn’t surprising after what he just witnessed. But maybe she hadsomething else on him. I mean, she told him not to tell anyone because he knew what would happen otherwise. That was a pretty clear threat.”
“You’re probably right,” I say pensively.
Kate puts her arm around my shoulders and pulls me toward her. “I’m sorry. I hoped we’d learn something that would bring you some peace, not make everything worse.”
“Yeah, it couldn’t have been more horrific.”
I find myself wondering how it might change a person when their life basically consists of mistrusting everyone and spying on people day and night. How much of yourself would you lose in the process?
“What do you want to do now?”
Kate’s words snap me out of my reverie. I shrug.
“I guess I have to let the whole thing go. Now I know what Frida did and why. There’s nothing more I can do. I just need to find a way to deal with that.”
“I’m here for you,” she says again, putting her arms around me.
I hug her and thank her. It’s so good to have her on my side. Even though I never personally knew Frida, she was a kind of role model for me. A friendly figure in the key carriers’ world, which still feels a little alien to me. But now I no longer have that emotional crutch. I have to go at it alone.
Chapter 20
The mood between me and Kate is pretty subdued, and we’re both caught up in our own thoughts. On the way back to school, Kate suggests we stop for a bite. We order burgers and fries and sit down to eat them on a grassy strip near the fast food restaurant. A breeze carries the sea air to us. The sun has already set, and night is falling. Despite the traffic noises around us, the moment feels peaceful. I pet Yoru, whose head is resting on my lap. Now and then. I give him a morsel from my burger.
“He looks pretty content,” Kate observes.
“Yeah, I agree. Ayden still insists that key spirits don’t eat normal food, but Yoru seems to have his own ideas about that. He’s a real gourmet.”
I stroke him and look over at Kate and Gray. It’s amazing – although the spirits can’t talk, I can tell that he’s sad and still hasn’t gotten over Ty’s death. He nuzzles up to Kate and hides his big head under her arm.
“It’s alright, Gray,” she says softly. “I know it’s not easy. But we’re here for each other.”
She strokes his scaly skin, and the snake’s head slowlywithdraws from its hiding place and looks at her. I can sense their connection. I hope Kate soon succeeds in sending him odeon. Because I’m convinced they’ll make an unbeatable team.
After we finish eating, we talk about more trivial things, and the mood gradually lifts. I’m able to push the vision out of my mind, at least for now, and enjoy spending time with my friend.
We arrive back at school with the intention of going back to Kate’s room for a while. She’s telling me about a phone call with Alex yesterday. Alex was out with Chrissy and had some hilarious anecdotes to share.
“Alex is the best,” I agree with a grin.
Kate nods and continues talking about Alex. I’m listening so intently that at first, I don’t notice the people approaching from the opposite direction. It’s not until I hear a sharp voice that I flinch and look up. I don’t know what hurts more – seeing Ayden with his arm around Vicky’s hip or Vicky herself looking daggers at us.
“It’s great that you two can be so cheerful again. I mean, it’s a while since Ty died because of you, so I guess it’s okay to start laughing and joking around again.”
I’m lost for words, and it takes me a moment to find them again. But she’s already focusing on Kate and the key spirit by her side. She sucks in a hissing breath, and I can see that has to hold herself back from launching at Kate.
“It’s actually true?! You! You of all people got Gray!”
She moves a step toward Kate, but Ayden reacts quickly and holds her back. “Vicky, give it a break, okay? Calm down.”
