The Soul Trade by E E Richardson

Author:E E Richardson [E. E. Richardson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RHCP
Published: 2001-04-05T04:00:00+00:00

XII

‘You’re a prat,’ Katie said as they walked out past the shut-up Westfield Centre. ‘What? You thought I wasn’t going to follow you?’

Nick gave a noncommittal shrug and didn’t say anything.

She jerked her thumb towards the alley. ‘So what were you doing down there that was so important? And it better not involve buying drugs, because believe me, I don’t have the patience to deal with that much stupidity.’

‘Do I look like I’ve been buying drugs?’ Nick asked sullenly, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

‘Well, right now you look like you’re on them,’ she said. She gave him a sideways glance. ‘Seriously, the way you’ve been the past couple of days you might as well change your name to Deadhead McZombie. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?’

‘It’s got nothing to do with you!’

‘No, I didn’t think it did. Not the point, Nicholas.’ Katie raised her eyebrows expectantly.

‘Can’t you just stay out of it?’ he demanded.

‘No, I’m a nosy cow,’ she said easily. ‘And you know you’ve never, ever been able to keep a secret from me, so you might as well give it up.’

Nick closed his eyes in despair. ‘It’s not a game, Katie.’

She flicked her hair back from her face. ‘Yeah. The sneaking off to midnight meetings in dark alleys was a little bit of a clue there.’

‘It’s nowhere near midnight,’ he corrected peevishly.

‘And this is a good place to hang out at any time of night?’ she said, with a pointed look at the drunks outside the trio of pubs on the corner. ‘You can’t go running off this time, because I am not walking home on my own from here.’

‘I didn’t ask you to follow me.’ Nick hunched his shoulders.

‘Well, you didn’t exactly give me much choice! If you would actually talk to me—’

‘I can’t!’ he burst out. He stopped walking and gave a slow sigh, rubbing his hands over his face. ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, OK?’ he said in calmer tones. ‘It sounds crazy – it is crazy – and there’s nothing you can do to help, so there’s no point in me even telling you.’

‘How about you let me decide what I will and won’t believe, OK?’ Katie said, sounding just as frustrated as he was. ‘There is nothing you can tell me that is half as wacko as the stuff I’m coming up with in my head already.’

Nick let out a bitter laugh, tilting his head back to look at the overcast sky. How the hell had this ever become his life?

‘Fine,’ he said despairingly. ‘Fine! You want to know what’s going on?’ He whirled to face her. ‘I’m being blackmailed into working for an evil bastard with magical powers. He’s taken away my ability to draw, and he won’t give it back unless I do what he says. Oh, yeah, and he’s got me hooked up to a shock bracelet to make sure I don’t welsh on the deal.’ He yanked back his coat sleeve to expose the metal band.

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