Vendetta by Katie Klein

Author:Katie Klein [Klein, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult
Amazon: B005G8L3S4
Goodreads: 12325676
Published: 2011-08-06T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

At the first signs of exhaustion, Seth demands that everyone leave. Carter walks the one hundred or so steps back to his house. Joshua and Mara disappear. Earlier I couldn't imagine ever sleeping again, but a wave of fatigue finally rolled in.

I crawl into bed with him and he curls up next to me, wrapping me in his arms. I bury my face in his chest and breathe him in. The pine. His salty, seawater smell. Comfort personified.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. But I don't know what he's sorry for. That it happened. That he killed Mike. All of it.

"Tell me a story," I say, eyes closing.

"What kind of story?"

I shrug. "A happy story."

"I only know one worth telling."

"That's okay."

He clears his throat and swallows hard, muscles tightening as he grips me tighter. "Okay. . . . Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl. She moved around a lot because of her mom."

My heart constricts. My mom. Gone. Again. Without even saying goodbye.

"She seemed angry. Angry and sad. Someone was watching her, though. From the shadows. She fascinated him, and he searched for excuses to be part of her world. During the restaurant's busiest hours. Mingling with the crowd at the beach. He was always careful not to get too close. Then she started dating this loser . . ."

"Seth," I whine, feeling a smile pulling at my lips.

"Okay, not a total loser, but definitely not good enough for this girl. He was surface. Predictable. She was deep, introspective, smart. She was mysterious. She had . . . secrets. But as jealous as he was, he couldn't interfere. Until one night there was an argument, and then an accident."

I take in a long, fluid breath, listening. Remembering that night.

"The SUV was totaled, and she was trapped. He panicked, convinced she'd been taken from him. He'd fallen in love with her, and this was his punishment. But the Angel of Death never came."

"Angel of Death? What does he do?" I interrupt.

"It's not one angel, it's many. But they act as one entity. Anyone who dies first meets an Angel of Death. They're Messengers. They make sure you cross safely to the other side—to whichever side you deserve. Are you going to let me finish this story?"

I smile.

"Anyway, he managed to send for help and pry the door open. She was hurt, so he sat beside her . . . brushed her hair from her eyes . . . took her hand in his and held it and promised her everything was going to be okay. That he would make it okay. He tried to distance himself after that. He told himself it was nothing. But then he picked her up, held her in his arms for the first time, and it was over. He wanted her to see him. To know who he was. At first she thought he was a ghost, which really offended him."

I laugh. "You were following me around. Showing up in random places. No one else could see you.

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