The Hidden - Jessica Verday [94]
Vincent gave me a look of disdain.
“I can pee right here on the floor if you want,” I offered.
He pulled out his knife again and slit the tie. My feet sprang apart, and I uttered a sigh of relief. That relief was short lived, though, because he clamped an arm down on my wrist and grabbed hold.
Forcefully, he directed me over to the bathroom and shoved me into it. I turned on the water to make him think I was washing my hands, and sized up the small window over the tub.
Too small.
Vincent banged on the door. “Hurry up. I’m waiting.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I yelled back.
Gripping the edges of the sink, I stared into the mirror and turned my head to look at my jaw. A faint yellow and pink stain was there, the beginning of a bruise starting to form. I touched it and hissed as pain went screaming through my head again. Time for plan B, Abbey. You need to get out of here.
The doorknob rattled. “Open up. Or I’m breaking it down. Then any peeing you want to do really will be in front of me.”
I turned the water off and opened the door. Vincent grabbed my arm again and walked me back to the couch. Turning myself completely away from him, I scooted down closer to the other end and curled up into a ball. How long would it take for someone to find me?
“Why did you do it?” I said softly, wondering how much I could get out of him.
“Do what?”
“Stalk me. Leave things in my locker. Visit my parents dressed like a priest. And then … just disappear. Why did you do it?”
He looked excited. “Did you like the fingernails? I thought they were a nice touch. And that perfume? Very expensive. The priest outfit was my personal favorite. Hard to move in, though. It restricted the blood flow.” He grinned at me as I shot him a You’re crazy look. “Oh, come on. I had to do something to keep myself occupied. I was killing time.”
“Killing time until what?”
“Until this, of course. You’re a little thick, aren’t you?”
I sat up. “What do you mean?”
“They didn’t tell you? I bet that was Sophiel’s idea. She’s such a bitch.”
“Why don’t you tell me?”
“Has your lover boy been experiencing any strange symptoms lately? Maybe losing his ability to touch?” He held up one finger. “Or he suddenly likes to take extra-long naps?”
I considered lying to him, saying no, those things had never happened. But other than Uri, he seemed to be the only Revenant willing to tell me anything. “Yes. Why?”
“And you.” He pointed at me. “You don’t react the same way to the Revs anymore, do you? No more burning smell or tasting ash?”
I shook my head. “What does all of that mean?” My voice came out in a whisper.
“It means that your little Revenant buddies have been lying to you. I’d wager from the very beginning.” He seemed absolutely delighted. “Do you even know what November third is?”
“No.”
“It’s the reason why you’re here. The reason why your boy toy’s been losing his ability to touch and getting trapped in the dark sleep so often. It’s why you don’t react the same way to the Revenants. Because it’s getting closer. It’s almost time.”
I waited for him to tell me. It was obvious that was what he wanted to do.
“D-day,” Vincent said.
“That’s not true,” I replied. “There is no exact date. The Revenants haven’t figured out when or how I’ll die.”
“Not yours. … His.” Vincent smirked.
“But how can that be? Caspian already died. I’ve been to his grave.”
“Did you really think that Casper the Friendly Ghost was going to stick around forever? Stay with you, in this world, so you could bump uglies once a year?” He gave me a look of annoyance.
I tried as hard as I could not to let my cheeks flush, but I don’t think I was successful. “How can Caspian die again?” I asked, desperate not to let the conversation get sidetracked.
“The short answer is, you.”
“I’m going to kill him?”
Vincent roared with laughter, and then his face went completely still. “No, you’ll be right here with me. But without you Caspian can’t stay. As