Charade (Heven and Hell #2)(76)
Author: Cambria Hebert

What’s going on? I asked.

Gemma is just fighting her feelings for Cole and is trying to keep distance between them, but now she can’t.

Girl stuff. That wasn’t my department. “Hecate took the scroll,” I told Gemma, changing the subject far away from girl stuff.

She nodded. “The odds were stacked against you.”

Gloom settled over the room and we all lapsed into silence. Soon, the bathroom door opened and Cole came out. He was wearing a pair of gym shorts and a pair of socks. No shirt. But judging from the bruises and marks all over his chest, it was no wonder he didn’t want to wear a shirt. It probably hurt too much. Heven rushed over, stopping short of throwing her arms around him after she quickly took notice of his appearance.

His arms and chest were covered in swollen, angry-looking bite marks and scratches. The bite marks were red with some sort of black substance oozing from the wounds. He had a split lip and more scratches on his neck. One of his knees was swollen with another bite and his skin was unnaturally pale. His lips were cracked like he was dehydrated, and when he breathed, he took shallow breaths like it hurt.

“How bad are you hurt?” she asked timidly.

He gave her a smile and my respect rose for him a notch. Clearly, he was not okay, but he cared enough about her not to make her feel any worse. “I’m good. You okay?”

The back of her head bobbed up and down with her nod. “I’m so sorry.” Her voice was hoarse and I hated to hear it so full of pain.

Cole made a noise in the back of his throat. “Don’t be sorry. I knew what I was getting into.”

“Kimber…” Heven’s voice trailed away.

His eyes darkened. “I didn’t know she had it in her.”

Heven sniffled and shifted from one foot to the other and Cole held out his arms. Heven hugged him carefully, and over her shoulder, Cole winced.

Gemma shot up from the chair she was perched on and began pacing the room once again.

“Scroll’s gone?” He mouthed to me.

I nodded.

Heven pulled out of his arms. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said, but looked down at one of the worst-looking bites, which was also next to one of the worst looking scratches. I frowned.

Gemma cleared her throat. Cole forgot about Heven and looked at her.

“I have something for you to put on those bites. The sooner the better.” Her voice bordered on a whisper and she avoided looking at Cole. For a warrior she sure seemed squeamish about his injuries.

“I’ll be fine.”

Her eyes snapped to him. “Those bites are going to start burning and the poison in the saliva is going to make you sick. You need this.” She held up a small silver jar. Suddenly, I recognized the look in her eyes. If I looked in the mirror right now, I would probably see the same look. It wasn’t his injuries that bothered her. It was Cole’s pain. She was upset because she felt she failed the person she cared most about.

He nodded grimly. “They’re already burning.” He turned toward his nightstand to switch on the light. I caught the swear in my throat. He had a huge bite on his back; the skin was practically hanging from his body.

Gemma made a sound and Heven stumbled back. I reached out and pulled her toward the bed, pressing her down to sit.

“I’ll help you,” Gemma said, unscrewing the lid of the cream she brought.

“Yeah, okay,” he said, swaying a little on his feet. Heven jumped up, but I beat her to his side and helped him sit on his bed. “I hope that stuff works,” he mumbled.

Heven was white and a little green. I knew she wanted to be here for her brother, but I thought she might need a breather before being faced with Cole’s downward spiral into pain. “You should probably get upstairs. Mrs. Britt didn’t take attendance on the bus. She will probably be coming around to our rooms.”

I turned to look at Gemma. “I’m going to walk her upstairs. Will you stay with him?”

“Sure.”

“I don’t think you should be around Kimber,” Cole said to Heven, a fine sheen of sweat was breaking out on his forehead.

“I’m sure she won’t be there. She disappeared with Hecate.”

I went to the door, opened it and looked out into the hall. It was clear. Once Heven said her good-byes to Cole and made Gemma swear to watch over him, I ushered her out into the hall and into the elevator.

“He looks really bad,” Heven said, leaning against the wall.

“He’s tough. He’ll be okay.” My thoughts flashed to those scratches all over his body. They somehow seemed familiar.

Heven brushed away a stray tear and straightened as the elevator doors opened. I went out first, making sure nothing or no one was in the hall. Someone was at the far end, but they let themselves in their room and then there was no one.

Sam? What will happen now that the Treasure Map is gone? Will people on the list start dying?

I wished I could say no. I wished that I could deny her fear, but I couldn’t. Because I really didn’t know. I hope not.

All those innocent people. All slaughtered because…

I failed.

Heven stopped and turned to face me. You didn’t fail. You’re the reason we all lived. You and Gemma. Yes, the scroll is gone, but this isn’t your fault. I guess that means it isn’t my fault, either.

I dropped my forehead to rest on hers. We’ll make it right. Somehow.

I know we will. But first let’s take care of my brother and get home.

I don’t want to leave you here alone.

It’s only for an hour. Then I’ll meet you downstairs for dinner. She pulled away and used her keycard to open her room. I pushed past her to search the room, making sure it was clear.

Heven waited patiently by the door and then wrapped her arms around my neck when I came back.

I’m fine. She isn’t here. Try to relax.

Kimber was the least of my worries. The people she seemed to align herself with are another story.

I’ll see you at dinner.

I pressed a kiss to her lips, lingering longer than I should have, but it felt so good and I couldn’t make myself back away. Finally, I did and I waited until I heard the lock on her door before I went to check on Cole.

Now that Heven wasn’t in the room, I would find out just how much he had been faking and how hurt he really was.

*   *   *

Before I even got to the room, I heard him retching. When I opened the door and stepped inside, I was greeted (if you could call it a greeting) by an awful stench that made me want to gag.