From Gods (Descendant Prophecies Book 1)(20)

"Don't bother fighting back. You can't hurt me. I heal fast," he  declared in a malicious tone through gritted teeth, seeming to enjoy the  control he held over her.

Skylar didn't care what he said. Just when she was ready to bite him  again, without warning he jolted upright like a puppet pulled by its  strings and looked like he was having a seizure.

"You-you . . . what did you do?" he murmured under his breath as he  continued to convulse. His eyes were wide with disbelief. Stumbling  backward, he coiled to the floor as if all his energy was being drawn  out of him. His hair and tanned skin were now as white as the sheets.  What looked like thick spider veins began forming on his face, and like  poison, started spreading to the rest of his body at an incredible  speed.         

     



 

Skylar covered her ears to block the loud cry that escaped from Remus's  mouth. Was he in pain or frightened by the change? As she stood there  and watched the transformation, she wanted to help. But then again, he  deserved whatever was happening to him. Regardless, she didn't want him  to die. After all, he was Mason's half brother and that was the only  reason she needed to help, but how?

Afraid Remus would attack her again, she backed away. She wasn't sure if  he was going to change into a monster. She couldn't believe she was  thinking this way. It wasn't normal to have such thoughts, let alone see  what was happening in front of her.

Remus kept staring at Skylar with a look of revulsion as if she was to  blame for what was happening. Finally, his body curled into the fetal  position and became still, like a statue. When he stopped moving, she  advanced toward him to get a closer look, to see if he was all right.  Without thinking, she peered lower to his face. He looked  unidentifiable-hideous and resembling some kind of ugly creature.

"Remus," she whimpered.

When there was no answer, and he didn't show any indication he was  alive, she tapped him and jerked back just in case he reached out to  grab her. Instead of seeing movement from him, he crumbled into ashes.

Remus was simply gone. He had turned to dust right in front of her eyes.  She covered her face with the palms of her hands and frantically paced  around the room.

"This was a dream. This isn't real." She tried to calm herself, but it  wasn't working. How could this have happened? She had no weapon. In  fact, he'd attacked her. All she could think about was what Mason would  say when he came home. Not only that, she had taken a life. Why should  he believe her words when his brother was dead?

Tears welled up and her heart thumped out of control. What to do? She  had no other choice but to run. It would be much too far to walk or run  to her house. Then she remembered Remus had flung his car keys on the  table. She was sure he had an expensive car that would undoubtedly have a  GPS to help her find her way. Closing the bedroom door behind her, she  ran downstairs. With the car keys in hand and her arms crossed to cover  Mason's ripped shirt, she went out the front door.





Skylar parked Remus's car around the corner where it was out of sight  and trudged her aching body the rest of the way home. What she really  wanted to do was run, run as fast and as far as she could from all this  madness. It was insane to even imagine what she had been through, and  without anyone to talk to she felt so alone. She couldn't confide in her  mom or even in Kayla; they would think she was crazy. Perhaps they  would even get her some psychiatric help. But what would happen when  Mason found out his brother was ashes, dead in his room, knowing she was  the last one who had seen him?

Wanting to go inside, she realized she didn't have her purse. Without  the keys, she had no way to get inside Kayla's house. All the lights  were off and nobody was home. Kayla must still be out with Nick-that  no-good Nick who would end up breaking her cousin's heart. And Auntie  Kelly was still at the diner. Then she remembered Kayla telling her  about the spare key under a rock by the front door.

There were many rocks. Which one? She lifted each one frantically until  she found the key. Relieved, she opened the door and placed the spare  key back under the rock. Shutting the door behind her, she went  upstairs, straight to the bathroom.

Strangely, her cut lip didn't look as bad as it felt even though she  still winced from the pain. It was more on the inside than out, but she  was sure it had been bigger from the amount of blood that had pooled  inside her mouth. Wanting to forget about that evening, she took a  shower and changed into her sleepwear. Afterward, she scrubbed her teeth  vigorously as if she could wash away the fact that Remus had stuck his  tongue in her mouth. Then she took out a plastic bag from underneath the  sink cabinet and placed Mason's T-shirt into it.

Exhausted, she tucked herself into bed thinking about what she could  have done differently, but there was no answer. It didn't make sense.  Maybe he'd had a stroke, but that didn't explain why he'd turned into  ashes, unless that was just how they died. Skylar's thoughts were broken  when she heard Kayla's steps on the stairs.

"Skylar, are you up?"

Skylar was relieved it was nighttime. The small, dim lamp on the  nightstand was still on. Hopefully Kayla wouldn't notice her lip. She  would try to hide it by purposely cascading her hair down toward it.  Then she wiped away any evidence that she had been crying. "Come in."

Kayla peered in. She walked through the door looking happy, placed  Skylar's purse down, and then plopped herself onto the edge of the bed.  "Where did you and Mason run off to?"         

     



 

"Tell me about what you did first," Skylar asked, trying to move the topic away from her.

"We watched the movie. Well, we were in the back. There was hardly  anyone around. Soooo, you can say we saw some parts of the movie." Kayla  giggled. "Then we went out for some ice cream." She giggled again, her  eyes beaming blissfully.

"Sounds like you had fun." Skylar tried to sound cheerful. Though she  was glad for Kayla, she couldn't help but recall Mason telling her how  they were the types of guys that didn't take relationships seriously.  Not only that, if Kayla decided to give all of herself to Nick then she  would be touched by a god. Her life could be in danger, but only if she  got pregnant. She had to do or say something. "Are you serious about  him?"

Kayla gave her a side-glance, most likely wondering why she had asked  such a question. "I don't know. It's summer. I'm just having fun."

"That's good. You should think like that. I don't want you to think that  this relationship could go anywhere. I mean, just don't rush into  things, okay?"

"And why not?" Kayla's tone sounded defensive. "Maybe I will be the one  who dumps him." She paused, frowned, and exhaled a deep sigh. "Most  likely not. Why? Do you know something I don't know? Did Mason tell you  anything?"

"Yes-I mean, no." This was way too complicated. Kayla was a virgin, just  like her. They had made a pact to wait until they fell deeply in love.  "Just remember our promise, okay?"

Kayla looked like she was thinking, most likely trying to figure out  which promise Skylar was referring to. There were so many-a promise not  to do drugs, a promise to be each other's maid of honor, and many more.

Skylar just needed to say one word. "Sex. Remember?"

Kayla turned red, giving her a giddy smile. "Oh yeah."

"You didn't, did you?" Skylar raised her tone.

"No." Kayla squinted her eyes, giving her a "why are you raising your voice?" look.

"Just promise me that you won't, okay? Just wait. Give the relationship some time."

"Don't worry. Nick has been perfect. He hasn't tried to. He knows I'm a 'V', okay? So, you never told me how your date went."

"We-" Skylar started to say, but they were interrupted by loud knocking on the front door.

Skylar's heart leapt out of her chest. At this point any sound made her jumpy.

"Who's banging at my door after midnight?" Kayla bounced off the bed.

"If it's Mason, can you tell him I'm not home?" Skylar said impassively.  She wanted to disappear now that Kayla knew something went wrong.

"I want details. First, I'm going to tell him off. I'll be right back."

Before Skylar could tell her not to, Kayla stomped downstairs and opened the door.





"Yeeesss?" She narrowed her eyes on Mason with a look of disapproval,  letting him know he wasn't welcome, and opened the door one third of the  way.

"Could I speak to Skylar?"

"Do you know what time it is, Mason?" Kayla placed her hands on her hips  and tried to look upset, but when she looked into his eyes, her rage  softened.

"I know it's late, but it's important or else I wouldn't be here."

"Skylar isn't home right now."

"Really? I wonder where she could be this late at night?" he asked  sarcastically, letting her know he wasn't buying her story. "Her bedroom  light is on." Mason pointed upward.