Before she had time to even worry about being afraid, a protective sphere shimmered into existence around them. Voice calm and cool, Alex said, “Zoe, you need to come in here with us. You have to get away from him.”
The prima-in-waiting was a pretty girl, but in that moment her mouth pursed into a distinctly mulish pout. “You’re not my big brother, Alex. You can’t tell me what to do.”
“That’s right,” Matías said, his tone coaxing, seductive. A tremor went through Zoe, and she turned back toward the warlock. “You don’t have to do anything they say. All you have to do is get in the car with me so we can leave.”
She blinked, but Caitlin could already see the familiar hated glassiness in her big dark eyes. “Okay.” Reaching into the slouchy studded black leather bag she carried, she fished around for a few seconds, then pulled out a set of car keys. “My cousin always was a goody-goody.”
“Zoe, please — ”
The desperation in Alex’s voice was clear enough, but Caitlin didn’t know what he could say, not with Zoe outside the protective sphere and already under the influence of Matías’ dark talents.
“He’s a murderer,” Caitlin said loudly, and Zoe blinked, then looked around uncertainly. Matías began to take a menacing step toward Caitlin, and then realized the dome Alex had cast would prevent him from silencing her. Scowling, he held back, hands clenched in fists at his sides, seeming to understand that he had to be careful here, or risk doing or saying something that would break his hold on the prima-in-waiting.
“Yes, Zoe. He killed your prima. And my friend.”
A shake of the head, the pink streak in her hair turning almost salmon-colored in the ruddy light from the setting sun. “No, that’s not possible. Maya is sick, but she’s not dead. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It happened this afternoon,” Caitlin said. She hated to be so blunt, but she also knew she had to keep talking quickly while Matías’ hold on the other girl was wavering. “You were out with your friends. Your family’s been trying to reach you.”
“I-I was at the movies. I had my phone turned off.” Tears formed in her eyes, and she said, “Maya is really dead? Then I’m — ”
“Yes,” Alex said gently. “You’re the prima-in-waiting. That’s why he wants you. To take control of you.”
That seemed to be the remark which sent Matías over the edge. “They don’t know what they’re talking about,” he growled. “They’re full of shit, chica. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to make you feel good.”
“Like you made my friend Danica feel good?” Caitlin snapped, feeling bolder now that it was obvious Matías couldn’t do anything to penetrate the shield Alex had conjured. “Did you get tired of her that quickly, dump her so you could go after Zoe? I saw how you left her with Jorge and Tomas in the food court.”
The oddest expression flickered in Matías’ black eyes. Anger, yes, but also a sort of confusion, as if he wasn’t quite sure what precisely he felt about Danica. It didn’t matter, though, because Zoe rounded on him, hands on her hips.
“Is that true? You had another girl, right here in the mall, and you left her to come with me?”
“I — ” Matías straightened, and his jaw set. “Zoe, chica, I told you they’re full of shit. Don’t listen to them.”
For a second, she wavered, and Caitlin bit her lip, wondering what the hell they were going to do if they couldn’t extricate the girl from the warlock’s spell. But then Zoe shook her head, as if trying to rid herself of a persistent ringing in her ears. Comprehension seemed to dawn as she took in the implications of what Alex had told her, and she whirled away from Matías, began to run toward Caitlin and Alex, and the protective dome that enclosed them.
As quickly as she’d moved, it wasn’t quickly enough. Matías’ arm snaked out, grabbing her by the wrist and yanking her back toward him. At the same time, he reached into his pocket with his other hand, pulled out a switchblade, and pressed it against Zoe’s side. Caitlin wondered if it was the same one he’d used to stab her.
“I don’t think so,” he said. His black gaze settled on her and Alex, partly obscured by the shield that surrounded them, even as Zoe held herself still, clearly afraid that if she made a single move, Matías would strike. “You try anything, and your prima-in-waiting dies.”
Caitlin held up her hands, showing that she wouldn’t make any attempt at rescuing Zoe. Not that she would know the first thing about how to even do that. She wondered how Miguel and Jack were faring with Jorge and Tomas, and whether they’d subdue them in time to get out here and be of any help. Goddess knows, she felt useless enough at the moment.