Touch of Death(39)

"I can't wait for that."

He reached into his jacket pocket and came out with some tissues. "This is pretty normal the first couple of times, too." He dabbed at my nose. I'd forgotten about the nosebleed.

"I must look great right now. Bloody nose, tear-streaked cheeks, and a head the size of a balloon."

"It only feels like a balloon. I can assure you it's still head-sized. And as for the rest of you, you look like Jodi." I wasn't sure if I should take that as a compliment. My head wouldn't let me think too much about it. I winced against the pain.

"Here." He tilted my head back a little and gently pressed two fingers against each of my temples. He massaged them, making the pressure melt away a little. "Does that help?"

"Yeah." I closed my eyes and moaned a little. I immediately tensed up, embarrassed.

He laughed. "I have that effect on girls."

"More like you have that effect on headaches."

"Okay, I deserve that after all the training I've been putting you through."

I opened my eyes to look at him. "I don't get you. One minute you're being a total hard-ass, and the next you're being nice to me. What gives?"

"I'm trying to help you. Sometimes I need to be tough on you. Other times … " He stopped rubbing my temples and stared into my eyes. His right hand came up to my cheek and brushed away a leftover tear. He leaned forward, and I met him halfway. The moment our lips touched, something came over me. It was like I was starved for contact with another person. My arms flew around his neck, pulling him into me. We backed against the mausoleum, not even caring that the two bodies I'd raised were staring at us. I kissed him with everything I had. Since finding out I was Ophi, I'd been afraid to touch anyone. My touch meant death. With Alex, I didn't have tobe afraid, and that relief took over.

I didn't know how long we stood there kissing, only that I could've continued for a lot longer if Victoria hadn't come rushing over. "Alex! Jodi!"

Embarrassed, I pulled back, smacking my head against the mausoleum. "Ouch!"

Alex removed his hands from my waist and stepped away from me. "Jodi raised and controlled two bodies." He tried to take focus off the scene Victoria had just witnessed.

She didn't look at the bodies. She looked at me. I was the girl making out with her son. Even if she didn't allow Alex to call her Mom, that didn't change the fact that he was her son. I felt my cheeks blush.

"I've called an emergency meeting. You're both to report to the conference room." She looked back and forth between us. "Immediately."

"Yes, ma'am." Alex spoke in a way that made me wonder why he hadn't saluted her, too. I nodded and watched her walk away. Alex motioned for me to go first, but I stopped at the two bodies.

"What about them? Should we release them or bring them with us?"

Alex's shoulders slouched as he stared at the ground in a daze. I'd never seen him like this. There was no sign of his cockiness. I wondered if he was going to get in trouble for kissing me. We hadn't really done anything wrong, not that I'd be looking Victoria in the eyes anytime soon. "Alex?"

"Um." He shook his head. "We don't need them right now. Go ahead and release them, I guess."

I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering if he regretted kissing me. It had seemed like he was enjoying himself …  before Victoria showed up.

I stepped in front of the two bodies and allowed my blood to mix once more. I released their souls and turned toward Alex, only to find he was halfway to the house.

I didn't know what to think or feel. Before, I had been thinking about Matt, but then Alex and I kissed, and it felt right. There had always been something between us. Even before I knew his name. Yes, I'd called the cops on him, but what about all the things I'd let him get away with? Staring up at my window all night long, ransacking my room, leaving me a dead rat. He'd done all those things, and yet I'd felt attracted to him. Like my blood recognized something in his. And once I got here, I kind of got the impression he felt the same way about me. But now? Victoria clearly wasn't happy about seeing Alex and me together. Maybe we weren't allowed to be together. Maybe he needed to kiss me to get over his crush. Maybe I wasn't anything more than the person who was supposed to save him and the other Ophi.                       
       
           



       

I walked into the house, realizing I had no clue where the conference room was. From what I did know about the layout of the mansion, I guessed it was somewhere downstairs. Since the sitting room, dining room, kitchen, and servants' quarters were all to the right of the stairs, I headed left. I passed a ballroom and kept going. I heard voices up ahead on the left. The door was closed, but not fully shut. I pushed it open, and all eyes turned on me.

"Everyone, take your seats please," Victoria said, only looking at me briefly before moving to the head of the long conference table.

I went for my usual place next to Alex-at least that was my usual place at meal times-but he was sitting between Leticia and Abby. And Abby's arm was looped through his. When Abby saw me heading toward them, she whispered something in Alex's ear. He nodded, still not pushing Abby away or taking his arm back. My eyes stung, but I forced myself to walk past them. There were no empty seats on that side of the table, which meant I had to take the long embarrassing walk around the back of the table, past Troy's glaring eyes, and to the other side. I sat down without looking at anyone, though I felt their eyes on me.

"I have bad news," Victoria began. Like I needed more bad news. "A few minutes ago, I received a phone call. It seems Hades has claimed a group of Ophi in Washington. I know this news comes as a particular shock for some of you." Her eyes moved to Leticia. "Your parents were among those who were taken. I'm terribly sorry for your loss."

Leticia started bawling. Randy stood up. "What about my father? Is he-?"

Victoria held up her hand. "We're not sure. I was informed that he is missing. I will certainly stay on top of the matter and report back to you as soon as I know anything more."

"What does this mean?" I asked.

Victoria finally looked at me. "It means we must call on your powers, Jodi. We need to go to our brothers and sisters in Washington, and you must raise them."

"Me? But I'm not ready. I raised two human bodies today, and I wasn't very good at it. It took me a couple tries. These are Ophi we're talking about. What if I mess up?"

"I'm well aware of what occurred in the cemetery today." Victoria's eyes bored into me, and I knew she was talking about the kiss. "I'm also aware of the fact that you are the Chosen One. And whether you are ready or not, we must call on you to perform your duty to us."

There was no "if I was ready. I wasn't. But that didn't seem to matter to anyone.





Chapter 26

"So, what, you're going to ship me off to Washington? Just like that?"

"You wouldn't go alone," Victoria said.

"I'll go." Alex stood up, finally untangling his arm from Abby's. She stared at him in disbelief before she turned and gave me the evil eye.

"Alex, sit," Victoria said. "If Jodi needs an escort, either Troy or I will accompany her."

I stood up and leaned forward with my hands resting on the table for support. "It's not that I need an escort. I've never tried to bring Ophi back to life once their souls have left their bodies. I'm not even sure how to do it. I had help bringing Abby back. Medusa walked me through it. This is so much bigger than that. I just started my training a few days ago. How can you ask me to do something this huge? If it's Hades claiming these Ophi, then they must have done something to upset him and make him come after them." The words poured out of my mouth.

Alex nodded. "She's right. You can't ask her to do this. It's too dangerous. You'd be making her a target for Hades, and if he takes her next, we're all doomed."

I was so grateful for his support. I needed someone on my side.

Leticia slammed her fist down on the table and stood up. "I don't care if Hades does make her a target. My parents are dead." She turned to me. "You are the only one who has the power to bring them back. You have to do it. Why else are you here, if not to help us?"

My heart broke for her. I knew what it felt like to lose a parent, and she'd lost two. "Leticia, I get it. I do. Before I came here, I accidentally killed my mom. I cut myself making dinner, and she touched my blood. She was trying to help me, and it got her killed. If Alex hadn't been there to bring her back, I-"

"You got her back. She's alive because Alex brought her back. I'm asking you to do the same for me. Bring my parents back. Please, Jodi." Her whole body shook, and I wanted nothing more than to give in and save her parents.

"No," Alex said. "By the time we get Jodi to Washington, their souls will have moved on. We have no idea what we'd be bringing back. We might be creating more servants, only these would be Ophi." He shook his head, focusing on Leticia. "How would you handle seeing your parents like the servants? Nothing more than shells of who they were?"