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. And how are we supposed to find the exact memory? I remove the crystal ball from Nicholas shand. If this thing is full of them.Nicholas taps the side of his head. That answer is in here.Literally.My mood plummets. In your head? You have got to be kidding me. Actually I am. He winks at me and positions his finger to the side of my head, disregarding thedirty look I give him. It s actually in yours, which makes more sense if you think about it. My dad said the same thing to me, I say. But I m still lost. I ll explain more when we get in there, he says, lowering his hand to his lap. It more easy toshow you then to explain it you.I sigh wearily as I recline back against the armrest. And what if the vision my father changed stillends up leading to death? I look over at Alex, thinking about the vision I saw right before I wasdropped into the place where my father was.Alex and I by the lake, dying in each other s arms. It doesn t matter.It s how things were are supposed to be. Nicholas traces the Foreseersmark on his wrist, an S outlined by a circle. Despite how powerful some of us get, Foreseers areonly supposed to see visions, not change them or control them to our liking.No one should ever havethat much control.For a second, Nicholas actually seems like a decent person who cares about the world and hasvalues.It s strange seeing him like this, serious and somewhat normal.My father seems like the opposite.He changed a vision so the world would end in the mosthorrible way.Everything s going to freeze and all the witches, fey, vampires, and Death Walkerslinked to Malefiscus are going to run the streets killing everyone. Let s go then. I sit up straight. I want to get this over with as quick as possible.The sooner weput everything back together, the sooner we can maybe all have a normal life. I can t help but glanceat Alex.Is there hope for us yet? That s easier said than done. Nicholas snatches the mapping ball away from me. This thinguses a lot of power.It s not as simple as placing your hand on it and going into it, like the othercrystal balls you ve used in the past. He throws the ball in the air and catches it, making me tense. We need the power of the main crystal ball that all the other crystal balls run off in order to pull thisoff. The giant crystal ball that sucks its energy away from people? I shudder at the memory of Alexstrapped to the crystal with tubes embedded into his skin, along with a ton of other people. That would be the one, Nicholas says uncaringly. And the Foreseers are going to just let us take the power? I ask doubtfully.Nicholas looks down at his hand as he opens and closes it. No, we steal the power and bring itback with us and use it here.It s safer that way. You actually think I m going to let you go off to the City of Crystal alone with her. Alex gets upand walks over to us, sitting on the armrest just behind me. You could always let me go by myself and hope I ll come back, Nicholas replies snidely. ButI m guessing you re not a fan of that idea either. Alex, back off.I can handle this, I say, not meaning to sound so rude, but it kind of slips out inmy tone. You have got to stop trying to protect me all the damn time. How am I supposed to stop doing something, when it s all I want to do? He brushes his fingersacross the back of my neck. All I want to do is protect you.That s it.I can t even think clearly whenI know you re in harm.Recollection clicks in my head.He said that once to me, in another time, in the erased vision,before I ran off and got captured by Nicholas.It s strange that I m remembering these little details,instead of them fading like the event did. Yeah, I give you two a day before you end up killing one another, Nicholas remarks with alaugh. Seriously, it s like watching mild porn, watching you two eye fuck each other every twoseconds. We ll be fine. Although, I m not sure I believe my own words.Fine.Nothing feels fine.Not me.Not Alex touching me.Because he shouldn t be just touching me.He should be holding me.Kissingme.Slipping inside me over and over again& We have a problem, Aislin announces as she whisks into the room, interrupting my dirtythoughts. A big problem. Of course we do, Alex says with an eye roll his fingers coming to rest on my back. The worldis going to end unless we fix it.She shakes her head and puts her hands on her hips. No, not that problem. Her eyes land on me. Gemma, your mom just called and told me that she found Laylen and that he s in trouble. What kind of trouble? The pitch of my voice is alarmingly high and I reach out to grip somethingfor support and end up grabbing Alex s knee. He didn t& bite someone did he? He s&  She trails off, giving a cautious glance at Nicholas before leaning in and lowering hervoice. Maybe we should discuss this in private. Why? He can t go anywhere, I point out, but she is still hesitant. Just say whatever it is, Alex says, his finger tracing circles on my back.I wonder if he s evenaware that he s doing it, touching me like that. He s at&  She lowers her voice even more and positions herself so her back is to Nicholas. He was at the Red Dragon. Please don t tell me that s another club, I grimace, slumping against Alex. I really don t wantto do anymore clubs as long as I live, at least not ones with poisonous drinks. Oh, it s a club, Alex says dryly. An exclusive club for anyone and anything that has a thirst forthe evil side much worse than the Black Dungeon. God, this is all my fault, I say, frustrated with myself. This isn t your fault, Alex assures me. It s Laylen s.What he does is his choice.I abruptly feel like I m being strangled, invisible fingers winding around my neck. Wait.Ifthere s vampires at this club, they might kill him because he killed Vladislav. Panic overcomes me,makes the room spin as my lungs shrink. Oh my God! Would you two shut up! Aislin yells, practically spitting in our faces as she stompsher foot. I said he was at the Red Dragon, but someone we know picked him up from there and nowhe s safe, well more or less. Who picked him up? I ask at the same time Alex says,  Fuck.Just what we need.I really don twant to deal with her shit right now.I look over my shoulder at him and give him a funny look. You know this person.Alex fidgets uncomfortably. Yeah, more or less, he says in a tight voice with regret in his eyes. I know she lives close by here and everything. Aislin looks about as hurt as a wounded animal. But I just never thought Laylen would contact her over me& us. Would someone please explain who her is? I ask in the nicest tone I can summon.Aislin waits for Alex to explain but he avoids her gaze and she sighs. It s Stasha.She used to bea Keeper well, I guess she technically still is, but she& decided she didn t want to be part of thecircle anymore because of him. She nods her head at Alex who looks like he wants to be anywherebut here. Why would she leave because of him&  I stop talking, starting to put two and two together.Nicholas stands up from the couch and leans in my face. Because she and Alex used to be lovers,but since he s emotionally dead inside, he broke her heart. He pouts out his bottom lip, still puffyfrom when Alex clocked him.I almost slap him, even though he s just telling me the truth.But the truth hurts in a way I had neverfelt before.I mean, I knew Alex dated and had girlfriends and everything, but I don t know.Talkingabout it is emotionally agonizing, raw and painful, like open wounds.I clear my throat several times before I speak again [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]