It wasn't a good feeling. But she refused to cater to defeat. And she meant what she'd told the rogue. She would die before she became a part of some evil gang.
But she wasn't dead right now. And the proof was in how alive Lucas made her feel.
"Kiss me again," she said.
He grinned. "Is that a request or an order?"
"Both."
"Well, in that case..."
* * *
The next day, Burnett still hadn't returned. Holiday was moody, and Kylie had a raging headache. Lucas had found her earlier and told her his grandmother was ill and he was going to check on her. At around four, Kylie gave up and asked for permission to go lie down. Della, on shadowing duty, followed Kylie back to the cabin.
She didn't know how long she'd been asleep when the cold hit. She opened her eyes, feeling the icy mist on her breath. Jane was here.
"Thank God, you're awake," a feminine voice said. But it wasn't Jane's voice.
Kylie shot up. Through a curtain of hair, she saw Ellie standing at the foot of her bed.
"How did you get in here?" she asked.
Elle shrugged. Kylie glanced at the window she'd left open.
Kylie pulled the blanket up closer to her chest and looked around the room for Jane. She hadn't appeared yet, but she was here. Chill bumps climbed up and down her arms. Jane hadn't been here the last few days, and Kylie hoped she was finally ready to talk. "You know what, Ellie. This really isn't a good time. I have some business to take care of."
"But I need you to go to Derek," Ellie said. "He's upset. Not right."
Kylie studied her closer.
Ellie frowned. "You have to go to him." She shook her head. "I'm afraid he's hurt."
Kylie yanked her covers off. "Hurt? Where is he?"
"At the park about a half mile past the stream where the dinosaur tracks are."
"Why's he there?" Kylie asked.
"I don't know, but he needs you."
"Why does he need me?" Kylie slipped her tennis shoes on. "Has something happened?"
"I don't know," Ellie said. "I'm confused."
"Is he hurt?" Kylie's heart gripped in fear for Derek.
"No. I don't think so."
Ellie wasn't making sense. Kylie worried it might be a ploy to get her and Derek together. But something about the panic in Ellie's voice said differently.
"Let's go." Ellie moved toward the window.
"I have to get Della. She's my shadow, remember?"
"Hurry."
Kylie moved to the door and looked back again for Jane. She hadn't manifested, but her deathly cold still chilled the room. I'll be back shortly, she told the spirit in her head. Please don't leave. We need to talk.
Jane didn't answer. No surprise. Kylie walked out her bedroom door and Della looked up from the computer.
"You're slipping," Kylie said.
"How am I slipping?" Della asked.
"Ellie's here."
"Shit! I am slipping." She stomped into Kylie's bedroom as if ready to give Ellie hell. Not that Kylie worried too much. Della and Ellie had bonded since Della invited her into her vampire circle.
Della came right back out. "Did she leave?"
"No way!"
Kylie stormed back into the bedroom. But Della was wrong. Ellie stood in the same place she'd been standing when she left. "You have to hurry."
"Maybe you dreamed it," Della said, stepping into the room.
The cold in the room pressed against Kylie's skin again. Kylie stared at Ellie. Her heart rolled over and tears crawled up her throat.
No!
"What happened, Ellie?" Tears slipped onto Kylie's cheeks. "Is Derek okay?"
"I don't remember." Ellie sounded befuddled.
"Kylie? Is this a dream?" Della asked.
More than anything, Kylie wished it were. She looked at Ellie.
"What happened?" she asked again.
"You have to hurry. I'm worried about Derek."
Fear suddenly set in. Fear for Derek. Fear she might be too late to save Ellie and Derek. It didn't matter how much of her soul she'd have to give to save them. She'd give it.
"What's going on?" Miranda walked in.
"She's freaking again," Della snapped.
Kylie, with tears in her eyes, looked at Miranda. "I need you to call Holiday. Tell her Della and I are going up to the park past the dinosaur tracks. Derek's there and he might be hurt. Come on," Kylie said, and started to run.
Della caught Kylie by the arm. "What's going on?"
Kylie drew in a shaky breath. "Ellie's dead at some park close to here. And Derek was with her. We have to go before it's too late!"
Miranda let out a sob.
"How? What happened?" Della's eyes widened with emotion.
Kylie didn't have time to explain. Ellie bolted out the door, and Kylie went after her. Della's footsteps thudded against the earth as she came behind her.
* * *
Kylie never slowed down. Neither did Ellie or Della. When they got to the dinosaur tracks, they crossed the creek and jumped a fence into the park grounds. The path went uphill quickly, but Kylie kept up with no problem. Her blood fizzed with the strange kind of energy she got when she was protecting someone she loved. She just prayed it wasn't too late.
"It's just around the bend," Ellie said. She'd been quiet during the run. Then she suddenly stopped. Panic filled her gaze. "Oh, my God. I remember."
"What?" Kylie stopped beside Ellie.
"What? What?" When Della met Kylie's gaze, she must have realized she hadn't been talking to her, and she simply nodded.
"I followed someone here," Ellie said. "I spotted him running from the camp. I was almost here when I heard someone behind me. It was Derek. That's when the person I'd followed attacked."
"Who was it?" Kylie's mind went to Red. "Was it a young guy, red or brownish hair?"
"No, it was an old dude. Vampire."
Mario. They never had a chance!
Kylie's chest filled with pain. And guilt. This was all her fault. "Where's Derek? Where's your body?" She had to save them.
Ellie pointed to the side of the mountain. It looked as if it had recently been disturbed. Loose rock lay around the ledge. "Derek came around the bend and a bolt of lightning struck. He was slammed against the rocks. His head was bleeding, but he was breathing. But then more lightning struck. I picked him up and put him in the small cave and moved the rocks in front of him. I was doing that when ... everything went blank."