Silver Smoke (#1 of Seven Halos Series) (26 page)

"How is Thessa?" Brie asked.

Clara's expression turned hard. "You didn't seem to care last night."

"I
do
care about Thessa..." Behind the twins, Brie saw Rykken walking between the cars toward the beach. He was wearing a long-sleeve collared shirt the color of snow and faded blue jeans. His hair looked damp, curling at the sides, and the first several buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his hard chest underneath. Clara glanced back a half-second before Brie could tear her eyes away from him, back to their conversation.

Clara twisted back around, her eyes slitted, her lips forming a fine line across her face. "I have something to take care of," she announced, staring at Brie. Her lips twitched, forming a slight, sinister smile, before she trounced away in Rykken's direction.

Brie stared after Clara, perplexed. She couldn't remember Clara ever taking an interest in Rykken.

"What was that about?"

Cora squeezed Brie's hand, drawing her attention back to their conversation. "I know this news about your father is not easy for you. But while Thessa is investigating, we need you to do your own investigating. We need you to talk to James."

Brie's heart sank. "Of course you do."

"Brie," Cora pleaded, "James likely knows more about your blood father than anyone else on the planet. This is a great opportunity to find your real dad."

Brie sighed. "What am I supposed to ask James?"

"Confront him about your adoption and see what he knows," Sirena said.

Cora stared out into the ocean, concentrating on something far away. "I think the perfect time to confront him about this is on your family vacation this week."

"What?" Brie glanced back and forth between Cora to Sirena.

"Pilot told me about it last night," Cora said. "James is taking you and Pilot somewhere so the three of you can bond. It's supposed to be a surprise."

"Well, I'm sure as hell surprised."

Cora frowned. "But you leave
tonight
... you would think he would have told you by now."

Brie sighed. "Not James. He wouldn't want to give me time to find an excuse not to go."

*****

Rykken rolled up the sleeves on his white collared shirt. The waves at Sandy Beach Park were tall and wicked, just the way he liked them. Rykken had spent almost every weekend since he was six years old at Sandy Beach, surfing with his friends and honing his skills. It was strange to skip this weekend, but there was no way he could get in the water, not after what happened the night before. A pang of resentment hit him when he saw Pilot and the guys out further, surfing.

Everything about the beach felt the same today—the rush of wind against his face, the way the ocean tumbled over itself in a race to the shore, the girls wearing small patches of cloth on their bodies, leaving little to the imagination—he was the one who was different, a stranger in the one place he probably felt most at home.

He squinted, blocking the sun with his hand. His desire to find Brie was the only thing that could drive him to come to the beach today, especially considering the risks; but he needed answers. She knew more about the pendant than she was letting on, and after what he'd seen that morning...

Finally, he saw her, standing next to Sirena and one of the twins, he wasn't sure which. He walked in their direction, but stopped when he saw a figure headed his way.

One of the twins, the one that wasn't standing next to Brie, sauntered toward him in a tiny swimsuit, her hand on her hip. He guessed it was Clara from the anger written all over her features. She always looked angry, though Rykken couldn't imagine why—she was pretty and popular and rich and a cheerleader. What else did teenage girls care about?

Clara eyed him like he was a science experiment gone wrong. "I heard you were leaving the water polo team." Rykken wondered how many times he would hear the same line uttered by classmates, friends, and teachers.

"You heard correctly." He caught a glimpse of Brie squeezing her hair out of a wet ponytail. Justin approached the group of girls and hugged Brie, his hands all over her back. He whispered something to her and she laughed. Rykken clenched his teeth and balled his fists.

Clara eyed his hands, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "It's a little hot for that outfit, isn't it?" It felt strange talking to Clara; he had known her most of high school and they had the same friends, but she always ignored him.

Rykken slipped his hand into the pocket of his Levi's jeans, one of two pairs he owned. "I'm comfortable," he said, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow with the other hand. He wasn't comfortable, he was burning up. But wearing anything else was a signal to his classmates that he would be enjoying a day at the beach with them. And he wouldn't be.

Rykken smiled at Clara as politely as he could. "I need to talk to Brie about something."

He walked past her, but she grabbed his forearm with surprising force. "You're probably wondering what's happened to you."

He looked back; Clara gave him a knowing smile. Rykken's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"I think you know what I'm talking about."

"I don't." Rykken shook his arm until she let go of him.

"The pendant. The legend. Transformations. It all makes more sense than you think, but you need my help to piece it together."

Rykken was on guard. "Did Brie tell you about the pendant?" He didn't realize that Brie would confide in someone like Clara—he thought they didn't get along.

"Yes," Clara said. "But unlike her, I can help you."

Rykken blinked. What did Clara know about being a star athlete, having complete control over your body, doing things that no one else could do—and having it all taken away from you? He needed answers, not sympathy. "Only Brie can help me."

Clara glowered, looking up out of the corners of her eyes. She faced him, her jaw set, her eyes taking in Rykken like a snake. "Really? Because Brie looks a little busy at the moment."

Rykken glanced up and noticed Sirena and Cora were nowhere to be seen. Brie and Justin were silhouettes huddled together, facing each other against the bright sky with the blue ocean setting the backdrop. They were in a hushed conversation, and their faces were so close together they could be kissing.

Rykken looked away quickly. "What do you want Clara?"

Her lips twisted into a squat u-shape. "I want to figure out what's wrong with you just as badly as you do. But to do that, you need to tell me everything that's happened, starting from when you first found the pendant with Brie."

Rykken brushed his hair back with his fingers, struggling to make a decision. "Why should I trust you?"

Clara laughed, tipping her head back and shaking out her hair. She grabbed his wrist and guided him toward the parking lot. "Because you have no one else to trust."

*****

Brie watched Clara grab Rykken's wrist and walk toward the parking lot.

"Heh," Justin said. "I didn't realize those two were dating."

"They're not," Brie said. Clara glanced back at Brie, giving her a cruel smile before putting her other hand on Rykken's arm.

"Anyway, what do you think?"

Brie looked up at Justin, blinking. His blue irises were bright against their whites in his eyes, like pops of ocean water amidst the powder-like spray of the waves. "About what?"

"Next Sunday," Justin said. He was wearing O'Neill board shorts loosely at his waist, as if he didn't mind if they fell off right in front of her. "I want to take you surfing. We'll go to a different beach, where the water is tamer than this."

"Oh, right." Brie looked back at Clara and Rykken. She was guiding him to the passenger side of her car. "Sure."

Justin touched the bottom of her chin, gently turning her head back toward him. "You seem distracted." His thumb traced her jaw to her ear. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

Brie blinked, shaking her head. "No." The right side of his mouth twisted upwards, and he gave her a look. "I mean, yes, I'm distracted. Rykken's been acting weird lately."

"I forgot to tell you," Justin said, putting his other hand on the small of her back. He cupped her face. "Rykken quit the water polo team."

Brie met Justin's eyes in surprise. "Rykken loves water polo."

"He and his mom went to the coaches this morning to give them the news." Justin stared at Brie, as if he was confused by her reaction. "We had an emergency meeting this morning to restructure the team.

I'm the new captain."

Brie bit her lip, well aware of how close Justin's face was to hers. "It worked out well for you, then."

Justin frowned. "I wanted to be captain for my talent, not by elimination."

"You are talented," she said, resting her closed fists on his chest. It was hard and finely chiseled, but there was no point in mentioning it because he already knew. "I've seen you play a couple times."

"That means a lot, coming from you." He leaned in, drawing her face closer to his. He tried to kiss her, but she turned her head at the last second.

She pushed against his chest. "Justin, I'm not sure about this."

"Why?" He wrapped his hands around her waist, his fingers digging into her skin. He smelled like a Nautica store—clean and uncomplicated. His scent evoked images of saltwater-soaked nylon. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "You wanted to kiss me last night. How is this different?"

Things seemed a lot different in the sun, away from the slow music and romantic lights of the school gymnasium. Brie was still a Hallow; she still had her brother to worry about; she still didn't know what her mother's secret was, and she didn't know who her real dad was or why he left her. None of these were things she could ever tell Justin.

"Well, it's broad daylight," Brie said, pulling out of his arms. "And my brother is here."

"He's busy surfing." Justin looked down at the sand, as if calculating the distance between them.

"Besides, if we're going to be dating, Pilot has to get used to seeing us together."

"It's not just him," Brie said. She took a deep breath, searching her heart for reasons that everything with Justin felt wrong to her. "My mom just died," she finally said. "This is moving way too fast for me. I need to concentrate on school and friends and putting my life back together—I can't see myself with a boyfriend."

Justin rubbed his forehead, looking annoyed. "So when you kissed me last night, that meant... what?"

"I don't know." Brie wondered if he was going to yell at her, with the way he was shifting his weight between his two feet. "They were just kisses."

He ran his hand up the back of his neck, brushing his curly hair forward. "Be upfront with me Brie.

Do you like Rykken?"

"No," Brie said, crinkling her nose. Brie didn't understand why her conversations with Justin always circled back to Rykken. She looked toward the parking lot again, but Rykken and Clara were long gone.

"I'm just worried about him."

"That's kind of a sign that you like him."

Brie felt her insides twist. "No," she repeated. She didn't—did she? No, they could barely stand each other most of the time.

"Are you sure?"

"Things are complicated between us."

Justin exhaled. "
Also
not something you want to hear the girl you like say about another guy."

Brie's cheeks flushed. She didn't understand why Justin was harping on the topic. "Why
do
you like me?" she asked, changing the subject.

Justin lifted his shoulders once, lowering his head. "I just do. It's really simple for me." He picked up her hand from her side, his fingertips putting soft pressure on her palm. "This is about you though: you either like me or you don't. I'd rather know now than later."

"I do," Brie said nervously. She tried to think of a nice way to explain to him how trapped he was making her feel. "I'm not sure about a
relationship
, though. I mean, everyone keeps warning me about you..." She let her words hang in the air, hoping they could provide the space she needed.

But Justin stepped closer, boxing her in. "And you believe them?"

"I just moved here." Brie took a step back. "What am I supposed to believe?"

"The fact that you just moved here
should
give me a clean slate." He kicked some sand to the side with his toes. "I'm a popular guy at Punahou, and people get jealous. You of all people should understand that not everything you hear is true."

"Okay, I know," she said, not looking at him. She wanted to give Justin a chance, but she'd also lived in the spotlight long enough to know there was always some truth to the rumors. "I just need to know if I can trust you first."

"How about this: no labels. I'll take you to Waikiki on Sunday, just as friends." He grinned. "Worst case scenario, you learn how to balance yourself on a surfboard."

Brie knew she should be happy about the offer, but for some reason, she got a sick sense of dread about another date with Justin. She hated that she could never be honest with him. In fact, she was probably putting him in danger by associating with him. He was another insect caught in her tangle of lies, and she was the spider, weaving her silk web into a tight noose around his neck.

"Okay," she said finally. "But just as friends."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Pilot ran his fingers across the satin ribbons that adorned the wine library, remnants of a wedding that was supposed to take place the day before on Sunday. The week-long private charter was normally booked a year or two in advance, but Annie had gotten them on when a wedding cancellation freed up the yacht.

The yacht was a patchwork of white metal and slick oak; every square foot of surface was smooth and shiny, aside from the grips on the deck floors that held objects in place as the boat swayed violently against the ocean. The vessel had three floors: a bridge deck at the top and an entertainment deck at the bottom, with an empty, unused cabin deck sandwiched in the middle. The bridge deck contained their bedroom suites, a hot tub, and chairs outside for sun bathing. The entertainment deck held a bar, the dining room where they ate, and an outer deck to sit and enjoy the water. The middle deck was full of smaller cabins, but since it was just Pilot, Brie, and James on the cruise, they had no need for them.