Three minutes later, Kylie was led into the barn by her aunt. Or at least she assumed it was her. Because everyone was invisible.
Breathing in the earthy smell of stored hay, Kylie added another thing she'd learned about her powers.
A chameleon had the ability to make other people vanish. Or it would appear that way, because she hadn't been wishing to vanish and it seemed her aunt's touch had done all the work.
"Are we all here?" Her aunt's voice broke into the odd, tense silence. Kylie cut her eyes around the empty barn. Not a soul was here that she could see. Of course, she couldn't see herself, either.
Listening, she heard the slight sound of feet shuffling.
"Let's do the count," her aunt's voice echoed again. "One," her aunt said.
"Two," another voice added.
The count went up to twenty-four, but there had been several pauses, and several numbers missed, before someone moved on to the next number. Kylie recognized most of the voices. Especially the four other teen chameleons, plus Suzie, the six-year-old, and her parents, who were the teachers of the groups.
The numbers missing were obviously her grandfather and the other four elders.
"And I have Kylie," her aunt said. "Kylie, your number is twenty-five. Remember it and whenever we have the need to vanish, you must say it so we will know you are here."
She nodded, then remembering they couldn't see her, she said, "Okay." Her mind raced thinking about everything that was happening, from being number twenty-five to being invisible and especially to what the FRU wanted. Were they here for her? Then her racing thoughts stopped on one subject.
Her grandfather. She was worried about his safety and the possibility of what the FRU could do to him and the other elders. Was he okay? Did she need to find him in case he needed ... protecting?
"Maybe we should go find the others," she said, her blood starting the fizzling sensation she got when she feared someone was in danger.
"No," her aunt said in a voice that left little doubt that she was the one in charge. "We wait here. That was the plan and we never stray from a plan."
Kylie heard something in her aunt's voice. Edginess, concern. Kylie's blood grew hotter in her veins.
"Have the FRU come here before? Do they know we can vanish?" Kylie asked.
"Only if you told them," Brandon snapped.
Brandon, the teen who didn't like her. Oh, he had liked her plenty in the beginning, but when Kylie pretty much told the seventeen-year-old that he was wasting his time coming on to her, he'd obviously been offended. He'd snubbed her ever since. And anytime Kylie accomplished something that the teachers taught, shifting their patterns and such, he seemed personally insulted at her success. This wasn't a competition. She just wanted to learn all she could and then ... then go back to Shadow Falls.
Go back home. The thought hung up somewhere inside her, a place very close to her heart."I never told them," Kylie said.
"This is no time for bickering," her aunt stated.
"She brought this on us," Brandon spit out. "We've never had the FRU break in before. And God only knows what they will do to us if they find us."
"Be quiet," Aunt Francyne ordered.
But in the silence that followed, Kylie heard what wasn't being said by the others. They agreed with Brandon. Because of her, the FRU had discovered their compound.
Guilt crowded Kylie's chest. She had never considered that her coming here could have put anyone in danger. Yet it had, hadn't it?
Her blood fizzed faster; thoughts of her grandfather being hurt-of it being her fault-made her heart race.
Kylie tried to pull her hand free. "No," her aunt said. "You let go, you'll become visible."
"I need to make sure they're okay. And ... I can become invisible myself."
"That's impossible," Brandon snapped. "You can't do that until you're in your twenties. Everyone knows that."
Kylie rolled her eyes. She was tired of his petty jealousy.
Footsteps sounded. Numbers were called out. She recognized her grandfather's voice as well as the other elders.
"They'll search in here," her grandfather said. "Adults, make sure you hold tight to your child's hands.
Go to the south end of the property." The sounds of people making their way out echoed through what, even to Kylie, looked like an empty barn.
Kylie felt her aunt's hold on her wrist, directing her to walk, but then her grandfather spoke again.
"Everyone but Francyne and Kylie. You two go down by the edge of the woods in the back."
Kylie couldn't help but wonder why she and Aunt Francyne were being singled out.
"Why?" Kylie asked after she heard the last footsteps leave, still finding it so strange to speak when no one could see her.
"When we are in a state of emergency, one never asks questions." Her aunt's voice rang in the emptiness of the barn. Then, still holding Kylie's hand, the woman started moving, and in careful steps, she guided Kylie out of the barn.
She moved with her aunt, but she couldn't remain silent. "What's going on? Why should I be taken to a different place than the others?" Kylie asked as she moved through the barn door. The afternoon light had her pupils adjusting.
"Obviously, it is you they search for," her grandfather answered, his voice sounding close, but his form still invisible.
"But I'm a protector," Kylie insisted. "If someone needs help, I should stay close."
"I can feel you, damn it! Where are you?" a voice, a familiar voice that wasn't her aunt's or grandfather's, called out behind Kylie.
Her breath caught and she looked over her shoulder. About fifty feet away, standing in the tall grass, was someone she cared about."Derek," she called out. Then she remembered that no one, other than another unseen chameleon, could hear her when she was invisible.
"We should go." Her aunt gave Kylie's hand a tug, but she didn't budge. Stiffening, Kylie soaked up Derek's image, hungry for anything that was linked to her life at Shadow Falls.
His light brown hair resting on his brow stirred in the wind, giving him a carefree look, but his green eyes, with flecks of gold, held concern. What was he doing here?
"Where are you, Kylie?" he asked, and the breeze whisked his words away.
She remembered what her grandfather had said about who was here. This wasn't the FRU.
"Go to the creek!" her grandfather demanded. "You should not have told them where you were."
His accusation and his tone put Kylie on the defensive. While she couldn't see her grandfather, she could imagine his expression-stern and uncompromising.
She turned to where she heard his voice. "I didn't tell them, and no, I will not leave. You lied. It's not the FRU." The feeling of betrayal hit.
"When I told you it was the FRU, I was repeating what I was told by those guarding the gate. But even still, it is not a lie. They both work for the FRU."
They? Who else was here? She heard footsteps coming from the house. Her first thought was it could be Lucas. Her heart gripped at the possibility of seeing him. The pain of his disloyalty weighed heavy on her heart and still tasted bitter. Yet as those footsteps grew closer, she could not turn away any more than she could stop breathing.
Looking back she saw Burnett James, one of the camp leaders. Not Lucas. Disappointment swelled in her chest, but she refused to believe it was due to Lucas not being there. She didn't want him to come.
Didn't want to see him, not now and maybe not ever. Even as the thought whisked through her mind, she felt her heart race with the lie.
But she knew that at least some of the disappointment she felt was about Burnett. She hadn't said goodbye because she knew he would have tried to stop her from leaving. Now she wanted to go to him and embrace him. Apologize for neglecting the courtesy of a simple good-bye.
"Kylie." Her aunt spoke again, and gave her hand a slight tug. "Your grandfather knows what is best.
Listen to him. We must go."
Kylie inhaled and tried to not let her emotions control her. But it seemed almost too late. Her head spun as too many feelings swirled inside her. Loneliness, regret, and anger at being lied to. "He knows what is best for him, but maybe not so much for me."
"You must trust him," her aunt said, her grip on Kylie's wrist tightening. "Come, please. We only want to protect you."
"I don't need protecting from Burnett or Derek." She spoke calmly. "And it appears my grandfather needs to trust me, as well. I didn't tell anyone where I was. I gave you my word and I didn't break it." She heard the hurt resonate in her voice.
"That's not important," her grandfather said, but Kylie disagreed. Before she could voice her feeling, he continued, "What is important is that they will try to force you to go back. If we leave now, we will avoid a confrontation."
"She's around here somewhere," Derek called back to Burnett. "I can feel her. Seriously, she's here somewhere."Kylie focused where she thought her grandfather stood. "No one will force me to do anything that I do not want to do. Not them ... or you," she added. "My plan all along was to go back to Shadow Falls. I told you that from the beginning."
"A plan that I also told you I do not agree with." Her grandfather's voice rose slightly.
Kylie, lured by the sound of footsteps, looked over her shoulder again. She watched as Burnett drew closer. Proud, strong, a bit too headstrong. In so many ways, he reminded her of her grandfather. Inhaling, she glanced back to where she'd heard her grandfather's voice earlier. "I came here of my own free will and when I choose to leave, I will."
"You are too stubborn for your own good." Her grandfather's voice boomed from nothing.
"And I fear I might have inherited it from my grandfather," Kylie snapped. Then she glanced back at Derek and Burnett.
"Come with me, Kylie," her aunt pled, and she held tight to Kylie's hand.
"No," Kylie repeated, and watched as Burnett drew closer. He stopped beside Derek, only fifteen feet away from Kylie. She longed to run to him and throw herself in his arms.
"The pizza in the main house was still warm," Burnett said. "Are you sure she's here?"
"I'm certain," Derek answered. "And she's upset about something, too."
Not seen or heard, but still felt, Kylie thought. How odd was that? Her aunt started patting Kylie's hand as if the gentle touch would convince her. But Kylie was beyond convincing. "Please let me go," she told her aunt. But her aunt held on.
"Is she in danger?" Burnett growled.
Derek closed his eyes as if internally trying to touch her emotions. When he opened his eyes, he looked at Burnett. "I don't think so," Derek answered. "She's frustrated and I sense ... loneliness. And ... she's feeling ... something ... something like being torn between two loyalties."
Tears welled up in Kylie's eyes. Leave it to Derek to always get her emotions right. She knew her grandfather and aunt cared about her, knew they only wanted what was best for her, but how could she not make herself visible to Burnett and Derek? Why did she feel as if doing so would be seen as disloyal to her grandfather?
She'd tried to play by their rules, she had. But enough was enough.
Burnett looked around and Kylie would swear he looked right at her. "Are there others here?"
"I'm not sure," Derek said. "I can only sense Kylie because..." He didn't finish, but she knew the answer. He could sense her so well because he loved her.
Burnett stood a little straighter. "Mr. Summers, I need to speak with you. Now!"
"How do you know he's here?" Derek asked.
"If Kylie's here, he's around." Burnett shifted his vision back and forth. "Show yourself."
Kylie heard her grandfather move in beside her.
"You belong with us, child. Just let them leave," her grandfather said.
His invisible shoulder brushed against hers. Even though she was angry at him, his touch and the tenor of his voice reminded her of her father's. The ties binding them to each other could not be denied. "I can't," Kylie said.
"Let them leave and we will talk about this in a rational manner later," her grandfather offered, and she could hear in his voice that he tried to temper his mood."I am being rational," she said. Her aunt's hold on her hand tightened and Kylie had to fight not to jerk away.
"No, you are not," he said.
Suddenly, Kylie's own mood was beyond tempering. Maybe he hadn't actually lied to her when he'd claimed it had been the FRU, but no doubt he had planned to get her away so she wouldn't know who had arrived. Since when did he feel he could decide who she could and couldn't see?
The answer came no sooner than the question whispered across her mind. Since I came here. She hadn't missed how limited her connection to the outside world had been since she'd arrived. No phone.
No computer. And it wasn't just her. The chameleon lifestyle encouraged isolation.
"No." She touched her aunt's hand. "Release me." She spoke slowly but in a tone she hoped they understood was serious.
"Do as she asks," her grandfather said, and he sounded defeated. Kylie had only blinked when his image started appearing before her eyes. It wasn't like a ghost materializing. It was somehow different.
As if the air parted and he was pulled back into the world.
Her aunt released Kylie's wrist and she felt a slight tingling in her feet and she looked down and watched as her feet and legs became visible.
"Wow," Derek said. Lifting her face, she saw him stare at her, and she fought the urge to throw herself into his arms.
Glancing at Burnett, she saw surprise appear in his eyes as well. His gaze met hers briefly, then he focused his attention on her grandfather, who stood protectively at her side.
"Why have you come here?" her grandfather asked, his tone dark and menacing. Immediately, she knew his stance was out of protection for her.
"Kylie's life is in danger, and if I can find you, so can the rogue who's after her."
"It is not the rogue who I fear the most," her grandfather said, leaving little doubt he considered the FRU, as well as Burnett, the biggest threat.
"You are letting the past blind you from seeing the truth," Burnett said. "Yes, the FRU would like to test Kylie, and some of us have decided not to let that happen, but it is Mario and his team who have already killed trying to get to her."
"I will protect my own," her grandfather said, his wide shoulders drawing tighter.
"How? By turning invisible? Do you not know that Kylie has already been taken hostage by this man, and she's discovered that Mario is a chameleon just like you and that means he knows about your trick.
And if he knows about it, that makes you all that more vulnerable to him."
"I know this," her grandfather said, sounding defensive.
"Then you should know enough to be scared. Mario has not spent the last fifty years hiding as you and your friends have been moving from one place to another. He's been killing the innocent. He has taken the powers you have and mastered them to slaughter others. Even his own grandson died at his hands in front of Kylie because the boy defended her. If Mario will sacrifice his own blood, he will think nothing of killing his own kind."
"Wait," Kylie said, trying to keep up. "How do you know Mario is back?"
Burnett glanced briefly at Kylie. "He has been spotted."
"Spotted by whom?" her grandfather asked, disrespect coloring his tone. "The FRU? Like we wouldbelieve them?"
"I see that you have reservations," Burnett said, his words slipping from thinned lips pursed in what appeared to be anger. "But you must understand-"
"You dare to ask for my understanding?" Her grandfather's face grew red with fury. "What I understand is that you and your kind killed my wife. Because of you, I never knew my son. What I understand"-he pounded his chest with his fist-"is now you wish to do the same to my granddaughter!"
Kylie saw Burnett try to hold himself in check, but he couldn't hide the bright anger filling his eyes. She had to intervene, but how? Unfortunately, Kylie had no time to come up with a plan. Her grandfather took a step toward Burnett.
"Stop." Kylie attempted to move between the two men. But too late.
No one stopped.
Her grandfather swung his fist and Burnett took the blow square on the jaw.
While not nearly as young as Burnett, her grandfather didn't lack strength, and Burnett hit the ground.
The sound of pure fury leaked from someone, and Kylie assumed it was Burnett. Before a second passed, her grandfather dove on top of Burnett and the scuffle continued.
Derek barreled forward, but two male chameleons appeared out of thin air and grabbed him by each arm.
How had things gone so wrong, so fast?
Kylie nodded again. "I know."
Miranda frowned. "I think it was him, too. I had started feeling that weird presence again. Like someone was hanging around. Gave me the creeps. And I was all by myself, too."
"I know what you mean." An ugly shiver walked down Kylie's spine as she remembered her confrontation with Mario earlier. Then Kylie looked at Miranda. "And I'm sorry. It's my fault he's here."
"It's not your fault. He's evil."
"Yeah." And he was. Soon, Kylie knew she'd have to tell Miranda about what happened tonight, but she didn't have the energy to go into it now. "You don't feel him now, do you?"
Miranda tilted her head to the side as if putting out some kind of internal feelings. "No."
"Good." Kylie pushed back the feeling that he could come back anytime. She really wanted to believe that Shadow Falls was safe, but was she only fooling herself?
"You okay?" Miranda asked, studying her.
"Fine. How's school going?"
"We got a new history teacher. To replace that creep, Collin Warren. A cool guy. A were. He's young.
Like only twenty. He was a whiz kid, but you wouldn't know it now. You should see Fredericka! She's all over him."
Kylie nodded but didn't want to get caught up in bad-mouthing Fredericka. They had kind of made peace. "And what other craziness has happened?"
Miranda arched her right brow. "Nikki happened, and if she doesn't stop happening I'm gonna give her a case of big fat pimples." She held up her hand, wiggled her pinky, and scowled.
It took a moment to remember Nikki was the new shape-shifter who had a thing for Perry. Kylie frowned, thinking about the Meet Your Campmate hour she'd spent with the girl. The girl for sure had it bad for Perry. "Yikes. How's that going?""It better not be going anywhere! I get so furious at Perry. I mean, he swears he wouldn't touch her, but I think he's eating up the fact that some girl has a thing for him. And I can tell that he likes it that I'm jealous. He mentions her in unimportant conversations. As if he likes to see me get all riled up."
Kylie bit down on her lip and wondered if Lucas hadn't been a bit thrilled that Monique had a thing for him. Or did Monique even have a thing for him? Was Lucas really telling the truth about them never doing more than just sharing a couple of kisses? Had it been Monique who Kylie had seen?
The questions came at her so fast, she wanted to mentally duck.
Miranda dropped back on the bed with a bit of drama, and Kylie realized her mind had taken her back to her problems when she should be focused on Miranda.
"Do you trust him?" Kylie asked. "If you do, then you have to stop fixating on it."
Miranda pursed her lips as if thinking. "Is that what you did with Lucas?"
"That's different," Kylie said.
Miranda propped herself up on one elbow. "Are you okay? God, I know that had to hurt."
"I will be okay," Kylie said. "Eventually." She stared up at the ceiling and tried to push her heartbreak back. It wasn't as if she didn't have a ton of other issues to worry about. Like the ghost carrying around severed heads who was probably waiting for her in her bedroom. A shiver ran down her spine from the memory.
Miranda shifted and rested back on the bed again. "You know after you left he came to talk to Della and me?"
Kylie turned and looked at Miranda. "He did?"
"Yeah. I think he hoped we would try to talk to you about him. Convince you to forgive him."
Kylie refocused on the ceiling and reached for the teddy bear and hugged it. "I'm sorry he bothered you."
"He didn't bother us," Miranda said. "I don't know if you want to hear this, but ... he was really hurting. I'm not saying you should forgive him, but he swore to us that the only reason he was going through with the engagement was to get on that stupid were Council."
"I'm not sure the reason is important," Kylie said. "It's the fact that he did it. And behind my back. Not that I would have accepted it if he'd told me, but..." Her throat tightened. She hugged Miranda's teddy bear closer.
"I know." Miranda paused. "Della pretty much told him the same thing. And she gave him hell. The kind of hell only Della can dish out. Told him he was a piece of monkey shit and that he should go have himself castrated." Miranda let go of a deep sigh. "When Della first started unloading on him, I thought I was going to have a were/vamp fight on my hands. I mean, I thought he was going to come unglued. Weres don't often take lip off of a vampire, not that kind of lip. But he didn't even react. He stood there and took everything she said. Later, even Della said she couldn't help but admire him for taking his punishment like a man."
The knot in Kylie's throat doubled. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay." Silence filled the room. Miranda finally spoke up. "Then let's talk about something else.
Something good. Did you know Holiday and Burnett are planning on having their wedding here at the camp?"
"No, I didn't know." That news did make Kylie feel better. "When is it planned?""They haven't set a date yet. I got the feeling she was waiting on you to come back. However, it will probably be soon. I went to see Holiday the other night, and Burnett's things were all over the place. I think he's staying there now. They're so hot for each other. I'll bet they have sex three times a night."
Kylie made a face. "Do people really do it that much?"
"I don't know," Miranda said, "but I hope so."
They both started giggling. A warmth filled Kylie's chest. "Burnett and Holiday deserve to be happy."
"Don't we all?" Miranda said, and then sighed again. "I'm gonna say this and then I'll shut up. I know you are really angry at Lucas and I don't blame you for it, but ... maybe you shouldn't completely give up on him. You wouldn't let me give up on Perry."
Kylie shook her head and frowned. "Two weeks ago you were telling me that I should give him the boot and go back to Derek."
"That was before I saw how hurt Lucas was. I think he loves you."
Kylie shook her head. "I really don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about it. I just want ... I need to call my mom and then I want to go to sleep. Will you hate me if I leave now?"
"You aren't going to school today?" Miranda asked.
Kylie gave it a thought. "No, I think I'm going to play hooky. I haven't been to bed yet."
"Oh, then go to sleep." Miranda looked at her. "Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me everything that happened?"
Kylie frowned. "Because I'm not, but I'm just too tired to get into everything now. I'll tell you every horrible detail later."
Miranda nodded. "How horrible?"
"Really horrible."
"Okay." Miranda frowned. "But I may pop in and just look at you every now and then. I've really missed you."
Kylie smiled. "I missed you, too."
"You can borrow Teddy if you want." Miranda smiled.
"I think I will." Kylie reached over and squeezed Miranda's hand. "Thanks." She stood up and walked out, holding on to the oversized stuffed animal as if it could be her salvation.
If nothing else, she could use it to hide her face so she didn't have to look at severed body parts.