Under Sunless Skies (Starlight Saga Book 2) Read online

  “Grimm Haven is sooo boring. It has a smaller population than the other cities in the Bay Area, with only something like fifty-five thousand residents to date,” Tanisha says with a slight tilt to her head. “You’ll hate it in no time.”

  “Well, now it has fifty-five thousand and one.” Saxton grins, glancing in my direction. “And I’m starting to like Haven High.”

  “This isn’t a school. It’s a Hell dimension with florescent lighting,” Viola mutters sarcastically.

  Saxton nudges me with his elbow. “The Jetta still clean?”

  Tanisha stiffens with a grape juice box halfway to her mouth, and Viola narrows her gaze at me.

  “Yup. But it’s still early and I haven’t run anyone over…” I squint at him. “Yet.”

  “Then I’ll be sure to stay out of the parking lot this afternoon.” Saxton shifts in his seat to face the others. “So what do you guys do for excitement around here?”

  “Not much, besides the occasional kegger party,” Tanisha says. “All I have to look forward to is the senior prom.”

  “The only thing I’m looking forward to is spring break,” Raymond mumbles.

  I glance at the front of the room where Hayden is in a heated discussion with Zach. He catches my stare and a muscle in his cheek twitches.

  “You have a new girlfriend?” Tanisha asks Saxton.

  Viola starts digging in her backpack for something. Probably a paperback, because she’s a firm believer that a person should never leave home without a good book.

  Saxton chuckles. “Not since Viola dumped me.” He turns his attention back to me. “But I don’t think Sloane will be single for long.”

  My nose scrunches. “Why do you think that?”

  “Because,” Saxton says, leaning closer. “Hayden Lancaster’s been watching you ever since I sat down. He doesn’t look thrilled to see me sitting here.”

  Viola has a paperback in her hands lifted to cover her face. “You know Hayden, he’s always looking like Mr. Gloomy.”

  Saxton leans back in his chair. “Are you two trying to work things out?”

  I pull the crust off my pizza. “None of your business, Mr. Nosey.”

  I peek at Hayden sitting with his brother at a table halfway across the room. Saxton is right. Hayden’s narrowed gaze is closely watching our table. Not me or my friends, but at the boy parked beside me. The hard line of his clenched jaw and his sharp hooded eyes indicate only one thing—jealousy.

  Interesting…

  When the bell chimes, signaling the end of lunchtime. Viola and I say our goodbyes to the others, then stop at my locker so I can switch my textbooks. I spin the dial on the lock, but don’t open the door.

  “What’s with Saxton flirting with you?” She leans against the wall, studying the red polish on her long nails. “Do you like him?”

  “Ewww. No way,” I say quickly. “He flirts with everything in a skirt.”

  Staring at the metal door, I stand in front of my locker. I lift a hand to unlock it, then drop my arm. I swallow and try again. With trembling fingers, I touch the lever and the door scrapes open. A black envelope tumbles to the floor and lands on my right boot.

  “Love letter?” Viola reaches for the note. “Maybe it’s from Hayden.”

  “No!” I frantically snatch the envelope out of my friend’s firm grip and shove it into a pocket on my backpack.

  A sense of paranoia that I’m being watched strikes hard. Spinning around, I scan each student walking through the hallway. One of them is The Blackmailer. Someone’s leaving these cryptic messages in my locker. Someone at this school knows all my secrets.

  Viola’s brows squeeze together. “Maybe you have a secret admirer. Or it’s Saxton’s lame attempt at trying to get you to go out with him. Let me see it.”

  “Probably just an invite.” I bang the locker shut, the noise echoing like a gunshot. “I-I have to get to class.”

  Her head tilts to one side and her eyes narrow. “What is it with you lately? You’ve been acting so strange.”

  “Sorry. Just a lot on my mind, I guess.” I try to smile, but it feels more like a manic Joker grin.

  I don’t wait for a reply. I shove my way through the chaotic hallway to the empty art room and shut the door behind me. The scent of sawdust and turpentine clings to the air.

  Digging into my bag, I remove the black envelope and claw it open. Inside is another cryptic message:

  IN ROMEO AND JULIET, THEY BOTH DIE. YOU MUST REFUSE HAYDEN’S INVITE TO THE PROM.

  My muscles go rigid. This is crazy. Hayden hasn’t even asked me to go!

  A certain, bone-deep dread settles like a rock in my stomach, weighting me to the tiled floor beneath my feet. I have to discover who this person is before my secrets are exposed. I’m sick of them threatening to throw me under the bus.

  What if they’re out to destroy my reputation? Or expose my family? Or even damage my relationship with Hayden that’s still so fragile?

  The Blackmailer must have some twisted agenda.

  I just wish I knew what it was…

  SIXTEEN

  Mrs. Brooks is writing equations on the chalkboard and ignoring the class as I enter the room and go to my desk. I study her from my seat. It’s no secret that Mrs. Brooks doesn’t like me. But I doubt she’d resort to childish blackmail or care who my prom date is. Still, she might be a possible suspect to include on my list.

  Hayden swaggers into class seconds before the bell rings, with a mysterious glint in his eyes. He gains every girl’s attention, especially when he runs his fingers through the long strands of his fauxhawk, letting the hair flop back over his forehead. His low-slung, faded jeans dip slightly, and when he lifts his muscled arm, his shirt rides up, revealing a glimpse of hardcore abs. The sight of that sexy perfection even causes a skinny, tan-legged cheerleader to sigh dreamily in the seat across from mine.

  I almost roll my eyes. Instead, I hastily shift my attention to my notes and textbook.

  He takes the seat behind mine instead of his usual desk. Concentrating is going to be impossible now. His spicy, masculine scent makes my heart beat a little faster. A minute later, there’s a tap on the shoulder.

  I turn around. “What?”

  Bending in his seat, his minty breath glides along my cheek. “How’re you feeling? Any better since the attack?” His deep, masculine voice is like a caress over my skin.

  My cheeks redden at the intensity of his stare. “Much better.” I push a few blonde strands out of my eyes. “It’s been a weird morning.”

  Hayden taps a pencil on the desk. “What happened to your hair? You changed it.”

  “Yeah, Mr. Obvious. Seriously, you’d think I was born with purple hair the way people have been staring at me all day.” My expression tightens and I point at my head. “This is my natural hair color.”

  He frowns. “You might’ve bumped your head worse than I thought.”

  I grit my teeth. “So my hair is a normal color? I’m still rockin’ my gothic black attire.”

  “Yeah, but I’m confused by this new look you have going on.” His eyes narrow, and he lifts the pencil in one hand, encircling my head with the tip. “Why’d you change it?”

  “Because I was getting tired of the lavender.”

  His eyebrows draw together. “No other reason?”

  “Not really. It might keep crazyass Xavier from recognizing me.”

  “I don’t believe you.” His stare drills into me. “When girls do drastic changes, it’s usually for a reason.”

  My belly tightens into a knot. “You’re being weird.”

  “And you’re being evasive.” Hayden slants his head to one side, running his index finger across his lower lip. “I suppose I’m fine with it…as long as you didn’t change it for anyone else.”

  I face forward. I have no idea what he’s getting at and it’s not like he even gets a vote in what color my hair is.

  Emma and Kaitlyn have stopped talking, and are watching Hayden and
me with keen interest. Mrs. Brooks announces we’re going to watch a documentary today, The Significance of Mathematics, and her nasally voice echoes throughout the room. The lights dim, and the TV projector in the corner turns on. The screen shows a character solving a complex math problem on a chalkboard.

  While the teacher is busy watching the film, Hayden taps me on the back again and I twist in my seat to face him. He leans closer, the entire desk tipping forward. With him leaning so near my face, Emma and Kaitlyn are gawking. Without moving my head, I can sense their eyes on us.

  My desk is in the back of the classroom, and I’m glad that my seat is hidden behind a buffed football player sitting in front of me so the teacher can’t easily see us. His hot gaze burns into me, and we’re lost for a moment staring at each other. His gaze searches mine, but I don’t understand why he’s looking so intently at me. Strange pulsing electricity seems to ripple in the air between us and I wonder if it’s only a reaction caused by the ectoplasm. My gentle sigh merges with one of his, and suddenly a rush of anticipation floods my being. How I don’t explode into a pool of girly hormones is beyond the laws of physics.

  “Hey, guys, this isn’t Motel Six.” A senior, Max Phelps, sitting opposite Hayden, shakes his head. “Is it getting hot in here or what?”

  Several people snicker. The joke breaks the spell, causing Hayden to lean back a fraction. A chilly draft of air swooshes in the warm space between our bodies.

  Hayden leans closer again and he’s back to making smoldery eyes at me. “You want to hang out tonight?” he whispers.

  “Um, yeah, okay.” My heartbeat quickens. “What did you have in mind?”

  “We need to make sure you’re not still attracting any unwanted attention,” he says, lowering his voice so only I can hear him. “The residue that’s left on your skin is almost like a homing signal, and it could alert the reapers if they smell it on you.”

  “I’m safe enough at school.” My voice is quiet, breathy.

  He gazes at me with a twinkle in his eyes. “That’s because I’m around, and Zach. We can protect you.”

  I shake my head. “It sounds like I’ve joined the mafia. I assume this so-called protection comes at a price.”

  Whatever the penalty is for hanging out with Hayden, I’ll gladly pay it.

  “Everything does,” he says dryly.

  I sigh. “Ain’t that the truth.”

  Hayden’s mood visibly shifts. His expression hardens and he clutches the pencil so hard, it looks ready to snap in half. “I saw Saxton sitting with you at lunch.”

  “I caught that.” I quirk an eyebrow. “Not a fan?”

  “Not even close.” His tone is low, clipped and cool. “I’ve never really trusted that guy. He was always asking me odd questions. Then he transfers to our school.”

  “Well, now you guys can catch up,” I whisper.

  “I don’t think I’m the one he wants to catch up with.” Lips parting slightly, he exhales. “Saxton looks like he’s about to make you a playlist.”

  Hayden already knows—doesn’t he?—that he has nothing to worry about. He has absolutely no competition, but still…it’s nice to watch him squirm.

  I fold my arms. “What’re you implying?”

  “That Saxton seems overly interested in you, and it’s making me suspicious.” The pencil in his grip snaps. He drops the lead on the desk and unclenches his fist.

  Hayden’s right. Saxton does seem overly interested in me. Maybe because he’s the blackmailer.

  I snort. “Do you mean jealous?”

  He carefully studies me. “Maybe. A little,” he admits.

  “That just makes me all kinds of happy.” Smiling, I twist around in my seat.

  We ignore each other for the rest of the period and Mrs. Brooks avoids even looking in my direction. Maybe another humble apology will smooth things over.

  When class ends, I meet Viola and Tanisha in the hallway. Hayden hurries past us, giving me a mock salute as he marches away.

  Tanisha deftly steps out of the way as two techie nerds barrel through the jam-packed corridor, pushing a projector on a cart. “You and Hayden Lancaster friends again?”

  “Not sure,” I say. “But he’s been a little friendlier since the attempted mugging.”

  “Don’t look so glum.” Viola purses her lips. “I bet half the female population would sacrifice a goat to trade places with you.”

  “True that,” Tanisha agrees. “And you’re lucky to be alive after that lunatic assaulted you.”

  “Especially since that other girl who was attacked last summer is still missing,” Viola says. “I wonder if your attack is related to hers—”

  “What girl?” I ask, my forehead crinkling. “The cops never said anything to me about a related case.”

  “Delta Lancaster,” Tanisha replies. “Hayden and Zach’s younger sister. I think she was a freshman.”

  “Wait.” I stop in the middle of the hall, causing students to grumble and walk around us. “What do you mean? Hayden doesn’t have a sister.”

  “I thought you knew,” Tanisha says, shifting the books in her arms. “Didn’t Hayden ever mention his adopted sibling?”

  I shake my head. “No. Never.”

  “That’s super weird.” Viola stops by a classroom door, her thin brows wrinkling. “There was an Amber alert and everything. I think it happened right after the Lancasters moved to the island. But if the cops didn’t mention it, then it must not have anything to do with what happened to you.”

  “Yeah, I guess…” I say slowly.

  My mind is reeling. I can’t believe Hayden and Zach have another sibling and he never mentioned a sister to me. This new info on the Lancaster family is like a shocking plot twist in one of M. Night Shyamalan’s awesome films.

  “I remember hearing something about a missing girl last year,” I say. “But not that she was related to the Lancasters.”

  The warning bell rings.

  “Gotta get to class. Call me later!” Viola takes off through the crowd.

  Tanisha glances into the art room. “It happened right before Halloween. A few people saw Delta walking home from school, but she never made it. I heard they found her blood and one of her shoes in a park, but that’s about it. Clearly, there was a struggle, and the cops think Delta’s been kidnapped.”

  I shudder, clutching my books tighter to my chest. “God, that’s awful.”

  “Yeah, so don’t accept any candy from strangers, or offer to help them in dark theater parking lots,” Tanisha says, then goes into the classroom.

  The big “Delta reveal” is making my head hurt. I walk sluggishly along the thinning hallway in somewhat of a daze. A tremor rushes through me, and I can’t help but wonder if Xavier is responsible for Delta’s disappearance.

  I enter the classroom, where the teacher is writing on the whiteboard, and go to my usual desk. At first, I think it’s only a substitute because I don’t recognize him until he faces the class, then I suck in a breath.

  Arcane is here. In the classroom. His hair is neatly combed with a side-part, and he’s looking ultra-preppy in white polo and tan Dockers.

  He shuffles the papers on the oak desk, then lifts his head, scanning the class before spotting me. “Hello, students, I’m Mr. Vogel, and I’ll be filling in while Mr. Cooper’s on medical leave for a fractured hipbone,” Arcane says. “Riding motorcycles can be dangerous, kids.”

  I slouch in my seat, staring blankly at the whiteboard while Arcane goes over the course material. Whenever Arcane glances in my direction while he’s talking and wrinkles his nose, I squirm. This is beyond weird.

  And why is he looking at me like he just ate bad sushi?

  Arcane could be the blackmailer. He’s made it quite clear he doesn’t want Hayden and me to be together. I can’t cross him off my suspect list just yet.

  I get out my Hello Kitty notebook and quickly write: Arcane might only be here to spy on Hayden and me, or possibly to protect us. Check.


  He might be the actual blackmailer. Check.

  Keep an eye out for suspicious behavior. Check.

  But I’m pretty sure of one thing: Arcane does not seem pleased that there’s alien ectoplasm splattered all over me like a damn homing beacon for Sector Thirteen. And if I get caught by ST, it might reveal that Hayden was the one who exposed his powers to save me.

  SEVENTEEN

  Driving home after school, I’m still trying to figure out Hayden’s strange mood, why he never told me about his sister Delta, what Arcane’s really up to by posing as a teacher, and deal with being slimed with all that alien ectoplasm. First, my parents are keeping a huge secret from me—and now Hayden.

  Is there anyone left I can trust?

  Visions of a future me lounging on a psychologist’s couch fill my mind: “Yes, Dr. Dimwit, I have trust issues. So sue me! You would too if you had devious parents and a surly, alien boyfriend like mine.”

  I turn onto Dillinger Street, so distracted I almost run a red light and have to slam on the brakes. The guy behind me honks when I don’t notice the light turn green. Gunning forward, I don’t even have enough fight to flip him off.

  When I find three packages left on the front porch, all the epic weirdness and anxiety somewhat dissolves. I scoop up the boxes with the DVDs inside—scary movies I ordered online to watch and review.

  Unfortunately, any movie watching will have to wait because when I enter the house, my mom who has attempted to cook, forces me to join her and Jonah for an early dinner.

  “Sloane, will you please try to eat something healthy?” My mom drops her fork with a clang onto the plate.

  I glance at Jonah. We can speak volumes with only our eyes, and we’re both thinking the same thing: Uh, oh. Mom’s extra stressed. Dark circles frame her bloodshot eyes. Her nose is redder than the glass of wine she’s sipping, and her brown hair looks knotted and unwashed.

  Hanging my head, I chew the green beans I’ve been trying to get down and swallow. “Sorry. I’m just not a fan,” I mumble.