Frosted Torment (Marked Mortals Saga #1)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

M y eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar beeping sound. A firm hand, unfamiliar to me, clasped mine. Comfort intertwined with strangeness, its touch both soothed and startled.

“Where am I?” My voice was a parched whisper.

A rich, husky voice met my ears as he tried to soothe me. “Easy there, Noa. You’re all right.”

My throat felt raw and dry, like sandpaper, and I struggled to take in my surroundings. As my vision cleared, I realized that medical equipment filled my apartment - a blood pressure cuff encircled my arm, and an IV was in my hand. Panic gripped me as I scanned the room in vain for familiar faces, but my friends weren’t there. I steadied my breathing with slow, measured breaths.

“Please, may I have some water?” My plea emerged in a fractured rasp, louder than intended .

The man sitting beside me nodded and handed me a bottle from a nearby tray. Water flooded my mouth, refreshing my taste buds with its crispness. I examined his refined features, finding them both luminous and unsettling.

Tailored jeans and a crisp button-down shirt donned his frame as he uncrossed one leg over the other, his feet clad in loafers. No socks. He stood, and his gentle touch eased me upright to track my breathing.

Yet, his emerald eyes unsettled me. They were arresting. Each time they peered down at me, I felt a mix of unease and familiarity. Something about him set my nerves on edge, but before I could question him, his hand brushed my throat. My pulse quickened under his lingering fingertips.

He chuckled and asked, “Do you know who I am?”

I shook my head as a small flashlight grazed across my eyes, following his gesturing finger. “No,” I managed.

Sound from the hallway seeped into the living room, and I faced the door.

“Are my friends out there?” I leaned forward, straining to see if Ivy or Jossy were near.

“Yes,” he confirmed, his expression unreadable. “But I need you to listen, Noa.”

I shielded my face with trembling hands. “Something’s wrong with me, isn’t it?”

He settled next to me on the sofa and tilted my chin back as darkness filled his eyes. “Not exactly, no.”

My eyes fixed on his, and I bit on my bottom lip. “What does that mean?”

The man rose to check the machine’s blinking lights and numbers next to me. As he turned, I opened my mouth to call for Jossy. He flashed a piercing look over his shoulder at me. “Don’t bother screaming. You aren’t awake,” he cautioned.

“Huh?” My eyes widened, uncertain of his implication.

“If your friends looked in now, they would see you in a deep sleep.” He walked to the door, opened it, and gestured outside. “See?” he said as he returned to my side.

My fidgeting hands worried the blanket as I tried to conceal my escalating dread. “Why act out checking my vitals, then?”

“You caught me there.” He chuckled and settled next to me, grasping my hands in his. “I wanted you to feel at ease, Noa.”

Every hair on my body bristled when he uttered my name. His voice was hypnotic yet ominous, concealing something sinister. I swallowed hard. “But you don’t. This is anything but comforting.”

Disregarding my concern, he continued, “Do you remember what happened last night, Noa?”

I inhaled a quivering breath before answering. If I didn’t, I feared what he might do. “I was on the terrace with friends, did a reading, then blacked out. Does that cover it?”

Being rejected by Lex had cut deeper than I cared to admit, and now here I was, trapped in a nightmare with a stranger. He watched me like a lion stalks its prey. Then, he inclined his head. His warm breath brushed my neck as his cedar and vanilla aroma enveloped me.

“Your mother was right,” he murmured. “The Baneful will come for you.”

My eyes snapped shut, memories of my mother’s solemn warning about the Baneful flooding back. Reality struck with chilling clarity. Was he one of them? His body hovered over mine, evoking an involuntary shiver. I wasn’t certain.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said with a sly grin. “I long to see the moment you understand.” A slamming door outside made him pause, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re fighting me in your sleep.”

I gritted my teeth. “Get out of my head!”

“We’re not done. You need to see this.” He grabbed my head and pulled it toward his.

“No,” I heard myself say, my voice stronger than I felt. “Get away.”

I pulled myself from his grasp and recoiled against the back of the couch. He came closer, his hands reaching for my neck. They were strong and gentle as he cradled the base of my skull with a firm grip. His thumbs drew soothing patterns on my skin, countering the fear that seeped through me. My body melted under his.

“I’d never hurt you, but don’t move. Breathe,” the man instructed.

The man with sparkling emerald eyes curled his fingers around my neck. He pressed his forehead to mine, applying slight pressure. Our eyes converged, and I began to see into his mind, or he was projecting into mine.

A deep scent of earthy grass and lilac filled my senses. It was intoxicating. It settled into every inch of my body, pulsing through my veins like a drug. A tree sprouted from the floor of my apartment, erupting in swirling green vines.

They snaked across the blanket and up to the ceiling, morphing into thick boughs spreading in all directions. I reached out to touch them. They coiled around my fingers and arms with a euphoric sensation. Then, they bloomed into delicate pink petals. My audible gasp faded as the fragile blossoms sifted through my fingers.

“It’s a cherry blossom tree,” I said.

An eagerness saturated his voice. “Yes. Now, focus.”

My body tensed as he fisted my hair, fingers digging into my scalp. I tried to resist, but his touch overpowered me. He searched my mind with his. It was like a tidal wave crashing over me, erasing all control.

An intense pulse rushed from my neck to my lips. Tiny sparks danced behind my eyes as I trembled under his touch. A sharp sensation pierced my head, and I found myself in a field, frozen in time.

Soft blades of blue grass tickled my feet, and the wind played with my hair. I surveyed the endless expanse of the field stretching out before me. It bordered a wide river, and chunks of ice drifted along its glassy surface.

To my left, a waterfall cascaded down a bisected mountain. One half was black, the other half white. Then pressure on my jaw forced me to look right. Across the river, the blooming cherry tree sat silhouetted against the mountain. Set within the rocky face loomed an iron gate; its pull was magnetic.

“Do you see that?” I asked. “It’s jammed shut.”

“It’s locked. Now, open it.” Eagerness took root in his voice.

My breath hitched. “I can’t. There’s no keyhole.”

His grip tightened as he applied more pressure with his head and held my gaze. “Try harder, Noa.”

A wave of nausea churned in my stomach at the thought of what lay beyond that gate. “I need a key,” I pleaded, heart racing as I felt someone’s approach drawing near. “They’re coming!”

“No. You’re—” With a jolt, his head snapped back as a powerful current shot between us, and my eyes closed.

When I awoke, my bones ached, and my hand throbbed.

“Noa, wake up,” Ivy sang, pressing something cold and wet to my face.

I felt around and located a damp cloth on my forehead, tossing it aside. I sat up, kneading my pounding temples. My fingers found a needle piercing my skin, secured with tape and connected to an IV.

A soft moan escaped my lips. “What’s going on?”

“You fell off the couch,” Jossy huffed, arms crossed.

My eyes began to burn and water as I whispered, “I had a nightmare.”

“Must have been a powerful one to throw you to the floor.” Skepticism decorated his face.

“Can you please help me up?” I asked with a touch of defensiveness.

“Looks like he kicked your ass,” Jossy quipped.

I winced while stretching my neck with caution as Ivy helped me to stand.

She turned to Jossy with regret in her eyes. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here,” she offered, “I only stepped out for a minute to check my voicemail.”

I shook my head, scanning my apartment. “You didn’t take me to the hospital?” I asked.

“Too much paperwork. And questions,” Jossy said with a grave expression .

Massaging my throbbing temples, I let them both help me onto the couch. “It feels like someone took a sledgehammer to my head.”

Ivy sat with me, then took my hand and traced my palm. “Yeah, about that,” she mentioned. “Your choices are your own, but you’ve been drinking a lot.”

Seated on a nearby chair, Jossy leaned toward me. “More than usual. Hence this chat.”

Fear gripped my heart, and I squeezed Ivy’s hand. “Is this… an intervention?”

“We’re worried about you, Noa.” Jossy crossed his legs and gestured toward the equipment in the room. “I ordered an IV service to come here because the amount of alcohol in your system is alarming.”

“Okay, Dad,” I sighed, feeling drained.

He ignored me and, without missing a beat, said, “And, no anxiety meds in your system? What’s that about?”

“I value our friendship, Jossy. Truly, I do. But certain aspects of my life are mine to decide,” I replied.

Ivy’s face lit up with a warm smile as her hand enveloped mine. “Of course. As your closest friends, we’re concerned.”

“No,” Jossy barked. “This is because of Uno and Dos. They’re going to get you hurt if you keep listening to them.”

Indignation flickered in my eyes. “Don’t insult me because you’re scared. I’m not a puppet to spirits, and the decision was my own,” I retorted.

“Because they told you not to take them,” he argued.

“Can we take a breath here?” Ivy squeezed my hand as she shot a pointed look at her brother.

A small bruise formed around the needle when I glanced at my other hand. Jossy untied his ponytail and raked his fingers through his hair. He sat in the chair beside me, a look of desperation on his face.

“I’m sorry, Noa. We don’t want to lose you,” Jossy confessed. A vulnerability I hadn’t seen in him plagued his face.

I angled myself toward him and squeezed his leg. “You don’t have to fight every battle for me, Joss.”

A dry chuckle betrayed him, and his throat bobbed. “How ironic,” he commented.

“Fine,” I conceded, a hint of defeat in my tone, “I’ll ease up.”

His jaw tightened as he contemplated something. “You mean more to us than you can imagine, and we don’t want to find you dead somewhere.”

I couldn’t ignore the fact that I’d become careless with my drinking. Jossy’s gaze bore into me – raw, relentless – a pressure cooker with no release valve. My breath hitched. I didn’t know if mental illness had decided to set up camp in my head or if the dark abyss of depression wanted me to fall into its hole. Either way, I needed to get a grip on both.

A knock on the door interrupted us, and I looked down and gasped. I wasn’t sure how I hadn’t noticed it before, but I realized I was wearing a silky pink tank top and shorts.

“Ivy?” I groaned. “What in the world am I wearing?”

Her eyes brightened. “You’re my best friend, and no matter what, I want you to look good and feel good.”

She always had a way of taking care of me, even when I didn’t want it. I forced a smile even as my body began to reject the outfit .

“Thanks,” I mumbled, adjusting the silky fabric against my skin. “But did it have to be pink?”

Ivy rolled her eyes and teased, “You look good in pink.”

The knock persisted, and Jossy moved to answer it. “I told you it was open when you texted me, brother.”

The room seemed to shrink as Lex walked in with a duffle bag in one hand and dropped it on the floor next to Ivy. His unzipped jacket revealed sculpted abs under his shirt, and he smelled like fresh air. I shrank back, not wanting to see him after what he had said about me.

Ivy jumped up from her spot and embraced him with a grateful hug. “Thank you, and I owe you one.”

Lex nodded. As Ivy checked her bag for her toiletries and clothes, he rubbed his chin and eyed me with curiosity.

“I didn’t take you for silk or pink, for that matter.”

I crossed my arms in front of me. “You’re here. Not something I’d take you for doing, either.”

Lex slid his hands into his jeans pockets. “I deserve that since I’m not around much anymore.”

“No, you don’t.” I shook my head, then scrunched my nose when I remembered how I puked on him. “I’m so sorry about your boots, Lex.”

One side of his mouth rose in a slight smile. “Not a problem, and I’m already having them cleaned.”

With my head cocked sideways, my eyes turned to slits as I watched him. “Why are you here?”

He pulled his hands from his pockets and rubbed them together. “I want to help.”

“You do? But I thought?—”

He interrupted, smiling. “You scared us last night. ”

“Me too,” I admitted with surprise.

“Care to share what happened with that psychic?” Lex asked.

I thought about the Baneful and my mother’s warning. My thoughts were in disarray as images and emotions flooded my mind. The weight of their concern pressed down on me, and I took a deep breath. They deserved to hear the truth, even if it meant exposing my vulnerability.

“I had a vision last night,” I revealed, kneading my eyelids with trembling palms.

Jossy’s eyes softened, but apprehension still creased his brow. “Noa, we know you’re seeking answers, but consulting a psychic won’t reveal them. Even if our sister coerced you.”

“She didn’t coerce me, but I did see something.”

Ivy’s soft pressure on my thigh soothed my anxious tension. “You can tell us anything,” she said.

Lex stepped forward, his voice steady. “Let’s see if we can help you make sense of it.”

“I saw my mom, and she was beautiful,” I whispered. “Radiant. She wanted me to find out who killed her.”

Jossy shook his head, doubt clouding his eyes. “Is it possible you saw what you wanted to see?”

“I’m leaving in a week, Jossy,” I confessed, then chewed the inside of my cheek, waiting for him to respond.

His eyes widened as he glanced at Ivy. “And you knew about this, but didn’t say anything?”

She shrugged, meeting her brother’s startled gaze. “I found out before the party, but now do you see?” She sighed deep. “I had to do something.”

Jossy’s shoulders relaxed, but worry lines remained etched across his forehead. “Noa, we know you’re seeking answers, but consulting a psychic won’t reveal them. Even if our sister coerced you.”

“She didn’t coerce me, but I did see something,” I admitted.

Ivy’s gentle touch on my thigh sent a wave of calm through me. “You can tell us anything,” she said.

Lex took a confident step forward. “Let’s see if we can help you make sense of it.”

“I saw my mom, and she was beautiful,” I whispered. “Radiant, actually. She wanted me to find out who killed her.”

Jossy shook his head, doubt clouding his eyes. “Are you sure you didn’t see what you wanted?”

“I’m leaving in a week, Jossy,” I confessed, then bit my bottom lip, waiting for him to respond.

His eyes widened as he glanced at Ivy. “And you knew about this, but didn’t say anything?”

She shrugged, meeting her brother’s startled gaze. “I found out before the party, but now do you understand?” She sighed deeply. “I had to do something.”

“Understand what?” I asked, confusion knitting my brows together.

“We knew you would plan this at some point, Noa. But why now?” asked Jossy.

I leaned my head back on the couch and closed my eyes. When I looked at them again, I saw concern covering their faces.

“This isn’t as unexpected as it sounds. I’m pretty sure my godparents know something about my mom’s death, and I’m going to hire a private investigator to help me.”

Lex ran a hand over his chin before walking to the fridge to get a soda, guzzling it in two gulps. He looked back at me with a heavy sigh. “So your job knows?” he asked.

I nodded. “I’ll stay at the bookstore until the end of next semester, but Mr. Dell said I could come back.”

“So that’s why Ivy pushed for the reading,” Lex concluded.

“What does that mean?” I asked, feeling as though I wasn’t the only one hiding information.