“No.” I shook my head. “I’d never do this to someone. I’d find a way out.”
His eyes met mine. They were empty, vast. “You’ll see.”
“Blake—”
A knock on the front door cut off my words. My heart tripled in beat, and Blake froze above me, eyes narrowed, breathing heavy. He pressed his hand over my mouth.
“Katy?” Dee called out. “It’s time to par-tay. Hurry up! Adam is waiting for us in the car.”
“What is she doing here?” he asked in a hushed voice.
I trembled, staring up at him with wide eyes. How was I supposed to answer with his hand over my mouth?
Dee banged on the front door again. “Katy, I know you’re in there. Answer the door.”
“Tell her you’ve changed your mind.” His hand pressed harder against my mouth. “Tell her or I swear to God, I’ll blow her into the Milky Way. I don’t want to do it, but I will.”
I nodded and very slowly, Blake lifted his fingers and hauled me to my feet. He pushed me out of the living room and toward the door.
“Come on,” Dee whined. “You’re not even answering your phone. Tell Blake you’ve got to go. I know he’s in there. His truck’s out front.” She giggled then. “So, yeah, hi, Blake!”
I squeezed my eyes against the tears. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“What?”
“I’ve changed my mind,” I repeated through the door. “I don’t want to go out tonight. I just want to stay home.”
Please, I begged silently. Please just go. I don’t want to drag you into this. Please.
There was a heavy pause, and then Dee banged on the door harder. “Don’t be a douche, Katy; you’re coming tonight. So open this goddamn door!”
Blake glared at me, and I knew she’d come through that door. I took a deep breath and I choked on a dry, hoarse sob. “I don’t want to go with you! I don’t want to even hang out with you, Dee. Go and leave me the hell alone.”
“Damn,” whispered Blake.
“Katy…?” Dee said, voice rough. “What’s going on? This…this doesn’t sound like you.”
I pressed my forehead against the door. Tears rolled down my cheeks. “It is me. It’s why I haven’t been hanging out with you. Okay? I don’t want to be friends with you anymore. So please leave me alone. Go bother someone else. I don’t have time for this.”
The only sound was her heels rapping off the porch. Blake moved to the window, watching them climb into Adam’s SUV. When he heard the sound of tires peeling, he marched over and gripped my arm. He pulled me back into the living room, forcing me to sit on the couch.
“She’ll get over it,” he said, pulling his cell out of his pocket.
“No,” I whispered, watching him type away on his phone. “She won’t.”
Since Blake was distracted by his phone, I saw my only chance. As I tapped into the Source, there wasn’t a single part of me that doubted my next actions, not even for a second. Rage clouded my sense of moral code. Everything was twisted now. There was no right, no wrong.
A fierce wind howled throughout the house. Pictures from the hallway shook and fell to the floor, shattering. The cupboards rattled, doors swung open, and books toppled over.
Blake whirled on me, lowering the phone, eyes filled with awe. “You really are sort of amazing.”
Strands of hair whipped around me, my fingers ached with energy that crackled all through me. I felt the tips of my feet leave the floor.
He snapped the phone shut and threw out his hand. The wind I was stirring kicked back on me, sending me into the wall. Stunned, I fought the force holding me back, but like with Beth, I couldn’t break it.
“You haven’t been fully trained.” Blake advanced on me, smiling wryly. “There’s a lot of potential, don’t get me wrong, but you can’t fight me.”
“Screw you,” I spat.
“I would’ve been game for that.” He brought his hand back toward him, and it was like an invisible string had been attached to me. Against my will, my body went right to him, and I was suspended there, kicking and thrashing at nothing but air. “Tire yourself out. It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m going to kill you,” I promised, welcoming the rising tide of fury building in me.
“You don’t have it in you.” He paused, cocking his head to the side. “Not yet, at least.”
His phone dinged, and he flipped it open, smiling. “Uncle Brian’s on his way. It’s almost over.”
I screamed, feeling the energy pulse around me. My vision clouded once again, and I felt each one of my cells warming. Anger fueled the alien part of me, giving it strength. I zeroed in on Blake.
He backed up, brows raised. “Give it your best shot. I’ll just throw it back on you.”
A window shattered upstairs, the sound explosive and jarring. I lifted my head as Blake spun around. Two streaks of light shot down the stairs, breaking apart and heading straight for Blake. One smaller and less powerful form drew up short.
The light flickered out, and Dee took shape, her mouth hanging open as she stared at me. “You’re…you’re glowing.”
The other light crashed into Blake, sending him several feet back. I turned, feeling myself lower to the floor. Blake roared as he pushed the light off him, and he, too, started to glow, much like Bethany had. An intense blue light surrounded him as he reared back and released a pulse of light.