On the Edge Part 3

FOUR.

THE wind-up clock screamed at ten till six. Rose got up and went about her regular morning ritual: making Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) coffee, fixing lunches, putting on her Clean-n-Bright uniform. She barely had a chance to taste her first cup of coffee when Georgie wandered out of his room, sleepy eyed, his hair tousled. He ambled over to the window and yawned.

aWould you like some Mini-Wheats?a she asked.

He didnat answer.

aGeorgie?a Georgie stared out of the window. aLord Sesshomaru.a The demon brother from their comic book? aIam sorry?a aLord Sesshomaru,a he repeated, pointing through the window.

Rose came to stand behind him and froze. A tall man stood at the edge of the driveway. A cape of gray wolf fur billowed about him, revealing reinforced-leather armor, lacquered gray to match his cape, and a long elegant sword at his waist. His hair was a dark, rich gold, and it framed his face in a glacial cascade that fell over his left shoulder without a trace of a curl. Shead seen that hair before, just before its owner leaped onto her truck.

The pommel of the second, much larger sword, protruded above the manas back. The manas gaze fastened on her. His eyes flashed with a white glow, like two stars.

Tiny hairs rose on the back of her neck.

aThat isnat Lord Sesshomaru,a Rose whispered. aThatas much, much worse.a aWhat?a Sleep fled from Georgie, and he stared at her with wide eyes.

aThatas a blueblood. Get Jack and get the guns. Hurry!a ROSE walked out on the porch, carrying a crossbow. Behind her, Jack lay at the left window with his rifle and Georgie lay at the right.

The blueblood towered like a spire of gray ice just outside the ring of stones. Tall, with broad shoulders and Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) long legs, he seemed knitted from menace and magic. Itas the wolf cape, Rose told herself. Made him look bigger and scarier than he was.

She stopped just before the ring of wards and looked at his face. Her heart skipped a beat. His features were carved with breathtaking precision, combining into an overwhelmingly masculine yet refined face. He had a tall forehead and a long straight nose. His mouth was wide, with hard narrow lips, his jaw square and bulky, yet crisply cut. It wasnat a face whose owner smiled often. His eyes under thick golden eyebrows froze the air in her lungs. Dark gra.s.s green, they smoldered with raw power. She suspected that if she stepped over the stones and touched his face, head spark.

Rose leaned her crossbow on her hip and took a deep breath.

aYouare trespa.s.sing, and you arenat welcome.a aYouare rude. I find it unattractive in all people, women especially.a His voice sent a light, velvet shiver down her spine. It matched him, deep and resonant. Now that the first impact of his impossible face had worn off, she saw a network of small scars near his left eye.

He was real, all right. He bled and scarred just like the rest, and that meant he wouldnat find bullets in his chest amusing.

aGet off my land and be on your way,a she said. aI have two rifles trained on you as we speak.a aTwo rifles manned by children,a he said.

d.a.m.n Georgie. He shouldnat have let himself be seen. aThey wonat hesitate to shoot you,a she a.s.sured him.

aI can rip through your wards with one blast. Bullets make no difference to me,a he said. A white sheen rolled over his irises and melted into their green depths.

Ice skittered down her spine on sharp claws. He could, she realized. This wasnat an idle threat. He wasnat Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) the first blueblood shead fended off, but none had talked or looked like him. People said that the true aristocrats, bred for generations deep within magic, were striking. If that was true, he mustave come from the dead center of the Weird. aWhat is it you want?a aWhat do you think I want?a She gritted her teeth. aLet me make this completely clear: I wonat sleep with you.a Surprise flickered in his eyes. Thick eyebrows crept up.

aWhat? Why?a Rose blinked, lost for words. He actually found it shocking that she didnat fall over herself to spread her legs.

aIam waiting for an explanation.a Rose crossed her arms. aLet me guess. Youare the fourth son of a blueblood family down on its luck: no t.i.tle to tempt an heiress and no inheritance money to purchase a n.o.ble bride. Youave heard about the mongrel Edger girl who flashes white and decided that since you canat have an heiress or a t.i.tle, you can at least sire a brood of powerful babies, so you came to shop for a bride in the Edge. I have no time for people like you.a aTrust me, youave never met anyone like me.a He made it sound like a threat.

aYou mean an arrogant sn.o.b whoad force a woman into his bed without any regard for her feelings?

Actually, Iave met plenty. Been there, done that, bought a Tshirt.a He frowned. aWhat do shirts have to do with anything?a aThereas nothing for you here. Go away, or Iall make you gone.a He grimaced. aYouare rude, vulgar, and you speak in an atrocious fashion. Youall take so much work before you can be presentable. And you actually feel that youare a suitable spouse for me?a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) That hurt. aThatas right. Iam rude and vulgar. A mongrel.

Thatas why you should leave me in peace. Run along to your fancy ladies. Iam sure one of them will gladly fall on her back for you and be overjoyed to pop out a litter of bluebloods. I wonat marry you, and I wonat be your mistress. Leave us be.a aI have no intention of leaving until I get what I want.a He stated it as a fact and fixed her with his gaze.

Fear blocked her throat. There was no give in those eyes and no mercy. Only savage magic and iron will.

aIf I wish it, youall marry me. Shooting me, running me over with a vehicle, or trying to sour my disposition will do nothing to help your cause.a She raised her chin. aIall fight you to the end,a she promised.

aYouall have to kill me.a She jerked her crossbow up, sighting his chest.

aI have no intention to hurt you. Go ahead and fire,a he said.

aI wonat count it against youa"it will save me some breath.a She shot him.

It happened so fast, she barely saw it: a thin shield of purest white flashed in front of him, striking the bolt in midair. The metal and wood disintegrated. He looked down on her. aYour bullets and your bolts canat injure me.a Rose bit her lip, fighting a shiver. It took all of her will to continue glaring at his face.

The menace in his eyes eased a bit. aI understand why you insist on being unreasonable. This is to be expected, considering your upbringing. Still, we have a dilemma. I mean to have you as my bride. You mean to refuse me. A manas home is his refuge. I have no wish to share mine with a feral cat who spends all her time sharpening her claws and thinking of inventive ways to flay me when my guard slips. Nor do I want to Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) fight you, especially not with the children here. They might be accidentally injured, and witnessing our violent clash wouldnat be good for them. Thereas a traditional way to resolve this. Challenge me.a aWhat?a Rose blinked.

aGive me three challenges,a he said. aThree tasks. Iall excel at each one. When I succeed, youall come to me willingly and youall obey me.a aAnd if you fail?a He permitted himself a half smile. aDonat concern yourself with that possibility. I wonat.a aIf you fail, youall go away and never bother us again.a He shrugged. aYes, thatas how those things are usually worded.a Roseas mind sped through the possibilities. aAnd if I refuse?a A white glow frosted the green irises. The magic swelled around him, building. It buckled in his grasp, plain even through the two lines of wards. He was monstrously powerful. She got the message loud and clear.

Rose bit her lip. She had no choice. She couldnat risk fighting him straight on, not with the boys here. He was very strong, and she wasnat a pushover. He was righta"if they clashed, the boys might get hurt just from the collision of their magics. Besides, she wasnat sure she could win a direct confrontation. But challenges?

She could do challenges. If you canat outfight an enemy, outsmart him, trick him, swindle hima"do whatever it takes to win. That was the Edger way.

aThree tasks,a she said, managing to sound upbeat.

aWhatever I wish?a aWithin the realm of possible,a he said. aI canat pluck the moon from the sky and hang it around your neck.a aI want you to swear to the terms,a she said.

He sighed. aVery well.a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) He pulled a narrow knife from his belt and showed it to her.

The rays of the rising sun gleamed, reflecting from the wicked metal profile of the blade. aI, Declan Riel Martel, ade Dominik, ade Logran, ade Rotibor, Earl of Camarine, Lord of Longshire, Svyator, and Veres, hereby swear to fulfill three tasks given to me within the next two weeks by . . .a He looked at her.

aRose Drayton.a He owned more t.i.tles than t.i.tleMax. Maybe he could p.a.w.n some of them off, if he was short on cash. With his looks and pedigree, surely some Weird d.u.c.h.ess or baroness would gladly marry him. What was he doing here, shattering her life?

a. . . Rose Drayton, provided they are within human limits. I swear to cause no harm to Rose or her family and lay no claim upon her or her loved ones while Iam engaged in this challenge. Should I fail, I swear to leave Rose Drayton and her family in peace . . .a aAlive and uninjured,a Rose put in.

aAlive and uninjured. Should I succeed, Iall gain a right to claim Rose Drayton.a He sliced his palm. Magic lashed at Rose. She stumbled back.

The ward stones rose a foot above the ground, trembling in empty air in a struggle to deflect the surge of his magic, and crashed back into their spots.

aYour turn.a He held the knife out, handle first.

Rose hesitated. He did swear. The oath was binding. He couldnat cause her any harm. She stepped over the ward lines and reached for the knife. Her fingers closed over its carved bone handle, shaped like the head of a snarling cat. aI, Rose Drayton, promise to give . . .a G.o.d, she couldnat even remember his names, there were so many. a. . . you three tasks. If you successfully complete them, I promise to come with you . . .a She paused. What exactly followed? She had to word it in the best way possible.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) He beat her to it. a. . . and be pleasant and agreeable.a aThat will take a miracle.a She had expected him to add aand sleep with me.a The way he put it left her some wiggle room.

aYouare right,a he said somewhat mournfully. aWe did agree on human limits.a aAnd be pleasant and agreeable,a she bit off before he changed it and backed her into a corner. aI so swear.a aHopeless. The clumsiest oath Iave ever heard. Youave had no education at all, have you?a She sliced her palm. Magic burst from her in an exhilarating rush, surprising in its intensity. The stones rose, shivering once more, and fell. She might not have his education, but she had plenty of power and a brain. She would handle him.

He nodded matter-of-factly. aYouare mine.a She felt sick to her stomach. aWeall start on the weekend,a she said, drawing herself to her full height. aTwo days from now. During the week, I have to work.a He turned and walked away without a word.

Rose stared after him. He was the sword that had just sliced her life in half.

The screen door banged open. She turned to see both boys on the porch. Jack glared after the blueblood.

His eyes were angry. aYou shouldnat have promised, Rose!a aI didnat have a choice.a She strode back to the porch. aHe is very, very strong.a aWhat if he takes you away from us?a aHe wonat.a Rose looked after the retreating gray figure.

aHeas a n.o.ble. Heas used to people falling over themselves to cater to him. But weare not his servants. Weare Edgers. He might be stronger, but weare smarter. We just need to stump him with a challenge. Donat worry. Iall think of something.a aCan we hide in the Broken if we lose?a Georgie asked.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) She sighed. aThat was very smart, Georgie, but no. We canat.

First, my promise is binding. If I break it, it will come back to me in a very bad way, and Iam not sure being in the Broken would keep it from catching me. Second, some people from the Weird can enter the Broken for a few days without consequences. Even if we ran, thereas a chance that he would find us . . .a And he was a lot stronger, too. Just the breadth of his shoulders alone showed the kind of strength she had no hope of countering. She had a feeling that if she shot him, head spit the bullet out, sling her over his shoulder, and drag her all the way into the Weird.

What she really needed to do was to stay home to make sure she could pick the kids up from the bus stop and watch over them. But they had to eat, and missing a day of work wasnat an option. Her job, as bad as it was, was precious. Only businesses with ties to the Edge hired Edgersa"the rest wanted a social security number and a driveras license, and hers wouldnat stand up to scrutiny. There were places unaware of the Edge that hired illegal aliens, but compet.i.tion for those jobs was fierce, and they mostly wanted muscle for manual labor. She could be fired in a blink of an eye, and there would be a line of Edgers ready to take her place.

aIt doesnat matter,a Rose said firmly. aWe wonat run. This is our home. Weare going to do what Edgers do best: weall fight dirty. But we donat have to do anything about him till this weekend. For now, we just have to watch ourselves and think. Grandma canat pick you up today. Sheas off checking on something with Adele Moore deep in the Wood. And I have to catch a ride with Latoya, because our truck is out of gas. When you get off the bus, I want you to come straight home. Do you understand? Donat talk to anyone, donat linger, Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) come straight home, get inside, lock the door, and donat open it to anybody. Especially him.a She nodded in the direction the blueblood had gone. She fixed them with her stare. aRepeat it back to me.a aCome straight home,a Georgie said.

aNo lingering,a Jack said.

aGet inside and lock the door,a Georgie said.

aDonat let the blueblood in,a Jack finished.

Rose nodded. It would have to do.

ELSIE Moore hummed softly to herself. It was near eleven oaclock. Time for the brunch. It was going to be a very special brunch, too: she wore her pretty blue dress and had her favorite baby blue silk ribbon in her hair. The sun still shone bright, the weather was pleasant, the garden flowers pretty, and the row of stuffed animals gazed at her with adoration in their plastic eyes.

Elsie smiled prettily, taking her seat at the green plastic table. aMr. Pitt, Mr. Brosnan, Mr. Clooney, Mr.

Bean, how do you do? Shall we have some tea and biscuits?

Itas always a pleasure to see you, Mr. Bana.a The bears looked suitably impressed with her excellent manners. As they should bea"she was a lady.

She picked up the tiny plastic teakettle with little pink roses on the side and held it over Mr. Brosnanas cup.

The soft fuzzy paws reached for it.

She tsked. aMr. Brosnan, I am shocked at your manners. You must wait until Iave served the tea to all the gentlemen.a The bear dropped his paws, looking ashamed at being chastised.

A nasty feeling crept down her back, as if someone had poured cold goose fat onto her skin. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore it. This was going to be a lovely tea.

The feeling intensified. The sickening slimy magic stuck to her, trying to worm its way through her skin into Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) her bony back, and deeper. It was trying to get inside.

Elsie dropped the teakettle and turned around.

It stood on the edge of the lawn, a thing knitted from shadows and darkness. It didnat like the light and stuck to the shadows cast by the shrubs, blending into the gloom, so the only thing she could see clearly were its eyes: two slits of uniform, slightly luminescent gray, like slanted holes into a skull stuffed with rain clouds.

She threw a teacup at it. aGo away!a The thing didnat move. A second pair of eyes opened above the first, the same dirty gray. The top pair looked at the teacup rolling harmlessly in the gra.s.s. The bottom pair stared straight at Elsie.

The dreadful feeling along her back grew stronger. The cold slime slid its way around her neck and down. A faint p.r.i.c.kling singed her chest and back, as if a dozen tiny needle-feet tested the durability of her skin.

Elsie screeched and swiped at the cups, grabbing the little plastic pieces in a frenzy and hurling them one after the other at the baleful eyes.

aGrandma?a Amy emerged from the house, wiping her hands on the corner of her ap.r.o.n. She ran over on pudgy legs. aWhatas the matter?a Elsie pointed with her shuddering fingers at the dark thing.

Amy brushed her curly blond hair from her face and squinted at the shrubs. aWhat?a aItas trying to get me! It ruined everything!a aThe bush? The bush ruined everything?a aNot the bush, the thing!a Elsie pointed straight at the creature.

Amy bent to look in the direction of her finger. aGrandma, thereas nothing there but an old c.r.a.pe myrtle shrub.a Elsie slapped her cheek. aStupid girl!a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Amy drew herself to her full height. aNow that was un-called for. Into the house with you. Looks like you need a pill.a aNo!a aYes.a Elsie tried to scratch, but Amy was stronger and outweighed her by a hundred pounds. She was lifted to her feet and guided firmly inside the house. She twisted her head and saw the dark thing slink to the table. She shrieked, but Amy just wrestled her forward.

A huge maw split open beneath the four eyes, revealing jaws seeded with wicked teeth. Elsie could do nothing but scream as the monster bit into Mr. Bana, ripping the small body of fur and stuffing in half.

ROSE heaved a large service vacuum into the back of the Clean-n-Bright service van. Latoya and Teresa were still inside Kaplan Insurance. Latoya was chatting up Eric Kaplan, while Teresa finished the bathroom.

Eric was a handsome fellow, and he did a very good impression of a happy-go-lucky, none-too-bright type of guy. Latoya thought she could wrap him around her finger. Rose had her doubts. It was Ericas job to get people to like him and buy his insurance, and judging by the sw.a.n.ky office, he was rather good at it. He had succeeded where his uncle Emerson had failed.

Unfortunately, his uncle Emerson also ran Clean-n-Bright, which made him her boss, and he wasnat half as pleasant as his nephew.

Rose leaned against the van. Worry sat in the pit of her stomach like a big heavy clump of lead. Dread had plagued her all morning, and she just couldnat get rid of it.

Usually she could figure out the cause of her anxietya"money worries, more often than nota"but today she just worried in general. It wasnat enough shead run into a wold; now there was a blueblood to deal with.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Shead mentioned the wold to Latoya and Teresa, who made shocked noises, and then Teresa reported shead run into Maggie Brewster the other day. Maggie, a gentle cross-eyed girl, had the foresight. According to Teresa, Maggie said something bad was coming. She couldnat say what exactlya"Teresa didnat think she knewa"but she could tell that feeling it scared Maggie out of her wits.

Maggie had been wrong before. She had predicted a hurricane last October and was convinced theyad all be blown away. Instead they got clear skies and June weather.

But Maggie had been right before, too. And that worried Rose. She felt as if an invisible storm was gathering and she was on the edge of it.

Rose shut the van door and jumped. William stood right next to her.

aHi,a he said.

She gulped. aG.o.d, you scared me.a aSorry. Didnat mean to startle you.a He leaned against the van. aI was just driving by on my way to a job, saw you, and thought Iad say hi. How are you?a aIam good, thank you.a Here he was, handsome and willing, yet she didnat feel anything romantic. Her heart didnat aflutter.a The realization was kind of freeing. Rose smiled. She was right. She didnat need to go on a date with him.

aHow did the first day of school go?a William asked.

aIt went fine.a He grinned. aThey didnat have to tie Jack to his chair? He doesnat look like he could sit still for longer than five minutes.a She laughed quietly. aHeas a good kid.a aBoth of them are good kids.a He nodded. aIs there any way I can talk you into lunch?a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) She shook her head, smiling. aI donat think it would be a good idea, Will.a aWhy not? Itas not like Iam going to maul you.a She looked into his eyes and caught a glimpse of the same thousand-yard stare head trained on Peter Padrake back in the comic shop. He hid it right away, but it was there, waiting inside him. Rose hesitated.

This wasnat going to be easy. aSometimes two people meet and there is a connection of sorts. An instant attraction. You look at somebody and wonder what it would be like. I donat wonder that about you. Youare a nice handsome guy. And I want to like you in that way, honestly I do, but thereas just nothing there.a He just kept smiling, his grin plastic on his face.

aIam sorry,a she said. aThatas harsh, and I feel bad about it, but I donat want to lead you on.a aRose Drayton.a The voice stopped her in mid-word. She turned on her heel, her hands clenching into fists. aBrad Dillon,a she said, her voice dripping with venom.

Brad looked just like he used to look in high school, when theyad dated. He had picked up a couple of new tattoos and his nose was now pierced, but other than that, he was same old Brad. Still the same hot brown eyes and handsome face. Still looking like he wanted to punch somebody, the arrogant p.r.i.c.k. She used to think that smirk was s.e.xy. Now she wanted to slap it off his face.

Her gun was in her tote inside the van, and Brad wouldnat exactly let her get it. Without her gun, out here in the Broken, Brad had an advantage. He was bigger and stronger, and Rose had seen him fight enough times to know she couldnat take him by herself. But she would make it expensive for him.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Brad fixed his gaze on William, sizing him up. aDonat know who you are and donat care. Just want to know what youare doing with my leftovers?a Rose braced herself. In a second William would slug him, and when he did, Brad would come right back at him. William looked strong, but Brad was no pushover and he fought hard and dirty. She tensed, ready to jump right in.

William looked at Brad with a slightly bored expression.

aSheas a lousy f.u.c.k,a Brad said. aI feel sorry for you.a William said nothing.