Rafael figured he’d receive a text or phone call if something happened last night. Even a roll suggestion or something. But he got nothing. He still refused to relax until he saw Nick walking by at school the next morning, book in hand. It seemed like his old friend was taking random walks throughout the morning to make sure he didn’t stay in one spot. Though Rafael relaxed a bit, he still tensed at the sight.

Nick shouldn’t be alone. Why was he alone?

Rafael watched Nick go, feeling uncertain. He was with his football buddies, holding Hazel’s hand, but he’d stopped adding to the conversation a while ago. If things weren’t so messy between them, he’d feel obligated to be by Nick’s side. Just so he could call Ezekiel at a moment’s notice if things turned sour.

Things were messy, true. But he had to admit they were getting better. And after talking with Walt for an eternity last night, Rafael couldn’t bring himself to let Nick walk alone while Akshi was somewhere in the halls.

He squeezed Hazel’s hand. “I’ll be back,” he said. Hazel glanced at Nick, but nodded as he pushed himself from the wall and headed toward Nick.

“Rafael?” James asked.

He gave them a half wave. “I’ll see you guys later.”

None of them responded. Rafael headed toward Nick, trying to be quiet. His heart pounded wildly, his nose and ribs aching from the too recent memory of Nick’s fists. But he kept placing one foot in front of the other. He had avoided Nick long enough. Now all of them were in danger, Nick even more so. It was time to put things in the past and move forward.

“Hey, man,” Rafael said, falling into step with Nick.

His old friend glanced up, and Rafael saw the shifting fear in his eyes. “Hey, Rafael.” Nick closed his book. “Everyone’s staying at my house, recovering. Ezekiel’s fine. Got a bit more fur than usual, but relieved they have the sword.”

“Yeah.” Rafael scratched his jaw. “And… you? How are you? Why are you alone?”

“Evelyn’s hanging out around the main office. I promised her I’d travel from Mr. Anderson’s room to Señora Florez’s room, but she’d keep an eye on Akshi from a distance. She’ll call if she sees anything.”

“Oh. Good. Uh, can I walk with you?”

“Sure. Yeah. I… would love some company,” Nick said, still not looking at him.

“Great. How’d you sleep last night?”

Nick glanced around the full hall. “You know? It’s strangely comforting falling asleep with a half-orc standing guard outside your window.”

Rafael smiled. “Alejandra will be happy to hear that.”

Nick didn’t react. Honestly, Rafael wasn’t sure what was going on between Nick and Alejandra. “So, um… dietician?” Nick asked.

Rafael frowned. “What?”

“Is that what you want to go to college for?”

“Yeah. Yeah, it is. I won’t lie and say food always fascinated me, because it hasn’t. But… I think it’s a pretty cool thing to study. The way food fuels us. I’d never be a doctor, but I could see myself helping people with what kind of food they eat. The… food science of it.”

“Oh. Yeah. That’s cool,” Nick asked.

“And you? What do you want to go to school in?” Rafael asked to make sure a silence never came between them.

“I don’t know,” Nick said.

“You don’t?”

Nick shrugged. “It’s a huge choice. I need… to get out first. That’s my first big decision to make.”

Rafael again studied Nick, who distracted himself by looking at his book. “Shit, that sucks.”

Nick kept looking forward, the look on his face one that was ready to drop to a glare if anyone even mentioned Walt. “April’s coming. That’s all that matters.”

They kept walking through the halls, and Rafael wasn’t sure how to define the silence that settled between them. It wasn’t peaceful. That much was obvious. But Rafael wasn’t scared of Nick strangling him, either.

“Rafael, if… we’re going to keep working together to save the world, there’s something you ought to know,” Nick said. Rafael glanced again at him. Nick slowed down, his eyes darting around to make sure they couldn’t be overheard before landing on Rafael. “If you’re expecting an apology from me for punching you in the face, I’m not giving you one.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Rafael shook his head. “No, dude, I’m not expecting one. Honestly, I’d do the same.”

“You hurt my sister, and she’s kind of the only family I have.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Rafael said.

“I know I should apologize, but I honestly can’t. And I’m not about to—”

Rafael shook his head, holding out a hand to stop Nick from saying anything more. “You still don’t understand me.” Nick gave him a curious look, and Rafael stood up a little straighter. “The reason I don’t expect an apology ever, is because if you hurt my sister the same way I hurt yours, I. Would do. The same.”

Nick’s curious face froze, but then it disappeared as the realization hit him. Nick had always been the tallest one of the three of them. Rafael didn’t consider himself short, but with Nick’s height, his old friend almost towered over him. It really didn’t matter. Rafael had thrown himself into sports for three years. Where Nick might have had the advantage of height, Rafael had him beat in muscle. And when it came down to it, that was where a flicker of fear hit Nick’s eyes as his gaze brushed over how broad Rafael’s shoulders had become, how much he pushed himself to make sure he had the physique necessary to throw himself at opponents every week. Nick finally understood what Rafael meant.

Nick cleared his throat. “This isn’t you being pretentious again, right?”

“No. This is me assuring you I deserved what you gave me. I was wrong. Evelyn did not deserve that, and neither does Alejandra. You already know that, though.”

Nick met Rafael’s gaze again, a smile crossing his lips. “I do. Something tells me if it you ever do that again to my sister, you’d willingly walk into my fist.”

Rafael winced. “I want to disagree with you, but I honestly can’t.” He rubbed his forehead. “I can’t believe how stupid I was.”

“And… I don’t think you have to worry about me and Alejandra. I doubt she wants to date me, let alone hang out with me,” Nick said.

Rafael sighed. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

Nick about said something, but Evelyn appeared out of nowhere, folding her arms, a concentrated look on her face. Rafael felt his heart skitter with shame, but Evelyn wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she grabbed Nick’s arm and forcibly turned him around. “Just keep walking this way,” Evelyn whispered.

Nick didn’t question it as Evelyn lead him away. Maybe Rafael should have kept walking with them, but he didn’t want to. Not with her being there, too. Maybe Nick and he were on better footing, but he still waited for Evelyn to be the one to approach him first.

Rafael kept walking, slower this time. Mr. Stower came around the hall, with Akshi not that far behind. Rafael dropped his gaze, the slithering of a snake distinct among the student’s feet. The bell rang, the halls guaranteed to get more clogged. He kept his eyes forward, passing Mr. Stower, passing Akshi, then slowed down and moved to the side, glancing behind him to watch Akshi. Maybe they were over-exaggerating the seriousness of the situation, but even though Rafael hadn’t played in years, he wasn’t about to stop being cautious around Akshi.

Once Mr. Stower and Akshi disappeared down the hall, Evelyn’s head poked out of Mr. Anderson’s room. Rafael relaxed. Sometimes he forgot how fiercely protective those two siblings were of each other. Honestly, after what he went through, he wasn’t sure how he could forget.

***

Alejandra did not want to go to the Halloween dance. School dances always made her nervous. Granted, a lot of things made her nervous. Like secretly trying to monitor Akshi during the entire dance while Hazel and Rafael did a quick trip with the characters to drop off their stuff at Calawit’s.

Now that she thought about it, most of her nerves came from her secret job of watching Akshi. She’d gladly go to the school dance as long as Akshi wasn’t involved.

Alejandra got out of Hazel’s minivan and waved to Rafael and Hazel as they drove off to pick up the characters. She walked into the school gym, the lights low and the music pumping. She went through her mother’s closet again and picked a decade. It was the cheapest thing she could find.

She walked inside and searched through students, trying to find Evelyn. It gave her a little comfort that she wouldn’t be the only one who was monitoring Akshi.

Mr. Stower was against the wall, staring at nothing. Akshi was next to him. Mr. Anderson wasn’t that far, keeping his eyes on Akshi. Señora Florez was taking care of the refreshment table, but she, too, kept glancing in Mr. Stower’s direction.

Alejandra pulled out her phone and started texting.

No sign of Evelyn yet, but Akshi is here.

She sent it to Rafael before slipping the phone back in her pocket. The last text was from Derek in the group text. Pippa had been hanging around backstage of the play, so he was watching her. Alejandra really didn’t think anything would happen, but if something did and she wasn’t prepared…

She wasn’t sure. She didn’t want Nick to get hurt, but she couldn’t deny that she felt more relieved Akshi targeted Nick and not Rafael.

Evelyn walked into the gym, dressed like a princess. Of course she was. She was with her cheerleader friends, smiling and laughing. Looking at ease in a social situation. Alejandra felt her phone vibrate and checked it.

Heading toward Nick’s house now. Shouldn’t be long. We’ll be there soon.

Alejandra slipped it back in her pocket, counting down the minutes it would take for Rafael and Hazel to get back.

Across the way, Evelyn noticed her and waved. Alejandra waved back. She was far enough away that they couldn’t talk, though with the monster mash song coming on, she wasn’t sure anyone could talk to each other. Evelyn gestured toward Alejandra’s clothes before giving a thumbs up. Alejandra smiled, trying not to feel self-conscious that it was nothing more than her mother’s old clothes. Instead, Alejandra gestured toward Evelyn’s costume and gave two thumbs up. A wide grin split Evelyn’s face as she gave the skirt a partial spin before tossing her curled hair over her shoulder. Alejandra couldn’t help but chuckle. She wondered what it was like to feel that confident in a princess dress.

Alejandra walked over to the refreshment table.

“Hola, Alejandra,” Señora Florez said.

“Hola, Señora.” Alejandra glanced at Akshi.

“No, no,” Señora Florez said, noticing Alejandra’s gaze. “Mr. Anderson and I are watching Akshi tonight. You have fun. I will let you know if he disappears.”

“You sure?”

“Absolutely. Go have fun,” Señora Florez said.

She nodded, taking a bite of the cookie. Tyler had updated Mr. Anderson and Señora Florez about what happened at the session. More importantly, the threat Akshi gave Nick. Considering how close Mr. Anderson was to Mr. Stower right now and how often Señora Florez glanced in Akshi’s direction, she felt herself relax. She still wouldn’t completely relax until Rafael and Hazel got back, but for now, Akshi was going to be well monitored.