Angel

47

“STOP! STOP!” ELLA sputtered. “You’re killing me! Please! Stop!” tears flowed down her cheeks as she shrieked and thrashed and tried to kick Dylan and Iggy.

I would never get used to this.

We didn’t know whether the cold shower had made Iggy vulnerable during his deprogramming or if Angel had just gotten really good at mind hacking, but in the absence of a glacial stream in the middle of the desert, we figured that dousing Ella in a natural hot spring couldn’t hurt. Dylan and Iggy were struggling to hang on to Ella’s hands, and their faces were flushed and damp from the steam. I’d tested the water first—no reason to scald my half sister or cook her like an egg—and I knew it was pretty dang hot.

“How about now?” Iggy panted. “She’s not made out of cotton balls, you know—my arm’s tired.”

“Hang on a sec,” Angel said, looking worn-out herself. “I’m almost done.”

Ella suddenly slumped into the water, all fight gone.

“Here she comes,” I said, watching her.

Slowly Ella raised her head, blinking and shaking water from her face. I nodded to Dylan, and he and Iggy brought her over to the fire we’d built.

“What are you doing? Are you crazy?” Ella asked. She was sopping wet from head to foot, her long, dark hair plastered to her back. She wiped the water from her eyes and stared at me, confused. We continued to watch her.

She blinked and looked around. “Where are we?”

“Middle of the desert,” I said, biting into an apple.

Ella blinked hard, studying each of our faces. “Iggy? What’s… going on?”

“Sorry about the hot spring,” he said, putting his arm around her. He eased her closer to the fire, then wrung water out of her hair. She looked disoriented and upset but definitely like herself. Iggy brought her up to speed.

“Where’s Mom?” Ella finally asked, looking at me, and I took a deep breath. My eyes met Dylan’s, and he stepped forward, kneeling in front of Ella.

“Your mom and Jeb left the house while Max and I were gone. They didn’t tell anyone where they were going. They didn’t take the car, and we can’t find them.”

Ella’s eyes grew alarmed. “Were they kidnapped?”

“Maybe,” Dylan said hesitantly. “Or maybe they’re being influenced by the same thing that influenced you and the others.” He spoke gently, slowly, giving Ella time to absorb what he was saying. I was… impressed.

Ella started crying, and I put my arm around her shoulders, mouthing “Thanks” to Dylan. And I meant it.

He gave me a smile, not quirky and crooked like Fang’s, but open and sincere. And, weirdly, I felt my heart skip a beat.

“I’m so sorry, Ella” I said, rubbing her back. “I know it’s hard. It’s hard not knowing who to trust or where to turn. My life has been so weird that I pretty much expect to be betrayed, expect weird things to happen. But I know it’s different for you.”

“I can’t believe it!” Ella sobbed. Iggy stroked her hair, which had started drying in the warmth of the fire.

“Listen,” I said, “I was thinking. How about we take you to your aunt’s place tomorrow after a good night’s rest? I’m sure Tia Cita will let you hang out there till we figure out what’s going on with Mom. We’re going to find Mom and Jeb and get the real scoop. Maybe we’ll be surprised. Maybe we’ll need to rescue them. I’m not sure.”

“No!” Ella said, her face still streaked with tears. “I’m going with you! I’m staying with you and Iggy!”

I shook my head. “I wish you could, but we’re going to be flying. I promise we’ll come back for you. Okay?”

Ella didn’t look like it was okay, but she nodded yes and wiped her eyes. We sat there together in the moonlight, sharing food we had “acquired” from Ella’s friends back at the campfire. Almost everyone I cared about was here, all in one place.

With a couple of major exceptions.