Page 72 of Flirting with Death

"No," he said it a bit too fast, but I wasn't here to find out where that came from, so I shrugged and inclined my head toward his front door.

The living room was empty. It looked cozy and open. The television hung above a fireplace, and they arranged the seats where you could relax and watch it or sit around a coffee table and pay attention to the people in front of you. I moved over to an armchair but didn't sit. Ty disappeared into another room, returning with two cans of soda. He tossed me one before he dropped into his seat. His eyes ran over Cerberus at my feet and the two souls I still hadn't released. He lifted his eyebrow in question, and I glanced between them.

"I have power now," I said. "Not that I know how to control them. They just keep following me."

He chuckled and popped his can open with a hiss of carbonation. "Welcome to the club." I gripped the cold can as he took a long drink of his. "I know something is wrong. Tell me what happened. It isn't like Rai and Sam to both go dark like this for so long."

"How long has it been?"

"Three days."

Could my heart stop beating? I am pretty sure it stuttered at the confirmation of how long it'd been. Then it beat out an almost painful rhythm as I swallowed around my dry throat. The spirits seemed to react to my emotions and twisted around me as if they would protect me from myself.

"The mage has them. He showed up at Raiden's warehouse shortly after you left, knocking us out. When I woke up, the shattered ruby was already on the ground and the power released removed the others' memories of each other, at least. I don't know how deep it goes."

"Why do you have your memory? Which I assume you do because you are here right now," he said.

I swallowed again, working my throat over the well of emotion built up inside it. "I ran."

He nodded his head slowly as he digested my confession. "Good. If you hadn't, who knows what would have happened?"

His acceptance of my actions released tension from my shoulders, and I finally sat across from him, popping open the drink and taking a sip of the sweet, bubbly liquid.

"I need your help," I said, lifting my eyes to him. "I have to kidnap your sister."

"You don't think she would bury her dagger in your chest if you tried? Especially without memory of you," he scoffed, playing with the metal tab on the can.

"That is where you come in. Assuming her memories of you being her brother are still there, even if they could be twisted, she should at least be willing to meet with you."

"Did you miss the part where I can't get hold of her?" He cocked his head to the side as he studied me.

"I can find her." I knew I could, even now I felt the pull of her soul on mine. And that didn't account for the thread that seemed to bind me to Bellamy that still pulsed brightly.

"Why didn't you lead with that?" He popped to his feet. "Let's go kidnap my sister."

"What are you talking about?" Sam's mom stepped into the room. Her stance widened and her arms crossed as she eyed him first and then turned her attention to me.

I glanced at Ty, and he nodded, so I told her the whole abbreviated story. She pressed her fingers to her lips as she listened with wide eyes. She blinked and remained quiet as she digested everything I shared when I finished.

"I have to take her to Tartus until I can get her memories back," I added.

I couldn't read her expression and wondered if she was going to stop me. Instead, she nodded her head and stepped out of the way. My shoulders relaxed, and I followed Tyler past her.

"Bring my daughter back." I wasn't sure if she was telling me not to keep her in the Underworld or if she meant her memory. Either way, I would.

We moved through the city, following both threads back to the warehouse district. They weren't at Raiden's place anymore, and everything appeared untouched. But I knew they wouldn't be there when Ty insisted on checking.

A smaller building caught my attention, and I knew that was where she was. I stepped back into the shadows and pointed across the street at the front of the unassuming and closed pawn shop.

"She is in there. I need you to get her to come out with you."

He nodded and stepped into the street. His solo footsteps were the only noise on the empty street. I held my breath as he approached the shop. He cupped his hands against the window, peering into the dimness beyond. Then he rapped on the glass, waving at someone inside. My heart started a slow gallop as my palms grew sweaty. I was really going to attempt this.

"Ty, what are you doing here?" Samantha asked as she stepped outside, throwing a look over her shoulder before letting the door swing shut.

"What am I doing here? Do you even know the anxiety and fear you've caused our parents? Did you lose your phone or something?" He threw the questions at her like we had planned as we searched. "Where is Rai? Or the other guys?"

She narrowed her gaze on him, and I sensed the misstep of his words as she adjusted her arm to curl her fingers around the dagger on her leg. "Rai? Other guys? What do you mean, Ty?"

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