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“There’s a sea cave south of here. I’ve done rescues in it.” He hesitated. “And two recoveries.”
It took me a second to understand exactly what he meant by recoveries, and then I wished I hadn’t.
“At low tide you can get deep inside it, and it’s very dark in there. Your eyes never adjust because there’s nothing for them to adjust to. The water comes in. It’s cold. Everything in you will tell you to get out.” He looked at me. “You’ll be safe. But your body won’t believe that, and that’s the point.”
I looked back at him. “That sounds like the worst idea anyone’s ever had.”
“When you’re standing in that house and something answers you, you’re going to feel exactly what you feel in the cave. The dark, the cold, the feeling that you need to run. The first time you feel that can’t be the night you’re trying to talk to the dead.”
“Your pep talks are exceptional.”
On the front porch of my apartment building, he held me in a hug I wanted to disappear inside.
“I have to get some work done at my workshop. I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s okay.”
“I promise this will be over one day. It will just be the two of us. We can start over if you like. Pretend it never happened.”
“No,” I said. “I want it to stay exactly like this. Just without the dead birds and goat sacrifices and witchcraft.”
He laughed against my temple. “I’ll pick you up at eight-thirty.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ihad no idea how to dress for a cold, flooding sea cave. I went with black leggings, a running top, and a weatherproof shell. I put the shadow token inside my pocket, because I refused to go anywhere without it.
It had been impossible to relax all afternoon, waiting for my trial by tide. I’d watered my plants and splashed the floor. I’d rinsed dishes and soaked my shirt with soap suds. Like my body was warning me that I was about to get soaking wet and that I’d absolutely hate it. I kept listening for a noise outside, another gruesome package delivered, and every time my heart beat just a little too fast, I convinced myself I’d been irreparably hexed.
The texts from the group chat hadn’t helped. Each one made my heart feel like it was about to escape my chest.
Callie: omg Marlowe that was so awkward
Priya: what
Callie: Kai and I bumped into Marlowe and Damian. it was like we were all lying together
Priya: tell me you held it together
Callie: we did
Priya: you’re sure
Callie: yes I’m sure but this is killing me
My stomach knotted with guilt because I hadn’t told them the full story: I’d drawn the long straw with Damian.
My phone buzzed again:
Priya: Adrian will not stop
Jess: ??
Priya: he keeps saying I’m working too hard. that I need to take some time off
Priya: he wants to take me away for a weekend
Priya: he’s saying I’m spending too much time online
