Star Gods, стр. 33
It doesn’t take long. The window above me opens and I step back so she can see me.
“Zeke, what’re you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you. Can you please remove your protection?”
There’s no answer and I squint my eyes trying to see through the window screen. “Abby?”
Instead, the backdoor opens and Abby stands silhouetted in its frame. “You shouldn’t be here, Zeke.”
“Please, I need to talk to you.”
“Ashe doesn’t know you’re here, does he?”
“I’ll deal with him later, please Abby.”
She motions me forward, and when I get close enough, she grabs me by my wrist and pulls me through.
I rub my arms at the odd sensation running through them. “What kind of protection barrier is that?”
“Ally’s.” I follow her up the stairs and into her apartment where packed and empty boxes litter the area.
“You’re still unpacking, I see.”
“I’m not really sure anymore.” She sniffs and rubs under her red and puffy eyes. “You shouldn’t be here without Ashe’s permission.”
“I need to know what you told him.”
“Ask him.”
“I did, he’s not sharing.”
She looks to me sternly. “You’re putting me in an awkward position, Zeke.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but Ashe can’t protect Sage and me from everything. I have to know, Abby. I have a right to know.” She taps a foot on the floor. “Sage is trying to travel, I keep pushing her off, but I have a feeling I won’t be able to much longer and she’s getting pissed. Please, tell me. I already know there’s a target on my back. What else do I need to know?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“No. You told Ashe something serious or he wouldn’t’ve kicked you out. Please, I can’t protect myself or Sage if I don’t know.”
She sighs heavily. “How well do you know Neil?”
“I don’t know him personally.”
“You said he visited you three times?”
“Yeah, give or take.”
“But you don’t know him?”
“No.”
“What happened to make you think of a shapeshifter?”
“When he came as the Assassin, his mannerisms were different. He didn’t appear nervous as he did before and was cocky. I thought at first, maybe he was only acting as a nervous Star God to throw me off on who he really is.” I watch her reaction closely. “Am I right about two different Star Gods?”
“The Assassin who looked like Neil was the one who stabbed you?”
“Yes. Who is he?”
“Do you remember my reference to two worse than Satan?”
“Yeah.”
“One of Levi’s abilities is he can shift into other people. He and his sister want to rule the Star God Planet.”
“And they found out about Sage and me and want us dead.”
“Pretty much.” She moves an empty box out of the way with her foot. “Zeke, the staff you put back together—it has to be Levi’s. He must’ve been posing as the Head Assassin. Tell me the altercation you had with the one you’re certain wasn’t Neil.”
I drag a hand down my face. “I had slept through dinner and woke in the middle of the night. I had just finished eating when he appeared in the living room and told me it was a good time to go look for Sage. He never once pulled on his collar as the first Neil had, and he seemed pushy to get me out of the house. He said he’d keep Ashe and Tyce asleep while I was gone.”
“Did you let him stay in your house while you were gone?”
“No. I remembered Dad telling me that a Star God can’t stay if he’s not invited. I made him stay outside because something was off and I couldn’t accept he wasn’t Neil. When I got back, he was nowhere to be found, and when he showed up later, he seemed confused when I questioned his location. Then I kicked him out not realizing he was the real Neil.”
“We need to get your family here, Zeke.”
I scratch my head and wince. “They’re right outside your door.” I grab her arm when she turns away. “Why didn’t you just tell me, Abby, why only tell Ashe?”
“He’s head of household until your dad returns, and I didn’t want to freak you or Sage out.”
“Mission failed.”
She touches my arm and gives me a strained smile before going to her stairs.
“Abby, now that Levi’s possibly in the lead, how many are on my ass?”
She stops at the top and looks to me while someone bangs loudly on her door. “You don’t want me to answer that.”
Okay, I’m officially screwed. “They’re primarily after me, aren’t they? Sage is just in the way.”
She gives me a look of uncertainty.
“Abby, please.”
She moves hair behind an ear. “There’s something different about you, Zeke. We have to find out what it is to keep you safe.”
I stare at her, swearing my heart just skipped a beat. “What do you mean, different?”
She shakes her head and shrugs at the same time. “I don’t know.”
More pounding rings through her apartment and Abby clenches her teeth.
“Don’t give up on Ashe, okay? He needs you. Just let me out, I’ll deal with this and bring them all inside.”
She shakes her head. “I’m in this, whether I want to be or not. Ashe is going to have to accept that.” She disappears down the stairs.
I blow out a nervous breath.
“Hey, Abby.” Tyce’s voice wanders up the stairs. “Zeke’s here, right?”
“Upstairs.”
I can feel Sage’s anger as she travels, and when she appears right in front of me, she slams the heel of her hand into my chest. I fly backward, landing hard on the floor.
“Don’t you ever leave like that again,” she yells, towering over me.
I suck air between my teeth while rubbing my chest with one hand and place the other