SIDEKICK

Chapter Eight: Meeting the Clan

CHAPTER EIGHT

Meeting the Clan

 

I gotta hand it to Peter, she’s pretty hot.

She’s tall, dressed in dark blue, the only part that shows any skin is her face and neck. Her long hair is more brown than red.

Auburn, that’s the color, right?

She looks a little older than him and has some makeup on. Her eyes are deep blue.

Peter wasn’t lying about that.

Her eyes narrow at me. “I thought you were supposed to be alone,” she’s calm, but I can hear the snarl in her tone.

Friendly much?

Peter gulps. “John is my friend. He’s the one who’s been helping me every step of the way.”

Naveen keeps her glare on me. Her eyes follow down to my left arm.

Before I notice what’s going on, she grabs my arm.

“Hey!”

She twists my arm and I twinge. She’s ridiculously strong for a girl.

Her gloved fingers trace over the tattoo.

“You’ve met the Cat,” she remarks.

I blink. How did she –

Peter stares down at the tattoo and frowns. “I don’t remember you having a tattoo.”

Subtle anger flashes in her eyes. “It’s a warning to Peter. She marked you when you were alone and vulnerable, correct?”

I slowly nod.

Peter flares up. “When?!”

I look away. “After you told me everything. I was on the bus when –“

He’s angry at me. “And you decided not to tell me because?!”

I glare back at him. “If I’d told you before you could control your powers, who knows what would’ve happened if you flipped out!” I shout. “The same thing at the bar could’ve happened in front of people!”

He flinches back. Naveen eyes soften slightly at me. “You were right in not telling him. It would have had disastrous results.”

She stands back up again. “The mark is in Macedonian, the Cat’s native tongue. Her centuries of living in the States and you would think she would have learned to write the English language already.”

I frown. Is she trying to make a joke?

She clears her throat, obviously embarrassed by her lame attempt. “It’s a message to provoke Peter. Be afraid.”

I look back down at the tattoo. So that’s what is says.

Peter sits down on the chair and pulls his hair. “I don’t get it! Why are they after me?!”

Naveen strolls out of the room. “Follow me.”

*********

After Naveen drags us into a van outside and drives us for a couple of hours, we finally pull up outside of a night club, a long line of eager clubbers wait in the line.

Peter helps me out, but he’s avoiding eye contact with me.

He’s still pissed.

We get to the entrance of a large metal door. The bouncer stands outside, his large bulging arms crossed over his chest.