Lovely

Chapter 12

|Chapter 12|

"You guys are holding hands," Isabella said from the backseat of Paul's care. I'd wanted to choke her all the way home. "Still. I mean you guys are holding hands, still. Is there something I should know? Should someone go tell Holly?"

"You're talking just as much as Becca," Paul complained and Isabella gasped dramatically. 

"Take it back," she demanded seriously. I frowned at her in the mirror and she only rolled her eyes. "You don't have to take it back now, but you will."

"I hate you," I exploded softly. "I could actually punch you and feel nothing right now."

"You know Clayton is pretty strong. I know you don't think that because he's not an angel but he's pretty damn strong. After all he is technically a ghost," Isabella replied thoughtfully.

"I'm pretty strong too and I think that right about now I could--"

"I saw you spar with Ross, remember? Plus I've got nature on my side," she countered. 

"...still hate you," I grumbled under my breath. Paul squeezed my hand and instead of looking at him I turned to further look out the window. We pulled into my driveway moments later and waltzed right in the house without disturbing anyone. Once in my room Paul was about to say something, but I beat him to it.

"I've sound proofed my room," I held up a hand. It was a technique Ross had taught me and so now when I locked my door no one could hear what went on inside even if the wind was open. 

"Lemme guess," Paul huffed. "Ross?"

"We're not here to talk about him," Isabella interrupted our conversation. "We're here to talk about going to purgatory."

"What?" Paul hissed and turned towards her. 

"She wants to go to purgatory and perform an exorcism on Elliot," I explained. 

"Correction: I want you to perform the exorcism," she said, holding up a finger. Paul looked like he wanted to punch something again. 

"She's got Clayton in on it," I muttered then, wanting to get it all out in the open. I thought my guardian was going to explode right then and there, but Isabella kept talking. 

"It would help if we knew a little more about the Switch because once this plan starts it's not stopping until the truth comes out," Isabella added. 

"I'm calling Becca to come pick you up," Paul shook his head, sounding oddly calm. He pulled out his cellphone and I smacked it out of his hand. He gave me an incredulous look, but I started babbling. 

"There's a newspaper," I rambled. "And it's a secret and it's only for changelings and Isabella found it and brought it to me and there's all this crazy stuff in there, but the thing is it might not be so crazy..."

"If Nova would just ask Ross as soon as possible--"

"No!" Paul yelled, shutting us both up. His eyes seemed to be glowing and he wiped a hand down his face. "Elliot went and he got possessed. What makes you think you're going anywhere near purgatory without getting hurt?"

"Those changelings haven't had training," Isabella started. "We have. I know it's not much, but it's still something. And Clayton can't become possessed because..."

"Because he doesn't actually have a body to possess," I finished quietly. 

"It won't work," Paul shook his head and stared right at me. "No way in hell you're going back to purgatory. You can't...I can't let that happen. Not again."