Dead Is a Battlefield

Dead Is a Battlefield by Marlene Perez Page A

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Authors: Marlene Perez
Tags: Speculative Fiction
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the rest of the laundry,” I said.
    She looked up from her computer and her eyes gleamed with avarice. “Including your new stuff?”
    When Mom had finally taken us back-to-school shopping, I had found some killer outfits. I hadn’t even worn some of the clothes yet, but I nodded.
    “Make it two weeks and it’s a deal,” she said.
    I looked at the clock. There was no way I would get out of the house in time to make it to training unless I agreed. I nodded.
    “Is it true that you have a thing for Dominic Gray?”
    I frowned. “He’s been spending a lot of time with Selena Silvertongue.”
    “Like that’s going to last,” she scoffed. “Gabi’s sister says that it doesn’t seem like he’s into her most of the time.” Gabi was Sarah’s best friend. Gabi’s sister was a junior, like Dominic.
    Sarah yawned. “Gabi’s sister says he only acts interested when Selena hangs all over him.”
    Maybe Dominic wasn’t lying to me about what he said at the Black Opal the day before. It dawned on me that his weird behavior could be more than the typical confusion of a first love. Maybe it wasn’t natural at all. Selena was a sorceress. But what did that mean exactly?
    “Dominic and I are just friends,” I replied. “Although I might see him at training.”
    “Training?” She pounced on my slip.
    I panicked as I tried to think of an answer. “Yeah,” I finally choked out. “His sister, Raven, is helping me train.”
    “For soccer?” She gave me a skeptical look. “Since when do you need extra training sessions?”
    The one thing I had in common with my brother was my athletic ability. Dad said I was just born with it, which, if you think about it, was less than flattering. It’s not a talent. It’s just something I had, like red hair.
    “Coach McGill is a lot tougher than all my previous coaches put together.” I put a hand on my hip and hoped she’d believe my cover story.
    Sarah seemed to lose interest in my love life, thankfully, but followed me to the laundry room. “That’s more than one week’s worth of laundry,” she accused.
    “I know, I know,” I said. “I’ll make it up to you.”
    “You’d better,” Sarah said menacingly.
    I scampered out the door before the last threat was out of her mouth.
     
    I arrived at the Mason house out of breath. There was no sign of any of the other viragos in the backyard, but I could hear voices coming from the living room. The band had hauled in an old couch and chair and scattered a few beanbags on the floor. They were probably all waiting for me in there.
    Instead, I found Selena and Dominic sitting on the sofa, holding hands.
    “Sorry!” I said, before turning around and rushing out.
    Dominic caught up with me before I made it to the front porch. “Jessica, wait,” he said. “It’s not what it looked like.”
    “It’s none of my business,” I replied.
    “I’m hoping that it is,” he said. He squeezed my hand, but I jerked it away. “Selena was helping me with my . . . gift.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
    “You’re jealous,” he said. He smiled at me, clearly delighted.
    “Stop smiling like that,” I said.
    “Like what?” he said innocently.
    I couldn’t help it. I started to laugh.
    He laughed, too, but sobered quickly.
    “What happens when Selena helps you to control your powers?”
    “We hold hands,” he said. Then he added quickly, “She says it helps to create a connection.”
    “Then what?” Something was bothering me about the whole thing, but I couldn’t pinpoint what bothered me exactly. It wasn’t just jealousy.
    There was a look of confusion on his face. “Then it gets a bit fuzzy.”
    I looked into his eyes expectantly, waiting for him to go on.
    “I’d like to get to know you better, Jessica,” he blurted out.
    After Dominic’s confession, we were quiet for a minute. I could tell he was waiting for me to say something.
    “I’d like to get to know you

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