Dead Set by Richard Kadrey Page B

It hurt immediately, so she stopped. She wanted to yell at Valentine the same way she’d yelled at her mother. She’d come here to share something wonderful with him and he was spoiling it by being more scared of a silly old creep than she was of snakes. And snakes were real and could really hurt you. Zoe wasn’t scared of Emmett. She’d handled jocks trying to cop feels in the hallways at school and her friends’ stepfathers when they got too touchy-feely. Zoe knew she could take care of herself, but knew Valentine wouldn’t believe her. It was still Valentine, though, and she didn’t want to lie to him again.
    â€œSome of my blood,” she said.
    â€œBlood,” said Valentine flatly. He shook his head. “You can’t see him again. No matter what he promised you.”
    â€œLook, if he’s as bad as you say, then I can’t leave Dad with him.”
    â€œFather can take care of himself. He wouldn’t want you putting yourself in danger.”
    â€œI don’t believe this,” said Zoe. All the frustration and anger she’d felt earlier with her mother was coming back. “What do you mean control me? For what? You think he wants to rape me or something?”
    â€œMaybe,” said Valentine evenly. “But there are some things even worse.”
    â€œLike what?”
    Valentine shook his head and walked to the far end of the platform.
    â€œI’m only going back one more time,” said Zoe. “Then I’m never going to see him again.”
    â€œYou’re in danger already.”
    â€œYou know what? I don’t care,” Zoe shouted. “I’ve seen a lot of stuff in the last few days and I’m willing to sacrifice a little of my safety for Dad because I know he’d do it for me.”
    Valentine picked up the telescope and walked around to the far side of the tree without saying a word. When Zoe came around the tree, he was holding the telescope up and was looking at the mountain.
    â€œWant to hear something funny?” Zoe asked.
    â€œAlways.”
    â€œA girl told me she wanted to kiss me.”
    Valentine slid the telescope sections in and out, focusing it. “I can see that.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWell, you’re pretty. Why wouldn’t she want to kiss you?”
    Zoe looked away, embarrassed by the compliment.
    â€œIs she cute?” Valentine asked.
    â€œYeah. You’d like her.”
    â€œYou’ll have to introduce me sometime.”
    Zoe grinned and leaned back against the tree. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell someone.”
    Valentine came over and hugged her. “Thanks,” he said. Zoe nodded. She reached up, grabbed a low branch, and lifted up her feet. She hung there until her arms got tired and she had to put her feet down again.
    â€œCome here,” Valentine said from over by the railing. He pulled a book of matches from his back pocket. As Zoe came up next to him, he struck a match and let it drop. The match became a microscopic meteor streaking to the ground. But before it could hit, a half-dozen snakes struck at it. He lit another match and dropped it. The snakes struck at that one, too. He handed the matches to Zoe and let her toss a few. Each time she tossed a burning match toward them, the snakes attacked. She remembered Mr. Danvers saying that snakes had lousy eyes, but could sense the heat their prey gave off.
    â€œSee? They’re easy to fool,” said Valentine.
    When Zoe got bored teasing the snakes, she gave the matches back to Valentine and looked over the field to the rides. “It’s too bad we can’t go over there.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Valentine said. He was back looking through the telescope. “It’d be kind of weird with whatever’s on the mountain.” He handed the telescope to Zoe and pointed to the mountain, at a spot near the peak. Zoe put her eye to the lens and peered