Memory Seeker

By Carly Marino

Possessing the ability to memory walk used to freak out seventeen-year-old Thea Scott. Until she fell in love with out-of-this-world gorgeous Cole Conway. He uncovered clues to the intergalactic childhood she’s forgotten, where smiles calm, touches kill, and they were soulmates. Now, Cole’s power-hungry father has erased her from his mind as punishment, and her past holds the key to restore his memories. But revealing the truth will change her into someone she fears.

Without Cole’s knowledge of their history, Thea has a chance for him to love her as the girl she is now. Omission, however, can tear them apart and destroy the human race.

Thea’s fear morphs to terror when they encounter his father, and she must choose between Cole’s past and her future. In her heart, she knows the answer. Even if her decision may cost her true love, her life, or the world’s fate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Teen
• Release date: Jun 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781773399775

Book preview

Chapter One

I ached inside, my body heavy, tired. Not from lack of sleep or the fight we’d just endured, but from constant worry.

We’d left Cole behind, and Wynter had vanished.

I lowered my phone, the missing persons database lighting the backseat of Nora’s car. In three days, I’d called over sixty-six Oregon hospitals and police departments, spent hours Googling, and I’d found no one, dead or alive, matching Wynter’s description.

Despair rippled through me. We were 2,000 miles away from Seaside, stuck in Nora’s Volvo, and I couldn’t use my abilities to get more information. I felt helpless. Being able to alter memories and bend free will—to get people to do what I wanted—did little when I had to touch a person’s skin to do it.

Wynter was out there somewhere, scared, alone, but alive.

I pulled up her Instagram. Framed by wavy black hair, her crystal-blue eyes begged me to help her. My heart broke as I sifted through photos on her grid. Silly poses, big smiles, funny faces, we always had fun together. She sparkled. I wiped a tear bridging the corner of my eye. I missed her, and once we got to wherever we were going, I’d do everything I could to find her.

The sun dipped behind the forest that lined the two-lane road. Usually, I’d itch to paint the way the light set the branches on fire. How the thin wisps of clouds weaved between the fan of rays. Now … I wasn’t so sure I’d ever hold a paintbrush again.

The tires hit a bump, and I jostled in my seat. I was so sick of the car and Logan and Nora’s constant bantering, and Ethan’s uncharacteristic silence drove me crazy. If I were him, I’d be yelling at anyone within a few feet of me, but he refused to speak, which made me wonder if Nora had used her calming ability to manipulate his emotions.

She must’ve done something. Ethan was missing three years of his memory and wanted for a crime he didn’t commit. A chill swept up my bare arms. Although with his memories blocked, I had no way of knowing the truth.

Thea, you all right? Logan asked, waking me from my concerns. You haven’t talked in like an hour.

Thank God. Nora’s black dreads swept her left shoulder as she angled toward me. Listening to her bloody conversations and groaning has gotten old.

I glared. Ha! I’ll tell you what’s gotten old. You and Logan arguing the whole way to where ever we’re going.

Logan made a cat noise. Leave me out of this.

Nora ignored him. I’m sorry about your mate, Thea. But don’t you think you should make these calls in private?

Where did she expect me to go? The trunk? They say a missing person only has forty-eight hours to be found before they disappear forever. I’m out of time. And what if the Resparés found her? Huh? Then what? Saying the word Resparés out loud sent shivers up my spine. The day would come when I’d have to face those human-hating Inflexaens again, but I didn’t want it to be so soon.

Nora’s eyes widened, and she ticked her head toward Ethan. I think you should wait, luv.

He didn’t flinch or glance in our direction.

Nora was right. Yesterday, Seaside’s local news reported the Loman family’s disappearance. Authorities had found Wynter’s living room tossed and covered in her parents’ ashes. My mouth dried. Resparés had murdered them.

When Ethan had glimpsed the photo identifying him as a suspect on TV as a suspect, he hadn’t scurried from the restaurant but dragged his feet and waited for us, head down, by the car. Not a single word had slipped from his mouth since.

I observed him. Shaded by a trucker hat, his dusty-brown hair lay damp on his forehead, and his normal sun-bronzed skin had paled. I didn’t want to cause him any more hurt.

We passed the next mile marker, and I twitched. Each vertically printed number enhanced my anticipation, my fear. We hadn’t heard from Cole since he’d called Nora. My gut twisted with nerves, and I had to keep reminding myself that he’d escaped. He was okay, and I’d see him soon.

It’d help if Nora and Logan told me where we were headed. Where are we going?

They looked at each other for several minutes as if they communicated silently.

She flicked her hand. You tell her. I’m not in the mood to handle her response.

Uh oh. Handle my response didn’t sound good. I pressed my lips together, waiting.

Logan adjusted in the driver’s seat. Nashville.

Random. Why Nashville?

Nora—he cleared his throat—"we figured Cole might show up there."

Figured? What the— Wait. You guys said we were meeting him, and that he’d probably gotten rid of his phone so his father couldn’t track him or some crap. Why would Cole go to Nashville?

Nora scoffed. I told you she’d freak. Now we’ll have to listen to her for another twenty-five minutes. Or longer since you drive like my granny.

Just trying to keep you safe, pigeon, Logan said.

Sod off.

Stop it! Enough was enough. Tell me what’s going on, or I’ll make you.

Ooo, I like feisty Thea. Logan’s forever-playful gaze met mine in the rearview mirror. His dark eyes sparkled in the headlights of the car behind us.

Better to not joke. She actually has that ability, Nora grumbled. Inflexaens gather near Nashville to view Aeternum, Inflexus’s moon.

Huh? Yep, I still sucked at astronomy. How can you see your moon? I scratched my head, my blonde hair matted and greasy. Nora’s brother, Drake, had given me the lowdown on their planet. Inflexus had died forever ago, forcing the Inflexaens to flee to Earth. Aside from our sun’s intensity, our planet matched their needs.

Nora huffed as if my question annoyed her. I thought we’d bonded after our beach house mission, but she’d grown angrier. Either she was upset about her brother, or she hadn’t gotten over me knocking her out. She twirled her nose ring. Somehow, after our planet’s death, our moon migrated closer to your solar system. Once every five of your calendar years, we can see it. But only in the lovely state of Tennessee.

My ears burned and tingled. I couldn’t believe her. We needed to come up with a plan to help Ethan and to find Wynter and Cole. Not party. "You two are crazy. We’re running from a psychopath who has my memcap. You know, the key to open my memory box, which I need to get Cole’s and Ethan’s memories back and to find Wynter. Don’t you think going to a place where a bunch of Inflexaens will be is stupid? We’re trying to hide from Resparés, who hunt Inflexaens, not party with them. Plus, I’ll stick out. I don’t sense as either Inflexaen or human. They’ll wonder what I am the second I step out of this car."

Covered. Logan smirked. "When we run into another Inflexaen, the sensation is involuntary. But we have to try to sense a human, which no one ever does. If you’re not us, you’re them. Everyone will just assume you’re human."

They’ll also be too smashed to care. A car passed, highlighting Nora’s gunmetal-colored eyes. And as for Resparés, they’d never come to our festival. They’d be ambushed. As you know, charging leaves behind faint light traces. Draining, however, exudes blinding light trails. We can see both. If a Resparé shows, we’ll end them.

Some help that did when Resparés crashed homecoming to kidnap me. What about you guys? You dusted all of those Resparés. Won’t you light up like a glowworm?

Nora laughed, surprising me. We don’t kill every Inflexaen with a bright trace. They could’ve just fought a Resparé.

Yeah, we usually question them first or try to catch them draining. Logan aimed the heating vents away from himself. Maybe this topic made him sweat too.

I pulled on my collar. Not many murderers are stupid enough to kill in the open.

Addicted ones are, Nora said. "Don’t worry. I can always identify a Resparé. Their emotions shift. They’re hungry, angry, and their desire is beyond anything."

Look at you. That’s my kickass Fector girl. Logan flashed a smile at Nora.

"I’m not your girl. She poked him. But I am pretty kickarse."

They flirted or did some strange version of flirting, and I tuned them out. They annoyed me with their no bigs attitudes. We’d battled a bunch of ruthless Resparés. Yet, life went on as normal for Nora and Logan. They might not worry, but my stomach tangled in never-ending knots. Unlike Nora, Logan, and every other full-blooded Inflexaen, I couldn’t see light traces. If the Resparés found me, I’d be blind-sighted.

The sole thing I had going for me was I could hide. The plus side to being an Inflexaen soul in a human body: Resparés and Inflexaens couldn’t sense me. Though, I imagined Larc sent out a BOLO with my face. I frowned.

We’d made it this far without a single run-in with a Resparé. I’d like to be alive when I saw Cole again. I clutched the crystal dangling around my neck, the one he’d given me, and squeezed until imprints carved into my palm.

What if he didn’t remember me? What then? My heart clogged in my throat, running from the abyss growing in my chest. He’d remember me. He had to. We were soulmates.

I retrieved the round jewelry box from my jacket pocket. I wanted to hurl it out the window. Maybe then the dumb thing would open. I swallowed. Then again, if it opened…

I peered into the star-shaped mirror on the lid, my honey-colored eyes staring back at me. The feature I always found unique had another meaning now and gave me an ever-growing sickness in my belly. These eyes belonged to someone else—to the Inflexaen soul inside me. I tucked the box into my pocket.

I didn’t want to think about it.

Things had gotten so complicated. I’d gone from being a high school outcast with an uncontrollable memory-walking ability, to a human-alien with the fate of Earth hidden inside my mind.

Larc would’ve hunted me regardless. At least now I understood why.

Logan’s enthusiastic Whoop! made me jump. He removed his beanie and ruffled his mess of black hair. Guys, I’m so pumped. Since wiping out all those Resparés, I might not need a boost for days.

"Well, unlike you, I do. So hurry up. Nora drummed her fingers on the center console. I say we have a little fun tonight."

I second that, Logan said. Thea? Ethan?

I parted my lips. "Fun is not something I can think about right now."

Nora yawned, exaggerated and mockingly. You can be incredibly dull, Thea.

I wanted to growl. "I’m dull because I’m concerned about Cole and my best friends? If I remember right, a few days ago, you were the one begging—"

Okay, ladies. I love a good girl brawl but not in the car. I’d like to keep this extremely handsome face—he circled his face with his hand—intact.

I crossed my arms, ignoring his attempt to lighten the situation.

There’s nothing wrong with going out on the piss when things are less than satisfactory. Nora shifted in her seat. Cole’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.

Whatever. I sat on my hands to prevent myself from gripping their arms and forcing them to change their minds.

Logan beamed in the mirror. I’ll get you a cowgirl hat.

I’m not going out, I snapped.

Come on, Thea, he whined. Let’s celebrate. We’re alive. We escaped the fire before Larc and his crew could drain us, and Cole busted out. He’ll be at the fest, and if he remembers you—

"When. Not if. When." I refused to give up. Or to stop denying the inevitable.

He coughed into his fist. "When Cole remembers you, he’ll kill me for leaving you alone. One night to loosen up before you reunite with your soulmate. We’ve been through hell. We deserve some country music, cold drinks, and—Logan’s reflection waggled his eyebrows at me—bad choices."

Nora swatted him. You truly are a bloody arsehole.

They rambled, and I studied Ethan. My best friend’s lips were pursed, thoughtful more than concerned. I cupped his hand, thankful I could control my memory-walking ability now. I didn’t need a reminder of how hard breaking the memory block caging the last three years of his life would be. What do you want to do? Stay in?

He didn’t budge. Doesn’t matter.

The sound of his voice weighed on me. Not carefree, happy-go-lucky, fun Ethan but a sad and dejected Ethan. A guy forever changed from witnessing the terrifying.

I slumped, adjusted my seatbelt, and pulled up maps on my phone. My pulse quickened as the arrow drew closer to Music City.

Please, let Cole be there.

Alternating blue, red, and white lights lit the car, and the faint sound of a siren wailed in the distance. My breathing sped up. My body trembled from fingers to toes, and I feared I might faint.

I turned in my seat to stare out the back window at the approaching police vehicle. We were screwed. Chill. No need to panic. If the cop intended to pull us over, they wouldn’t have the lights on that far behind.

Our plates weren’t even readable from that distance. Ethan’s heart must be about to burst. I went to reassure him we’d be fine, but he remained unfazed. He hadn’t even shifted to see better. Why wasn’t he freaking out as much as me?

What do we do? I squeaked, blood rushing to my cheeks at the fearful sound of my voice.

Logan laughed, pushed harder on the pedal, and weaved around cars. I wanted to smack his head for calling attention to us. Why would he do something so reckless? Now the police would definitely pull us over.

What are you doing? I screamed, glancing between Nora and Logan.

Nora twisted, a smile on her face. Don’t you feel that?

I growled. Feel what?

I do. Logan tapped on the steering wheel. This fest is going to be epic.

Feel what? Can someone please tell me what’s going on? I darted my attention to Ethan again. Not a reaction out of him. Ethan, you okay?

He ignored me. Not that it’d matter. I wouldn’t have been able to hear him over the rap song Logan had blasted on the radio. He and Nora bounced in their seats, reciting the lyrics.

I wanted to kill them. I rubbed my hands together, ready to will them to slow down and drive more carefully. I hadn’t used the ability since I’d compelled Ethan to sleep in Nora’s car until we escaped Larc. But I had to try. This was ridiculous!

The police officer pulled up beside us, and my neck tensed. Why was I so nervous? We’d be fine. Nora would rock her hypnotizing Fector smile and calm him while I altered his memory. Then I’d send him on his way. Unless … he was a Resparé.

Not a Resparé. Not a Resparé. Not a—

Logan rolled down his window. The cool breeze smacked my red-hot cheeks but didn’t do a thing to simmer my anger. I wanted to punch him.

Regardless if we could take care of the cop, Ethan was a suspect. This would affect him. Didn’t Logan get that?

Nora arched toward the driver’s side window. Bloody hell, it’s Vikram. I haven’t seen that bloke in years.

Noralee? Logan? the policeman called from his car now pacing ours. I hoped I’d see you here.

They knew this guy?

Who’s your mate? Nora yelled.

Andy, the passenger called in a flat, robotic voice. Where’s Drake?

Drake? Total creepy-crawlies. Nora had never met this Andy guy. Why had he asked about Drake?

Headlights zipped down the opposite lane, barreling toward the officer’s car. A Big Mack horn wailed, and I shrieked as the driver quickly swerved into the breakdown lane, almost clipping the police officer’s car. The truck could’ve toppled over and killed the driver.

Meet us later. Logan hooted and jammed his foot on the gas.

I slammed backward, yelping.

Will do, bro. The police car’s engine roared, and Vikram maneuvered in between cars, the smell of burnt tires wafting in his wake.

We slowed, and Logan and Nora chattered in excitement.

I reacted the opposite. When my fight-or-flight response wore off, my muscles turned to gelatin. I slackened, eyes closed. Every mind-racing worry drained from my head, and numbness took over.

Vikram used to hang with us in NYC. He’s crazy. Logan clapped, and my shoulders twitched. Wake up, Thea. We’ve got a big night ahead of us.

I widened my mouth to say, No way in hell, but paused. A halo of light brightened the looming clouds ahead, and Ethan perked slightly. He hadn’t winced at the insane car chase, but his face lit at the city before us.

Go figure.

Maybe Ethan needed a change in scenery. Plus, I could erase memories. Stealing a person’s past still gave me guilt pangs, but I’d do whatever it took to help Ethan and give him some reassurance he’d be safe.

I’d also never been to Nashville. I could get another charm for my bracelet to honor Aunt Karen and my tradition. I massaged my chest, expecting the thought of her painful death to spear through me, but it didn’t. Nora had absorbed my grief, which somehow altered my other emotions toward Aunt Karen. I loved her. Missed her terribly. But also felt indifferent. I wanted to mourn her so badly.

Maybe a new charm would help. I searched my wrist for my missing bracelet. The memcap—the silver cylinder charm with the white star carved on the side—used to put me at ease. I never expected something so small could hold so much value.

Now Larc had the key to the memory box in my possession, and he’d do anything to get it.

I exhaled and leaned forward. Going to this festival is a huge risk. Are you sure we’ll be safe?

Logan glanced over his shoulder. I live for risk, girl.

He’d avoided my question. Bad sign. I’m well aware of your passion for risk-taking. You didn’t answer my question. Will we be safe?

The real question is, luv, Nora said, what are you willing to do to get Cole back?

That answer was simple. Anything.

Chapter Two

The elevator to Logan’s apartment raised painfully slowly to the top floor. All I wanted was to bury my head in a pillow, but Nora and Logan would drag me out by my hair if I tried. Fear, anxiety, and dread rippled along my arms and prickled on my nape.

Nora shot me a pointed look, and I didn’t have to ask why. Ever since leaving Cole behind, I struggled to hold my emotional mask, meaning she sensed the sadness, despair, and nerves radiating off me. I wouldn’t let her take my feelings, though. I needed them to fuel my determination to find Wynter and restore Cole’s and Ethan’s memories.

The door dinged, and we strolled down the dimly lit hallway. The diamond-patterned carpet smelled burnt, as if recently vacuumed, and the walls exuded the scent of fresh paint. Logan reached the door at the end, fiddled with his keys, and slipped into the apartment. He flicked the light, and his gaze navigated the room.

The extravagance of Logan’s condo hadn’t shocked me—Ancients provided a hefty stipend to their kind. What surprised me, though, was the intense feelings of love and family.

Nora and Drake’s house lacked pictures, but Logan’s had framed photos lining the mantel and every decorative table.

Floor-to-ceiling windows made up the entire far wall of the apartment, the glowing lights of the picturesque Nashville strip outside. A beige leather sectional faced a stone fireplace with a plasma mounted above. Watching old rom-coms on Netflix sounded pretty good right now. If only…

I meandered inside and examined a picture of his mom and dad surrounded by a crowd, beige tents in the background. His mother’s sloped, deep-brown eyes peered at the sky instead of the camera. Tons of white lights streaked through the darkness, highlighting her straight hair in silver. Even aliens appreciated the occasional meteor shower.

Are these your parents? I tilted the photo.

Yep, my first Aeternum Moon Festival. I was three. Logan bobbed his head. My rents didn’t go to the last one, and when I was eight, the stupid moon came during the day, which never happens. So annoying.

At least you get to see it this year, I said. Your mom’s pretty. I set the frame down.

He shrugged, his stare still searching the room. Guess I take after my momma.

Nora scoffed behind me, and I rolled my eyes.

In another picture, inky black hair poked from beneath a grinning young Logan’s baseball hat. He stood in line for the gondola that would take him to The Mirrors. One of his many trips to visit the Ancients with his parents, I imagined. Unlike Logan, waiting in that line had terrified me.

I hugged myself, praying my dad had made it to The Mirrors to talk to my grandmother. As an Ancient, my grandmother had more power than all of us. We hoped she could retrieve his research, either from the box or his mind, which we needed to restore both Ethan’s and Cole’s memories.

Is there somewhere I can change? Ethan asked, still lingering in the entry. I also need clothes.

"Yep. Cole left some of his clothes here last time he visited, and he’s about your size. I’ll grab them.

I’ve got three guest rooms. One backs up to the neighbor who has sleep apnea. Logan tossed his bag onto the sofa and smirked at Nora. So, pigeon, you can bunk with me.

Nora glared. I’ll take my chances with the snorer. Got any food? I’m famished.

I curled my lip. The thought of eating coiled my stomach in knots.

Logan walked to the adjoining kitchen and peeked into the fridge. His playful smile told me his next sentence would cause another outburst from Nora. Just cheese.

Nora groaned. I hate cheese.

I’ll shower and get ready. I wanted to add, for this stupid, insensitive night out, but I held my tongue. Nora and Logan needed to charge before tomorrow. Otherwise, the sunlight would weaken them, and they needed to stay strong.

I didn’t care what they claimed. One of Larc’s Resparés would find their way to the festival. He thought my dad had hidden the Original Memory within my memory box, and he held the key.

If the formula ever got out, Inflexaens and Resparés would have the secret to taking over a human body, self-sustaining. They’d murder healthy people to hijack them and never charge again. Charging small amounts helped them live in peace.

The Original Memory could do major damage. It’d be the worst game of dominos ever. Inflexaens would take over recently deceased bodies until they ran out of corpses. Then, they’d run loose, murdering innocents. Toss in Earth’s war dogs, and we’d have the death of two races and a planet.

None of those mattered to Larc.

The only thing he had to lose was his sister, and he’d never let that happen without a fight.

****

After showering and changing, we hit the strip. I’d never been more relieved to find my duffel in the trunk of Nora’s car. I could toss on a comfortable pair of skinny jeans and a light sweater. She’d have forced me to wear a pair of tight velvet pants and a crop top to make me uncomfortable. In front of me, her dreadlocks brushed the burnt-sienna skin of her toned lower back. With an athletic frame with curves, Nora had a body that guys ogled.

I tugged on a straight lock of my blonde hair. I looked pretty okay. I just wished I felt the same. Going out seemed wrong. I should try to find my friends and help Ethan. Not celebrate.

To my surprise, he’d come with us. Insisted on coming. I’d be afraid of getting caught.

Not shaving and gluing a tacky camo-print trucker hat to his head didn’t hide his identity. He still had the same prominent cheekbones and lean build.

Logan tipped the cowboy hat he’d bought from a random gift store. His eyes sparked with the excitement he always had regardless of our situation. Death was no match for Logan. He’d backflip off a ski lift and dive over the side of a gondola without a parachute. I shuddered at the memory of our almost visit to The Mirrors.

I never made it, and I didn’t plan on jumping out of another gondola to try again.

Ethan slowed behind us, his brown eyes taking in the lights on Broadway. Big neon signs in the shapes of boots, cacti, and guitars painted the otherwise dirty sidewalk in sunset colors. Sounds flitted from inside bars in a harmony of drums, string instruments, and talented singing voices. For a minute, a smile rose on my face. I couldn’t help myself. Before I could control my ability, I feared even the slightest touch, sucking me into someone’s memories. But now I could walk freely, bump into people.

Maybe Logan was right about me needing to loosen up. If Larc’s memory wipe had deleted me from Cole’s memory… I didn’t want to think about the heartbreak it’d cause me when we found him.

Tonight, I’d stay on high-alert, but also enjoy the magic of Music City.

Hey. Ethan’s voice broke my thoughts. If you don’t want to go out, we can head back to the room. Rent a bunch of horror movies like we used to in middle school.

Middle school. Ethan bringing up the past—a past that to my bones felt like mine but wasn’t—sent a sickness coursing through me. With everything going on, Larc’s sociopathic sister combing my mind for a formula, Wynter’s disappearance, Cole’s memory wipe and nearly dying, I hadn’t had a moment to soak in that Thea Scott died freshman year. I died. Sort of. I shoved my hands in my flowery bomber jacket to avoid chewing my nails.

Ethan dodged a girl with a crown and veil headband. Her fuchsia shirt read bride in scripted letters. Must be nice.

Thea? he asked.

I swallowed.