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    Intertwined
    Intertwined
    Intertwined
    Ebook415 pages4 hours

    Intertwined

    By Gena Showalter

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook


    Like most teens, Aden Stone has friends.

    They just happen to be the four human souls living inside him. One can time travel; one can raise the dead; one can possess other bodies; one can foretell the future– and has even predicted his death.

    With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. He's so over it. All he wants is peace. And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices.

    Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape–shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist. Two romances, both forbidden.

    Together, they'll be forced to enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger . . . but not everyone will come out alive.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers Australia
    Release dateJan 1, 2010
    ISBN9781742781150
    Intertwined
    Author

    Gena Showalter

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    Reviews for Intertwined

    3.5/5

    272 ratings50 reviews

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    • 3/5
      First and foremost I appreciate the lack of a love triangle. I get so sick of those. I was a good story and I enjoyed it. The reason I only gave it 3 stars was I didn't have that "Holy Crap I can't put this book down feeling," and it was fairly predictable. I will continue to read the series cuz I want to see how it ends.
    • 4/5
      This was definitely an addicting read, and i could not put this book down. But I think the beginning of the book was far better than the abrupt ending. THere is a sequel on its way but I found that the characters were best developed during the first half of the book. What gave this book a 4/5 was its creativity and characters, but I thought it needed more editing because lots of things were left unanswered.
    • 4/5
      I loved the world, loved the characters, and liked the story.
    • 5/5
      This time around, I was looking for a refreshing read but one with a bit of meat to the plot. Intertwined was one such book.

      The story revolves around a teenage boy, Aden Stone, who has four souls trapped in his head. That sure caught my attention, so I plunged on. Turns out, each soul has an ability. One can time travel, one can raise the dead, one can tell the future, and one can possess others. By that time, I was all for this book.

      As you read, Aden Stone finds a girl (Mary Anne) who knocks the wind out of him - literally. When they meet, they both have this unexplainable urge to hug each other...and run away from each other. Soon after meeting, they're both plunged into a world of vampires, werewolves, fairies, goblins... you name it!

      Aden falls in love with Victoria, a vampire who is somehow going to save him. Vampires are always iffy ground for me, since I'm afraid another Twilight will crop up or it'll be something super cheesy. However, Intertwined was pretty neutral. Nothing super creative, but it was all tolerable.

      They're all drawn together by the burst of energy Mary Anne and Aden created when they met each other. Which leads to one of the bigger plot devices! Yeah for plot devices! (And the crowd goes wild!)

      Of all the characters, I love Riley & Caleb the best. Riley is a werewolf who has the best attitude in the whole book. He's got style and he's cute. Caleb is one of the souls trapped in Aden's head and he's just down right funny.

      I gave the book five stars because it was an all around good book. Awesome plot, hilarious scenes, great solemn moments, and just the right amount of romance. I can't wait to read the second book now!
    • 1/5
      It's like this author wanted to write a book about every type of supernatural being out there. A teenaged zombie slayer, who has 4 spirits in his head that talk to him and do specific things. He meets a teen girl, a vampire and a werewolf, all while living in a rehab facility. Way too much going on, I stopped reading it.
    • 5/5
      I liked this one quite a bit. the cover put me off at first because its a bit cheesy, but the premise was interesting.
      aden has four extra souls in his head. something that gets him labeled schizophrenic and passed from one institution to another. nothing quiets the souls until he meets mary ann. mary ann can quiet the souls in his head and give him the peace he wishes for. but there are complications. victoria and riley to be specific. victoria is a vampire princess and riley her were bodyguard.
    • 3/5
      Oh, how I dislike cliff-hanger endings. I suppose technically the immediate threat was resolved at the end, but to leave a big plot point hanging the way this does...not good!

      That said, a good venture into YA supernatural romance.
    • 5/5
      I really, really like the plot. I love the plot. It may have had the 'Twilight' effect for Aden and Victoria in some ways, but it's totally different. It got zombies, faeries, wolves, vampires, witches and goblins, to name a few, and yeah, ghosts. Intertwined has a rich plot that I can't wait to see the unraveling (the second installment) of the next intertwining events. How Mary Anne can neutralize Aden's ghosts and 'power', how Riley, the shapeshifter can suppress Mary Anne's 'neutralization', how Victoria, the vampire princess just made Aden her King, how the other ghosts can get free, what power does Aden really has, where they got it from, their interaction with the witches, how they would deal with the goblins and faeries, and demons. It really has a Charmed factor in some. I don't want to spoil the fun by spilling beans here, but if there's one book I recommend you to add - this is it! When you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. You would love the interaction of Riley and Mary Anne. Especially the words they interchanged in one scene (ok, a spoiler) -'Go away'.Look at me.'Can't you do anything I ask of you? Anything at all?'Please.It was the first time he'd ever asked her for something nicely.Absently, she rolled to her back, then her other side, and petted his neck. One of her tears spilled over, and she fought the rest back. No reason to add 'sobbing like a baby' to her list of embarrassments today.I'm sorry you're hurting, but I can't say I'm sorry he's out of your life. You were too good for him.'Him, I'll get over.' Her voice shook, the vibrations affecting her chin. The trembling then spread to her jaw.It's the girl, then. Penny. She's your friend?'Was. Was my friend, My best friend.' Oh, God. So many years of love and trust, now ruined.Why not still? People make mistakes, Mary Anne.That was only the second time he'd said her name. She liked the way he said it, drawing out the A's. 'I know they make mistakes. I'm studying to be a psychologist, you know. I'm highly aware that some impulses are harder to ignore than others. I'm aware that fear of consequences causes us to guard our secrets. But it's our actions when we faced temptation that define who we are. It's our courage in admitting what we've done wrong that makes us forgivable...'Just love it! (NOTE: This is the second Gena Showalter series that I love. The first series I've read was the Tales of an Extraordinary Girl - Playing with Fire and Twice as Hot - and now this and the second installment, Unraveled).
    • 4/5
      The opening sequence with the bodies coming out of the grave, ick, and it almost put me off. Haden aka Aden has a strange life. Orphaned and in and out of psychiatric institutions since he was very young because he hears voices. They're actually souls and he's not sure why they're there. It makes him strange and isolated.He's now in a new town, Crossroads, and he meets Mary Ann who causes the voices to stop for a while. However it's Victoria he's been seeing in his dreams, and Victoria is a vampire, isn't it lucky that her bodyguard Riley is a werewolf and attracted to Mary Ann?It's not a bad start to a series, it does pull you in and ask almost more questions than you have answers for, but it's also a bit clunky, if I didn't know better I would swear that it's a first novel, but it isn't. I was entertained but wanted more from it than it gave.
    • 3/5
      I got this book off of katelisim's thread. I had been warned ahead of time that it wasn't phenomenal. At the time I was looking for a simple young adult book that I didn't have to try hard to get through. That's exactly what I got. I give Showalter props for the story idea. It's the first of its kind that I've come across. But the romance was juvenile and predictable and the characters mostly flat. Nothing's really concluded. Indeed, I'm not quite sure what the overall plot is. There are a lot of questions. I'm thinking maybe that was a method used to keep you reading the series and maybe eventually I will read the sequel to see what does happen, but not anytime soon I think.
    • 4/5
      I've been a bit of a Gena Showalter fan ever since I read The Nymph King. There's just something about the way Showalter writes that really pulls me into the story. Intertwined is the first YA book I've read by Showalter, and wow, is there a LOT going on. Not that that's a bad thing, there's just a lot of material to absorb and process within just the first 100 or so pages. We have four major players in this play of life: Aden, the boy who everyone thinks is insane because he has 4 different souls inhabiting his body; Mary Ann, the girl that somehow neutralizes the souls within Aden; Victoria, the mysterious girl who is drawn to Aden; and Riley, guardian of Victoria who has a habit of hanging around Mary Ann.Let me first say that I am impressed with Showalter's ambition with Intertwined. Most titles deal with one or two supernatural beings while Intertwined encompasses vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches, ghosts, demons, just to name a few. Fortunately, rather than try to explore all of these supernatural beings at once, Showalter examines only a few within this first novel, namely that of two main characters who are a vampire and a werewolf. I actually like the idea of setting up an entire world living within the "normal" everyday world that most humans live in, and obviously that supernatural world would be composed of many different supernatural beings.The characters really do make the story very enjoyable and engrossing. I'll admit that Riley is my current particular favorite simply because of his protectiveness despite his somewhat brooding nature. Aden is a doll in his own right, especially with having to share his head with 4 other people. That would definitely be enough to put someone in an institution. In the way of the relationships among the major four, I feel divided in my thoughts. On the one hand, the hopeless romantic in me wants to go "Awwwww" about how the couples come together because of the sweetness of it. However, the logician in me says that clearly they would need more time to truly fall in love. Fortunately, the romantic side wins out simply due to the tense situations both couples are placed in. That can definitely create a stronger bond between a pair of characters. Understandably, this is the first part of a much greater story, so while the climax wasn't as immense as I thought it would be, it definitely made me curious to see what will happen in the next installment of the series, Unraveled.
    • 3/5
      I couldn't get past the grotesque zombie beginning or the description of the characters. This was definitely not my type of book and I stopped after about 20 pages.
    • 3/5
      Haden Stone, whom everyone refers to as Aden, is a "disturbed" young man. Since birth - or maybe even before - he has been different. His parents gave him up as a child, and he has been shuffled between numerous foster families and mental institutions. Most people who come across Aden label him "Schizo". Why do they think he's schizophrenic? Aden has four souls living inside his head. Eve can time-travel, Julian can raise the dead, Elijah can tell the future (usually how/when someone will die) and Caleb can possess another human. They cause Aden all types of trouble, but they are the only friends he has ever known... until Mary Ann comes along. Whenever he's around her, she quiets the voices giving him some minuscule sense of peace. He attracts the paranormal, and she repels it. Maybe she can help free the souls trapped in his head?This story has it all: Vampires, werewolves, witches, goblins, demons, fairies... and humans. I was wondering how this story was going to tie all of these different "creatures" into it, but the author did a good job. It was a rather quick and easy read. I enjoyed getting to know the different souls trapped in Aden's head, their different personalities and their interactions with one another. I had the second book in the series at home, but had to return in because more books came in for me at the library that have longer hold queues... so I want to get those read, and then I will get back to Unraveled. Looking forward to finding out what happens with everyone.
    • 2/5
      Personally, I had a very hard time getting through Gena's first dip into the YA pool. I'm not sure if it was her intention to have you feeling confused through most of the story just like her characters seem to be but that was the effect on me. After trudging my way to the end, I might look for the follow-up, Unraveled, but it's going to be near the bottom of my want-to-get list.
    • 4/5
      Like Meridian by Kizer, this book has a different twist on the whole teen, urban fantasy storyline. Doesn't have to just be about werewolves and vampires anymore.
    • 5/5
      A boy possessed by four souls with supernatural talents, a vampire princess and her ferally handsome werewolf bodyguard, and a teenage girl with a fifteen year plan - strange companions, all: in a world filled with demons, witches, faeries and goblins, few if any of them friendly, can four teenagers keep each other safe? Showalter's take on the wildly popular vampire/werewolf-themed thriller is a suspenseful, rewarding read. I'm looking forward to following up with Unraveled.
    • 5/5
      Spoiler!!!!!!!!!!!!!I loved this book! Lots of action and romance! I fell in love with Riley and Aden right away. The only thing that had me a bit confused was the very begining of Adens and Victorias relationship. I thought she was out to kill Aden so I didnt like her. But then I figured out she was all good! =)I loved Riley and his dark attitude. I loved the "voices" in Adens head with their sarcastic humor. I loved the different point of views!Awesome book. Read it. =)
    • 4/5
      Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:One can time-travel.One can raise the dead.One can tell the future.And one can possess another human.With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die.He's so over it. All he wants is peace.And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he's near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late....Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist.Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger but not everyone will come out alive.... (Summary from Good Reads)I just finished reading "Intertwined" and have to say I wasn't disappointed. I'm used to reading Gena Showalter's adult novels so I didn't know what to expect when she jumped to the YA genre. I picked this up previously and despite fighting zombies in the first few pages I wasn't into the book. So I set it down and read some other things. Then, while waiting for my next stack of YA books to come, I started reading it again. It started to get really interesting around page 82 as Mary Ann is walking to school. Many of you may get sucked in before then, but it took until there for me to care about the characters. All of a sudden the action starts and it doesn't stop until the end at page 440. There's a girl Mary Ann, that shuts the voices up in Aden's head, but they aren't attracted to each other, just friends. There's a vampire that Aden has been dreaming of kissing that shows up. A werewolf walks the girl Mary Ann to and from school and talks to her in her head. Betrayal by friends. Mary Ann finds out things about her past she never imagined. Aden travels back in time to discover something about the present and he loses one of the voices in his head.Then there's the Halloween Ball, where he's to meet his girlfriend the vampire's father, Vlad the Impaler. The original. And, Aden already knows he's going to die soon thanks to one of the voices in his head that can see the future. He's just not quite sure when. Add to that, Aden has somehow called all types of supernatural creatures, vampires, werewolves, fairies, goblins and witches. The book ends satisfactorily, but with a lot of things left open. Everything is definitely intertwined in this book. Of the four main characters, I thought three were very well developed but felt the vampire,Victoria felt a little flat. Of all the characters, Mary Ann had the most growing up to do. She seemed to be little Mary Sunshine in the beginning of the book, but by the end, her eyes were wide open and she'd shown amazing character growth. Aden really didn't have any growth to make. He was already so mature with everything he had to deal with except he does need to learn to hold back on his urge to fight. We don't know the characters of Riley and Victoria very well, even though we only just meet all of them in the same book, but the story is told from Mary Ann's and Aden's points of view. There were a few subplots that didn't seem to add much to the story but perhaps the reason for them will come out in the next book or they were a subtle hint about what was in Aden's head. The next book is due out in August and I can't wait. This is a great series and I'm guessing there will be three other books including the one coming out in August as there are three other souls in Aden's head.
    • 4/5
      Intertwined is the first in a new series by Gena Showalter featuring Aden Stone, a hot sixteen-year-old guy who would be totally normal but for the four disembodied souls taking up space inside his head. Since his parents abandoned him as a small child, Aden has been bounced from mental institutions to foster homes to prisons and back again. Finally, he's landed at D and M Ranch, a home for troubled teenagers run by a former football player. Unfortunately, Aden's troubles have just begun. You see, the souls give Aden powers - powers to raise the dead, see the future, travel through time, and possess the body of another; and those powers are attracting creatures that Aden never believed existed. A few of them are on his side, but the others' motives could be far more sinister.Aden knows the only way to stop what's going to happen is to find the four souls bodies of their own, and he may have just met the girl who could help him do just that, a girl named Mary Ann who inexplicably neutralizes the souls. Before he knows it, Aden, a guy who has never had so much as one friend is friends with Mary Ann, in love with a vampire princess, and at odds with a werewolf. All this, and he has to convince the owner of the D and M that he's changed his ways and is living a normal, upstanding life or chance being sent away yet again.I'm so torn about Intertwined. Honestly, it was a bit over the top for me. There's more paranormal stuff in this book than you can shake a stick at. It fairly reeks of its Harlequin brethren which I abandoned shortly before I graduated from high school. Its male characters are all strikingly beautiful. Its female characters, even the would-be strong ones, seem to be always in need of protection, or, at least, so all the male characters seem to believe. It's all just a bit too contrived with problems a bit too easily solved by unlikley powers seemingly invented on the fly. I found myself more than occasionally irritated, even patronized by its wanderings into the ridiculous.Ah, but wait. I also devoured the story with alarming speed. It's well-paced and packed with action and mystery. Its characters, including all of the souls Aden's mind plays host to, are a sympathetic bunch, even the ones who have slightly more evil leanings. I had an easier time buying one romance than the other, but both were played out in interesting and often unexpected ways. Showalter tells an absorbing story even if it does require a hefty dose of suspension of disbelief. All in all, Intertwined is a book that I have a hard time admitting that I liked, but I did.
    • 3/5
      My feelings are a little mixed on this book. The plot was interesting and overall I enjoyed the book. However, the story just seemed to have too much going on. It was like the author said "lets see how many different paranormal things we can cram into one book." I wish there were less paranormal elements and more development into a specific focus of "paranromalness". The romance element between Aden and his love interest was a little cheesy and super fast; I prefer to have some 'lets get to know one another' before instantly IN LOVE. I felt like Mary Anne's love element was a little more realistic. The book has plenty of action and is well paced, even if the character's reactions were sometimes over the top. Overall it was a fun read and I will be keeping an eye out for the sequel since there was plenty of plot left to unravel at the end of this one.
    • 4/5
      I was surprised to find Gena Showalter had a young adult book out. I have read all of her adult fantasy books and was curious if she would transfer over well into young adult. I must admit, I was skeptical, but ended up pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this first book in her Intertwined series. So much so, I finished the rather lengthy book in one day.The book starts out action packed very quickly. The main character Aden is able to raise the dead and accidentally happens upon a cemetery. Quickly we learn that Aden isn't an average 16 year-old, but knows how to wield daggers like a gunslinger wields guns. Right after this first action scene, Aden meets another important character, Mary Ann. Their meeting is one that puts in motion the plot of the story. It seems Mary Ann is the opposite of Aden and can neutralize his abilities. This first meeting of the two opposites, however, brings about a force of power that has summoned all the suppose to be non-existent magical creatures in the world to Crossroads, Oklahoma. Being an Oklahoman myself, this pleasantly surprised me too.Aden has been in foster homes his whole life. He hears voices and is a diagnosed schizophrenic. He has been sent to the D and M Ranch for wayward boys and one slip up could get him sent away from the ranch, public school, and his soon to be love Victoria, a vampire. She is one of the creatures that has been summoned. Her bodyguard, Riley the werewolf, also becomes an integral part of the story. He and Mary Ann seem to have a connection that negates her ability as a neutralizer. With all these abilities in play, the creatures are flocking to Crossroads in order to find Aden, the source of this power, and use him for their own purposes - none friendly. There are love interests that will make you feel happy certain characters are together. I can say I am glad I was not left with a love triangle that I needed to decide what "team" I was on. Very refreshing.Until almost half way through the book, it feels like it takes time to set things up. There is a lot of background knowledge that happens before you come to the climax. At first, I wondered when we would get to the connecting aspects of why certain things were being explained. I thought the book was going in a totally different direction than it ended up based on how the story unfolds. I was still interested in the book at each step. This isn't a complaint, but a reference to how the book may seem to take longer to get going with the real plot, not that it is a slow read. The book reads easily, flows, and you do not want to put it down. There is the feeling of several different stories going on leading up to the climax. Each story is interesting in itself and flows into the climax quite cleverly. This climax is what will lead the reader into anticipating the second book in the series, Unraveled, released August 31, 2010. I can only hope the different story lines presented means Showalter has several more books planned for this series in order to unfold them all.I highly recommend this book to young adult fantasy readers. Showalter has taken fantasy and added her own brand of magic to young adult. I can honestly say this is a new take on the vampire, werewolf, witches, abilities type of fantasy book. This is a unique book of ideas and characters. I'm glad I took the time to discover how well Showalter does transfer to young adult and I have already downloaded Unraveled to my Kindle, so I can continue this journey with Adan and his friends.
    • 4/5
      Judith says: Intertwined went soooo slowly for me. It was a little over half of the book before I really got interested. However, I must have known it was worth the wait because once I got past the first half, I could not stop reading.Funny, but even after I got into the book, the characters still have not captured my interest. I love the plot and am very interested in the sequel (there will be one, won't there?). I honestly can't say that a book has ever afftected me in this way. Perhaps the next book, will find me really liking and caring about Aden, Victoria, Mary Ann and Riley. Good names for movie characters, don't you think?The spotlight is strictly on the teens. They are all very attractive, smart and willing to take risks for one another. I like their various and troubled backgrounds. They complement one another. The young women who enjoy romance will like this. Guys might also be willing to read Intertwined since there are two strong male protagonists and some fairly decent fight sequences. The only things was the beginning, it went slowly. I know that the author had to set up the characters and the environment the kids were living in, but I wonder if she could not have speeded things up a bit. Anyway, I did like reading the story. Very interesting plot and I want to know what happens next. Soon, okay?
    • 4/5
      This was such a great book that I actually tried to read slower in order to prolong the experience. I loved all the characters -- which is no surprise since Gena Showalter always creates wonderfully intriguing characters. The story was an excellent combination of sweet teenage romance and paranormal thrill. This is one of the most sophisticated and clever young adult novels I've ever read. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.
    • 3/5
      Title: IntertwinedAuthor: Gena ShowalterGenre: YA paranormal/fantasyWhere I got it: Oregon Digital Library Consortium AKA my local library's electronic book site (audio and e-books).One sentence: Aden Stone, a teen with four other souls living inside him, each with a different paranormal talent (time traveling, raising the dead, seeing the future and possess other people), meets Mary Ann Gray, who silences the voices, and the two of them are dragged into supernatural danger along with a werewolf shape-shifter and a vampire princess.Themes: Forbidden love, supernatural abilities, family issues, danger and intrigue.Main character: Aden Stone was abandoned by his parents because they thought he was crazy. He's been in and out of multiple foster homes and institutions. He is an outcast with few friends, has an interesting back story and connection with Mary Ann. I didn't really feel like his personality came through as very unique or memorable, just the fact that he had four other people living inside of him.Secondary characters: I first thought that Mary Ann and Aden would fall in love, but it was actually really refreshing that they just remained friends. Mary Ann has had everything in the past, a stark comparison to Aden. She didn't really make much of an impact with me, although the past with her mother turned into an interesting plot point.Their love interests; Victoria, the vampire princess, and her werewolf-shape-shifter bodyguard, Riley, seemed entirely one dimensional. Both seemed attracted to and sought out Mary Ann and Aden for no apparent reason. The romance was not very convincing and the characters seemed very stereotypical.Writing style: Showalter's writing style was both fast paced and detailed when the situation required it. Nothing popped up that jolted me out of the story, and that's how I can often judge if the writing is awkward or badly written.Plot: The concept of this book really drew me in, but it turned more into werewolves, vampires, faeries and goblins more than the voices in Aden's head. The first half of the book was quite different from the mess of paranormal creatures that swooped in toward the end. The twists and turns were entertaining, but also slightly overwhelming.Best scene: The beginning scene in the graveyard where Aden fights off zombie corpses.Positives: Concept, fast paced action and writing, multiple story lines with two romancesNegatives: Characters, ending, some of the plot points were lost on me.Ending: Slightly thrown together. The ends were somewhat tied up (leaving room for a sequel, of course), but there was no closure.Other/Random:Verdict: Fun and entertaining, but not anything with depth. Good for a quick, light YA read.Rating: 6.7 / 10
    • 4/5
      Although Aden might seem crazy to some - talking to thin air, acting peculiar around cemeteries, etc. - he is far from it. The voices inside Aden Stone's head are real. He has four human souls living inside him - Eve can time-travel, Julian can raise the dead, Elijah can tell the future and Caleb can possess another human. He has spent his life from one institution to the next, being prescribed all sorts of pills and at the mercy of his doctors and caretakers.Now, living on the outskirts of a new town with a couple who has taken him (and other troubled boys like him) in, he plans on a fresh start. But that all changes when he catches a glimpse of a girl who not only quiets the voices in his head, but basically knocks him on his butt at first glance. He knows he must find out who she is and how she can do what no one has done before.Riddled with all sorts of supernatural beings (i.e. vampires, werewolves, fairies, goblins, demons and witches) you are taken on a journey with Aden and Mary Ann - who not only form an inexplicable bond of friendship but whose limits will be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann and a vampire princess that has been the star of many of Aden's dreams. Together the four face intrigue and danger, doomed romances and the possibility that not all may come out alive.As a big fan of Gena's adult novels, I was excited to read this first installment of her YA series and, I must say, I was not disappointed. I loved how so many elements of paranormal fantasy were thrown in here and jumbled all together - giving it a fresh and original idea. The chapters are told through either Aden or Mary Ann perspectives. So you get to not only hear what Aden is thinking but you also get to see it through Mary Ann.The characterization was great. Even the voices in Aden's head were well-developed. It got to the point where I knew which had spoken by just the way they said things. Very engaging and imaginative. As for the romances, I have to admit that although I did enjoy reading about Aden and Victoria, my fave couple was Mary Ann and Riley. I found myself looking forward to their moments together. But overall, I think it was well done.This was such a fun book and although many of its problems were resolved by its end, there were also many questions left unanswered and, one of those pesky cliffhangers. All in all, a fantastic start to what I can tell will be a very enjoyable series. Book #2 - Unraveled, releases September 2010... I'll be anxiously awaiting it.
    • 4/5
      Intertwined went soooo slowly for me. It was a little over half of the book before I really got interested. However, I must have known it was worth the wait because once I got past the first half, I could not stop reading.Funny, but even after I got into the book, the characters still have not captured my interest. I love the plot and am very interested in the sequel (there will be one, won't there?). I honestly can't say that a book has ever afftected me in this way. Perhaps the next book, will find me really liking and caring about Aden, Victoria, Mary Ann and Riley. Good names for movie characters, don't you think?The spotlight is strictly on the teens. They are all very attractive, smart and willing to take risks for one another. I like their various and troubled backgrounds. They complement one another. The young women who enjoy romance will like this. Guys might also be willing to read Intertwined since there are two strong male protagonists and some fairly decent fight sequences. The only things was the beginning, it went slowly. I know that the author had to set up the characters and the environment the kids were living in, but I wonder if she could not have speeded things up a bit. Anyway, I did like reading the story. Very interesting plot and I want to know what happens next. Soon, okay?
    • 4/5
      Intertwined is the second book to be released from the new Harlequin Teen line. What drew me to this story was that Aden has four souls living within him. Something I hadn't come across before. I knew his story had to be very interesting.What at first seems to be a boy meets girl type of story, really it is so much more. Especially when a vampire and werewolf are thrown into the mix. Intertwined was an exciting, fresh new world to delve into. And of course not to be missed is the wonderful wit of Ms. Showalter. She brings it to every book she writes, which never fails to put a smile my face.
    • 4/5
      Aden Stone has never been normal. He's heard voices in his head all his life and everyone thinks he's crazy. But they are not just voices he's hearing, they are actual souls, drawn into him and trapped since the time of his birth. And that's not all, they have special abilities- abilities that he can possess as well.Orphaned and having spent most of his life in mental institutions, he's finally found a home for boys with a leader that he actually likes. But his comfort is once again in peril when a chance encounter in a graveyard with some supernatural creatures leads him to a girl who silences the voices in his head. Though she's not the girl he's been dreaming of these last couple months (thanks to the precog living inside of him), something about her draws him and he makes sure he's enrolled the very next day at the school she attends.Though she lost her mother a few years back, Mary Ann Gray has lived a happy, if not bittersweet, life with her father. When a strange boy knocks her for a loop one evening while visiting a friend she has no idea her life is about to be turned upside down.Aden & Mary Ann sense a connection between them and when supernatural creatures start coming out of the woodwork, they become fast friends in a race to figure out what that connection means. When a vampire princess and her bodyguard join them, the danger ramps up as they soon discover everyone is out to grab the mysterious source of power that is drawing supernaturals from across the globe to the very heart of the Tri-City area.Though I'm not a huge YA reader, I thoroughly enjoyed this tale. Where Twilight felt too emo and sappy for me, this one just worked. The characters have chemistry and are not forced and though there is a fantastical element, their relationships feel real.Aden is a sweet, misunderstood, but really kind of noble, kid who finally begins to find a home and family in the new friends he's making. (Always a sucker for a loner/orphan finding a home). He also is beginning to see that his curse is really a gift. The ending felt like it should have been a couple books into the series, but it didn't make me like the story any less. I'm def. continuing one!
    • 3/5
      In my opinion i would give this book a 3 star. It wasn't a bad book and it certainly kept me turning the pages, but my greatest disappointment was at the end of the book. I felt that it ended abruptly, and without a sequel to it, I feel like the book has no proper ending. I still recommend this book however to teens, unless your the kind that needs to read book with a good ending to be satisfied. Hopefully some of Gena's other books are better.
    • 3/5
      Unravel the newest paranormal world with Intertwined. When he first saw Mary Ann he knew his life was about to change. Since birth he has carried four souls inside him. Souls with unique abilities. Souls that can't help but distract him with their constant chatter. Bouncing from foster home to mental hospital to boy's home, his life has been anything but pretty. His latest home isn't perfect but thanks to the abilities of one of his trapped soul companions he's pretty sure it might be his last. Only time will tell if he can free the souls trapped within him and what role Mary Ann is meant to play in their release. Yet meeting Mary Ann is only the beginning as his eyes are opened to a world of vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts and faeries. Drawn to him like moths to flame these races will play a role in his future whether he's ready for them to know who he is or not. The fates of all may be intertwined in the destiny of one young man... Aden Stone.One of the first releases from Harlequin's new Harlequin Teen imprint, Intertwined has been very much anticipated by adult fans of Gena Showalter's writing. While definitely on par with her adult titles in the writing, Intertwined lacks solidarity in its plot. The switching perspectives of Mary Ann and Aden do not do the story justice. It's my opinion that Mary Ann is a square peg trying to be forced into a round hole, a secondary character being forced to be a key protagonist in a plot that should have been left to Aden alone. That said there is great potential here. Showalter's characters are all interesting, likable and real enough to be relatable. Sorting out which ones are most important to the plot may be the only real issue readers find with them.On the whole, the plot of Intertwined has a great hook. A boy with four souls trapped in him wants to find them bodies of their own so he can live a semi-normal life. He meets a girl who makes the voices in his head quiet so she must be able to help him somehow. This plot thread works well. It is very enjoyable and the resolution of this plot thread had me tearing up which doesn't happen often with young adult books. What really screws with the story is the sudden random addition of all the other races and the plot they bring with them to prepare for the second book. I hate saying it, but it kind of feels like the author was pressured to cater to the sudden obsession with vampires by adding them to the story. While I love vampire and shapeshifter stories they somewhat muddle this book up and yet couldn't suddenly be introduced in a later installment in this series either. If you're looking for something paranormal to read and don't mind the above mentioned flaws cropping up in a book this is one worth checking out. Showalter is an engaging writer and fans of her work should probably pick this one up because in spite of the issues I had with this one, a plot has been established for the rest of the series that should be much better now that the world building has been done. Enjoy!

    Book preview

    Intertwined - Gena Showalter

    ONE

    A CEMETERY. No. No, no, no! How had he ended up here?

    Clearly, wearing his iPod while exploring a new town had been a mistake. Especially since Crossroads, Oklahoma, perhaps garden gnome capital of the world and definitely hell on earth, was so small it was practically nonexistent.

    If only he’d left the Nano at the D and M Ranch, a halfway house for wayward teens where he now lived. But he hadn’t. He’d wanted peace, just a little peace. And now he would pay the price.

    This sucks, he muttered, pulling the buds from his ears and shoving the shiny green distraction into his backpack. He was sixteen years old, but sometimes he felt like he’d been around forever, and every one of those days had been worse than the one before. Sadly, today would be no exception.

    Immediately the very people he’d been trying to drown out with so-loud-your-ears-bleed Life of Agony clamored for his attention.

    Finally! Julian said from inside his head. I’ve been screaming for you to turn around for, like, ever.

    Well, you should have screamed louder. Starting a war with the undead was not what I wanted to do today. As he spoke, Haden Stone—known as Aden because, as a kid, he apparently hadn’t been able to pronounce his own name—backtracked, removing his foot from the graveyard’s property line. But it was too late. In the distance, in front of a tombstone, the ground was already shaking, cracking.

    Don’t blame me, Julian replied. Elijah should have predicted this.

    Hey, a second voice said. It, too, came from inside Aden’s head. Don’t blame me, either. Most times, I only know when someone’s gonna die.

    Sighing, Aden dropped his backpack, bent down and palmed the daggers he kept anchored in his boots. If he were ever caught with them, he’d be tossed back into juvie, where fights erupted as regularly as lunch was served and making a trustworthy friend was as impossible as escape. Deep down, though, he’d known carrying them was worth the risk. It was always worth the risk.

    Fine. This is my fault, Julian grumbled. Not like I can help myself, though.

    That was true. The dead had only to sense him to awaken. Which, like now, usually involved Aden accidentally placing his foot on their land. Some sensed him faster than others, but they all eventually rose.

    Don’t worry about it. We’ve been in worse situations. More than leaving the iPod at home, he mused, he should have been paying attention to the world around him. He’d studied a map of the town, after all, and had known what areas to avoid. But as the music had pounded, he’d lost track of his surroundings. He’d been momentarily liberated, seemingly alone.

    The tombstone began to rattle.

    Julian sighed, the sound an echo of Aden’s. I know we’ve endured worse. But I caused those worse situations, too.

    Fabulous. A pity party. This third, frustrated voice belonged to a woman—who also took up prime real estate inside his head. Aden was only surprised his other guest—as he sometimes thought of the souls trapped inside him—didn’t pipe up, as well. Peace and quiet were not something any of them understood. Can we save the festivities for later, boys, and kill the zombie before it emerges all the way, gains its bearings and stomps our collective butt?

    Yes, Eve, Aden, Julian and Elijah said in unison. That was the way of it. He and the other three boys would bicker and Eve would step in, a formidable mother-figure without a finger to point, but a formidable mother-figure all the same.

    If only that mothering were enough to fix the situation this time.

    I just need everyone to zip it, he said. Okay? Please.

    There was grumbling. And that was as quiet as things were going to get.

    He forced himself to focus. Several yards away, the headstone teetered back and forth before tumbling to the ground and shattering. Rain had fallen this morning, and droplets sprayed in every direction. Handfuls of dirt soon joined them, flying through the air as a disgustingly gray hand poked its way free.

    Golden sunlight poured from the sky, highlighting the oozing skin, the rotting muscle…even the worms slithering around the enlarged knuckles.

    A fresh one. Great. Aden’s stomach rolled. He might puke when this was over. Or during.

    We’re about to smoke that fool! Is it bad that I’m hot right now?

    And there was Caleb, voice number four. If he’d had a body of his own, Caleb would have been the guy taking pictures of girls in their locker room while hiding in the shadows.

    As Aden watched, waiting for the right moment to strike, a second oozing hand joined the first, both straining to heave the decayed body the rest of the way from the ground. He scanned the area. He stood on a cemented walkway, high on a hill, lush trees helping to form a path and block him from prying eyes. Thankfully, the long span of grass and headstones looked deserted. Beyond was a road where several cars meandered past, their engines humming softly. Even if the drivers were rubberneckers and failed to keep their attention on traffic, they wouldn’t be able to see what happened below.

    You can do this, he told himself. You can. You’ve done it before. Besides, girls like scars. He hoped. He had plenty to show off.

    Now or never. Determined, he strode forward. He would have run, but he wasn’t in a hurry to ring the starting bell. Besides, these encounters always ended the same way, no matter the sequence of events: Aden bruised and broken, sick from the infection the corpses’ tainted saliva caused. He shuddered, already imagining yellowed teeth snapping and biting at him.

    Usually the battle lasted only a few minutes. But if anyone decided to visit a loved one during that time… Whatever happened, he couldn’t be seen. People would assume he was a grave robber or a body snatcher. He’d be hauled into whatever detention center this hole-in-the-wall town offered. He’d be forever labeled a no-good delinquent, exactly as he’d been labeled in every other town he’d ever lived in.

    Would have been nice if the sky darkened and rain poured again, shielding him, but Aden knew he didn’t have that kind of luck. Never had.

    Yep. I should’ve paid attention to where I was going. For him, walking past a cemetery was the epitome of stupid. A single step on the property, like today, and something dead would awaken, hungry for human flesh.

    All he’d wanted was a private spot to relax. Well, as private as a guy with four people living in his head could get.

    Speaking of heads, one peeked through the now-gaping hole, swinging left, right. One eye was rolled back, the white branched with red, while the other was gone, revealing the muscle underneath. Large patches of hair were missing. Its cheeks were sunken, its nose hanging by a few threads.

    Bile burned Aden’s stomach, threatening to double him over. His fingers tightened around the hilts of his blades, and he finally quickened his step. Almost…there… That haggard face sniffed the air, obviously liking what it smelled. Toxic black saliva began dripping from its mouth and its struggle for freedom increased. Shoulders appeared. A torso quickly followed.

    A jacket and shirt bagged around it, torn and dirty. A male, then. That made what he had to do easier. Sometimes.

    One knee shot onto the grass, two.

    Closer…closer still… Again, he increased his pace.

    Aden reached it just as it stood to full height, a little over six feet, which put them at eye level. His heart slammed in his chest, a frantic drum. Breath blistered his lungs, scalded his throat. More than a year had passed since he’d had to do this, and the last time had been the worst of all. He’d needed eighteen stitches in his side, had worn a cast on his leg for a month, spent a week in detox, and had made an involuntary blood donation to every corpse at Rose Hill Burial Park.

    Not this time, he told himself.

    A hungry growl burst from the creature’s ruined lips.

    Lookie what I have. Aden held up the blade, and the silver glinted in the light. Pretty, isn’t it? How ’bout a closer look, hmm? Arm surprisingly steady, he reached back and struck, going for the neck. To kill a corpse—permanently—the head had to be removed. But just before contact, the corpse gained its bearings, as Eve had feared it would, and ducked. Survival instincts were something that never died, apparently. Aden’s knife whizzed through empty air, his momentum spinning him around.

    A bony fist pushed him face-first to the ground, and he soon found himself eating dirt. A hard weight immediately pounced on him, crushing his lungs. Fingers encircled his wrists and squeezed, and he lost his hold on the blades. Thankfully—or not—those fingers were disgustingly wet and couldn’t maintain a strong enough grip to keep him still.

    No, it was the teeth in his neck that subdued him, chomping toward his artery, wet tongue sucking. For one pained second, he was too dazed to move, burning up, dying, awakening, burning some more. Then he snapped into focus—win, had to win—and used his elbow to crack the fiend’s ribs.

    It didn’t budge.

    Of course, his companions just had to comment.

    Wow. Are you out of practice or what? Caleb said.

    Laid low by a toe tag, Julian scoffed. You should be embarrassed.

    Do you want to be dinner? Elijah added.

    Guys, he gritted out, his struggles increasing. He managed to roll to his back. Please. I’m fighting here.

    I wouldn’t exactly call this fighting, Caleb replied. More like being spanked like a girl.

    Hey! I take exception to that.

    Sorry, Eve.

    Don’t worry. I’ve got this.

    Guess we’ll see about that, Elijah said grimly.

    Aden tried to squeeze the creature’s neck but it kept moving, kept pulling from his grip. Be still, he commanded as he punched it in the cheek with so much force that what was left of its brains rattled—but that didn’t weaken it. Actually, the action might have strengthened it. Aden had to anchor both of his hands against its jaw to prevent it from swooping in for another bite.

    You, more than anyone, know this isn’t the way I’m going to die. The words were broken with the force of his panting breaths.

    About six months ago, Elijah had predicted his death. They didn’t know when it would happen, only that it would. And it wouldn’t be in a cemetery and his killer wouldn’t be a corpse. No, he would die on a deserted street, a knife in his heart, the tip cutting the organ every time it beat, until life slipped from him completely.

    The dire prediction had come the same day he was told he was being sent to the D and M Ranch just as soon as there was an opening. Maybe that should have deterred him from moving here. But…

    At the same time, he’d begun having visions of a dark-haired girl. Of talking and laughing with her…of kissing her. Never before had Elijah foretold anything other than a death, so Aden had been shocked to know—or rather, hope—the girl would one day enter his life. Shocked but excited. He wanted to meet her for real. Was desperate to meet her, actually. Even if that meant coming to the city of his death.

    A death that would happen all too soon, he knew. In the vision, he hadn’t looked much older than he was now. He’d had time to mourn his own passing, though, and had even had time to accept his fate. Sometimes, like now, part of him even looked forward to it. That didn’t mean he’d roll over and take whatever the undead wanted to dish.

    Something stung his cheek and he blinked into focus. Unable to get its yellowed teeth within range, the corpse was now clawing at him, nails cutting deep. That’s what he got for allowing another distraction.

    You’ve got this? Really? Well, prove it, Julian said, the challenge probably meant to strengthen him.

    Roaring, Aden reached for one of his fallen blades. Just as the corpse broke free from his hold, he slashed forward. The blade slid through bone…and caught. Useless.

    There was no time to panic. Hungry and oblivious to pain, his opponent made another play for his throat.

    Aden threw another punch. There was a growl, another baring of teeth, and a stream of that thick, black saliva seeped from the corpse’s mouth onto his cheek, causing his skin to sizzle. He struggled, gagging at the fetid smell.

    When a long, wet tongue emerged, inching toward Aden’s face, he once again grabbed the corpse by the jaw, fending it off while reaching for his other knife. Mere seconds after his fingers curled around the hilt, he began sawing at its neck.

    Crack.

    Finally, the head detached from the body and fell to the ground with a thud. The bones and tattered clothing, however, collapsed on top of him. Grimacing, he swiped them off and scrambled to a clean patch of grass.

    There. Proven. He, too, crumpled.

    That’s our boy, Caleb said proudly.

    Yes, but now isn’t the time for rest, Eve added, and she was right.

    I know. He had to clean up the mess or someone would stumble upon the desecrated remains. News stations would swarm the place like flies, begging the entire town to help locate the evil, twisted person responsible. Plus, others were going to rise whether he stayed here or not. He needed to be ready for them. But as he lay there, squinting up at the sky, hurting, the sun glared down at him, draining what little energy he had left.

    By the end of the day, the saliva’s poison would have worked through his system and he’d be hunched over a toilet, his cornflakes nothing but a fond memory. He’d sweat profusely from fever, shake uncontrollably and pray for death. Here, now, though, he had a moment’s respite. It was what he’d been searching for all day.

    Up and at ’em, sweetheart, Eve urged.

    I will, I promise. In a minute. Aden didn’t know his real mother, his parents having signed him over to the state at the age of three, so he liked—sometimes—that Eve tried to fill the role. Actually, he loved her for it. He did. He loved all four of the souls, in fact. Even Julian, the corpse whisperer. But every other kid in the world could walk away from their families for a little me time. They could do things other sixteen-year-old boys were doing. Things like…well, things. They could date and attend school and play sports. Have fun.

    Not Aden. Never Aden.

    Whatever he did, wherever he went, he had an audience. An audience that liked to comment and critique and offer suggestions. Next time do this. Next time do that. Idiot, you shouldn’t have done that.

    They meant well, he knew they did, but Aden hadn’t even kissed a girl yet. And no, the beautiful brunette from Elijah’s visions didn’t count. No matter how real those visions felt. But God, when was she going to arrive? Would she?

    Only yesterday, he’d had another vision of her. They had been standing in a forest, the moon high and golden. She’d thrown her arms around him and hugged him tight, her warm breath stroking his neck.

    I’ll protect you, she’d said. I’ll always protect you.

    From what? he’d wondered ever since. Not corpses, obviously.

    He drew in a breath, then grimaced. Hello, stinky. The scent of rot seemed glued to the inside of his nose. Probably was. He’d have to scrub himself with a Brillo pad from head to toe.

    He released the dagger he still held and wiped his hands on his jeans, leaving streaks of that poisonous goo. What a life, huh?

    If you want to get technical, this really isn’t our fault, Julian said, obviously no longer willing to shoulder the blame. You’re the one who absorbed us into that fat skull of yours.

    Aden ground his teeth. It seemed like he received a similar reminder a thousand times a day. I’ve told you. I didn’t absorb you.

    You did something, ’cause we sure didn’t get bodies of our own. Nooo. We got stuck with yours. And no control button!

    FYI, I was born with you already swimming in my mind. He thought so, at least. They’d always been with him. It’s not like I could stop what happened. Whatever happened. Even you don’t know.

    Just once he’d like a flash of total peace. No voices in his head, no dead rising to eat him—or any of the other unnatural things he had to deal with on a daily basis.

    Things like Julian waking the dead and Elijah predicting the death of anyone who passed him. Things like Eve whisking him to the past, into a younger version of himself. One wrong move, one wrong word, and he would change his future. Not always for the better. Things like Caleb forcing him to possess someone else’s body with only a touch.

    Just one of those abilities would have set him apart. But all four? He was in a different stratosphere. Something no one, especially the boys at the ranch, let him forget.

    But despite the fact that he didn’t get along with them, he wasn’t ready to be sent away so soon.

    Dan Reeves, the guy who ran the D and M, wasn’t too bad a guy. He was a former pro-football player who had given up the game because of a back injury, but he hadn’t given up the disciplined, by-the-book way of life. Aden liked Dan, even though Dan didn’t understand what it was like to have voices chattering inside his head and vying for attention he couldn’t hope to give. Even though Dan thought Aden needed to spend his time reading, interacting with others or pondering his future rather than rocking out and roaming. If he only knew.

    Uh, Aden? Julian said, bringing him back to the present.

    What? he snapped. His good mood must have died with the corpse. He was tired, sore, and knew things were only going to get worse.

    Just another day in the life of Aden Stone, he thought with a bitter laugh.

    Hate to be the one to tell you this, but…there’s more.

    What? Even as he spoke, he heard the shattering of another tombstone. Then another.

    Others were indeed rising.

    He pried his eyelids apart. For a moment, only a moment, he didn’t breathe. Just pretended he was an ordinary guy whose only concern was what to buy his girlfriend for her birthday.

    Where was the brunette? he wondered. When was her birthday?

    Aden, honey, Eve said. You still with us?

    Still here. For him, concentrating was the equivalent of counting to infinity, and Eve knew that. I hate this. I’m at the edge, and I’m either going to jump myself or kick someone in the—

    Language, Aden, Eve said with a tsk.

    He sighed. "Kick someone in the butt and force them to fall," he finished properly.

    I’d leave you if I could, but I’m stuck, Julian said, solemn.

    I know. His stomach protested and his neck wounds burned from strain as he pulled himself to a crouch. The pain didn’t slow him; it, too, angered him and that anger gave him strength. He saw four sets of hands breaking through the dirt, uprooting grass and the colorful bouquets left by loved ones.

    He swiped up one of his daggers. The other was still embedded in the first corpse’s neck, and he had to jimmy it free. He might have been hesitant to battle in the beginning, but he was mad enough now to sprint in swinging this time.

    Besides, there was only one way to handle four at a time… Eyes narrowing, he dashed to the corpse closest to him. The top of its head had just emerged. It was completely bald, no skin remaining. A living skeleton, the kind of thing nightmares were made of.

    You can do it, Eve cheered.

    Arm up…back…waiting…waiting… Finally, its shoulders came into sight, giving Aden the canvas he needed to work his magic. He struck, in one fluid motion rendering the dead…dead. Again.

    I’m sorry, he whispered. Not that it could hear him. Made him feel better to say it, though.

    One down, Julian said.

    Aden was already running to the next grave. He didn’t slow when he reached it, just raised his arm and slashed.

    I’m sorry, he said again as this newest corpse fell, head one way, body the other, its bones separating on impact.

    That’s the way, Elijah praised.

    Instinct was finally kicking in. His hands were soaked, sweat pouring from his face and chest, and as he hurried to the third, battered grave, pride blended with his guilt and sadness. Feral red eyes watched him.

    We should be paid for this stuff, Caleb said, every word dripping with excitement. Clearly, he was hot. Again.

    A growl sounded behind Aden a split second before a skeletal weight landed on his back and sharp teeth sank into his shoulder, ripping through shirt and skin and hitting muscle. Stupid, stupid! He’d missed one.

    He groaned, propelled to the ground. Another bite, more poison. Later, more pain.

    He reached over his shoulder, grabbed the fiend by the clavicle and jerked. Rather than tug the carcass off him, his hand wrenched away with a piece of lace and bone. A woman this time. Don’t think about that. He’d hesitate, and that hesitation would cost him.

    Those sharp teeth latched onto his ear, drawing blood.

    He pressed his lips together to cut off his shout. God, that hurt. Reaching back once more, he managed to grip its neck this time. But just before he jerked, the corpse fell to the ground, motionless, and all four voices inside his head began screaming as if in pain, then fading…fading…silent.

    Frowning in confusion, Aden quickly shimmied out from under the lifeless body and jackknifed to his feet. His neck, shoulder and ear throbbed and burned as he whirled around and looked down.

    The corpse didn’t move. Its head was still attached, but it didn’t freaking move.

    He spun in a circle, gaze roving, cataloging, searching. The other corpse, the one he’d been racing for, had fallen, too, despite the fact that it, too, still possessed its head, and now remained immobile. Even the light in its eyes had died.

    O-kay. What the hell had just happened?

    Oddly, none of his companions had a smart-ass comment.

    Guys? he said.

    Still no response.

    Why were you— His words trailed off. In the distance, he caught a glimpse of a young girl and forgot about everything else. She was dressed in a white T-shirt streaked with dirt, faded jeans and tennis shoes, strolling just in front of the cemetery. She was tall and thin with straight brown hair anchored in a ponytail, tanned skin and a pretty—very pretty—face. She had earbuds in her ears and seemed to be singing.

    All that dark hair…was she…could she be the girl from Elijah’s visions?

    Aden stood in place, covered in mud and grime, confused, excited, and trying not to panic. If she spotted him and the carnage surrounding him, she’d shriek. People would come gunning for him. They’d track him, wherever he went. They always tracked him. As he’d feared, he’d be sent away and the kinda sorta freedom he now had would be a thing of the past.

    Don’t look, don’t look, please don’t look. The prayer was his own, the souls still strangely quiet. And yet, part of him did want her to look, to see him, to be as intrigued by him as he was by her. If she was the girl he’d seen in those visions… finally…

    She was almost past him. Would soon disappear around the corner. And then, as if she sensed his secret desire, she threw a glance over her shoulder. Aden tensed, catching a glimpse of big hazel eyes and pink lips she couldn’t stop chewing.

    She scanned the area.

    A second later, their gazes met. There was a blast of sound as the world suddenly zoomed in on them—and then nothing. There were no movements. Not their heartbeats, not even their lungs filling with air. There was no yesterday or tomorrow, only here and now.

    They were the only two people who existed.

    This was peace, Aden thought with shock. True peace. Calm and quiet, no voices in his head, pressing him down, pulling him under, vying for his attention.

    Then, everything exploded. There was another blast of sound, as if the world’s focus expanded this time. Cars started back up, birds began chirping and wind whistled through the trees. A sharp gust of it slammed into him and tossed him backward. He landed with a thump, chin jarring his sternum.

    That same wind must have hit her, because she stumbled to her butt with a yelp.

    There was a twinge of sickness in his stomach, and as he stood his limbs hung loose and heavy. A need to run to her filled him—followed quickly by a need to run from her.

    She scrambled upright. After another silent glance, she turned away and rushed down the pass, soon disappearing from view.

    The moment Aden lost sight of her, everything returned to normal.

    Caleb growled, What the hell?

    Pain. Darkness, Eve said, voice trembling. Horrible.

    They’d been hurt? How could souls with no bodies feel pain? What do you mean? he asked them, though he suspected part of the answer. The girl. Somehow, some way. That odd stillness when their eyes first met…that strange gust of wind…

    She’d approached and the dead had fallen. The voices inside his head had faded. She’d looked at him and a peace he’d only dreamed about had encompassed him. She’d left and boom, everything had kicked back to terrible life.

    He had to experience that peace again. Could she really be responsible? Was she the one he’d been waiting for?

    Fearing the corpses would rise again, he hurriedly removed the heads of the remaining two. But rather than clean the mess, hiding the evidence of what had happened, he found himself gathering his backpack and chasing after her. There was only one way to find out whether she’d done what he thought she’d done. Only one way to find out who exactly she was.

    Dude, tell us what happened before I start screaming, Julian said.

    I don’t know what happened. Not exactly. Truth. He was determined to find out, though. Are you okay?

    Multiple shouts of No! rang out.

    Go back to the house. I have a bad feeling about this, Elijah said, sounding more afraid than Aden had ever heard him.

    Aden slowed. Elijah’d had bad feelings before, and while they hadn’t been actual predictions, Aden had always heeded them. But what if this was his one and only chance to meet the brunette from those visions?

    I’ll be careful. I swear, he said.

    Aden spotted the girl a block from the cemetery. Once again a strong wind jolted him, sickness seeped into his stomach, and then the world around him became all that he’d ever dreamed. Silent, his thoughts his own.

    Dear Lord. She was responsible.

    His palms began to sweat. She rounded a corner, heading into a busy intersection. He stuffed his hands into his backpack and dug out his wet wipes, quickening his step and cleaning his face as best he could. He withdrew a clean shirt and stepped into the shadows, then changed, never taking his gaze from the girl.

    Would she run screaming if he approached her? Bones had been piled around him, after all.

    He waited for his companions to toss out answers, but all remained quiet. It was odd, not having someone tell him what to do, how to do it, or how badly things would end. Odd and strangely agonizing, when he’d thought for years it would be freakishly cool.

    For the first time in his life, he was truly on his own. If he messed this up, he’d have no one but himself to blame.

    He squared his shoulders and prepared to approach the girl.

    TWO

    MARY ANN GRAY SPOTTED her friend and neighbor, Penny Parks, and raced toward the outdoor café. I’m here, I’m here, she said, pulling the plugs from her ears, Evanescence fading. She stuffed her iPod in her purse, gave her Sidekick a quick check—only one e-mail from her dad asking what she wanted for dinner. Replying could wait.

    Penny tsked under her tongue as she handed Mary Ann a capped mocha. Just in time. You missed the raging power outage. I was inside and all the lights flicked off. No one could get cell reception, and I heard a lady say that all the cars on the road died.

    "There was an outage that caused cars to die?" Weird. Then again, it had been a day for weirdness. Like that boy she’d seen in the cemetery on her way here, who’d somehow caused her to fall—without touching her!

    Are you listening to me? Penny asked. Your face totally blanked. Anyway, like I was saying. The outage happened about fifteen minutes ago.

    The exact time she’d been at the cemetery, iPod momentarily silent, unexpected wind blowing. Huh.

    So what took you so long? Penny asked. I had to order on my own, and you know that’s not good for my codependency.

    They plopped into the chairs Penny had been saving for them, the sun shining brightly on their table. Mary Ann inhaled deeply, the scents of coffee, whipped cream and vanilla flooding her. God, she loved Holy Grounds. People might approach the stand frowning, but they always emerged with a grin.

    As if to prove her point, an older couple walked away from the register, smiling at each other over the rims of their cups. Mary Ann had to look away. Once, her parents had been like that, happy just to be with each other. Then her mother had died.

    Drink, drink, Penny said. And while you’re savoring, tell me what held you up.

    Mouth watering, she sipped at her grande white chocolate mocha. Ah, de-freaking-licious. Like I said, I’m sorry I’m late. I really am. But sadly, my tardiness isn’t the worst of it.

    Oh, no. Expression pinched, Penny fell back in her chair. What’s going on? Don’t break it to me gently. Just rip the Band-Aid.

    Okay. Here goes. Deep breath. I’m not actually done for the day. This is only a thirty-minute break. I have to return to work. She cringed, waiting for the shouted—

    What!

    And there it was. A small infraction, really, but Penny would see it as a grave offense. She always did. She was a high-maintenance friend who expected their time together to be uninterrupted. Mary Ann didn’t mind. Really. She actually admired the trait. Penny knew what she wanted from the people in her life and expected it to be given to her. And it usually was. Without complaint. Today, however, couldn’t be helped.

    The Watering Pot is providing the floral arrangements for the Tolbert-Floyd wedding tomorrow and all of the employees have to work overtime.

    Ugh. Penny shook her head in disappointment. Or was that disapproval? When are you going to quit your loser job at that flower shop? It’s Saturday, and you’re young. You should be shopping with me as planned rather than slaving over thorns and potting soil.

    Mary Ann studied her friend over the rim of her cup. Penny was a year older than her, with platinum hair, bright blue eyes and pale freckled skin. She liked to pair lacy baby-doll dresses with flip-flops no matter the weather. She was carefree, experienced, had no thoughts for the future, dated who she wanted, when she wanted, and skipped school as often as she attended.

    Mary Ann, on the other hand, would vomit blood if she even considered breaking a rule.

    She knew why she was the way she was, but that just made her determination to be the good girl worse. She and her dad only had

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