10
“That drive is a lot shorter than the train ride.” Ruthie stretched as she got out of the car. “Wonder where the boys are.”
“I don’t know, Aeron said something about a party, so I’m assuming he’s preparing for that. We’re home a day early, so they aren’t just waiting around for us.” I pulled my suitcase out of the trunk of the cross-over vehicle. Part of me felt wrong for taking it, but it was mine now. There was no way she was coming back from death to yell at me for taking it.
Ruthie got her bag out and we started towards the dorms. Everyone we walked by had their faces covered with medical masks. “I feel like we missed a memo here.” I watched as a group of students stared at us over the white fabric.
“Me too.” Ruthie stepped closer to me.
“It’s mandatory now on campus.” Kaleb’s voice came behind us.
I turned around and forced a smile. “Hey.”
He handed both Ruthie and I masks. I sighed and tucked the elastic behind my ears and adjusted them so that the mask was snug against my face. “But we can’t be infected.”
“They don’t know that. There were three hundred deaths this weekend. And a fight at the supermarket over the last turkey that resulted in two injured and one dead.” Kaleb came to my other side. “Pete’s been asking about you. He said he was worried.”
I nodded. “We had an eventful weekend, but I don’t feel like filling you in. So Ruthie can later. Preferably while I’m catching up on sleep.”
“That bad?” Kaleb looked over my head at Ruthie.
“It was long, and let’s just say, it was hell.” She chuckled at her own little joke.
“I can’t wait to hear about it.”
I could. I didn’t want to relive the weekend. But I’d be asleep on my bed after I drank some of the tea for nightmares. They could talk about it all they wanted. “Is the dining hall open yet?”
“No, but Aeron’s throwing a party, so I figured we’d all hit that up for dinner.” Kaleb nudged me. “You could use a little bit of fun and relaxation time.”
The idea of being surrounded by people caused the muscles in my neck and shoulders to tighten. “I guess that’ll work.” Ruthie would want to go and I didn’t want to hold her back by moping in my room the whole night or for the rest of my life. I ran my hands over my eyes and through my hair. The moisture from my breath clung to the medical mask creating a humid breathing atmosphere, and I wanted to rip the thing off.
“Once you get some sleep, you’ll feel better.” Ruthie put an arm around me. “I promise some of the stress will fade.”
But not the grief, of course I was supposed to be focusing on what I could control and not what I couldn’t. With the stress under control, I would be able to handle the grief better and maybe, just maybe it wouldn’t be as crippling.
“I’m just glad my head doesn’t hurt anymore.” I pulled out my ID and swiped it when we reached the door.
Ruthie and Kaleb followed me in. We got in the elevator and waited for it to take us to our floor. The doors opened and the ding echoed in the hall. The hurling and choking sound of someone throwing up took the place of the happy ding. At the end of the hall a girl hunched over, one hand on the wall, one wrapped around her stomach as she threw up in the corner.
“Are you infected?” Kaleb called halfway down the hall. The woman looked up with red ringed and watery eyes.
“Naw man, just drank too much.” She wiped a hand over her mouth. “You know, it’s break, everyone parties.”
We moved around her and Ruthie patted the woman’s back. “Make sure you tell Gypsy that she needs to call someone to clean up the mess.”
I snorted at the idea of Envy dealing with a drunk college student. I unlocked our door and walked in. My clothes, bedding, and books sat where I left them. The undisturbed room helped relax the tension in my shoulders and I set my suitcase by the bed. “I’m going to make some tea and once I’m out you two can talk to your hearts’ content.”
I pulled out an electric kettle and a bottle of water. I put the water in and waited for it to boil. Ruthie handed me a mug and I dug the tea out of my bag. The steam rose up with the smell of chamomile and mint. I dipped the tea bag a few times and looked up to find Ruthie and Kaleb were watching me.
“I’m fine, Ruthie. I just want sleep.”
Her brow was creased and she crossed her arms as she watched me dip the tea bag again. “You look pale.”
“Maybe because I haven’t slept in twenty-four hours and I just drove eight hours on top of that.” I sipped my tea. “Like you said, sleep will help the stress. Once that’s lowered, the rest will be easier to handle. I promise, I’ll be back to functioning after a nap.”
“Maybe we should just order pizza and stay in tonight.” Kaleb offered. “If you’re not up to going out.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going to ruin your night. We go out, we party, and tomorrow we get back to the demons and the Sins.”
“Let’s see how you feel after napping, okay?” Ruthie motioned to my bed. “If you truly feel up to going then we will.”
I nodded and downed the rest of the hot tea. “Deal.” I put the mug down and curled up in my bed. The soft, low voices of Kaleb and Ruthie lulled me to sleep. Once I started to fade there was no stopping sleep from claiming me. The darkness dragged me under.
I rolled over to see Pete staring down at me. I blinked up at his gray eyes. “Why are you watching me sleep?”
“I was debating on waking you up to let you know that your wound reopened, but it didn’t seem to be bothering you so I was just going to put a towel under you.” He held up a black towel.
I looked over at Ruthie and Kaleb still sitting on her side of the room. “Were you going to wake me and tell me I was bleeding?”
“Didn’t seem important, you were sleeping so deeply I didn’t want to risk waking you. Pete was worried about blood on the bed and the fact that it could cause a bio-hazard team to be called.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Let’s all not end up in quarantine, okay?” I sat up and rubbed my hands over my face, trying to clear the sleep away. “Did I miss anything important?”
“I just caught them up from this weekend, on everything.” Ruthie’s face fell a little bit and I knew it meant they now knew about my mother’s death.
I fell back on the bed. “Well, at least it’s done and over with. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, guys. I’m also sorry to have caused our second family death.”
“Sit up and I’ll patch up your side.” Pete tapped his foot against my bed. “Then we can head to the party and just…drink our cares away.”
I snorted. “I’m not of legal age.”
“Like that stops most of the college students here.” Kaleb laughed. “You’ll be with us, besides, it takes a lot to get us drunk. Perks of being a Child of the Apocalypse.”
I sat up and pulled my shirt over my head. I cringed as the stretching pulled on the wound. “Still want my super healing ability.”
“You said a trickster did this?” Pete traced the edge of the wound and I jerked at his cold fingers against my skin.
“Camille, is what Death called her. Apparently they have a past together.” Ruthie walked over. “We stitched it up, but I don’t have nearly your talent.”
“Kaleb, I need the first aid kit, and I need the thicker medical thread.” Pete shook his head. “Death should have been able to do a better job, where was he?”
I frowned, trying to remember. “I assumed he was right there with me.”
“He was, but he didn’t trust himself to stitch it up. He wanted to provide comfort instead.” Ruthie bit her lip. “It was just a rough situation, but my stitches held this long.”
“I must have just moved wrong while I was sleeping.” I looked down at the slice. Red angry skin rolled at the edges, the ripped thread sticking out from the small holes created by the needle Ruthie had used. Fresh blood gathered in the crater of my skin. “I don’t remember it
being that big.”
“Just a figment of your imagination.” Pete turned and grabbed the first aid kit from Kaleb. “Lean back and take a deep breath, because this is going to hurt.”
“We’ve already been through this once. I think I’ll be okay.” I leaned so that he had better access to the wound.
He threaded the needle and went to work. I clenched my eyes closed and bit my lip the entire time he sewed it shut. “There,” he said as he tied it off. “You’re going to be fine, it’ll be healed in a couple of days.”
“Why did it matter if a trickster did it or not?” I opened my eyes and wiped the tears that had gathered.
Pete stepped away from me and reached for an alcohol wipe to clean the needle off from my blood. “I’ve seen a wound like that before. It’s a particular blade made just for tricksters, they wield two swords with serrated blades.”
“Why?”
“Camille likes them because she used them to cut the wings off of angels. She keeps them like trophies.” Pete met my gaze. “She’s a terrifying being and I hope we don’t have to cross paths with her again.”
If we did I was going to make sure to take her head off with my scythe. “What time is Aeron’s party?”
“About an hour. We have time to get ready and drive out there.” Ruthie cupped my cheeks in her hands. “Only if you’re feeling up to it.”
“I’m fine, besides, I guess I should at least create one normal college memory. So why not a party? Mom’s not here to tell me no.” My voice hitched a little. “And dad probably doesn’t care as long as I’m with you guys.”
Ruthie nodded. “We’ll make sure you have a good time and get you taken care of.” She winked. “One night drunk may be all you need.”
I chuckled and stood. “I’m going to go get myself cleaned up and ready.” I held my hand up before Pete could protest. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep the stitches dry.” I gathered up what I needed and headed down the hall.
An hour later we pulled up to a huge Victorian house. The gray siding of the house complemented the black gutters and door. One large tower stuck up behind the house and the wrap around porch already supported fifteen people all with a beer or a red cup in their hands. In some cases both.
“I forgot Aeron doesn’t live on campus.” I looked up at the house. “So if he has a house, why are we all crammed in the dorms?”
Pete draped an arm over my shoulder. “Because this is Aeron’s party house. He can’t get away with parties like this on campus.”
“Ah, that explains everything.” I laughed.
Music blared from the house, the beat pulsing against me and raising my heartbeat and anxiety. “Someone get me a drink.” I was going to face this night head on, life was too short to not experience some of what college had to offer. Demons, Sins, the Devil, those weren’t on my list, but a college party? Why not?
Pete laughed and disappeared into the crowd. Ruthie stepped up to my side. “Have you ever drank before?”
“Nope, so this is going to be an adventure, isn’t it?” I walked towards the porch.
“I’ll make sure to stick close. Ground rules: don’t accept open drinks from people you don’t trust and don’t leave your drink unattended. Don’t mix beer and shots together.”
“Got it.”
Pete came out and handed me a red cup. “Enjoy.” He grinned and held his own cup up. “Cheers.”
“Cheers.” We knocked our plastic cups together and I took a big gulp and cringed as the alcohol laden fruit juice burned my throat. “What is this?”
“Jungle juice. So Everclear with juice.” He sipped his. “Nothing better to get drunk on.”
I took another sip and savored the burn. “I’ll trust you on that.”
Pete grabbed my arm and pulled me further into the crowd in the house. Ruthie went straight for the table where a big glass bowl sat. The red liquid sloshed around as she stirred it with the ladle before scooping some into an empty cup. Aeron stood behind the table with a beer in his hand. He met my gaze and raised his beer up and I nodded in greeting.
I took another big gulp and looked down at the now empty cup. “Another.” The burning in my throat eased up and I made my way to the table and put some more jungle juice in my cup. Aeron put a hand on mine.
“Slow down, Death, the night is still young.”
I met his gaze and raised a brow. “I’m not Death yet, and I’ve had a rough weekend, I’ll slow down after this cup.”
He shook his head. “It’s a good thing Ruthie is here to look after you.” He grinned. “Enjoy yourself.”
I raised my cup. “I’m trying.” I moved through the crowd, pushing against the people grinding up against each other. Ruthie and Pete moved from where they had been standing, leaving Jared standing in their spot. I frowned as I saw something flash behind him, much like I saw with demons. I shook my head, took a big drink and walked over to him.
The booze warmed my body and flushed my cheeks as I stalked over to the man I had been crushing on since I’d first met him. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing, I didn’t think you partied.” He yelled over the music.
“And I thought you held your own parties out in the desert.” I took another sip. “I can’t hear in here.” I cupped a hand over my ear in case he didn’t hear me.
He put an arm at the small of my back, his fingers brushing against my wound. I froze for a moment, taking a deep breath at the pain spreading from the small touch. He didn’t seem to notice and continued to lead me outside. We sat on the porch steps.
“Better?”
“Much.” The cool breeze wrapping around the house helped take the heat off and I closed my eyes, savoring the fact that it was still warm enough to be outside in the evening here. Unlike home where it was starting to snow, a home I wouldn’t have to see again if I didn’t want to. To an empty house without my mother’s nagging or her caring hugs.
I frowned and looked into my cup, the red liquid swirled and I took another drink, trying to knock back the sorrow that threatened me to tears.
“You okay?” Jared’s voice pulled my attention back to him.
His hair fell perfectly and I wanted to run my hand through it. I closed my eyes as the world started to turn a little. “I’m fine, sorry, I had a rough weekend.”
“Ah, so that’s why you’re here, to drown your woes away?” He chuckled. “I wanted to check out the party here, it’s said that Aeron throws the best ones.”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t know, this is my first one.”
“Well, why are we out here talking then? Why not get you another drink and explore the party?”
I looked around. “I’m here with some friends, I’m not sure where they are. But I should just check in with them.”
“Nonsense, if they were worried, they’d be looking for you. Why don’t you go in and grab us two more drinks and I’ll meet you at the back of the house where they’re playing games?”
Games sounded like a safe idea, and another drink wouldn’t hurt. I could still think straight and that’s not what I wanted. I walked back through the crowd and found Ruthie standing by the table. She hugged me. “Where were you?”
“I was on the porch talking to someone from class. Where were you? I turned around and you and Pete were gone. I haven’t even seen Kaleb since we’ve gotten here.” I poured more juice and Aeron scowled at me.
I kept his gaze as I picked up a second cup. “I’m getting him a drink too. We’ll be out back where they are playing games.”
“Promise me, you’re not going to go out catching frogs?” Aeron put a hand over his face. “The last thing I need is Death’s daughter skinny dipping in the lake.”
I smiled. “I can’t get my stitches wet, but that sounds like a lot of fun to watch.” I filled up the other cup and turned to Ruthie. “I’m fine, I won’t move from out back without letting you know.”
She didn’t smile, she crossed her arms, her cup danglin
g from one hand. “I looked on the porch and you weren’t there.”
“I was sitting on the front steps with Jared, I don’t know how you missed us. Why would I lie to you?”
She shook her head. “You’re right, you wouldn’t. I’ll come check up on you in a few minutes. I’m going to go dance.”
“Enjoy, I’m going outside and relaxing.” I made my way through the crowd and found my way to the kitchen. Pizza sat on the counter and I remembered the whole reason we were coming here tonight was so we didn’t have to order food. I loaded up a plate with a few pieces and cradled one of the cups in the crook of my elbow as I avoided people and made it outside. Jared sat in a lawn chair facing the small lake behind the house with an empty chair next to him.
I sat down and put the plate on my lap before handing him his drink. “I’m starving, I haven’t eaten since this morning.”
“Then by all means, eat.” He chuckled. “Aeron runs a contest for the girl who can bring him back the most frogs. I’m not sure what the prize is, but do you think you could catch more than five frogs in the lake?”
I shook my head. “Aeron is a friend of mine, I promised him I wouldn’t go skinny dipping in the lake.”
A woman popped up from the water holding her hands up in the air. A frog squirmed between her fingers. She cheered and started to swim towards the edge of the lake. I saw the look in Jared’s eyes. He looked at her like he could devour her in one bite and I suddenly wanted to jump in the lake. “Besides, I have stitches and I can’t get them wet.”
“Got hurt again?” He turned that look towards me and his lips quirked up in a smile. “You’re a bit clumsy, aren’t you?”
I shook my head. “Like I said, it was a bad weekend.”
He cupped his hand against my cheek. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I closed my eyes and savored the cool skin against my heated cheek. “It’s okay, just… I lost my mother this weekend, and I’m not ready to face it.”
Children of the Apocalypse Complete Trilogy Page 17