by Lila Rose
Jezanna walked over to stand in front of me. Taking my hands in hers, tears shone in her own eyes, like mine.
“I will only bring him up this once and then never again. None of us, even his people, are happy with what he’s done to you. He’ll not listen to our reasoning. He thinks he knows best. We want you to know that what he’s done has no involvement to what we think of you. We all care for you, Leila. You have become a part of our clan. Nothing will change that.” She wrapped her arms around me.
“Here, here,” Xavier whispered. I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I broke down once again, this time in Jezanna’s arms.
I still had people who cared. I wasn’t alone. I didn’t have to be alone. My world had not ended.
Only a part of my soul had left me when he’d crushed me the way he did.
Eventually, I pulled away, wiped my face and said, “Enough of this emotional crap. Life goes on, right, and that begins with college. Sorry, for being a blubbering idiot.”
“You don’t need to apologize. Go and get ready. We’ll drive you. Otherwise, you’ll be late. We already understand why you’d want to go, and we think you’re a strong woman, Leila Morgin.” Jezanna smiled.
Snorting away the compliment, I said, “Hey, I didn’t see a car out there.”
Both of them had a cunning grin upon their faces, but it was Xavier who answered, “Jezanna had me park at the end of your drive, behind some trees.”
“Smart girl. If you had of shown up in a car, I wouldn’t have answered the door in the first place. You’re nearly as tricky as me. Though, now you’re living with me, I’m sure I could teach you a few extra things.”
We pulled into the car park with all of us in the front. Xavier was driving, Jezanna in the middle and then me. She grabbed my hand as my heart rate accelerated when I saw a certain Hummer parked near us.
Can I do this? I knew I was brave. I knew I could be strong, but would all of it fall away once seeing him? Would he try to talk to me? Would he want to explain? Question was, did I want to hear anything that came from his mouth? There was only one way to find out. I opened the door. The cool air from the overcast day rushed into the car, bringing on a shudder. Funnily, usually the wind didn’t affect me.
“We’ll be here to collect you after schooling has ended,” Xavier offered.
“Thanks, guys. I, uh, I really appreciate everything.” I nodded. Not wanting to hear a response, I quickly closed the door. Pulling my hood up over my head, I turned and made my way into the building. I had history, with him.
Time to put on my big-girl knickers.
I walked in with my heart near jumping from my body. I didn’t look around and kept my hood up. My heart slowed a little once I saw our—my—desk was empty. I slid my backpack off and sat down. I could feel all eyes were on me. Taking no notice of them, I grabbed out my history textbook and pencil case. I can do this. He isn’t here and that makes it better. I have this under control.
“Can you move so I can sit next to my boyfriend?”
Fuck me drunk.
Of course I knew straight away who that annoying voice belonged to. How could he bring her here? Why would she want to bother with school? Why did he even bother himself? I kept my gaze down on the desk, my hood hiding most of my face. Breathing deeply through my nose to calm my heart was a big mistake. His scent filled me up and I felt he was standing to the side of the desk, while she-devil was in front.
The room filled with whispers and giggles.
Jenna was kind enough to say something aloud, “Oh, my God, he dumped her already. Come on, who’s paying up? I won the bet.”
Then a guy laughed and said, “Any wonder she got dumped. I would have done the same if that hottie came my way. Then again, I wouldn’t have touched her in the first place.”
“Hello, anyone in there at all? I said move.” MaryJane tapped the desk with her knuckles and then sighed. “Isaac, does she have brain damage as well as her deformity?” The whole class erupted in laughter.
My fist clenched in my lap. Couldn’t I just kill the bitch? I grabbed my stuff and moved to the opposite desk in the other back corner. No one usually sat there. No sooner had I flopped down when the chair next to me was pulled out and Darik sat in it.
“Le—”
“Don’t.” I spat. “I don’t want to hear it.” Pulling the hood down farther over my eyes, I pleaded, “Please, if you were ever really a friend of mine, please don’t talk to me. For my sake, leave me alone. I only ask you take care of Ty. Protect him from her cruel words.”
“He won’t want to be around us with her there. He won’t agree with what my sire is doing, like others don’t—”
“Darik, please, just—”
“If he chooses to be around us, then you have my word she will not harm him in any way.”
I nodded and said no more. The door opened and Dr Geffen came in and began talking. I was grateful he didn’t say anything to me about having my hood up through class. I needed it to hide the view to my left.
The one positive thing I achieved was writing down different ways I could murder she-devil. I didn’t even care if Darik looked at what I was doing. He gave no indication he was, so I continued.
By the end of the session, I felt remotely cheerful. I’d come up with 100 gruesome ways to kill her. My favourite was a little boring to some maybe, but the best for me was looking into her eyes as I pushed the stake through her chest. Only I wouldn’t pull it out and end her life quickly. I’d have to have a little fun first.
Okay, I was sounding like a lunatic. I would harm a person who was endangering someone I cared for, but he meant nothing to me anymore. Besides, at least I hoped he suffered enough by just being around her.
Darik rose from his seat straight away and quickly placed his hand on my shoulder before he left. I waited for everyone else to exit the classroom and destroyed the evidence of my craziness, ripping it into tiny pieces and throwing it in the bin. At least it had made me happy for a little while.
By lunch, I made my way to the library, in need of some quiet time. The whole way there, I heard a range of jibes at my expense from those still immature enough to revel in gossip and low digs. It was getting to me. For once, I’d hoped maybe at least a few would be able to put aside their torment and consider I may be hurting enough since I’d been dumped, thrown away and made a fool of.
In the library, I found Jim at his desk. He looked up smiling as I approached, but his worry was transparent in his eyes. No doubt he’d already heard what happened. It was that small of a campus that even the staff was brought up to speed on the student gossip. I wished I’d never brought him here to meet the librarian. But I’d wanted Jim to meet the man who’d made me happy, content. I regretted it. I regretted so much.
Placing on my pretend smile, I said, “Hey, Jim, how you doing today?”
“Miss Morgin, so good to see you. My day’s been fine, and yours?” He gave me that look, which said, ‘Don’t lie to me, young lady.’
“Not too good.”
He sighed. “I know. However, you’re strong enough to get through this, but, if you need anything, you know to just ask. And you know, he didn’t deserve you anyway. Took you away from me and your corner. So get back to it. It’s missed you.”
My bottom lip trembled. “Thanks,” I uttered and walked off before I started to bawl like a baby.
I hated crying. I’d get snotty, my eyes would go all red and puffy and then sometimes I’d get that mouth bubble thing going on from all the slobbering. It wasn’t something for me, and I tried not to do it too much, especially in front of people.
I had already cried enough.
Without realising, I found myself rubbing my chest. My heart felt raw.
Would that feeling ever go away?
Shaking my head, I opened my lunch bag. Jezanna had organised my food for me while I’d been showering. It was one of her special sandwiches, a bit of everything included in it. She knew it was my favourite. It was s
o big I had trouble getting my mouth around it. Still, it was way worth the struggle. She had also packed some biscuits, an apple and a pear. If she kept living with me, I would definitely appoint her my lunch wench every day. She could take over from Gregory doing it.
I knew that she-devil wouldn’t allow Gregory to cook for me again. And even though I’d also pushed them all away, I’d miss them.
Shuffling footsteps came from the right side of me. I looked around to see Sofia hiding behind a bookcase. What was she doing up here? Had she come to make fun of me to then run back to Jenna so they could have a big laugh?
“What do you want?” I asked.
She came out from her hidden spot and took a few hesitant steps over to me then stopped.
Looking up, I held back my gasp. Besides the fact she was blushing, her perfect pale face had a big black bruise covering her right cheek and eye. And even though she tried to hide it under a heap of makeup, it was too obvious to go unnoticed.
“What happened to you?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “Nothing. I, well… Sorry, I don’t know what I’m doing here.” She shrugged. “I heard you came here, so I thought I’d come and have a look, and yep, here you are. But now… now I don’t think… No, it’s useless. No one can help. God,” she groaned. “I’ve gone and said too much and you probably think I’m a freak. Oh, sorry.”
“Don’t fret. But why all the gibbering and why would you come and seek me out? Are you after an exclusive about the breakup so you can run and tell the rest about the find you made? Well, sorry, it’s not happening. You can run along now.” I flicked my hand at her in a shooing motion.
Closing my eyes in exhaustion, I placed my head in my hands. Hadn’t I already been through enough?
Shaking my head to rid the confusion, I glared up at her. She couldn’t hide the quiver that passed over her body when she met my mismatched gaze. It happened to many people. Except Isa—ah, Jezanna.
Sofia quickly looked away and down to her hands, which were clasped together in front of her, and then she glanced behind her. Did she expect to find someone? Obviously it wasn’t only being in my presence that had her so jittery. Scared even. Still, why would she come to me? All she had to do was talk to one of her many friends.
The silence was killing me. I watched her flick her long, dark red hair over her shoulder and blow at her fringe to get it out of her eyes. Dear God, then she went back to having her hands together in front of her.
Am I going to have to do all the work? Seems like it.
“So, what do you want?” I asked again before taking a bite of my apple.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have come to find you, b-but I need help. I have no one else to go to. No one who would believe me. I thought you may, but then again, maybe not. It’s strange. It’s all too much, no one will understand. Except, maybe, you. Then again, why would you help me?” She shrugged. “I’ve done nothing for you except be mean and I’m really sorry for it. I am.”
Tears welled in her eyes and then overflowed down her cheeks. Still, she continued, “I can’t comprehend how much you have gone through and all on your own. Maybe you’re stronger than anyone else here. I really think you are, because if it had been me, I would’ve killed myself by now. But this, what’s happening to me, I can’t do it on my own. I’m not strong like you.”
Everything she’d said held truth. I was positive of it.
She stood there wiping away her tears while keeping her gaze on me. What was I supposed to say? How could she expect me to help her with whatever was going on when she was one of the many who’d given me hell for so long. Then again, she was right. I was a stronger person than most—in some parts—and I could see she definitely needed help, but I wasn’t sure I was the right person to do it. Didn’t I have enough going on in my own life to deal with without adding more to it?
I wanted to be selfish and say eff off, but that wasn’t me. It would have taken her a lot of strength to come and talk to me, so I couldn’t turn my back on her. Even though I knew she would on me.
“Afternoon sessions are going to start soon. How about we ditch and you can tell me what’s going on?”
Her eyes widened. “Really?” she squeaked with surprise. “You’re willing to help me?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “Only if I can.”
She sat down next to me. My own eyes widened when she started to reach her hand out to touch mine, only uncertainty quickly washed over her features. Instead, she blushed and looked down. “Thank you so much. I really don’t deserve it.”
Ignoring the deserving part, I said, “Don’t thank me just yet. Start explaining.” Opening my lunch bag again, I pulled out my cookies and offered one to Sofia. She took it, but didn’t eat it. Instead, she held onto it as if it were a lifeline. I glanced at the clock. It was time for phys ed.
Snorting wasn’t an option, but I wanted to. Because I felt it funny that I was ditching class with someone from Jenna’s group.
Sofia looked terrified sitting next to me and I couldn’t figure out why.
She took a deep breath. “Last month, I was out with some people. I was supposed to get a lift home with Bertina, but she went off with Malcolm in her car, so Jason offered to give me a lift home with him and Jenna. He dropped Jenna off first. Maybe I should have gotten out then, but I was excited to be alone with him.” She stopped, a blush rising to her cheeks.
She groaned and admitted, “I’d been crushing on him for some time. We were nearly at my house when he pulled over and turned in his seat to look at me. Smiling, he reached out to run his hand down my cheek.” I wasn’t sure if she knew she was following the action with her own hand on her cheek only to fall away when she grimaced. “He went lower. His hand reached under my top. I tried to get his hand off me, but he’s so strong. By this time, I was crying and he was laughing, saying he knew how much I wanted this, how much I liked him. I kept telling him to stop, but he didn’t. He ripped my top off.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “I somehow got up enough courage to punch him in the balls. When he was doubled over, I got out and ran.”
Reaching out, I placed my hand on her arm. She looked down at it. I waited for her to pull away from my touch, but she didn’t. If anything, she found courage from it and continued. “He caught up to me. I’d made it to my neighbour’s backyard, but before I could call out for help, his hand was over my mouth. He told me not to worry, because soon I’d know more about him than anyone else did.” She laughed humourlessly. “He wanted us to be together. However, the only problem was he’d have to share me with five others like him. He didn’t think that mattered though. He said I’d love the attention. Then he bit me. Right here.” She pulled her shirt away from her shoulder. I could see the scar of teeth marks embedded into her. Shit, I wasn’t sure they were human teeth marks. He acted and sounded like something different.
“What is he, Sofia?” I asked through clenched teeth.
She gasped and dropped her hand away from her shoulder to her mouth. More tears flowed.
Behind her hand, she uttered, “You do believe me. You know there are other things.”
“Yes. What is he?” I repeated.
“I’m, I mean, he’s… we can change into large dogs,” she cried before covering her face with her hands.
I wasn’t sure if she was crying for what had happened to her or for the fact she was hiding something from me. I could taste deception on the tip of my tongue.
Which meant I had to find out more. “Sofia, calm down. I need to know everything.” She sniffed, pulled up her shirt and wiped at her face. She took a couple of deep breaths to compose herself and looked at me.
“I knew, I knew you would understand. I don’t mean because of your eyes, but, because you’re a witch, right? You’ll put a spell on him or something, from far away, right?” She nodded at me, hope shining in her eyes.
A burst of laughter fell from my lips, but I quickly shut it down. “Sorry,
Sofia, I’m far from a witch. Maybe there are some out there, but I’m not one—”
“But then how? How can you help me? You can’t, can you?” She whimpered. “I’m going to be their sex slave for the rest of my life.”
“Wait, what? Sofia, what do you mean sex slave? Are they raping you?”
She nodded, a sob caught in her throat. I placed my arms around her and held her tightly.
Disgust crawled up my throat. They had no right to touch her, to hurt her. Payback was a given, and I thrived on the fact they were shifters, which meant the human authorities were too fragile to deal with it, so it would come down to me. My teeth throbbed at the thought of ripping out their throats for what they had done.
Sorrow brought tears to my eyes. “It’ll be okay, Sofia. Even though I’m not a witch, I can help you. No one should be put through what you have. You have my word, Sofia. I will stop them.”
“You will? How? When?”
“Where and when do you usually meet? I can’t do anything here at college. No one can know about any of this. They have to continue living their ignorant lives.”
“I know, I get that. Um, the next time is Friday night. Jason wants me and his friends out in the woods, behind his place. But, you don’t have to come. I’ll think of something else. I’ll—” Something tugged at the back of my mind and I knew doubt was the cause of it. I didn’t trust Sofia.
“It’s all right. I’ll be there,” I interrupted.
“Thank you,” she sniffed.
“Like I said, don’t thank me yet.”
“L-Leila?” Ty called from a few rows down. Sofia’s whole body stiffened.
“Hey, Ty. Down the end,” I called.
I could hear his approaching steps, as well as his cane hitting the floor. I smiled up at him once he came into sight. Not that he would notice my smile, but ever since he started hanging with us, it always made me happy to see him.