by R. Mason
“Good thing we don’t have a time limit,” Amethyst muttered to herself, and the other two stayed eerily silent, “Dear God, tell me we don’t have a time limit.”
“It doesn’t exactly,” Harper said cautiously, and Amethyst tried not to glare. She needed to get her hands on another punching. Preferably one that was tall, handsome, and infuriatingly calm.
“After the Summer Solstice, there’s a month where nothing Volkov makes will work,” Dylan turned a page, “He always says it’s because of something technical, but I think it’s because he wants to take a holiday.”
“Are you joking?” Amethyst gaped, “Is it technical or is it not?”
“It’s technical,” Harper clarified, “Dylan, shut up.”
“Sir, yes sir.”
Amethyst flicked through the pages, reading the list as it got longer and longer. There were endless ingredients that seemed harder and harder to find. The more Amethyst read, the less hopeful she felt.
“We need all this?” She said, her heart in her stomach, “We can’t get all of this before the Summer Solstice. It’s in a few days.”
“Oh, she knows her stuff,” Dylan complimented, “Sure we can do it. Harper knows people, and I’m good at pestering them to the point where they give us what they want.”
“That’s the thing,” Harper pursed his lips, “My mum isn’t exactly happy with me right now since I haven’t been home in a while. She is the source of all my contacts.”
“So, she won’t help you?” Amethyst waved the paper, “What the hell are we meant to do? Have you told her what’s going on?”
“Yes, and she doesn’t care. She said she doesn’t want to get involved in this kind of thing anymore.”
“Apologise, then,” Amethyst groaned, “Go back, kiss her feet, get the damn contacts. What if she hurts someone else while you’re sitting on your ass?”
“Amethyst,” Dylan gently said, his hand on her arm, “It isn’t his fault.”
“I know that!” Amethyst pulled away from him, “It’s mine! It’s always my fault, okay? Everything that’s happening is because of me, because I didn’t go with her. Faye got hurt, you got hurt, Harper’s mum is now apparently shunning him. I just- I want that thing gone.”
“It’s not that easy,” Harper said placatingly, but Amethyst wasn’t in the mood to be placated. She shook her head, glaring at him.
“Don’t patronise me,” He opened his mouth to say something else, but Amethyst’s phone started buzzing in his pocket. Trying to calm herself down, Amethyst answered the call without looking at the ID, “Hello?”
“Oh, thank God,” Her mum’s anxious voice came through, and Amethyst’s anger slipped away into concern, “You need to get home, right now.”
“What? Why?”
“Who is it?” Dylan mouthed, but Amethyst just shook her head.
“What’s wrong?” She said when Rida didn’t reply, “Mum?”
“Just please get home. I came home from work early and you weren’t here. Get home.”
Amethyst blinked when the line cut off. Harper and Dylan were looking at her in concern, and she didn’t know what to do.
“I have to go.”
“Wait-”
“Amethyst!”
Dylan and Harper called out for her, but she was already out the door.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The house was quiet when Amethyst walked in. Her keys still in her hand, she looked around for any signs of something having happened. The windows weren’t broken, the door wasn’t kicked in, there were no screams of terror, just silence. Then Rida’s voice came from the kitchen.
“I know!” She shouted, “But this is my daughter we’re talking about and- no- don’t patronise me-”
“Mum?” Amethyst said, walking into the kitchen. Rida was stood by the breakfast bar, one hand gripping her phone and the other gripping the surface. Her knuckles were white, until she looked up and saw Amethyst.
“Oh my God,” She breathed, and hung up the phone without saying goodbye. She practically leapt around the counter and her hands were on Amethyst’s face before she knew what was happening, “Are you okay? Is Faye? Please tell me you’re not hurt.”
“What?” Amethyst took Rida’s hands in her own and tried to read the situation from her mum’s features, “Why would I be hurt? What happened? You called me, and I panicked,” Rida’s eyes were flicking over her body, clearly checking for any injuries, “Mum!”
“The school,” Rida shook her head, composing herself, “I got a call letting me know something had happened out on the football field and I know Faye has practise today so-”
“What happened at the school?”
“Four kids,” Rida bit her lip, “Dead. We’re not going to be able to keep this quiet, it’s already in the news. This wasn’t an animal attack either. There are witnesses who say they saw an old man and a woman leave the scene. For a second I thought- I thought that maybe you-”
“Mum,” Amethyst’s head was reeling, but her priority right now was to stop Rida’s heart from beating so fast, “It’s okay. I’m okay,” The panic from earlier suddenly filled her again, “Have you got a hold of Faye?”
“I thought that she would be with you.”
“No,” Amethyst swallowed, “No, she wasn’t with me. I’ll call her.”
Amethyst’s vision was fuzzy as she searched for Faye’s contact. She prayed it was just from panic and that she wasn’t going to turn again. It had been under two weeks and she had already nearly turned twice, and actually turned once, when it wasn’t even the full moon. Kamini was screwing with her wolf and it was getting tiring. Constantly panicking about whether or not she could control herself was taking its toll on Amethyst’s energy. It was at an all-time low.
“Hello?” Faye answered the phone confusedly, and all of Amethyst’s thoughts left her head so the girl on the other end of the line was the only thing in there.
“Oh, thank God.”
“Why are you calling me?” Faye asked, “I’m sure Harper can talk to you about whatever it is you wanted to talk to me about.”
“Why didn’t you go to football practise today?”
“Are you stalking me now?” Faye sounded angry, and Amethyst bit her lip to stop herself from arguing back. It wouldn’t help. All she needed to know was that Faye was safe, and she knew that now. There was no reason for her to stay on the phone.
“How’s your eye? And your lip?” Amethyst silently berated herself for being so predictable.
“Fine,” Faye sounded less angry, at least, so there was that.
“What about your shoulder?”
“Not good,” Faye sighed, “That’s why I wasn’t at practise. The one thing left in my life that’s completely normal, and I don’t have that anymore either.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re not the one that did this to me,” Faye’s voice was resigned, like it was a sentence she had to repeat over and over again. It was like the mantra that had been going through Amethyst’s head all day. One that she was decidedly ignoring right now.
“Then I’m sorry I can’t be normal.”
“Amethyst,” Faye said, and the use of her full name felt so formal, impersonal, like it was three steps back from where they were a minute ago, “You can’t control who you are. None of us can.”
“I know,” The words felt empty on Amethyst’s tongue, like she didn’t really believe them. When bad things happened around her constantly, it was hard to keep blaming it on coincidence, “I have to go. My mum’s a wreck.”
“Why? What happened?” Faye asked, concerned, and it was the nicest emotion she had had throughout the entire conversation, and it wasn’t even directed at Amethyst.
“Four kids died today, at practise.”
“What?” Faye screeched, “What happened? Is Yeva okay? Who died? Were they all on the team?”
“I don’t know,” Amethyst rubbed a hand down her face, wishing she had all the answers, “I just- I
don’t know. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t have any.”
Looking behind her, Amethyst saw Rida moving around the kitchen, a permanent crease in her brow as she made two cups of tea, probably so she wasn’t just stood idly. Amethyst felt her jaw clench. She couldn’t stand idly. If she was one of the only people who knew what was really going on, she had to do something.
“This is ridiculous,” Faye said, suddenly angry, “Are you going to cut me off forever? Is this some sort of werewolf existential crisis you’re going through?”
“You still don’t know everything, Faye,” Amethyst explained, tired to her bones, “There’s more to it.”
“Then tell me!” Faye yelled, “We’re meant to share everything. When did you start keeping secrets from me?”
When I fell in love with you.
“I’m not keeping secrets,” Amethyst said instead, closing her eyes, feeling tears growing in the corners of them.
“Please,” Faye’s earlier fury left her, and she just sounded tired, as tired as Amethyst was, “Don’t push me out. You’re not keeping me safe by keeping me at a distance. Look what happened last time,” Amethyst went to reply, but Faye interrupted her before she could, “And that isn’t a dig. I’m not blaming you. I just want to be in the know, Amethyst. If I know everything I need to, then I can defend myself, or at least know what I need to defend myself from.”
Amethyst blinked away her tears, and considered. In the end, the decision she knew she was going to make was entirely selfish. It was dangerous for Faye to be near her, Amethyst knew that. She still wanted Faye close, though.
“Okay,” She said before she could change her mind, “Come over. I’ll tell you everything.”
◆◆◆
Amethyst gulped down her tea despite it being hot enough to burn. She glanced at her phone again, just waiting for it to light up. She had texted Yeva a few minutes ago, asking if she was okay. No reply. Not just that, but she was waiting for Faye to arrive too. Rida had to go to the station about the murders, but left with strict instructions that Amethyst had to stay in the house, and lock all of the doors and windows while she was inside.
Technically, she wasn’t allowed guests, but Faye was practically family so Amethyst was going to assume her mum would make an exception.
When there was a knock on the door, Amethyst nearly fell out of her chair. This was it. This was when everything would be out in the open, and Faye would have the choice of whether to stay or go. Amethyst wasn’t sure which one she would prefer. With Faye’s safety in mind, she should hope the girl would choose to go. In her heart, though, Amethyst desperately wanted her to stay.
The air seemed to stand still when Amethyst opened the door, the handle glued to her skin, so she couldn’t let it out of her grip, her feet planted on the floor so she couldn’t move aside to let Faye in.
She looked good, if not for the bags under her eyes. Faye had probably been having about as much sleep as Amethyst. That amount being none.
“Hi,” Faye said awkwardly, he hands in her pockets, as if they were strangers.
“Hey,” Amethyst pursed her lips, then forced herself to make room for Faye to walk past. She let the other girl lead the way. If she had to tell her everything, Faye should decide where they did it.
Quietly, Faye walked over to the living room and sat in the middle of the sofa. Feeling as if that was a clear sign to stay away, Amethyst sat in the arm chair by the kitchen.
“So,” Faye prompted, staring at the ground instead of where Amethyst was sitting, “What am I missing?
Amethyst swallowed, then told her everything. From meeting with Harper, to finding out what Kamini really wanted from her, and everything that had happened that day.
“She can’t have you,” Faye shook her head, “You’re not giving in to her.” Amethyst didn’t reply, “This potion,” Faye cleared her throat, blinking as if trying to stop tears, “Or whatever it is, it can stop her? Kill her?”
“I don’t know,” Amethyst averted her gaze when Faye’s eyes met hers, “Harper explained it to us rather than Volkov. The list of ingredients is way too long, though, and Summer Solstice is in a few days. There’s no way we can do it.”
“There has to be-”
“No,” Amethyst looked back at Faye, “If we’re going to kill Kamini, it will have to be in the basic way. The gruesome way. We don’t get a magical way out of it.”
Faye stayed silent, staring at Amethyst like she was seeing a new side to her. Honestly, Amethyst had no idea what expression she could be pulling. She felt angry, sure, but there was an emptiness there too. When you’ve been dealing with something horrific for so long, it becomes yesterday’s news. Amethyst was starting to come to terms with what was her life. She was in a world of monsters now, and this was just her first encounter.
“So, Harper,” Faye raised her eyebrows, seemingly trying to be more light-hearted, “What’s happening there?”
“He’s helping me deal with my anger,” Amethyst said, “And he was the one that convinced me to save myself as well as you.”
“What?” Faye frowned, her dark eyebrows drawing together and creating a line in her pale forehead, “You were just going to go with her? Be her little werewolf pet?”
“If it would save you.”
Something changed in Faye’s face, then, as if there was recognition there, a dawning realisation. She shook her head slowly.
“You’re an idiot.”
“Yeah.”
They looked at each other for a moment, and just like that, all of Amethyst’s emotions built up at once. Tears were sliding down her face before she knew what was happening, and she was sobbing in the middle of her living room for no good reason.
After a moment’s hesitation, Faye came to kneel in front of her and pulled Amethyst into an awkwardly positioned hug.
“We’re going to be okay,” Faye whispered, “You’re not going to have to go with her, and you’re not going to lose me, no matter how badly this goes.”
“You deserve better than this,” Amethyst mumbled into Faye’s hoodie, “I’m just going through hell and I’m dragging you with me.”
“I’d gladly go to hell if it meant staying by your side,” Faye pulled away and made Amethyst meet her eyes, holding her chin in her delicate hands, “That’s what we do. We’re Faye and Amethyst, for Christ’s sake. One without the other is a book without its pages,” Faye closed her eyes, her fingers tapping on Amethyst’s shoulders, eventually stilling after the girl had steeled herself. She looked up at Amethyst, and her eyes took her breath away. They were alight with fire, “You are the strongest person I know. Everything I’ve ever done, or will do, will be because of the strength you’ve given me. You’re more than Kamini, you’re more than anyone. You’re everything.” Faye moved some hair from Amethyst’s face and put it behind her ear, “I wouldn’t want anyone else to lead me into battle.”
It was hard to think, with Faye’s hand so close, but Amethyst managed a small smile.
After everything that happened, everything that Amethyst had failed to stop and lied to her best friend about, Faye still believed in her. She had faith where Amethyst had none. If someone who had been through some of the worst that Kamini had done could still believe in Amethyst, then she could too. Though it could take some time.
Unthinkingly, Amethyst covered Faye’s hand by her ear. She closed her eyes.
“What are we going to do?” Amethyst took in a deep breath, trying to get herself together and stop sniffling like a baby.
“We’re going to kick some asses.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The assembly was on Monday. Family and friends of the people who died could come in mourning clothes. Amethyst didn’t know how she was supposed to feel. It felt odd, foreign, to be surrounded by people in mourning when you weren’t. She wasn’t mourning. She was just stewing in guilt.
Herself, Faye, and Dylan sat together, watching the memorial video that was made over the weekend. Fo
ur kids’ faces, smiling and alive, were displayed on the screen. Two of them were teammates of Faye’s, Hope and Layla. The other two were friends and family of the teammates. Amethyst didn’t know Jake, but Hannah was Yeva’s adoptive sister. The girl herself and her parents were stood at the back of the room dressed in all black, tears in their eyes.
When Faye was asked to say a few words before the assembly, Amethyst wanted to drag her away and hiss at the head teacher. Before she had the chance, Faye was nodding and thanking him for the opportunity.
Watching Faye walk up to the front, Amethyst’s heart clenched. She was going to be fine. That’s what Amethyst had to keep telling herself. Dylan nudged his knee against hers to get her attention.
“You’re practically vibrating,” He pointed out, smiling slightly.
“Shut up, she’s about to start.”
“I- uh-” Faye swallowed, pulling her hoodie sleeves down over her hands. Even though she wasn’t especially close to the girls who died, she was still their friend, and so got to come in in her own clothes- “I’ve been the captain of the football team for nearly a year now. I love all my girls, and we’ve been doing so well. Hope and Layla were bright, funny, and talented friends. Hope always brought food for everyone after every match, and I would never have tried pepper on pizza if it weren’t for her,” Faye smiled slightly at the memory, “She held your hand if you were nervous, and smiled even when we lost. I don’t know what we’ll do without her light,” She pursed her lips and took in a breath through her nose. Amethyst could hear how fast her heart was beating. Dylan placed a hand on her arm like he knew she wanted to run up there and whisk Faye away.
“Layla was practically the opposite,” Faye’s nose scrunched up, “I don’t think there was a time I spoke to her when she wasn’t in a bad mood,” She looked at the rest of her team for agreement, and smiled at their nods, “We always worked to cheer her up, but really we didn’t need to. The fact that she was negative a lot of the time meant she could kick us into line when we needed it.