Time was ticking away, she could all but hear the slam of three doors and chatter. Hunter stood his ground. "Angel, they've seen my car."
How could he be placid?
Meredith is going to kill me. I'm screwed.
"Look at me." He held her face in his hands. "Everything will be fine."
The door unlocked and swished open. She jumped away from Hunter as if she was electrocuted.
"Luxor, I'm ho—" Meredith stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the stranger in her home.
Luxor exchanged glances with Hunter, knowing Meredith would leap into the worst possible scenario and it would be a miracle to get out of.
"I can explain," Luxor blurted out immediately, her eyes darting around the room, not giving Meredith time to dwell at the sight before her.
Meredith was stoic, her former high society aura had re-emerged, and mixed in contrast with her appearance, it was frightening. Her eyes were red rimmed and puffy, which made it all the more difficult to decipher which way the pendulum would swing.
She was surrounded by Evie, whose mouth had dropped to the floor, and Ayla whose rigid stance could survive a hit from the Titanic. They filtered into the background, setting themselves at the kitchen table to witness the drama about to unfold.
"I'm Hunter." He boldly stepped forward, and extended his hand.
Meredith surveyed his attire; ripped black jeans and vans, her eyes widening at his T-shirt. Emblazoned the words “Break All The Rules”, a revolver on either side, drops of vibrant crimson blood dripping from them.
Luxor had only just noticed and wanted to crawl under a rock and die before she'd get murdered.
Meredith clasped his hand and squeezed, giving it a slight shake. "What's going on here?" She wiped her hands at the back of her black drawstring pants. Her arm swung out, investigating the kitchen. Vegetable skins, and Band-Aid’s littered the benches, and floor, not helping their cause.
"I cut my fingers making you soup." Luxor held up her fingers, and wiggled them. "Hunter gave me a lift from the Village Bowl, because it was pouring, like badly, and was helping since I'm clueless about cooking, that's why he's here, only reason." Unable to stop the rambling as her anxiety kicked in.
Meredith looked between them, clear she was trying to pick up any evidence of lies. "Yes, cooking isn’t your forte. I’m just relieved there's no fire," Meredith told her, turning to the side. "So, Hunter, how do you know each other?"
“We’re study buddies.” His lips quirked to the side, delivering Luxor a secret devilish smile.
Luxor inwardly groaned, narrowing her eyes at him. She could only imagine the direction Meredith's mind would be travelling. Her wayward niece spending time with a guy who looked like he'd just gotten out of jail.
"Really?" Meredith replied, loosely crossing her arms across her chest. "Where are your books?"
"Obviously not now, like Luxor told you, I helped her cook." Hunters slung his hands in the back of his jeans, rocking on the balls of his heel. His stance was defiant, not intimidated by her at all. "Our assignment is online; you are welcome to view it if you'd like." He pointed to the laptop, facing Luxor. "It's in your Outlook email."
What was he playing at?
Luxor opened up her barely used mail account, scrolling down until she found an unfamiliar email address from a few weeks ago. She turned the laptop around and stepped away.
Meredith's eyes trailed over the e-mail, her eyebrows raising the more she read. "You received an A+ for the History. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Umm, still in shock." She turned towards Hunter to gauge any information.
Hunter gave a short curt nod. Luxor assumed he would explain later. He better explain. How in the heck had a not even started, solo assignment received a mark at all?
"Thank you. Luxor isn't the most studious," Meredith remarked, her mood seemingly switched. She poured a few glasses of lemonade from the fridge and offered one to Hunter. She looked him up and down, and assessed him. "You look very familiar."
"I live in Mount Beauty," Hunter replied bluntly, accepting the cup.
"Then why do you go to high school here? Surely there's a closer school," Meredith probed, her eyes landing on his tattoos, and leather jacket slung at the back of the stool.
“My school burnt down over the summer, and a group of us were transferred. Easy for me too since I work at the auto shop in The Village,” he said.
"Luxor you need to add the stock to the soup, the jug is already there for you."
Luxor bolted up, and moved towards the stove, pouring the murky liquid it into the pot and stirring. Even though it smelled delicious, the look of it was something to be desired. She was only half concentrating as Meredith continued to informally interview Hunter. Peering over her shoulder she could see it wasn't fazing him in the slightest, in fact if she didn't know him better she'd say he found it amusing.
"You really did help her cook?”
Luxor scuttled over, cradling her shoulders. "You look tired, why don't you go upstairs and I'll bring it up to you," she urged her hastily.
"Maybe it's for the best, it's been a hell of a couple of days," she croaked. "First the car, then...falling and don't get me started on the hospital wait."
"Wait, what happened to your car?" This was the first time Luxor had heard anything.
"It just stopped the other day on my way back from work. I had to get it towed. Evie will be taking you to school until I can get it fixed."
Luxor bit her tongue to prevent her from saying Evie takes her everywhere anyway.
"I can look at it if you want, it's probably something minor," Hunter volunteered, lowering the flame under the pot to simmer.
"You'd do that?" Meredith turned slightly before venturing upstairs.
"Sure, can't have Luxor missing study sessions with me."
Meredith gave him a nod of approval. "That would be lovely." Ayla had unwittingly taken over to aide her. "I swear I've seen him somewhere, I just can't remember where." She confessed in a hushed tone, leaving the room.
Hunter pulled out a stool, propping his feet on the bottom rung and turned towards Ayla sending her a satisfactory grin as if he had won a competition. Ayla scowled, her stern demeanour unchanged.
"Well that was interesting. Your aunt is a bundle of joy, guess she hasn't changed." Sarcasm laced his voiced.
“I don’t know why you keep calling her my aunt?” Luxor’s voice faltered. She rinsed a cloth under warm water, giving the bench a quick once over. "Besides you've just met her," she queried him. Hunter shrugged his shoulders, but his rigid stance told her otherwise. "Then why help her?"
Hunter tapped his fingers irritated against the counter. "I didn't do it for her, you should know by now where my priorities lie."
Evie who was unusually quiet, placed down her phone, a doe eyed expression in her eyes. "For what it’s worth, I think you two are sweet.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Luxor retorted.
"Thank you, Evie, my Angel has a problem with manners."
Evie silently squealed. If Luxor didn't have to get more information, she'd kick him out.
"Thank you, Satan. Now what's up with the email?" Luxor snapped at him.
"It's called saving your ass. I always have a backup plan."
Light footsteps entered the room, Hunter's easy-going demeanour disappearing immediately mirroring Ayla's. She pulled out a chair and sat as far away from him as she could while still being in the same room.
"Ayla," Hunter acknowledged her, only for her to roll her eyes. "That's really rude, considering your name. It means heavenly, doesn't it?"
Ayla ground her molars against each other, holding onto the edge on the chair. "I don't know, my father chose it."
Hunter snorted. "Yep, father. Suits you." He told her with condescension, clearly intent on breaking her.
Ayla straightened up. "Your name suits you too. Doesn't it mean to hunt?" she shot back, her voice raising an octave, her e
yes a stormy blue. "Who's your prey?"
Hunter and Ayla’s exchange increased the intensity in the room, the atmosphere was thick and palpable. Their dynamic was a mystery, and even though they were strangers there was an underlying issue. Luxor knew it wasn't a simple case of Ayla not liking his type, and silently she pleaded with her. It was well on its way on ending badly.
"What does your name mean Luxor? Is it short for anything?" Evie tore her eyes away from the bickering for a second.
"Just Luxor." Formerly known as Ellie, she wanted to add.
"That's debatable," Hunter said, slicing up a French stick with a serrated knife. "It could be De-Lux or Lux-urios." She knew he was antagonising her on purpose, and it wasn’t helping his cause.
Ayla rolled her eyes. "If you knew your geography, you’d know it’s a city in Egypt. Or it could mean light. I mean Lux translates to in Latin," she suggested matter-of-factly.
"So, I’m named after a city or a light bulb?" Luxor replied humourlessly, well aware of the irony of the latter one.
There was a darkness inside, no matter how happy she was, there was a pull dragging her into an abyss. The only people who could lessen the severity were Ayla, Evie, and Hunter on occasion.
"You certainly light up my world," Hunter teased, returning back, and messed up her already birds nest styled hair.
She bumped his shoulder with hers. "And you continue to be corny."
"And don't you love it." He laughed, earning a scowl.
Thankfully, Evie saved her from further humiliation. "Love that tattoo?" She pointed to a tattoo, Woe is Me, that was inscribed onto the opposite arm that Luxor had previously seen at the carnival. "What does it mean?"
"Hunter has to go now." Luxor grabbed Hunter’s wrist. Tingles injected on contact.
"It's Shakespearean," Hunter said, holding her hand firmly, increasing the intensity. "There's a deeper interpretation, as with everything."
"Such as?" Evie pried, eagerly engrossed at their physical contact.
"Life."
"And..." Evie prodded, the bubble of her chewing gum popping
Hunter plucked a bit of skin from the side of his thumb. “Misery,” he said and focused on Luxor.
"It's pretty dark," Luxor remarked.
"Lucky I have light then."
Ayla groaned, her displeasure clear. "Okay, thanks for helping you can go now, we have homework to do,” she directed venomously at him.
"Ayla," Luxor snapped at her, even though she had been practically pushing him out a minute ago.
Hunter ignored Ayla seemingly unfazed by her attitude. "What homework are you working on?" He scanned the empty table.
"Spiritual studies, mainly angel hierarchy. Specifically, the uncorrupt," Ayla told him. "We need to concentrate, so we'd appreciate it if you can go."
"Why study? Shouldn't you be familiar with this subject?" he told her smugly.
"Hunter." Luxor reached back and smacked him on the knee with a wooden spoon. She was stuck in the middle as if a preschool teacher reprimanding two naughty school children.
Spank me again and I'll show you how it's done.
Luxor gagged on her water, a violent cough spluttering out. Hunter rubbed her back in a circular motion, giving her a light tap.
"Seriously, can we concentrate on something more menial?" Ayla said frustrated, her face blotchy and vermillion.
"Like our supposed homework?" Evie replied sarcastically.
"I apologise dear heavenly one," Hunter sneered at Ayla and hopped off the stool. He leaned into Luxor's ear. "I'll be holding you to the red bikini."
Luxor moved so quickly their heads almost collided. "I'm going to show Hunter to the door." She pinched his inner elbow, sending him outside.
The air had a slight nip, the sky a salmon pink eradicating any evidence of the anger it exhibited just hours before.
Luxor shivered and hugged herself, his jacket dangling from her fingertips. She refused to return his jacket until he answered the question about the e-mail. He couldn’t keep diverting which only lead for new questions to arise.
Hunter reached out to snatch it away. Luxor stepped back. "What has you all feisty?" He smirked.
“You. You have this power to get underneath my skin,” she said. “You are driving me crazy.”
“Don’t pretend you don’t like it. Lying to someone is one thing, lying to yourself is sinful,” he said. “And friends don’t lie.” He walked off without a word.
Luxor opened her mouth to talk but the words had dried up on her tongue. She plopped down on the swinging chair, and Evie and Ayla joined her a minute later.
"Holy shit. What did he say?" Evie exclaimed.
"More like what did he do?" Ayla frantic voice streamed at her, propping down next to her.
There was no hiding it, Hunter's words as usual had hit her hard. "Nothing."
"Thank God he's gone, took his sweet time," Ayla sighed, her calm demeanour slipping back.
"Such a hypocrite. That's blasphemy," Evie seethed.
"Not if I'm really thanking him."
Luxor released the chain from under her top, needing strength for what she was about to do. "I need to ask for a favour?" She directed the question to Ayla, knowing Evie would be on board. "I've asked Hunter for a truce."
Ayla stilled at the sight of the gleaming gems twirling around Luxor's neck. An expression of wonder crossed her face, her fingers twitching. As if absorbing the words, she shook her head, averting her eyes.
"What!" Ayla paled, and screeched. She hopped up, becoming jittery and started to pace around. "No, no, no. You can't do it."
“Ayla, calm down. Geez,” Evie said.
"Why? Considering everything he's done, he doesn't deserve it," Ayla huffed, acting as if his actions were directed at her.
“Apart from being a pain, what has he done? Besides everybody deserves a chance," Luxor told her adamantly. Whether it was a statement for him or for herself she wasn't completely sure.
She vehemently shook her head. "Not him. Why Hunter?" Ayla stopped abruptly, her breathing speeding up.
Luxor tried to process why it was so important. It would be easier if they communicated only when they saw each other. But it wouldn’t be enough. Deep down she was drawn to him, the good and the bad, no matter how much she denied it. For now, she would have to.
“Mission H, remember?” Luxor said. Ayla had quietened down her pacing but she still was agitated. “I don't ask much of you but I'm asking please, put your differences aside, even for a day."
"We'll see, he is a creature of habit and will ultimately show his true colours," Ayla seethed.
Ayla fled at a rapid speed in a fluid motion, her blonde hair flowing as a wave of baby pink light enclosed in her petite frame.
“Hey, crazy, wait up,” Evie yelled after Ayla and waved her arms.
Ayla didn’t stop, not even as much as look back, but she eased up and walked slowly.
“What is going on with you?” Luxor asked once she had joined her side.
“Nothing.”
“Well that’s a pile of crap,” Luxor said.
“What does it matter, it’s not like my opinion matters,” Ayla said.
Hunter, she’s peeved about him.
Luxor hooked her elbow which stopped Ayla. “I don’t know why you’re so upset, you don’t have to be around him. I promise.”
“It’s my responsibility to look after you.” Her eyes glazed over.
“Believe it or not, I’ve been looking after myself for a long time. Your only job is to be a friend.”
Hunter had shown her a different side, softer, and she liked it. She refused to be one of those girls who would choose a guy over her friends, but there had to be a line. Luxor wouldn’t let Ayla slam his character. Apart from their verbal insults Hunter hadn’t given Ayla a reason to stereotype him.
“When he hurts you-” Ayla begin and Luxor shot her a warning look. “I’ll kill him, and don’t think I won’t.”
&nbs
p; Evie panted and finally caught up. “Okay I think someone is hangry, and for once it’s not me. Let’s go to the Village.”
“What the fudge is going on here?” Evie said, driving around and around and attempted to find a car parking space.
Yellow plastic barriers were erected and blocked all entrance and exits. After fifteen minutes she gave and ended parking in her own driveway.
“I’d say you can drop the proper f word instead of fudge,” Luxor said. The doors slammed in a click, click, click motion reminding Luxor of Meredith’s heels on the marble flooring in Hampton Cove which signalled her leaving her for the night.
“I think it’s the pastors’ daughter ingrained in me, if I swore for real and let it slip in front of my parentals I’ll be in deep shit,” Evie explained. “Besides food is always on my brain, it’s normal I say fudge a lot.”
Luxor had to agree with Evie on that point. She walked alongside in silence with Ayla a fair way ahead of them. Luxor gulped and shivered away the heebie jeebies as she entered the pathway to the creek. In the daytime a different dynamic was projected off it, and wasn’t as daunting, but she still experienced chills whenever she neared it.
Vibrant, yellow daffodils spread over one side of the pathway, the air permeated with their pleasant scent. A few floated above, joined by groups of chirping sparrows as the bubbling creek idled along at a languid pace, and gently swayed over rocks of all shapes and sizes. On the bridge, an elderly grandfather propped his toddler granddaughter on the edge and helped her throw bits of stale bread to the ducks below. After every plop, she would gurgle and clap her, her musical laughter a beacon of light and love, a stark contrast to the deep seeded dread Luxor had experienced there on multiple occasions.
Luxor opened up and absorbed the environment with a new appreciation and released her hair from the confines of the elastic. A mild breeze kissed her cheeks and tickled the back of her neck, and she inhaled deeply, tasting nature on her tastebuds, pure as it was intended. Luxor was subjected to perennial sulphur in which she knew was born from evil.
Unveiled: The Chronicles of Luxor Everstone Page 33