Chapter 23
Irush back to my room, using both hands to slam the door behind me. The force rattles the frame, and I place my forehead against the cold wooden door.
Mara, you are an idiot.
I squeeze my eyes closed and shake off the image of Crew standing before me in nothing but a towel.
He deserved what he got.
You have a job to do.
I move to the bathroom, picking out clothes for myself, and pause before the mirror. I look no different from the front, and everything within me tells me not to turn, but I grit my teeth and slowly twist to show my back to the reflection.
Don’t get distracted.
The awful discoloration has dulled, the wounds have closed, and now the only thing marking my back are large scabs, indicating the healing is working.
I gently lift my arms to assess the injury, and I can move my elbows past my shoulders with minimal pain.
A wide smile spreads across my lips, but I’m still not brave enough to unfold my wings.
I proceed with my routine, slipping into a black top and green pants provided to me, fastening the belt around my waist before lacing up my heavy combat boots for the journey ahead.
I brush my teeth three times before I get the taste of Crew’s blood out of my mouth, then gaze in the mirror once more.
I can’t shake the feeling of thick blood oozing down my throat and the sensation I experienced afterward—my entire body tingled with unease, but the pain subsided as soon as Crew’s blood touched my lips.
The passing minutes feel like hours until a soft knock finally sounds through the room. I rush to open it, expecting to find Crew on the other side. Anxiety fills me as I pull open the door, revealing Damien and Locke standing there instead.
“Good morning, good looking.” Locke smiles.
I step into the hallway with the large demons and close the door behind me.
“Morning,” I reply, looking toward Damien, who seems as tired as I feel.
Damien steps forward, positioning his body between Locke and me. “Crew is on the roof waiting for you to leave. He asked us to come get you.”
I place my hands on my hips. “He couldn’t come himself?”
Locke huffs. “Do you blame him?”
“No, I don’t,” I respond, resolutely.
“Well, we should get going then, shouldn’t we?” Damien motions to lead the way. “Crew is in an exceptionally foul mood this morning. I can’t imagine why.”
“Lucky for you, babe,” Locke chuckles.
We take turn after turn until I lose track of where we are, finally spotting the grand staircase leading to the elevator door.
Last night's events replay in my mind, and a growing anxiety settles into my stomach as the elevator beeps. We ride in silence, but I can’t help but notice the tension that floats in the air like a thick fog.
The large metal doors open, leading to the final exit where Crew waits. Each step feels heavy as I make my way down the narrow corridor with Locke and Damien behind me like looming shadows. I hesitate before pushing against the thick door to the roof, and Damien leans over me to open it.
The sun barely peeks above the horizon, and the sky is a soft shade of pink. I look all around me at the beauty of the sky, and with everything that I am, I wish I could unfold my wings and take flight.
Damien and Locke continue forward, bypassing my stares, and move toward the large figure at the edge of the roof. I inhale sharply and follow behind them.
“Morning, Crew,” Locke says as we approach. “Sleep well?”
Crew turns to face us for the first time, and he looks worn, as if he didn’t get an ounce of sleep the night before.
Probably busy with that female.
His silver eyes are heavy, and his hair is messier than usual. His large black wings are spread wide beside him, and he’s dressed similarly to me—black pants and a tight black top that exposes his toned torso.
“Your lethal package has arrived.” Damien smiles and points to me.
I avoid making eye contact with Crew and instead pretend to be mesmerized by the rising sun. Damien nudges me, and I first glance at him and Locke. Their eyes are wide, as if waiting for me to speak, but once again, the words get trapped in my throat.
For years, I’ve regarded Crew as my father’s murderer, but the past twenty-four hours have altered everything.
I slowly lift my gaze and stare into his lunar eyes.
I’m met with a hard glare that expresses nothing but disgust from my presence, and I nearly step behind Damien to shield myself from his devilish gaze.
An enemy. I’ve created yet another enemy.
“Good morning, Crew,” I say. “How are you?”
“Fine.”
“Same.”
He doesn’t respond, and I find myself wishing his usual sarcastic self would at least tease me.
Crew turns to Damien, “Did she study the files?”
He nods. “I believe so, yes.”
“So, she knows where we are going and the duration of the trip?”
Damien responds the same.
I glance between the two of them, speaking as if I don’t exist, and annoyance tightens my brow.
We will probably be gone for four days, assuming everything goes smoothly, and we’re headed to a small town about fifty miles south of here.
Hilna City is roughly three times smaller than Halcyon City, making our assignments more difficult.
Hysteria is easy to ignite in a small town if people start getting gunned down, so completing these silently will be challenging.
“I’m right here?” I wave my hand.
Crew looks at me, and the intensity of his stare tells me he doesn’t give a shit. So, this must be what it’s like to be on his bad side.
Yippee.
“I’m well aware,” he groans. “But then again, you do seem to think I’m stupid.”
I step forward. “Look, Crew.”
“We should get going. No need to delay any longer,” he says. “Damien, are you ready?”
I snap my gaze to Damien, who nods and unfurls his large leather wings into the morning air.
“He’s coming?” I ask, jerking my head between the two men.
Crew’s stare pierces mine, and even in the morning glow, darkness ripples off his back.
He walks toward me. “Can you fly?”
I swallow hard. “N…no.”
His gaze travels up and down my body, and every cell in my body tenses. “Then you need assistance flying?”
“I guess so,” I respond. “Yes.”
“That’s why Damien is here.” He nearly bites my head off. “To help you.”
“I just figured you would do it.”
“Why would I do that? Why would I try to help you again?”
I shrug. “Because we are doing these assignments together. I didn’t think Damien was coming.”
Crew crosses his arms. “Oh, we are a team now? Hysterical.”
I open my mouth to speak, but I can only blink.
He angles his head, stepping closer. “What part about ‘you will never fucking touch me again’ didn’t you understand?”
“I…I just thought,” I stutter.
“You thought what, Mara? That, after all that torment, I’d show up and not show an ounce of disdain for you this morning. I’d be happy to see you?”
“No,” I say. “I guess I don’t know what I thought.”
“Exactly.” He laughs to himself. “You don’t think, little angel. You react and expect no consequences. You are reckless, really fucking angry, and every bit of the Hollow Huntress.”
My jaw slackens.
“I see why you’ve earned that name after all.” Crew’s eyes darken. “You sure showed me. How’s it feel?”
He turns, leaving only his words behind, and walks toward the edge of the roof to grab a thick black duffel bag packed with necessities.
He bolts into the morning sky like a streak of darkness, and I can only stare.
His words hit me, and I feel a new pain spreading through my system that has nothing to do with the external wounds covering my body.
“Told you he was grumpy,” Locke says from behind me.
“That wasn’t fun,” I say.
Locke shrugs. “Ah, you handled it well, buttercup.”
Damien walks beside me and offers a consoling smile before leading me to the edge. I hear Locke yell again as he makes his way back to the roof’s door.
“Good luck, Damien. I wouldn’t want to get caught in that shitstorm.”
Locke’s laugh lingers with me as he exits the roof, leaving only Damien and me standing there, watching Crew’s massive figure fade into the distance toward Hilna City.
“That was hard to watch,” Damien whispers.
“Oh, sorry that made you uncomfortable.”
“How is your back?” Damien asks, glancing as if he can see it.
“Better,” I respond.
“I’m not surprised,” he says.
His statement surprises me, because I wonder why he would expect it to be so much better after last night. If anything, the wounds should be worse after Crew slammed me on the ground.
“How do you want me to carry you?”
“Just pick me up, Damien,” I say, letting the humiliation wash over me once more. “I don’t give a shit.”
“As you wish,” he responds, opening his arms with a smile. “Here. Come to daddy.”
I sigh and walk forward.
What the actual fuck is my life?
His arm travels under my legs as he swiftly pulls me into his arms, carefully tucking his other arm under my back. A spark of pain makes me tense, but it’s dulled, and I’m grateful.
“Just give him time,” Damien says, looking at me. “He’ll talk to you. He’s a chatterbox most of the time.”
“Maybe I need to learn how to do that.” I try to ease my tension.
Damien smiles. “I think that’s a great place to start. Maybe after you say sorry.”
He shoots into the sky, and the air leaves my lungs from the abrupt nature of our departure. His leather wings slice through the air, propelling us forward faster than Carver did the night before.
It doesn’t take long before he catches up with Crew, and I can’t help but look beside me at his massive black wings pushing him forward like a creature of pure darkness.
The morning air has a bite to it, so I curl myself closer into Damien’s body as we rise into the sky.
The pink hues of the sunset begin to fade, and the golden rays of the day’s glow take over as we leave the city.