Chapter 30 #2
“No, Ares, I didn’t get a chance to tell her. But I will soon.” Set’s answers, slightly exhausted by this whole conversation.
So, it’s his brother he’s talking to. But tell me what, exactly?
Phro lets out another sultry chuckle. “Well, I think she’s hot. So when you’re done with her, maybe I can have her.”
But I can hear Set growing more serious. “I’m not gonna be done with her, Phro.”
“Her kind’s so fragile, they break and die… and stuff,” she trails off as if the conversation’s already boring her.
That’s when Ares cuts in. “It’s never easy explaining to someone that you’re immortal… or literally the son of what they know as the devil. You only do it if you trust her completely. That kind of information in the wrong hands is dangerous. Could throw the whole balance off.”
I try to swallow the knot in my throat, but it’s impossible. My breath gets caught, and even if I’m desperately trying to convince myself they just did some party drugs, and now they’re all tripping, something tells me this is real.
At this point, I’m starting to think hearing him having sex in here would’ve been better than what I’ve just learned.
“I’m well aware of the balance. Serena won’t ruin it. She’s the one who helped me recover some of the artifacts without having to burn Vegas to the ground,” Set says in the same serious tone, like everything he says carries an important weight.
“Well, since she’s on our side. Let’s go out there and welcome her to the family,” Phro sounds way too eager to bond, while my internal alarms start sketching out an escape plan.
Not that I could really escape a devil, or whatever the hell they are. I can’t even believe I’m thinking this.
How did I even end up here? And what did she mean by welcome me into the family? Is she related to him?
“You’re not welcoming anyone. Not until I talk to her,” Set roars, putting Phro in her place.
“Okay, I have to admit, Surt told me something about this a couple of days ago,” Ares says. “He was actually worried about you.”
“Well he should worry about himself, running his fucking city and staying out of my business,” Set mutters. “Same goes for you two. If I want a family reunion, I’ll send an invite.”
“Come on, Surt was only trying to help. He knew I’d be in Vegas and would probably see you, so he just wanted me to check up on you,” Ares says.
And I can feel Set’s patience growing thin. “I don’t need you to check up on me or my life. And Surt should watch his own life, not meddle in my own.”
“What life?” Ares scoffs. “He’s obsessed with going after that Dalvacio guy. That’s all he ever talks about. In fact, I think he’s planning something in a couple of days.”
“He’s what?” Set asks, anger in his voice. “Why the fuck didn’t he call me?”
I have no idea who Surt is, or what the hell’s going on, but it feels like I’m having a panic attack. And somehow, nothing and everything is starting to make sense.
I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid and ignored everything I’ve seen until now.
I have to admit, there were signs everywhere—his dark, unreal eyes, the shifting tattoos, the lightning-fast healing wound.
It was right under my nose, but it's not so easy to believe that Set could be the son of the devil.
This isn't some dumb movie where someone says, "I'm supernatural," and everyone’s like, "Cool, no big deal.
.. since being supernatural is such a common thing. "
He's not Spider-Man, even if his tongue is like Venom’s.
Fuck, I’m just rambling, trying not to cry, or scream, or run away again to the farthest corner of the planet.
Breathe, Serena. Breathe.
My mind is a blur, but I still strain to hear what they’re saying. I honestly can’t handle more information right now, yet I’m convinced I need to hear what they’re talking about.
“I offered to help, but he said he could handle it,” Ares goes on.
“Serena.”
My world screeches to a halt the moment I hear my name somewhere behind me.
I instantly turn to see Christina standing in front of me.
“Serena, what are you doing here?” she asks as I desperately wave at her to shut up.
“Shush,” It’s the only thing I get to say as no other coherent thought forms in my mind. Nor does it get a chance to form before I hear the door creak open behind me.
I just want the ground to open and swallow me whole. Come to think of it, that’s where I’ll end up anyway, seeing as Set is the devil’s son.
All the more reason not to turn and look. Not that I have a choice anyway, as I feel his gaze burning into the back of my neck.
I ignore him for as long as I can, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to spend the next few months stuck in this lobby. There’s only one way out of this—turn and face him.
The seconds before I meet his gaze feel like hours of torture, but still not long enough to prepare. I’m more scared now than the day he killed everyone around me.
What if this time he kills me and drags me to the depths of hell?
Great, now I’m thinking about him killing me, and I can’t wipe that I know what you are expression off my face, let alone pretend I haven’t heard a thing and that standing here in front of this door is just a weird coincidence.
There’s no way out but to face the reality, and I know it. I finally look at him, unable to control the shadow of fear as my breath picks up. And I see the same recognition on his face.
He knows I know.