Chapter 19 #2
After leaving the house, I met up with Callie at the coffee shop near campus. We grabbed a drink and have been chilling in my car for the past half hour. I’ve been filling her in on what my dad and I were talking about.
“This is so weird,” she laughs. “Does it say something about me that I’m taking this all so well? Like, you killing people is just a regular old Tuesday activity? Shouldn’t I be afraid of you or something?”
I stop moving and pause. “You’re not, are you? Because you don’t have any reason to fear me. I won’t kill you.” I hold out my pinky to her. “Pinky promise.”
She laughs, a big smile on her face as she hooks her pinky with mine. “You see!” she laughs. “That right there should worry me. But it doesn't. I trust you.” She shrugs.
“I don’t know, man.” I shake my head. “I think you need some therapy. Who is just okay with their best friend being a murderer?”
“Oh, fuck off,” she laughs, shoving at my arm.
I laugh too. “I don’t know,” she sighs. “I just don’t care?
” she admits. “Like, the people you’re killing, they’re not exactly good people.
Do they deserve to die? To me, no, but you believe so, and that's a good enough reason for me. Maybe it’s just because I’m so done with everything.
I don’t know these people, so why should I care?
I just want to live my life, make something of myself.
And honestly, if people were standing in my way, I’d probably do whatever I could to make sure that obstacle was eliminated, too. ”
“You’d kill someone to get what you want?” I ask her.
“Maybe.” She shrugs. “I mean, it looks like fun,” she confesses with a giggle.
“It is.” I grin. “So much fun. The rush of power and adrenaline is intoxicating. Almost as good as sex.”
“Wait. You’ve had sex?” she questions, her eyes widening. “What the fuck! When? With who? What about the guys?”
Opps. Did I let that slip?
“Sooo, remember when I told you about my plans to win the guys over, and why I’m murdering in the first place? And the whole Brotherhood thing?”
“Yes.”
“I left something out. Remember that ritual I told you about.”
“The one the Brotherhood does every year. The offering for the gods?”
“Yeah. That one. I was… kind of, maybe, sort of one of the volunteer sacrifices.” I wince, waiting for her to blow up at me.
Her jaw practically hits the ground. “Shut up!” she shouts. “No fucking way. How did you get them to pick you? Shit, wait, who was it with? Do you know or did they all have their masks and cloaks on?”
“I wasn’t sure I’d even get picked when I went. I knew there was a chance they’d pick someone else, but I took my chances anyway. I knew they wanted pure and virginal. So, what gives off that vibe more, a white night gown or bras and panties?”
“The white night gown of course.”
“Exactly.” I grin. “And that's what I wore. It helped that I turn into a blushing idiot anytime the guys are near me. I gave up very sweet and innocent vibes.”
“Hey, you’re getting better! You can speak at least a few sentences with the guys without stumbling over your words. And you’ve been bantering with them. I love a girl with a good backbone. And they’ve noticed for sure.”
“They have?” A surge of joy fills me.
“Totally.” She nods her head. “Now, back to the ritual thing?”
“Right,” I continue. “I knew because they were the head of the Brotherhood, they would get to pick first. My plan was if they didn’t pick me, I’d get the hell out of there. But because I think I’m one of the luckiest people on this damn planet, they picked me.”
“As they should have.” Callie grins.
I smile, shaking my head. “But yeah. We went down under the mausoleum and into the tunnels, and…”
“They deflowered you,” she gasps. “Oh my god. That's amazing! Ugh. I’d hate to have my first time in front of other people.” She wrinkles her nose.
“Yeah, pretty much. I don’t want to give you details, because I’m sure you don’t want to know about your brother having sex.”
“Nope.” She holds up her hand. “We are best friends, but anything to do with him and what he does with his dick, I don’t want to hear about it. The other two, however…” She wiggles her brows. “I want to know everything!”
“Really? I thought you saw them like your brothers.”
“I do. But like stepbrothers. You know. Not blood, but also still off limits.”
“I don’t know, I think the stepbrother thing is hot.” I shrug. “If one of them were my stepbrother, I’d fuck them.”
“Are you telling me you think I should want them because they’re my stepbrothers but not my actual brothers?”
“What?” My eyes widen. “No!” I shake my head. “We’re so off base. What I’m saying is I lost my virginity that night. To all three. I gave them my blood and everything. Have the scar to prove it.”
“Damn,” she sighs. “You know, that's real dedication. To be so in love with someone to do whatever you can to be with them. Whatever it takes.”
“That’s the plan,” I agree. “There’s no one else for me.”
“Ugh. I want that.” She pouts.
“You will have that,” I reassure her. “And it’s not going to be with Joel, or anyone else like him.”
“It’s Jonah,” Callie corrects with a chuckle.
“Whatever.” I wave her off. “You need a man who will make you his whole world. What about Garrett?”
Her eyes practically bug out of her head. “You’re fucking joking, right?” she splutters. “That man is the devil incarnate. He’s the worst. A big manwhore. No, thank you.”
“Mhhmm.” I smile. “Whatever you say.”
“Never happening, Nola.” She glares. “I hate him.”
“You know there’s nothing but a fine line between love and hate,” I tease.
“Wanna find out?” she retorts.
“Fine, fine. I’ll leave it alone. So, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Are you okay with all of this? With me being with your brother, the guys? How I’m going about doing it?”
“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? I love those guys, but they’re…
different. Always have been, but they started changing around thirteen, not long before I left.
Now I know it’s the Brotherhood that caused it.
I can only imagine the kind of things that would go on there.
I always knew we lived in a sick fucked up world.
Death doesn’t bother me. Bad people don’t scare me.
I know I’m safe. Sylas made sure of that a long time ago.
And I love him to death for it. I know that’s why he had me leave.
But it didn’t shelter me from the darkness.
He saw how our father treated our mother, and he despised him for it.
No matter how fucked up my brother might be, he would never hurt someone he cared about, not really.
Not if it weren’t something they didn’t agree to.
Like whatever kinky shit they’re all into. ” She wrinkles her nose.
My cheeks go red.
“God, it’s bad, isn’t it?”
“I’m not telling you,” I choke out.
“Right. Don’t wanna hear it.” She shakes her head.
“Anyway, Sylas is a good man. They all are.
They might be morally corrupt, but the one thing I know for sure is that they care about you.
They always have. Ever since we were kids.
You know how I mentioned I kind of hated you back when we were kids?
“Yes?” I say slowly, nodding my head.
She sighs, sounding a little guilty. “I’m not proud of it, but I used to hate how you got to go to the parties, while I had to stay home.
My brother would come back home with a big smile on his face and tell me all the fun you guys had.
Nola, Nola, Nola. I was jealous. They were my brothers, and I didn’t want to share. Not if I didn’t get to be there, too.”
“Wait. Is that why you never talked to me in school?”
She nods, a guilty look on her face. “I didn’t like how the other kids treated you, but I resented you so much that I didn’t do anything to help.”
“I get it. I’d have been the same way.”
“Really?” she asks, eyes flicking between mine. “You’re not mad?”
“No,” I laugh. “We were kids. And you got the shit end of the stick. Your dad was a monster, while my dad was one of the good ones.”
“Your dad is a serial killer.” She raises a brow. “How is he a good one?”
“You’ve met him. Tell me he’s not just a big teddy bear?” I grin.
“Yeah, you're right.” She giggles. “I never would have guessed if you didn’t tell me.”
“I never would have guessed if he didn’t catch me ready to incinerate Scarlett. Still the best night ever to find out your dad is your idol."
“And now I’m jealous you have an amazing dad.” She pouts.
“Don’t be. I can share him.”
Her eyes turn a little glassy. “Thank you, Nola. That means a lot.”
“I don’t do well with crying,” I admit, making her laugh. “So, let's change the subject. I was thinking about getting a tattoo. One that means something. I was thinking of a Sea Green Swallowtail.”
“Like the little guys you raise?” she asks. “That would be so pretty!”
“I thought so, too.” I smile. “It has significance to it. Between them being my favorite, the fact that I raise them, and that they’re a part of my calling card, it only makes sense.”
“It does.” She nods. “Where would you put it?”
“On the top of my arm,” I tell her. “Somewhere I can see it all the time and be reminded.”
“That’s a good spot. But you wear long sleeves so much. No one is going to see it.”
“I guess I’ll have a reason to buy new outfits.” I shrug.
“When are you going to get it? Can I come?” Her eyes light up. “Oh, maybe I could get one.”
“That’s what I’m not sure of just yet. There’s something I have to do first before I can get it.”
“Like what?”
“Have you heard of blood ink tattoos?” She shakes her head. “It’s where they put a bit of your own blood and mix it with the ink.”
“Let me guess.” Her lips curve into a big grin. “It’s not your blood you want to put in there.”
“Nope.” I bite my lip, wondering if she’s going to think I’m some kind of freak.
“Oh my god, that’s so romantic,” she groans. “Stop it. You’re going to kill me with all this cute shit. It’s like it’s right out of a romance book! You’re so adorable when it comes to them, I swear.”