Chapter Twenty-Three
Maggie Grey
Namir’s light snores beside me filled the room as I silently scrolled on my phone.
He’d been asleep for almost two days straight.
Only getting up to eat, shower, piss and crawl right back into bed.
Namir and I, to our credit, tried to go somewhere more private.
Somewhere safe and away from anyone trying to come after me, but the moment we came back to our house in Atlanta to pack, we never left.
I barely made it out of the shower, and we just ended up staying.
Let him tell it, if someone was stupid enough to come for me in our own home while he was there, they deserved what would come next.
The bright screen illuminated against my face as I sat up against the pillow, only moving just enough to not wake him, but from the light growls and twitch of his muscles in his arms, Namir was probably running around like a fool in somebody’s backyard digging holes or chasing a helpless victim.
Whatever it is wolves dream about.
I continued to scroll, seeing three missed calls from my mom and a string of messages from her.
Mostly asking where I am, when am I coming home, and can we talk…
I gently bit at my thumb nail while the glaring screen stared back at me.
All I can think about is the bits of blood coming from her eyes and how normal it was for her.
I was happy she’s safe and I’m glad my grandma is okay from what I hear.
My dad was texting asking how I was feeling and if I had any questions but for once, I had none.
After all this time, I had none and I can’t understand why.
Sighing, I exited out of the messages, unsure how to process my new feelings.
Okay… She lied; I get it. My mother lied to me.
For a really long time, most of my life if not all of it.
She and Marvin Holmes pretty much are like father like daughter in a sense.
I don’t want to see her as a woman I could no longer trust so I’m trying to forgive and forget, and maybe talking to her would only make it worse.
Scratching at my hair, I could feel the satin scarf slip back just as Namir groaned with a slow turn of his head.
His face scrunched up against the screen light before laying back down against the pillow with a hard exhale through his nostrils.
“You can’t sleep?” He asked, voice groggy and scratchy.
“Not tired,” I told him. I clicked on a video Bellamy sent earlier of him and cousin Lovely sitting beach side at night with the fanciest of foods they were never going to eat.
They probably ordered it just to prove that they can.
She was in a bikini with large shades, and colorful strands of locs, braids, and hair all blowing sideways with the wind.
Bellamy had a dark red cigar cocked in his mouth, his usual shades and a shirt unbuttoned, showing off the tiny curls and tattoos over his chest. They looked like they were somewhere exotic.
Overlooking the crashing waves of the ocean, string lights drooping along the beach and live music playing in the background.
Namir grunted at the sight before turning his head in the opposite direction.
“Waste of food,” I heard Namir mutter to himself.
“If you wanna go out with them, just make sure you have your location on.” I looked at him, well his back, and sat up against the pillow.
I couldn’t help the smile that came through because although it wasn’t a thought to hang out with Bellamy, now it was all I could think about.
“What do you mean go out? Like…with them? Hang out?”
“Go live your life Maggie,” he mumbled, barely able to get the words out as he drifted back to sleep.
“What about you? Are you coming with me?”
Namir’s snores filled the air in response. I guess he wasn’t kidding when he said he was catching up on lost sleep. Texting Bellamy, I asked if it was okay to see him. I’m not sure why I felt like I had to have permission, but Bellamy and I weren’t exactly siblings in that sense.
The girls were probably back home or boo’d up.
Ayira got to experience the life she always wanted with Seth taking her everywhere.
Asha was constantly sending pictures of her and Silas together.
Souxie would simply text, but we all know she was with Harvey, and Isis was already back at the school with Quan.
Namir received an email saying he had to return for a mandatory faculty meeting which meant he still had a job…
and they were probably going to talk about opening the school again.
We all had plans to meet back at the school.
I just wasn’t sure where I stood or even my grades for that matter.
My classes. What is going to happen now that I’m here?
I looked at my phone, no response from Bellamy. Of course.
Sighing, I snuggled back into the bed as I listened to Namir’s snores.
We were going to find a way to the Solhari Kingdom.
The last barrier before the Underground was opened for good.
My mother is a vampire and my father is not, but he knew this whole time which means she openly feeds.
Grandma was the only one to warn me about any of this and now she’s apparently in Savannah?
So many questions, and still no message or response from Bellamy.
I started to close my eyes when I noticed Namir’s snores stopped as the room went completely silent.
Pulling out my phone, I was about to text the girls when Namir silently got up like a thief in the night only to watch his body suddenly drop to the floor in a warped like shadow.
I almost screamed as I backed up against the headboard, grabbing the sheets to cover myself as this large four-legged wolf beast of a creature walked out of the bedroom.
Now when the hell did that happen!? I mean I know he said he went through some physical changes but WHAT?!
I quickly tapped the sides of my face, hoping I wasn’t dreaming before hearing a screeching scream as the lights appeared in the hallway.
Namir was already a little agitated at the fact that someone broke into our house before, only to find out it was my people.
This was something else entirely. I quickly reached for my t-shirt to put on, grabbed the knife underneath my side of the bed, and ran out forgetting for a second who I am until I stopped.
Cousin Lovely was in the kitchen, bright makeup around her eyes, red rosy cheeks along her melanated complexion, and braids that came down to her hip bone filled with beads and shells from the beach.
She wore her bikini with a sheer cover up as both hands were raised, fangs were out, and her eyes were full of excitement.
Bellamy was sitting on the couch with his feet propped up, arms stretched on the back and Namir was now standing in the nude between the two with a heaving chest like any second, he was going to attack.
“Well now we know who’s the bigger man of the two,” Bellamy said, clearly not impressed as he lit his cigarette.
“How the fuck did y'all get in my house? I have it to where you have to be invited in–––”
“A text message from my sister is enough,” Bellamy said with a wave of his phone in his hand.
I tried not to smile as Namir turned to glare at me before walking back to the bedroom with a slam of the door.
We waited for a moment before Lovely immediately rushed over to hug me, smelling every bit like the beach, sweet fruits, and the nightlife she came from.
“We were just on our way to an exclusive White Party,” she said with a wiggle of her brows. She took my hands in hers as she looked me over. “Come with us.”
“Like right now?” I asked.
“Yes,” Bellamy said as he blew smoke out. The front door opened again as Carmilla walked in with her white dress followed by a man with white locs and a stoic expression that landed directly on me. Confused, I tried to ignore the intense stare as Lovely slowly spun me around.
“We’re going out right now?” I asked again, trying to face her but Bellamy answered.
“Yes, and if you feel more comfortable bringing your little friends, you can. I prefer the nymph to keep me company,” he said with a sly grin. Cousin Lovely suddenly leaned in and whispered against my ear.
“He’s going through a bad breakup with the human and her child,” she murmured. “He’s trying to party and drink his woes away.”
“I can hear you, Lovely.”
“How long are we waiting here?” Carmilla asked with an attitude. “The smell of dog is overwhelming out here.”
“So wait outside,” Bellamy let out.
“It’s worse outside–––”
“It’s because he has two strays patrolling his territory,” Lovely nodded with a silly grin. “I saw them, but they have to be quicker than that. Maggieeeeeee!” She suddenly sang. “We are going to have sooo much fun! Oh!”
“Tell her the real reason we’re going,” Carmilla said with a tired tone. “This isn’t some fun party time. We’re going to make it known the First Family is not going anywhere. We have claim in the Underground.”
“There are others,” Bellamy added. “Like us…”
“Nobody can be like us,” Lovely boasted.
“And before they go around trying to fuck it up for the rest of us, we are going to make it known, we are the First Family. We aren’t running scared. We couldn’t care less about your fears and hatred of us. We aren’t going anywhere,” Carmilla stated. “No more.”
Lovely nodded before leaning in.
“It’s because of you, Maggie… You are the real deal… They cannot deny it anymore.”
“Can we not put any more worldly pressures on my sister and just get her ready?” Bellamy pressed, annoyed. Lovely winked at me before taking my hands and moving me to stand in the middle of my kitchen.
“We need to put you in something that will make your man want to put you out,” Lovely said.
“Put me out?” I laughed.
“Mmm hmm… Enough for him to threaten to keep you locked away so nobody can see you but him. Are you calling our best friends? My girls?”