Chapter 52 Another Request
Another Request
Theo
Who would have thought this damn day would come around where I’m trying to avoid a girl just because we danced? Who am I fucking kidding? I’m doing a pretty bad job convincing even myself of that shit.
Fuck. That.
“Do you not have anything stronger?” Allie asks as she downs the absinthe. Ahren seems to have gotten a hold of something from somewhere. It doesn’t do much, but it gives you a little bit of that alcoholic buzz – if you drink enough.
“Nothing strong enough for you, but really, should you be drinking?” Ahren questions, cocking a brow.
“Yes.”
I spot Sienna going to the door, where Katara steps out into the garden with her.
“She’s way too young to be out here,” Carter says.
“She’s only hanging with us,” Sienna says with a small smile, but her voice is firm.
“Still too young. In fact, so are you,” Carter says, now frowning at Allie, then glancing at Heaven. “And you.”
Heaven rolls her eyes. And if we’re old enough to do everything else, we’re old enough to be here. Her words appear in front of Carter, who looks over at Katara.
“No drinks,” he warns her.
“I never drink,” she mutters, displeased, before she looks around and walks over to Renji with a small pout. Now, she’ll ask for his sympathy. He puts his arm around her, kissing her forehead.
“He’s only concerned for you,” Renji says softly before looking back at Shahira. “Sorry, you were saying?”
“That we’re third cousins, so that’s correct,” Shahira says, with a small smile on her face.
They’re talking about Sher. Somehow, those two are related. Shahira is definitely more witch than wolf… that much I can tell from her aura. Sher, on the other hand, is a full werewolf.
“So, your cousin, she’s not a witch?” Artemis asks, joining their conversation. Shahira shakes her head.
“No, the witch bloodline is on my maternal side. Sher’s a werewolf.”
“We have a lot of little hybrids here,” I say without thinking. “Where are the purebloods at?”
Everyone’s eyes snap to me, and I smirk.
Purebloods? Heaven writes, arching a brow questioningly.
“What? I’m saying, we Westwoods are pure wolves.”
“Maybe it’s why you behave like such an animal,” Artemis says, making Katara smirk.
“You got that right,” she says.
“Like you ain’t a wild wolf woman,” I reply mockingly.
I can sense Heaven’s eyes on me, but I don’t look towards her as Dante speaks.
“For now, the Deimos line is pure wolf… but who knows what the future holds,” he remarks, sitting back with an arrogant smirk. I take a drag on my cigarette, blowing out a skull before chuckling lightly.
“True, once Jayce forgives our tribrid here. But seriously, I’m more concerned why the fuck you’re out here? I mean, yeah, you’re single, but you’re old, man. Go join your age group,” I taunt Dante.
“Piss off, you know why I’m here,” he replies, flipping me off.
Because there’s a limit to how long his powers can be suppressed. Even here, sure, all the extras invited out here are strong, but they will soon feel the weight of his power, and then it’s up to them whether they tolerate it or are forced to leave.
You know what always comes to my mind regarding your powers? Heaven asks.
“You’ll share with us even if we don’t want to know,” I mock.
She rolls her eyes at me. Please stop talking. She glowers.
“You know you like the sound of my voice, Blondie.” She shakes her head, both Allie and Sienna stare at me, and I cock a brow. “You both love me, too, right?”
“Go die, Theo,” Allie says, turning to Dante.
“What were you saying about Dante’s powers?” Asher asks curiously, just as Allie had opened her mouth. He now gets a glare from her.
Heaven folds her arms. It’s not a big deal, but I always wondered how Song was always so confident in your presence. We all knew she was a strong witch, but I personally always found it a bit intriguing.’
Everyone’s silent. Dante frowns a little.
“Damn. That’s a really good point…” Allie says.
Dante nods. I’m sure the thought has crossed his mind. “I never got an odd vibe from her,” he says.
“You ain’t got that intuition, bro. Leave that to the Westwoods. Stick to your Pictionary visions, bro,” I say with a smirk.
She had to have a way she was able to. She isn’t that strong, Heaven writes.
“You’re smart, Blondie,” I say lightly as I walk over and pick up a glass of alcohol. “Nice one.” I smile down at her, trying to figure her out, but her face is impassive. And with her two leeches staring at me, I don’t get to search her face for a clue, one that might not even exist.
“So, do you think she had some kinda spell or amulet that helped her?” Sienna asks Heaven thoughtfully.
“Or maybe she was just stronger than she pretended to be?” Brock, Artemis’ boyfriend, suggests.
Could be either, Heaven writes before she picks up a non-alcoholic drink and walks over to the pool, taking a seat on one of the deck chairs.
It’s cold out, but there’s definitely magic at play since it’s considerably warmer than it should be for the night.
“Who’s up for a game of snooker?” Ares asks.
“Always,” Ahren says as he walks over to the snooker table.
“Me, too,” I say, taking a gulp of my drink and placing it down.
Keep busy, keep focused – on anything but her.
It’s much later, and I stare through the bedroom window at the starless sky. I have a good view from the bed.
I need to talk to you. I know you can hear me, I say to Hades in my mind. I’ve called on him three damn times tonight, and I haven’t heard back. I mean, I’ve been back two days, and he has yet to congratulate me on the win, right?
Such a wanker.
I close my eyes, placing my arm over them. Usually, sleep does come quickly, even though I’ll wake up pretty fast after seeing the faces of the dead. But tonight, even sleep doesn’t come.
All I can do is replay that dance…
I remove my arm from my eyes and create mist to fill the room. Turning onto my side, I slide my hand through it, watching as it takes on the form of two people.
Me and her…
Dancing…
I watch the figures dance, the echo of the song playing in my mind as I watch the figures dance across the room.
Fucking hell.
I close my eyes again when I feel it, the intense, heavy pressure of his presence.
“Finally,” I drawl, as I feel his presence suck my energy from me. A little too fast, meaning he’s annoyed.
“Why do you keep summoning me like you’re the god?” he asks icily.
“I mean, I look more like a god than you, if you ask me,” I remark lightly.
He simply smirks sarcastically. “There’s more to becoming a god than good looks. A lot more, you should see Apophis.”
I snicker. “Snakeface would be pissed if he heard that.”
“I do not care if I offend him, so what do you want?” He remains in the shadows, his glowing eyes fixed on me.
I sit up slowly, running my fingers through my hair. “Well, I want something, or maybe two things.”
He’s silent, and I wait. “You always need something. And what do you plan to give to me in return?” he asks.
“What do you want?” I ask quietly.
There’s a tense pause, his darkness curling around the room. “Well, it depends on what you request from me. Do share. Perhaps this time you will ask for something for yourself and not someone else.”
He knows me well enough.
“See, the thing is, I need nothing. I’m good.” I shrug as I reach into my back pocket and take out my lighter and a pack of cigarettes. It’s all I’m wearing, having discarded my shirt the moment I had entered the room earlier. “I’d offer you one, but you are literally a ball of smoke.”
He simply raises an eyebrow. “You’re stalling. What is it that you desire?”
“Something you took,” I say quietly, the soft click of my lighter sounding louder than it should as I flick it on and light my cigarette.
“From the hybrid you have taken a liking to,” he remarks emotionlessly.
I don’t bother looking at him as I take a drag on my cigarette. “She did what she did for us all. Yeah, we won that battle, but if she hadn’t made that deal with you, we wouldn’t have won.”
“Your duel with Helios was impressive. You did not embarrass me and proved I made the right choice in selecting you as my favoured… but I do agree, she was the strength behind you all.”
I smile faintly. The little know-it-all blond, who actually fucking does know it all.
“She was, so why should she have to pay that price for our security? She’s only seventeen. That’s a baby in your eyes, right? So, name your price. I want you to return her voice. Oh, and as you already probably know, she can still perform spells, so you taking her voice is pretty much useless.”
He narrows his eyes, his aura intensifying again. Fuck, it’s getting harder to breathe.
“Very well, I guess I can return her voice, since she did trick me.” He doesn’t sound too offended. “But in return, are you willing to give up your voice?”
I look at him. “My sexy voice? I mean, you want to take something that will make the majority of people around me happy?” I smirk. “Hey, go for it, I can still mind-link my brothers and annoy the fuck out of them. That’ll do.”
“She can converse with magic. You won’t be able to. And the day may come when you must leave your pack, then you will be a mute.”
“Don’t sweat it, bro, these days we have mobiles. I’m a pretty fast texter, init.”
“Once again, I am beginning to doubt my choice,” Hades mutters.
I know it’ll be weird, but she’s the one who has a life ahead; my future is one of solitude. I’ll be fine without my voice. “Well, save the doubt for later,” I say quietly, his aura like a suffocating blanket. “Give her voice back and take mine.”
He stares at me for a very long moment, and I’m unable to look away. “Well, don’t stare too hard, I might blush,” I mock.
He simply frowns. “Very well, I will return her voice.”
“And when that happens, I’ll lose mine? Might be pushing it, but can I choose when?” I ask, not wanting to be around to answer that question.
“Yes, you may choose when, since you will be the one returning her voice to her.”