Chapter 25
Skully
SKULLY…
My eyes open. I’m standing on open gravel a few sprouts of grass growing in patches around me. Waves crash in the distance. Wind whips through my hair.
Skulllllyyyy….
My breath is sucked from my lungs, and I fall to my knees. Everything hurts. My skin is too tight. It needs to rip free. I need him. He can save me. It’s dark, cold. Gold eyes flash at me. Skeletal hands reach out…
SKULLY!
A raw scream tears its way out of my throat.
My body jerks awake, my vision blurs, so many colors, but not the right ones.
My heart hammers in my chest painfully. I feel sick, sitting up in my bed.
“I’m fine,” I whisper to myself over and over, willing my heart rate to come down.
My body starts shivering, and fear wraps itself around me like a hug. “It was just a dream.”
My head starts to quiet and so does my breathing, becoming more even.
I gulp down air, hold it, and exhale, before opening my eyes again.
My hand slides over the bed, reaching for something, someone…
Madden. My eyes fly open again only to find my bed empty.
The room is still somewhat dark, only the morning light filters through the curtains.
I hold my breath, listening for movement in the duplex or signs of Baylee getting ready, but I don’t hear anything.
My fingers grab for my phone on the nightstand.
It’s seven already. I have class in an hour.
One text message sits on the screen. I click it open, and everything inside me settles.
MADDEN: I’m sorry I had to leave before you woke up. We have early practice all week. Heath isn’t needed today, so he will go with you to class. I don’t want you alone after what happened last night. We still have a lot to talk about, Skully. I’ll find you later.
My body sinks back into my pillows. I almost forgot about the Hell Hound until now.
I get why Madden wants me protected; it still feels weird though, needing a babysitter.
My lips flatten into a frown while I reread his last line.
What more could we have to talk about? Did something other than the loose Hell Hound happen last night?
If there was a crisis, my dad would have reached out to me.
There would be more chatter; Baylee wouldn’t have let me sleep this late if that were the case.
I start to wonder if he means about us, about what happened when we got back to my room.
I had my enemy between my legs, thoroughly enjoying it as he ate me out.
My cheeks flame red, and I throw an arm over my face, wishing I could mentally block out the image.
“Get a grip, Morgan,” I mutter to myself, throwing my blankets off and swinging my legs over the bed. I need a shower. I need to rinse off the sweat and last clinging remnants of that nightmare. I’m suddenly thankful that Madden wasn’t here. I don’t know how I’d explain it to him.
Twenty minutes later, I’m showered, dressed and grabbing my book bag before heading to the door. Right as my hand hits the door knob my phone vibrates.
HEATH: Gavin called me in about the Gate last night. I can’t bring you to class. Text me when you get there though, so I know you’re safe. Let’s not have Madd flip his shit ;)
I chuckle at his message and quickly type out a reply, letting him know I’m leaving for class now.
Again, I appreciate Madden’s concern, but I think he’s over reacting a little.
Yes, it was weird what happened, but I didn’t get the impression the Hell Hound wanted to hurt me exactly.
It seemed more interested in seeing my magic, like it was a toy.
It’s lightly snowing again when I get outside, and my hands tug my jacket closer around me.
Usually I love this time of the year, but after spending almost two years living in California, I forgot how cold it can get here.
I keep my pace brisk across the campus, almost jogging by the time my building comes into view.
While this semester has taught me a lot, I’m ready for a break.
It’s crazy to think that I’ve already been at River Falls University for half a school year.
I make it to class and send a text to Madden and Heath, letting them know.
My morning continues on uneventfully. After my first lecture, I get another text from Heath and one from Madden.
HEATH: Still with the council.
MADDEN: Had to leave campus to meet with the council. Aero will meet you after your next class.
Once again I reply to them both that I’m fine, rolling my eyes at their behavior. My next class is a farther walk, and I don’t see Aero anywhere.
“What are you doing here?” A voice cuts through my concentration and I whip around to find Killian standing there. His hands are balled into fists, and his eyes are flashing dangerously. “Skully, you shouldn’t be here today.”
My brow flicks up. “What are you talking about? I’m fine.”
“Did Madden not talk with you last night?” he practically growls, his brows furrowed tight. My mind wanders, once again, to how we ended the night. Not very much talking was done. I don’t tell Killian that though. Instead, I shrug my shoulders.
“We talked.”
“You talked?” Killian asks, staring at me questioningly. “And you’re still here, alone?”
Before I can speak, he’s moving closer to me, his arm wrapping around my neck and pulling my body into his. “You need to go home, Skully. You need to wait for Madden,” he whispers next to my ear, while my hands fight against his chest to push him off of me.
“He’s at a council meeting.”
Killian’s body grows tense. “You need to leave. It wasn’t just Hell Hounds that got loose last night. There was a physical tear between the Shade and the Gate. Something more powerful is trying to find a way out.”
Shivers skate down my spine and I stop struggling. “What?”
“Don’t look up, and don’t go to your next class.
Go straight home until Madden is done. Please, Skully.
” Killian’s voice is low, the rest of the world is shut out with his arms surrounding my head.
It looks like a lovers’ embrace, except I remember Madden’s saying that they’re being watched.
Someone has been listening to them. My heartbeat kicks up, and adrenaline flows in my veins.
“Okay,” I tell him, nodding my head.
Killian’s grip on me loosens. “Go, now.”
His arms fall to his sides, and I walk past him, my legs moving fast, my eyes straight ahead.
My chest moves with my rapid breathing, and my fingers have a death grip on my bag, but I don’t stop.
I don’t look around. I do not talk to anyone.
Tears sting my eyes. I never saw Baylee this morning; I don’t even know if she’s okay.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and Madden’s name flashes on the screen.
My eyes flick down right as my body collides with someone.
“There you are! Skully, we have to go.” Lily reaches for me and I lean back.
“What? I’m waiting for Aero,” I tell her, my eyes running over her face.
Her blue eyes are wide, almost frantic. “No, Aero is meeting with the council too. It’s all hands on deck. Come on, we have to go.”
She reaches for me again, and I yank my arm out of reach. “Madden didn’t say—-”
“He just messaged you, didn’t he?” she asks, huffing, and her foot stomps in place. “We’re running out of time.”
Madden did message me, I just didn’t have time to read it before I bumped into her. Unease moves through my veins, but I don’t really have a reason not to go with her. Still, Killian’s warning from just minutes ago blares in my mind. “Killian sai—”
“Killian. You talked to Killian?” Her blue eyes flash, and her lips curl. It’s on my lips to defend myself, to explain the situation, but I don’t get a chance. Lily’s hand reaches out, her fingers press against my neck, and everything goes black.
SKULLY!
My eyes snap open. My ears strain, listening.
I swear I heard my name being called. The wind rustles my jacket and whips my loose hair around in the air.
I blink, feeling the dull pain behind my eyes, throbbing.
The sky is gray, and the grass beneath me is almost covered in white from the snow earlier this morning.
I blink again and the memories flood back.
The Gate. Danger. Killian. Lily. I push myself up as far as I can, breathing through my nose when my stomach lurches and my vision swims.
“It’s about time you woke up.” Her sickeningly sweet voice breaks through my haze of thoughts.
“What did you do?”
Her slim shoulders shrug, and she smiles down at me. “Just a little magic.” Her fingers waggle, and she giggles. “I don’t think that’s the question you really want to be asking me, though, is it?”
My eyes narrow on her, and I glance around. We’re on a cliff and judging by the rush of water below, we’re close to the ocean. My stomach sinks while dread seeps in. “Where are we?”
Lily rolls her eyes. “That’s so boring, Skully. Really?” She scoffs. “We’re back at the cliff that started it all.” She spreads her arms wide, moving closer to the edge. My heart stops.
“The cliff?”
She nods, and her lips turn up in an excited smile. “The cliff. The one you supposedly tried to kill yourself on two years ago.”
My stomach tightens in knots, and my chest hurts. Panic threatens to take over, but I push it down. It’s taking everything in me to hold my magic back. I need her talking. I need her distracted while I find a way out of this. “How did we get here?”
Lily’s smile turns viscous, and she clicks her tongue behind her teeth, like she’s scolding me. “Oh, come on. How? Where are we? What happened? How about why, Skully? Ask me WHY!”
Her chest rises and falls rapidly, her hands balling into fists. Slowly, I get to my feet, my hands spread out in front of me. “Okay. Okay. Why, Lily?”