Chapter 2
River
Iripped my hands through my hair as I looked around the room that was still in a disastrous disarray, but most of the people that had occupied it had fled. I focused my attention back on the space Riley had once been in. I blinked and blinked again as if that would just make her appear.
I couldn’t even put my own thoughts together on what had happened.
She’d pushed Grayson back out of nowhere, using…
magic? The police were here and the fucking fire department.
First responders had taken the student that had ripped Riley’s necklace off.
They would be fine, but the shattered pieces of the ruby gem had me scratching my head. What the fuck was going on?
Grayson had just taken her, removed her from what could have turned into an even worse situation. Although, from the looks of it, I couldn’t see it getting any better from where I stood. I started to bend down, noticing a tiny bit of magical residue. Riley was a magic wielder. Since fucking when?
Hands grabbed my shoulders, pulling me back up before I could take a better look. I came face to face with my brother. Asher pulled me off to the side, scrubbing a hand down his face. “What the fuck, River?”
I gave him a surprised look. “What do you mean what the fuck, River?”
“I mean—” Asher started, looking around us. “—what the fuck was that? Did you know she could do that?”
My eyes widened. “Of course not! I don’t even think she knew she could either. The look on her face, Asher…”
He huffed out a breath, looking over his shoulder. “Where is she?”
I shook my head, moving away from him and towards the door. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know!?”
I turned around quickly, pressing my index finger roughly into his chest. “If I knew where she was do you think I would fucking be here right now?” I pulled out my phone, shoving past a few police officers and pushed open the door.
“Have you called Grayson?” Asher was right behind me, nearly on my heels.
I waved my phone over my shoulder. “Already on it.” I put my phone to my ear, hearing it ring and ring and ring, eventually going to voicemail. I dialed his number again, listening and waiting. Voicemail again.
“Fuck,” I mumbled, switching to text.
RIVER
Let me know when you get this and if Riley is alright. Call me.
Asher rushed past me, his keys jingling in his hand.
“Where are you going?” I asked, jogging to catch up with him.
He scoffed, giving me a small glance over his shoulder. “No. Not me. We. We are going to Riley’s house.”
I grabbed his arm, making him turn around and look at me. “You don’t know how to get there. Unless you do, but that would be really odd since you’ve never fucking been there.”
Asher rolled his eyes, which was weird. That was a gesture I hardly even saw him do. He shoved the keys at me. “You’re driving.”
I pointed towards the closest parking lot. “No, my bike is parked over there. I’m not running all the way to the fucking admin lot for your car. I’ll take my bike, and I’ll text you the address.”
Asher let out a loud groan. “Why are you so difficult?”
“She’s my girlfriend, Asher. I don’t know why you’re so eager to go. We had fun one time and all of a sudden you care?” I started to walk backwards towards the parking lot but stopped to really look at him. I didn’t have time to dig into his mind, but something told me I didn’t have to.
He shook his head, starting to jog in the direction of the admin parking lot.
I tried calling Riley, but her phone went to voicemail as well. I shook my head and quickly got on my motorcycle, hearing the engine rev to life.
I was surprised to see Asher pulling in a few minutes after me when I got to Riley’s house.
On my bike, I could swerve around traffic and normally get away with going over the speed limit.
I tried to wrap my mind around my brother on the road, cutting people off and intentionally going anywhere near eighty miles per hour.
Asher slammed his car door, walking in step with me as we headed towards the front door.
I heard excessive barking and whining from inside.
Before we could even attempt to knock, the door swung open and Riley’s mom looked at us with wide eyes.
Behind her I saw Beau run across the room, his lungs working overtime.
He started to run back the other way, but then he noticed us.
The gray pitbull came running at us and I rushed past Mrs. Monroe so I could stop him from escaping out the front door.
Beau was strong and I felt his nails dig into my skin.
I held him down on the ground, feeling his body shake.
He wiggled out of my hold, but Asher closed the door behind him before Beau could attempt another escape.
The dog tilted his head back and howled, running his body into the door and scratching at the paint.
Riley’s mom sighed, placing her hands on either side of her head. “Beau, stop it! Calm down!” She clapped her hands loudly, maneuvering herself between the door and Riley’s dog. “Stop it!”
Beau backed up and whined. He howled again, turning right and running into the living room.
Asher came over and helped me up. I ran my hand down my pants, watching copious amounts of gray fur fly off my jeans. Mrs. Monroe shook her head, looking over at me. “What are you doing here?” Her voice sounded tired and a little hoarse. I assumed it was due to yelling at Beau.
I glanced over at Asher who raised his eyebrows at me as if to say well, speak.
“Is Riley here?” I asked, looking up the staircase and hoping that she was just comfortable in her room. If Beau’s temperament was any indication, my hopes would not be met.
Mrs. Monroe narrowed her eyes at me. “No, she’s not.
Riley sent me a text about that meeting you were going to tonight but told me not to worry about it.
She said it had to do with the witches on campus, so I’ve been in the office all day.
I got a call from the next-door neighbor about Beau and rushed home.
He’s been like this ever since. He nearly knocked me over when I first got home. ”
Beau’s stocky body knocked against the side of my leg when he barreled past me.
“I assumed she would be with you…” Riley’s mom let her words fall away.
I shook my head solemnly, taking a step closer to her.
“Where is my daughter, River?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but Asher answered for me. “We don’t know. We thought she might be here. At the meeting, something happened—”
Mrs. Monroe placed her hand on her chest, her eyebrows furrowing “Something happened to Riley?” Her breathing was becoming quicker as she gave Asher a curious expression. “Wait, who are you?”
“This is my brother, Asher. He—” I struggled to find the words.
“He was at the meeting too. He came as…support.” Asher scoffed, moving out of the way when Beau almost took him out from behind his knees.
The barking was causing a nasty vibration in my skull and I just needed him to be quiet so I could fucking think.
Riley’s mom nodded quickly. “Okay, well, what happened to my daughter? What do you know? You need to tell me what you know so—” She stopped talking when there was a small thud from upstairs.
Asher and I gave each other a look before we headed in that direction. Beau cut us off, sailing up the stairs and straight towards Riley’s room. He clawed at the door, attempting to use his teeth to rip at the wood.
“Beau, back off!” Riley’s mom yelled, trying to shove the dog away.
I turned the knob, pushing open the door.
Beau caused the door to fly open and hit the wall behind it when he rushed into the room, leaping onto the bed.
My eyes followed him, and relief washed over me when I saw Riley laying on her bed.
Her eyes were closed, but her chest rose and fell letting me know she was alive.
Relief morphed into confusion and dread when I took in her clothes. Blood stained her jeans; her hands and even small bits were on her face. I stepped further into the room, feeling Riley’s mom knock against my shoulder as she took in the state of her daughter.
She clasped her hand over her mouth, hurrying over to the side of the bed. She took Riley’s hand and then immediately dropped it. “She’s burning up.”
“Burning up?” Asher asked, tilting his head to the side.
“Her skin is fire.” Mrs. Monroe attempted to place the back of her hand on Riley’s forehead, but yanked it away, hissing.
“What’s wrong with her!?” Her voice was full of panic.
“Whose blood is that!?” I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back.
I tried to do my own assessment, but a low growl came from next to Riley’s body.
Beau had curled his body right next to her with his head on her shoulder. His tail was stiff and standing at attention. He didn’t bare all his teeth, but his nose scrunched up with every little growl that left his throat. What was going on with him?
“Hey, buddy. It’s just me.” I put my hands up, palms out, hoping that he would understand I meant no harm. I would never hurt her.
His ears went back while his large eyes looked down at her. He ran his snout over her cheek and licked her skin.
Wake up. Please wake up.
I blinked when those words entered my mind.
I knew what my brother’s mind sounded like and that wasn’t it.
It could have been Riley’s mom, but the voice was off.
It was almost childlike. I tried to reach out and touch her again, but Beau growled…
again. It was as if he needed her to be alright and awake before he let anyone in her personal space, except for her mom.
“From what I can see, she doesn’t have any wounds, so I don’t think the blood is hers.”
Asher scrubbed a hand down his face. “The problem is that it is someone’s.”