3. Chapter 3
S tanding in front of the mirror, Lennox’s gaze trailed over her attire. An all-black dress with a matching knit cardigan. He would hate all the black. Adjusting the hem of her dress to cover more of the black tights she was wearing she peered up to her reflection. Her empty gaze blinked back at her. She had gotten good at pushing her grief aside over the last few days. Pushing down the tears to only let them fall after the sun did.
Students returned to the school a few days earlier than normal to attend Felix and Elder Greene’s funeral and wake. She had gotten her phone back from Cathwulf the next day. Rosalyn and Wyatt had been spending the majority of their time beside Rue and Lennox, the four of them leaning on the other. Wyatt had stopped every morning to drag Lennox out of bed with some new task they had to do within the house or main building. It was annoying but she appreciated the distraction he was trying to give.
“Lennox, love? Are you ready?” She called as she peered around the open door.
“Yes, coming,” she turned away from her reflection and opened the door to go downstairs with Rue.
When the two made their way to the edge of campus where the iron fence met the woods, they were met with a number of chairs set up with two photos and two closed caskets. Elder Greene on her left and to the right was Felix, each with a large photo on a stand at the head. Lennox’s eyes fell on the photo of his bright smile frozen in time, the last few days hadn’t felt real. Even now it was as if her mind could still convince her it never happened.
Everyone that had been at the school, Elders and students alike. All who had known the pair over the last few decades were in attendance, dressed in all black. Cathwulf was milling around the edge of a group of past Elders by the back row. Her eyes darted over the various groups. People were looking at the dozens of flowers that were brought by guests to the place by the photo. Lennox’s eyes follow an Elder who had left the school over fifteen years ago and smiled sadly. I wish it was for a happier event. Quietly, Coyote came over and opened the two lids to allow others to place things beside the Head of House and Elder. She watched and didn’t realize she had stopped as the Elder placed forget-me-nots at the base of each photo.
Lennox felt a soft tug on her arm as Rue led them to the photo of Felix. After a group of his housemates walked away to sit in the chairs, her eyes traced the photo for a moment before her gaze fell to her right. Felix laid in the casket, appearing as if he was asleep. The only reminder of his passing was still within the once deep markings, now as ashy gray as his skin. For a second the edges of her vision went red as she remembered the pool around him. Lennox wasn’t stupid. The story of her discovering the two had spread around the small school. People would soon have their own theories, many too scared to admit that there could be Hunters on the grounds of one of their safe havens. The very threat most of them had come to escape.
The rage she had pinned under her grief fought to make its way to the surface. With a pull on the green thread of her magic, Lennox used the red in her memories to color the flowers she grew from the ground. The blooms moved their way up and over the edge of the casket. Slowly dozens of bright red poppies bloomed and she became aware that the drowning of quiet voices had softened. In the soft hum around her, she heard someone come up behind them and was met with the face of Coyote. His yellow eyes were filled with a much deeper sadness than when he had arrived on the scene. He didn’t speak for a few seconds in which she let her attention drift back to the red poppy petals.
“When I came here, I promised I would protect everyone here… I failed this time.” He told the two in a barely audible voice. “I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re safe.”
“We appreciate that, Coyote.” Rue thanked him.
Lennox peered back over to meet his eyes, which watched her carefully as if worried. “Thank you.” She told him and managed the slightest smile.
Without another word, he returned the smile and turned to meet Principal Moon who made her way to the podium. She had pulled her long silver hair into a tight bun paired with a long black dress that moved in the wind gently. The two men didn’t have much family as was the case with most around here. Felix had Rue, Rosalyn, Wyatt and Lennox while Elder Greene as far as she knew was dating the Herbology Elder, Willow Evington. The two had been together since well before she had arrived at school. Glancing around, she searched to find Elder Evington in the crowd masking tears. Her gaze was fixed on the photo of Elder Narcissus. Squeezing Rue’s hand and letting go, she made her way over to Willow as Rue went to the front row to join their friends.
“He was a good man,” Lennox told the Elder as she stood beside her.
Without moving, Elder Evington responded, “So was Felix-“
Before they could say anything more to each other, Principal Moon spoke up to the crowd. “Alright my darlings, would everyone please find a seat?”
Everyone started moving to their seats at the sound of the woman’s voice. Lennox joined Rue and took her seat between her and Rosalyn. The weight in her chest became heavier as she saw the tissue clutched in her best friend’s black lace gloved hands. Her short black and red streaked hair was curled away from her face. Her deep crimson eyes brimming with tears. Wyatt beside her had traded his usual graphic t-shirt for a matching black button up and tie under his usual black leather jacket, his long messy hair tied back in a bun.
“We have all come here to mourn the loss of two of our own. Head of House Felix Toll and Elder Narcissus Greene. We come to celebrate their lives and spend some time as a community to heal.” Principal Moon started. Lennox was listening until her eyes fell on Felix’s casket. The speech was nothing but chatter in the background as Lennox remembered her first day at SCHUni.
Twenty-four years ago Lennox had walked into the iron gates of the school for the very first time. Xemos had just rescued and brought her here from Hell after she was released from her deal with Val. It helped to be the god of curse-breaking in cases like this. Easy to walk into Hell and reclaim a soul already devoted to him. He told her about the school where supernatural creatures went to hide, study and live normal lives.
When she walked behind the iron gates for the first time, there was another demon with short silver hair sitting under a tree about ten feet away. When he heard the gate squeak open he looked over, smiled and immediately made a beeline for her. As he approached her gaze trailed the telling ‘X’ of a crossroads demon on his temples, coupled with some sigils going down one eye and on his chin.
“Hey! I’ve never seen you before. Coming to apply to the school?” The demon called over with a large smile that seemed plastered to his face.
“Actually yes, I didn’t imagine such a warm welcome.” She had felt Xemos vanish from the grounds once she crossed the gates.
“Yeah well, as long as I’m around someone will welcome you home.”
“Pretty presumptuous I’ll get accepted.”
“Are you on the run from the law?” His smile faded into concern as his eyes darted around her.
Lennox turned to follow his gaze, her stomach sank as she thought maybe Val or Armaros would go against their irritated grovelings for a now broken deal. When she saw nothing but empty grass she looked back at him. “Uhhh- No I’m not.”
“Good! Then you have no reason not to be approved. Felix Toll, Head of Kappa Theta.” He held out a hand.
“Lennox Cade, you have a fraternity here?” He took her hand for a moment then dropped it back to his side.
“Of course we do! We got everything the humans do!” Felix smiled. “Why don’t I show you to Principal Moon’s office? Unless you already know where you’re going.”
“Actually that would be perfect, if you have the time,”
“My plans can wait, let me show you.” Felix said with a swift turn on his heel and led her deeper into campus.
Her memories were interrupted by Rue who slid her hand into Lennox’s with a gentle squeeze. As she peered over and met her concerned gaze and gave her hand a squeeze in response, a silent ‘I’m here’ as she returned to the moment. Rue gave her a small smile, tears stained her face as she returned her eyes to the front where Principal Moon was just finishing up her speech.
“I know we are all nervous with the recent events, however, we will make sure everyone here is safe and we will find who did this,” Ophelia promised everyone in attendance. “Thank you all for coming today, please feel free to meet in the cafeteria for food or go back to your dorms to prepare for the first day of classes tomorrow.”
The couple stood from their chairs as people started going in different directions and resumed their chats of memories. Glancing over to Wyatt and Rosalyn, Lennox could see the same desire to go home in their eyes. With a nod toward the Chapter House the others all turned silently to make their way back to Omega Alpha. Wyatt reached his arms around the group from between Rosalyn and Lennox as they went home.
The four of them were holed up in Rue and Lennox’s room over the next few hours. The friends drank, shared old stories, and occasionally let out a few more tears. Outside the window, the sky turned dark and the moon rose in the sky. Light from the lamp posts created constellations across the grounds outside the window. Wyatt had pulled out Uno cards from Lennox’s desk and started dealing when the demon stood with a small stumble. The others laughed at her stumbling as Rosalyn threw down a card in the center of their circle on the floor. She found herself genuinely laughing for the first time in days but quickly declared she was going to get tea from the kitchen before doing her nightly duties.
A dull thud echoed with each step down. The iron rail was cold under her fingertips. As she ran a free hand through her hair and turned into the kitchen to see Eden Miller stood at the granite counter. The high fae girl stood with her back to Lennox as she waited for the water on the stove to boil. She had her long midnight hair swept up into a bun, her long pointed ears sticking out the side. It seemed she had just returned from a late night run as she was dressed in tight black athletic wear, her face was slightly flushed.
Eden had arrived the previous year to join her family who taught in the human studies side at the school. Elder Eloise Miller, her mother as Lennox understood, taught Business Studies. While her two Uncle’s Elder Richard and Arthur Miller taught Sociology and Engineering. The school hadn’t seen such a large family unit in decades. Though high fae usually traveled together, it was exciting when the last Miller rejoined the family on the grounds of SCHUni.
“Hey, how was your summer?” Lennox asked with a small smile. “Did you and Bastien go on your trip around the world?”
Eden turned and gave her a polite smile, her amethyst eyes meeting hers. “We did. He just had to go hunt down the best pizza the world had to offer. How about you and Rue?”
“Good, we made it to Paris as you suggested.”
“I’m sure it was beautiful as always.” Eden answered as the kettle started to whistle. “Did you want any?”
“Please actually, lavender and mugwort if it's in there,” Lennox requested.
“That’s actually what I was already making,” Eden told her and shook the jar of lavender.
She scooped out the mixture into two tea infusers, each into their own mugs and poured the boiling water in. The mug scraped against the countertop as she pushed the steeping tea across the counter. The woman leaned against it, her eyes searching the Head of House. Lennox knew she looked almost ghost-like. Rosalyn, Wyatt, or Rue hadn’t said anything however she had seen her reflection. She knew exactly how her eyes revealed how haunted her nightmares were. How during daylight hours her gaze was glazed with grief
“Are you not sleeping well?” Her face changed to one of worry. “I knew you and Felix were pretty close. I couldn’t imagine losing any of my family like that… To be the one to find them.”
“I still see them, even when I close my eyes-”
There was a brief pause as Eden ran her finger nail over her thumb. “The faces of our dead loved ones I think remind us how important it is to focus on the living.”
“Have you lost anyone?” Lennox’s words came out almost too quiet.
“The faces of the dead haunt my dreams… I don’t think that will ever change.” Her eyes went to her mug.
“What do you do to help?”
A few pieces of hair fell from her bun as she remained quiet for a minute. The silence gave her the answer. She had found nothing that helped. “Maybe the tea will help you sleep better..”
“Cheers to hoping.” Lennox smiled a bit at the girl and raised her mug.
The demon brought the cup to her lips and took a sip of the familiar earthy blend. She peered over at the open doorway as people passed getting settled in for the night and remembered it was time to close down the house. Returning her tired eyes to Eden and took another sip before speaking.
“Thank you for the tea, I have to get a few more things done around here. I’ll see you in the morning for the First Day Breakfast Mixer.” Lennox nodded to her concealing the pang she felt in her ribcage at the thought Felix wouldn’t be there.
“Of course, I’ll see you in the morning,” Eden replied, making her way back to her room.
Lennox made her way around the house sipping her tea as she started doing her new nightly checklist. Lock the windows, check the backdoor, and make sure the balcony doors are locked. Lastly, once darkness fell over the grounds she locked the front door for the night. The process took all of ten minutes in which she finished her tea and went up the stairs once more. When she opened the door, she found the group still sitting in the middle of the floor with abandoned cards laid in front of them.
“Shit, Wyatt- I forgot to tell you the doors to the houses were about to be locked.” Lennox placed her cup down on the table.
“It’s fine, I’ll crash with one of you guys tonight if that’s cool?” Wyatt downed another shot as he finished his question.
“How about a group sleepover? First one of the new semester.” Rosalyn suggested and stood to go grab things from her room.
“That’s a great idea, you all can sleep here if you like. I’ll go get the air mattresses.” Rue agreed and made her way over to the closet by the bathroom.
Within twenty minutes, Rosalyn brought over extra blankets, pillows and a set of Wyatt’s clothes from the last time they partied together. Lennox inflated the air mattresses with the help of Rue and everyone settled into their sleeping arrangements for the night. Wyatt posted closest to the door with Rosalyn at the foot of the bed. Crawling in beside Rue, Lennox pulled the blankets over them and wound an arm around her future fiance’s waist.
As her eyes closed, Lennox imagined all the ways she could propose, still not having found the perfect way just yet. With dreams of possibilities she fell into a deep sleep. However, soon after the sound of her alarm played loudly. Her violet eyes shot open and found the night had faded already, light streamed in through the window. She rolled over to face Rue but was met with a wall and vines between where she normally slept. Her eyebrows met as she touched the wall. Tiredly, she pulled on the green thread of magic and tapped the barrier to command it to move. Silence on the other end, not a single leaf twitched. With a sigh, she forced the branches aside to find Rue’s spot empty.
Sitting up she checked her phone, nothing from Rue. It was odd. Usually, if Rue was up before her she would text her some sort of good morning. She moved from the bed and picked up her cardigan from the back of the pink fur computer chair on the way out, noticing Wyatt and Rosalyn were now gone along with any signs they were ever there. For a second she listened for any movement outside her down however the house was completely silent. Walking into the hall, her gaze drifted around the halls and noticed that a few of the photos on the walls looked a little crooked. Carefully she went through the hall to the stairs. Holding her breath, she stopped halfway down the stairs and peered around the corner to the front entrance. The door was wide open, the early morning sunrise illuminating the bottom of the stairs.
Quickly, she made her way down and slammed the door shut. It popped back open with a loud and low creak as it moved back toward her. Her gaze drifted to the lock to find it completely busted with what looked like a hammer. Lennox’s heart sank into the pit of her stomach. Her head snapped behind her and she could feel her heart trying to leave her chest.Her screams for Rue echoed through the house as she peered around the entranceway for any signs of her. No reply came and her feet carried her forward. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as she went into the main common area.
Rue lay in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a pool of bright red blood, the same way she had found Felix. Running over, she knelt down feeling the same dampness in her jeans from less than a week ago. Red stained her hands as she shook Rue, ashy gray replacing the black markings on her face.
“No… No- No! Rue!” Lennox rolled her on her back, looking into her blank eyes.
With a panicked gasp, Lennox sat up in bed. Where is she?! Her eyes searched around the dimly lit room for her, trying to get her bearings. A set of arms suddenly wrapped around her and pulled her in. Her whole body started to shake as the tears spilled over. Rue held her tightly to her, whispering reassurances into her ear. After a few minutes her body finally stopped. Lennox looked up at her with an agonized expression.
“Hey- You’re okay,” Rue’s voice came from beside her.
“It was you.”
Rue’s face fell a little barely seen in the darkness. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
“But I do- Anyone could be next,” she argued, barely louder than a whisper.
“I know, but it won’t be one of us. We will make it out of this. Remember that time we got away from those Italian hunters?”
“If it wasn’t for you, we’d still be down there.”
“We have absolutely nothing to worry about. Between the both of us, we will help keep everyone in Omega Alpha safe.” Rue paused. “I’m sure whoever is going to be appointed as the new Head of Kappa Theta will do the same.”
“I hope it’s not some new guy, honestly. I’m sure they’ll offer Wyatt the spot?”
“If they did, there’s no way he would have not said anything. Unless Principal Moon thinks that maybe a fresh start would be a good thing.” Rue suggested with a yawn.
“Well, whoever it is has a lot to live up to… The last thing Kappa needs is some party boy as a Head of House. He’s going to have to take all of this seriously, especially with Hunters around.”
The two made their way downstairs hand in hand to start the yearly tradition of hosting breakfast for the First Day Breakfast Mixer. The first-day tradition had started three years after she arrived and became Head of House for Omega Alpha. Felix had come to her and asked if she had any ideas for new gatherings the houses could do. He had explained the two two needed to get to know each other more as at least half of each had started pranking the other. She had remembered a tradition from her human life with her Aunt Arya and explained how she would always cook a big meal for her and friends on the first day of school. Felix had loved the idea and instantly set to work in the kitchen beside her the first day of classes. This was the very day Lennox met Rue. A new student and member in the Chapter House that Lennox couldn’t keep her eyes off of. Felix had coaxed her to sit beside her and instantly she found herself with butterflies.
As the memories of their first meeting flooded her mind, Lennox felt the pang of grief she was growing accustomed to settle in her stomach. Only a gentle squeeze on her hand made her remember it was time to set to work as they turned into the empty kitchen. Usually, Felix would have made his way over by now to help set tables and Wyatt would help recruit the people in Kappa to come to eat all the food. However, this time it would only be the former doing that job. I guess whoever is the new Head didn’t get the text I sent.
Lennox moved to grab her phone to check the message where Wyatt had given her a number. It seemed he had it memorized since there was no name listed with the numbers. She followed Rue instead when she called her over to start the coffee. The three machines bubbled as they brewed full pots. As steam wafted up, she got to work on the scrambled eggs and the pancake batter while Rue set the tables.
The smell of breakfast wafted through Omega, which drew people down from their rooms easily enough as they woke to go to class. The room slowly filled with her housemates and Lennox smiled as Eden was the first to come down and take a plate. She was quickly followed by her roommate Plague, horsemen of disease. Next one of Lennox’s friends came down. Donnie Bane, Crossroad Demon and twin to Val Bane, the one who made the deal with her that sent her soul down to Hell. The very demon who was too lazy to torture me herself. Their similarities had been difficult for Lennox to deal with, but after two semesters she stopped jumping when she saw Donnie out of the corner of her eye.
A knock echoed from the door, which Rue answered. A drove of students from Kappa Theta found their way in and straight to the food. They still came, even after the rumors. The sight caused a smile to tug at Lennox’s lips. Bastien Miller, Eden’s cousin, made his way over to her. He pushed his chestnut hair out of his matching eyes and joined the other Omega’s. A bright smile crossed his face as he was followed by his housemates and her friends Wyatt Steele, Octavius Whitlock, and a new guy she had never seen.
Letting her smile widen, she accepted the side hug Wyatt offered as he was the first to close the distance. Lennox’s eyes followed him for a moment, noticing the jean jacket and red bandana that kept his dirty blond hair from his face. The look was finished off with a snarky smile which made him look like a typical human frat boy. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Octavius followed from the back in attempts to give his long spider-like legs some space as they tried to tug into his back. The newer members of Omega Alpha watched wearily from their seats. Octavius, the black widow-human hybrid with skin as dark as the night sky and warm star-like undertones, always brought up people’s most common fears. His narrow face and high cheekbones highlighted his handsome features and kind lavender eyes.
Wyatt on the other hand caught plenty of attention with his plethora of tattoos, above average height, and stormy irises. That very storm suddenly drifted past Lennox which sent her attention behind herself. Eden sat beside Bastien as he spoke excitedly about something Lennox couldn’t hear. She glanced back to the Crossroads Demon who seemed to only have eyes for the woman. She had seen the look only a handful of times on the man’s face. Eden Miller would be the next person he would try to win over. Though Eden herself had never been seen flirting with anyone and had turned everyone down at parties when she did attend them.
“Hey there Nox! Look who I brought! How are you doing?” Octavius asked as he peered around the room for Rosalyn, Lennox guessed, while Wyatt stared and the new guy continued to speak, not noticing his friend’s distraction.
“Hey!” Wyatt’s gaze broke from the raven haired girl. “I got them all out of bed!”
Octavius folded his arms over his chest. “Yeah, well I helped get them out the door.”
“It doesn’t matter, as long as they came to eat the food.” Lennox smiled. “Thank you for bringing them… Felix, he- He loved this tradition.”
“I know, and we’ll keep it going- No matter what- Right, Aron?” Wyatt swiftly seemed to try to bring things back to a positive note which dulled the pang in her chest.
Oh, yeah totally!” The new guy, Aron, ran a hand through his hair and let out a chuckle as he spoke. “I don’t think anyone would hate on some free food to start the day.”
Lennox’s eyebrow twitched as from the corner of her eye she saw Octavius spot Rosalyn and vanish over to her table. From beside Aron, Wyatt’s gaze had found its way to Eden once again and appeared to be deciding how he was going to talk to her. Doing her best to hide her distaste for the comment since that’s not what any of it was about, she allowed her smile to remain in place.
“How are you enjoying Kappa Theta? Have you met your Head of House?” Secretly, she was hoping this man had some information on this mystery.
Aron’s half smirk turned further upwards as his eyes lit up. “Everytime I look in the mirror, actually.”
“You’re the new Head of House for Kappa?” Lennox failed to bite back her words.
“Don’t sound so surprised,” he puffed up his chest slightly. “I may be new but I think I can handle it. Where is your Head of House?”
“You’ve found her.”
“You’re Lennox Cade?” He sized her up for a moment. “Let me guess, your bite is bigger than your bark?”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” she tossed his words back, her gaze darkening.
“Spunky, I like it.” He smirked deviously.
For a moment, neither of them spoke as his forest green irises darted over her face in attempts to discern what kind of demon she was. Her face remained an unwavering smile as it was quite normal upon meeting another demon as their stories were usually marked across their face in some way. Aron’s gaze followed the six dots split into two sets of three at the outer edge- top and bottom of her eye sockets. Then to the marking in the center of her forehead, the symbol of Xemos. A trident shape with a horizontal line in the middle with three dots down either side of the points. It appeared after she was released from her deal with Val. Lastly, to each of the four white X's, set two under the corner of her eyes near her nose. The other set at the top of her cheekbone marking her as a sold-soul demon. The four markings had previously been deep black, however, when Xemos pulled her from Hell, they faded into something close to scars.
She did the same, her eyes following the black line from his forehead to his chin with three stitch-like markings going down the bridge of his nose. The line crossed over the center of his face where two more sets of three stitches lay. At the end of the line sat the markings she was looking for, a set of tilted crosses at the top of his cheekbones. Crossroads demon. Lennox shifted to her heels and felt her heart rate pick up, Wyatt and Donnie were the only two she had been able to trust in this lifetime. The others she had found were just as ill intentioned and conniving as Val was.
Aron’s eyes lingered on her pale scars for longer than she preferred. She cleared her throat to break his attention from the part of her story she hated the most. His eyes snapped back to hers and she realized curiosity sprung to life, his smile faltered as he seemed to notice her shift in demeanor. Wyatt must have taken notice as he stepped beside Lennox, looping his arm through hers catching her attention. The moment she looked up to him, she felt peace return and a more genuine smile appeared.
“I think it’s time we all get some food?” Wyatt smiled and pulled her toward the food table, the others followed suit behind them. Momentarily, she felt his head next to hers as he whispered in her ear. “Give him a chance Len, he cares about people. I know he’s not Felix but I’ve known him for a while and he’s a good guy.”
Another pang- Another flash of Felix laying in a pool of blood- Lennox flinched and kept her eyes on the coffee pot in front of her. “I need a partner that will help me protect everyone in these houses, can he do that?”
“I can, and I will.” Aron’s voice came from her left side as he stood beside her, waiting for his turn for a cup of coffee.
“Will you?” Lennox questioned before anyone could stop her. Images of Elder Narcissus and Felix flashed in her mind’s eyes. “Because it seems you’re only here for the free food.”
His forest eyes filled with shadow. The previous smirk was wiped from his lips as he looked down at her. “Look- I know what I need to know about what happened to the previous Head of Kappa. How you were the one to find him and as I understand the grieving process. What I don’t appreciate assumptions made about me. So, of course Lenny-Boo, I will help you protect everyone here but first you need to get over whatever is going on here.”
For a moment, Lennox was rendered speechless. Flames dully sparked to life inside his pupils as his smirk returned at her lack of comebacks. Lennox bit her tongue and pulled out a mug and filled it as Aron spoke once again.
“When I was asked to be the new Head of House I got a list of everyone here. Although, when I read your name I didn't quite expect this . When I asked Wyatt about you, he painted you quite differently. I hope to meet that version of Lennox Cade next time.”
“How did Wyatt paint me?” She asked and met his eyes again.
“Much more accepting- not judging a book by its cover. Though the spunk he told me about is definitely still intact. Maybe once that chip on your shoulder towards me falls off we’ll be able to get to know each other on a more… Personal level?”
This time, her face flushed as annoyance bubbled to the surface as his tone turned soft and flirty. He is not trying to hit on me right now. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Wyatt looking between them, seeming to deliberate on intervening or letting the entertainment continue.
“I do not have-” She started to speak, venom leaking into her voice as someone approached behind her.
“Grief and tragedy do strange things to people.” Rue’s light voice came up behind her and Lennox felt her arm wind around her waist.
The man eyed the couple, his flirty demeanor shifted in seconds when he noticed. “Lenny Boo has a girlfriend? NICE! Good choice, she’s cute.”
His eyes returned to her and he lifted a hand for a high-five. When Lennox didn’t return the gesture he put his arm back down to his side. “Got it, we are serious.”
“Don’t worry, she’ll come around.” Wyatt reassured Aron.
“You two seem to already have kindled a friendship.” Rue commented, turning to Wyatt.
“We actually have known each other from various deals over the years.” Wyatt explained quickly.
“Yeah, we met in Texas when we both turned up at one of the crossroads.” Aron reached over and fluffed Wyatt’s hair.
“Sounds like destiny that you’re here together! Glad you made it safe to SCHUni.” Rue smiled.
The group made their way over to the food where Lennox took a few things before they went her way over to an empty sitting area in the common room. Aron and Wyatt both had tall stacks of pancakes on their plates and were already locked in conversation as they ate. The hum of conversation filled the silence.
“How are the pancakes?” Rue smiled at the two men.
“The pancakes are good… ummm-”
“Rue,” she answered his unspoken question.
“Aron, new Head of Kappa.”
“Oh, well good to meet you. Hopefully you two will find your groove eventually.” Rue shot a look at Lennox.
“I think eventually she’ll see I’m not as bad as she thinks.” Aron finished the last of his breakfast.
“She’s right here.” Lennox spoke up.
“I’ll talk to you when you’re ready to play nice.” Aron stood from his chair and turned to Wyatt who was finishing his coffee and watching Eden and Bastien out of the corner of his eye. “I guess I’ll see you love birds around, I’m grabbing some to go coffee before class. Gotta go meet all your Omega’s. Maybe I’ll catch a few numbers. Wyatt? You want some coffee and a wingman?”
Wyatt’s eyes snapped to Aron. “I got your back, I’ll catch up with you later Nox, Rue!”
Aron winked as he turned away and made his way into the kitchen with Wyatt. Lennox peered at Rue with an annoyed expression. Before she could get up to go to class Octavius, Donnie, Bastien and Eden all came over. Though Lennox kept Aron in her line of sight as he talked to a group of women by the coffee pot. After only a few seconds she noticed that Wyatt kept peering over at Eden who had her back to him. Normally if someone catches his attention he’s not so shy about it, I wonder-. Octavius’s voice caught her attention.
“Pancakes are supposed to be round, dude.”
“They can’t be all perfectly round!” Rue argued.
“Why are you even complaining about the shape of them? They still taste the same,” Donnie rolled her eyes at Octavius.
“Because I can!” He took his seat and started into his food shaking his shoulders to adjust where his legs would sit against the back of the chair. “Besides, who says I’m even complaining?”
“Sounds like your problem,” Bastien told them from his spot at the table by Eden.
“Yeah, you should be happy there's even anything left.” Eden teased, motioning to the almost empty area of food.
“Yeah yeah yeah-” Octavius waved one of his free spider arms nonchalantly
They all laughed as people finished their breakfast and started making their way to the school. Slowly, each person stood from their chairs and made their way out. When it was just Rue and Lennox, Rue turned to her. Her once hidden concern now reflected in her eyes.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay here cleaning up?”
She nodded and pulled her hair into a small bun at the top of her head, pieces falling out at the bottom. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me, love. Someone has to clean up.”
“Okay, if you need me, remember I’m a text away.” Rue smiled and kissed Lennox before making her way to her first class.
Lennox went over and put away the leftovers and washed the dishes. The house was silent and she found herself lost in her thoughts as she had often been recently. Shaking her head, she turned on the music. She started to sway to the music and found herself finally feeling relaxed for the first time in days. Sliding the dishes into their spots Lennox went over to the corner she had put her bag in earlier and went out the door to go to her first class, chemical sciences with Elder Lucian Clyde.