11. Chapter 11
Eden
E den’s dorm room was mostly quiet except for the sound of a page-turn every few minutes accompanied by the tapping of Bastien’s foot. With her nose buried in her magical theories book, she hadn’t noticed the darkness of night had fallen outside. She peered up after finishing the chapter she was on and her gaze fell on her uncle who had his phone hidden in his book, then to the window. Where did two hours go? She peered over to her laptop which read eight o’ four.
“Since when was it eight?” She asked him and closed her book and stretched.
“Since four minutes ago.” Bastien taunted without looking up from his phone.
“You actually stayed quiet for two hours?”
“Actually no, I tried to talk to you but you were practically dead to the world. I thought I might need to call Wyatt to snap you out of it if you didn’t come out of your trance soon.” He closed his book with a smirk.
“Never call him,” Eden rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry Bas, what did you want to talk about?”
“When do you think you’ll go after Lennox?”
She paused for a moment before responding to him. “Not until Eloise gives the green light. We have time and with the new wolf we have to be even more careful.”
“You can’t tell me you haven’t thought of confronting her,” he tilted his head down while lifting his eyebrow.
“Of course I have, but I don’t think I’m ready.”
“Well, if you need backup, I’m always there.” He reached over and elbowed her lightly as he stood.
His phone buzzed against the pages of the book as he received another message. Eden stood and peered over his shoulder. Immediately she recognized the name on the phone. Corvus followed by a red heart. The demon was Bastien’s most recent fling that seemed to be lasting a bit longer than just the usual one-night stand.
“I can’t wait to see you tonight, wink emoji.” She read out loud as she reached for his phone. “What are you doing? You never have hearts next to their names.”
Bastien held it above his head out of her reach and looked down at her. “Not that it’s any of your business, nosey. I’m just having fun with one for a while, got a problem with that?”
“I’m just saying-”
“Yeah yeah, don’t get caught by Eloise,” Bastien said with an exasperated sigh.
She rubbed her temples and pulled her long black hair into a bun on the top of her head. Eden tried to push away the feeling that something more was going on. If Eloise finds out he’s hanging around with that demon too much, she’ll make him a Heretic. It was the worst thing to happen within The Salvamari. Usually those who were cast out it was as if they never existed. Personal items destroyed, photos, record, all communication cut. Eden raised her eyes back to him to find the gears turning in Bastien’s eyes while he seemed to sway the conversation.
“Are you okay, after the whole Richard thing?” He asked sincerely.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She lied and turned away to look in the mirror as she messed with her hair. She had been having small panic attacks at night when walking the house, not that she would tell him.
“You don’t think that I know how to tell when you’re lying?” In the reflection she watched him cross his arms over his chest. “Anyone else would buy that, maybe even Eloise and Stacey. Not me- When you try to lie to me, you know if you look me in the eyes you’ll break. Oh, and you dig your thumb nails into your fingertips when you’re nervous.”
“Okay, there’s no reason to call me out like that.”
“As there’s no reason for you to be in my business, Little Viper.” Bastien threw back at her with a bright glint in his eyes.
She froze when he called her Wyatt’s pet name. “How do you-”
“Mr. Steele is not very quiet about his interest in you.”
“Of course, he’s not… Isn’t that a little hypocritical? You seem to be in my business.” She put her hands on her hips as he started to make his way toward the door.
“Not when he comes to me to ask how to win you over,” he opened the door and started to make his way down the hall.
Eden followed close behind to get the last word in, “Well you tell him-”
“I’m not telling him anything you say.” Bastien stopped and fully turned to her midway down, putting a finger up to stop her. “If you have something to tell him, you know where he lives, but I do believe he said something about a study date tonight?”
Her face flushed as she realized that she hadn’t been able to tell Wyatt no to his drunken study date idea. Eden had refused to use the number he left inside her textbook and avoided him in the halls. She sighed as she pulled her phone out to check the time. Eight twenty-one, he would be there much sooner than she would have preferred. Maybe I can find a way out of this?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bastien’s smile grow, “Don’t worry, the whole causal look works for you.”
“Why didn’t you say anything sooner? Now I have to figure out how to get him to not come over!”
“Okay, stop. How many more times do I have to tell you to enjoy your life?” He placed his hands on either side of her arms with a grip. His chestnut eyes bore straight through her as he tried to break through the walls she clung to so tightly. “This guy seems genuinely interested and even if he is a demon you are allowed to have fun before we take our next steps toward going after Lennox. It’s a great cover and it’ll keep you close enough to know anything they know about who the hunters are. Besides, it’s not like you have to sleep with him.”
“Eww, Bastien.” Her face scrunched as he said the last words and started back down the stairs. As she continued down she couldn’t help but admit to herself how right he was. “Fine, but I’m not making it easy for him.”
“Of course, you won’t. Just give him a shot?” He reached up and pulled the clip from her hair. Quickly, he shook his hand through it and made it fluff up with an entertained smirk. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. I know it’s your first date ever but just play nice and you’ll have yourself a great cover.”
Eden reached up, fixing her hair as he made his way into the entranceway. “I don’t know how much I can do, but I’ll entertain the idea.”
“Well good, ‘cause I see him making his way over now.” He nodded towards someone moving up the path from Kappa with a small suitcase rolling behind them.
“Oh goddamnit.”
“God can’t help you now! Besides, which one?” Basiten gave her a final exasperated look.
“Eloise says there’s only one!” She called as he went toward the fraternity.
“Stop living for Eloise!” He called, causing her face to turn red.
Eden peered as the demon approached the house and moved quickly as she went to shut the door before he could catch her. That was until his voice calling her name drifted over and brought the annoyance with it. Shit. She paused for a moment as Bastien’s words echoed fresh in her mind. With a sigh her look of mild disgust faded into a more appropriate annoyed expression. Eden stood in the doorway and waited for him to approach with a giant smile plastered to his face. She reached up and ran a hand through her hair again in an attempt to still look presentable even in her hoodie and sweatpants.
“Little Viper! Too late, I saw you!” Wyatt called from under the streetlamp closest to the door.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in.” She leaned against the doorway and crossed her arms, the cool night breeze blowing across her face.
“Well, you never called to cancel so I just thought maybe you were looking forward to our date.” Wyatt shrugged as he met her in the doorway in his usual all-black jeans and a t-shirt with a leather jacket.
“This is not a date, but I guess you can come to study for an hour. One hour, then you’re gone long before curfew, got it?” “Gone before curfew, sure can do!” He exclaimed, walking past her dragging the small silver suitcase behind him.
Eden looked down as it rolled past her feet and closed the door behind them. He has no intentions of leaving here sober. As she closed the door she watched Wyatt look around the mostly empty house. Most people were either hidden away in their rooms or somewhere in the town before they all had to be back. He didn’t miss a beat as he made his way toward the kitchen to go unpack. His confidence showed he had made the place a second home. He moved to unzip the suitcase and Eden quickly reached out to stop him.
“Why don’t we go study in my room?” She asked her hand on his arm.
He raised his eyebrows and peered down at her hand for a second, “You actually want me to come to your room? What are people going to think, Little Miller?”
“That we were studying. I prefer to not have interruptions when I’m reading,” she told him simply. “Just come on.” I can’t have Eloise knowing he’s hanging around me yet.
Without any retaliation, he picked up the silver case with ease as the sound of bottles clattered from inside. She started to make her way up the stairs while he followed close behind. His footsteps slowly became closer as she showed him the way to her dorm room. Eden lifted her hand and pulled at the blue thread within her to unlock the door. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him put his free hand above her head and lean over her from the doorframe. Something fluttered within her which caused heat to fill her cheeks as the lock clicked.
“Never thought I’d get invited in on the first date.” Wyatt commented when she went to turn the doorknob.
She turned her head to look up at him and saw the sarcastic side smile on his face. “We are just studying, nothing else. When are you going to stop calling this a date?”
“Sold-Soul demons may be the only ones with beating hearts but when it comes to you… Until my heart starts beating again.” Wyatt shifted even closer to her, almost a mere five inches away.
Eden rolled her eyes in annoyance, she shook her head. With a huff, she twisted the knob and went in. Wyatt was left standing in the doorway for a few seconds before he joined her once more. The black-haired demon looked around her room. Her gaze followed his to her various potion ingredients and magical practice books. Carefully, she watched him from the corner of her eyes as she went over to her desk and sat opening her laptop to open an assignment.
As she moved one of her books beside it, the knife which was usually tucked away in her sleeve, slid from the table and toward the floor. A flash of silver metal in the low light of her room made her heart skip. Eden quickly caught it just before it hit the floor. Wyatt took his eyes from the photo of a black cat she used to own as Eden slipped it into her sleeve. With his suitcase still in hand he made his way over to her and started to take out a few bottles.
“So I brought whiskey, vodka, and rum. I didn’t know what you liked so I also brought wine coolers, you know in case you want to work up to the stronger stuff.”
“I think the wine cooler is enough for me, thank you.”
Reaching in, he pulled out one for her and held it out to her. “Why don’t we make this a little more interesting than just working on assignments? We quiz each other on practical magics and when we get one wrong, it’s a shot. We could even play our own twenty questions, the quizzer gets to ask a question with each shot and the other must answer honestly. I think it could be a fun way to get to know each other.”
Eden paused for a moment and considered his proposal. What is he trying to do? Could he just be trying to get me drunk to pull something… Or worse, is he on to me? This could end up really bad for me if he asks the wrong things. No- he can’t be, he would have brought the security team if that was the case. Besides, if he tried any funny business I can still fight. Eden opened her drink and let her eyes drift back to the demon, his eyes glinting in the dim lamp-lit room. Her gaze trailed him up and down in an attempt to decide the best way to bring him down if need be.
Wyatt waited patiently as her eyes met his again. The storm pulled her in briefly. She even felt something in the back of her mind begging her to move closer. Until Eloise’s voice echoed in her mind. Never trust them. A sudden sting from The Compass caught her attention before she brushed it off. Now wasn’t the time. Focus, he’s your cover. However, if she said too much, she would have to take care of it. Which in turn would bring more unwanted attention her way. Though under it all lay a strange pull to trust him the longer she looked into his eyes. The feeling caught her off guard which must have registered across her face as his expression shifted to amusement.
“What do you say?” He asked, leaning his left hip against the desk.
“Fine, I’ll play your game.”
She put her drink down and pulled out her Magic Basics book. As Eden flipped through the pages her long black hair fell in a curtain into her face. Quickly, she shoved it back and weaved it into the previous messy loose bun with long strands hanging out. While she skimmed to find something they hadn’t covered yet, her eyes caught a page on elemental magic. The clang of glass on glass filled the silence and halted her search which caused her gaze to shoot in his direction.
Eden watched his hands closely as the sound of the seal snapped open on the evidently new bottle. It’s new, he couldn’t have put anything in it. She fought with herself as paranoia got the better of her. He’s trying to prove he’s different. He won’t actually do anything. But… Can I trust his words? She blinked in an attempt to clear her head as he poured out two shots of rum and left them on the counter before he picked up a wine cooler. He’s starting off slow too. Her attention returned to the book. Eventually she found a chat of correlations between the first types of elemental magic.
“What matter of magic is used when practicing thermal sensory magic?” She propped her right foot up on the seat of her chair.
“That’s a trick question. It’s not just one, it’s all three. Earth, air, and water all combined for the user to be able to read the temperatures around them or control said temperatures.” Wyatt stared at her and turned to sit on her desk. Unable to hide her surprise, she felt her face shift and started to explain. “I graduated from the Crossroads Demon courses hundreds of years ago. Then I came back and continued seven years ago for fun. Magic basics is at least once every new major.”
“So that’s why you’re rarely in classes.”
“Only a few things about magic change every few years.” Wyatt shrugged.
“Then why do you even stay?” Eden questioned.
“Because I have found a home here. As have others. It’s one place we don’t have to hide who we are and feel safe… At least it used to be.” His words faded off for a minute before he peered over at her once more.
Surprised at his response, she leaned back in her chair. Something about the discovery that creatures she had been taught to hate had the desire to find a home never occurred to her. They are more like humans than I thought… Eden had considered the thought more and more since she arrived at the school. However Eloise had kept her training schedule full outside of classes. Wyatt broke her thoughts when he reached toward her and motioned for the book in her hands. The gesture made her eyes dart to him, his eyes still locked on hers almost as if he never looked away. Did he notice me checking out for a second there?
“I believe it’s my turn to quiz you?”
“I didn’t think you would need the book, Steele?” She taunted.
“I don’t, but it makes it easier.” He motioned for the book again.
Eden handed it over, she tilted her head at him. “Just don’t leave your number in this one.”
“Well, I wouldn’t need to if you passed your phone over and I left it there.” He winked at her as he flipped through the pages before he seemed to land on something. “True or false, growth magic is a form of the elemental magic of creation.”
“False, it's a form of life magic as well as necromancy and love magic.”
“Very good, no shots for either of us just yet. Let’s try a switch since you seem to know your fair share. How about basic magic principles?” He held the book out to her.
“You’re on.” Eden agreed and took it from him.
They continued back and forth for a few rounds. Both answered correctly each time. Over the course of ten minutes, they had each finished their first drinks. Wyatt knew more than she had initially thought. The challenge of who was going to take the first shot was a much more fun game than she assumed. For the first time in a long time, Eden found herself relaxed with a true smile on her face.
Wyatt crossed his legs on the top of her desk where he was perched. Looking over she saw the dirt from his shoes get onto one of the books. “What is the Latin word for fire?”
“Hey! Get your shoes off!” She laughed and lightly hit his foot before she answered. “Impes.”
“Wrong, little Miller! It’s ignis, impes is attack.” He smirked and quickly put his feet down.
“Shit.”
“You know what that means.” He motioned to the two glasses he had poured.
“A deal’s a deal.” She sighed.
Eden put aside the book and stood to follow him. Her eyes followed his movements as he pulled the leather jacket off. His shirt came with it and for a moment she caught a brief glance of the bottom of a moon phase tattoo that went down his spine. The sight sent heat flooding to her cheeks, her attention fixed until his t-shirt covered it again. She took advantage of the extra time he took to hang his jacket over hers by the door to compose herself and force her heart to settle.
Just as Wyatt turned to join her by the bottle she had regained the mask she put on tonight. The glint in his eyes reminded her of stars that peaked out of a cloudy sapphire sky. The beauty almost caught her off guard. He was less than two feet from her with both glasses, one held out to her. She was the first to break their gaze as she took the glass from him, her eyes lingered on the small hourglass shaped tattoo on the side of his wrist. The top was fully shaded in black, the other just an empty outline. As above, so below.
“To you, Little Viper. May you see the truth of my intentions.” His voice dipped lower, the rasp suddenly stronger than usual.
They both downed it quickly. Eden felt the burn of the alcohol encase her throat. Her face twisted as she put her glass down and looked back to see he hadn’t even reacted to his own drink. Quickly, she attempted to fix her face before he saw, even though more than likely he already had. “That was cute,” he laughed lightly as the smirk grew across his face. “You really don’t drink, do you? Don’t you know that’s what college is for?”
“No, I don’t. Some people actually enjoy learning.”
“Only for the first few years, then the novelty wears off.” He admitted and shook his head. “Well, for everyone but Lennox. Over twenty years and somehow she’s still excited to learn something new.”
A small silence fell between the two for a moment as he spoke about Lennox. He obviously has no idea that she is my birth mother . Eden’s attention was drawn back to the moment when Wyatt took a step towards her. She froze and watched him closely, her breath caught in her chest for a second. He’s going to try something. Eden shifted her body ever so slightly so she had easier access to her knife.
His stormy eyes softened as he looked into her own violet ones; a crooked half smile pulling at his lips. He was no more than three inches from her when his starry gaze drifted behind her as he bent down and reached toward the silver suitcase on the table behind her.
“Do you want another one? Before I get to ask my question?” He asked, his arm grazed over hers.
“Sure,” she agreed. Her voice more of a whisper as the sounds of glass clinking together filled the room.
He was quickly back in his original spot and placed another drink into her hand. Surprise filled her as her heart fluttered back into rhythm. It took a few seconds to realize her paranoia had almost gotten the better of her when it seemed he was just flirting. He was respectful of her space for the most part and seemed insistent he was going to show her he wasn’t like the demons. Is that something they are even capable of? Some of the things Eloise had taught her since joining the family had come into question the longer they were at the school. She cleared her throat as he held out a wine cooler. Eden took it and waited for whatever question he was about to ask knowing this could go well or quite terribly.
“Alright, Little Miller for my first question, what is the last lie that you told?” He asked her closely.
She took her time to open the bottle and considered the question. She was constantly lying about who she was, not that he needed to know that. “Well, I told Bastien that his favorite boy toy was waiting for him in his room when I wanted to be left alone.”
The black-haired demon laughed a little, “My, my Little Viper. I’m sure he wasn’t happy when he went to his room and probably found otherwise.”
“He definitely wasn’t. But he was fine the next day.” She shrugged and started to move back toward her desk.
She placed her drink beside the book they were reading out of, picked it up, and started to graze the pages once more. She could hear his footsteps follow behind her before she felt him peer over her shoulder. Eden peered to the side and saw his eyes trace over the page she had opened to.
“You know, if you’re looking when I ask the next question it’s cheating. I think you could add that as a reason for another shot and a question.” She taunted.
“Oh no, another shot.” Wyatt put the hand with his drink over his forehead and took a step back. “Whatever shall I do?”
Wyatt turned on his heel, made his way over to the bed. He sat crossed legged on top of the blankets. Eden frowned at him again and motioned down with her eyes at his shoes. For a moment the expectant look on his face remained before his smirk faded and he looked at his feet.
“Oh, sorry!” He quickly kicked off his shoes. Each one hit the floor with a dull thud as he recrossed his legs.
“How about a topic change?” She asked, putting the book down once more.
“What did you have in mind, my dear?”
“Demonology,” she challenged him to facts about his own kind. Little did he know, she had spent the last four years studying at her mother’s insistence.
“If you insist. I don’t think you know what you’re in for, I’ve been around awhile.”
“Even demons who have been around for thousands of years can get a question wrong.”
“Alright then, do your worst.” He tilted his head toward her expectantly.
“How does a Sold-Soul demon get their powers?” She asked as she took a seat in her computer chair and lifted her bottle for another drink.
Secretly, this was one of the many questions she couldn’t find an answer for when it came to Lennox. She had spent hours in the family library reading through recovered journals from missions to find where her apparent earth magic came from. The day she had walked into Omega she had seen the ivy vines that trailed around the demon’s window. Over the last two years, she hadn’t met another demon who seemed as capable with their element as Lennox.
“Easy, from the demon who they made their deal with. Though there are special cases of interference such as Lennox. Demon, but Protector of Witches. As a devotee to Xemos her elemental demon power was amplified three levels up the scale to match a Crossroad Demon.” He answered confidently and quickly shot a question back at her. Well that was easier than I thought it would be. “What offerings are recommended to bring to the crossroads?”
“Your most prized possession and any bottle of booze to share,” she recounted her studies with a genuine smile crossing her face. “Come on, that’s an easy one.”
Wyatt paused for a moment as his eyes lit up when she smiled. “Alright, let’s up the difficulty. Show me what you’ve got.”
Eden considered her options not too keen on another shot. She landed on a question only demons with personal experience would know the answer to. She shifted in her seat and put her elbows on the back of her chair.
“What happens when a demon is stabbed with a cursed knife that isn’t theirs?” His face shifted and he fidgeted with the snake ring on his finger. So he’s never come across that one.
“I know a stab wound from the correctly cursed knife would kill a demon, however- I believe it would leave a mark on the intended demon, but not kill them.”
“You don’t seem so sure.” Eden pointed out
“Well it doesn’t happen very often.” He shrugged. “Lennox would probably know.”
Eden’s curiosity got the better of her. “How did you two become friends?”
Wyatt let out a genuine laugh. “Well, we weren’t always. She rightfully hated my ass for years.
“How come?” She leaned her cheek on her hand.
“Our history is complicated but… She started to chase me down a few years after she got out of hell. Almost killed me a few times.” He shrugged and pushed his hair from his eyes. “Seven years ago I was just starting to become who I am now.”
“How did you two go from that to best friends?” Eden frowned.
“I showed her how sorry I was for what I did. Lennox, she’s someone who will never stop giving second chances. Even after everything she’s been through.”
The silence that followed was loud until his expression slowly softened. His brow was still furrowed and he let out a sigh. In one motion, he downed a shot and poured a second for himself.
“Are you okay?” She asked quietly.
“Yeah, I just don’t like the thought of anyone I care about getting hurt.”
“I couldn’t imagine losing anyone in my family.” Eden peered into her hands as guilt weighed her down.
“You won’t.” His matter of fact tone caught her off guard. “You don’t have to worry about that, Eden. I would never let anyone hurt you.”
She moved her hands to her hips. “I’m perfectly capable of protecting myself.”
“I never said you couldn’t.” He kept his velvet voice even as he stood from her bed. “I’m just saying you don’t have to worry about it.”
“Shouldn’t I worry if you’re not around?” She allowed her voice to match his with a smirk as he got closer.
Wyatt stood a few feet away from the chair. “I’ll find a way to be watching even when I’m not there.”
“Pretty creepy if you ask me.” The laugh that escaped her was louder than even she expected.
The sound of his accompanied hers. Have his eyes always been that blue? Eden saw the storm clear for the first time as he laughed with her. “You’re right. I think just a way to let me know if you’d ever need back-up.”
“I could call you, we have phones.”
“Oh but that’s not as much fun.” He winked. “Maybe a nice Nazar outside your door?”
With a dull thud, he placed the glasses on the edge and poured another set of shots for them. For a moment, she eyed the one that she had been drinking out of and decided a little more couldn’t hurt the situation. As the alcohol went down, her nerve seemed to strengthen as her previous drinks started to invade her thoughts. Regaining her nerve Eden placed the empty glass back on the desk as he perched back on his spot on the back corner of her desk.
“I believe it’s my turn to ask the next question.” She broke the quiet and turned toward another one of her books to switch topics once more. Suddenly, his hand was on top of hers, stopping her from picking up the book.
“I’m done studying… I want to know more about you.” He insisted with a velvet tone.
“Like what?” Eden asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Things like your biggest dream, your favorite animal, maybe even how to make you smile. I do enjoy seeing you happy, it’s not too often.”
He ever so slowly started to close the distance between them. She saw his gaze trace over her as if he tried to memorize them. Feeling a strange flutter she had only felt with one other person. Slowly, she took her hand from under his and fiddled with her sleeve. Maybe Basiten is right… Could I give him that chance outside of being a good cover? Not that Eloise could ever know it’s more than that…
“I like peacocks actually. I like what they symbolize.”
Wyatt leaned against the wall, his lips curled back into a smile. “Confidence, awakening, and royalty, very fitting for my favorite Miller.”
“What about you?”
“Huskies,” he told her excitedly. “They are high energy and fun.”
“I think that’s also pretty fitting for you, Mr. Steele.” The flutter she tried to suppress earlier made its way to her chest behind the walls she held so tight. Maybe he is who he says he is.
Eden lost track of time as the dizziness set in, and slowly relaxed as they took turns asking questions. Wyatt was more than happy to share many aspects of his life with her and old stories of drunken nights with friends. The room was light-hearted and fun until the markings on his face reminded her who he was. A demon. Though at this moment he slowly started to look more… Human .
“Your mother looks like she’d kick a puppy out of the way if it was in her path. Is she always like that?”
“You mean closed off and direct? Yes actually, though she does care.” Eden tried to explain her mother without coming off the wrong way. However, when it came to Eloise, she didn’t present herself in the best light.
“Only about anyone with the last name Miller. What made you guys come here anyways?” Wyatt started to pour another round for them.
“She heard about how secluded the place was, she’s not a fan of large amounts of human interaction.” She laughed at her terrible inside joke. Once he put the bottle down again they both took their fourth drink and shook her head as the burn started to dull once more. “White flag, I need a minute.”
“Having a hard time keeping up?” He asked, his hand placed beside hers where she put the shot glass down again.
“Go easy on me, it’s gonna take time for me to even try to go shot for shot with you, party boy.” Eden taunted.
His smile brightened as they went back to the bottle to pour the next round. His hand drifted to hers and fingers brushed the top of her hand lightly. She glanced down at their hands as they hovered just over one another over the bottle, then blinked up to see his gaze on her for a reaction. She didn’t move her hand away. His hand gently brushed over the top of hers. Looking into his night-like eyes she decided having to hang around an attractive man, even if he was a demon, wouldn’t be the most terrible thing she would have to do.
“Thank you for letting me in, I’m glad you didn’t cancel,” Wyatt told her genuinely.
The first real smile Eden had in a while tugged at her face. “It’s been nice actually.”
“I told you, I’d break in eventually.” He beamed.
“You moved a few bricks,” Eden corrected.
“I’ll take it, one at a time is fine with me. I’m a patient man, Miss. Miller- Remember?”
Suddenly, alternative rock played demandingly from his jacket pocket. A frown replaced the smile and he stood from his spot on the side of her desk. With an apologetic look after he glanced down. Eden shrugged off and motioned for him to answer. He picked it up after a few seconds and put it to his ear.
“What Aron? No, I haven’t been looking at my phone… What do you mean it’s five minutes till curfew? No, I don’t have anyone to walk back with to Kappa… Okay, I’ll see you two in three minutes.” Eden heard his words and turned to the window behind her to discover night had encircled the grounds into pitch-black except for the few lamps. The soft thud of his footsteps behind her drew her attention away from the moon. “Gone before curfew, that’s the deal right?”
“That was the deal… I don’t have anywhere for you to bunk for the night.” She nodded fighting with herself internally. She knew she should want him to go but a part of her didn’t want him to.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind sharing a bed with a pretty woman. But I’m taking it slow. I want you to want me here. So for now Aron and Octavius are on their way over.” Eden stood with a nod and handed him the bottle they were drinking from while he started to pack. He held up his hand. “Keep it, when you drink you’ll have something to remember tonight by.”
“I’ll put it in my afternoon coffee.” She joked and put it back down as he closed the silver suitcase.
The pair started to make their way toward the door until Eden stopped him and opened it. She poked her head out to see if anyone was in the hall. There was no one there but voices. The sound of a few voices trailed up the stairs and she felt him bend beside her ear.
“Don’t want me to be seen coming out of your room, huh?”
“I’m just not ready for any questions.” She turned back to him and felt the red creep into her face as she stepped aside for him to leave. “I’ll see you in class.”
“Or you could text me?” He asked, winking at her.
“I’ll think about it.” She told him, letting him move past her into the hall.
He shook his head and took her hand for a final time, squeezing it lightly. “I hope you do, Have a good night little Viper.”
Aron and Octavious’s voices wafted up the stairs from the entrance hall intertwined with the voices of the other Omega girls. The door closed less than a minute later as the boys went back to their own house. Quietly, Eden shut the door and locked it behind her. With her back against the wood she let out a long, deep breath. Thoughts fluttered around her mind which caused more confusion than ever.
For a moment she considered an attempt to call Bastien but knew most nights he was busy. A yawn pulled at her and the world still spun slightly from the alcohol. It would be much easier to tell him everything that had happened once she was sober in the morning. Eden took the knife from her sleeve and laid it on her nightstand, pulled the sheets back, turned on her favorite nighttime playlist and crawled into bed. That night as Eden lay there, she considered her emotions and her duty to the Miller legacy. If she fell in love with a demon, it would end in his death and she would be marked a Heretic.