24. Chapter 24
Eden
T he knife hit the center of a paper with a dull thud. Eden and Bastien stood in the center of the basement toward a wooden board with photos of various targets pinned to it. Eden moved toward the board to retrieve Lennox’s Dagger from her photo. She ignored the glint of the demon’s name on the blade as she pulled it out and turned to face Bastien.
“The real person I want to throw this at is Nick.” She told him venomously.
“Why didn’t you cut his hand off?” Bastien crossed his arms over his chest and sank into a hip. She heard his phone hit a weapon inside the Miller Peacock crest on the left side of his belt.
“Mr. Copperhead got in the way.” She rolled her eyes as the memory of Wyatt popped into her mind and she felt a slight blush cross her face. “But this dagger definitely deserved to be shoved up Nick’s-”
“Why did you make it?’ He stopped her with his question and a raised eyebrow as his attention went to the dagger in her hand.
“Eloise had me make it and one for Aron, I’d imagine she’s preparing to put the plan into motion.”
“And how do you feel about that? Being the one to create Aron and Lennox’s Daemonium Pugionem?” The question lingered for a second as Eden didn’t respond.
She moved back to her original spot and faced the board once more. Her eyes fell to the photo of the pink haired Head of House and she searched within for an answer. As she held up her arm to aim the dagger once more, Bastien stepped in front of her.
“I saw you with Wyatt, Eden. The way you two look at each other. The way he treats you. I know you two took a little trip off campus to hide what you did to Octavius. He may not be able to tell anyone but I’m not dumb. When I heard Aron telling Wyatt what happened, it was easy enough to put together.”
She froze, forced to look him in the eyes and admit every bitter word. “I had to know if I had it in me… Being able to handle both worlds… I don’t Bas, you were right. I don’t think I’ll be able to do it as long as I care for him. So no- I’m not thrilled to kill Aron.”
Bastien had been right, she had proved it to herself and now confirmed it to him. She averted her eyes to her left in hopes the weapons cabinet might appear to be more interesting than the conversation. Her eyes traced the intricate peacock designed into the metal. Just last year this admission would have caused him to give her a pep talk and extra training session. However, he now wrapped her up in an understanding hug. It clicked for Eden at that moment, they were in the same boat. He’s in love with a demon too.
“Whatever you choose, you will be okay.” He whispered by her ear before he let go.
“It will be years until I have to be a Matriarch, I will have time to figure out how Wyatt and I could work.”
“That may be so, but your twenty-second birthday is next week Eden. The Hunters Arrangement.” His statement hit her like a slap in the face as she remembered what that meant.
Her eyes drifted for a moment and she wrung her hands anxiously. She had been so busy with everything going on that the Hunter’s Arrangement had slipped her mind from her sixteenth birthday when Eloise had come into her room and explained it to her. Between sixteen and twenty-two every future Matriarch or Patriarch has the chance to discover their partner outside of The Salvamari. If they do not find one before their twenty-second birthday one will be selected for them by the current Matriarch. The sound of Eloise’s voice echoed in her mind as her heart and face fell. There was only a week to figure out what she wanted to do… Not years.
Wyatt’s face returned to her mind as she realized the limited time they had. A pang of guilt sank into her stomach and she wanted nothing more than to go to him and tell him everything. Eden peered up to Bastein who had given her some space and turned back to the board as a wave of jealousy washed over her. He has all the time he wants to figure out what he and Corvus are doing. He’s a Baron. With another flash of metal and a dull thud, Eden watched the knife hit Aron’s photo.
“Have they already started searching for candidates?” She asked quietly.
“Stacey and Eloise have been calling around the other families.”
A slight flush crept across her face, embarrassed. “Who are they?”
“As of right now, Baron’s Chase and Brier Donovan, Heir Hunt Belmore, and Heir Holden Holloway.”
Eden frowned at the names. “You can tell them I will reject Hunt. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to look up from his pen and paper long enough to know I’m in the room.”
“No record keepers, got it.” Bastien smirked and tilted his head. “Anyone else?”
“How old is Brier now?” She wrinkled her nose in distaste as she remembered how small the carbon copy of his father had seemed.
“Turned nineteen a few months back, about four years younger than Chase.”
“I can’t marry someone younger than me.”
“Understood, any other requests for a future husband? Maybe black hair, tattoos, and a Crossroads Demon.” He teased.
“Funny- Just, please?”
“One Donovan Elephant and Holloway Lion coming up.” He teased.
“You can’t take anything serious, can you?” Eden sighed.
“You know I have your back.”
The two continued their practice for a few more rounds before they decided to call it a night. Eden pocketed Lennox’s dagger beside Aron’s in her belt, as Basiten went over and cleaned up the knives laid out on the table by the weapons cabinet. The Sullivan’s would think our weapon stash is nothing.
“How about we tell Eloise we are going to Hell Hound Pub tonight and you can go meet with Corvus?” She suggested it to him, surprised by her own words. She had never thought in a million years she would cover for him in a case like this. Now with so little time left she wanted to spend as much time as she could with Wyatt to help come to a decision.
“That sounds great actually, you should invite Wyatt.” Bastien offered back.
“I’ll consider it, maybe I’ll enjoy a night out alone.”
“Yeah, okay. Call him.” He nudged her arm as he walked past her. “I’m gonna go get ready for our Miller night out.”
Eden felt the heat return to her face as he went up the stairs. She walked over to the table and leaned against it. She pulled out her phone from a pocket she had added to her belt and pulled up Wyatt’s contact. Eden stared at his photo for a moment and felt a smile drag her lips upward. The other night he had insisted on taking a photo of her with his phone and another together with her phone. Now as she looked at his smile and bright eyes, she was secretly happy they did as she hit the call button.
As she walked into the dark pub, Eden ran her hands down the black velvet dress she decided to wear. Though she couldn’t hide more than her favorite knife on her thigh, she didn’t feel the need for more than that. Wyatt had been almost over-excited when she called him to meet and even asked her to make it a real date night. She made her way over to a seat at the bar and the owner, Bryer came over with a large smile wide enough to show their fangs. Their bright silver hair was messy as if they had spent all day in the wind and their eyes were clear in the dim light. Bottles of various different alcohol were illuminated behind them on shelves and the dark wood walls kept the room mostly dark.
“What can I get you?” They asked as they stopped in front of her.
“Anything strong,” she answered and peered at the door for a second.
“Are you meeting someone here, Miss. Miller?”
“Actually yes, but we are keeping it under wraps if you know what I mean.” She let a small smile drift across her face.
“A good barkeep never tells their patrons secrets. It’s safe with me.”
Bryer smiled and turned away to make her drink as she pulled out her phone to check the time. Wyatt would be here any minute. She put her phone face up on the bar, Eden messed with her hair, annoyed with it in her face. After only a few minutes, Byrer brought a glass of a light red drink.
“Good luck tonight, I’ll be around the corner if you need me once they get here. If you’ll excuse me.” They motioned to the back room.
She nodded and picked up the glass and ran it between her palms lost in thought. After a few seconds, she drank and picked up her phone to text Wyatt that she was there. The screen wavered as she typed. What the hell… Vampire venom? Eden’s eyelids became heavy and she put down her drink and panic gripped at her chest.
“Bryer?” She called but they were already gone.
Eden willed her legs to move and found they felt much heavier than they should. I only have seconds… Five. The room started to spin and darken as she tried to stay awake. Four. She gripped the blue thread but found magic was unable to help her, she couldn’t fight it for long. Three. She had to at least send something and hope Bastien would be asked about it. Two. She typed only a few words and hit send. One. All at once, she blacked out, her head fell onto the bar knocking over the drink and it shattered on the floor.
Eden Miller- Wyatt I was here, tell Bas. -Sent 7:14 pm