Chapter Two #3
“Azazel has it handled.” Why was she so eager to leave me alone with Tershetta?
Wasn’t she even the least bit concerned that I’d off her myself?
Celeste stayed rooted to the spot, staring at Tershetta where she lay lifeless on my bed, her lips parted and her breaths shallow.
“Come, Celeste. We can’t risk her seeing you anyway.
There’s always a chance she’ll wake up sooner than we anticipate. ”
Maitoza grabbed Celeste’s wrist, tugging her towards my door. All I could do was watch, unsure what I was meant to say. How could they just leave her with me? Did they have no sense? No care for her wellbeing?
As if she could read my thoughts, Celeste broke free of Maitoza’s hold, marching up to me and grabbing the collar of my shirt. I was ripped downward, our faces only a few inches apart.
“If you so much as think of hurting my little sister, I will make you regret the day you were born. Got it?” It’d be scarier if I wasn’t already halfway there. Regret and I knew one another intimately. “I will kill you.”
“Noted.”
Celeste seemed to accept my version of agreement, sighing heavily before walking over to my bed and leaning down to her sister.
She pressed her forehead into Tershetta’s, her lips moving quickly, the words so soft I couldn’t hear them.
But I could make out the tears, the splashes of them against Tershetta’s bloody cheek like the first rain of Autumn.
Foreboding. When Celeste placed a kiss on Tershetta’s forehead, I had to look away.
“Come on, Cel. We’ll see her again soon.” That was Desi’s kind voice, but it was quite clearly Maitoza’s suggestion. Desi gave Celeste whatever she wanted, this would normally be no exception. But, they all loved to fall in line.
Once, I did too.
The steady sound of their steps grew louder, until they stopped next to me, Desi reaching out and offering a squeeze to my shoulder. I gave her a tight-lipped smile, my back beginning to sweat despite the chilly air around us. What was I going to do with Tershetta?
Before I could so much as think up an answer, Maitoza quickly ushered out the two women, not even looking back at me before yanking the door closed.
At my feet, the tiny cat began weaving through my legs again, her dainty purr loud when only Tershetta’s breaths and the crackle of the fire accompanied it.
Crouching, I pet her, my eyes stuck on the door.
“That bitch is up to something, Murder.” Suddenly, the cat’s razor-sharp teeth dug into my hand. I yelped, tearing my eyes away from the door and training them on the menace at my feet, flicking her in the head. “Watch yourself.”
I could have sworn the cat’s half-lidded, unamused eyes were in response to what I said. Over the day already, I shoved myself back up, daring to look at Tershetta again. If it wasn’t for the blood, she’d look almost serene. As it was, she looked absolutely fucking awful.
Going to the small closet just off the bathroom, I grabbed my extra blanket and headed over to the floor, laying it down.
I was decent enough not to get in the bed with her.
Plus, she’d only get blood in my hair. Actually, I probably had blood on me.
Looking down, I saw that, yes, she had stained my beige shirt.
Groaning, I made my way to the bathroom, quickly cleaning myself off, my thoughts on Tershetta the entire time.
Would she wake while I was bathing myself?
What would she do if she walked in on me? What would she think?
Stars above, I’m tired.
After draining the hot water and toweling myself off, I exited the bathroom on silent feet, oddly scared of her consciousness.
As I should have expected, Tershetta hadn’t moved.
Desi had said she wouldn’t wake for days, there was no reason to be so jumpy.
I got dressed in a far less skittish manner, though I did find my eyes flicking towards my bed every few seconds.
Was I meant to clean her? It’d be rude not to, but what would she say if she found out I had seen her naked?
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time, but…
Captain Zade’s voice came out of the silence, a doting whisper that made my skin crawl. Take off your clothes, Azazel, or I’ll do it for you.
Okay, undressing her wasn’t an option. Not at all. Maybe just a rag then? Murder sat near Tershetta’s feet, her head tilted to the side as she watched me stand there like a fish out of water, bouncing from foot to foot as if desperate to run.
“I’m just going to clean her really quick.” Why the fuck was I talking to a cat?
Grabbing a rag from the small cupboard in the bathroom and filling a bucket with warm water, I brought it over to the bed and sat down.
Again, I was hit with the terrifying truth that I didn’t want her dead.
I didn’t even hate her anymore. I should have.
Stars help me, I wished I did. It would make everything easier.
I allowed my hand a single pass across her cheek, noting how the blood clung to her skin in crusted flecks. Just as I had when she first appeared, I wondered who would attack her. Wasn’t Talon meant to protect her? That was all he seemed to do at Elite Academy. Where had he been?
Murder meowed, leaping over to me and sitting down near my hip, her tail swishing as she sniffed the rag. “I won’t hurt her.”
Strangely enough, I meant it.