Chapter 5 #3
I’ll be left all alone once again, while they have their own families. And they will leave.
Just the way they left me all those years ago.
“You asked me who I beat up. Someone who deserved it.”
I should probably say something, anything, but instead, I nod and rush inside, shutting the doors behind me, while complete silence falls all around me as the library’s dusty scent twitches my nose.
The library has been my sanctuary since I discovered it.
The only witness to my pain, anger, and anguish.
Now he tarnished my sanctuary without even entering it within five minutes.
I don’t think I’ve hated anyone more.
His existence alone shows how pathetic mine is.
A fact he did his best to prove on that faithful day because of what he did during that engagement party and the effect it caused among all the guests, their laughter ringing in my ears every single day…
And that’s something I can’t forgive him for.
Levi Scott isn’t a prince straight from the fairy tales, after all, oh no.
He’s a villain.
Levi
“Ah, you scared her.” Von chuckles, flipping a cigarette through his fingers as the wind whooshes over us and billows his leather jacket backward. His smile barely reaches his eyes, where permanent cruelty resides.
Something we both have in common and hide well from our parents.
“You have a weird effect on her, my friend,” he adds, and puts the cigarette in his mouth, lighting it up. “One might assume she doesn’t like you.” He glances between us. “Both of you.”
“That’s because he has a crush on her.” My best friend sighs dramatically and pats my chest, only to laugh when I punch him in the gut, earning myself a cough. “He’s a bit sensitive on the subject.”
“Well, he should have thought about his little crush before he did what he did at the engagement party.”
They all whistle when fury fuels my blood at the reminder of what happened. Instead of showing them an ounce of emotion, I stay silent, and they both shake their heads.
I should have chosen better friends. Then again, one might say I didn’t have much choice in the matter. We were all stuck together since our parents consider each other one big family.
So we were inevitable, although not in a way our parents probably expected.
Heirs to the thrones who indulge in vices that scare most people, but then again, if we indulge in them in the darkness, do they really count?
It’s all a matter of perspective.
One might even say hunger for blood runs through our veins.
“If by crush you mean unhealthy obsession that screws with our lifestyle, then you’re on point,” Kane grits through his teeth, joining us and scowling at me, which earns him indifference, as always.
“You need to do something about it and soon. I don’t need the Wrights knocking on our doorsteps during the auction. ”
Now, Kane here?
He’s never been part of my family. Von found him hiding under the bleachers searching for food years ago.
He lived in their town with an alcoholic mother and a good-for-nothing stepfather who beat him until he turned blue.
As a result, the Campbells practically adopted the guy, and his stepfather magically disappeared.
And in our world, it usually means death.
Our dads aren’t known for being patient with useless cowards.
“I must have missed it,” I say, leaning back on my motorcycle and crossing my arms. “Since when do you have the authority to order me around?” Ice drips from my words as I hold his gaze.
His face darkens, the energy shifting around us, cracking with barely contained anger that always simmers between us.
Once upon a time, I showed my generosity by accepting this fucker into our small circle and giving him a chance to prove himself.
And how did he repay me?
The fucker spat in my face and betrayed me.
He’s alive only because Von’s loyalty to him is absolute. That’s a story for another time.
His tone matches the coldness of mine when he replies, “Someone has to, since all of you are too preoccupied with your dicks to pay attention to what really matters here.”
I fish out the lighter from my pocket, turning it on and focusing on the orange-blue flames entwining in perfect harmony, deadly to humankind.
Familiar screams fill my head.
“Run.”
Tightening my grip on the lighter, the burning sensations flicking my skin and bringing a much-needed sting that doesn’t let the memory overshadow my present, I reply, “It wasn’t one of us who got caught with two naked groupies.”
The most hilarious part about that scandal is that Kane doesn’t even care about sex. He’s still a virgin, so what the fuck he was doing in that bathroom still remains a mystery to us.
“After all, you never think about the consequences. Somehow it’s always our job.”
The tension escalates after my words, and Kane smirks, although his eyes stay void, a warning in itself if only I gave a fuck.
“You should really let go of your grudge. You’re starting to sound like a little whining bitch.
” I hit Kane right in the face, and he stumbles back, covering his nose with his hand and laughing while blood seeps through his fingers.
The girls gasp in the distance while Von grabs Kane by the shoulder, steadying him and pulling out the handkerchief from his back pocket, pressing it to his nose. “Children, please.” He rolls his eyes, and Kane fists the handkerchief, licking the blood from his lips.
Unfortunately, the fucker enjoys the taste of his own blood, so my punches just feed his constant desire for violence.
One should see him with a blade in his hands as he glides it down his victims’ throat before cutting them swiftly, causing the red liquid to pour from the arteries, smearing everything around him.
Kane always, and I do mean always, aims for the arteries. Heinous and fascinating sights, indeed, and I think that’s the only reason I let him live.
Von points at the girls behind us who send us all dreamy glances, and I would have indulged in their attraction a year ago.
Women provided a reprieve from the demons clawing me from the inside out, always demanding the agony of those I deem fit.
Because their pain and screams temporarily shut up the voices ringing in my head, driving me insane.
No commitments, no promises, no intimacy.
Just meaningless, faceless hookups and never with the same woman twice. Still, I have a sister and a mother, so I always acted respectfully toward women and made myself crystal clear from the beginning so they wouldn’t hope for the impossible.
Now, though?
The attention annoys me, as my previous reputation might stand in the way of achieving my goal with Lavender.
I haven’t touched anyone since my eyes first landed on her more than a year ago. I’m very loyal when it comes to my obsession.
“Behave yourself. We have an audience here.” Von focuses his stare on me, and although I see a quiet rage in there, he reins it in.
Had I been anyone else and dared to touch his best friend, he’d rip my head off.
“Kane is right. You need to handle this shit—whatever the fuck it is—and soon. Your little obsession can’t clash with the auction night. ”
“What exactly do you have planned for that specific night?” Now Wyatt comes to stand next to me, resting his elbow on my shoulder, creating a powerful front and showing his alliances right away.
Grabbing the chessboard, I huff and puff, dragging it to the wide table as all the children run around like headless chickens and scream their heads off as if this long break is a blessing when in fact it’s a curse.
Because their carefree happiness scrapes at the festering wounds inside me. I sigh and flip the chessboard open, putting all the pawns out, disappointment hitting me at the reminder that my sister has a ballet performance tonight and won’t be able to join me.
She’s an angel who showers me with love and attention I don’t deserve and stays by my side in this otherwise lonely existence, as forming any kind of friendship scares me.
I’ve barely started talking a few months back, and I don’t feel like trusting anyone who might hurt me, and they would.
It’s human nature to destroy those closest to you.
Placing all the pieces in perfect order on both sides, I decide to play by myself, imagining my opponent when a big shadow falls on the table, blocking the sun shining brightly on me.
Frowning, I look up to see a boy around my age, munching on an apple, and the crunching sound grates on my ears. “Are you going to play by yourself?” he asks, putting his lunchbox on the table, and I nod, hoping he’d go away soon.
Most kids find me weird and prefer to stay away from me, or sometimes they laugh and point fingers, not that I care.
As long as they leave me alone, I’m good.
I blink rapidly, though, when he gives me a thumbs-up and drops into the chair opposite mine, continuing to eat his apple and tapping on the black pieces. “Let’s play then. I love chess.” He grins and motions for me to start while I simply gawk at him.
He wants to play with me? Why?
He must read the question on my face because he says, while adjusting the pieces, “Better,” as if trying to put them right in the middle of the square and make everything symmetrical.
“I’m bored, and our dads are friends.” They are? I’ve never seen this boy in my life. To be fair, I refused to interact with anyone and preferred to hide in my room. “Go ahead. Make the first move. A little warning? I don’t like to lose.”
We’ve been joined at the hip ever since, despite our parents doing their best to prevent our friendship, which is hilarious in itself.
According to them, we are a destructive bunch that brings mayhem wherever we go, and they even tried to separate us by making us go to different schools after we caused a fire during one of our classes.
It didn’t work, and they gave up at some point. The fact that we’re basically family now through the Wright siblings only strengthens our bond.
“You asking me this question just shows how little fucks you give about our club.” Kane spits the blood and wipes his mouth once again before throwing the handkerchief in the nearest bin.
Von is so old-fashioned that he probably has three more on him.
“Auction night ensures we have new members who would pay a vast amount of money to indulge in their vices however they see fit. We made a lot last year, and I want to double that this time around. And all of you are screwing with my plans.” He huffs as Von finishes his cigarette.
“I understand you all have huge trust funds to fall back on, but I invested my hard-earned money into it. I’d like to see rewards. ”
Sarcasm coats Wyatt’s tone when he points out, “Von’s trust fund funded your education and career, so you should sound a little less bitter about it.” A beat passes. “Besides, none of us used our trusts for the club.”
What are the perks of having access to wealth from an early age? You learn to invest smart, and one of these investments lets us pour money into our new venture, which stays a secret from our families.
They wouldn’t approve of our club or what it allows us to do.
“Nevertheless, all of you need to focus. So stop hunting your prey.” Kane jams a finger in our direction and turns to face Von. “And you quit spying on that guy and write some new music for us. I have the words, but we can’t have new songs without music.”
We stay silent about this because, well…no one discusses the said guy with Von. He goes ballistic if we dare to mention him, so we just don’t.
He’s the one who caused his injury all these years ago, and he wants revenge. I have a strong suspicion he plans to use his enemy’s little sister for the said revenge.
“I have to agree with them, Kane,” he replies and throws the cigarette butt into the bin before fishing inside his pocket for his mint gum. “You start to grate on my nerves as well.”
“Yeah? Well, fuck you too.”
“Instead of spitting bullshit, you should keep quiet and rest your voice for the rehearsal.”
“Children, please.” I repeat Von’s earlier words, and it earns me a death stare from him. “Either way, Kane. You aren’t the leader, so stop telling us what the fuck to do. We know our responsibilities, and our private life has never clashed with the auction night.”
The tension around us slightly eases despite my lie.
Because I have my own plans for the night, and they include the beautiful yet confusing woman inside the library right now.
After all, every hunter knows one crucial thing.
It’s easier to catch prey when you present the perfect bait.
And Lavender will take it.
All princesses have to face the unpleasant truth at some point.
They’re too tempting to resist the likes of me.
And I’m done holding back.