Chapter 8 #2
There’s more information, and Caldwell doesn’t know yet, but I don’t want to be the one to tell him about Jun and the secret society.
Tobey likely called him over to share the news, and it should come from her.
The last thing I need is another person dissuading me from my plan, and I’m not sure how Caldwell will take the news that I may pretend to work with the enemy.
“But it’s not. Your mother didn’t want you to avenge her,” I say.
“I heard her last message. She wanted you to finish what she started. That begins with us figuring out what’s going on, and that is not revenge.
If you’re seeking vengeance, I won’t try to change your mind, but that’s for you. Not her.”
His jaw tightens. “If she wants me to figure things out, I’m failing at that as well.”
“How so?”
“I didn’t find any new clues in the shop. I’ve looked high and low.”
“That’s fine. We have other ways to find information and other places to search.”
Namely, joining my father’s society. It’s not the most foolproof way, but it’s the only path I can see.
“Like what?” he asks, narrowing his eyes—nearly as suspicious as his partner.
“Like… your visions.” I clear my throat. Not telling him about Jun, not yet. “Those helped us last time, and they’ll help us again.”
He scoffs. “I haven’t had one of those in a while.”
“There are still other ways.”
He watches me, expectant and wordless, as he takes a drag of his cigarette.
Caldwell may be quiet, but I doubt he’ll let this go so easily. I glance up at the dormitory, where I know Tobey is waiting for him. Maybe she’s not the best person to tell him about Jun’s involvement.
“I found out there may be a demon involved… Strode himself.”
He goes still. “Where, exactly, did you find this information?”
I guess I’ll have to share the news after all.
“Jun-seong told me.”
“Ah…”
“I know. He’s not the best reliable source, but sadly, he’s all we have at the moment.”
“I didn’t say anything like that.”
I swallow thickly. “You didn’t have to. Look, I don’t trust him myself. But there’s more. My father… Apparently, he has a secret group that may be involved as well, but I don’t know the details.”
“It sounds as if there are more question marks than before.”
“There are.”
“But”—he drops his cigarette on the ground, crushing it under his heel—“that’s how the answers always begin. It’s a thread unraveling, not a straight path to be walked. Keep pulling at the thread, and you’ll see.”
I stare into the dark of the night, contemplating his words. I’m the one unraveling the sweater now, but what happens when I reveal something I don’t want to see?
“Your visions haven’t told you anything else?”
“Not yet.”
“Yet, you don’t seem surprised by any of this.”
“The man who locked you and Tobey up while starting a manhunt for me isn’t as innocent as we assumed?” He lifts a brow. “Color me shocked.”
My instinct is to defend my father, but I let the words die on my tongue.
After another moment of silence, I ask, “Do you know how to kill a demon?”
He hums thoughtfully. “There are probably many ways, but there’s only one way I know of. It’s called a witch weapon. That’s how my mother killed my father.”
He says the words as if they’re nothing, but I recoil. “On second thought, my family trauma is nothing compared to yours.”
“She did what she had to.”
“Your mother killed a demon, and someone else managed to take her down?”
“I suppose so.”
“Well, then…”
“Stranger things have happened.”
Caldwell lights another cigarette. I could leave him alone to think, but he is full of information. I may only have until the next cigarette is ash to question him.
“Tell me about your watch.” I lean against the stone wall, cool enough that even I can feel it, and I shove my hands into my jacket pockets. “I found my father with a similar one.”
That seems to get his attention.
His head jerks in my direction, and he fixes his sharp gaze on me. “What do you mean?”
“It looks similar to yours. It could be different, but… when I say it’s similar, I mean it’s identical.”
“Describe it.”
“It’s the same gold, with his initials carved on the back. The numbers look the same and… like the font, or whatever. I don’t know. All watches look alike to me, but I have this one seared in my brain.”
“I know very little about the watch. The magic is undetectable, but I know it belonged to my mother. She charmed it, I think.”
“Does that mean my father has a watch she made?”
“Maybe.” He exhales smoke. “Probably not. He may own a watch similar to the one she charmed, sure. Or he could have stolen it from her. It’s hard to say.”
“Yeah…” I frown, staring up at the waxing moon. “I guess it is.”
“We’ll figure it out together.” He takes a drag of his cigarette. “But if your father has a watch like mine, he may be wrapped up in this after all. The question remains: how?”
“That’s what I’m going to find out.”
“You’re not alone.” His cool gaze catches mine. “Don’t act like you are, and don’t go off without us.”
Caldwell doesn’t know that this plan requires me to run off by myself.
I smile slowly, deciding to keep the information close to my chest—for now. “I’ll try.”
I can’t sleep. Tobey and Caldwell are crammed into Tobey’s little twin-sized bed a few feet from me, and they snooze without worry. Not me. I’m alone, my feet are colder than usual, and my mind is still swimming. It doesn’t help that I’ve been staring at my phone. What else is there to do?
As I’m about to set my phone aside, a message comes through.
Jun-seong
You still alive?
I swear, my undead heart ticks to life. We exchanged numbers in our freshman year, but this is the first time he’s messaged me for something not school-related. For a second, his text sounds like a threat.
Margaux
Yes. Are you disappointed?
Jun-seong
Relieved, actually. I would rather do this shit with you than alone.
And you’re the only one stupid enough to do what we’re about to do.
Margaux
You’re insulting yourself as much as you are me, you know.
Jun-seong
I know.
Margaux
And it’s not true.
Tobey and Caldwell are both more reckless than I.
Especially Tobey.
Yet, they aren’t keen on the plan. I suppose it’s different when I’m putting my life on the line. They seem happy to risk their life, but the moment I want to, it’s a bad idea.
Jun-seong
Tobey is also a human, so forgive me for not counting them as my strongest ally.
Margaux
I’ll forgive you, but Tobey won’t.
Jun-seong
Terrifying.
Margaux
Don’t underestimate them. They’re the reason any of this is happening.
Tobey is a nosy pest, and they constantly jump to the wrong conclusions. Their fashion sense? It’s average, at best. But I will defend them with my life. They are my nosy pest, and Jun does not have the right to insult them—not without my explicit, written permission!.
Jun-seong
What about you?
Am I right to underestimate you?
Margaux
I thought you were grateful to have me by your side. What happened to that?
Jun-seong
I realized you probably don’t know how to fight.
Margaux
Give me one chance to prove you wrong.
I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to rip your face off.
Jun-seong
I’ve given you plenty of opportunities.
I’m starting to think you’re all talk.
Margaux
I can’t wait to surprise you. :)
Jun-seong
We’ll see about that.
Why are you up?
Vampire night owl is a bit of a cliché.
Margaux
Is it a cliché or classic?
Jun-seong
Both.
Margaux
Can’t sleep.
Jun-seong
Same.
I don’t know what to say, but I scramble to find something to keep the conversation going, but I come up with nothing. Jun is the only source of entertainment for the evening, and as midnight creeps closer, I’m afraid of the days to come.
This may be the last time I sleep feeling like me. Tomorrow may bring a new Margaux with fears I can’t yet imagine.
I send one last text before closing my eyes for good.
Margaux
Good night.