8. Erin
Chapter eight
Erin
Libby, Derik, and Josh worked with me for hours, pushing me in varying degrees to try and figure out how to trigger my little handheld lightning show. I was so exhausted and still felt like I made no progress. I flopped on Seth’s sofa, throwing my arm across my face to shield the ceiling lights from further permeating the headache that pounded behind my eyelids. Seth played spectator, laughing every time I got frustrated. The traitor.
Libby’s ideas ranged from replaying the whole situation out with her retro-what’s-it. She latched her palms onto my shoulders to try and bring the cause out. No luck. Just a lot of sweaty hand prints and Libby being overly positive.
“You can do it, Erin! Just believe in yourself!” I appreciated the effort but dear lord, there was only so much the positive-no-matter-what hype thing could accomplish.
Derik decided to throw a solid right hook into my left eye at full strength and knocked me unconscious again, leading to a concussion. Which he just so happily healed. Freaking asshole. Hours later my entire body was still sore and I was ninety-nine percent sure that was the main cause of the killer migraine. Derik might’ve had the power to heal damn near anything, according to him and Libby, but apparently couldn’t do jack-squat about a piercing headache that his ass caused. I called bullshit. Maybe not to his face but he landed his ass back on my shit list for the time being. The only upside was, after realizing I was actually unconscious, Seth whipped his ass.
Josh…was interesting, to say the least. He placed his hand over mine and nothing had happened. And that was entirely expected, given his ability wasn’t effective on other Nephilim. However, moments after he released me, the room faded…I was suddenly surrounded by pitch black. A harrowing feeling surrounded me. Then there was screaming. Blood. Everywhere. I couldn’t breathe. I felt as though I was suffocating. Then I was shaking, or rather, being shaken. The panic fell away and Seth, once again, shook me by the shoulders, pulling me out of it. When it fully fell away, I was pretty sure the look on my face matched Seth’s: drained and pale. Their eyes hollowed, as if they’d witnessed a ghost cross their path. Fear gouged my core. Josh’s face twisted and a shade of green tinged his skin, his jaw ticked.
Seth kicked everyone out after that. Derik and Libby complained, wanting to stay and keep ‘helping.’ Josh apologized, unsure of what the hell had happened, by pulling my hand to his mouth and placing a kiss right in the center. His eyes held mine, which had sent a shiver down my spine. Even thinking about it hours later, the way he looked at me, so devilishly handsome, sent another shiver down the length of my body. I sighed.
I have a panic rendering of the nightmare that started all of this and all I can think of is some ridiculously tall guy I just met.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I shook my head at myself, frustrated.
“I’m sorry about today, Snow. I didn’t think they’d all gang up on you like that. Derik…I should’ve warned you about that…his favorite method of finding answers, ironically, usually involves some form of getting physical. His reason behind it is that he can just heal whatever the hell he ends up doing. Libby, she…she means well, but besides you, she’s the newest to our little group so you’re the first Nephilim newbie she’s been around, besides herself, obviously.”
No kidding. A heads-up on Derik would’ve been helpful.
Seth sat down on the sofa next to me, slinging my legs on top of his as he did so. He leaned over and placed a warm towel across my arm, covering my eyes. “This’ll help.”
I hope so. I get it. Derik was trying to help but this fucking hurts like hell.
I took it and laid it across my eyelids, where the headache throbbed the most. I groaned as the warm towel instantly eased more of the pain.
“God, Seth, this feels amazing,” he chuckled as he traced circles on my knees. I felt myself relax a bit more, the aches from the day beginning to fade. “I could just lay here like this forever.” I sighed, not realizing I had said it out loud until Seth stopped mid-loop.
Fuck. He’s going to take it the wrong way.
I held my breath.
I can just picture it now. “Oh, you got the hots for me, Erin? Weird. Sorry bro, I’m just not that into you.” And then I’d hide in his guest room until he forgot about me or until I simply died from embarrassment.
But it's fine. Everything’s fine.
Oh my God, I’m fucking losing it. What is wrong with me?
Snap out of it!
“I know, right? Probably the best damned couch I could’ve bought.”
I breathed out, lifting the towel slightly to catch a glimpse. Seth had his head down slightly, staring at the spot where my legs rested across his, the smile that sounded in his voice not present. There was a twinge in my heart like there was a pull, an urge, to move closer.
Weird.
I removed the warm compress from my head and set it on the coffee table, my gaze fixed on Seth. “Hey, you okay?” I cocked my head to the side.
He turned his head toward me, plastering the smile I heard on his face. “Yeah, of course. Just tired as hell. Long day, remember?” He moved to get up, lifting my legs off his lap, and laid them back along his couch. “We should probably get some rest. You care if I snag the shower first?” I propped myself up on my elbows and shook my head.
My brows furrowed as Seth hurried toward the bathroom. I stared after him.
What’s going on? After today, does he not want me hanging out here?
I let out another sigh.
Or maybe it was the stupid ‘forever’ remark?
I sat up and ran my fingers through what was left of my ponytail. I held the end of it in my palm, rubbing it between my thumb and forefinger. It was caked in dust and grime from the day.
Maybe that’s why he bolted for the shower. I look like a mess and a half.
I sniffed, scrunching my nose.
Ugh , I smell like ass too. Gross.
I stood and walked toward the guest room, passing the island in Seth’s kitchen. I heard my phone beep. I picked it up and saw a message from…Libby.
As it turned out, I grabbed Seth’s instead.
Hey, you doing okay? I didn’t mean to push Erin so far today. Would you want to grab a coffee tomorrow? We can go to our usual spot. LMK :)
-Libby
I gripped Seth’s phone. Tears trickled down my face.
Stupid.
My chest tightened, my throat closing. I couldn’t breathe.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
I heard the bathroom door click open and I dropped his phone on the counter. I sprinted to the guest room and slammed the door shut behind me.
“Erin?” He knocked. “You okay?” he asked, the words gravelly and laced with exhaustion.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and opened the door just enough to see his six-foot-four finely chiseled body standing outside the frame with a towel barely hanging across his hips, accentuating the deep V leading down. My cheeks flushed.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just going to bed. Good night.” I went to shut the door but he braced his arm on the frame, keeping it propped open.
“Erin…I can see the tear trail. What’s wrong?” I balled my fists, squeezing my eyes shut.
Stupid.
“I’m fine. All the bullshit from today is just hitting me harder than I thought,” I opened my eyes and looked up at him. “I just want to go to bed, Seth. Thanks for checking on me and for everything. But I’m exhausted. Night.” I stared at him until he lifted himself from the door frame. I slammed the door shut.
“Goodnight,” I heard him whisper.
I listened at the door until I heard his footsteps walk away toward his room down the hall. The click of his door as it opened then relatched behind him echoed throughout the silent hallway.
I let myself slump to the ground and wrapped my arms around my knees as I brought them to my chest. I began sobbing.
Why is this bothering me? Why?
I fell asleep like that as my body slowly slid to the floor, knees still close to my chest. Streams of tears caressed my cheeks as I dreamt of Seth. And Libby. And…me. Left all alone. Again.