16. Erin
Chapter sixteen
Erin
“Lovely, isn’t she?”
“She tastes as delicious as she looks.”
Flames.
Everywhere.
The sickening voice. Echoed.
Thundered louder and louder. Lightening. So many of them. So many creatures. Raced toward me. Toward all of us. They closed in. A man faced the creatures, giving us a few spared moments to try and escape. They didn’t see how many were closing in on us. There were almost a hundred. I could feel it in my bones, ice clawing its way through me. We were going to die.
He was going to die. The man, who’s silhouette glimmered like the ocean on a clear blue day. He was going to die. To save us.
A ball of flame barreled toward the creatures. Destroying them, the scent of burnt flesh encompassing us, death sliding down our throats. Lightning shot down from the sky, feasting on the creatures that remained.
The most beautiful eyes reached into my soul, caressing it. A sigh of relief brushed my skin.
He was alive. The ocean was alive.
My entire body hurt, as if I had the shit beat out of me. My legs ached, my stomach burned, and it was as if a lighter had been taken to my boobs. My arms and wrists weren’t much better. I groaned. I attempted to pry my heavy eyelids open, only to slam them shut again as light flooded my vision.
“Mother of fuck. Turn the damn lights out.” I grunted out.
There was a bunch of shuffling around me, a door opened and slammed shut. The air around me became stuffy. Voices excitedly mumbled. I had to strain my ears to focus on what they were saying.
“She’s waking up. She’s finally waking up. Go get Derik. And call Seth while you’re at it! He’ll want to know asap!” A high-pitched squeal escaped from somewhere close to my ear, piercing, and causing me to slap my hands over both ears.
What the hell is going on?
Someone please. Make it stop.
“Shit. Keep it down. Please. Holy fuck.” A hand slapped skin, probably covering the squealer’s mouth. I squinted, slowly, to test out the light of the room. It wasn’t as bad the second time. I blinked, opening my eyes fully. Well, more than they were. I slowly pushed myself onto my elbows and took in the room around me.
I was in the guest room at Seth’s. The curtains draped across the two arched windows at the front of the room were drawn closed, thankfully keeping any light from outside hitting me in the face. The overhead ceiling lights that hung in the center of the room had been dimmed. A pile of blankets, several actually, laid along the floor. There were three separate piles, the one closest to my bed dawned Seth’s navy-blue throw and a scrunched-up pillow. Directly next to it lay a pile topped with a pink blanket. I scowled. And closest to the door was some light green sleeping bag dotted with pictures of what looked like red solo cups and monster trucks.
That one had to be Derik’s.
Wait. Why is their stuff in here?
I caught Libby’s big, beautiful, emerald-green doe-eyes staring me down. Her brows furrowed together and lips pouting. She bit her lip. Then attacked me by wrapping her dainty, toned arms around me and pulling me to her chest, as she squeezed the ever-loving-shit out of me. I flailed my aching arms, in an attempt to free myself from the death gripped hug.
“Libby! Libby, space, please. Personal space. I can’t breathe,”—I could, somehow, but—“No touchy.”
Her lip wobbled. “I’m sorry, Erin! I’m just so glad you’re finally awake. We were so worried. And we’ve all been keeping guard since we got back and I just…I’m glad you’re awake.” A few tears slid down her face. She sniffled as she wiped them away.
She’s drop dead gorgeous even when she cries. Woah.
But why is she crying?
“I’m sorry, I’m babbling. How are you feeling? Can I get you anything? Derik and Seth should be back any minute. They went to run a patrol and check on a few things.”
My eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “Why would you guys be keeping guard? What hap—” I stopped as it all came flooding back to me. The Demons. The stone room. The whipping. The burning pain. Seth, unconscious. Libby and Derik piled on top of each other, out cold. Blood. Demons. So many Demons. Erebus .
Another memory flashed before my eyes. Erebus. Shredding my clothes. Touching me. His tongue, worming its way inside me. Pumping in and out of me. Violating me.
The air went cold around me, my vision glazed over. Tremors climbed their way up my spine and spread, my entire body trembling. A wave of nausea swept through me, the memory played again. And again. The room around me faded away. I was back in the stone room. With Erebus.
“Lovely, isn’t she?”
Screaming.
I was screaming.
Claws raked their way down my face. Blood merging with my tears. Stop. Stop. Stop. There was burning. My skin was on fire. I was burning from the outside in. My chest heaved as my heart was on the cusp of exploding. I couldn’t breathe. Everything was closing in on me. Erebus was killing me. His tongue tore me from the middle.
Snap out of it. Stop. Please, make it stop.
I flinched, thrashing my fists outward.
Erin.
I kept thrusting my fists in front of me.
Erin. Listen to me.
I was trembling, still fighting the Demon in front of me.
“Erin! Listen to me! It’s me!” The voice didn’t match the Demon in front of me, thrusting his disgusting tongue into me. “Erin.”
Erebus began to disappear, his towering figure diluting.
“Come back to me, Rin. You’re home.”
The fog started to lift.
“You’re safe.”
I blinked.
And met Seth’s eyes, deeper than the ocean, and filled with concern. I let out a strained breath, my chest still heaving. The nausea hit me again. Seth must have realized it because he grabbed the trash bin next to my bed just in time for me to barf into it. He pushed my hair back, holding it out of the way, his fingers brushing my neck.
I heaved and nothing but bile rampaged its way out of my body. I choked as the last of it spewed out. Seth’s hand rubbed in circles along my back, my body relaxed into his touch. I slumped forward, my head resting on the rim of the trash can, my breathing shaky.
The smell from the puked-doused trash can hit me once I came up for air. “Oh dear lord,” I squeezed my nose between my fingers, gagging. “Seth, I am so freaking sorry.”
He shook next to me. The bastard was laughing. “It’s all good, Snow. I mean, most chicks don’t spew their guts when they wake up at my place, but I’ll try not to be too offended.” I shot him a sideways glare.
I’m puking my guts out.
Having some type of episode and he’s laughing at me.
Ass.
“But seriously, you okay?” His arm wrapped around my shoulders, hugging my frame to his. He paused. “Is this okay? Me touching you? Do you need space?” I shook my head, my lips pressed together, forming a thin line as I fought back the silver that lined my eyes. Seth began pulling away and I curled my fingers into the fabric of his T-shirt. I leaned into him, resting my head on his broad shoulder.
Don’t go. Not right now.
Seth pulled me in closer, twisting so he had both arms wrapped around me as my face pressed into his chest. I burrowed my nose into his T-shirt, inhaling his signature pine and bourbon scent. I wrapped my arms around his waist and he gripped me tighter, as if he knew how much I needed him right in that moment, holding me together. His chin rested on the top of my head, nestled in my hair. My heart wrenched. Tears began to fall, soaking the front of his shirt.
He broke me.
I let that damned Demon break me.
And they…they could’ve died because of me.
“I’m here, Rin. I’m here,” Seth squeezed me. “You’re home. You’re safe.” He repeated what he said as he pulled me out of the flashback.
Home.
Was this home?
I felt something crack inside me.
No. It’s not.
They say ‘home is where the heart is,’ and mine…is gone.
“It’s about damn time your ass woke up, Snow,” Derik barged into the room, startling me, a huge grin plastered on his face. “Some pretty bad ass stuff you did back there, Short Stuff.”
Libby came barreling in after him, smacking Derik on the arm. “I told you to give her some space, Derik! Leave them alone,” she scolded him, her eyes wide, cheeks flushed, her short blonde ponytail bobbing behind her. “She’s been through a lot the last few days. She doesn’t need you bullying her.”
Libby meant the best but said the worst. I stiffened in Seth’s arms.
“She’s been through a lot.”
You’re broken. And they all know it.
I pushed myself out of Seth’s grip, immediately reaching behind myself, for something, anything to hide the fact that I was wiping the trail of tears from my cheeks. I didn’t need the pity.
Stop it. Stop crying.
I swallowed the embarrassment and turned around, keeping my expression neutral.
“Yeah. And nice beer pong bag by the way, Asshat.” I crossed my arms over my chest, straightening my back, as I changed the subject as quickly as possible.
Seth busted out laughing at Derik’s diminishing grin being replaced by a blushing scowl. I arched my eyebrow, challenging him.
“Hey man, I’ve had that thing since freshman year. It was a special send off gift.”
I laughed. “Oh yeah, from who, yourself?”
Derik stuck his tongue out at me. And I mirrored him by doing the same.
Josh came up behind them, taking up position in the doorway. “Derik, Miss Snow, will you two stop behaving like children?” Josh stared me down, his eyes shimmering.
Dick.
Hot.
But a dick.
“He started it,” I mumbled, as Seth held back another bout of laughter next to me, our bodies no longer touching. I huffed, realizing how full the guest room was becoming.
Does everyone have to be here?
I passed out escaping a bunch of shitty ass Demons. Big whoop.
I’m alive. Let me suffer in silence.
I breathed.
Be nice.
“Look, I appreciate y’all running in here and for whatever reason camping out in here like it’s a damn slumber party. But since I just woke up and probably look like a swarm of bats attacked me in my sleep, with what little sleep I’ve had, I need a shower and to change.” I cringed, realizing how much of a mess I probably was. Then I remembered. My clothes. The Demons shredded them to pieces. I fought back the rest of the memory as I glanced down.
I was in Seth’s sweats and one of his shirts. My face flushed as I looked up at Seth. Panic racing through me.
Seth held his hands up in defense. “It wasn’t me. Libby got you changed and cleaned up when we made it back a few days ago.” Relief flooded my panic state.
For a split second.
My spine stiffened. “Days?” Seth and Derik both nodded, Libby’s brows furrowing as she spoke up.
“We made it back here to Seth’s about four and a half days ago. You’ve been asleep since we escaped from Ere—“ I tensed, her eyes softened. “Since we escaped from the mountains on the outskirts of Riverside. We were starting to worry.”
I stole a quick glance in Seth’s direction. “Why didn’t you guys try waking me up?”
Josh chimed in, “We attempted, and you almost electrocuted Derik and Miss Libby. Although, to be fair, Derik’s idea of rousing you awake involved sticking your hand in a basin of warm water, then dumping said water on you. Amongst other childish schemes. Miss Libby attempted a more friendly approach by shaking your shoulders and even kicking your feet. I came running in to find them both on the floor arguing with one another while the hair on their heads stood straight up. Truly a sight.” The son of a bitch almost smiled.
“You tried to make me piss myself?” I rolled my head toward Derik. “What are you? Twelve?”
He shrugged. “They do it in the movies. And I’ve always wanted to try. The opportunity presented itself and I couldn’t pass it up.”
I directed my attention to the not-so-innocent Libby. “You kicked me?”
Libby squirmed, wringing her wrists. “It worked on Derik a few times in the past and we’ve had to do it to Seth to wake him up before too. So, I thought it might work. You wouldn’t have been hurt by it. I don’t think so at least. They gave me hell about it when they woke up, but no bruising. And I thought with you being a Nephilim now and your powers coming in, it’d be okay.” I shook my head before dropping it into my hand, a migraine etching its way through my skull.
“You guys are ridiculous, you know that?” I raised my head back up to see Libby on the border of crying.
Dammit.
“Libby, I’m not mad. There’s no reason to be upset. I’m fine,” I sighed. “Obviously, I just sleep like a rock. And I’m not a morning person. Word of advice: do not try waking me up again.”
“Already noted, Snow,” Derik said.
“Glad we’re on the same page,” I turned to Seth. “Did I miss anything while I was down for the count?” I braced myself.
Seth shook his head, frustrated. “No, Derik and I have been trying to gather more information on those disappearances and what they wanted with you. Why they took you, and nothing so far. No ties.”
“Right now, there’s thirteen people that are missing and we can’t figure out why they were taken either. I hate to ask, Snow, but did you hear anything while…while you were there?” added Derik uncomfortably.
I looked down at my lap, forcing myself to think of anything that might’ve stood out. Struggling to keep the panic and fear from creeping back through me.
Breath. Focus. Push back the fear.
His voice played clearly in my mind as if it were a recording. Claws hooked into the image.
“You are The Key.”
My eyes remained clamped shut as I dragged myself from the memory. “They said…I was The Key.” I removed myself from the memory and replayed it as if it were in third person, and I was observing from the outside—as if it were a movie.
It’s not real.
It’s not real.
You’re at Seth’s.
In his guest room.
It’s not real.
I blinked my eyes. They were all staring at me. “What? Do I have drool on my face?” I wiped my arm across my mouth, not that it’d do any good at that point.
Seth gulped. “The Key.” He looked toward Derik and Libby.
I stuck my neck out. “Hello? Guys? If you know something, do you care to elaborate for those of us—me—who don’t know?” I waved my hands in the air for emphasis.
Seth tore his eyes from Derik and Libby, and he completely ignored Josh.
Weird.
“If you’re The Key, then we’re in for a whole lot of shit that’s going to hit the fan around here, Rin.”
“Well. Fuck.”