41. Erin
Chapter forty-one
Erin
The following week and a half flew by, with no repetition of the night that I broke down. Seth and I moved a comfortable distance around each, almost falling into a routine. We’d wake up at the crack of dawn, Josh already at his front door. I’d grab a few waters and protein bars for myself and Seth then we’d head to the field behind his house and train until noon. They had me rotate between my daggers and sword, as I now wore all three on my person at Seth’s insistence. I’d emailed my professors and had my classes switched to online strictly and after spinning some tale for Ashlin, which still hadn’t sat well with me, I was down to a single four-hour shift per week.
Unfortunately, that left my wallet suffering and my feeling like a burden to be in full swing, even though Seth more than assured me that it wasn’t an issue. I broke my lease at my apartment, seeing as I wouldn’t be going back for the foreseeable future. Financially, it made no sense to continue to pay the rent with me no longer dwelling there. So, two days ago, we loaded up the remainder of my belongings and shoved everything besides the rest of my clothes into a cheap storage unit, much to Seth’s dismay. I’d told him to suck it up and he’d mumbled something about his house being open to me and my things, I only half listened, preoccupied with exhaustion.
In an attempt to make up and keep my being a burden to a minimum, I’d taken it upon myself to beat Seth to the punch on all things cooking and house related. He fought me on it, daily. Racing to re-rack and clean up the workout area before I could, same with his living room and the kitchen. I caved on him helping me cook, due to Libby and Derik popping in and out throughout the day. Even Josh hung around beyond lunch. And with so many grown Nephilim, each of us with the appetite of a horse—with the exception of Seth and Derik who matched several horses—there was a lot of food being prepared throughout the day.
The first day or two after my verbal lashing from Derik, we barely spoke or acknowledged one another. Until he’d handed my ass to me. He volunteered to spar with me, reverting back to hands only combat. He had me panting, flat on my back within seconds.
He reached his hand out and I swatted it away. Derik took that as a challenge and wrapped his hand around my swinging wrist, hauling me to my feet.
“I could’ve gotten up myself.” I huffed, as I dusted myself off.
“I know. But I wanted to help you up. And honestly apologize for what I said. It was kinda harsh.” He ran his fingers through his shortened, shaggy brown hair.
“It might’ve been harsh but do you honestly regret what you said?”
Derik chewed on his lip for a moment. “No, I guess not. But I could’ve been nicer about it.”
“If you don’t regret it, then don’t apologize. It’s fine. Otherwise, when it’s for something you truly mean, it won’t hold as much weight behind the apology.” We walked to the edge of Seth’s house, each grabbing a water.
“Where’d you hear that?” Derik asked as he sipped from his bottle.
I shrugged. “I heard it from an old teacher of mine. I used to apologize so much that she started taking points off of my assignments each time I would apologize unnecessarily.”
“Huh, sounds kinda extreme.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe, but it worked.”
Things had calmed down between the two of us since then and that was the end of it.
In the afternoon, I’d go on a run, Seth not too far behind me. We’d sprint through the outskirts of town at our inhuman speed, increasing the pace day by day. I needed to continue to build my endurance, as well as nailing the frail attempt of escape if I were caught off guard by a Demon or two.
We would spend most of the day together, from sunup to sundown. Being around him to that level, I felt more at ease. But it didn’t last long. Prickles of fear began to gnaw at the edges of my stomach. We were nearing the blood moon. The final countdown. And I was getting restless.
We all were.
My phone had beeped as Seth and I returned to his house after our midday run. I tapped my screen to unlock it while I snagged a toaster pastry off the kitchen counter, leaning against it as I tore the wrapper open. I swiped through my messages, most being automated spam texts, until I saw one from Libby. I paused, my thumb hovering. Biting into the pastry, I tapped on the message and opened it.
Hey, I need your help with something. Can you help me?
I texted back, tapping away with my thumb, my other hand occupied with my snackage. Seth and Josh chatted about our training session from the morning. I zoned them out, not wanting to relive the embarrassment of tripping over my own feet after I finally took Seth down.
Yeah, I’ll grab the guys and we’ll head your way. Where do we need to meet you?
Oh! No, just you please. It’s a surprise and I don’t want to ruin it. :)
Oh, okay. No problem, my lips are sealed.
She texted me the address and I copied it into the GPS on my phone as I sloshed down the rest of my pastry with some much-needed water and headed back toward the front door, grabbing my keys off the counter.
“Where are you going, Rin?” Seth asked while I passed him, popping a handful of nuts into his mouth.
“Libby needs help with something. Girls only! I’ll see you guys later.” I called over my shoulder, waving my fingers as I shut the door behind me, bouncing down the steps and beelining for my car.
The GPS had me winding through town and to the other side of campus. I pulled up to a small apartment complex, a little security gate at the front of the building. I parked in a spot marked for visitors, beeped my car locked, and walked up to the gate. A security guard posted at the entrance asked my reason for visiting and I gave him Libby’s name; he waved me in.
Talk about a safe spot. Damn.
I hiked up the three flights of steps to the top floor, winded, and skimmed the hallway for apartment three-oh-nine. For as often and as far as I ran, I could not stand trudging up stairs. The silver-plated numbers shimmered from the bright hallway light. I lightly rapped my hand on the cherry oak door, and it swung open; the space beyond, completely doused in darkness. I stiffened, a knot forming in my stomach.
This…this doesn’t seem right.
I drew one of my daggers and crept over the threshold, suddenly grateful that I recently heeded Seth and Josh’s advice and kept my twin blades on me at all times.
“Libby?” I called into the pitch-black room. I heard rustling further in. I felt a switch as I ran my hand along the wall to my right and flipped it on.
And there in the center of the ivory carpet lay Libby, unconscious, her torso twisted and blood trickling from the top of her head.
The door clicked shut behind me as an eerie laugh sent ice through my veins, chilling me to my core.
“Well, we meet again, Erin Snow.”
“Erebus.” I growled.