“Oh yeah! It’s been an insane day. Can you believe Emmet is back? What the actual fuck? And I had a nice little chat with Daddy Hart today.”
My spine straightens at that piece of information.
“How was he with you?” I don’t think he’d be stupid enough to lay a hand on a student, but since I have seen him lose his temper more times than I could count, I wouldn’t put it in the ‘never could happen’ pile either.
“Annoying. He said we all need to make nice with Emmet or face expulsion.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.”
We stare at each other for a moment, not knowing what to do with this new situation.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it plays out.” She says, sitting on her bed and eating another olive. “Can I see those books?”
I sit next to her and pull out the pile of books for her to examine.
“Oh, this is exactly what I’ve been needing!” She exclaims. “Our library is woefully understocked on the occult.”
“No kidding.” When we first were possessed by the demons, we all poured over everything we could get our hands on, only to come up with no answers. It felt like maybe the answers had been removed on purpose.
“I’ll help you, if you want. I’m just as interested in seeing if there’s anything in here for us too.” I offer, and Salem gives me a full smile. Her green eyes sparkling with happiness.
“I’d love that.” I grab her by the hand and pop her pinky olive straight into my mouth.
She gasps, shoving me in the chest. “Ugh, you olive stealing heathen.”
I grasp her by the waist and pull her close to me. “Maybe, but I’m your olive stealing heathen.”
“Agreed.” She says, gifting me with a kiss before popping the last olive into her mouth with a smirk.
Fuck. I think I love this woman.
ChapterThirty-One
EMMET
SONG: ENEMY (WITH JID) BY IMAGINE DRAGONS
People were extraordinarily loud whisperers. All day, I’ve heard the rumors being passed behind my back of what happened down at the cave. Of course, none of them are accurate, but that’s the game of telephone. One thing twists into another until it becomes its own entity.
I’ve talked with all my professors, gathering any missed work so I can catch up and not have my grades to worry about on top of everything else.
I already know to expect a scene once I get to the house. I have no delusions that this will be a smooth homecoming. They can try all they want, but there’s no getting rid of me. I’ve made insurances and came prepared with an ace up my sleeve should they prove difficult.
I’m sure Salem and Lukas would both love to know their precious little Pierce was alive and well… well he was alright enough. The only problem with him being down there was that his demon told the ones in charge that the sins were held against their will these last two years. That they didn’t break out of purgatory of their own will, they were summoned. And in a roundabout fashion that’s somewhat true. Those seven were summoned, but they knew their time to be called out was coming. They’d planned it for years.
Getting pulled back in wasn’t a part of the plan.
Thanksgiving was next week and then just one month until the veil would be at its thinnest and able to be broken. I wonder if Pierce would hold on until then.
I open the front door, hearing the familiar cacophony of pots and pans banging in the kitchen, and the smell of pasta wafting in the air greets me like an old friend.
This should be all kinds of fun.
As soon as I cross the threshold, the people in the living room turn their head to look at me and the conversation halts to a stop.
“I was wondering when you’d show your face here again.” Sloan says, his face pulled into a frown that matches the rest of the room.
