SONG: SEVEN NATION ARMY BY THE WHITE STRIPES, THE GLITCH MOB REMIX
The book from Madame LeRoux sits unopened in front me, legs crossed as I stare at the cover like its contents could harm me, instead of helping me. In truth I’d assumed my powers were like Salem’s. Perhaps descendant from a distant witch line that manifested during a time of stress. But the word goddess percolates in my mind with a feeling of rightness to it. The repercussions of opening this book could change everything I’ve known to be true about my life. The truth of who I know my parents to be, who I know myself to be, could be swiped away with one flick of a page. I want to hold onto my version of what I’ve known as the truth a little longer.
I push the thoughts of the day that swarm my mind like sharks circling their prey. Jackson’s lifeless body lying in a puddle of his own blood assaults my memory, flashing behind my eyes. The way Javelynn clawed at me as if they didn’t even know me. All I wanted to do was help my friend. I thought Jackson had killed them as Javelynn lay motionless. They’d looked like they weren’t even breathing. I’d started CPR, only to have their eyes fly open as their nails gouged into my arm. I could still feel the sting of it, even though it’s started to heal already.
Salem’s gone. Walker, Emmet, and Garrison too. Javelynn along with our other school mates are possessed. Jackson is dead and my parents might not even be my real parents. My whole life feels like it’s falling apart and I’m barely holding it together.
I let out a loud sigh, grabbing the attention of Graham.
“What’s troubling you, bella?” He asks from the seat on the couch next to me. Lukas and Sloan have both retreated to the room to catch some sleep. Graham chose to be a lookout and has been watching the feed from the cameras stationed outside the house that hooks up to his phone. Nothing has activated the alarms since we got back hours ago. I wonder just how long that will last, though.
“Everything. Everything is wrong.” I answer truthfully.
He grabs my hand in his, and I don’t protest. I soak up the much-needed comfort, thankful that Graham always seems to be my calm in the eye of the storm. He tucks me against him as we silently watch the screen together, entranced by the nothingness that greets us. I thumb the edges of the book with my free hand, worry unfurling in my gut.
“You can always tell me. I’m always here for you.” He says after a few minutes. I know without a doubt that he means it. Sometimes people say that haphazardly, without the intent to follow through. And when you need them? They’ve disappeared.
“Truthfully, I’m a mess. I keep thinking about my mom and my dad. Wondering if everything I’ve known is a lie. I hate being separated from Salem and the guys. It feels like everything is changing so rapidly. It’s just a lot to process, you know?”
He nods. “The thing about processing though, is that there’s no time limit. There’s no due date. No rush to adapt and adjust. This kind of thing takes time. You’re doing amazing, considering everything we’ve been going through.”
I look up at him through my lashes and he grins down at me, dimples on full display. He lets go of the device and grips my chin in his hand, planting a soft kiss on my lips.
“Well, don’t you two look cozy.” Lukas interrupts. I turn my head and gift him a small smile, my insides still feeling like a twisted mess. Graham’s hand tightens against mine, reassuring me that they’re not about to get into a pissing match over me. Our complicated relationship usually works with a heavy understanding that we all care for each other.
Lukas takes the empty space on the other side of me, sandwiching me between the two formidable men. He throws his arm up onto the back of the couch, grabbing a small lock of my hair that he wraps around his charcoal-stained fingers. He must have been drawing instead of sleeping.
“You gonna take a look at that book there?” Lukas asks, gesturing down at my lap.
“I don’t know.” I feel my insides fold up into my stomach wanting to shut down this conversation.
“Whatever it says, we’ll be here for you. It doesn’t change who you are.” He says taking my other hand into his lap.
“It could change everything I’ve known to be true. Two days ago, I thought I was this normal girl and now I have power shooting out of me, and this lady calling me a goddess while handing me a book on mythology. It’s a lot. I thought I was doing okay coping with all the things that have been thrown at me just this year, but I think I’ve just been shoving down my emotions. I mean, you all are literally possessed by demons that have taken over your bodies on more than one occasion. And because of how I feel about you, I’ve pushed down any freak out that I would have normally have, but I can feel it bubbling up to the surface now.” Tears sting my eyes as I unload everything I’ve been keeping locked tight inside. This freshman year has thrown so much at me, from a dorm fire to demon possessed boyfriends and now my parents might not even be my parents. It’s too much and I can feel the cracks starting to form in my usual calm and pulled together personality. I feel shaken to my core, and I haven’t even opened the book yet.
“Being possessed has made me question a lot about myself, but you see through it. You see us for who we are. And we see you. Your heart. From the first moment I saw you, I knew that you were special. You burrowed so deep inside my blackened soul, that I couldn’t function without you. I was lost in a haze of lust, wondering if I would ever experience anything more. And then you crashed into my life and ever since then, you’ve opened my eyes to a different existence I went from merely existing to experiencing happiness on a whole new level, because of you. Being near you makes my brain short circuit in a way I’ve only experienced one other time.” Lukas looks up at Graham and holds his gaze for a moment before turning his focus back onto me. I feel his thumb rub the back of my hand as he continues. “If this book changes anything about the truth of your past, you can be secure in knowing that YOU still will be you. The same Skye Dannon I fell in love with and would do anything for.”
I feel my heart squeeze at his words. His confession. I look over at Graham, who’s no longer engrossed in the security feed, but looking at us with a small vulnerable smile.
“We’ve got you, bella.” Graham says hugging me from the side.
I feel an overpowering sense of love for these two men, who’ve shown me so much devotion within the short amount of time we’ve known each other. A stirring in my heart resonates with their words, tucking them away and feeding me just enough bravery to open this book. They’re right. No matter what it says, I’m still myself at the end of the day.
Taking my hands back from theirs, I steady my nerves and open the thick tome. Flipping through the pages until one catches my attention.
“Daughter of Spring.” I murmur, reading the chapter title. My eyes flit over the words as I skim the paragraphs about Persephone, Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld. Goosebumps break out over my skin.
“I think…” But whatever I was about to say is cut off by a brick shattering through the window in the living room and missing my face by mere inches. A scream wrenches out of my throat as I see people clawing at the broken shards, cutting their own hands open with trying to hoist themselves up here. Lukas yanks me off the couch and the book tumbles from my lap, splaying into a crumpled heap on the floor as we make a dash for the back door.
“Shit, they’re trying to get in here too.” Graham says, barricading the door with one of the kitchen stools. Some of the people I recognize from my English class bang against the windows, attempting to smash it with their fists.
“That isn’t going to hold them for long.” Lukas says, assessing the situation.
“Sloan, get down here!” I call out voice tight, worried that he’ll be too groggy from sleep to hear the attack on the house. He always has such a hard time waking up.
“What do you think? Should we take a chance on the tunnels?” Graham asks Lukas, the pulse in his neck clearly visible.
“I don’t see what other choice we have. If we stay here, we’re dead. At least we’ll have a fighting chance if we go through the tunnels.”
