I couldn’t stop myself from watching the swollen pulp of a face in the middle of this arena, unsure who I was seeing anymore. All I knew was that I needed to get out of this place. Out of this body.
I watched from outside of myself as blood sprayed off the man’s face, painting the ground crimson.
And then a sharp tug on my arm brought back the flood of cheers and Leo’s face lowering to mine.
“We’re done.” Without waiting for me to answer, Leo lifted me from my chair.
All I could do was scan her face, unable to speak. She was going to get me out of here. I was going to be okay.
Am I?
Spencer guided us away from the arena, just as I took one last look over my shoulder. Laying limp in the sand, the man had given up the fight. But that didn’t stop The Bull from finishing the job.
She’s going to kill him.
Nearly lifting me off my feet, Leo dragged me through the doorway we’d entered.
“Don’t look back.” Leo grumbled, eyes locked ahead.
My hands shook as we left the arena.
And then a loud bell resounded down the empty tunnel, followed by an eruption from the crowd.
It’s over.
48
DOM
No wonderthis place is always so deserted.I tried not to grimace as I took another sludgey sip of coffee. The Rosewood Diner was a short drive from town, but it felt like stepping through a twisted time machine.
Everything was genuine vintage from the 50’s: the chrome exterior, the neon signs in the window, the red leather booths. Hell, I was pretty sure I’d seen a jell-o salad in the cramped cake display case. And its age very much showed.
Every second I had to sit in this diner was torture, and I was starting to suspect The Oracle knew that. That they got off on making me sit around and waste my time.
I frowned, draining my mug.I might as well get some caffeine out of it.
“Another cup?” The waitress ambled over with a murky gray pot in her hands.
Nodding, I slid my cup over to her, letting the sound of her pour fill the silence.
“You sure drink a lot of coffee,” she muttered under her breath, as if she wasn’t the one who’d offered it to me in the first place. I simply nodded, saving my frustration for the peoplewho’d actually earned it instead of taking it out on this poor waitress.
But she wasn’t making that easy. She squinted at me openly as she gave me a once over. “And you’re dressed way too nice for this place.”
“Yep.” I muttered, taking back my full mug and lifting it toward her. “Thanks, Aria.”
She threw her hands up in the air as she walked away, muttering something about how “talkative” I was, and I let out a sigh.I’ll leave her a good tip.
After tonight, I hoped I’d never see this place again. It had been a pain in the ass to arrange this meeting with The Oracle, and the fact that I had no idea when they’d be here made every second in this squeaky booth agonizing. I hated being off of my home turf, and Ihatedfeeling out of control.
That restlessness started to eat away at my resolve. Was this really the right thing? Sending Kiera away?
As I forced down another swig of the primordial coffee brew, I couldn’t help but shake my leg under the table.Of course it’s right.
I needed her out of my house if I had any semblance of a chance of holding onto my sanity. Seeing her face around every corner, hearing her laugh echo down the halls, watching her draped over Spencer and Leo… it was enough to make anyone homicidal.
Besides, the farther away she was from me, the safer both of us would be. History had proven as much. That was the one thought that kept me anchored. I’d suffer the indignity of waiting in this time capsule for that safety.
