“Go live your life Maggie,” he mumbled, barely able to get the words out as he drifted back to sleep.
“What about you? Are you coming with me?”
Namir’s snores filled the air in response. I guess he wasn’t kidding when he said he was catching up on lost sleep. Texting Bellamy, I asked if it was okay to see him. I’m not sure why I felt like I had to have permission, but Bellamy and I weren’t exactly siblings in that sense.
The girls were probably back home or boo’d up. Ayira got to experience the life she always wanted with Seth taking her everywhere. Asha was constantly sending pictures of her and Silas together. Souxie would simply text, but we all know she was with Harvey, and Isis was already back at the school with Quan. Namir received an email saying he had to return for a mandatory faculty meeting which meant he still had a job…and they were probably going to talk about opening the school again. We all had plans to meet back at the school. I just wasn’t sure where I stood or even my grades for that matter. My classes. What is going to happen now that I’m here?
I looked at my phone, no response from Bellamy. Of course.
Sighing, I snuggled back into the bed as I listened to Namir’s snores. We were going to find a way to the Solhari Kingdom. The last barrier before the Underground was opened for good. My mother is a vampire and my father is not, but he knew this whole time which means she openly feeds. Grandma was the only one to warn me about any of this and now she’s apparently in Savannah? So many questions, and still no message or responsefrom Bellamy. I started to close my eyes when I noticed Namir’s snores stopped as the room went completely silent. Pulling out my phone, I was about to text the girls when Namir silently got up like a thief in the night only to watch his body suddenly drop to the floor in a warped like shadow. I almost screamed as I backed up against the headboard, grabbing the sheets to cover myself as this large four-legged wolf beast of a creature walked out of the bedroom.
Now when the hell did that happen!? I mean I know he said he went through some physical changes but WHAT?!
I quickly tapped the sides of my face, hoping I wasn’t dreaming before hearing a screeching scream as the lights appeared in the hallway. Namir was already a little agitated at the fact that someone broke into our house before, only to find out it was my people. This was something else entirely. I quickly reached for my t-shirt to put on, grabbed the knife underneath my side of the bed, and ran out forgetting for a second who I am until I stopped. Cousin Lovely was in the kitchen, bright makeup around her eyes, red rosy cheeks along her melanated complexion, and braids that came down to her hip bone filled with beads and shells from the beach. She wore her bikini with a sheer cover up as both hands were raised, fangs were out, and her eyes were full of excitement. Bellamy was sitting on the couch with his feet propped up, arms stretched on the back and Namir was now standing in the nude between the two with a heaving chest like any second, he was going to attack.
“Well now we know who’s the bigger man of the two,” Bellamy said, clearly not impressed as he lit his cigarette.
“How the fuck did y'all get in my house? I have it to where you have to be invited in–––”
“A text message from my sister is enough,” Bellamy said with a wave of his phone in his hand. I tried not to smile as Namir turned to glare at me before walking back to the bedroom with a slam of the door. We waited for a moment before Lovely immediately rushed over to hug me, smelling every bit like the beach, sweet fruits, and the nightlife she came from.
“We were just on our way to an exclusive White Party,” she said with a wiggle of her brows. She took my hands in hers as she looked me over. “Come with us.”
“Like right now?” I asked.
“Yes,” Bellamy said as he blew smoke out. The front door opened again as Carmilla walked in with her white dress followed by a man with white locs and a stoic expression that landed directly on me. Confused, I tried to ignore the intense stare as Lovely slowly spun me around.
“We’re going out right now?” I asked again, trying to face her but Bellamy answered.
“Yes, and if you feel more comfortable bringing your little friends, you can. I prefer the nymph to keep me company,” he said with a sly grin. Cousin Lovely suddenly leaned in and whispered against my ear.
“He’s going through a bad breakup with the human and her child,” she murmured. “He’s trying to party and drink his woes away.”
“I can hear you, Lovely.”
“How long are we waiting here?” Carmilla asked with an attitude. “The smell of dog is overwhelming out here.”
“So wait outside,” Bellamy let out.
“It’s worse outside–––”
“It’s because he has two strays patrolling his territory,” Lovely nodded with a silly grin. “I saw them, but they have to be quicker than that. Maggieeeeeee!” She suddenly sang. “We are going to have sooo much fun! Oh!”
“Tell her the real reason we’re going,” Carmilla said with a tired tone. “This isn’t some fun party time. We’re going to make it known the First Family is not going anywhere. We have claim in the Underground.”
“There are others,” Bellamy added. “Like us…”
“Nobody can be like us,” Lovely boasted.
“And before they go around trying to fuck it up for the rest of us, we are going to make it known, we are the First Family. We aren’t running scared. We couldn’t care less about your fears and hatred of us. We aren’t going anywhere,” Carmilla stated. “No more.”
Lovely nodded before leaning in.
“It’s because of you, Maggie… You are the real deal… They cannot deny it anymore.”
“Can we not put any more worldly pressures on my sister and just get her ready?” Bellamy pressed, annoyed. Lovely winked at me before taking my hands and moving me to stand in the middle of my kitchen.
“We need to put you in something that will make your man want to put you out,” Lovely said.
