“Shit. What is that!?”
“It’s a monster, run!” someone screams, and everyone jumps up in panic.
“Moni, stop!” Knox yells, pushing against the crowd.
I scream in anger and turn toward a flash of tan as one of the counselors takes off toward their cabin. They have to have coffee. I have smelled it on them before; they might have some. I need that sweet, beautiful nectar of life. It will calm my soul.
Shrinking down, I allow my wings to whip out and propel me forward until I’m close enough to reach out and touch them. I pop up in size, grab him by the neck, and scream into his face before watching, unaffected, as tears stream down his face. “Please don’t hurt me,” he pleads, and I shake him like the ragdoll that he is.
“Coffee!! Give me coffee!” I demand.
His face drains of color, and his eyes go wide as he forcibly swallows down his fear. Giving up on him answering, I toss him to the side and slash through the screen door of the building hewas heading to. The lights are dim, but I can make out the room well enough as I take in a deep breath, frowning as the stench of body odor overpowers any scent of leftover coffee, if there is any.
I tear through the cabin, overturning mattresses, shredding sheets and clothing, and ripping up floorboards and off cabinet doors.Nothing. There’s no sign of the nectar of the Fates or even the Gods.Who is playing this cruel joke on me?
“Moni!” A strict and dominating voice calls out, and a growl vibrates through my chest as I turn my head to glare at Knox. “Calm down and come here. You are scaring everyone.”
He obviously doesn’t think I have a brain in this form. I do, but it’s only thinking of one thing, and I want it. Forget friends or family; I want this pain to stop. This indescribable hunger and thirst is driving me crazy. Is this what it feels like to go without a drug? I want it—noneedit. I am not myself without my coffee.
“And destroying the camp…oh, wait. This is why you were banned.” Lynx finally gets it, and I would laugh if I weren’t seeing red.
Zipping out of the cabin, I turn to the first cabin, but someone comes up to me, and I don’t even think before I grab them and chuck them out of my way along with the person behind them.
I turn the other way when the most delicious aroma reaches my nose, and I make an about-turn.
“Come here, you little crack fiend,” JP yells, lifting a thermos. I barely have a moment to recognize that he’s not the current JP I’m traveling through hell with before focusing on the heavenly drink in his hand.
Without being told twice, I slam into him, knocking him over and greedily grabbing the thermos. I devour the sweetest nectar ever made, not even caring that it’s burning my esophagus, before moaning as I lick my lips.
“Ahhh.” I lean back, sitting on my haunches, and look up to find JP looking down at me. “Here you go, crack fiend. Drink this one slower, and then come find me in my cabin.” He smiles and hands me another thermos. “I need to brew some more,” he admits before quickly running off.
As I take off the lid of this thermos, I feel someone approach, and I immediately tense up as I wonder who’s coming to take away my drink. Looking up, I find Lynx and Knox giving me twin looks of disbelief.
“So you really doneedcoffee to survive,” Lynx’s voice breaks.
“It seems so,” Knox agrees.
I feel the change instantaneously as I transform back to my normal self, but instead of my neutral greenish brown, I’m sporting my pink.
“Hey, hey, hey. There’s no need to be embarrassed,” Lynx assures me, pulling me into his lap. He squeezes me close and tucks me under his chin. “Oh, sorry. I bet you’re trying to drink your coffee,” he says and pulls away from me enough that I can sip my coffee.
“Lynx is right, Moni. There’s no reason to be embarrassed. Think of this as being a part of you, like my rage is a part of me and my animals. We’re family, and you share this with us so we can help you.”
I’m not sure if I agree with the comparison between my coffee and his rage. My coffee is to me like the sun is to magic…or something to that standing. I can’t breathe without my coffee, and it’s way more important than his rage or animals. Or maybe that’s just a me thing. Either way, he is right about us being family, and I’m glad they accept me and my coffee.
Feeling better, I rise out of Lynx’s lap and shift into my four-foot self, giving Lynx and Knox a small smile. “Thanks.”
“Besides,” Lynx says, bumping shoulders with me. “You’re a fucking badass. I’m not even sure Knox could take you.” Hechuckles. I peek at my big brother, and he winks at me, making me blush.
“Hey, look,” Knox states, pointing over my head. Turning, I spot a timer in the sky, and below it, a path has formed.
One of the counselors limps out from the side of the trees, and I faintly recognize her as being the first person I threw.
“Congratulations on passing your trial.” She gives me a bloody smile before disappearing back into the trees.
“Let’s get to the safe house,” Knox beckons, and I couldn’t agree more.
CHAPTER 30
