Smoke and Wishes (Best Wishes #1)(40)
“How can you be so calm?!” Landon screamed at me, his eyes blackened, the red haze pulsing with fury. His nails extended, blackening into his daemon claws as his small, black curved horns appeared in his messy hair. I stared at him, holding The Rage at bay.
“I’m not, I know exactly what you’re feeling. The only difference is I know what it’s like to lose control,” I clipped out as I glared at him. Landon’s claws and horns receded, his eyes resuming their normal appearance. His breathing deepened as his face flooded with guilt, I sighed. None of that was his fault, I felt my chest tighten at the onslaught of memories from that night. So, not the fucking time, I ground out. Pushing the images away while I sipped my drink, the burning sensation helped to chase away the nightmares.
“We definitely need to keep an eye on her, if her anxiety gets worse we can at least be there, ground her like Charlie has over the phone. I’m going to go out on a limb and say she’s dealing with some PTSD. If she’s willing to open up more about it to one of us, keep the rest informed unless she asks you to keep it to herself. She needs to be able to trust us. We won’t let her get hurt,” Dante took charge after he was able to compose himself. A round of agreements went up. “I don’t want any of us to push her, but we should try to find out more about this piece of shit, so we know who to look out for if he ever comes near Lucie.” I nodded the same time my brother did.
“How are you handling this, twin?” I mentally shot over to him.
“I’m struggling,” his fury came through our telepathic link loud and clear, “I want to tear out of here and find that piece of shit, make his death slow and painful.” His admission only fueled my already intense rage.
“Amen, brother,” I sent back. The rest of the evening was spent in tense silence, everyone lost in their own thoughts.
September 7th
Friday Afternoon
Lucienne
My typical relaxed attitude in the library while working was nowhere to be seen today. There had been a steadily growing crowd within the study areas and a large number of students who came to the counter asking for book recommendations and their locations, allowing me no free time to perform my other duties. On top of that, the abundance of returns we’d had so far resulted in two overflowing book carts. Muriel finally got back a few minutes ago from a meeting she had with several professors on upcoming projects next semester, that required some of the rare artifacts in the basement being moved to the main floor. With her return, I took the first cart to re-shelve the books. Making my way towards the fiction section, I had to curve around the perimeter of the study area to not run over student’s bags. I was on edge, the stress of the day was getting to me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t so lucky as to be able to enjoy a few moments of solitude.
“So, they’ve been hanging out with her a lot?” A familiar southern accent whispered on the other side of the stack I was shelving books on. I paused, I know that voice.
“Yes, that little slut is always around, or they’re texting her constantly. She’s totally trying to get in-between me and bae,” Brittney’s soprano voice whined in response. The exaggerated pout threaded through the statement grated painfully on my ears.
“Then we just need to remind her of her place,” I was able to creep around the corner of the shelf to get a peek at their group. The Bitch Crew, great. What did I do to the universe lately? Why was I getting the shitty end of the stick recently? I pulled back my head before they could see me.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan,” the head brunette bitch, Claire stated. Deciding I didn’t want to hear anymore, I walked back to my cart to finish shelving the books to hopefully get away from them as quick as possible. “If it isn’t the little bitch in the flesh.” Damn it! Seriously? I rolled my eyes and ignored her, grabbing another book as I proceeded to place them in their correct slots. “Look at you, what kind of pathetic supe would you have to be to work in the library?”
“What do you want? I have shit to do,” my voice was dead as I addressed her, my eyes focused on my task. “Why don’t you find somewhere else to cackle and scheme.” Placing the last of the books on the shelf, I turned towards her, one hand on the cart and the other propped on my hip.
“Apparently, I wasn’t clear enough for a dumb bitch like you to understand, stay away from Dante. Hudson, too,” Claire’s voice was grating on the last of my nerves. I rolled my eyes at her dramatics. “It would be a shame if it got out that you were just using them. Trying to sleep with them and get in their heads. I can’t imagine they’d take too well to you threatening their little family,” an irrational fear settled into my stomach. I cared for each of them, but she wouldn’t know that.
“Oh, whatever, you’re pettiness doesn’t worry me. They wouldn’t believe rumors like that,” I countered turning away from her.
“Well, I do just so happen to be a very powerful witch, Lucie,” she sneered my name. “I could easily make it believable. Do you really think they’d pick you over each other?” No, I don’t, and that’s the problem.
“Do whatever you want, Claire. I just want them to be happy, and if any of you bitches do that, then I won’t stand in the way. I will warn you though, I’m not going anywhere.” Finally having had enough, I stormed off towards the next section, girly laughing echoed behind me. Please let the rest of my shift go better, I pleaded.