16 – Puzzle
1279 Words
“Tana!”
I looked over my shoulder, seeing Agatha running after me. Her heels ticked against the pavement, hair bouncing as she tried to catch up.
Shaking my head, I continued walking to exit the campus, not bothering to slow down.
“Tana!” she called out again.
The sky was starting to get dark, the sun already hidden on the horizon. The cold wind of October sent shiver down my shoulder, but I knew it was a different kind of coldness.
My arm was grabbed, forcing me to stop. I turned, meeting Agatha’s eyes. “What do you want?”
She took a deep breath, dropping my arm. “You know I didn’t mean whatever I say earlier, right?”
A laugh escaped my mouth. “That’s funny. You don’t mean anything you say, Agatha. I’m just some sort of joke to you, aren’t I?”
“No, of course not!” she muttered. “I just don’t want them to know anything about Denny. You know it.”
I nodded, considering her answer. “So, you just like treating people crap once in every while? Just to make sure your reputation is still intact?”
She opened her mouth to respond but said nothing. I was too tired today to even try to understand her.
When she said nothing, I spoke. “You know what I realized, Agatha? I’d rather be an outcast than try to live up to your made-up world. At least I’m not hurting myself trying to be someone I am not.”
“You’re right,” she replied, her voice breaking. “And I’m sorry. But not everyone’s as strong as you, Tana. Not everyone can accept who they are. Some of us just want to survive to the world we’re thrown into.” She shrugged. “This is me surviving.”
“You’re killing yourself being stubborn.” I shook my head, frustration building up. “I should go now.”
She held my arm again, stopping me.
“I know you care.” She said, eyes pleading. “And maybe you’re the only one who cares and I’m a b***h to even say that crap to you. I’m sorry, I really am. It’s just sometimes, I feel like talking about it more makes me weak. It reminds me that I am helpless. And for once, even in this made-up world, I just wanna feel strong and in control, you know?”
I stared at her eyes that was now filled with tears, her mouth quivering. My chest heaved seeing her that way. I had a weakness seeing people in desperate need.
“You know I will help you,” I muttered, voice low. “But I can’t do that if you’re not even going to let me.”
Slowly, she let go of my arm. When she kept her silence after a moment, I turned my heels and left.
People like her first needed to accept they need help. I had no idea what it was like being in her situation and maybe she coped up and act differently. But it was not an excuse to treat friends like they were disposable.
****
Sunday afternoon, I headed toward Night Bookstore to extend the book I rented out, hoping to stumble into another reference about Inigo’s race. I should prepare myself to the upcoming full moon, knowing one of his pack would attack the town again.
The shop only had a few customers coming in, and I was glad of the little privacy I could have.
Well, not until I saw someone familiar.
Our path had crossed again.
Arawn Rhys was leaning against one of the high shelves on the second floor of the store, his bucket hat hiding his face. I approached, a nagging voice inside my head kept saying he had answers to my questions.
“Is there a way for me to save someone from being damned?”
Arawn looked lifted his head, automatically closing the book he was reading. “Even if I know, you think I’m gonna tell you?”
He bore his eyes on me, like I was some nuisance on his beautiful day.
“Yes.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, here’s the thing, I don’t know the answer.”
“You don’t know or you just won’t tell?” This guy was hard to crack.
“I don’t meddle in witch’s thing,” he whispered, leaning down on me. “Not if I can help it.”
“If only you didn’t meddle that night and pulled me back, I could have saved someone from hell. So, yes, you should tell me whatever you know that would help me.”
The corner of his lips turned up, like he was amused. “You serious? Did you knock your pretty head too much that night that you’re babbling nonsense now?”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “I don’t even know why I’m talking to you. I’ll just try the red candle again. Please don’t meddle this time.”
“Why are you so obsessed going to the underworld?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Because someone I know do not deserve to be down there.”
“That’s what everyone says, actually. That nobody deserves to be down there.” He sighed. “Why don’t you just focus on the deal you agreed to?”
I stared at him for a moment, wondering if telling him would help. He already knew who I was, my bloodline, and he knew my soul was already damned. If he knew that much, then he was not human, for sure. He was different just like me, just like Inigo.
“Okay. Do you have pointers on how to kill a werewolf?”
“Can we be serious now, Tana Axle?” he asked, his brows dropping low.
“It sounds like a joke, yes, but I am serious,” I replied, watching him closely.
“That’s the deal you made with Set?”
“You knew him?” I asked, my eyes narrowing. Was he demon? Or maybe, used to be? “I didn’t make the deal, though. But it’s something I need to take to save my godmother.”
Arawn gazed at me, long and hard, that I started to get uncomfortable, my heartbeat drumming beneath the thin white shirt I was wearing.
“You can’t save her, then.”
Anger oozed inside me. I suddenly wanted to curse him. “Great. I shouldn’t have talk to you. I don’t know why I even bother.”
He grabbed my arm, his grip enough to stop me on my tracks. “Look, if- “
I flung my arm, getting away from his grip. “Just give me my dagger if you’re not going to help. I don’t have time for your humor today.”
“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, hybrid.”
I rolled my eyes, standing my ground. “Actually, I do. And while I’m on it, I’ll find out who you are.”
“What you should find,” he said, his eyes seemed to spark under the fluorescence. “Is a way to redeem your life.”
“Just give me back my dagger, Arawn Rhys.” I made sure to emphasize each word, glaring at him.
He returned my glare, his lips closed tight. I was getting used to his cold, intimidating look. After a moment, he looked away, taking in a deep breath.
“You’ll get it tomorrow.”
“That’s the greatest thing you ever said,” I commented, stepping back to leave.
- Writer
