“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re ghosting me, Cecy.”
I take a slurp of my energy drink and try to remain cool and unaffected, despite Lan’s shoulder that’s nudging mine.
At Remi’s and Ava’s insistence, our group of friends have gotten together for drinks at a pub downtown.
The big table in the middle of the room overflows with drinks, chatter, side-nudges and the general hyper energy that takes place whenever we’re together.
Remi dragged Bran and Creigh along, and Ava got me and Glyn to join.
Anni would’ve loved to be here as well, but she still hasn’t gained back her full freedom and has to be monitored at all times by her guards. She’s also been staying in the Heathens’ mansion.
I would rather not be in a place that’s buzzing with people, loud music, and sensory chaos, but I’m willing to do it instead of letting Ava get drunk and have no one to take care of her after.
Also, anywhere is a better place than my head.
I just didn’t count on Lan joining us because A, he doesn’t hang out in our circle and has his own entourage; and B, I really don’t want to talk to him after the fire episode at the Heathens’.
That was a week and a half ago, and I still feel that burning sensation down my throat whenever I swallow.
Another tap on my shoulder, a subtle nudge, and the feeling of his breath down my neck.
I stare at Lan, who looks dashing in his casual clothes without him making an effort. It’s the easygoing grin and the aristocratic features. He shares them with his twin brother, but Bran appears elegant and sophisticated.
He’s nothing more than a devil.
“What do you want, Lan?”
“Don’t sulk over such a trivial issue.”
“Trivial,” I whisper-yell so the others don’t hear. “Did you just call arson trivial?”
“No one got hurt.”
“Jeremy did.” My chest squeezes, as is the case whenever I think about him.
“Meh. He survived.” Lan’s blank gaze remains in place, and I come to the bitter realization that I really don’t know this man.
I’ve spent twenty years in his orbit and about three years crushing on him, and yet I have no clue who the hell he is.
“He was hurt, Lan,” I repeat. “He was injured and needed medical attention.”
“He still survived like a cat with nine lives. Also, hold on, why are you getting so worked up about Jeremy? Don’t you hate him?”
Worked up.
Is that what it looks like from the outside? That I’m worked up?
Ava said something similar when I kept asking Anni questions as soon as she was able to meet with us again for lunch.
“Why are you so invested in this, Cecy?” she asked with narrowed eyes.
I waved her off, but now, I face Lan. “Because I unknowingly caused a fire after you used my goodwill for satanic purposes.”
He laughs, slapping his knees, but none of the emotions reach his eyes. “Aren’t you being a little dramatic? It’s the Remi effect, isn’t it?”
It dawns on me then. All of this is a joke to Lan, a game he plays, a fun activity he indulges in.
He couldn’t care less who needs to be crushed as long as he has what he wants.
I’m just a pawn on his chessboard that he used and discarded.
“Did someone say my lordship’s name?” Remi jumps up beside us. “Don’t talk behind my back when you have the whole thing here.”
“Oh?” Lan grins. “And here I thought you were ignoring me, Rems.”
“Nonsense.” He gathers him in a bro hug. “There, there, don’t feel lonely, mate.”
Bran releases a puff of air. “He doesn’t even know the meaning of that word.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Lan says with a grin and utter ease, enjoying egging his twin brother on a bit too much.
He’s like that, whether it’s with his friends or family. Everyone is a fluid matter that could and would be used.
I guess I only just realized the extent he’d go to.
“Are you guys fighting for my attention? Don’t do that, I can’t choose!” Remi releases Lan and goes to sit beside Creigh. “I will only have my spawn, thank you very much. I know you miss Anni, even if you don’t say it, but I’ll keep you company.”
“He doesn’t care about you.” Ava raises her glass. “Maybe you should salvage your dignity while you can.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are we still talking about me? Because that whole speech could’ve been directed at you. Your dignity is shriveling and dying on the floor as we speak.”
“Oh, you’re so dead, bitch.”
“Bring it on, bitch.”
Ava goes for his throat and they bicker on and on, accidentally spilling each other’s secrets. Glyn, who’s allergic to conflict, tries to mediate and break them up. Bran offers them drinks to cool them down.
Neither work.
Usually, I’d take Ava’s side. One, it’s fun to rile Remi up. Two, she might not act like it, but she was hurt by his words and I don’t allow that.
But I can’t bring myself to move or talk. Some of that has to do with Lan being here.
In the past, I’d get all giddy whenever he joined us and fangirl internally. Now, I’m uncomfortable.
I don’t want to sit beside him, knowing what he’s done. It’s been a long time since I figured out he doesn’t care about me more than as a childhood friend, but this is the first time I’ve finally accepted it.
I wait for the pain to wash through me, but it doesn’t. It’s merely a dull ache now, and I’m not sure if it’s because of him or something else.
After taking a sip of my drink, I check my phone. It’s a stupid habit I’ve developed ever since a different devil barged into my life.
The last text I sent is sitting there. On Read.
Of course he didn’t reply. Why would he?
Besides, I was too stressed at the moment, thinking I actually hurt a person, as monstrous as he is, or I wouldn’t have sent him that text.
From his perspective, I must’ve looked like the clingy type who couldn’t move on from the madness of that one night.
A part of me regrets it, the part that was always ashamed of my preferences. The part that prides itself in being confident and assertive but still made the reckless mistake of showing my tendencies to a predator.
No, not a predator. A hunter.
The other part is relieved that I was finally able to do something about my fantasies. That I was courageous enough to let it happen while I was scared of it.
That I was strong enough to not have one of those panic attacks like I did in the past whenever sex was mentioned.
I just didn’t count on everything that happened afterward.
I’ve driven myself to the edge countless times since, especially after the fire, and my sleep paralysis has become more frequent and filled with images that make me cry and scream.
Only internally, though.
On the outside, I can’t move. I can’t call for help. I can only shriek in the confinements of my soul.
It’s like I’m yelling into the void with no one to hear me. I’m being ripped apart by the black hands and no one can save me.
I’ve started drinking all sorts of energy drinks, coffee, and any caffeinated stuff to stop myself from closing my eyes at night.
Sleep scares the shit out of me.
Another drink slides in front of me. I stare at the sparkling blue and realize I finished my current one.
Landon winks at me.
I smile but with no humor whatsoever as I snatch it.
Caffeine equals no sleep. Even if it’s unhealthy.
“Now that you’ve cooled down,” he whispers near my ear. “How about we talk business?”
“Business?”
“Annika takes you to the Heathens’ mansion for parties, no?”
“Rarely.”
“Rarely is an entry.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why are you asking?”
“I thought maybe you could finish what you started and get me a layout of the mansion.”
“Are you serious?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You must be out of your mind if you think I’ll help you again after you instigated arson.”
“Shh. They think it was the Serpents’ doing. They even burned their warehouse and beat them to a pulp for revenge. I finished the popcorn so fast while watching that particular show.”
A sadistic glint shines in his eyes. He’s enjoying this. Too much. It’s almost a part of who he is now, and nothing will stop him from carrying out his plans.
People like Lan don’t have a motive, a goal, or an endgame. They just get off on causing anarchy.
“I’m not going to help you with your plans,” I say with a calm I don’t feel. “Not now, not ever.”
Then I stand up, providing a flimsy excuse about needing the bathroom.
Instead, I go outside for fresh air, thankful for the slow disappearance of all the noise.
Some drunk uni kids stumble out, acting all rowdy and reeking of alcohol.
I walk in the opposite direction and exhale when I reach the car park.
My hair stands on end and I get that distinctive feeling of being watched and cryptic eyes following my every move.
Could it be him?
I look around, only to be greeted with a couple getting into their car and a guy talking on the phone at the far end.
Of course it’s nothing.
Why would I think he’s watching me when he hasn’t done it in weeks?
My chest deflates as I stand by my car’s door and pull out my phone to send a text in the girls’ group chat.
Cecily: I’m going home.
Ava: No, come back, Cecy. It’s no fun without you.
I appreciate her saying that, even though she thinks I’m too responsible and stiff to actually live.
But none of them know that I’ve already done something. The night I drove to that cottage and gave Jeremy the green light to ravage me was the day I felt the most alive in my whole life.
None of my friends will find out about it, though, because they might look at me as if I were a freak.
Glyndon: What she said.
Ava: Remi said of course you’re leaving first, because you’re a nerdy prude and can’t handle fun times.
Cecily: Remi’s opinion doesn’t matter.
Ava: OMG!! You’re letting him get away with it? I only said that so you’d come back and put him in his place.
I’d rather preserve that energy to read my mangas all night long, thank you very much.
Cecily: Night. Don’t get too drunk. I mean it.
I’m about to tell Glyn to keep an eye on her, but I get a glimpse of a shadow in the car’s window.
It’s only for a moment in time.
A fraction of a second is all it takes for me to get caught in dark eyes.
The same eyes that I can’t forget about, despite trying to. Despite convincing myself that he’s nothing more than a devil and I should be thankful he’s no longer interested in me.
My mouth opens, but he slams a hand over it. A large, masculine hand that steals my breath.
Or maybe that’s not the entire reason behind my inability to breathe or the shaking in my limbs.
“Shh. Not a sound.”
I gulp and that makes me taste him. The hint of cologne, wood, and leather mixed with his natural scent.
Something that I couldn’t forget even if I tried.
“You’re coming with me.”
My body quivers for an entirely different reason as I spin around and shove at his chest.
I put all my strength behind the hit, too, completely unconcerned about the fact that he could subdue me in no time. Or that I’m no match for him physically.
“I’m going nowhere with you.” I pant. “We’re already over.”
And he ignored me.
He ghosted me.
He gave me the best experience of my life, then completely erased me.
He brought me out of my invisible bubble just to decimate me.
And that hurt.
I didn’t realize how much it hurt until I stared at his soulless eyes a moment ago. Now that I’m looking at him, at his sharp features and unaffected expression, I want to sink my nails into his leather jacket where his heart is and rip it out, maybe see if there is one.
“Over?” He takes a step forward, trapping me against my car as a twitch lifts his lips. “We’re just getting started, Cecily.”
