I'm baack. Sorry it took so long to update. Here is the next chapter. Please review!
Chapter 3: Dinner With Lucian
The rest of the walk was uneventful, compared to what they had just dealt with. They first healed each other as they reminisced in old times. The things that happened in the Institute, laughs they shared during battle and in studies, and they even joked about Lucian.
One thing never changed throughout the whole walk to Lucian's, the feelings of anxiousness in the back of their heads and in the pits of their stomachs. They were both worried about they attack and ready for another.
They both thought of one thing almost at the same time. They wondered why so many Drevaks attacked them. From their studies, they both knew Drevaks usually attacked in only small groups. They dismissed the thought for the moment but they knew it would come back to them when they least expected it.
What they expected least was they anger they would face when they arrived at Lucian's.
Jocelynn stopped suddenly, alerting Valentine that they had arrived at Lucian's. He looked up to a usual New York home. It was made of brick, had small leading to the door.
Jocelynn steps forward to knock on the door. The door opens to a very relieved looking Lucian. Unfortunately, the relief quickly turns to anger and worry. " Where have you been, Jocelynn?" he nearly shouts at her. " And what happened?" he continues.
" Long story." says Jocelynn. " I brought a guest." she says hesitantly. At he words, Lucian looks behind her and notices Valentine for the first time.
" Hello, Lucian." Valentine says quietly.
Lucian's eyebrows knit together as he replies. " Hi, Valentine." Lucian's eyes move to Jocelynn. " You can come in Valentine. Jocelynn, can I talk to you for a second out here?"
" Sure." she says as Valentine goes up the stairs and through the door. When the door closes, Jocelynn asks the obvious question. " What do you want to talk about?"
" You know exactly what this is about, Jocelynn." he paused for dramatic effect, knowing Jocelynn wouldn't try to reply. " Why did you bring him. I told you I had to talk to you. Couldn't you have waited 'till we got back to Idris to talk to him?" he asked.
" Are you done?" she asked. He nodded and she continued. " Well, first off, he was the one who found me. Second, if he hadn't found me I would probably be dead for a reason I'll explain over dinner. And why are you making such a big deal out of this? You know you enjoy his company. He has helped you soo much over the years."
" Are you done?" he parroted her. She nods and he continues. " I understand if he found you, but did you have to invite him to dinner? And I know he has helped me. This isn't about my dislike for him, but as I explained a few moments ago, I have something to talk to you about."
" What could you possibly have to say that you can't say in front of Valentine?" she retorted.
" Well, I was hoping we could have a final dinner together before returning to Idris." he murmurs so quietly she had to struggle to hear him.
" Well, we can have a dinner with the three of us now. Is that so bad?" she murmurs back.
He sighs. " I guess not." At that moment he wonders if she'll ever know how much he loves her.
" Well then, let's go back inside." she says with a smile. He smiles back, but inside, he is mentally kicking himself.
When they returned inside, they found Valentine sitting patiently on the couch, looking as if he were lost in thought. Both Jocelynn and Lucian clear their throats and Valentine looks quickly up. He smiles as he meets Jocelynn's eyes. She smiles back and moves to sit with him, she grabs Lucian's arm and pulls him along with her.
" Um, I can already kinda tell I'm not exactly welcome, but I am kinda hungry." Valentine says, breaking the short silence. Jocelynn chuckles and looks to Lucian.
" Well, I kinda agree with him. I was told I would eat." Jocelynn agrees.
Lucian breaks a smile. " Well, maybe if you had been here on time."
" We can tell you why we were delayed, in extreme detail, if you agree to feed us." Jocelynn replies with another smirk.
" Hm, deal." he says back. They exchange one of those smiles only best friends can, the all knowing smile.
Valentine looks back and forth between the two but he figures this is one of those times you don't interrupt best friends. After a few second though, they both get up and Valentine is quick to follow after them.
They enter the kitchen and are ambushed by the delicious smells coming from the food set up on the table. They all find seats at the table and begin to eat. Lucian is the one to break the silence.
" So, can I have an explanation now? Why were you late?" he asks without looking up from his food.
Valentine and Jocelynn exchange a look. A look that says, 'do you want to tell him or shall I?'. Jocelynn begins. " Well, I had just finished off a demon when I felt someone was staring at me so I looked around and there was Valentine." She looks over at Valentine, giving him a look that says, 'your turn'.
" Then I walked up to her and we talked for a few minutes." he paused, deciding not to mention the kiss. " Then she invited me to dinner and I agreed. We were on our way here when suddenly two dozen Drevaks came up behind us and attacked us."
Lucian noticed the slight pause, but did not speak up. Instead, he continued to listen as Jocelynn picked up the story where he had left off.
" Valentine looked like he was knocked out, so I turned to face them. I was on my own for a few minutes until he decided to appear again. We took out eighteen quickly, but the last half dozen were really strange. They wouldn't go down unless you cut off their heads.
" I was on one, but it was fighting. I was trying everything, but it wouldn't die. In the end, I ended up taking off the head." Jocelynn says.
" Finally, I was being crushed and here she comes, she just knocked the head off of the one that was on top of me." Valentine finishes. Both Jocelynn and Valentine look at Lucian expectantly.
" Um, wow. I think I forgive you." Lucian says with a smile. All of them laugh for a moment, but they return to their food. " You guys can sleep over if you want. You know, to recover. Those are some pretty major burns, even with an iratez."
Valentine smiles over at Lucian. " Thank you for the offer but I leave pretty early tomorrow, and I don't want to be a nuisance."
" Well, I am offering so it's not a nuisance." Lucian replies.
Valentine nods. " Okay. I think I might need more rest anyways. I'll see if I can change my flight."
" Okay. You, Jocelynn?" Lucian says switching back to Jocelynn.
" Um, I think I might have to. I have no place to stay. I was going to go back tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. So, um, yeah, imma stay." she says a little awkwardly. Both of the guys smile.
" Okay. Sounds good. You guys will stay upstairs. The lease on this place ends in a couple of days anyways. By which point, of course, I'll be gone and already in Idris." Lucian says with a chuckle at the end.
" Okay. Changing the subject now. This sauce I delicious. How did you make it?" Jocelynn blurts out as the guys start cracking up. The rest of the meal is light-hearted and fun. They reminisce in old times and laugh.
Each had one thing to worry about in the back of their minds. Valentine was worried about how to continue his relationship with Jocelynn. How he was to continue when it was so obvious how much Lucian loved her. It strangely seemed as if she couldn't see that.
Lucian was also worried how to continue with Jocelynn. He loved her so much, but he could see her growing closer to Valentine. He was annoyed at Valentine for showing up today of all days. He was worried that he would never get the guts to admit his feelings ever again.
Jocelynn was worried for a reason far more important than the other two. And this certain issue is the one that will possibly determine her life. She was worrying about how many demons attacked her and Valentine earlier. She knew they never moved in that big of groups unless there was another purpose. She worried if they were intentionally meant to kill her. If they were controlled to kill her.