Chapter Seven
Arson
"For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of piece of mind."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
We all watched as Embry pulled Ren away toward the dance floor. She still looked a little shaky, but other than that she looked completely fine. I relaxed in my stool at the bar, running a hand through my hair. I smiled at Blaise when she came over, taking my hand.
"Let's go to the booth. Calla wants to talk to you." She said, pulling on my hand. I sighed, standing up. I let her pull me through the crowd. She slid into the booth with a smile, pulling me in with her. Calla was sitting there with Shay, her eyes fixed on Ren and Embry. Shay raised an eyebrow, looking at me.
"Where did Em learn to dance like that? She's really good." I turned my head to look at Embry. She was laughing and smiling as she danced with him. I bit my lip, turning my head away. If I even let the smallest thing slip, Embry would claw my ears off. Then never forgive me.
"Don't know. She must be a natural." I said, turning my back on Embry. I looked at Calla, and leaned back a bit further into my seat, "What did you want to talk about?"
She raised an eyebrow, "About Em. I want to know what Anika is having her do. I asked Connor, but he doesn't know. Neither does Adne. Hell, I even asked Ethan! None of them seem to know though. Sabine went snooping, but couldn't find out. All they said were that they were important, need to know only missions. But that they all involve the same thing. I don't think she should be doing stuff by herself."
I stiffened and stared at Calla momentarily speechless. What Embry did, she didn't enjoy doing it. She felt like she owed the Searchers though, since they were the ones that practically raised her since she was born. They'd asked her to do it four months after Cole died, she'd agreed reluctently. She'd only told me what it was in an act of desperation. Begging me not to let anyone else find out, and since then no one else did. Every time someone asked her, I gave her a way to dodge the question. It wasn't something that was brought up lightly, I was the only person that knew. I was also the one who stopped people from going to her directly, like Calla for example. I was about to snap at her, but Blaise jumped to her rescue.
"No, neither of us know. She's very quiet about it, so it must not be that very big of a deal." Blaise smiled, being completely truthful. For herself however. I knew, and I couldn't tell her, not anyone. Not telling Blaise, however, was harder for me to agree too. With the person you're in love with, you're supposed to tell them anything. But Embry had been begging, close to tears, that I didn't tell anyone.
"Oh." Calla looked disappointed, "How often is she gone?"
"Oh, every weekend. Every friday night until Sunday. She returns at any time Sunday, morning or night." Blaise offered a sweet smile, I shrank back into my seat again.
"Holy shit!" I jumped and whirled to look at what Shay gasped at, and felt my eyes widen. Ren and Embry. In the middle of the dance floor. Practically making out. Yeah, I would of chosen a few other words besides holy shit. Blaise's eyes went wide, and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Calla's face turned dark, and she leaned foward, putting her elbows in the table, her hands under her chin. Her eye's narrowed, Shay looked at her frowning. I looked at Blaise, a smile playing on my lips. She just shook her head, I sighed and shrugged. Looking back over at them.
A moment later, I was interupted by shadows looming over the table. It was Sabine, Mason, and Neville. There faces were blank, but I could see many things going on through their eyes. I couldn't manage to pick up what it was though. Shay groaned and ran a hand over his face. Calla nodded and turned her head to look at Blaise and I.
"Arson, will you take Blaise and go get Ren? We need to have a pack meeting. Just us. If you don't mind." Her voice was cold, and I felt my eyes narrow. Blaise squeezed my arm and gave me a warning look.
"Of course, Calla." I couldn't help as it came out as a snarl. Sabine bristled, glaring at me. Blaise growled at her, ready to push me out of the way. Ready to have another go with Sabine, but Calla cut us all off.
"There will be no fighting. Is that clear? Now, please, Arson." I stood up, causing the table to rattle, and a couple of the drinks left there spilled. Blaise got up after me, clutching my hand. I pushed through people, most went stumbling casting angry glares at me. We got to Embry quicker that way, I wound my arm around her waist and yanked her away mid-kiss. She gasped while Ren snarled. His eyes flashing with anger.
"What the hell, Arson!" Embry snapped, pushing me off her. I kept my gaze cold, and on Ren.
"The Queen wants her bitch, so you better get padding on over there." I growled, watching as Ren glared at me for a moment later before casting a long glance at Calla's table. Where the rest of the pack was waiting.
"I left the pack, I have no obligation to go over there." Ren said, looking at Embry. Who gave him a ghost of a smile.
"No, go. We don't need her to be in a bad mood." With that, Embry turned her back to Ren, walking through the people to the bar. Ren watched her go, his eyes glowing. He looked at me, his eyes narrowed.
"What does she want?" His voice had a very harsh tone to it, and I almost smiled. He was almost as pissed as I was.
"Don't know. Go find out. I'll keep Embry company." I turned away from him then, pulling Blaise with me. I looked back once, as I headed to the bar, to see him threading his way to the booth. I sat next to Embry who was ordering a drink.
"What's going on, Arson." She asked darkly, tapping her fingers on the counter. Her expression was withdrawn, I could tell she was a little angry at me for ruining her make out session.
"Well, I think Calla got a little pissed that Ren was sticking his tongue down your throat." I said, glancing around. Embry growled at me, but smiled at the bartender as he gave her the drink.
"He was not-I don't care what she thinks." She said, taking a drink.
"Whatever, I say we blow this joint. Like go see a movie or something." I grinned when she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, how about no. I think I have a right to stay here and fini-" I cut her off.
"Finish what? Making out with Ren?" I gave her an evil grin when red began to splatter across her cheeks. I started laughing, and almost fell off my stool. I did though, when she shoved me off. I gasped when I hit the floor, and I glared at her.
"That wasn't very nice, Embry! You're grounded!" I said, getting up. She almost shoved me again, but I dodged it. Starting to laugh again.
"You can't ground me!" She growled, "I'm the one with all the power."
"Oh, now you're turning into a dictator! I knew that would happen!" I laughed as I dodged her fist. She was starting to laugh though.
"You know, maybe we should go see a movie." Blaise's quiet voice snapped us out of it, she was staring at something with wide eyes. I followed her gaze, feeling my blood freeze. She was watching the booth, Mason and Neville were arguing, Sabine and Shay were talking. Shay looked angry. Calla and Ren were...kissing. A growl worked its way from my thorat, but then I remembered Embry. I turned to look at her, she had followed Blaise's gaze as well. The glass that was in her hand shattered, she swore and looked at her hand. Droplets of blood ran down it and dripped onto the floor.
"Em-" I began.
"I'm going home. You guys stay. Enjoy yourselves. Come find me when you get home to tell me how it was." She said quietly, turning to head toward the staircase.
"No, we're coming with you!" Blaise protested, but Embry whirled and shot her daggers.
"No! It's an order to stay here. Do you understand me?" Embry snarled, she was totally unrecognizable. Her face clouded with anger. Blaise flinched, her eyes wide.
"But-" Blaise was cut off by Embry.
"Don't you get it? I don't want to be around you! Is it that hard to grasp! I just want to go home! Alone!" She snarled, my eyes widened when I saw the tears spring into her eyes. She turned and rushed away, heading up the stairs.
"Arson, " Blaise said softly, I shook my head, "Wait here, then we're leaving. I'll be right back."
I pushed my way through the people again. They looked like they were ready to kill me, but I wasn't in the mood. I was trying really hard to keep my anger in check, knowing that Embry would be angry with me if I started any fights. They didn't notice me at first, but by the time I reached the table, Calla and Ren were apart. Talking quietly. Which literally pissed me off more. I slammed my hands against the table, it splintered across the middle. They all jumped to look at me as some of the drinks tipped and spilled. I kept my gaze on Ren, letting my anger show.
"Embry just left. I just wanted to thank you, Ren, for ruining her happy mood." I growled, most of them looked startled, but Ren looked a little panicked.
"What are you-" I cut him off with a growl.
"Don't start that shit, because I will rip your throat out. We're leaving, got it? Just thought you should know. But when you do go back to the Academy, leave Embry alone. I'm not letting her put up with this." I snarled, I didn't wait for anyone to reply, I just went through the crowd, probably pushing harder than I should have. I grabbed Blaise's hand and dragged her with me.
"We need to find her before she does something stupid." Blaise said, looking up and down the street as we exited, I nodded.
"Which way?" I asked, wondering which way Blaise would have taken.
"She wouldn't have gone home yet, considering she was crying. She wouldn't want to come home. Left, away from the Academy." Blaise said, already heading that way. I nodded and followed her, ordering myself not to think about the Pack we had just left. I sighed as we looked, when a thought struck me.
"No, she went back to him." I whispered, turning around.
"What?" Blaise frowned at me, confused.
"She went to go see Cole and the others. That's the only place I can possibly think of." I said, nodding. Blaise nodded quickly, smiling.
"Good! We'll go there. Good job, babe!" She said, kissing me before she started running the other way.
