Hey guys, it's me again. I'm sorry I haven't been updating, but I promise I will update more often. I also wanted to say thank for all of the wonderful reviews. I wanted to let you guys know that I will be finishing this, and possibly writing a sequel as well. I also wanted your opinion on if I should write another fanfic of this same story, in Daemon's point of view. I thought that it could be interesting, but let me know what you think. That's all for now. I hope you like it!
After dinner, I headed out. It didn't take very long to get into town and find the library again. The streets, which during the few times I had been in town had always been populated, were now pretty much deserted. On the ride down, the skies had started to cloud over, too, giving the entire downtown an eerie ghost town feeling.
In spite of the weirdness that was my life at the moment and the lingering icky feeling I felt over Dee not inviting me out with her friends, I smiled as I walked into the library. Thoughts of the twins and everything else vanished as I rounded the corner of the quiet library and saw stacks of books lining the walls. As with gardening, in the stillness of the library, I felt at peace.
Stopping by one of the empty tables, I let out a little breath of happiness. I was always able to lose myself in reading. Books were a necessary escape I always gladly jumped into headfirst.
Time passed faster than I realized, and the library took on a gloomy aura. Libraries were always shadowy as daylight ended, but the unnatural darkening of the sky outside added to the creepy feeling. I didn't know how late it was until the librarian turned off most of the lights, and I was having trouble making my way back to the front desk. By then, I couldn't wait to be out of the drafty and creaky place.
A flash of lightning lit up the bookshelves and thunder rolled outside the windows. I hoped I could make it to my car before it started pouring. Clutching the books I wanted to check out to my chest, I hurried to the front desk. I was done in record time, barely having the time to say thank you before the librarian turned her back and dashed off to lock up.
"Well then," I muttered under my breath.
The impending storm had turned dusk to night, making it seem much later than it was. Outside, the streets were still barren. I looked behind me, thinking about staying until the rain passed, but the final light in the library snicked off.
I gritted my teeth and shoved my books into my backpack before heading out. I stepped out onto the pavement, and the sky opened in a torrential downpour, soaking me within seconds. I tried my best to keep my backpack from getting wet as I fumbled with my keys and hopped back and forth. The rain was freaking freezing!
"Excuse me, miss?" A gravelly voice interrupted my struggles. "I was hoping you could help me?"
Intent on getting the door open and the books out of the rain, I didn't hear anyone approach. I shoved my backpack into the car and tightened the hold on my purse as I turned toward the sound. A man came out of the shadows and stood under the streetlight. Rain coursed down his light-colored hair, plastering the longish strands to his head. His wire-framed glasses slipped down the bridge of his crooked nose as he stood with his arms wrapped around his chest, his thin body shivering slightly. I felt ill. He was an arum.
"My car back there," he gestured behind him, shouting a bit to be heard over the rain pounding against the hood, "has a flat tire. I was hoping you had a tire iron."
I did, but there was no way I was going to give it to him. Part of me wanted to leave him there with an apology, but I knew that it would be better if I fought him, or else he'd hunt me down again.
My decision made, I forced a weak smile. "I can check. I may have one."
The man beamed. "You would be a savior if you did." He stayed where he was, not moving any closer, probably sensing my initial distrust. "The rain seems to be letting off, but by those dark clouds coming in I think we may be in for a heck of a storm." I shut the driver's side door and headed to the rear of the car. Opening the trunk, I ran my hand along the carpeted bottom, searching for the blade I kept there. "I think I may have one, to be honest." My back was to the stranger for only a few seconds when I felt a rush of chilly air stir the hair at the back of my neck. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, sending my heart slamming against my ribs and painful tendrils of fear burrowing through my stomach.
"Humans are so stupid, so gullible." His voice was as cold as the wind on my neck.
Before my brain could register his words, an icy, wet hand closed over mine in a painful grip. His breath was sticky against my neck, striking a chord of finality. I didn't even have a chance to respond.
He lowered his head, sniffing my hair. A shudder of revulsion rolled through me. He hissed. "I was right. You have their trace." He moved his hand from my mouth and gripped my shoulders. "Where are they?"
"I…I don't understand," I choked out, understanding completely.
Using my hand, he swung me around. A cry escaped my throat as pain shot up my arm. I was face to face with him now, and he seemed to have grown taller—broader.
The stranger smiled and then pushed me. Hard. The impact of the rough asphalt knocked the air out of me and jarred my wrist in scorching pain.
"Of course you don't." His face contorted with disgust. "You're nothing but a stupid, walking mammal. Worthless."
"Tell me where they are." Each word was bitten out.
His voice sounded muffled, as though underwater, or maybe that was me. Maybe I was drowning.
"Fine," he spat. "Maybe you need a little encouragement."
I didn't have the strength to turn into full luxen but I did create a small glow, quickly using my newfound strength to kick him straight in the stomach area where I knew it would hurt the most for him. My mind was on autopilot, grabbing the blade hanging from around my neck, and sending it flying into body quickly splitting it into millions of pieces until the arum's body disappeared altogether.
I made my way back to my car, replacing my blade back around my neck. When I got back home, I checked my injuries. I had only ever fought one other arum before and this one was much harder to kill.
I looked at my wrist figuring that it was probably broken, or sprained because it hurt like hell, but I couldn't tell for sure. It was ugly, hanging limp at an awkward angle and very bruised. I was pretty sure I wouldn't be using that wrist for a while. I decided to just ice it and figure the rest out tomorrow since I was exhausted and it was getting really late.
