Chapter 13: We find our targets, yet problems ensue.
Travis quickly put me down and I kept my eyes on the ground. "What's up man?" Travis said, acting as if the kiss never happened. I nodded, maybe Connor didn't see anything, but he had to see Travis holding me against the wall and it didn't help that he was still shirtless. "I thought we were leaving, but I guess you two were just trying to get away from me, knowing I would want to continue to play the games."
He sounded mad and I looked between them. "Travis, give us a minute please." He looked at me, then nodded, grabbing a shirt and walking into my room, shutting the door behind him. I walked toward Connor, who shut the room door and met me half way. I went to say something, but his lips crashed onto mine. His kiss was different from his brother's, Travis's was sweet and gentle, and this was rough and forceful.
I resisted at first, but soon it wasn't as forceful and was quite enjoyable. After a minute, he pulled away, but kept me in his arms, we were both breathing heavily. "Connor…I…" "I'm sorry. I just had to do that." He said and I looked away. I pulled away from him and walked to the window, then Travis walked back in. "We should be going." He said and kept looking between us.
"Go get the horses." I said and they both nodded, and then left without another word. I looked out at the night sky and saw storms brewing just ahead. "That's strange." I mumbled and then walked out onto the balcony. The wind blew my still wet hair in all directions and I pushed it out of my face. I looked out at the world and saw the guys heading toward me with the horses.
Their faces changed as they got closer, staring at me. "You look like you made this storm." Connor said, landing Rusty on the huge space. Travis followed with Ash, nodding. "It's like you are controlling it, you look like you belong with it." I blinked and looked at the storm. It was strange, yet beautiful in some way, but I knew no good would come from it.
I looked up and rain starting to pour on us, I let it, and it felt right. I looked at the guys' right as lightning flashed against the sky, lighting my face in a creepy way I was sure because of their faces. "I have to do something before I leave, I'll be back." I said and they nodded, letting me leave. I hurried down to the lobby and saw Percy and a girl pulling a guy away from a game, but the strange thing was, his shoes had wings on them. I saw waiters and bellhops trying to get them to stay and realized that this place was wrong.
They took off out the front doors and I hurried back upstairs and into our rooms. I looked at the guys, who were still waiting with the horses. "We leave now." I said and they exchanged glances. "Who are you riding with?" "I'm riding my own." I said with confidence. Nightshade was waiting, tossing her head back and forth, like she had been waiting for this moment.
I climbed up on her back, settled and held her mane gently, but firm. "Let's go." I said and she took off into the sky, the guys followed, but I saw the group climb into a taxi, then it took off. I flew as if I had been doing it my entire life and had to keep slowing down for the guys to catch up. "What's wrong Erika? Why this sudden burst of strength and fearlessness!" Connor called and I sighed, slowing down. I was about to say something, but I saw Percy and the others climb outta the cab. I pushed Nightshade toward the ground, into a dive and the guys followed.
I pulled out of it and landed smoothly, the guys were a little rough behind me. I climbed off and patted her, and then she and the other horses flew off, leaving me standing with the guys. I watched as the trio headed toward the water and soon Percy was disappeared under its surface. I followed, ignoring the guys, but heard their footsteps behind me. "What are we doing?" Connor asked after I stopped, waiting for Percy to come up for air, but he didn't.
"Why are we just standing in this storm?" Travis said, coming beside me. I sighed and finally Percy came out. He wasn't wet, which was really strange. "How did you know they were here?" I froze, I never told them about the meeting. "Guessed." I mumbled and they started walking away from the beach, we followed, I was silent, they were slightly loud, but the trio didn't notice.
We climbed onto the bus with them, but we sat in the far back instead of the front, where they were. The driver spoke to them, then they suddenly got off, we raced after them, trying to figure out where they were going. They paused at a store window, watching the TV. We were almost seen, trying to keep up with, but hid in an alley. After a minute or two, Percy looked angry and the winged-shoe was pulling him away.
Darkness helped hide us as we continued down the random streets of LA. The guys thankfully didn't have time to talk to me anymore with the way I was chasing after the group. I heard someone speak to them, and then they were surrounded by street thug wannabes. A sword appeared in Percy's hand from nowhere, I almost gasped, but Connor put his hand over my mouth.
"Run!" Percy yelled and they took off again. They ran and we shoved through the stunned kids, who went to say something to us, but Travis and Connor must have looked tougher and they let us by. We caught a glimpse of them running into a store. We paused in front of it and then the kids ran past us. Percy and the others popped up from a water bed, with an older man standing behind them.
We slipped into the room as he steered the kids toward the back of the store. I watched the other guy dive into a bed and say it was great, and then the man shoved the girl onto another bed. We ducked behind a bed as he turned back to Percy. "Ergo!" I would've screamed if it wasn't for the guys jerking me back and covering my mouth once again as rope came from the beds and strapped the kids down.
The guys silently, but quickly dragged me out of the store. Once we were out, they let me go. "Oh my god! What the hell is going on? How did that happen? Where did that sword of Percy's come from?" I almost yelled at them, not understanding anything. "Erika, calm down." Travis tried to touch me, but I jerked away from them.
"I trusted you! And you!" I turned to Connor. "You know what's going on? You didn't tell me! Percy said I was always serious! But you said I wasn't!" "Wait Percy said this when?" "At the hotel! I saw him there; he scared me, but knew I wasn't how I have been acting!" I almost screamed and both of them took a cautious step toward me, but I backed away.
"I can't believe…I mean I didn't mean to…you two were just so sweet and nice…oh god what have I done?" I stammered and felt tears stinging my eyes. "Erika what are you talking about? What did you do?" I looked between them and touched my lips gently. "I…I'm sorry." I said and turned, running away from them. I almost tripped a few times, but found my way to a deserted pier overlooking the water. I held onto a railing and bend over, taking deep breaths and letting tears fall from my eyes. "Erika?"