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Hazel urges us outside and deep into the estate. She leads us to a section with lots of trees and walking paths, but few people bother coming. I throw myself into frantic pacing to stop from screaming.
Silver sobs and makes excuses, but none of us listen. I have no words. Guilt for my sister’s actions and pain at their dismissal. I see-saw between the two extremes. But at the heart of it all is the resignation that I should have known better.
“They’ll want to speak with you,” Hazel says to me after a few minutes. I think she’s trying to reassure me.
“Yeah, I know,” I admit. Things have changed, and things need to be said. I get it. They will need to officially let me know I'm no longer welcome here.
Silver sobs. “I made a mistake. Nyxie, fix it. Please. I'm sorry.” She reaches for me, but I snatch my hand away.
“We just need to wait, see what the fallout is going to be,” Moira says. “They’ll forgive you, Onyx.”
I shake my head, already knowing they won’t. “It doesn’t matter. I need to take Silver home. She is my responsibility.”
The sound of shoes on the path makes my stomach jolt. For a moment, I perk up, hoping, praying, it’s them. But as soon as they get closer, I realise the shoes sound wrong. It’s not them.
Simon and Yvette walk side by side. The expressions on their faces make my stomach tighten and my eyes burn. They are bearing grim tidings. I know what they’re going to say. I know it. They approach us and stand shoulder to shoulder. This is what is called, in employment terms, an execution. They aren’t going to speak to me. They’ve sent in the attack dogs.
I am devastated. My head reels, and all I can do is watch them and blink. My throat is tight, but no tears come.
“Pack Treyfield would like to rescind your invitation to stay here, Silver Davies.” Simon says with a sharp look at me. I think he’s expecting me to protest, but I'm not going to. Of course Silver needs to go. There’s no way she can stay.
“What? No! They can’t do that!” Silver stands up, and between the crying and screaming, I ignore her. My heart is hammering as I wait for the rest of it.
Hazel snaps her fingers. “Where the fuck are you, Grayson?” She paces away. “You fucking idiot,” she snarls into the phone. “You absolute moron. You don't deserve her, and neither do the others. I don't care. I'm going home. Yeah, you can shove your orders where the sun don't shine, big brother. Yeah, I don't care at all. Try locking me up, just try it. I’ll call Angel and tell him you’ve imprisoned me. Oh, I know he’s not mine and will never be mine, but he won’t let anyone, even you, hurt me, either. You might be the impressive Grayson Waters, but Angel’s a cop. I’d love to see how you do behind bars. So, just try me,” Hazel snarls. She whirls back, her eyes aglow and her hair a mess.
Moira whistles. “Wow, you are some kind of cool.”
Hazel shakes her head. “I'm sorry, Onyx, I tried.”
I shrug my shoulders, hiding the hurt. “It’s okay. I knew they wouldn’t come.”
Simon and Yvette exchange dark looks. My anxiety returns full force.
“They want me to leave as well?” My voice trembles.
Yvette’s expression goes perfectly blank. “Falcon said the decision is up to you. You can stay for the last four days or leave. He doesn’t care, but your sister is to be escorted from the property before nightfall.”
I wheeze at the agony those words give me. They don’t even care enough to send me away. Did they care at all?
Hazel catches my elbow just as the world tilts.
“My brother is an idiot. I need to make a call,” Hazel says and steps away. Moira takes her place, holding me up.
“Hey, girl, no, everything’s not all right, we need to talk.” Hazel moves out of earshot, and I refocus on Yvette.
I look at her. My eyes are so wide they feel weird, but I can’t seem to control my body right now. “I didn’t do that…I didn’t know. Do they think I had something to do with that, that I would do that to them? After everything?” My voice is a tiny squeak of hurt sound. I feel like I'm facing my father again after the fire. Bracing for the verbal blows that will destroy me. I can't get a deep breath, I feel weird. It’s so cold.
Moira presses her lips into a firm line. “Simon?”
He appears beside me with a flask. “Take a sip, Nyx. It will settle your nerves.”
The burning liquid runs down my throat, and I almost choke on it.
“For what it’s worth, I think when they calm down, they will realise they’ve made a mistake.” Yvette says softly. “You aren’t your sister, and deep down, they know that.”
Simon clears his throat. “Here’s the key to your new room. Falcon asked me to assign it. He said to thank you for your service. Your wages have been paid. Your employment with Treyfield Pack is terminated and, due to the circumstances, they feel they must rescind the offer of permanent placement, especially since no contract was signed.”
My skin turns to ice. Moira clutches me closer, almost holding me up by this point. They are wiping their hands of me. Oh, god, how can words hurt so much?
