Page 32 of Written In Flesh

I scoff at him before heading to the dining room. Heath trails behind me, and I let my mask fall into place before entering. My mother looks up, a small, practiced smile on her lips. Gavin simply takes a drink of his wine and cuts another piece of the meat on the plate in front of him without sparing us a glance. He’s eating without us, which just goes to show he’s irritated we’re late.

Heath slides into his chair and peeks around the table. “Are we not waiting for little sis?”

I take my seat, and my lips twitch, knowing how much Gavin hates any endearments toward his daughter. My mother hands me a bowl of rice, quinoa and vegetables, “Skallan is working this evening and won’t be attending dinner.”

My eyes immediately flash to Gavin, whose face is flushed red with anger while he swallows his chicken breast, his fingers gripped tightly on his knife. No one is allowed to miss a family dinner.

“That’s unexpected,” Heath says slowly, choosing his words wisely with the sudden tense atmosphere.

“Yes, well, she worked while in California. We decided it would be good for her now that she’s back to continue that independence. Hopefully, it will help keep her out of trouble this time,” my mother says in her most politician voice, as if she’s convincing us it’s what’s best for Skully.

“Where is she working?” My words are forced, almost gritted out between my teeth. It’s one thing to never see Skully; it’s another to imagine that she is, in fact, going about her life on campus without us, without me. I still have the mental image of her that Heath put in my head from earlier. As if sensing that my control is slipping, my younger brother coughs, clearing his throat.

“Where did she work in California?”

Gavin glares around the table and forces another forkful of meat between his teeth. “Some library.”

I feel myself exhale, imagining Skully tucked away deep in the library on campus, pushing books between the stacks. Hidden. Good. The less she’s around the student population, causing chaos, the better. At least now I know where she’s spending her free time.

“Has there been any movement at the Gate?” Gavin quickly pivots to the real reason he wants these family dinners. He wants to know about the ins and outs of the Gate at the cemetery, the rumors, and the truth; he wants to make sure we’re still under his thumb. I feel Heath’s slight flicker of his eyes on me, likely thinking the same thing. Gavin won’t lower himself to do the grunt work our designation is created for, but he looks for the accolades he can get by pretending he cares. Only we know that Gavin doesn’t care about protecting the Haven. He doesn’t care that something has attempted to disrupt the gates to the shade multiple times since the blast. He only wants to know that we’re protecting it and that we have a hold on the Gate. The hounds have been keeping their noses to the ground, on constant surveillance. All of it should spike worry, or at least further investigation, but Gavin won’t acknowledge it. Acknowledging it would mean he would actually have to work and care about the people. It would also mean that he would have to admit that we need to work more closely with other paranormals.

“The Haven is safe,” I tell him, my voice firm. I won’t give him the satisfaction of being able to claim the work we’ve been doing to keep it that way.

Gavin’s jaw works steadily while he chews, his eyes boring into mine. There’s a flush on his neck that creeps just above his collar, warning me that he’s reaching his boiling point. Still, I don’t back down. I don’t give him more.

“Well, the council and everyone will be happy to hear,” my mother interjects. “Now, tell me about your classes.”

The rest of the dinner passes slowly, painfully, but we’re spared from any more talk about the Gate. Heath takes up most of the conversation, telling our mother about his classes, swim practices, and the next girl he’s set his eyes on. Before dessert, Gavin excuses himself to take a phone call, and some of the tension in my shoulders eases. I let my mother and Heath talk, and I slip into my thoughts.

By the time we leave, I have numerous calls from Aero and a text asking if I’m still planning to hit the Deck later. I’m instantly on edge again and decide to call him from the car.

“Yo!” Aero answers the phone, his voice loud with the noise from the busy crowd in the background. “Are you still planning to come?”

Honestly, I could give two fucks about going. I’d rather head back to the house and get some decent sleep before early practice. “Heath might stop by. We have that added practice in the morning, and I was at the Gate last night.”

Aero chuckles, but the sound is dark. “Trust me, you want to be here.”

Heath glances at me, his brows furrowed. “The fuck, man, just spit it out.”

“Skully’s here,” Aero replies, his words tight.

The silence in my car is deafening. I still haven’t laid eyes on her, and now all my mind can do is conjure her up, prancing around the bar, probably drinking too much and not caring about anyone but herself.

“I mean, she’s working here. Judging by the tank top she’s got on,” Aero adds, before blowing out a deep breath.

Black edges my vision, and one look in the mirror only confirms that my eyes have flipped to all black. My chest moves, inhaling deeply, pushing back the darkness, the powers that rage inside me when I think of Skully.

“We’ll be there.” I grit the words out between my teeth, my fingers tightening on the steering wheel.

Ignoring the pounding of my heart in my chest, knowing I’m about to see her again, my foot presses down on the pedal, accelerating our speed. Before I’m prepared, I’m pulling into an empty parking space at the Deck and making my way inside the building. I don’t see the curious glances from some or the worshipping gazes from others. I don’t notice the girls who move closer or the guys who pat my back like we’re best friends. It’s rare for one of the fierce four to show up at the local bar, on a party night no less. I should be focused on the extra swim practice that was added for early in the morning. That should have my attention more than being here.

The minute Aero set eyes on her, ignoring that she was back was no longer an option. I thought I had prepared to see her at dinner, and then I had been relieved to know she backed out. But time has run out. It’s time to face the little demon of my past. And still, knowing the havoc she can wreak, despite remembering clearly the damage she caused my friends or my one friend who still cowers anytime her name comes up, my shadows search her out. A thrill skates down my spine at having the chance to breathe her air again. My chest burns, knowing I’m close to her yet not close enough.

“There’s Aero.” Heath motions for me to follow. Aero sees us through the crowd, and I notice a couple of other guys from the swim team are at the table. He flags us over to the tall table, and others shove over to make room. My head swivels around us, looking for the deep, dark, raven colored hair that belongs to Skully.

“Where is she?” I demand, once again, feeling the flex and pull of my shadows under my skin. They want to reach out, to find her.

Aero glances around. “She was just at the tables in the back bar. Maybe she ran to the kitchen.”