Waiting for Mercy (Cambions) (25 page)

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she said feebly.

“Maggs,” I said.  She turned to face me while a single tear streaked down her face.  “You can tell me anything.”  Gosh, I felt like such a hypocrite.  Will she forgive my silence for the past two years?

Crystal clear sea green eyes stared at me for several long moments before she spoke. “How could you believe when I don’t even believe it myself?” she questioned.

Truth time, I thought to myself. “Maggs, there is something I should tell you.”  I began from that first kiss with Paul.  Her eyes popped wide.  It all seemed like so long ago. She made a small gasp when I get to the part of him nearly dying from my lethal kiss. I push forward onto his acceptance of me.  I don’t bother with explaining the sting of rejection I still felt that he had only accepted me as a friend and nothing more.  This wasn’t about me.  Jumping ahead, I get to the senior party where everything will make sense to her.  I saw realization cross her brow.  She was putting everything together.  I continue on giving the barest of highlights to what Flynn, Luke, and Sebastian are.  There will be more time to spill all the details later.  Again, this is about Maggie and not me.  So, I ended the story glossing over that my dad was a psychopath killer in life and in death.  And for the finale, I told her about Paul seeing something he shouldn’t have, Luke breaking up with me and Flynn’s confession.  I don’t bother with telling her about the almost kiss with Sebastian.  It’s pointless to what I’m trying to accomplish now. I want her to know what I am, so she will tell me the details about what happened with Brent.

“So, you’ve only known the last two years you were part demon?” she asked.

Doing the only thing I could, I nodded. “You, a virgin, are a sex demon who lures men to their death.”

I wasn’t quite sure if she’s being serious because her tone is flat.  “Not really a part of my mission statement,” I drawled.

“But that’s what your kind does,” she retorted.  I can feel my mood changing because I don’t like how she’s separated me from the human race.  Trying to remember this is her time and trauma, I nodded again in assent. 

Taking a few shallow breaths, I said, “I’m only half succubus, and our only duty in life is to live and survive like the rest of the human race.  We don’t have an evil purpose.”  My tone is a bit sharp, so I close my eyes taking in more air to calm myself.

Being as perceptive as she is, she says, “You don’t really know much about what you are, do you?”

“It’s complicated,” I said, trying to move things back to being about her and not me.

“Why is your mother being a bitch and not telling you?” she barks.  Turning, I focused on the closed door hoping no one can hear our conversation.  Honestly, I was hiding my reaction from her.  I wondered how she had not known I’d been keeping things from her all along if she could put everything together so easily.

Opening my mouth, I quickly shut it because she had more to say.  “And knowing you, you didn’t fight to get answers.  You sat back and didn’t date anyone for two years.  I knew something was completely off.  But I thought maybe Eme’s into girls.  Heaven knows I would support you wholeheartedly, but I thought you’d tell me when you were ready.”  She wasn’t really looking at me when she spoke.  She was staring at the ceiling as if she was talking to herself.

My head snaps to attention, my eyes narrow at her.  I feel like breathing fire when my brain processes that the fact that in her shoes I may have thought the same.  “I’m not into girls,” I said flatly.

“Well, duh!” she said dramatically.  And I get the feeling that she’s angry at me and I can’t blame her.  “At least I understand the googley eyes you and Paul give each other when you think no one is looking.  I mean I can’t blame the guy.  He’s still into you.  Amber is so going to freak over this.”  She’s focused back on some spot on the ceiling.  I find myself staring up to see what is so damn interesting.

“You can’t tell her,” I said sharply, at the hint that she might spill to the girl.

Her eyes come back to meet mine.  She has words for me she isn’t quite sure she’s ready to say.  I know her too well.  “Like isn’t that obvious.  I just mean the part about her being like a rebound girl.”

Rebound girl, I think not. “Amber isn’t the first girl Paul’s dated since me,” I said.

“No,” she quickly said. “She is the latest in a list of girls that will never measure up to you.”

Rolling my eyes, I wonder how to get this conversation back on track but I find I have to rebuke what she’s just said.  “Paul and I didn’t date that long,” I begin.

“Whatever Eme, you guys have been the best of friends since then.  How could you not fall for someone you get along with so well especially since you guys started off dating first?”

Saying nothing, I look away because there is truth in her words I don’t want to admit.  My life is far too complicated for that.  Paul and I would only be friends.  It’s way too late for anything more.

“Maggs, let’s forget my hapless life and let’s talk about you,” I said, sounding a bit whiny.

“Hapless?” she asked. “I can’t wait for you to take the damn SAT test.”

“Unlucky,” I responded. “And you and me both.”

She lets out a laugh that doesn’t mean that anything was the least bit funny. “Yes, hapless you, the sex goddess, with a harem of hot guys following you like puppy dogs.  I, on the other hand have the great honor of looking forward to turning into a giant fur ball once a month.”  Her words are sharp and definitely sarcastic. 

What do I say to that?  I squeeze her hand in reassurance knowing it’s not enough. “There’s no guarantee that’s going to happen,” I said.  My words are strong, but my heart grows weak.  I hope against hope that she will not change.

She’s back to focusing on a point on the ceiling. “I’m Irish.  Why couldn’t I be a cute fairy like Tinker Bell?  I look great in green,” she says.  Tears stream from her eyes as she covers her mouth and I feel completely inadequate to help her through this.

“Maggs, you won’t go through this alone. I’ll be there for you,” I said.  Still she hasn’t yet told me the story.  It’s a story I need to hear and tell Tom so he can better help her.  I’m almost certain Maggie’s mom wants me to get the story from her as well.  But it’s a given that I will have to heavily edit it for her.

Turning again, she is facing me and I know she is about to tell me something that will unburden her.  “You know what the worst part about this whole thing?” she asked.  I shake my head no.  I don’t want to say anything that might stop her from speaking.  “I gave Brent my heart and my virginity,” she mocks.  I am so stunned, my mouth is agape.  “And he take’s my humanity.”  Her sobs become nearly violent now.  I stand to lean over the bed to give her a hug.   Desperately, I want to ask about when the whole sex thing happened, but I know the time isn’t right for those details.

I just hold her for a long while until her sobs finally subside. Rubbing my hands over my face, I frantically try to think of something to say.  “What happened?” I finally settle on.

Wiping at her eyes, she looks away and I’m thinking that I’m about to hear the story.  “I’m not sure of everything.  Things are a little fuzzy,” she said.  “But I remember at the party going upstairs with Brent because something was happening.  But then once we got outside, he’s like yelling at me to go back in the house. I’m pissed because I don’t like the way he’s talking to me.  He goes from super sweet to angry man in a flash.  But then Sebastian comes over.”  Her words drift off and I’m certain she’s trying hard to remember something Sebastian has made her forget.  I wonder if I should tell her, but her story isn’t over yet.

“Something he says calms me down and I just go in the house,” she said to the air.  She is searching for the why’s of everything I’m sure, but I say nothing.  “I’m downstairs playing hostess you know, keeping everyone in the house.”  She stops again but I don’t interrupt.  I plan to tell her the truth but first I want to hear what she has to say before she gets truly pissed off.  “Then it’s time for everyone to leave because the party’s over,” she said absently.  “I think I had too much to drink.  And there’s Doug.  He offers to drive Amber and me home.  And I’m like why not.  Brent’s being a jerk.”

Covering my eyes, I thought, Maggie knew she’d played a dangerous game.  She’d hoped for jealousy I’m sure, but she got more than she bargained for.

When I release my hand from my face and look in her eye again, I see the sadness in them.  Almost as if she was waiting for me to acknowledge her in some way, she continues. “Doug and I were just talking while sitting on his car in front of my house.  Nothing was going on,” she said, like she was trying to convince me when I knew she was trying to convince herself. Again I keep silent.  I don’t want to judge her.  She has enough to deal with.

“Then this truck with his bright lights on, pulls up behind Doug’s.  I’m shielding my eyes because it’s bright you know, but they are higher than a car, so I know it’s a truck.  I didn’t recognize the thing. I still don’t know whose car Brent was driving, but he was suddenly there in front of us.  Doug stood and put himself in front of me, like he was protecting me from Brent.  And I’m like trying to get in between them.  Words were said and Doug’s like defending my honor.  And you know what?” she asked.

“No, what?” I said.  My voice came out a little froggy because I’d hadn’t spoken in several minutes and I’d been holding my breath almost since she began speaking.

“Doug is slightly taller than Brent,” she said. “I’m not sure when that happened.” 

I, on the other hand, wondered why that was an important detail.  She sounded as if she were proud of Doug.  This is the boy she dumped after he confessed his love for her.  That was her usual M.O., but not with Brent.  But then again, had he said those magic words?  I make a mental note to ask along with a barrage of other questions I needed answers to.

“He looked so fierce,” she said. “Anyway, Brent’s like ‘Stay away from my girlfriend’ all caveman like.  Then Doug is like ‘Maybe she doesn’t want to be around you when you’re being an asshole’.  Then Brent’s like ‘Fuck you man, get the hell out of here.  And Doug is like ‘I’m not leaving her with you looking like you might hit her or something’. Then Brent’s like ‘The only person I’m going to hit is you’.”

Maggie’s face is all screwy as she imitates Brent.  She makes him sound all ‘I am man hear me roar,” while she make Doug sound completely sane and in control.  I couldn’t help but think that Brent had already lost her to Doug.  But I continue to say nothing.

Her face changes again and I’m alerted that we’ve come to the part of the story that will explain why she is here in the hospital. 

Steadying myself, I don’t look away from the sudden fear in her eyes as she relives her horror.  “His eyes, his eyes, Eme, they changed.  I knew something was wrong and I leaped in front of Doug.  His hand was no longer human, Eme.  It was longer, covered in hair with claws.  He meant to swipe at Doug but I moved in the way.  As I was pushed to the ground, he didn’t come to my aid.  Not at first at least.  I fell on my back, so I saw it all.  His wolf hand or whatever gripped Doug’s shirt, lifted him off the ground as hair began to sprout all over his face.  Car wheels squealed, I couldn’t see but Tom must have shown up too late.  Brent bit into Doug’s shoulder.  Then he tossed him to the ground.   I shuffled over to Doug and he wasn’t moving.”

She ended there and remained quiet. There was more to the story, but I’d gotten the gist of it.

“It’s not your fault,” I said.  A part of me believed that she had in fact started the events that unfolded.  But I couldn’t blame her.  This was all on Brent.  He’s the one that let his anger get out of control and possibly ruined two lives.

With a squeaky voice, one filled with heavy emotion, she asked, “Is Doug ok?”

I didn’t have that answer. “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But I’ll go find out.”

Moving to leave, Maggie held onto my hand.  I settled back in my seat understanding she wasn’t yet ready for me to go.  Maybe she was afraid that the news about Doug wouldn’t be good, but I didn’t ask.  Maggie was right about something.  Sometimes maybe I kept my mouth closed when something important needed to be said or my point needed to be made.  But was that really wrong?  I wasn’t much for quarreling.  We sat in silence.  Time passed without meaning.  The room was still dark and there was nothing to give meaning to the passage of time.

When she spoke, I nearly jumped out of my skin.  We’d been silent for so long, having it broken suddenly made my heart skip a beat.  “I have to think there are more supernatural beings out there, even in our school,” she began.  “I’m mean you and Flynn, cambions, Luke, a half angel for god sakes, Sebastian, Luke’s rival in every way being full demon.  Gosh who else in are school do you think?” she asked.