Invictus

Chapter 17

APRIL

Zoe settled in one of the couches, tapping the spaces beside her, motioning for us to join her. We shuffled towards it, avoiding the eyes of the guys on the other couch.

A guy in a Midlands High varsity jacket sat beside Zoe, her legs over his and her head settled in the crook of his neck. I sat beside her, thankful for the fresh air Liu was providing.

A couple of red cups were passed to us and Denise picked one up and sniffed. "Vodka" She squinted at it and then took a huge gulp, which erupted in cheers from the guys.

"Those are from Salem Prep, Oregon" Zoe provided,

"Cool" I said, looking at a particular guy who was staring at my tattoo. He was a rare specimen of manflesh

Manflesh? Really, April.

He had dark eyes, a pointed nose and thin pink lips. And he was walking  over to me.

"Hey, Zoe, won't you introduce me to your fiery friend" He said, his hands in his pockets. I stared at Lyanna who took a sip from her cup, smiled and drank deep.

I looked into my cup and raised it to my lips, it was sweet.

Cream soda, Denise must've changed it.

"This is Christopher" Zoe said, "and she is April "

He put out his hand and shook mine, then pulled me up. He's strong.

He turned to the rest of the girls and smiled " May I borrow your friend for a bit? "

Khione smiled and nodded, while a cold feeling developed behind my ear, I raised my hand and ran my fingers around it. It must be some sort of tracking device.

I picked my soda and stood.

"Keep her safe " Liu said, air tickling my red curls.

He led me out the back door, after I had a little coughing fit in the living room. There was a maze, of roses.

How quaint.

He let go of my hand and buried it in his pocket.

"Let's play a game of hide and seek" Chris says "the winner gets to do anything to the loser"

I bit my lip "Okay, sure. Just no sexual stuff."

He smirked at me. "Of course "

I drained the last of my drink and set down the cup, Khione's ice pulsing at my ear.

"I hide, you seek" He said, brushing the tips of my ear with his lips, he set off into the maze.

One, two, three, ..., seven, eight, nine..

I started off in the direction I saw him take, zigzagging through the roses, Ignoring the thorns and roots. I stopped and listened.

A metal clink to my right, I turned in that direction and stopped, something was following me.

My pulse jumped, I turned and gasped.

"You lose, April " Chris said "it seems I found you"

He was naked, the body of a horse from his waist down.

"A fucking centaur " I muttered. "Whoopdeedoo"

I crossed my arms and threw him a scalding look.