Fate's Revenge (Twisted Fate, Book 4)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

We looked away from each other and towards the front door. Three more raps sounded, one right after another, with a fourth tacked on at the end like a forgotten note in a song. Even expecting it, I jumped.

"Do you get many visitors?" I asked, darting my eyes to Lachesis and then back to the door without moving my head.

"You were an exception. It's not like there's a bus stop out front to make the trip easy," she said, suddenly sounding defensive.

"So, there's no chance it's the pizza boy?"

It was a stupid question, but still. I hoped. Only a few were strong enough to trek through the Void and aside from Deryk, they were all unwelcome. But whoever was here knocked again, refusing to go away. My stomach churned, and anxiety flooded my veins, making me itch to run away. Again. Sooner or later, I wasn't going to have anywhere left to go, as if I hadn't already reached that point. I had places to go, sure, but nowhere that would keep me away from everything that I was running from.

Lachesis sighed and stood.

"Let's just ignore it," I told her, trying to reach out to grab her before she could step out of reach, but failed as she side-stepped my hand. "They can't come in without permission, can they? Maybe they'll go away."

"Oh dear, you've been reading about vampires, haven't you?" She smiled softly over her shoulder as she walked towards the door. "Trust me, that is a myth, and wards only protect from those who wish to do harm."

If it was a Brother, there would be nothing to keep them from entering then, even if they intended me harm by taking me back against my wishes. Good was relative as far as I was concerned, but they were angels. History and their connection to Him made them seem like the greatest good. It was overrated, only good when compared to actual Darkness.

"Open the door," I told her, resigned. "They didn't go through the Void to give up if they're ignored."

Lachesis walked over to the door, hesitating and looking back at me with her hand on the knob. I nodded, and she turned away. As soon as the doorknob clicked as she turned it, the door slammed open, startling Lachesis into nearly losing her balance.

Mike, his face red with anger, stormed inside. He didn't bother looking to see if Lachesis was alright or acknowledge her presence. Instead, his eyes darted around the room until landing on me, and then narrowed.

"Let's go," he said, not even bothering with saying hello.

"Excuse me?" I nearly laughed. What in the world was wrong with him? He couldn't order me around.

"Aly—"

"Go away, Mike. I want to be here."

"Why did you come here?"

"Who knows?" I shrugged, narrowing my gaze and crossing my arms. It was the only way to keep my fists from meeting his face. "Why don't you ask Suzie? She has visions. Maybe she'll see why I left and then whisper it in your ear while you hold her." I crossed my arms tighter like I was hugging myself and then dropped my hands to my sides. Hitting him felt inevitable, there was no reason to avoid it.

"Suzie...?" He shook his head. "Aly, it's not what you think. I'm not—"

"I don't care!"

My veins vibrated under my skin like water just before it boiled, and just as hot. If he didn't leave, this wasn't going to end well. It didn't matter what he said or how he tried to spin it—betrayal was still betrayal. As hurt as I was, I felt sorry for him. He was the one who would be most affected in the end, and he'd had lost his honour in the process. You'd think that would be too important to discard for someone as dutiful as him.