The Risen HODWII

Chapter 26 : Drink

**Venice: Claire's POV**

"Claire! Can you please open the door?" Drena shouted from the kitchen the moment the doorbell rang.

Stella went out with a gang member, and Jenna was watching TV with Martin while Cassy and Drena prepared food for the visitors. Adrian called and informed us that their talk with the Blue Fire Gang went successfully, and they would come to visit.

Tch. The moment I opened the door...

"Claire!!" Jake and Jacob yelled as they jumped on me, slinging their arms around my shoulders out of happiness.

"Get your arms off my girl," Xenon ordered coldly, and they immediately withdrew their arms.

Blue walked closer toward me and held my hand, kissing the back of it. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Claire," he said humbly, smiling.

Xenon suddenly pulled me toward him as if I were his possession. "Don't ever touch my girl again," he stated ominously.

"Tch." I rolled my eyes at his behavior and saw Blake smiling, still hesitating whether to approach me or not. "Well?" I asked.

He smiled widely and aimed to hug me, but Xenon shielded me by stepping in front of Blake. "I said no touching," he threatened once again.

I walked back to the living room, ignoring them, and took a seat on the couch opposite Jenna and Martin, who were too engrossed in the TV.

Suddenly, Jake and Jacob sat beside me, and I sighed.

"How are you, Claire?" Jake asked.

"You know Claire... we’ve changed a lot," Jacob proudly stated.

"Why did you take so long?" Drena asked the boys as they walked closer toward us.

"Tch. Ask those dumbasses who made fun of us," Coby said, glaring at Jake.

"Hey! We're not dumbasses!" Jake shouted, glaring back at Coby.

"They did what?" I asked, my voice calm, but the Blue Fire Gang knew more because I sensed fear emanating from the four of them.

"Oh, they just made us wait for an hour; someone thought it was fun," Lucas said, smirking. "By the way, I have to go see my girl." He went upstairs, presumably to look for Stella.

I looked at Blake.

"I have absolutely nothing to do with it!" Blake immediately defended himself.

"Xen, can you please check the dishes we made? I don't think I used the right ingredients," Drena said, getting Xenon's attention after sensing the tension between us. He nodded and followed her after glaring at the new boys while Cassy started flirting with Coby and Adrian approached his sister.

"And so am I! Try asking the two beside you; I'm sure they know," Blue said, defending himself. I could feel the two slowly moving away from me. I held the hem of their shirts and pulled them back to their seats beside me.

"Where are you two going?" I asked plainly.

"Uh, d-do you want coffee, juice, or tea?" Jacob asked.

"A-are you thirsty? Hehe, 'cause I am," Jake forced a smile.

"Tch." I sensed Xenon coming out from the kitchen, so I punched their stomachs, not too hard, and stood up.

"Oomph!" They both bent over and groaned in pain.

"Don't worry; I will get your drinks." My voice was low but cold. I felt Blue and Blake biting the insides of their cheeks, trying not to laugh.

"P-please, no n-need," Jacob tried to say, still feeling pain.

"I'm n-not thirsty a-anymore," Jake added, still holding his stomach.

"I insist," I said and started walking just as Xenon reached the living room.

I smiled at Xenon as I passed him and continued walking toward the kitchen. I wasn't completely far when I heard, "What happened to the two of you? Oh shit! Did you just cough up blood!?" Xenon yelled in shock.

"Oh, that's normal. They have this abnormal stomach pain; it rarely comes out, though," Blue explained.

"That's what happens for being immature," Blake said, shaking his head.

Tch. It's difficult to take care of more children.

...

I returned to the living room, where the boys were talking while Jake and Jacob lay on the couch, still rubbing their stomachs.

My punch could kill; they should be thankful I let them live. It's their third chance; they shouldn't waste it.

When they sensed me coming, they immediately sat up.

I put the tray with glasses of juice on the table. I took one and offered it to Xenon. "Thank you," he said, smiling. I nodded.

Then I took two for Jake and Jacob. "No, I'm not thirsty anymore," Jake said, forcing a smile.

"That is not necessary; I'm full," Jacob added while rubbing his stomach to gesture he was full.

I sensed the boys watching us. "Take it or leave it," I said, my voice flat.

They felt threatened and hesitantly took the glasses from me. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for them to drink.

"Uh, d-don't you have a-anything to do?" Jake stuttered.

"Xenon, maybe you want to take Claire on a date?" Jacob suggested, still not taking a sip of the juice. I sensed Xenon stiffen.

"Tch. If you don't want to drink it, then don't." I grabbed the glasses out of their hands. "I did not put poison in it," I said and turned my back.

"You did not?" they asked in surprise and quickly grabbed the glasses from me, drinking the juice.

"But maybe some drugs," I shrugged and started walking away.

Jake and Jacob suddenly spit the water out of their mouths and coughed again. "Fuck!"

"Shit!" They cursed in unison, and the rest of the boys laughed.

I continued walking toward Xenon's room. Since we had been sleeping together, he asked me to just stay with him instead. Lucas favored it because he wanted Stella all to himself. Tch. If I knew, they had been sleeping together since the first night here. It was already quarter to 5 PM, and I desperately wanted to go out for a run because my body was craving pain.

So when I reached Xenon's room, I texted Drena that I'd be going out. If Xenon tried to look for me, she would know what to do.

I opened his closet and looked for clothes; luckily, I found a hooded jacket. Perfect! I wore it and walked toward the window, jumping down and starting to run.