Blood Lily

14

Serafina

I'm not sure what woke me up first, the sun or my headache. But the result was the same regardless, having me rolling and falling to the ground in pain.

"Fuck my life" I groaned, pressing my forehead into the cold floor to try to soothe the pounding pain in my head.

You wiiish bitch

I get off the ground, the covers sliding off me, leaving my naked body exposed to the warm sun. I don't bother getting dressed and walk out to the kitchen to get something in me that would ease the pain in my brain and the emptiness in my stomach.

As I look at the open fridge, trying to decide what was going to fill me up, I could feel my brain fry. I'm barely functioning as it is, and the memory of Ezekiel dragging me into my own house and me being difficult about it is definitely something I want to forget forever. What the fuck was wrong with me?

Lets go for everything

I groan and slam the fridge and walk towards the coffee machine. Was it a good idea to throw coffee in my alcohol filled stomach? Fuck no, I'm not recommending here, I'm just too lazy and tiered to make myself any decent food.

I turn the coffee machine on and get it going and grab a granola bar, as if it would make things any better. I put on a kangaroo jacket to avoid my nipple's freezing off my body and turn on the T.V to see what kind of mess was happening in the world on this fine saturday morning.

I walk back to the kitchen making my cold coffee listening to the news reminding me how much the world was a mess when my phone rings.

I pick up with no second thought "Hi whats up"

"Well you sound...happy" sybela's voice came through the phone, doutful it was me considering how early it was.

I let out a sarcastic laugh and take a sip of coffee "I fell out of bed" I sigh, knowing she would never let me live it down

"That sucks" she says in a careful tone "Are you free right now?"

I give the phone a side eye, as if she could feel it. That couldn't be good, "If you don't care about me in being in nothing but underwear yeah sur, come over"

Almost automatically, I hear the ticking on the look and the door opening, and a few seconds after, Sybela walks in with a box of donuts

I skwint my eyes at her "Why bother asking me when you're already at the door? At this point..." I put my coffee down and put my hand on my hip

She raises the box of donut "I came with a peace offering...?"

I roll my eyes and wave my hand at her "Put it on the coffee table. Want something to drink?"

"What you're having" she tells me while taking off her jacket. I make her an iced coffee, and grab both mine and her drink and settle them down on the table.

I turn off the T.V and sit crossed legged on the couch "Now what's up? Spill"

Sybela sighed, stirring her coffee before taking a sip. "We have an issue."

"No, you have an issue," I quickly corrected her. "Don't drag me into your mess."

She rolled her eyes, but her laugh was humorless. "Yeah, well, I'm afraid you're involved in this one."

I frowned. This wasn't like her—Sybela was usually blunt and to the point. Whatever this was, it was weighing heavily on her.

"You're starting to worry me," I muttered, sipping my coffee, trying to brace myself.

"I like Bairon," she blurted out, the words tumbling out in a rush before I could respond.

I froze, mid-sip, the coffee catching in my throat as I started coughing violently. My eyes widened, and Sybela's expression mirrored my shock.

"Bairon? As in our friend Bairon? As in Calypso's crush Bairon?!" My voice escalated with each question, disbelief flooding my system. "Sybela, are you out of your mind?!"

"I didn't mean to!" she pleads, throwing her hands up "You think I wanted to like that unexpressive potato chew ball?!"

I glared at her, trying to process the insanity she just dropped on me. "Bitch, you can't be fucking—"

Before I could finish my sentence, my phone rang again. Frustrated, I snatched it up without checking the caller ID. "What?!" I snapped.

I hear a chuckle "Well that's a rude way to speak to a client...Doc" the deep voice came through the phone making me freeze.

I went stiff, and Sybela's eyes locked onto me, her concern deepening as she asked if everything was alright.

I nodded at her, exhaling sharply into the phone. "You still consider yourself a client?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Did I wound you too much?" he answers mockingly "You said it yourself, we are stuck together for the next 8 weeks."

I scoffed, leaning back on the couch. Of course, that asshole had the audacity to call now.

My grip on the phone tightened, and I could feel my patience wearing thin. Sybela watched me carefully, her brow furrowed as she mouthed, Who is it?

I waved her off, keeping my attention on the phone call. "What do you want?" I asked, my tone sharper now. "I'm not in the mood for games and I'm off the clock."

"Not even a little?" His voice dropped an octave as if trying to get under my skin. "I was calling to check in on you, Doc. See how you're holding up after last night. Couldn't find your name in any hospital log."

"I'd appreciate it if you lost my number." my words dripping with sarcasm.

There was a brief pause, and then he added, "This was a warning, Doc—you'd best act on it."

I don't bother answering him and hang up. I threw my phone onto the couch, leaning back with a groan.

Sybela raised her eyebrows, sipping her iced coffee as if waiting for an explanation.

Who was that?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.

I rubbed my temples, already feeling the headache returning. "The reason I'm bruised "

Sybela leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "That's the guy? And you're stuck working with him the next two months?"

"Unfortunately, yes," I muttered, grabbing a donut from the box and taking a frustrated bite. "Honestly, I don't understand why I took him. He's a lost cause."

Sybela smirked and I glared at her. "No, Syb."

She shrugged, leaning back into the couch. "I'm just saying, maybe he knows how to push your buttons..."

"Don't" I glare at her "Don't you dare continue that idea" I grumbled, throwing the donut back into the box.

Sybela tilted her head, giving me a sympathetic look. "Well, on the bright side, you only have eight weeks left with him, right? Then he's out of your life for good."

I leaned my head back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. "I hope you're right. Because I might just lose my mind before the eight weeks are up."

Sybela laughed softly. "Let's hope not. I'd hate to see what happens when you lose your mind." She paused, then added with a smirk, "But hey, at least it's not as bad as liking Bairon, right?"

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Oh god, don't remind me."

"Too late," Sybela teased. "I'm pretty sure we're both screwed at this point."

I peeked out from behind my hands, eyeing her with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Yeah, but at least we have donuts."

Sybela raised her coffee cup in a mock toast. "To bad decisions."

I clinked my cup against hers with a resigned sigh. "To bad decisions."