Lethal Lineage: New Lines

Chapter 21

Larken

"So, what's going on between you and Lorna?" Larken asks Percival as they clean up the arena that afternoon. His curiosity had gotten the best of him after his last class left.

Percy makes an annoyed face as he rolls up a mat. "She's—driving me nuts."

"Yeah, women do that." Larken chuckles.

"She's been super casual about our relationship," he scowls. "But suddenly graduation is coming and now it's my fault I found a career I want here-" Percy growls angrily as he pulls the straps tight around the mat. "And she has a life dream of 'backpacking through the rainforest' or some shit."

Larken's eyebrows rise as he listens to his rant. He'd mostly asked him because he'd noticed a weird vibe at the dining hall, but Larken wasn't expecting him to actually open up like that.

"Honestly, man?" Larken rubs his neck. "The reason I need to find a new professor to replace me is because Nathara's never seen the world..."

Percival pushes the rolled up mat away to stare at him with narrowed eyes. "Seriously? What is it with women and wanting to 'see the world'? Sounds like some made up romance novel shit."

"Girls like the cheesy crap, Percy." Larken reminds him as they walk out. "Now I'm pretty sure Nathara only wants to travel as part of her new career plan, finding other kids like Minnie to help."

For a moment they walk in silence down the hall, not in a rush. Their competition was pretty much ready to present to Elide, but now Minnie's adoption dinner was taking the lead. Would it be rude to bring it up to Elide at dinner? Before or after the adoption announcement?

"Sorry to dump all that shit on you, man." Percival mutters eventually.

"I can't tell you what to do, but if Lorna isn't happy, I'd watch my ass if I were you." He advises. It was best not to piss off a vampire, especially an emotionally violent one like Lorna.

Percy nods with a tired wave as they split in different directions. Larken pulls out his phone to check for any messages from Nathara, but there was nothing. She'd been quiet since their visit to Elide's office and Larken knew where her mind was at. She'd had a lost, far away look in her eyes last he'd seen her. Assuming her father was human was easy, but that meant Nathara had some sort of immunity to this crazy virus. Although Larken knew she was special, he was biased, and Nathara would drive herself nuts looking for answers, eventually coming to the worst possible conclusion when left alone to overthink.

To be fair, she's been thrown a shit hand since coming to Sorian Academy. Even before all of this.

*

Nathara texted Larken late Thursday night.

Crazy Snake Babe: I'm sleeping over at Miera's dorm tonight. I love you 🖤

Larken texted back a 'I love you' before looking back up at the ceiling. He was fine with it, but hated how empty his bed felt without her. They didn't get a chance to really talk about what was going through her head right now. Jealousy snuck into his tense brow. Nathara chose to talk to Miera about it instead of him.

No. Nathara would talk to him. He may have to bring it up himself because she may just try to completely ignore all the bad shit happening at once.

Friday. This Friday felt different. The school year was ending, a lot of supernaturals going out into the world very soon. With most finals over with, many older students were hanging out in the halls or their dorms with their free time.

It took hours for Larken to fall asleep last night. With no Nathara next to him, his mind began going over a million different things. At some point he fell asleep with his phone on his chest.