It's Not Magic

Twenty-Four

Braelyn

"What's wrong?" Brooke was closing the door behind her, Ryder standing in front of her. I was grateful she closed the large oak door, so that way Baylee or any other curious ears couldn't hear us.

My fingers were drumming against each other, my elbows resting on the table. "Lilia Matthews, that's what's wrong." My fingers kept drumming, and Ryder and Brooke walked closer.

Ryder ran his hand through his hair. "You mean that girl you had Kane Knox rescue?"

I nodded.

Brooke sighed from behind Ryder. "So what do you need us for?" It was obvious she wanted to be done for the day.

"We need a plan to get Lilia Matthews back on our side."

~•-•~

I found myself still on the couch when I woke up, the television screen showing me the news. With a groan, I stretched my arm out, reaching for the remote, my fingers falling a few centimeters short. My fingers kept reaching, but I kept falling short.

After a few more attempts, I gave up, my eyes sliding shut as my hand fell limp against the side of the couch. I didn't need to be awake anyways.

Behind me, I heard feet pounding on the floor, sounding as if they were scrambling, as if something was wrong. I probably didn't have to worry about it.

"Matthews!" I heard Kane's voice yell as the footsteps got closer. They faded as they went a different direction—probably my room— and I heard a fainter shout of my name.

"Matthews?" I heard the panicked shout as the footsteps approached again.

I rose a lazy arm upward, showing him I was still here, then let it fall lazily back to my side.

"What the hell are you doing on the couch?" His footsteps came closer to the couch.

"I didn't feel like going to my room," I muttered into the pillow, but he most likely didn't understand a word I said.

"We have to meet one of Hain's henchmen," Kane reminded me, his voice sounding bitter. "Remember?"

I about rolled off the couch. "What time is it?" I asked, panicking.

Kane looked at his watch. "Quarter to eight," he replied, his voice still annoyed, eyes widening as he realized what time it was. "Shit," he muttered.

Leaping up from the couch, I ran to my room, knowing how little time I had before we had to leave. "Isn't the hall on the other side of Rifugio?" I asked as I slammed the door shut, racing to grab clothes, throwing the old ones on the floor.

"Yes," I heard his faint reply. "So hurry up."

After I changed, I ran out of my room, and followed Kane out the door as he handed me a piece of gum, popping a piece of his own into his mouth.

We raced through the streets, darting past people, Kane glancing at his watch every so often. There wasn't too many people out and about yet, since it was still early, but there was enough that bumping into people seemed to be a constant problem. Most of them shot me dirty looks, some seeming to understand the rush, flashing me a smile, and shooing me off, encouraging me to get to m where I was heading when I slowed down to help. I caught Kane throwing me a couple dirty looks a couple times when I tried to help.

But when I bumped into one woman, knocking over what she was carrying, she cursed at me, calling me an insolent teenager. Not caring what Kane thought at the moment, I slowed down to help her pick up the fruit that had fallen. She had crouched over the fallen fruit, some of her tree bark colored hair slipping out of the knot she had on the back of her head.