The Contract

XXI - Attrahere

-

I slammed the front door when we finally reached my house. Both Lure and I were in rather low moods because of our argument—but honestly, he was so. . . stupid. He was so dark and, well, demonizing. I could detect his presence behind me while we walked past the kitchen; I paused to stop, catching gazes with my grandpa. He didn't say anything, only wrinkled his nose in apparent distaste, and looked down at the coffee that he had cupped between his hands.

I scowled, feeling a burning sensation erupt in my stomach—I hated him—and continued my way to my room. Once I reached it, I closed the door and leaned back against it, closing my eyes in an attempt to collect myself. When I opened them, Lure was sitting on my bed, watching me. He looked incredibly tired. It was clear that he was drained due to using his powers so excessively throughout the past two days.

I, too, was tired, since I hadn't gotten any sleep since Matt's death.

I warily looked away from Lure, towards the half-open window that showed me a view of the neighborhood. "Feeling any urges?"

I could almost hear Lure's smirk as he replied, "Other than to sleep? Nope." He paused to lean back slightly; this I saw from out of the corner of my eye. "Why do you ask?"

"What about your need to possess?"

"That just comes every so often," he calmly told me, then got up and oh-so-casually sauntered his way over to me. I turned to look at him just as he cooly said, "Even if I did still have that urge, what would you do?"

I glanced back out the window. I had no response.

Lure reached me with a self-assured smirk and lightly took my wrist in his still gloved hand. I hesitantly looked down at our hands; he seemed rather fond of the gloves, I noted. He pulled me over to the bed and we both sat down in unison. I looked up at his face and frowned—his eyes were focused. Too focused.

"Make your first wish, my little Kitten," he insisted, "right now."

I gave a half-hearted shrug. "I don't have anything in mind."

"Money?" he tried.

I shook my head. "Stealing from other people. . . downside."

Lure rolled his eyes. "Make it something small, then."

"Don't rush me, Lure."

A sudden knock at the door made me start. I glanced at it as if it that would identify who was outside my door. I sincerely hoped it wasn't my grandpa coming at me with a new round of criticism.

"Kat, honey?"

It was my mom.

"Yeah?" I called back.

"I'll just be going out for a drive with your grandparents to see if there are any houses they might like," she yelled through the wood.

I swung myself off the bed and walked to the door to open it. Once it was open, I faced my mom and asked, "Why?"

Before answering, she ran her gaze along my clothes and pointed out, "You're wearing yesterdays clothes." She then shook her head to get back on track. "Your grandparents are thinking about moving into town so they'll see us more often."

No!

She didn't seem to catch my horrified look, for she carelessly added, "Take care of your brother while we're gone, okay? We'll be back in about a half hour." She leaned forwards and gave me a swift kiss on my forehead before turning and walking down the hall. I watched her go, then turned back to face Lure, who was smiling slightly. He rose, then swiftly walked passed me without an explanation. I frowned as I watched him go—what was he doing? He wasn't going to do anything to Anthony, was he?