Girl of Steel and Stone

Chapter 19

Chapter nineteen

I awoke the next morning in a really good mood. For a moment I wondered why, before feeling Nico's thin body pressed against mine.

I was used to the piercing sound of the alarm clock and when it blared a second later I stayed down. But Nico sprang up, searching for a weapon, no matter what.

I put a calming hand on his shoulder, pulling him down softly.

He looked at me with big, haunted eyes. He had probably been too tired to have nightmares, but he probably also didn't feel safe yet in this foreign place.

'Good morning, little empath,' I said, smiling reassuringly at him. What I would give to get that haunted look out of his eyes.

'Hey,' he answered, his voice trembling a little.

I got up and stretched before telling him to dress and pack his backpack before we would go to the Dining Hall.

I had showered in the evening, like always and I was done within minutes. Nico was putting stuff in his bag while I looked over a map of the city to see where the school was. I could mostly navigate Daqu now, but if I didn't know where it was....

'Cali, can I take a weapon with me?' Nico asked. He didn't sound as lost as before and I was glad for it. But those words were enough to tell me that he was just as damaged as I was.

I knew they probably wouldn't allow him to have a weapon on display but in no way would I let him go without a weapon.

'Knife or gun?'

'Gun.' Bigger, but safer. I trusted Nico to be able to shoot with it. He was a good shooter and I knew he wouldn't harm anyone with it.

I gave him a thigh-holster and made a gap in his pocket so he could take it from there.

'Here. Feeling good, now?'

Nico nodded and I couldn't help but think how weird it was to have him here, at the Academy. I had a routine here and he wasn't a part of it.

Finally, we descended the stairs, ignoring the many curious looks other students threw us. I was pretty sure everyone knew about Nico, secrets didn't stay secrets long, here.

He was pressed against my leg and I could feel his bones sticking out through his faded army jacket and my light pants, shying away from too many, too curious glances.

Halfway down I'd had enough of it and I grabbed him, hoisting him onto my hip. His arms immediately circled my neck and he pressed his face into my shoulder.

I wanted to kill every fucking rebel on this goddamned planet for making him flinch from human gazes. I remembered the few men who had eyed him with the hunger they usually used for Mara or me. I hadn't been fast enough, once. He had already touched my little brother. Not that he lived long. A knife through his beady, greedy eyes. He had screamed until I was done with him.

Which was much, much later.

'You never told us you had a son, Rayan. Although, for a whore like you, I shouldn't be surprised.'

I was not in the mood for Ella MacLean's shit.

'MacLean, meet my half-brother. I'm sure it gave you a shock to see someone of your own son's age. Your mom hiding it for you? No? You don't have one? I'm relieved. One less ugly face to ruin the earth.'

She opened her mouth to say something, but I was faster.

'Sorry, but I don't have time for your shit. Go bore someone else.'