White Rabbit

Chapter 14: Reconnaissance of the Heart

JACE

"What business do you have here?" I hear Clattonia's voice drift towards me as I come closer, running a hand through my still damp hair.

"I want to help make a difference," A female's voice also drifts down the hallway, "I want to stop running. I'm not a coward, and I refuse to just sit by and do nothing when I could be doing something. I know I'm not the strongest, but I'll work at it. Please, let me help you."

"Reece, have you seen her Shift yet?" Clattonia asks.

As I round the corner, I spot the girl who ran into me at the market earlier today, the one with dark blue hair and deep, brown eyes. Her eyes widen slightly when she spots me and she hides further behind Reece, gripping onto his arm uncertainly.

"Her Shift appears to be Genesis," Reece says, "But I didn't see that much."

Reece raises a brow curiously at her and trails her gaze back over to me before meeting my gaze and I simply shrug at him.

"I think she'd make a wonderful addition," Juniper smiles softly at her and the girl smiles back gently.

Meanwhile, Katsuro gazes at Juniper with adoration and folds his arms against his chest, nodding in agreement with her.

"Well, what do the rest of you think?" Clattonia asks as she spins on her heel and looks at the rest of us, "We're a family here, so any decision made about letting people in must be mutual, Essence."

"If Reece trusts her, then I do too," Indigo says shyly with her hand held up to her mouth, her lavender and black, long, bell-sleeved shirt sliding down her arm slightly in the process.

"If it's okay with Indigo, it's okay with me," Ink says as he grins and throws an arm around her shoulders.

"I say she should have to prove herself first," Labyrinth shrugs.

"Why are you always so damn difficult?" Lucian scowls and shakes his head.

"Because I don't take shit from people," Labyrinth says as her blue eyes bore into Lucian's, "Unlike you, I mean, look at Nightshade."

"Don't you dare--" Lucian snarls and stands up from his spot on the couch.

"That's enough," Reece snaps and Lucian and Labyrinth both look at him before going back to their original positions.

"Tsk," Kai snorts and lights a cigarette, "Children."

"Says the one who's going to die early," Simon snaps and grabs the cigarette from between Kai's fingers and snuffs it out, "Idiot."

Meanwhile, Essence silently walks over to Kai and grabs a cigarette from a nearby box that's lying on a side table, holding it out to Kai when she stands in front of him and he raises his head at her curiously, cocking a brow at her.

"I don't really condone smoking," Essence says quietly, "But if it's something you enjoy, then you should just be happy doing it. You aren't hurting anybody else by doing it, so..."

"You know, you could learn a lot from her," Kai says as he turns to Simon, who tenses and wears a pained expression before turning back to Essence and looking around her shoulder to Reece, "I like her."

Reece smirks and folds his arms against his chest, nodding his head slightly.

"My poor little brother," Valentia laughs as she throws an arm around Simon's shoulder and ruffles his hair.

"Let me know what you decide," I say as I pass Clattonia and her captivating eyes meet mine, almost keeping me in my place, "I should probably get back home before my dad suspects something. I did just leave the agency without a word, after all."