thunderstruck | book #2 | discontinued

X X X V

"I have to go, Remy."

They were the words she had been dreading to hear for hours. She had had more time than she could have ever expected with him, having been lying with him in her small single bed for what seemed like forever, but still it was not enough. It would never be enough.

She looked up at him, both of them lying on their sides so they were facing each other. His breath was hot on her forehead, his hand heavy on her hip until he moved it in order to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes, soaking in her last few moments with him and trying to swallow the lump that was slowly returning to her throat.

"Can't you stay the night?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"I will stay the night if you are the one to explain to my mother and the Principle Warlock why a portal to the Mortal World was left open."

"Deal," she murmured, though she knew he was joking.

"Remy," he sighed, and she could feel the mattress beneath her move as he sat up. Her eyes fluttered open and she watched him as he pulled on his jacket with pursed lips. He looked like Maksim again, now, and for that her heart felt lighter. His fingers were no longer stained, the colour had returned to his face, and the purple crescents beneath his eyes were no longer as prominent. The only reminder of what had happened was the blisters circling her wrist, but she had made sure to cover them up with her sweater.

"Max," she mocked in response, throwing the duvet away from her body and searching for a pair of shoes. She slipped them on quickly and then wiped her eyes with a yawn. Already, she could feel the lack of warmth around her where Maksim's body had been. Even standing like this, a few inches apart, it felt as though an invisible piece of string was tugging on her chest, urging her to be closer to him.

She ignored it as she opened the door and lead him down the corridor, careful not to walk too fast. She wanted to savour every second she had left with him.

Her family were sat on the sofa when Remy reached the living room, watching Friends re-runs while Leo helped Vincent to read in the corner. Her mother raised her head with cold eyes and everyone else followed. The only one who looked happy to see her was Vincent.

He ran over to her, his book forgotten in Leo's lap, and hugged her. He still only reached her waist. She could feel Maksim's eyes burning a hole in her back as she feigned a smile and clutched him to her tightly. "Rem," Vinnie hugged her. "I thought you'd left us again."

For once, Remy was lost for words.

"We all did," Leo said, scowling first at Remy and then at Maksim behind her. "Turns out she's just too busy with her boyfriend to care about us anymore."

"Actually," Maksim intervened, stepping in front of Remy as though protecting her, "I have been meaning to apologise, especially to you, Mrs. Morgan."

"Miss," Bianca corrected as though such a thing even mattered.

Maksim nodded, shuffling awkwardly on his feet. It was the first time Remy had seen him nervous when speaking to a mortal before. "I never intended to harm your family and I would certainly never harm Remy. I cannot imagine how worried you must have been when she was gone."

"No," her mother sighed, her attention falling back on the television as though she had grown bored of the conversation, "you can't."

Remy bent down to Vincent's height, then, wishing she did not still feel the guilt from before. She knew that what she had said had hurt her mother in a way nothing else could; if it hadn't, she would be cursing Maksim and demanding he leave. The silent treatment was only given if Bianca was furious.