DUCHAS (The Drive Within, Book 2 in Baile series)

Chapter 10 Voices

Isla

I opened the door to my dorm room, taking three steps before a scream worked its way up my throat.

"What's wrong with you?" April stood by her bed, pistol in hand.

"What's wrong with me?" My tone was as hysterical as I felt. "Y-you're the one holding a gun."

"Will you relax? It's not even loaded and the safety is on." She looked at me as if I were insane.

"Where the fuck did you get a gun?" I approached her tentatively.

"You know Matilda?"

I shook my head.

"Well she knows how to get things."

"Why do you have a gun?"

"To be clear, I actually have two, catch." She threw me the gun in her hands.

I staggered back, allowing the gun to clatter to the floor.

"Will you please breathe for a moment?" April retrieved the gun from the floor, placing it into my hands. I held the gun away from me as if just by touching I had committed a crime. "We need to be able to defend ourselves if the murderer ever catches up with you."

"So you bought guns!" This was a whole other level of April crazy.

"I know what you're thinking, my strength and not to mention killer arse fangs should be able to protect me. But that's just it, I can protect myself, but how could you?"

"Are you saying I'm weak?"

"I'm saying you don't really have any powers yet do you?"

"Well no, but that's no excuse to buy guns."

"This is not up for discussion." April took the gun from my hands, zipping it up in a black duffle bag. "It's too late anyway." April hauled the bag strap over her shoulder, her hands clad in red leather.

"Where are you going?"

"Where are we going?" She flounced past me.

"The police are still out there." I gestured to the windows.

"They found Lottie."

"But they haven't found her killer, if we run around with guns in our hands we'll be thrown in prison."

"Not without evidence." April countered. "I know a safe place where we can fire a few rounds, it'll be fine. I promise." She extended her hand to me. My gut told me it was a terrible idea, but April was true about my luck of powers. I settled that I would fire one bullet. After all, one bullet could cause a lot of destruction.

Eliza

I plucked the cello string, my ear pressed against the strings to listen to the whispers in the hallways of the school. My mind had been on edge ever since I had been gravitated to the church. It was as if the deep crevices of my mind and soul were searching for something, some answer that I couldn't think of off the top of my head.

"Where did you go last night?" I had sensed Ciara's presence before she had stopped in the room, her arms folded over her chest.

"You should know the answer to that question." My breath fanned over the strings as I plucked another at random, testing the frequency of voices. 

"I want to hear you say it." Her tone radiated displeasure.

I gave up on the cello, moving onto a harp situated beside it.