DESCENDED

GO HOME

Sebastian doesn't pick up when I call him. So, I sneak out the back door and head toward the Covington Boys Home.

A third of the way there I see a cab and flag it down. The entire ride costs less than ten dollars. I had no idea the boys' home was so close to me. Which is probably a good thing. Having close access to Sebastian would only exacerbate what I'm trying not to feel for him.

Gathering the courage, I climb the rickety old porch in front of the boy's home and knock on the front door. An older man answers with a frown on his face.

"Can I help you?" He asks. "If you're looking for the girl's home, you're about eight blocks in the wrong direction."

"Um, I'm looking for Sebastian," I tell him.

"Oh. Well, he's not here. And even if he were, you should know girls aren't allowed here."

I felt like I was going to burst if I couldn't talk to someone, and Sebastian is the only person I trust.

"If he comes back, can you tell him I came by?"

"Are you Angelique?" He asks. Seeming more interested now.

"Yes," I nod.

"Shouldn't you be at home resting?"

I'm assuming Sebastian told him what happened to me. Which means he probably knows where I live and how to reach my aunt. And since I don't want to go back there, I turn to leave.

"Wait!" He runs to catch up to me. "Did you come here alone? You shouldn't be alone."

"No offense, but you don't know me well enough to be telling me what to do," I glare at him.

"I'm Michael Danport. And I'm the overseer for the Boy's home," Michael introduces himself.

The last Michael I knew was a predator. And I'm not about to stick around to find out if this one is too. Turning to leave again, I see Sebastian walking with Liz and Elijah. And when he sets eyes on me, he looks upset to see me standing here.

"What are you doing here?" He asks.

"I don't know," I shrug. "I didn't know where else to go."

"I have an idea... Go. Home."

I was wondering which Sebastian I would get when I finally found him, and now I know.

The jerk.

Only, I need him to not be a jerk right now.

"Can I talk to you?" I ask.

"No. You need to go home. I'm calling your aunt so she can pick you up," he pulls out his phone.

Coming all the way here hoping he could make me feel better, and him just brushing me off brings tears of frustration to my eyes. Mortified to see me crying, he hangs up his phone. Then he exchanges glances with Liz and Elijah who shrug.

"Fine. We can talk if you stop crying," he caves. "Let's walk and talk. I know a diner close by that we can go to."

"I guess we'll catch you later then," Liz frowned.

"Yes. I'll catch you guys later," Sebastian waves them off.

Embarrassed, I try wiping my tears away, but they won't stop coming. Thankfully, Sebastian reaches into his jacket and pulls out some tissue that he hands to me.

It takes us fifteen minutes to get to the diner where Sebastian seems to be popular with the staff. Not only do they know him by name, but they also know what his favorite meal is.