Celestial Heartbeat (Book One) COMPLETE

Chapter Thirteen - Choices

“Calm down, Evie.” I whispered to myself, pacing back and forth in front of the entrance to Nightingale. There was a cool chill to the air, for which I was grateful. It seemed to keep my anger at bay and act as a small distraction.

I could still feel the flames dancing just within the surface of my hands, wanting to be free, wanting to set the whole establishment on fire.

“Evie?”

I turned to the source of the voice, palms forward, ready to shoot fire beams into their face. But when I realized it was Ren, I softened, dropping my palms to the ground, my anger receding. He hated the magic was much as I did. He was safe. He was good.

“Oh… hey.” I muttered.

“Are you okay? You seem a little tense.” He let out a small, weary chuckle as he looked me over. I probably looked like a mess, like I’d walked through a bush backwards. I’d been almost pulling out my hair trying to calm down.

“I’m fine.” I said quickly. A little too quickly.

I lifted my right arm and pressed down on my left arm, holding it against my side to hide the imprinted mark that was now stuck there. I hated to think of how permanent it would be.

“I mean, I don’t usually find you pacing around outside.” Ren continued with a raised eyebrow.

“My temper.” Was all I could manage to get out for an excuse.

“Ah.” Ren said thoughtfully with a smile playing on the edges of his lips. He took a step closer to me and leant against the worn wooden boards that made up the outside of Nightingale. I leant against the wall next to him, letting my arm slip away from me now that he couldn’t see it. I took a sneaky glance at the mark, and it was definitely still there, looking as dark and permanent as ever.

I had never really thought about whether I would ever get a tattoo or not. But this was certainly not how I imagined I would get one, or what it would be of.

“Hey, um, Evie…” Ren started saying, drawing me out of my thoughts and forcing me to look up at him. “I wanted to say sorry.”

“Sorry?” my forehead creased in confusion. My head was in such a whirl that I couldn’t even begin to comprehend what Ren would have to be sorry for right now.

“Uh, yeah.” He let out a low sigh. “I shouldn’t have… er, kissed you.”

Oh yeah.

That had happened.

I almost smiled, happy for a distraction from my current problem. Kisses were much simpler to deal with.

“You didn’t seem to care the first time.” I pointed out and then narrowed my eyes at him. “Kiss bandit.”

Ren laughed just like he had the first time I had called him that. I don’t know why he found it so funny, but his laugh was contagious, I let out a small laugh with him.

“It’s cool.” I told him with a shrug. “No harm, no foul.”

“Sweet.” Ren gave a small laugh again. “That’s all I really wanted to say… I guess I better go then.”

Ren kicked off from the wall and started to head away from Nightingale, whistling a small tune.

Panic bubbled inside of me.

Ren had been the only thing that calmed me down and kept me from ripping everyone’s heads from their bodies.  I didn’t want to be left alone so quickly to deal with the mess again.

“Wait, Ren.” I pushed off from the wall and jogged after him.

“What’s up?” he slowed down and turned to face me.