Читать книгу A Friend to the Darkness - Katherine Rathbone - Страница 12

I was heading out from school, on my way home, when someone grabbed my arm and called my name. I silently cursed myself for forgetting Seth’s first lesson, yanked my arm out of their grasp, and spun to face them, ready to fight. It was Lachlan, a guy from a few of my classes. He raised his hands in surrender and said with a grin, “Woah! I come in peace! Jonno really did a number on you, didn’t he?”

I stared at him emotionlessly, and an image of Sebastian and Lucifer holding me while I cried popped into my head. Lachlan grinned at me for a bit, and as I kept staring at him his grin faltered.

“Ah, sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “What do you want?” I asked tersely.

He shifted his feet nervously. “Um, well, you know, school finishes up in a couple of weeks. Some of us are having a, um, break up party I guess. It’d be cool if you could come.”

“The weekend school finishes?”

“Yeah.” He gave me a grin that I think was supposed to be dazzling.

“I’m busy.” I turned to keep walking, and he grabbed me again. I looked from his hand to his eyes with an incredulous look on my face. He took his hand away and laughed, a little nervously.

“Aw, come on. Don’t be like that. Come.” He wheedled.

“Like what?” I demanded as I put my hands on my hips.

“You know.” He gestured to my aggressive posture. “So… psycho.”

I tilted my head, and looked him in the eye. “Your buddy tried to rape me at the last party I went to. Tell me, how should I be?”

Peripherally, I was aware of a motorbike pulling up. Lachlan laughed nervously. “Oh come on, it wasn’t like that. You both had a few too many, one thing led to another…” He trailed off.

I was enraged. I wanted to tear him apart. I said nothing, fighting myself for control, fists clenched so they didn’t pull a knife.

“Hey, Katie. Sorry I’m late.” The smell of hot cinnamon doughnuts and rain after a hot day filled my nostrils, and I was calmed. I turned to Lucifer, and was struck for the first time in a while by how beautiful he was. Which gave me an idea, that I thought would both shut Lachlan down, and make Lucifer laugh.

“Oh, hi, babe!” I chirped. I threw myself into his surprised arms, pressed myself against him, rose up on my tiptoes, and kissed him.

It didn’t go as planned.

He wound his fingers into my hair with one hand, and pulled me close against him with the other. My hands found his shoulders and I relaxed into him as the rest of the world disappeared. His heat spread throughout my body, and when he stopped kissing me, I was absolutely breathless. He smiled mysteriously at me, and asked, “Who is your friend?”

I was confused. What was he talking about? Lucifer pointed at Lachlan, who was watching us with his mouth open. I blushed furiously and stepped away from Lucifer, and coughed.

“Oh. Luke, this is Lachlan. He’s… he’s one of Jonathon’s friends.”

Lucifer’s expression hardened, and he stepped closer to Lachlan, towering over him menacingly. “Give that piece of shit a message for me.” He commanded. “Tell him, if any of you little fuckers touch my girl again- ever- I will hunt you down and gut you like an animal.” His voice was completely cold, but I saw silver flash in his eyes and knew he was angry.

“Yeah, sure, whatever man.” Lachlan’s voice squeaked a little. “I didn’t know she had a boyfriend. Ah, see you around, Katie.” And he walked away, just a little too fast.

Lucifer gave me a half smile and took my hand, leading me to a nearby motorbike. “Where did you get that?” I found my voice.

He handed me a helmet, and said, “I thought a grand entrance might be in order.” And swung a leg over the bike, waiting for me to awkwardly climb on behind him.

He stopped outside my house, when I climbed off and handed the helmet back, he said to me with a knowing smile, “I have to return this. See you in a couple of weeks? Paulo’s again, right?”

“Ah, yeah, six pm again. See you then, Lucifer.”

I went inside, and, grateful my mother was at work, laid down on the living room floor and shrieked into a cushion. Almost without thinking, I prayed to Seth. Then immediately regretted it. Too late, he was there. “You ok, Katie?!” He asked concernedly, rushing to my side.

I sat up, peeked over the cushion, and squeaked, “I’m fine. You can go. Thanks, though.”

He frowned at me. “You don’t look fine. What’s up?”

I groaned, got to my feet, and sank down on to the couch, burying my burning face in my hands.

“You cannot tell anyone else this.” I mumbled.

“Yeah, ok, what is it?” He was still worried about me.

“Swear to me!” I insisted.

He rolled his eyes. “I swear I will keep your secrets, Katie.”

“I, I um… I kinda…” A thought occurred to me. “Hang on, can Lucifer read your mind?!”

“Oh for fucks sake. We’ve explained this. No, we can’t read each- others’ thoughts, not even him.” Seth was exasperated.

“I kissed him.”

“Kissed who?!” Seth didn’t understand.

“Lucifer.”

“YOU FUCKING WHAT?!” He screamed, and jumped up. “You’re messing with me.” He added, looking at me suspiciously. I shook my head, blushing hard.

“Holy fucking shit.” He sank back down on to the couch, looking at me wide eyed. He paused for a while, then demanded, “Nope. Nah uh. I need more information. Spill.”

“That’s all there is.”

“Fuck. That. Why did you kiss him? Let’s start there.” Seth wasn’t going to let me be.

“This guy was bothering me at school and…”

“Pause. Do you need his arse kicked?” Seth interrupted.

I smiled at him. “No, Lucifer handled it. I could’ve. But while he was talking I thought about… that night… when, um, when Lucifer and Sebastian were holding me and…” Seth gently squeezed my hand, indicating he understood. I smiled gratefully. “Anyway, Lucifer showed up, and he was looking fine, and I thought that it would stop that arsehole bothering me and make Lucifer laugh, so I kissed him.” I studied my hands.

“Did he laugh?”

“The fuck?! No, he didn’t laugh.” I snapped. Seth shrugged.

“I thought maybe that’s why you were in such a state.”

I rolled my eyes.

Seth’s eyes widened. “Did he profess his undying love for you?”

I felt the colour drain from my face. “He has undying love for me?!” I felt panic well up inside me.

“I don’t know! Does he?! Tell me!” Seth was too excited for my liking.

“No! Nothing like that. Ugh, I should’ve called Sera.”

“Bitch, please. Sera is the worst at girl talk.” Seth looked a little offended. I laughed at him.

“Ok, let me recap. So this guy was being a dick, you thought kissing our hottie of a King would shut him down, said hot King didn’t laugh at you, nor did he profess his undying love, but you are in a complete fucking state.” Seth’s eyes widened. “Fuck, did you tell him you loved him?!”

“What? No! I’m not in love with Lucifer!” I yelled at him.

“Ok, I’m officially confused. What happened after you kissed?”

“Nothing. He threatened Lachlan, he brought me home and dropped me off, and said goodbye.”

“With another kiss?” Seth’s eyes were flashing with excitement.

“No.”

“I don’t get it.” Seth spread his hands, frustration mounting in his voice.

“Ugh, Seth, I kissed him.” I put my hands over my face.

“Let me try again.” Seth was trying to be patient. “Guy was dick. Hot King shows up. You decide that kissing hot King will get rid of aforementioned dick. You kiss hot King. Aforementioned dick is gotten rid of, hot King takes you home, drops you off, and says goodbye platonically like nothing ever happened just like you wanted. WHAT AM I MISSING?” He grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me.

Without taking my hands from my face, I mumbled, “It was fucking amazing.” Seth was quiet for so long I peeked at him from between my fingers. He was grinning at me.

“What?” I wailed.

“Nothing. I did not say a word.” Seth kept grinning.

“Why. Are. You. Grinning. Like. That.” I emphasised each word by punching his arm.

He laughed aloud at me, and grabbed my wrists. “I’m just happy for you both, that’s all.”

“No. Nope. Nuh uh. There is NOTHING to be ‘happy for us’ about.” I scowled.

“Do you like him?” Seth asked gently, trying not to smile.

“Nope. I am NOT crushing on the King of Hell.” I was adamant. “It’s just… I dunno… I wasn’t expecting it.”

“You kissed him !” Seth exclaimed. I rolled my eyes at him. “Ahhh.” He gave me a knowing smirk. “You didn’t expect to LIKE it.”

I took a deep breath. “No.” I admitted. “I did not expect to… enjoy it so much.” I could feel the heat in my face, and internally cursed my lack of control.

“Dear one.” His voice was serious and gentle. “It’s ok to have feelings, you know.”

I was not expecting that, and stared at him in shock. “I am not crushing on Lucifer.” I repeated myself firmly.

Seth stood, and shrugged. “Lust is a feeling.”

I spluttered, and he grinned at me.

“Your mum will be home soon, I’d better go. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.”

“Yeah, bye.” I muttered.

“Oh, Katie? One last question. Was there tongue? And who slipped it first?”

I hurled a cushion at him, but he was gone by the time it reached where he had been standing. His laugh echoed in the room.