Immortal Fire - Book One

“What the fuck would they want us for, besides to hold us, prisoner?” I asked, my voice rising from anxiousness.

“They want to question you about everything that has happened and have promised to release you all afterward… I am ordered to escort Cassie back home tonight and then return to the school with you all…”

“For fuck’s sake…” I said not feeling comfortable with being questioned by the elders.

I had never fully trusted them since the moment I had met them. They had deliberately tried to keep Hayden and me apart. Just then I realized that Damien had said something else…

“You’re going to be coming to school with us?” I asked disbelievingly. Damien never blushed, but I swear to God that he was blushing right then.

“Yeah…” he said awkwardly. I could not help the laughter that exploded out of me.

“A bit old for school, aren’t you?” I asked between fits of laughter. The stress and dreariness must have finally gotten to me.

“Okay, so when do we leave?” I asked eventually, wiping at my face. Hell, I needed a shower…

“Right now,” he said, looking down the street. Hayden and Hunter were walking back towards us, and they were laughing about something.

“I see that has been sorted out…” Damien said emotionless.

I could pick up that he had a duel meaning to his question. He had seen the scene between Hayden and me after we had arrived in the park. I felt terrible but I could not deny it.

“Yeah,” I said, picking at the cold grass beside my leg, feeling the guilt gnawing at me.

Damien said nothing and just nodded before turning away. I snuck a guilty glance towards Cassie, who, in return, shrugged awkwardly. Hayden and Hunter arrived at our group and Hayden sat down beside me, pulling me into his arms and lightly kissing the top of my head. Hunter leaned against the tree with his arms folded and looked at Damien.

“So, what now?” he asked. Damien told him about what the hosts had said and that the three of us had to return to Lunzos.

At the mention of Lunzos, Hunter paled. I guessed that he did not want to return there after what had happened with his parents…

“The car is waiting for you three. You better get moving. I do not think it is wise to be standing around here any longer. We shouldn’t push our luck just in case…” Damien said.

It was obvious that he was trying to get rid of us. Probably just to get rid of me. We stood up and I turned to Cassie.

“Thank you for everything,” I said and hugged her.

“Keep safe and I’ll see you back home.” Cassie hugged me tightly back before pulling away.

“You too... Try not to get into any more trouble, okay?” she said and went to stand to the side.

I looked at Damien and I could not read his face. I went to hug him too and he was stiff beneath my arms but hugged me back, nevertheless. Damien told Hayden how to get to the car before he and Cassie went on their way. I watched them go before turning to Hayden and Hunter.

“Okay let’s go,” I said to the two of them.

Hunter turned and started walking in the direction Damien had said to go.

“Are you sure that you’re, okay?” Hayden asked me, taking my hand. I smiled up at him.

“Yeah, I’m fine, and you?” I asked in return.

“Never been better,” he said smiling and bent down to kiss me lightly.

“Could you two move your asses? You can save that crap for somewhere else,” called Hunter from down the street. Hayden groaned and pulled me in to step beside him as we strode down the street towards Hunter.

“Remind me why I shouldn’t break his nose again?” Hayden said to me jokingly.

“Maybe because I already broke it before you did, and it wouldn’t be fair,” I answered. Hayden burst out laughing then.

“Yeah, I heard about that. He says you throw a mean punch. Maybe worse than mine…” he said nudging me playfully.

I smiled back at Hayden, and we fell in step with Hunter when we reached him. The two of them spoke the whole way to the car and I watched as I saw how much Hayden had missed his brother.

When we arrived at the car, the street was quiet except for a few lonesome cabs passing by.

“Whose car is this?” asked Hunter in awe. It was Hayden’s Jaguar F-type and his face lit up like that of a small child on Christmas morning.

“My baby!” Hayden called out throwing his arms over the hood and hugging the car. Yeah, a real tough guy there, I thought to myself. I laughed and looked over at Hunter.

“Who do you think?” I asked smiling.

Hunter’s jaw dropped as he looked the car over and then at his brother. The Hosts had fixed up the car nicely and I appreciated it.

“Shotgun driving!” Hunter said.

Hayden stood up and opened the driver’s door. “Over my fucking dead body,” he said climbing in and revving the engine as he started it.

“Men…” I said shaking my head and getting into the car.