Page 76 of Fragile Facade

If I had to tell him anything, it’d be the truth. That somewhere along the way, I stopped manipulating Soren and started letting him lead. That I don’t know how to manipulate him anymore because he doesn’t make sense to me. When he was chasing a curse, I got it. That made sense because a thrill-seeker respects another thrill-seeker. But he’s not chasing it anymore. He’s chasing me, just as I planned. Now that he is, I don’t have to manipulate his actions anymore, so I don’t know what else to fucking do.

I look down at my healing hands, a few fingernails gone. When I shrug, the burned parts of my back scream in pain, but Krypt never looks at me. He doesn’t have to. Because I think he gets it. He never meant to feel anything for Remi either.

My eyes stay locked on Soren and how his instrument becomes a part of him, listening to the way he sends me a message without knowing I’m hearing it.I hear it, sweetheart, and I wish I knew how to say it back.

When Menace climbs up to sit with us, he doesn’t speak until the Sauders stop playing, each of them heading their own way. “I can fix it,” he says to me. “When the burns are healed. We can make something work.”

The Vile House tat is still there. Still obvious but warped, and I’m not ashamed of it. Iamashamed of ruining it, like I didn’t do it justice—didn’t protect it. Instead, I say, “I want a king cobra.” My mouth aches.

He laughs but doesn’t ask why. “Alright.”

I met a kid on a plane, and she saved my mind when it wasn’t mine. I’ve never really been grateful to anyone before, but I am to her. I’ll never get to tell her, so I’ll honour her on my skin.

It takes a lot of energy that I don’t have to push myself up to stand, the rain feeling nice on my overheated skin.

“Leave him,” Krypt warns me. “He’s never pleasant after he plays.”

I don’t care how unpleasant he is, but I nod to take his advice. I don’t have the energy to deal with Soren’s emotions anyway. Mostly because I don’t know how to convey mine.

* * *

It makesme uncomfortable that his presence is calming. I haven’t even limped my way out of the bathroom yet, but I know he’s in my room. He used to be able to sneak up on me, but ever since I sucked his cock after hanging him at the music shop, I’m sensing him more and more.

Wrapped in a towel, I leave the ensuite bathroom and enter my dimly lit room. I love Vile House, but I’ve been in this bed for too long, and I’m itching to get out. To get back to Vile business and put that goddamn Reaper City job in the past.

I poisoned their city… they’re going to retaliate, and I need to be ready. Especially because they know my identity now. Krypt and Ransom were masked, but Soren wasn’t, and with our faces known, I’m certain we’ll be targeted.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I say to the dark corner as I drop my towel and step into a pair of white boxer-briefs. There’s a small part of me that is insecure about all my wounds and scarring, but I’m not going to let him see that. At least I have a full mouth of teeth again, even if they hurt like a motherfucker. “Couldn’t keep avoiding me?”

Sitting on the edge of my bed to work up the strength to complete the monumental task of pants, I hold my sweats in my hand and blink away my fatigue. How the hell am I still so tired when all I’ve been doing is sleeping?

Before I work up the energy to put my pants on, something cold presses against my fist. I open my hand to grab it, the coldness of a plastic cup feeling nice against my stiff fingers. “What’s this?”

“Smoothie.”

I grin. “Aw.”

“Fuck you.”

I laugh, wrapping my lips around the straw. “Aren’t you sweet.” Creamy, tropical and coconut coolness fills my mouth, easing the pain in my teeth and coating my throat in a soothing sensation. I drop my pants and inch backwards to sit comfortably, legs dangling. “You gonna stand there like a creep or…?”

He heads for the door without a word.

“Soren.”

“Ghost,” he snaps at me.

Guess we’re both feeling vulnerable again. “Stay.”

“Why?”

“Because you brought me a fucking smoothie.”

He huffs. “Doesn’t mean shit.”

“Okay.”

He sits on the other side of my bed, facing the opposite direction. It’s strange to be calm around him without requesting the ninety seconds. I sense him, but other than vulnerability and a bit of irritation, there’s nothing dire or dangerous about him. His energy has shifted, and maybe that means mine has, too.