Page 24 of In Between Darkness

“For the lady,” River says, bowing his head slightly as he gives me my drink.

I giggle and take a sip. It’s fruity but strong and burns the back of my throat as it goes down. I clear my throat.

“Anyone would think you were trying to get me drunk!” I smirk in his direction.

“Well, if you can handle your drink like you can handle your knives, I don’t think we have anything to worry about.” He laughs.

I take another gulp and cringe as the liquid claws down my throat.

“What’s in this stuff, anyway?” I ask, examining the orange liquor swirling in my cup.

“Is it bad that I don’t know?” he says, taking another sip. “I just know it gets you fucked up and that’s good enough for me.”

“To getting fucked up…” I say, raising my chalice towards his and he clinks it in response.

“Come and meet my friends,” he says, taking my hand again.

I look to my right, and Charlie and Nala are making out in the corner. I nod my head and trail behind him.

He leads me to a bookcase on the left side of the room and places his index finger over his mouth in a ‘shhh’gesture, pulling a book from the case ever so slightly. I hear a faint click over the thumping sound of the music, and a door opens behind us. River winks at me and pulls me through. Another room. What is this place? Seems to be an old office.

There is a man sitting on a large, decorative wooden chair with his feet propped up on a long desk. He has chocolate brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He is smoking something and laughing with a blonde girl, who is perched on the corner of the table next to him. He puffs on the smoking stick and asks for a light. The blonde girl conjures an orb and relights it for him. There are two more guys sprawled out on a huge burgundy sofa. Like complete opposites, one has dark curly hair and the other is platinum blonde. They are taking shots of a neon pink liquid and laughing with each other.

A large rug smothers the stone floor in the middle of the room, and two matching armchairs sit to one side.

They all look around at us as we enter the room

“Picked up a stray, have ya?” the man smoking directs to River with a smirk on his face.

“Everyone, this is Asha,” River replies proudly, shooting the man a playful look.

I give a wave and follow River to the sofa.

“Don’t worry about Tyler, he’s a dick,” the curly-haired guy says, handing me a shot of the pink substance. “I’m Jaxon, and this is Isaiah.” He points at the blonde boy next to him, who simply smiles.

I take the drink and neck it, shuddering at the tingly sensation that rises up my body.

“Hey, I can hear you!” the desk guy remarks, but I know he knows they’re joking.

“That’s why we said it!” Jaxon counters, forcing a laugh from him.

“You know you love me,” desk guy taunts.

“Like a Sun loves a Moon,” Isaiah banters while pouring another shot of the pink liquid.

I let out a chuckle at this. Desk guy stands and approaches us, swiping the shot out of Isaiah’s hand and swigging it in one gulp. He wipes his mouth with his sleeve before extending it to me.

“Don’t listen to them. I’m lovely, really. Tyler, but you can call me Ty.” He gives me the smoke as a peace offering. “Do you smoke?”

“It depends. What’s in it?” I ask innocently.

“Char root. It grows at the back of the school, between the valleys and the meadow. Totally safe. I’m a potion student. It gives you a slight buzz,” Tyler says, whilst River gives me a look of reassurance.

I take the smoke and bring it to my lips, inhaling deeply and watching the embers crackle and burn. I exhale and cough a little, passing the smoke back to Ty.

“Thanks,” I smile, and River’s eyes fall on me.

“You smoked before?” River asks, sounding even more surprised by me.