Page 26 of Eight Embers

“Alright Delaney,” somebody else calls. “You've got fresh meat. Everybody is now wandering, with the exception of Wil. He's going to stand in the kitchen and observe for now.”

I hear a squeak and then somebody starts laughing, and then whoever was talking just a second ago corrects themself. “I stand corrected. Wil is... participating. Interesting. Enjoy your hunt!”

Somebody puts music on, and I try to listen for any footsteps near me walking around, snatching at the air until I grabsomebody's T-shirt. I clamp onto that thing tight and tug the person into me, and I’m met with a rich and spicy scent I can't place.

I cling to them, using the sides of their shirt to press my body into theirs as I go in for the kill. They're eager to kiss me back, palming the back of my head to get our mouths fused together even better.

I try to let go of everything that's happened today, all the confusion and the discomfort. I focus all of my attention on this person I'm holding, this person I'm kissing.

There's a version of me out there that knows exactly who this is, that wouldn't need any other identifiers other than the way they feel in my arms to know who they are. But that person is not me right now.

I start mapping them out, running my hands under their shirt to feel all the warm skin. It's got a texture to it, a little bit bumpy everywhere but in a smooth way. It's firm, and they’ve got very little stubble on their face.

Before long they’re pulled away, and I’m spun around a few times so I lose any sort of orientation in the room. My victim is placed near my other one with a plop on the couch and a groan.

You know what they say, it’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt.

Or disappears. I feel like that should be part of the disclaimer, too.

The whole building rocks as an earthquake goes off, the room shaking with a deep rumble that sounds far too menacing.

I immediately rip the blindfold off, which for some reason takes way longer than it needs to, only to find myself in a dim roomcontaining exactly one unicorn and one mate that I currently only vaguely remember from class.

I run room to room as if that’s somehow going to magically reveal where everyone went, checking the hallway in case they all decided to play a prank on me, but I can tell by the expressions on both the remaining men’s faces that that’s not at all the case.

I stare around me, bereft without even knowing most of my mates’ names, not even knowing who to call for other than the twins, Adam, and Cory.

We’re all frozen in case whatever just happened isn’t done happening.

I feel mildly good about getting to Saladriel’s side because he was so kind to me earlier when we were in the infirmary, and Wil is sweet even if I don’t exactly know anything about the two of us as a couple.

“What just happened?” I look to Wil, tears about to fall down my face, no answer ready.

Saladriel grabs my hand, linking our pinkies. With a little tug I’m stumbling more into him as he wraps an arm around my shoulders, doing a very awkward job of trying to console me.

“I don’t…what?” I fall silent again, then a toilet flushes down the hall and we’re all creeping that way and sticking our heads into the short hallway to see if it’s somebody that’s supposed to be here or somebody that none of us know.

Because I was raised to defend myself, I decide to protect the guys behind me and creep down further, keeping my back to the wall right as a blue-skinned demon walks into the hallway holding…a bowl of potatoes.

“Was that an earthquake?”

My head goes all fuzzy and I sway a bit, clarity returning to me.

I blink, look around the room, and then sigh. Very dramatically, lots of flair. “For fuck’s sake. Did you just miss out on getting raptured because you were using the bathroom?”

Rush looks down at his potatoes, french fries this time for variety, then at the bathroom, and he clears his throat. “Uh, yep. That’s— that’sexactlywhat I was doing in there. Totally was using the bathroom.” He nods emphatically to back this up.

I narrow my eyes and stalk towards him. Dig a nail into his chest for showmanship. “You were doing something freaky with potatoes, weren’t you?”

“Let me explain.”

“Can I get an ‘aye’ from everyone that doesnotwant the demon to explain?” Saladriel immediately interjects with a hand in the air.

Wil follows suit, practically shouting, “Aye!” and maybe I’m curious, but I don’t think I ought to be.

Rush very surreptitiously stuffs a few more fries into his mouth, licks his lips, and looks me up and down, lasciviously. Then remembers that I’m not supposed to be this clear headed. “Did you get your memories back? Sweet.” Goes right back to eating potato products.

“Woah, really?” Wil asks, throwing himself in front of me and checking my eyes.

---