Page 187 of House of Pain
The sirens were still waiting.
Right then, the thunder rumbled, and the rain broke.
“Oh, the serpents are going to be here soon,” Andro said as they gathered at the edge of the lake, watching the boats.
And surely, a few moments later, long thin snakes were making their way over the water.
Val walked over to Jack, still kneeling where she had left him. Not so gently, she fisted his hair in her palm and jerked his head towards the lake.
“We wouldn’t want you to miss this, Jacky-boy.” Val leaned in to whisper the words into his ear. Jack lifted his eyes to the lake, his jaw tight. “It seems you’ll be short two members this year. It’s gonna be hard staying in the big four.”
Blaze smirked, satisfaction seeping into his bones at the desperation blooming in Jack’s eyes.
The House of Tigers was done.
“I saw Genevieve,” Alecto said.
Blaze stiffened.
“She’s a Water Bride.”
For a moment, none of them said anything.
What was there to say, really?
“We couldn’t anticipate she was going to kill herself,” Val finally said, her voice light. “I’m surprised she chose the Blood Lake to do it though.”
“Yeah, why would she want to linger here, so close to the place that ruined her?” Jolene asked, frowning.
“Maybe it was a deliberate choice,” Alecto said. “Maybe she did it because she knew she’d get to haunt us while we’re here. She sure as fuck almost got to kill me.”
“Fascinating, isn’t it?” Val shrugged. “Let’s remember to never set foot by the lake again.”
“You really don’t have to tell me that twice,” Andro said.
“Let’s go,” Val urged, starting the climb up the hill back to the campus.
“No,” Alecto said, her voice cold as a stone. Her eyes were still focused on the boat. “I’m going to see this through.” She turned, locking eyes with Blaze. There was nothing but icy rage in them. “Just to make sure they won’t survive.”
So, they all stayed.
Blaze wanted to reach out and take her hand, linking their fingers together.
But he couldn’t. He wasn’t sure she’d want that.
He wished he could pull her into his embrace and squeeze her until she knew that she was safe.
He was sure Alecto wouldn’t want that.
He had lost the privilege of touching Alecto.
But they had come for her, even if barely.
So, they just stayed, all five of them, hoping that it was enough of a promise to Alecto and each other that they’d come for each other one way or the other.
Even if barely.
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