Page 89 of Make Me A Sinner
He’s smart enough to try to calm her, too. “We’re all prepared. At any time. We’ve been through worse. What happened herewas just a unfortunate set of events.” He tries to seem in control, but we both know neither of us is in control right now. “Now let’s check out this wound.” He takes a step closer, then slowly removes my bandage to have a look. “Well, it looks a little better than earlier.”
“Fuck, it was worse than this?” I can’t help but ask since the damn thing still hurts like I got shot five minutes ago.
“Way worse,” Draco nods. “It’s healing faster than a human wound anyway, so you should be brand new in a week or so.”
“A fucking week.” My head hits the pillow. I can’t even imagine how I’m gonna stay in bed for that long. I mean, I could stay in bed for a week, but I’m not sure it’s recommended to do any of the activities that would keep me there.
“Think of it as an overdue vacation.” Draco lets out a laugh.
“Maybe I should shoot you and give you an overdue vacation,” I mutter, trying to find a better position on the bed, because no matter how I lie, something hurts.
And just when I’m about to give him another piece of my mind, Whiro comes back. “I see you’re done with the love confessions.” He winks, knowing damn well, I don’t like my life out there on display, not even for my brothers.
So I give him the brotherly “fuck off” in response.
“Yeah, don’t worry I didn’t come to see your sorry ass. I actually came back to take Serena downstairs. She hasn’t eaten in, like, a day... and she is human. Fragile and shit. The maids already set the table.”
My gaze turns to Serena. “So, you do have a death wish after all. Go downstairs and eat something. I’m not going anywhere.” I say, before she gets a chance to argue. Guess she knows this isn’t the time or place for that. Besides, I need a word with Draco.
At least, this time, she listens. She leans in for a kiss, then follows Whiro out of the room.
“So how fucked are we?” I ask my brother, knowing damn well this is just the beginning of something that might change things forever.
“Can’t tell yet. I don’t know what the metal is. I also suspect it’s Celtic, but I can’t make out the words. What I do know is that someone put a lot of thought and effort into this. Which only means we need to match that effort.” Draco seems fully aware of how serious this is. Someone’s been watching me, maybe all of us—and they know we’re not mortal.
“I’ll keep digging around, check some of the books again, but so far, I’ve got nothing,” my brother continues, and we both know it’s a real possibility we won’t have any leads too soon.
All we know is, a new war just landed on our doorstep.
forty-four
-Serena-
I follow Whiro downstairs, and as I descend the steps, I realize the house is full of people now. Well, not exactly people because none of them seems earthly. Sure, they all look like mortals, but I've come to tell the difference lately. They’re all too perfect, like they’ve just stepped off the cover of a magazine. Too fit, too flawless, yet cloaked in something dark—something unmistakably fascinating. The women wear sublime dresses, like we’re almost preparing for a party rather than coming to check on a sick relative. They probably don’t even know how to act in this case because none of them has ever been sick before.
All the men are also stylish in their own distinct way. Whether they go for the businessman look, dark Gothic, or the casual serial killer like Whiro, there’s something about them that makes them irresistible.
In fact, they all look so good, I half-expect Magic Mike to start any second.
Is there a hidden camera somewhere? Because this feels like it could easily be one of those TV pranks.
But I know better. They’re all gods, just like Set. And suddenly, I feel a little overwhelmed and way too fragile around them. Whiro must feel it too, and edges a little closer to me. “Don’t worry about them. They don’t bite,” he pauses. “Actually, scratch that. But at least, they won’t bite you. They all know you’re Set’s.”
I nod as I enter the living room, and everyone else seems to nod in return, acknowledging my presence. Phro pops up out of nowhere and rattles offa fewintroductions. And by a few, I mean I’ve met almost every god known to man by the time I reach the dinner table. I even met Osiris, or at least that’s what Phro called him. And Set was right, he seems pretty much alive to me. So the myths turn out to be just that—myths.
Phro seems a lot nicer now. She still clings to that high-maintenance energy, but it’s toned down. Nothing like the theatrical diva she was at the party. On the contrary, she tries to make me feel welcomed, and even sits with me at the table as I eat, so I won’t feel so uncomfortable.
“Don’t bother with them. Their attention is… elsewhere. We don’t get together that often, so it’s a good opportunity for them to catch up,” she says, probably sensing that I’m still not entirely at ease being there with them. And I can tell, she’s right. No one seems remotely preoccupied by my presence. They’re all deep in conversation, breaking into small or large groups around the room, like they’re just here for dinner. But I know from Set they don’t need to eat as often as humans, so I guess that explains the lack of actual appetite.
I walk into the kitchen to make myself coffee as soon as I finish eating. Probably not the best idea since the shaking in my limbs didn’t quite stop. But I can’t go back to Set yet. Phro said his brothers and sisters were going to see him one at a time. And I don’t feel comfortable being there when they do. They need their time alone, probably to discuss things no mortal should everhear about. And I need to find something to keep me busy in the meantime.
I text Monica not to panic, but I had to go on an unexpected business trip, then I call the maid back at the penthouse to make sure Eight-Ball is well-fed, since we left Vegas in a hurry. She assures me that I have nothing to worry about and wishes me a pleasant vacation. If only she knew the vacation we’re having.
I prop my feet up on a kitchen chair, coffee in hand, eyes out the window while I keep running the events through my mind. Actually, I keep replaying in my mind everything that happened lately, and I realize I’m a different person. Set was right. I’m stronger now than when I met him. I am the best version of myself.
My feet have gone numb, and as I come to think about it, I must’ve been sitting on the chair for more than an hour. I try to stretch them, but the tingling is a little too much to bear, and just as I’m about to stomp my heel on the ground to stop the pins and needles, Draco sneaks in behind me. “Set’s going to have visitors for a while... family keeps coming in.”
“Shouldn’t he rest?” I ask, knowing that it’s a lot for him to take on.
