Page 85 of Like Grim Death: Part One
Chills spider their way over the back of my neck.
I pause the video.
Using two fingers, I zoom in.
Nothing.
She’s staring up atnothing.
I press play.
She walks further toward the backyard, but she’s shaking her head over and over again, dragging her feet like she doesn’t want to go.
When she reaches the edge of the light which had spilled over from the front porch Halloween decorations, she appears to drop to her knees and a frame later…she’s gone.
I pause the video the instant she disappears.
Zoom in closer.
There is nothing there, but neither is she.
I am fucking drowning.
I pullthrough the gates of Sanctum and they close behind me in the night. I see Lucifer’s blue M5 double parked right at the front of the cathedral, in a spot that would probably be reserved for the handicapped if this was a public church. There’s Elijah’s blacked-out Lincoln too, at the far back of the lot. I can only see it because the lights of my car are on. Otherwise, it’s nothing but darkness out here.
I sweep my gaze around the place, my throat a little tight. I didn’t want to leave Ella. She’s been more emotional than usual all week and Luce sounded weird on the phone last night. He really didn’t like when I brought up Sid.
But I really didn’t fucking like when he referred to my girl as aplaything.
For one wild second, I wonder who my brothers would choose in a fight. But everyone is always dying to have a go at the leader, aren’t they? It’s pack mentality. They’d probably support me, or at the least, simply watch it happen.
Thinking of my brothers, I glance around the parking lot again.
Where is everyone else?
I park the car over two spots, cut the engine, flick off my seatbelt, then open the door.
Grinding my teeth, I hesitate, then grab the handgun from the glove compartment, check the chamber, and close the door of the Audi. I don’t always bring guns into Sanctum, but things feel weird here, just like they did Tuesday on Corpus Avenue and that ended with me getting kidnapped. It’s Sunday now, nearly a full week later, but we’re allegedly meeting the initiate tonight and there is zero possibility I’m going to trust him.
I push the gun in the back of my pants and think about how Sid would scold me for that. Gun safety. I guess when you live a life like ours, it’s kind of the last thing on our minds.
I cross the lot, walking past Lucifer’s car. I glance through the tinted windows, but I can’t see shit. Still, when I walk around the front, visibility is a little better through the windshield, and he’s not there. The empty car seat in the back makes me think of Rain, and where Luceshouldbe. At home, not dealing with all this fucking cult shit.
I wish I could stop worrying about him. I know he’s a big boy and I know he can take care of himself. Why can’t I just… detach from everything, like he can with anyone who isn’t his fucking immediate family? He doesn’t even care about his stupid goddamn uncle. It’s not that I blame him, but I thought maybe he’d feelsomethingknowing his father’s brother is here, ordering us around.Somethingabout RC and the investigation into Sid’s stalker. I mean, I even watched that shitty movie about Shadow Villa which gave me absolutely nothing, but I wanted to try and figure this shit out.
Let it go.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I take the stone steps up to the heavy, burgundy doors, the number 6 curved into the steel handles, one flipped to mirror the other. Even with a new building, this place is way too fucking weird.
I reach out for the handle, knowing if the 6 called us here, it’ll be unlocked. It is, and the darkness and cold incense-tainted air is like a smack in the face as I step inside the foyer. No lights flick on, and as the door creaks closed at my back, I’m engulfed in darkness. For a moment, I just stand there, thinking about fucking Ella this morning. She made us breakfast after. Pancakes, with eggs and bacon.
Now, tonight, she’s alone again. I need to focus more on her and I know it. I need to stop taking on everyone else’s problems inside my head, but it’s like, since she’s safe in our house, I feel like I can shift my attention to more pressing matters.
But IknowElla. She craves love. If I’m not giving it to her, I worry someone else will. Then again, she rarely leaves our house without me. Who the fuck is she gonna run to?
The thought makes me laugh a little, but on its heels is another thought.
Why does she put up with this shit?
