Page 7 of Black Onyx
I clean the drying blood off my face and then push the needle through the skin just below my lip. The dude got me good. I can feel a stickiness along the middle of my back and slight pain. I’d be willing to bet that the wound, another thing leftover from my father’s punishment, has reopened during the fight. There’s not much I can do about that one now though, so I’ll ignore it and deal with it later. I can’t feel blood sluggishly running down my back, but my tank is black, so it’ll be fine for now.
I’m on the third pass of the needle through my lip when the door next to the row of sinks opens, and I turn to see who’s entered. Reaper stares at me in shock and, for some reason, worry. It takes me a second to realise why he’s looking at me like that.
“Fuck. Sorry, I'm nearly done, then I’ll be out of your way.” I say, realising that I’ve dropped down into a defensive crouch with the needle and thread, paused halfway through my lip.
“What in the underworld's name are you doing?” He bellows.
“Stitching my lip, one second,” I say, starting to get frustrated and trying not to react visibly to the mention of the underworld.
I quickly finish the job while he watches silently, clearly pissed about something, if his crossed arms and deep frown are any indications. I clear up quickly, making sure I pick up the letter, C4 and detonator, which I keep out of sight of the still stewing Reaper.
“There you go, all yours,” I mutter, barely restraining myself from calling him a dickhead and my voice even rougher than usual, thanks to all the talking I’ve done today.
I walk out of the door, planning to find my way outside so I can dispose of the letter. But, surprisingly, Reaper follows me out, muttering something under his breath.
“What’s wrong with you?” Loki asks as they all appear. I carry on walking. I’ve got no interest in listening to them bitch.
“I, she . . . Look at her damn face.” He finally gets out.
“Farren!” Rival calls, and I pause, having slowed my pace when Reaper started stuttering out of pure curiosity.
I slowly turn around. Ready to get this latest round of bullshit done with so I can go and do my favourite thing.
“Did you go to the infirmary?” Mayhem asks.
“That’s what I was trying to say. She stitched it up herself!” Reaper finally announces.
Loki raises his eyebrow in question as Storm just stands there watching stoically. I shrug in response, turn on my heel and walk out of the gym door. No one gave me a schedule, so I have no idea if I’m supposed to be in a lesson now or not.
“Where the fuck is she going?” Storm growls, and I hate that I like the sound.
Why do I like it?
“How the fuck am I supposed to know?” Mayhem replies.
I can still hear them, so I assume that they’re following me.
“Farren! We need to talk to you.” Loki calls after me.
“Busy,” I yell back, finally finding a door to the outside and pushing through.
I come out onto a large, empty expanse of grass. It’ll do. I carry on walking until I’m further away from the buildings. I don’t want to blow any of them up.
“Trouble, we’re trying to talk to you.” Storm growls as I bend down and set up the C4, placing the letter on top.
“You might want to back up,” I say, ignoring his previous comments.
“Why the fuck would I listen to anything you have to say?” He sneers, his eyes darting to my lip.
“Fine, don’t.” I shrug, walking a safe distance away, the others follow me, and reluctantly Storm starts to follow too.
I press the detonator before he’s completely out of the blast zone, causing him to fly forward and land on his face.
“What the fuck was that!?” Mayhem yells.
“C4,” I say, a smartass grin on my face.
“I can see that, but why?” He replies.
