“Why would they have a base at Leven?”
“I’m unsure, but I know we were spotted at Parse City. My father said he caught them lurking around the office; even had the security cameras hacked.”
“If they know about your family, why haven’t they done anything to them?”
“They aren’t after them; my family lives peacefully. They are after me,” Thaddeus states.
“His family have left town for a while till things cool down. Thaddeus called them and told them to get out, so they don’t use them against him,” Orion adds.
“But you haven’t done anything in ages; why do they want you?”
“They have been following us for decades, Evie. We aren’t good people,” Ryland chimes in.
“You mean I am not good,” Thaddeus says with a growl.
“I have done my fair share of bad shit, Thaddeus; you can’t take all the blame,” Ryland retorts.
“Regardless, we need to leave. I think they may know about you now; we can’t risk staying here any longer,” Thaddeus says.
Orion grabs a suitcase from the wardrobe, and I can tell he has done this plenty of times as he starts grabbing things and putting them in. Ryland grabs another and starts filling it with my clothes and toiletries.
“What? Right now?” I ask as I watch them pack up necessities.
Thaddeus sits up, swings his legs off of the bed and stands. He walks into the bathroom and grabs a few things, like my makeup and hair straightener. I help him, pass him things, knowing his silence means we are leaving, and there is no room for argument. Not that I will argue over this after seeing what they did to him.
“You have time to shower if you want; we won’t be ready for about half an hour,” Thaddeus says, and I quickly strip my clothes off, hopping in and turning the faucets on.
I hear them rummage around and do things. I shower quickly, hop out, and I notice one of them has left one of their shirts and a pair of my leggings on the end of the bed. I quickly dry myself, slip them on, and pull my hair in a bun, only for my hair tie to snap. Quickly ducking into the bathroom, I look under the sink, retrieving another and grab the packet out. As I do, I notice the pads and tampons under the sink. I stand up, pulling my hair in a bun, trying to remember the last time I had my period.
Thaddeus was gone for over a month, and I don’t remember getting them at Imogen’s. Then, it dawns on me. I haven’t had my period since the first week I got here, which means I was due for it to start around the middle of my time at Imogen’s. That is like a couple of months ago, but I know that can’t be right. We didn’t have sex until I was marked. That was like six or seven weeks ago?
I have no idea; the only thing I know for sure is that I am late. My heart skips a beat as panic hits me. I lift my shirt, thinking I might notice a change, but I don’t. Suddenly, the bedroom door opens, and Orion runs in; he must have felt my mood shift.
“What’s wrong,” he asks, staring at me curiously when he sees I am fine.
“Nothing.” I shake my head.
“I felt you become scared,” he says, looking around the bathroom.
“Just nervous,” I lie, but I feel my heart skip a beat, and he cocks his head to the side, watching me. Can he tell I am lying? I know he probably can, but he says nothing.
“Come on, we are ready to leave,” he says, escorting me downstairs and outside.
Thaddeus looks up when we walk out and keeps his eyes on me as I sit to put on a pair of shoes. “Where are we going?” I ask.
“Nowhere and everywhere,” Thaddeus answers.
I shake my head; he doesn’t even know. We all get in the car. Orion is behind the steering wheel and I stay in the back seat with Ryland. I doze on and off while driving, waking at each stop when they get fuel to stretch my legs.
“How much further?” I ask, getting tired of sitting in the car.
“We will find a hotel in the next city,” Orion says.
Ryland pays and brings back some chips and drinks. I groan, hopping back in the car; this time, Thaddeus gets in the back with me. Ryland winds his window down and lights a smoke, offering one to me.
I shake my head, and he raises an eyebrow but shrugs. I see Orion’s eyes snap to me in the mirror, and I quickly look away, putting my head in Thaddeus’ lap. The next time we stop, though, it isn’t in a city. It’s a hotel on the outskirts of a town. Thaddeus and Ryland get out and both walk into the reception.
When I am about to get out, Orion flicks the locks on the doors, staring at me in the mirror. “You’re hiding something,” he says.
“No, I just want to get out.”
“I know you are; your heart rate just picked up. Tell me now, Evelyn.”
“Unlock the doors, Orion, please.” He shakes his head and I see Ryland come out. My eyes go to him and Thaddeus as they walk toward the car. Orion’s eyes don’t leave me in the mirror. “Three seconds, Evelyn.” I look between them all and he starts counting. “1… 2…”
“I will tell you, just not here; they will hear,” I say, panicked as I see Ryland reach for the door. He pulls on the handle, but it doesn’t open. He taps on the window, talking to Thaddeus. “Please, Orion,” I whisper.
He sighs, unlocks the door, and I get out.
“Why are the doors locked?” Ryland asks, looking at me.
“I bumped the button,” Orion says, and I let out the breath I was holding.
“You okay, hun?” Ryland asks, looking at me.
“Yeah, sore back,” I tell him, and he nods. My back is actually killing from being cooped up in the car.
“Number 26,” Thaddeus says, tossing a set of keys to Orion, who catches them.
Orion grabs my hand and tugs me after him a little too quickly. I have to jog to keep up with him. He unlocks the door and shuts it once we’re in. Orion flicks on the light, grabs me, and presses me against the dresser, his arms caging me in. “Tell me!”
I am saved from answering when the door opens and Ryland walks in, shock clear on his features as he takes in Orion standing over me. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” we both say at the same time.
“Doesn’t look like nothing,” he says, stepping closer, and Orion straightens up.
“It’s nothing, Ryland; I am just teasing her,” he says, as a smile slips onto his face.
Ryland eyes him for a few seconds. Thaddeus opens the door, carrying the other suitcase, which distracts Ryland, and I use that opportunity to move away from Orion. I climb on the bed with its ugly floral pattern bedspread. It is a nice hotel; just the decor is ugly. The outside is modern and sleek; the inside looks like a flower bomb has gone off. Even the carpet has a floral pattern on it that is more suitable for the fifties, and the room has two queen-sized beds. Ryland grabs the bedside table that separates the beds and places it under the TV hanging on the wall and pushes the beds together.
“I am going to see if anything is open in town,” Orion states.
Ryland heads for the bathroom, stripping his shirt off as he goes.
“Can you grab some movies?” Thaddeus asks, when he flicks on the TV and we see only static. Orion nods, looks at me, and walks out. “Wonder why he is in a bad mood,” Thaddeus mutters, pulling me down on the bed with him.