Alex laughed, pushing off the wall. You cant take him.
My gaze fell to the untouched plate of food by the barred door. Eat, Alex. You need to eat.
You can never be him .
I rubbed the growth of facial hair along my jaw as she slowly approached the plate of food, and hope sparked deep inside me. She hadnt eaten in the four days since shed Awakened. I had no idea how she was still walking around. Picking up the plate of food, she backed away.
Are you going to eat the food this time? I asked wearily.
Alex smiled and then threw the plate directly at where I sat. Plastic crashed against titanium before clattering on the floor. Pieces of foodmaybe mashed potatoes and some kind of meatmade it through the bars, splattering my chest and cheek. Wed stopped giving her ceramic plates after shed tried to turn the broken shards into weapons.
Drawing on patience I was running out of, I slowly knocked the chunks of food off me. Did that make you feel better, Alex?
She pouted. Not really. Then she started pacing, her movements fluid and spellbinding in spite of the fact shed thrown her dinner at me again . I cant take this any longer. Let me out or, so help me, I will destroy you.
I shook my head. Alex, you have to be in there. I know you. My heart would not be beating if you were truly gone.
Dropping onto the mattress, she growled. Gods, isnt that just so sweet? My heart is all aflutter.
There he is. I stood and grasped the bars, mirroring her earlier actions. I wondered how long it would take to bring you out. Does my love for her bother you, Seth?
She rolled onto her side, brows pinched and face pale. Seths not in here, you stupid pure-blood.
It hurts when hes connected to you, doesnt it?
Hes not in here! she screamed, her voice cracking.
I knew she was lying. Hes there. I leaned against the bars. I can see him in your eyes.
Alex curled, tucking her knees to her chest. A shiver rolled through her. I knew what she was doingretreating inside herself, reaching out to Seth, making contact with him.
Alex, I said.
Her hands curled into fists as she lifted her head. Go away.
My eyes met hers. Never.
I hate you, she hissed, and she sounded like she meant it. I hate you!
Thats not true. Alex loves me.
She rolled her eyes. I am Alex, you idiot. And I dont love you. I need
You need Seth. Fire snapped through me as I gripped the bars until my knuckles ached. Deep down, I knew it wasnt just Seth that was forcing her to behave like this. Yeah, some of what she said was Seth to the core, but it was the need driving her. The need to be near the First was a tangible thingpotent and real.
I could taste it.
I remembered what the oracle had told her about need over the summer. Part of me hadnt fully understood it then, but I did now. Need was destroying her, destroying me.
Need is not love, Alex.
Before Alex could respond, the door opened. Oh! She unfurled her legs and clapped her hands. More visitors for little old me? Im just so damn lucky. Im tired of seeing his face.
Marcus, Alexs pure-blooded uncle, glanced at me. I see shes in good spirits.
I snorted.
She rose to her feet, swaying unnaturally to the far right. The mattress, the last item left in the room, floated several feet off the floor. Wed removed everything else. Elemental use now came easy to her. She seemed to just will it to happen and it did. And gods, did she ever love doing it.
Marcus and I stared, morbidly fascinated with the display. It was stronger than yesterday, which meant the protective magic was wearing
off. Hephaestus would need to make another visit and soon.
And where is here? She pushed with those words, fueling them with power.
I stepped back as her words rippled through me, breathed inside me. Forcing myself to break eye contact with Alex, I turned to Marcus. His eyes were glazed over and vacant. He was seconds away from spilling our location. I placed my hand on Marcus shoulder.
He blinked, and then swore. Is it just me or is she getting better at that?
Alex giggled, and it sounded off, reminding me of that creepy little boy in Pet Sematary . The one who had ran around killing people with a scalpel.
I think so. Youd think shed grow weaker, since she hasnt eaten a damn thing. I watched her move back to the mattress. She stopped, glancing over her shoulder at us. Her eyes narrowed, and I couldnt wait to find out what she was now up to. Anyway, we need to make sure no one comes down here.
Marcus nodded. The house was another piece of property owned by Solos father, but this one had more Sentinel traffic. Some stopped in while traveling to new assignments, although we had to keep the door to the basement sealed when strangers were in the house, which was often. The place was hopping with the most recent events. Many were being moved out of the west, heading either toward what was left of Deity Island or to the Covenant in New York.
Marcus? Alex faced us.
Yes, Alexandria?
One side of her lips tipped up as her gaze slid to mine. Does it bother you that Aiden and I have been. how do I put this? Hes seen me naked? Multiple times.