Free Seventh Mark (Part 1 +2) by W.J. May Page B

sitting in the bathroom, in the
dark?” I punched her shoulder.
    “Wasn’t sure if
Michael would come in the room too. Didn’t know if you needed some
privacy.” Grace tilted her head. “Sooo, you know our dirty little
secret.”
    “Kinda.”
    She slid off
the counter and staring at me. Then suddenly she lunged at me and
swung her arms around me, hugging me tight. It was a moment before
she let go and it took me a moment longer to catch my breath. “I
knew you were special the moment I saw you. I knew you’d totally
get it.”
    “You’re crazy.
Even nuttier for putting the Siorghra on me.” I touched the
necklace, loving the feel of it but not wanting to admit it.
    “You needed to
know. I figured Michael would tell you tonight if I did. I’ve no
idea how, but you’re involved in this as well. I feel it.” She
stepped back and stared at me intently. “You don’t care about what
we are, do you?”
    Me? Involved?
How and in what? “Why should I judge you? I liked you before and
nothing’s different.”
    She squealed
and hugged me again, shorter in length but still enough to knock
the wind out of me again. “It’s about time Michael met someone. You
are so worth keeping around.”
    I wanted to ask
if I might be like them. Maybe I was some sort of fallen whatever
they were. It kind of makes sense . I didn’t know my parents
and always had the feeling of needing my freedom – that there was
something more out there.
    “They’re
waiting. You ready?” Grace interrupted my thoughts.
    My throat
suddenly dry, I nodded. “Wait. I need to pee.”
    Like a best
friend, she waited in the hall and we headed downstairs together.
Heavy silence greeted us in the living room. Michael sat on the
couch, dressed in jeans and a white shirt. Grace pulled me into the
room and set me between her and Michael.
    Caleb sat by
the desk. Sarah stood behind him, her hand on his shoulder. They
made a stunning couple, and also frightening in a way I couldn’t
quite grasp.
    “Rouge knows,”
Michael said in a low voice.
    Caleb's eyes
narrowed as he stared at me. He didn’t say anything for a few
minutes. Then completely ignoring me, he turned back to Michael. “I
never considered you an idiot.”
    My breath
caught in my throat. I figured he’d be angry, but I didn’t think
he’d act like I was some kind of insignificant fixation. I opened
my mouth to say something and then closed it. It’s not my turn
to speak. This conversation was between Michael and Caleb.
    “I’m not.”
Michael’s jaw twitched. “Rouge’s not what you think. She’s
trustworthy.”
    “It goes
against the Coven and its plans.” He cleared his throat. “This’ll
only bring trouble upon all of us – your family. You need to
consider this very carefully. I will ask once, what are your
intentions?”
    “I’m not sure.
I need time to think things through.”
    “Think things
through? Do you think you should have considered that before you
went and told her? Decide, Michael. I am not willing to risk our
safety for this child. A girl, who you know nothing about. Do you
know her past?”
    My past? I had nothing to hide. I literally had nothing.
    “I understand
your concern.”
    How did
Michael stay so calm sitting on the couch? I couldn’t stop my
right knee from bouncing.
    Michael leaned
forward. “Rouge’s not the issue. What happened tonight is. While we
were at the school, a boy approached her. He saw my Siorghra on her
neck. He threatened her, threatened us.”
    “You put your
Siorghra on her?” Caleb screamed.
    Grace spoke
matter-of-factly, “No, I did…to go with the costume.”
    Caleb threw his
hand up to stop her. “I’ll speak with you later.” His eyes whipped
over to me. “Who’s the boy?”
    I swallowed,
trying to push the butterflies back down my throat. My shoulder
blade began burning again. “Damon said… he knew what you are…” I
took a deep breath. When Caleb didn’t reply I added, “He plans on
destroying