July, 2019

I didn't get a wink of sleep that night.

Instead, I just stayed upright in my bed, staring at the curtains as the night progressed, letting my thoughts tell me just how alone I was. Just how useless I was.

Until the light snuck around, illuminating my room once more, reminding me he wasn't there this time. He didn't come back for me.

And I remained steadfast where I was, refusing to get up to shower. Reluctant to lay down and finally get some shut eye.

The only thing that moved me was my door finally opening.

For a moment—ever so brief—my heart thudded in anticipation. Though the moment my eyes washed over the two girls entering my room, the darkness flooded through me again, ridiculing me for hoping.

"What are you still doing in bed?" Emma demanded while Erica walked across my room and yanked the curtains open.

My eyes winced at the brightness pouring in, awakening me to the headache pounding behind my over-tired eyes.

"You look like shit," Emma stated the obvious.

All the while, Erica reprimanded her with a, "Hey... That's not helpful." Though then her eyes swept over me, and I could see on her expression she was thinking the same. "Shower and get dressed," Erica then commanded.

"Don't you two have somewhere to be?" I finally mumbled back.

"Yes. And so do you. So make haste."

I shook my head, pulling my knees closer to my chest. "I'm not going anywhere."

"But we need you," Emma countered.

"For what?"

Erica replied this time. "To catch a Made, of course."

I paused, staring at them in disbelief, waiting for one to crack a smile and give away the joke. Yet Emma continued to stare at me expectantly while Erica rummaged through my clothes, throwing active gear at me.

"Hurry," she insisted again. "We have to be at the meeting spot in an hour."

So I finally uttered, "You both know Lukas doesn't want me there."

"Lukas isn't Supreme Overlord or whatever. It may be his plan, but we are all actively involved. Which means we also get a say in who we need on the team."

"I don't know." I continued to sit on my bed, staring at the clothes in front of me. If I go, he will only hate me more.

"I need you there, Ollie," Emma insisted. "If something goes wrong, we need a backup Terra Fairy."

Her argument seemed valid, but, "Surely Lukas already has a backup plan."

"Yeah... vials of my blood to douse another mutant in. The Mades will smell through that though. I need you there, waiting in the wings with Erica, ready to run in and help me if I need it."

"But—"

"Stop looking for excuses and get ready. I'll go make you a coffee and breakfast while you shower. Be up in fifteen."

Emma took off out of the room, while Erica lingered. "We'll talk to him. Don't worry. He will know we dragged you into it, too."

"He already hates me enough..."

"He doesn't hate you."

"He doesn't like me anymore."

"Those hickies I saw on you yesterday suggest otherwise."

"... all that's left between us is the physical attraction and the bond. He's forgotten everything else."

She gave me a pitied look, but didn't say anything more. So either she had given up arguing with me or... she agreed.

Nonetheless, she left the room too and I remained on my bed, deliberating what to do a little longer.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

The worry of something happening to him, Emma, or Erica because I wasn't there won over my fear of Lukas's deepened disfavour.

Which was why I was walking a few steps behind the two girls as we approached the meetup spot in the East End, the biggest hotspot for the Mades.

We had barely rounded the corner when his head whipped our way, silencing the group as they followed his gaze.

Lukas was by our sides in an instant after that. "I told you to stay out of this!" he hissed at me.

"Oi!" Emma warned back, poking his chest with what seemed to be an electrified finger. "I asked her to come, so stop being a dick."

"I said she wasn't to be involved," he then spat at the other fairy.

"Chill. I plan to keep her out of harm's way, lover boy. She will sit at the lookout spot with Erica. I just need her nearby in case I need backup."

"We are your backup." His hand gestured towards the group of vampires lingering a little way away from us.

"And if the Made drains me dry, you need another fairy to—"

"We have your blood for that."

"That's a shit backup and you know it."

His nostrils flared as the two continued in a silent stare off, all the while my stomach churned and chest ached.

Did he have more faith in her when they were together?

Am I really that hopeless to him?

"C'mon," Erica whispered in my ear, hand grabbing my arm. "Let's go to our station."

As I let Erica tug me away, Lukas turned on us. "Olivia," he commanded my attention.

"Yeah?" I glanced at him, hopeful, wishful.

"Don't get in anyone's way."

The shoe dropped and my heart winced, as I mumbled a mournful, "I'll do my best."

Then I let Erica drag me away.

Our lookout spot was an abandoned apartment a couple of blocks down the road. Erica briefed me on the fact that she had a makeshift medical station setup there in case anyone got hurt. It was far enough away to not interfere with the luring plans, but close enough that someone could be rushed there before bleeding out.

The brick apartment had seemed abandoned for over a decade. Various vines had found their way inside through broken windows, and a slight chill hung in its shadowed shelter.

Though the building's damage gave way to the outdoor light, letting it filter in and illuminate our space.

Situated close to the entry was an examination bed, a table, and some covered equipment. Erica spent a few moments plotting around, unloading her bag of final medical supplies before her phone started to ring.

"You ready?" Lukas's voice sounded from the other end.

"Yup. Any taken the bait?"

"Not yet. Though Emma says she can sense a few nearby."

"Right-o."

"Stay on the line in case I need to update you."

"Very well."

My throat felt dry as I stared at the phone, and I felt reluctant to say anything. Judging by Erica's glances between the phone and me, she seemed at a loss too. As if any discussion between us might set Lukas off.

Endless moments ticked by like that without anyone saying anything. Until Erica seemed unable to handle the tension anymore and hit the mute button on our end. "Gosh this is killing me," she gushed. "Are you sure you two have been hooking up?"

I glanced at the ground. "... I was just an outlet."

"Don't say that."

"I don't know what else to say."

"I shouldn't tell you this, but he's been crazy about you... He called me many times when you were in Europe, needing to vent about his feelings for you."

"That was then... this is now."

"He's just being a moody brat."

I didn't say anything.

"Maybe once this is over, I can sit you both down and mediate."

"Like a couple counsellor?"

"Exactly."

Though I sighed. "I think I just need to realise it's time to throw in the towel."

"Don't run again from him, Ollie. It destroyed him last time."

Glancing up at her, I admitted, "This is destroying me."

Her brows turned down, and her mouth opened to say something, but Lukas cut us off with, "Are you still there? It's really quiet on your end."

The witch's nose scrunched before she hit the unmute button. "I was having a private conversation with Ollie, which was none of your business."

He was quiet for a few moments until he grumbled, "Focus on the mission, Ri. One misstep could cost a life."

"Yeah, yeah. I just never get to talk to Ollie anymore because somebody has spoiled the joy."

"I wonder who that somebody is."

My head turned down as I felt his glare despite him not being here.

"Stop it already, Lukas. I get you feel betrayed, but you've punished her enough. Life is too short to—"

Though Erica never got to finish her sentence.

Her eyes grew wide as something behind me stole her attention instead. "Ollie! Look out!" she screamed.

I turned just in time to see the fangs coming at me.

I managed to dodge the Made's swing for me, watching as it skidded across the floor.

In the distance, I heard Lukas's panicked voice demand, "What's going on?"

Picking up the phone, Erica let out a rushed, "We have a Made here and it's after Ollie."

"If someone could get here quickly, that would be nice," I shouted across the room as the Made pivoted around, scanning the room for me. Once its eyes locked on me again, it ran, gaze focussed on my jugular.

As it approached, I turned my shocks up full blast, ready for impact.

Thankfully, it collapsed to the ground, seemingly not as strong as the last Made I encountered. As it writhed in pain on the floor, I got a better look at it.

A woman's body cowered on the ground. When the aftershocks died down, she panted and looked up at me. Once brown eyes were now bloodshot. A once delicate neck now was showered in pulsing veins. What I assumed was once well-cared for skin was now ghostly and bare of colour... This Made was far, far gone.

I didn't know what had come of Erica's conversation with Lukas, my attention now completely redirected at the Made who pushed up from the ground, fury filling her face.

She let out a shriek, all but frothing at the mouth as she sniffed the air and her eyes zeroed in on me again as she confirmed I was the smell she sought out.

Then she charged at me once more, I channelled my shocks, ready for the impact again. Though this time as her hands met my arm, she didn't let go.

Locking onto me, she bore through the pain and sank her fangs into my neck.

I yelped at the contact, never having felt a bite filled with so much anger, hunger, and determination. Lukas and Ben always bit to please... but I could feel this Made was biting to kill.

She sucked and pulled from my neck, and I could start to feel my gaze clouding over.

"Ollie!" Erica's voice screamed in the distance. I shook my head as I watched her run over.

"Leave," I hissed through the pain.

Yet her hands started to glow as she channelled some form of electrical magic to them before shooting them at the figure fixed on me.

It yelped in pain, releasing me as the witch had intended.

Though, like the animal she had become, when she recovered from the pain, she turned on the source.

The Made bared her teeth at Erica before sniffing the air.

Her head flickered between me and the witch, and I begged the Made to come after me again, watching as its skin started to sink in before my eyes, its muscles atrophying.

Yet before Erica or I could do anything, it lunged with its last ounce of strength, sinking its teeth into Erica's ankle. 

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Uh-oh! What will happen to Erica?