I worked in a nap that lasted nearly twenty minutes before Dillan pushed on my shoulder and pulled me up again. I swatted his hand away stubbornly, careful to stretch my sore neck out in a way to gesture that I would be in the position for a while.

"We are wearing out our welcome," the tacosexual warned, flicking the black hair that streaked against his nose out of the way.

I spoke in a mumble. "Gran P didn't warn you out, did she?"

Dillan shook his head with a sigh. "No, but this is a thing you can feel. You're so stubborn sometimes, Em. Gran P has been nice and giving. You need to get up, we are leaving."

I leaned my head back, the nape of my sore neck pressing against the plush softness of the pillow. I felt my spine pop against the mattress, and I lazily kicked off some of the blanket unwillingly. I didn't want to return to holding myself up with my own strength. After all, the fight with Salt had been emotionally exhausting. I couldn't help but wonder about the things he had said to me. But, of course, I wouldn't dwell on it too long. How honest could a child molester, who betrays everyone, be?

Dillan nudged me gruffly. "You don't want to go check up with Oliver?"

I groaned. Part of me decided to rip away and want to go see if Oliver was okay after the fight, the other part of me still wanted to lie in bed. I kicked the covers off with much more force, and Dillan rolled his purple eyes. Finally decided to go on a whim and get up, my muscles clenched as I pushed myself off of the mattress and slung my legs over the side. Dillan smiled in approval.

I narrowed my eyes a bit at him. "This is only for Oliver, got it?" Before he could make any sly remarks about how well my Apotropaic and I were getting along, I changed the subject brusquely. "Did you find a way to get closet to LA yet? We don't have any way to drive out of here."

He put his hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about that. Mun and Carter will take care of it. Go and see your Apotropaic, okay? He is worried about you, you know."

I nodded with a sigh, and pushed myself off of the bed. I stumbled a bit at first, but once I had made my way into the hallway to get to Ace's room, where he was hanging out in, the rest of the journey was steady.

With all my willing strength, I wrapped my hand around the doorknob, then stopped. You aren't being yourself, Emma Whitestone. Why are you so happy? I smiled a bit to myself, and even answered my inner thoughts. I don't have to do this alone. I have friends now.

When I walked through the door, the concern on my face was masked with emotionless skin. My slanted eyes were at a rest, and my thin lips were relaxed at the sight of Oliver on the bed. Ace was sitting on the edge, a concerned look carved into him. Oliver was facing the wall, away from the door, the blanket pulled up over his shoulders. The black-haired Apotropaic glanced at me, his dark eyes almost warning.

I ignored him and looked at Oliver. "Is he awake?"

"Emma..?" my Apotropaic turned over, and I was surprised by the sight that met me. His blue eyes were red and swollen from crying, and the edges around his eyes had crusted from it. His eyebrows were a permanent knit of fear, and he was shaking.

The sight of him blew my calm, and my face exploded into worry. I didn't care how I appeared to Ace. After all, there weren't many people here to judge me for my actions. Besides, when I saw Oliver's fear, I could only think about how scared Mary must be in her situation. I climbed onto the bed and wrapped my arms around my crying Apotropaic, forcing him to bury his face into my neck. He listed his head just enough to breath, and his muscles seemed to unclench when I touched him. Like, somehow, I had healed him with my mere flesh coming into contact with him. His arms went back around my neck, and he choked on a helpless sob. With the slightest bit of hesitation, I combed my fingers through his hair and closed my black eyes. He leaned against me, and at this point, I was beside him on the bed. Pretty much stomach-to-stomach, the two of us sat there for what must have been a full couple of minutes.

"Let's have a break today," I ventured, gently pushing him off. "We all need it."

"But what about Mary..?" Oliver wiped his bloodshot eyes, sniffling a bit.

"I am one hundred percent sure I would have a vision of it if otherwise," I told Oliver, truly a little flustered about it myself. "Anyone worrying too much can go and take care of transportation. Sound good?"

Ace interjected, "You can't just decide that with Oliver. Take it up with everyone else." Then, his black eyes darted apologetically towards his brother. "Although... It's a good idea to help us cope with all the stress..." The next glance he made was directed at me, and full of warning. About what, I didn't know.

I ignored Ace and turned to Oliver once more. Those big gem-like eyes, the innocent ghost wavering about him... No doubt, he greatly reminded me of Mary. There was an indestructible similarity lying between the two that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Whatever it was, it had to be ignored. After all, it would be no use to sit here wondering why Mary was similar to my Apotropaic.

I wrapped my arms around Oliver, burying my face into the crook of his neck so I didn't have to see that it wasn't Mary. The two smelled different. Oliver smelled like smoke and oranges, and Mary smelled like dew on grass and grapes. I tried not to breath through my nose, and imagined what it would be like if this was, indeed, Mary Clarkson.

I should have felt wrong for using him as a replacement.

But I couldn't bring myself to that.

I poked Oliver's shoulder gruffly, urging him up. "Let's go ask Dillan," I said, comfortable with the notion of the tacosexual being leader. After all, he had proved his worth to me. He could be serious... In certain situations.

Oliver nodded, either already feeling better or already faking it. My heart took a leap at this, seeing someone being so keenly infected by... Things that nearly happened to them as a child. Or... things that perhaps did happen...

In an attempt to shrug it off, I pulled him forcefully into the living room. That was where we would soon be expected to leave, and where I was going to question Dillan. I tried so hard not to think of Mary, but even picking up my sword and leaving the house again after Gran P gifted us showers and breakfast, I still thought about her. I was calm on the surface.

But deep down, I was terrified.

And because I was starting to care about the group, I was afraid the care was corroding my anger, and soon, they could see how deathly afraid I really was.

***

Dillan spoke with all the Apotropaics, minus Oliver for whatever reason, and granted us permission to take the day off while Caleb, Mun, and Fango (who volunteered) went to get us a method of transportation.

Delta Mills gladly chose a creek as our discreet spot of relaxation. The environment expanded enough to let the calmer teens have their own wading pull, and the rowdier ones to freely splash around in the playfully tugging current. The leaves bristled against the baby blue Arizona sky, and the heavens seemed to open up in this speckled peaks in the trees. Shade was cast over us, and the dense trees god us from any curious onlookers.

I traced my finger against the smooth, cold water. It was like liquefied marble. I shuddered at the thought of that iciness all over my body, plus all the shadows. "Isn't exactly my idea of fun..."

Nahara stopped beside me, looking faintly amused. "Not mine either. I know you have been here for a while... But I think we need to set some things straight."

I snapped a glare at her. "What? Did I displease you or something?"

She shook her head with a light chuckle resounding from her throat, and crossed her arms. "No... I just don't think you could have read over everything Dillan wrote in those notebooks and remembered it. And... I want you to understand your emotions."

I gave her a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

"You and Oliver-"

I felt fire rise of inside of me. "Why can't I have a friend of another gender without someone trying to match me with them?!" I glanced away from Nahara, gritting my teeth and narrowing my eyes, considering at the ground. "Nothing like that is happening..." Matchmaker wasn't a game I played. I hated falling into place where people wanted me to, following the labels considered normal by society. According to them, I should be shorter, my breasts should be bigger, I should be pink and bubbly. I was nothing like that, and I would never pretend for people that aren't watching. I am not their mime.

Nahara shook her head urgently, shaking her long brown hair against her back. "No! You have misunderstood me! Don't you wonder why you get along so well with him? You don't make friends easy."

I shrugged, turning to look at Oliver. He looked giddy, singly blue eye shining as he shielded himself from Dillan's relentless splashing. His white hair was slicked down over his face, and his pale body wavered under the water. He was only wearing a pair of shorts and underwear, and his slim chest was gleaming with the water. With a dimpled grin, he attacked Dillan mercilessly with the water.

"He... reminds me of Mary."

"That could indeed be part of why you two get along..." Nahara smiled. "Your instincts tell you to trust him because he is your senior. I don't want you to blame yourself for liking him... Sounds weird, but that's a thing you do."

I curled my lip. "You don't know shit about me."

The Murondoes prophet laughed. "You are easier to unravel than you think! You know what?"

"What?"

"I kind of see you as a little sister... Or a student or something..." Before I could think back to my unborn sibling, the angel continued with a flex of her shoulders, "You know how the prophecy ends? Either of two things will happen... All the bloodlines will mix overtime, creating the ultimate warrior. That warrior will defeat the Dark which we could not."

I nodded slowly. "I think I remember hearing about that."

"Or... We could all come to a stalemate. All of us will die, and destroy the Dark Army as well." Nahara made an upset glance towards Dillan, who was now underwater. "There is a final option that is the least considerable..."

"What's that one?" I asked.

"That we win. We win and we live and get to love who we want and live out our dreams..." The angel tucked some of her long hair behind her ear. "What are your dreams? What did you want to do before this?"

I didn't hesitate. "I wanted to start a career in acting. Mary was going to be my scriptwriter. We were going to live together for a while, then she would get married to a good man and I would go to Hollywood."

"I am... not sure what my dream is..." Nahara frowned at Dillan and Ace, who were now fighting playfully.

I leaned against a tree, suddenly feeling irritable. "I don't believe in love at all. I can't help you sort out your issues. But... You can still talk to me, I guess."

The angel sank to the ground to sit, and I joined her. We were far enough on the rocks that the water didn't get to us. "Perhaps this isn't love at all. You can lust for more than one person, and be infatuated, can't you? I know it isn't healthy..."

"Does Dillan know?"

Nahara hesitated, then shook her head. I didn't ask more, so she continued, "I think I love Ace. I think I love Dillan. My whole life, I have always been fighting and shedding blood. And I hated it. And these men... They showed me a much more peaceful world."

"Even if I could help, you still have to make your own decision." The conversation was drifting heat against my body. It wasn't as if the creek would cool me down any, seeing as how the fire was inside of me. "I don't believe in love at all. Honestly... I think it's like a mental suicide. Why in the Hell would you let someone become your only reason for being? They give up on you. I have seen it happen so many times... Then what, when they give up on you?" My gaze drifted into the sky. "When someone makes them give up on you?"

"You have a lot to see... little sis." Nahara picked a bit of a leaf from my blonde curls. "I won't say you will experience this... Just that... You might. You might know one day what it's like to only have one reason... Or like me, to divide your worlds... Not every romance is based on sex."

I grumbled, "This wasn't relaxing..."

"Sorry Em... How about we go splash the boys? We both need the fun!"

I focused my eyes on Oliver. Strange to think I hadn't known him a year ago, and that he has grown on me. Strange to think that once, he never existed to me. Strange to think that a person who has been destroyed so much can still smile like that...

I pushed myself off the ground and stood. "Yeah... I guess we do." I raced into the water, and found that my feet weren't cold. My legs adjusted to the chill very quickly, and I found my way towards Oliver, scooping a wave in my hands to thrash at him.

Everyone needs a break. Even monsters like me.

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