Bloodbound

CHAPTER TWO

Margery's POV

SOME HOURS EARLIER

I thought today would be a wonderful day. I mean, I graduated last

week, and here I am, picking up my letter of recommendation to

apply for my dream job, but, of course, I knew better than to jinx it

My optimism didn't last long because, just my luck, I bumped into

Jamie, and the i***t had the nerve to question why I ghosted him

The bastard cheated on me. Granted, our relationship was purely

physical, but still—I never lied to him, he lied to me, and that was

enough

So, naturally, we had a heated argument, somewhere between his

weak excuses and my insults, he threw it in my face that I was

emotionally detached

"You don't care about anything not even yourself!" he spat, his voice

dripping with disdain

His words ignited something in me—pure, unfiltered rage. How

dare he? He was just like everyone else who thought they had me

figured out

Ever since I was a teenager, people always had something to say

about my so-called lack of emotions. Friends, teachers, exes—they

all labeled me distant, unavailable, and cold, I never understood it,

but hearing it from him stung more than it should have

I walked away, but his words stuck to me like thorns, my aunt

always told me to ignore people like Jamie "You're perfect just as

you are" she'd say with a smile, but I knew better

Perfect? Me? I was anything but. I was empty, maybe even broken,

but that emptiness had always served me well. It was a shield that

kept me from falling for lies like Jamie's

So why was I trembling now?

I locked myself in the restroom, splashing cold water on my face in a

desperate attempt to cool off. It didn't work, the rage simmered

under my skin, making me feel like I was burning from the inside

out

My hands gripped the edges of the basin as I tried to steady myself,

but the porcelain beneath my palms began to c***k. I stared in

horror as the pristine white surface turned black as if consumed by

invisible flames

"What the hell?" I muttered, yanking my hands away from the basin

I looked down at them, trembling and terrified, as small sparks of

fire flickered and vanished in my palms, the anger was gone,

replaced by a feeling of fear so overwhelming it made my chest ache,

I glanced back at the basin. The damage was undeniable

I grabbed my bag and bolted out of there like I was being chased by

a pack of wolves, the cool air from my car's air conditioner blasted

against my face, but it didn't help, my heart pounded like a drum,

and my hands wouldn't stop shaking

It was dark by the time I pulled into the driveway of our four-

bedroom ranch house, this was my safe haven, the home I'd shared

with my aunt Laurie for as long as I could remember

My parents were never in the picture. It had always been just me

and Laurie

I parked and went around to the back door, slipping inside quietly.

Laurie was exactly where I expected her to be: typing away on her

laptop in the book nook near the veranda, her wavy red hair was

swept into a low, messy bun, and she was wearing a shirt and some

sweats, even though she was in her early forties, she could easily

pass for someone a decade younger

“Laurie," I whispered, my voice cracking as I approached her

She pushed her glasses down and looked up, smiling at first, but the

smile quickly disappeared when she saw me

"Margery? What happened, dear?" she asked, her voice soft and

concerned

That's when I realized I was crying.

I never cried. Ever. And yet, here I was, tears streaming down my

face because I almost set a basin on fire and burned a boy I used to

sleep with.

“I don't know" I whispered, sniffing as I stepped closer

Laurie immediately pulled me into a hug, but just as quickly, she

jerked away. Her hand shot to her shoulder, where my touch had

left an angry red mark

"Oh my God" I whispered, stepping back in horror "I burned you"

Her mouth opened in shock, her eyes wide as she shook her head

"No, no, no, no," she murmured, reaching out to touch me again

I flinched away "Don't! I'll hurt you again"

"It's okay," she said softly, her voice trembling “It won't hurt for

long. See?" She pointed to her shoulder, the burn mark was gone,

like it had never been there

"What's wrong with me, Laurie?" I whispered, my voice breaking

"Nothing is wrong with you, my sweet child. Just come here" she

said, holding out her hand

I hesitated, tears still streaming down my face "I can't. I'll burn you

again"

"You won't. I promise"

With a shaky breath, I finally let her touch me. She guided me to a

chair opposite hers and handed me a glass of water that... appeared

out of nowhere

I stared at it. "Where did this—?"

"Drink" she said, cutting me off gently

I took a sip, the water was cold and oddly calming, and I noticed

something strange about it—it shimmered like it was laced with

glitter

Laurie leaned forward, her eyes searching mine “Do you still feel

hot?"

I shook my head "Not as much. But my head... it's a mess, Laurie. I

don't know what's happening to me"

"Tell me everything," she said, her voice calm but firm

"I was fine earlier" I began, my voice shaky. "I collected my letter,

but then I ran into Jamie, he said some hurtful things, and I got so

angry, I went to the restroom to calm down, but when I touched the

basin... it cracked. It turned black like it was burning, and then I

saw flames. On my hands”

Laurie gasped, her expression unreadable

"I felt like I was on fire. And then... I burned you," I said, staring at

her shoulder again "I don't understand what's happening"

Laurie ran a hand through her hair, loosening her bun and letting

her waves fall down her back "Margery," she said, her voice thick

with something I couldn't place "I don't know how to say this, I

thought I had more time"

"Time for what?" I asked, panic rising in my chest again

She took a deep breath and looked at me with a mix of sadness and

determination "You've always been special, Margery, but you're

special for reasons far bigger than you realize"