The Joey of it All
1671 Words
Tate’s POV
My girlfriend’s dad killed my dad.
That’s a strange thing to think about.
I had spent the last year hating Marsden Thorton even more than I already had because of what I was sure his father had done, only to find out it was actually my girlfriend’s father.
Why did I feel guilty about that?
Marsden was obviously not a good guy. He was a Dark Vampiric Warlock, just like I thought he was and he had completely manipulated and brainwashed Joey into becoming one too. I shouldn’t feel bad that I hounded him so much and almost killed him right?
And yet I did.
Maybe it was based on what my mother said. That the living don’t know much or whatever. I knew a lot! I knew that Marsden was still manipulative and cruel and that he had tried to kill Magnus and he allowed Dark Vampiric Warlocks to come to our school and kill my mother.
I also knew that Joey was much too smart for this s**t. While I didn’t know her as well as I should, I was more than aware of how confident she was and how she didn’t take s**t from anyone.
So why did she take this s**t from Marsden?
“Babe? Are you okay?” Zoey asked.
“Hm? Yeah,sorry, just thinking about what happened back there.” I stated.
“Me too,”
“I treated Marsden like s**t because of what I thought his father did to mine.”
“Does that mean you’re gonna treat me like s**t too?” Zoey asked.
I couldn't help but laugh. “Of course not. I think now I’m realizing how wrong that was.”
“Hey, you hated him before that too.”
“It got worse this last year. Zoey, I wanted him to be evil. I wanted a reason to hurt him. And Joey was right, when we were dueling I didn’t care if I hurt him at all. I even wished he had died.” I whispered.
“Tate…”
“It’s true. It would have made me feel so much better. Like I was getting Regan Thorton back. But now that I know…I would have never forgiven myself if he had died.”
“Tate, your hate for him was justified-”
“No it wasn’t. He hadn’t done anything. He didn’t kill my father. The same way no one should blame you for what your dad did. I probably pushed him closer to that horrible path the same way you pushed Joey.”
I immediately regretted what I said.
“Excuse me?” Zoey asked.
“It’s just…Zo you know you pushed her deeper into Marsden’s arms right? In fact we both did, I’m not blameless either. But maybe if we hadn’t hounded them so much-”
“So you’re saying it’s my fault that my sister is a Dark Vampiric Warlock?”
“Well not exactly-”
“We should go back to silence. I don’t really want to talk right now.” She snapped.
Well, I was alone with my thoughts again.
Marsden’s POV
I felt like Joey was hiding something from me.
She and I usually tell each other everything, except for her whole spy thing, but after that I thought there would be no more secrets. And yet something is telling me there was.
She had to go talk to Count Killoran a lot. She always said it was to discuss me and that definitely seemed true, but there was something else. Something more. I think something he had said scared the s**t out of her and she didn’t want to tell me.
Maybe it was about me. About what he’d do to me if I f****d up. Good thing I was determined not to.
“Do you actually enjoy this s**t?” Brielle asked me.
I looked around before answering. “Not really, but if it keep you guys and Joey safe, I will fake it til my dying breath.”
“What’s going on with Joey? She seems weird, right?”
“Definitely. I think she’s on edge. She misses her family.”
“Her family is here,” Brielle pointed out.
“They’ve been estranged for like ten years Bri, she needs time to warm up to them again. She’s never been away from Chloey and Zoey like this.”
“Doesn’t Zoey hate her?”
“I hope not,” I sighed.
“What are you two talking about?” Brody joined us.
“My fiancee,” I responded.
“You know know Joey was never the marrying type,”
“How would you know?” I asked.
“You think we didn’t keep up with the girls?” Brody laughed. “At every point in their lives we had someone watching them.”
“Did they all go above and beyond like Bryce and sleep with them?”
“No…most did though. It was always Joey. The girl was boy crazy. What can I say? But that’s how I know marriage was never really gonna be her thing. And yet, here you are Marsden Thorton. What did you do to my sister?”
“You and Zoey are definitely related,” I huffed. “I didn’t do anything, we fell in love. Do you know how many times I tried to break up with her? I couldn’t.”
“I don’t trust you.” Brody whispered.
“Count Killoran does.” I smirked. “So I don't really care if you do.”
“Hi guys,” Joey fell in my lap and kissed me. “What’s up?”
“Do you have to do that in front of me?” Brody asked.
“Um, yes.”
“Where have you been?” Brielle asked.
“Um talking to Count Killoran. We’re going to be having some guests. Simone, Keene, and Bryce are coming to stay with us.” Joey announced.
“Says who?” I questioned.
“Count Killoran of course.”
“How did you manage that?” Brody asked.
“Just cried about being lonely and stuff since Marsden is becoming more involved.” Joey shrugged.
“And that worked?” Brielle scoffed.
“Yep? Pretty cool huh?”
“That’s amazing!” I kissed her. “You’re amazing!”
Suddenly mother breezed into the room. “I have some news!” She looked ecstatic and yet scared. Oh this couldn’t be good.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Your father is coming home.”
Rune’s POV
I now understood Chloey’s obsession with reading.
It’s so interesting. There’s so much information that I didn’t know that could be so useful! It was incredible.
Sure, knowing things was also kind of scary. Like knowing that Joey was going to be seduced by Count Killoran and she was just going to let it happen in order to get the upper hand. I guess if anyone could do it, it would be her, but it still terrified me.
I cared about Joey a lot. She almost felt like my sister. She had always been nice to me and her bond with Chloey was something that was so important to me. She always made Chloey feel like the amazing girl she was.
She also never looked at me differently after learning about me being a werewolf. She was so accepting. That’s probably why Masden loved her so much.
“What if she actually has to give birth to his child?” Chloey asked.
“Joey would never let it get that far,” I assured her.
“But what if he’s just smarter than her or something? What if he tricks her or forces her to do something she doesn’t want to? What if he-”
“Chlo! You gotta calm down. You’re gonna drive yourself crazy! I know you’re scared and I am too, but we have to trust her! We have no choice but to.”
“She’s playing with the most dangerous man the Witching Domain has ever seen.” Chloey whispered. “How am I supposed to just let this play out? Especially after all that we’ve read?”
“I don’t know,”
“Count Killoran has done this three times. He must be frustrated and determined to get it right this time. And what if he does?”
“I don’t know what to say, Chloey,” I admitted. “I just…we know Joey is possibly the strongest and most capable person our age that we know right? Let’s just see how it plays out. So far it’s working right? We would have never found that journal if Joey didn’t know his real name.”
“I guess that is true,” Chloey sighed. “She will have access to information no one alive right now would.”
“And she has two people on her side there. Marsden and Bryce.”
“But she can’t tell Marsden. And speaking of Marsden, his life is in danger too! Count Killoran is basically waiting to murder him!”
“Not if he doesn’t mess up,” I reminded her.
“He’s going to! No one is perfect, no one can always do things right.”
“You’re perfect,” I whispered.
I was relieved, seeing a smile come across her face, even though she was trying to keep it down.
“Rune, this is serious.”
“So am I,” I smiled as I pulled her closer. “You are perfect. I love you. But I need you to breathe alright? Everything will work out.” I kissed her.
Chloey practically melted against me. “But how do you know?”
“I just do. And if not, we will figure it out. Let’s just give Joey a chance huh?”
She sighed. “Fine, fine…but ugh! I can’t stop worrying! What if we tell Magus-”
“Tell Magnus what?” Director Magnus had strode into the room.
Just great.
- Writer
