Devil’s Kiss

Up and Out

When I awoke, I found myself looking up into two familiar faces. I screamed, and the boyish looking person hushed me.

"Hey, hey, hey! We don't need you to get hurt again, okay, Lux?"

I gasped, and tried to sit up, but a weight pressed down on my chest, not allowing me to do so much as breathe.

"No, you don’t. You are so staying down," the girly looking person hissed, and I recognised the sound of her voice.

"Am...ara?" I croaked, looking up at my cousin. She nodded with a smile and I turned my head to look at the boy.

"So... That means you're Caspian?" I asked, and he smiled.

"The one and only. What are you doing, trying to get up so soon after you've been hurt?!"

I shrugged, and looked around the room. Things had changed since I'd last come here, when the twins were thirteen.

"Well, judging by the fact that you're, what, 18 now?” I nodded. “Damn, it’s been way too long! What, 9 years now?” I grinned.

“Yep. You guys are 23 soon. That’s crazy,” I said, and glanced at Caspian. He looked at me.

“The hell where you going to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“You woke up 10 minutes ago. You wanted to do something. What?”

I laughed and rolled my eyes, pushing Mable off of me.

“You truly are stupid, Mr My Name’s Sea, Look At Me, I’m So Clever, I Found The Secret Of Cascade Pull,” I mocked, standing up.

Amara squealed.

“No, you have to lie down,” Caspian scolded me, and I laughed.

“Do hush, oh second nephew of mine. I don’t have to do anything. I want to climb.”

“No!” He contested.

I hadn’t noticed my phone sitting on the table as I went to grab my jacket. I only noticed it as it buzzed once. Turning on my phone, I clicked on the message.

Oh god. He’s quick.

“Chase...’ I cursed under my breath.

“Who’s Chase?” Amara asked. I jumped as she appeared right beside me.

“Nobody, Amara. Nobody at all.”

“Must be somebody,” Caspian shrugged.

I frowned. My phone vibrated again. I checked the sender.

“Not you too, Sang...”

Amara reached over and plucked my phone right out of my hands.

"Well, well, well. Chase? Sang? Our little auntie has a lover or two! What have you been up to?" She crowed, her face full of glee. I struggled to grab it out of her hands as she read the message, her bright, laughing face turning dark and sour. "Hey, Cas? You wanna hear something she’s been hiding?" She asked, her voice dripping with feigned enthusiasm.

I reached for my phone.

“Give it back, Amara. I want to climb!”

Caspian nodded as Amara evaded my grasp.

"Alright, then. Here goes. Mr unknown number one says 'Good to see you back, baby girl.’ The second one says, ‘Im gonna get you back in my arms. Don't you worry about it, bitch.’ What do you think of that? Our little aunt has a secret admirer... Or two."

I hissed, my blue eyes turning black as I finally managed to snatch my phone back from her.

“Go to hell, Amara Fuller.”

I stormed out of the room and down the stairs to the gift shop, where Coo, Janie, Uncle Ryder and Grandpa were.

“Where do you think you’re going, kiddo?” Grandpa chuckled and I growled in response. Uncle Ryder turned to look at me.

“Are you okay, Lux?”

An incoming message made my coat pocket vibrate. I looked at it.

*Unknown- Go for a climb, kid. I'll meet u up the tree.*

“Lux? What’s going on, Lux?” Janie asked, and I stared at the door.

"I'm going out," I muttered.

“Lux, stay here. It’s safer!” Grandpa coaxed, and I watched as he, Coo, Janie and Uncle Ryder began to approach me as though I were a wild animal. Caspian and Amara clattered down the stairs, causing a welcome distraction. I slipped through the gaps and ran through the open door.