The Thorns Under Pedals

Chapter 12:

What had possessed her to walk right into the William business parking lot in broad daylight clearly leaving a promise for Carlos and Andrew’s head she wasn’t sure. She should have been consumed with fear that someone would have caught her or recognized her. Even now Carlos and the others could figure out who she is. Not only was it a stupid idea that could have killed her on the spot but now she had a huge red target on herself from the biggest business around. Yet here she was calmly sitting in her classroom ignoring the sheriff's son and his friend.

The teacher was making the class work in pairs to study for their midterm exam coming up in a week. She was almost having a break from school where she could spend all the time with her revenge away from the curious eyes of the school students. Any of them could figure it out if she wasn’t careful and the mask of her former self could rest.

“Hey Goth Queen.” I rolled my eyes at Arthur. He seemed to take that as an encouragement to continue instead of leaving me alone. “What did you do to your hair?”

I frowned at him.

“Arthur!” Isabella cried out, hitting his arm.

“Ow.” He rubbed the spot she hit as if she had punched him hard but really it had been nothing compared to the amount of metal I could use to bruise him. “What?!”

“Don’t listen to him Elizabeth. Your hair looks nice.” She smiled reassuringly as if I needed comfort from being insulted.

I touched the edges of my once strawberry blonde hair that was shoulder length to the dirty blonde tips that reached my upper neck for a line style bob. Fake hurt creeped into my eyes as I looked up at the group. “Does it look that bad?” I asked in a weak, timid tone as if I was uncertain.

“Y-” Arthur began but stopped as soon as he saw the glare Isabella shot him. With a sigh he changed his tone. “It’s just different.”

“Of course not.” Isabella said. “You haven’t changed your hair style for years. The sudden change just surprised us. You look great with any shade of blonde.”

What a laugh. Talk about a suck up that was wanting something. Instead I smiled sweetly with relief at her. “Really? Thank God! I was so worried.”

'Why did you change it?’ Erik finally spoke from his desk. He had been quiet as the exchange happened. I could feel his eyes glued to me making butterflies fly in my stomach with a rush of excitement wondering if he had noticed what I was hiding. My smile faltered not due to doubt of my look that Isabella maybe thinking from disappointment as I realized he hadn’t noticed I was the one killing around town. For some reason I was waiting for the day he would figure it out though I wouldn’t be making it easy for him.

“Seeing myself in the mirror so much like my mother…”My breath shook at the loss making me pause, “I was spiraling in pain. I just...I needed a change. Like I needed something to loosen the grip over me to continue forward.” I looked Erik in the eyes as I spoke. I saw the spark of sympathy flash briefly in his iries. I hadn’t really faked any part of that sentence as it wasn’t too far from the truth.

Waking up seeing my reflection after being branded by the Devil I felt a great tightness in my chest seeing the familiar shade of my own hair that I got from my mother. The length was too similar to my sisters when she left. All my thoughts every morning spiraled to what I had lost and it was crushing me inside. Then my eyes would land on the brand on my forearm and a part of me would feel regret. I knew that my family would not want this for me. That made it worse. To break from the cycle of emotions holding me back from getting my revenge by staying in the past I dyed and cut my hair right before going to Carlos’s truck.

Before Isabella or Arthur could speak sympathies which I could tell were on the top of their tongues our teacher's voice spoke from the desk up front, “Are we finished with our packets Arthur, Isabella, Erik, and Elizabeth?”

We looked at each other and Arthur looked guilty. When none of us responded to our teacher who was pushing up the edge of her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “That is what I thought. Whatever you are discussing so intently is not going to help you pass this class and in the end help you graduate. If I hear you four from all the way here again it better be about the torturing methods we have learned otherwise you will all be writing a twenty page essay on it.”

“God no.” Arthur groaned in dread, making several students around us chuckle. We all knew how much he hated essays.

“Then start studying.” She glared at the group.

Not having to be told twice the group went back to looking at their quarter finished packet. Erik became more involved at this point answering questions that Isabella had while I worked with Arthur on our packet. I could still feel the occasional glances from them or sympathetic gazes. I really shouldn’t have opened that up but what else was I supposed to do so they wouldn’t question my action or be suspicious. I was never really the type of girl to change my look to begin with and now I did two types of changes in one day. As we worked I tried to think of a way to escape their words of comfort or whatever. Time seemed to be going by fast however. Arthur and I finished the last question seconds before the school bell rang over the intercom signaling at the end of class.

Not wishing to hear them and open my emotions further in a vulnerable state I packed up and walked to the door. Erik quickly followed. When we were out into the hall a ways away from the others he grabbed my arm gently stopping me. I turned around biting my lip. There was that feeling again. The feeling of being my age, small and harmless when really I was the opposite. I was dangerous yet at this moment I felt weak.

“Liz.” He paused, probably sure that I would protest in my usual way by correcting him but really I was too drained. “You're not alone. If you ever need someone to talk to or just you know, escape with I’m here.”

I nodded, not sure if I could speak.

Erik hesitantly released me and I shared one last gaze with him before turning away to go to my next class. A gaze that probably revealed too much of my mental distress and conflict. One that was asking for help when I could not even begin to ask for it out loud. Help in a way I didn’t know what would actually work. Was I wishing for a connection to someone else when I could no longer seek it with my family? Companionship, affection, or any other type of physical and mental attachment to another living person. A weakness the demon and Devil would grip to tightly.

The rest of the school day was like any other. Lectures upon lectures that would be in midterms. There were a few presentations like the one in my science class going over different chemical combinations while some did theirs on planets. All of it is so boring that it makes my mind wander off. Usually my mind would think up ideas for my victims however, this time Erik's words had continued to pop up. Images of what my life would be like if I wasn't seeking revenge. Would I be finding a boy I would find attractive and date? Or would I be spending most of my days going shopping at the nearest mall with my girlfriends? The nights probably would be spent watching scary movies with my siblings as usual.

Stop! I shook my head roughly as I pushed the thoughts away. There was no sense to think about what wouldn't be happening. That wasn't my life and I don't regret it. Yet a part of me yearned for it. That part was struggling to come to the surface. Unfortunately Isabella had chosen that moment to pop up by my locker and speak.

"Hey Elizabeth." She said tentatively. As if she was scared I would run. My locker door closed with a push a little harsher than I meant which made the other girl jump slightly. An awkward silence passed between us as I kept my gaze on the closed door for a minute trying to keep myself in check.

“You know, “ Isabella began but had to clear her suddenly dry throat and played absentmindedly with her backpack straps. “If you’re free today I’m up for walking around or trying out that haunted cafe down the street.”

My eyes shot up to hers in surprise. Haunted stuff or anything scary wasn’t Isabella’s thing. She got frightened easily and the fact that she even suggested it made my lips form in a grin. The cafe was an old business that has been running since the 1920’s through the owners having refurbished it through time. In newspaper clippings and news articles we learned that people went there for more than the drinks. They used the loud buzz of commotion customers usually gave to fall from the top balcony to their deaths. At least four if not more commited suicide through that method and three others were killed when a shot out took place in 1934. Most of the customers now came to see how haunted the place was and the business catered to them knowing that without the interest their history had they would be out of business long ago. If they weren’t forced to shut down.

“Why?” I asked, trying to contain my excitement.

“Well we haven’t had a chance to actually spend time together since…” She looked away, unable to say the words. My throat felt tight and my eyes stung a bit from the reminder but I just nodded understanding. “I think you need a distraction and I will worry less about you if I can help with that at least.”

I almost chuckled realizing the hidden message that she wasn’t speaking. The message being that this was really to keep an eye on me. The three of them probably ended up speaking at some point after I spoke out and nominated Isabella to ease my pain for the day. I must have worried the guys dearly for them to not want me to be alone after class. How was I to escape this without being suspicious? Did I even have the willpower to say no when it dealt with a scary place to visit?

“We better go now so that you’re not there when the sun sets.” I said with a smile seeing the shiver run down her spine. Isabella nodded and took my hand, almost dragging me to the school gate. I couldn’t help the laugh ringing out into our ears. Isabella didn’t seem to mind, in fact she turned back and smiled at me as if some of her worry was washed away with the sound.

When we got to the cafe that smile turned to a frown and I was the one to drag her through the door. Our roles reversed. I smiled at the staff who gave us concerned eyes while some held back their own laughter hearing parts of Isabella and I’s conversation. Mostly I called her a scardy cat and that ghost would appear for sure smelling her fear. That left her to whimper and shiver before she glared at me. We sat at one of the tables closest to the door to make Isabella more comfortable. As we sat across from each other I gazed over the place. Dark. Those were the only words I could really describe the feeling in this place. The walls were bright with an off white shade, curtains draped on each side of the windows, the tables and chairs were colorful, pictures lined the walls of past owners and staff, and even the employees had medium shade colored uniforms on. Yet the atmosphere was thick and cold leaving the feeling of darkness lingering. A feeling drawing people in and sucking the energy out of them. As the customers that were here before us were leaving with tired expressions and a few even yawned behind their hands.

My eyes went back to our table as one of the male servers came to our table giving us menus and introduced himself as Johnathan. Isabella’s gloomy look disappeared as she took in Jonathan's build and smile. The guy was at least six feet and worked out often. His hair was straight with thick blonde locks that ended to his ears. Isabella couldn’t seem to stop staring at his sky blue eyes as she sighed when he walked away. I shook my head at her.

“Can you not? I’m trying to enjoy the creepy atmosphere here.” I muttered in a bit of annoyance.

“Hm?” She said still drifted off in whatever land she was on. The look in her eyes as she was resting her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand was glazed.

I rolled my eyes and forced my gaze at the menu. I skimmed the lists trying to decide what to try and what Isabella may like considering she wouldn’t be looking at the menu at all. When Johnathan came back around asking if we were ready I could tell by the dreamy sigh Isabella gave before a girly sickening giggle.

“Is there anything I can get started for you both or do we need a couple more minutes?” His voice was gruffy and deep for a guy no older than twenty five.

“Yes.” I began and gave Isabella a pointed look to make sure she kept her mouth shut. She wasn’t even glancing at me, her eyes were glued to the waiter. I took our menus and continued to order coldly, “We would like one vanilla Frappe and one caramel iced latte macchiato with half ice please.”

“Of course. Any food to go with the order? I recommend our strawberry cheesecake or the blueberry coffee cake.” He said while writing down our order.

“Oh! I love strawberry cheesecake. I’ll have a slice please.” Isabella gushed in awe.

Johnathan gave her a warm smile that dripped with sexiness in Isabella’s eyes. I could see her flushing red. This made me frown as I have never seen her so affected by a guy before. This didn’t feel right and as I looked up at him to give my answer I felt my heart skip a beat as that smile turned to me. “I’ll take a cinnamon roll.”

He scribbled it down with a nod. “I’ll be back with your order shortly.” Then he was off to help another table with their orders. I frowned looking at his back, feeling my mind trying to figure out what had happened.

“I would gladly eat him up.” Isabella chuckled with another sigh. I cringed at that image in my head.

“What about Arthur?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

This seemed to have a bit of an effect on shaking her out of whatever was holding her. Her eyes lost the glazed shine but she was still drooling over Mr. Waiter. My fingers started to tap on the table feeling anxious. I wasn’t sure why but every time Johnathan looked over at us I felt that weird skip in my heart beat and my skin warmed. I was thankful when we got our order. However, as I grabbed the plate to help it not fall to the table my index finger brushed his. I gasped as his voice echoed in my head.

It’s been so long since a human has been able to resist my charms.My eyes shot to his in shock.

What?I thought.What are you?

Jonathan smiled sweetly.An incubus dear unfortunate girl.

He started to walk away but I called out.Wait! How is that possible?

Is it really that much of a surprise considering the Devil’s marked your soul?

Marked my soul? Was he talking about the mark that the Devil left on me to remember where I would be going after he helped me with my revenge? How would he even know about that when it was not visible? My hands began to shake as I looked down at my order. Unsteady was the rhythm of my breath. The little bit of an appetite that I had coming in here was gone. As my mind drifted to how there were demons walking around humans in plain sight much like this one. How many more were out there?