102
Lucy
“David!”
He lifted an arm and waved over his head. I turned, sniffling and felt a bit of comfort wash through me as he walked towards us. His eyes darted between us for a moment before stopping at me. His eyes were full of concern as he reached us.
"What's wrong, Lucy? Are you okay?" David asked. He placed a hand on my shoulder.
I sniffled and shook my head. “I’m okay now. It’ll b-be okay. I just---“
“Lucy,” David whispered, cupping my face. “You don’t have to hide it. If you don’t want to talk about it… that’s okay, just say so, but I’ll still want to hear even if I can’t help.”
“Actually… I think David would be able to help a lot more than I could.”
I looked up at Duke. “What?”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Money is power after all…”
I looked back at David and glanced around. “Duke, could you… put up a barrier?”
His eyes widened. David looked between me and Duke his eyes wide with shock, but I felt it wrapping around us as the sounds faded.
David looked at Duke. “You’re…”
Duke rubbed the back of his neck. “Lo-Long story. Later. Just… You wanted to say something, Lucy?”
I looked up at David, a bit nervous, but Duke was right. David had to know a lot more about all of this… Not just for me but for Duke too.
"I... I’m having some trouble with my program…” I cleared my throat and started to explain what happened. David took the orb from Duke and listened to it. Duke seemed surprised that he knew how to use it. David smirked.
“Clever, Duke. You were always sneaky.” He did something and another orb appeared. He handed the original to Luke. “I’ll get this submitted to the coven. They’ll be… very interested to know that there’s such a problem.”
His grin turned vicious. “And… I’ll get it added to your case, Lucy.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Harassment in the second degree. They’re actions are causing you problems. It’s not a charge that will go through because you can’t really prove that they did it on purpose, but it’ll help discredit their characters... This is like sixth time isn’t it?”
I sighed and my shoulders slumped. “I… don’t want to run into his daughter.”
“Let me worry about that,” David said, wrapping his arm around me and squeezing me close. “Are you okay?”
I licked my lips. “There’s… one more thing.”
“Go on.”
I glanced at Duke. His eyes widened and before he could shake his head, I took his hand.
“It’s about Duke.” I swallowed. “I think… I think he’ll need a lineage test.”
Duke frowned and looked between the two of us. “A-And sanctuary?”
David went still and he looked at Duke. A few moments passed. “Who is your handler, Duke?”
Duke stammered and looked between the two of us, shaking his head.
“It’s not—I mean, I really—I thought we were…” I squeezed his hand.
“We’re… survivors. F-Fighters.”
His eyes glossed over and he dropped his head and took a shuddering breath.
“H-His name is Julian… I haven’t talked to him in a while.” He shrugged. “A-After they got me in; I’ve been sort of… fending for myself.”
“How have you been paying for things?” David asked. “Where have you been staying?”
He winced. “Could we… maybe talk about this after a fun weekend at the beach?”
David set his jaw. His eyes flashed with light but he nodded stiffly. “Fine, but we’re going to talk about it.”
Duke nodded and scowled at me. “Getting me in trouble? This must be what Amy complains about.”
I smiled up at him and swung our hands. “I think I’d like having an older brother like you.”
His scowl softened and he squeezed my hand back. The barrier dropped around us.
“There you are!” Sarah called from a little way away. Amy followed rolling a small suitcase behind her as Sarah hurried towards us.
“Let’s get this party—“Sarah broke off as she looked at me and then Duke. Concern filled her eyes. “What’s going on? Is that bitch still bothering you? How’d it go with the department head?”
I shook my head and wiped my tears away. “It’s okay for now. I’m just a little overwhelmed. I’ll be okay. We’ve… got a trip to go on, right?”
She grinned. “You’re right! I’m so excited. The sun, the sand… all the shirtless men.”
David laughed. “I’ll be sure to drop you off at the public section of the beach.”
Amy squealed. “Do you think we’ll see sea turtles?”
David took over the conversation and led us out of the building and to the parking lot to a large car. He opened the passenger side door and nodded.
Sarah cooed. “Is this really your car? Do you want to adopt us?”
David laughed and took my bag and ushered me into the passenger seat. “I think I already have.”
Sarah cheered as David took her and Amy’s bag. The climbed into the back seat. Duke shuffled his feet awkwardly. David took his bag too and nodded into the car. Duke ducked his head and climbed in.
I saw him open the back of the car and haul bags inside. “There’s a cooler in between the seats. There are drinks in there, but we’ll hit a diner before the longest stretch of road.”
Amy pouted. “It’s your birthday… We should at least pay for dinner.”
David closed the trunk and got into the driver’s seat. “Don’t be ridiculous. I invited you on this trip.”
“But, it’s your birthday!” Sarah cried. “I didn’t even know what to get you.”
He chuckled and cranked up the car and turned on the air conditioner. “Your company is gift enough.”
He pulled out of the parking lot and turned on the radio. An upbeat started to play as he drove away from the campus. The further away we grew, the more relaxed I felt.
“I heard from Duke that you want to join Helping Hands, Amy?” David said. “Did you submit an application already?”
“No,” she said quietly. “They said that I couldn’t apply unless I was a full student.”
David frowned. “You are a full student.”
“What?”
He chuckled. “They probably thought you were just visiting the campus or a high schooler on a summer tour. You’re enrolled in the GED course, so you’re a student. I can help you get set up.”
He grinned. “We need some more hands.”
“You’re in Helping Hands?” Amy asked.
“I don’t have as much time as I like for it, but I do what I can,” he said. “It helps.”
I smiled looking at him. “You… did like flowers.”
He grinned at me. “I’ve learned that I… have quite the green thumb.”
He glanced at the campus ring on my hand and my jaw dropped.
“Really?”
“A class you can probably take soon.” He looked at the rearview mirror. “You too Duke if you want.”
I looked back at Duke as he looked outside. He didn’t seem to be listening but then he nodded.
“I’ll… think about it.”
I bit my lip. “Are you okay?”
Duke looked at me and nodded. “Thanks for you looking out for me. I… would have never said a thing.”
My eyes burned. “I… used to be the same way, b-but I’m learning to speak up for myself.”
He nodded. “I’ll… follow your lead.”
“Y’all are too sad!” Sarah cried. “We’re going to the beach not a funeral.”
I laughed as she started talking about everything she planned to do. David chimed in about what was near the property. Apparently, his house was on a private strip of beach, but we could walk from the house to the beachside town for just about anything.
Amy opened a few cans of soda for everyone. I smiled as she gave me a can of juice instead since I didn’t like the fizzing sensation. It was peach flavored.
“Thanks, Amy…” I looked at David. “Thanks, David.”
He nodded. “No point in a road trip if everyone doesn’t have their own snacks.”
About an hour later, we stopped at a cozy little diner that was ocean-themed. We slid into a large booth as David greeted the waiter with a hug. The older woman squeezed him tight and promised to take care of us.
“You’ve been here a lot?” Amy asked.
David grinned. “The beach house was a weekly trip for me for a while. And they make the best fried fish I’ve ever had on or off a taco.”
I laughed. “Tacos? I should have known!”
He smirked. “Their chocolate cake is also amazing.”
I scowled at him as everyone else laughed. The waiter brought us a bunch of food as people got up on the stage for karaoke.
“We have to!” Sarah said, pulling Amy along with her. We clapped as Sarah and Amy got onto the stage.
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