251
Lucy
I was in the car again, fear pounding through my veins. The night of the attack replayed itself, each scene more vivid than the last. The chaos, the sinister laughter of Selene, and the desperate chase rushed through my mind. I was breathless and panicked. I heard the bullets ricocheting and myself scream as we went flying over the edge of a cliff, free falling.
I didn't remember this, but I heard myself panting. I heard David's voice like thunder cracking in the small space of the car, chanting something. Then, there was heat around me. I caught a glimpse of scales, abyss black and iridescent. Metal crunched and creaked. He shielded me with his immense wings; a magical barrier rippled around us like an impenetrable cocoon.
The night flashed through my mind. Then, there was screaming, the thudding of footsteps, and the sharp sound of something cutting through the air. I knew what it was now.
"No!"
I sat up, shuddering and fighting my blankets, panting. The memory sent shivers down my spine. The cold sweat slipped over my skin as I panted. The room was shrouded in shadows, and for a heartbeat, I struggled to remember where I was and shake the nightmare. Slowly, the familiar contours of my room at Stacy's building came into focus, grounding me in the present.
Gasping for air, I reached for my phone on the nightstand to check the time, just as a message popped up.
It was from Duke.
Want to meet me on the track in a few hours? Around five?
My lips twitched. How had he known I was up? It didn't matter. I didn't think I'd be going back to sleep, so I agreed. I got out of bed and got into the shower, hoping that I could shake the chill soon.
I headed downstairs and got into an Escort vehicle. I wanted to ask the driver about David, but I couldn't muster up the courage. I felt silly, too.
I punched Selene in that dream, but I couldn't ask this man about David?
We pulled up at the track quickly. I didn't see another escort vehicle, so I guessed that Duke was running a little late. I got out and went to the bleachers to set my bag down.
The morning sun painted the track in hues of gold and amber, but my attention was far from the vibrant colors around me. I checked my phone anxiously, hoping for a message from David that would reassure me. It had been days since I left him at the Blood Moon Estate, and the unsettling silence from him left a knot in my stomach.
Fingers tapping against the screen, I started a message. My thoughts were a mess. Had something happened? He could be just busy, but that never stopped him from messaging me before, even if it was just a GIF he found funny.
Just as I was about to press send, Duke's voice called out.
"You made it!" I looked up to see him striding onto the track, his easygoing smile faltering as he caught the tension on my face. "What's wrong?"
I sighed, sliding my phone back into my pocket. "I... Is David okay?" I shuffled my feet. "I haven't heard from him since I left, and it's not like him to be this quiet."
Duke's expression softened, and he set his bag down. "Sorry. It's part of why I wanted to meet up this morning."
"Something happened?"
"Nothing bad, exactly."
"David went into a deep sleep. Maggie says it's more like a healing trance than a coma. He's fine. It was just a bit sudden, so everyone's been on edge."
My worry didn't dissipate entirely, but knowing that there was a reason for the silence was comforting.
"Maggie said David will wake up when his body is ready," Duke explained, a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Or his mind. Whichever is steering the ship at the time. I haven't gotten that far into my training to tell you what the poisons are doing to him, but he's in good hands."
I nodded, appreciating Duke's attempt to ease my concerns. Still, the uncertainty lingered. Was Selene behind this? Would he fully recover, or was it just the beginning? I didn't know.
"Stop," Duke said, nudging me. "Let's just stretch and get on the track. Focus on that race you're supposed to be winning. The Festival isn't too far away."
I nodded and followed him into stretching. As we finished stretching, I heard the roar of a car nearby. I turned at the sound of the voice calling out.
"Duke!" The man called out, jogging over to join us. "Long time no see, man."
The man had a laid-back demeanor, his sandy hair tousled by the wind and a wide grin that seemed to say he was up for anything. There was a light in his eyes when he looked at Duke that I couldn't name, but it made me happy to see.
He wrapped an arm around Duke's shoulder. "Good to see you. What are you doing out here?"
"Hey, Tom! What brings you to this side of town this early?"
"I heard you talking about this track and decided to check it out." The man shot me a friendly grin. "Is this the famous Lucy? Duke has mentioned you a couple of times."
I chuckled, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Famous might be an exaggeration, but nice to meet you, Tom."
He gave a playful salute. "Likewise, Lucy. So, what's the plan for today's workout? Mind if I join in?"
Duke shrugged a casual smile on his face. "Not at all. Lucy and I were going for a run.... then maybe hitting the weight room. Do you mind, Lucy?"
I smiled at him, looking between him and Tom, who looked like he'd rather bite his tongue than leave. Who was this guy to Duke? I didn't remember Duke mentioning him by name.
"No, I don't mind," I said.
We waited for him to drop his bag and stretch a bit before we hit the track, walking to warm up in the early morning coolness. Then, we started to jog at Duke's pace.
"How are you in better shape than me?" I asked.
"Maggie is a hardass," he quipped. "And I'd rather run a thousand laps than train with him on any given day."
"How's training going?" Tom asked, keeping pace easily. "Are you still not planning to enter?"
I frowned. Tom was a supernatural? He had to be talking about the Festival, right?
The crisp air carried the rhythmic sound of our footsteps as we continued our workout on the track. The sun had climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow on everything it touched. Yet, my unease lingered, only momentarily pushed aside by the steady cadence of our run.
Tom was easygoing, and it didn't take long for me to feel comfortable around him. As we jogged around the track, listening to Duke and Tom talk about a project they were working on together, listening to them talk made me smile. I didn't think Duke realized it, or maybe he was just pretending not to realize it, but Tom was interested in him.
"Are you going to the Festival?" I asked Tom.
"I usually don't."
"Well, it would be nice to have familiar faces at the Festival. You should think about it," I said. "Duke will be going because he's Maggie's apprentice, but he shouldn't be tied up all day."
Tom's eyes lit up, and I wondered if the little rush of glee that swept through me was what the women at Stacy's building felt whenever they plotted about my relationship with David. After the run, we headed to the gym for some strength training. I went over to the free weights so I wouldn't need anyone to spot me and watched through the mirror as Tom served as a spot for Duke while he did chest presses. They talked, but Tom's body language screamed that he was trying to get some sort of reaction from Duke.
It wasn't until they traded places that I saw the shift in Duke's gaze.
He had to have figured it out, or something about the position was making him look at Tom in a different light. Tom looked like he was glowing, and I did my best to hold back a grin.
As we wrapped up the session, Tom wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Man, that was a blast! We should do this more often."
His gaze slipped over to Duke with a hopeful look.
Duke nodded in agreement. "It was good to have a spot that I was sure could help me."
I scowled at him. "Don't make fun of me just because your boyfriend is here."
Tom burst into laughter as Duke turned bright red. I smirked.
"You really think you're funny," Duke said. "Let's get going. We should have time to get breakfast."
"You two go without me," I said. "I think I'll call David."
Duke's gaze softened. "Alright. Just... find us in the cafeteria, alright?"
Not on your life.
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