Chapter 73

Luthor and i are sat in the living room, eating popcorn and watching horror movies, it was the best time I've had in months, and i was savouring every second of it. He was actually a really nice guy, and he was kind, and funny. It was like a breath of fresh air after the week I've had. It i even better because it isn’t forced time, i offered and he said yes.
Garne and Mihai are busy with work, arranging a rebellion takes a lot of planning, and a lot more support than they have managed to muster.
But we have all the time in the world, if the council don’t decide to attack us first, but so far, they have been oddly quiet. We haven’t heard a thing, and there has been no retaliation for Sean’s death.
“What do you want to watch next?” i ask my father as the credits roll on The Ring.
Obviously, it’s the older one, we don’t like the newer version, it takes all the fun away.
“How about something other than the old ones?” he suggests, “Have you ever heard of one called Megan? It's about a robot connecting to a child.”
I think about it for a moment, “does the child die?”
I don’t like to admit it, but the death of children really bothers me, i tend to avoid shows and movies with stories around child death.
He shakes his head, “No, she doesn’t.”
I shrug, “Ok then, let’s watch it.”
He stands, grabbing the remote and ordering the film, after he pays for it using the card on the account he goes to make more popcorn and smiles when it starts, he clearly likes this one.
I much prefer the old movies myself, i think they have more scares in them than the new ones, but surprisingly, i didn’t mind the film at all. The story was pretty good.
“I don’t know about you, but my eyes need a break, that’s the third movies I've watched.” I laugh a little, stretching my back until it cracks.
“What do you want to do instead?” he asks, “It’ll be another hour before your brother, Dren, arrives. He left his mother and sister behind this time, as per my request.”
Speaking of mothers.
“That reminds me.” I say, pulling the box from my jogger bottoms, “Can you get this fixed? Garne found it at the restaurant, but it was broken.”
He takes the box and opens it, frowning as he looks inside at the broken necklace, “It wasn’t supposed to end the way it did, i planned to take you to your brother and have cake, i didn’t expect to be attacked. On your birthday.”
“It’s ok.” i say with a smile, “They’ll never leave me alone, not until i am dead. I'm certain of it. They'll come again soon.”
Luthor growls, “They’ll never get to you again, we have increased security, and all of those we hired would die to keep you safe. You are the daughter of a lord, and you are dating one of the most dangerous lords we have.”
“I wouldn’t call it dating.” I say.
My father raises an eyebrow, “then what would you call it?”
“I don’t know.” i mutter, “We haven’t really put a label on things, especially with everything that has happened.”
Garne walks into the room, a smile on his face, “Had enough of movies already?” he asks.
“Yeah.” i say, smiling back at him, “There’s only so much gore a girl can handle.”
“I never thought I'd hear that from you.” He laughs, “You’re all bite and no bark.”
“I’ve heard that before.” I laugh, “I think i am going to go for another run, Luthor, care to join me?”
Luthor smiles, “Sure, let me get changed into something more suitable.”
He's right, he can’t run in a suit.
It wouldn’t be very comfortable, and he’ll overheat.
“Go.” I say, shooing him, “I’ll wait outside.”
He smiles again, “don’t go without me.”
“not a chance.” I say, watching as he jogs upstairs.
“You two seem to be getting along ok.” Garne says, watching me.”
“I guess we are.” I say, laughing a little bit, “But i think that’s because i am not being forced to spend time with him, I'm doing it because i want to.”
“That makes sense.” He nods, “you can’t build a relationship on a lie, it doesn’t work that way.” he sits beside me, “Speaking off forced relationships, how are you and Mihai getting along?”
“We aren’t forced.” i say coldly.
What is he trying to say?
Mihai and i didn’t start out great, that much is true, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t worked things out.
We are better now, it isn’t forced, it never has been.
Garne scowls at me, “He kidnapped you, Mae, surely that is forced.” he snaps, “Or have you forgotten that you didn’t come through your own choice?”
I stand, putting some distance between us, i don’t like the way he is speaking to me, not one bit. My hand goes to the knife in my pocket.
“You don’t get to speak to me like that.” I growl, crossing my arms as i release the knife. “Mihai and i aren’t perfect, but we have built what we have slowly, over time.”
I don’t need the knife, not yet. It's more of a comfort to know it is there.
He stands, following me. “Mae, you are delusional and in pain, you shouldn't’ be with him.” he says, “you should be with someone else.”
I laugh at him, “Like who Garne?”
“Like me.” He says, moving closer to me, “You should be with me.”
“Garne, stop it.” I warn, “We are good friends, don’t ruin it.”
He runs his hands through his hair, “I’m not trying to ruin anything, i am trying to protect you, Mae, let me do that.” he says in a desperate voice. “Listen to me, he isn’t good enough for you.”
Luthor comes down the stairs, anger in his eyes, “And you think that you are? You are a nobody.”
“I’m better for her than him!” he shouts, pulling me towards him by my upper arm. “You should leave with me, Mae, come with me and never look back.”
I shake my head, “I can’t do that.” i say, “Let go of me.”
I rip my arm from his grasp and groan when i notice it is already bruising, “Maybe you should leave until you calm down, Garne.”
“Maybe he should leave for good.” Luthor growls, crossing his arms.
Garne throws his hands up in the air and shouts, “Fine!” he turns to me, “I put my number in your phone, call if you change your mind.”
I just watch him leave, sadness overwhelming me, “I didn’t expect that.” i say, mainly to myself.
“He is trying to get you to leave, when the hunters are everywhere, he clearly can’t be trusted.” Luthor says with a scowl.
“He is my friend.” i murmur.
Or so i thought.
“Not anymore.” Luthor says, “I’m going to go talk to Mihai, then we will go for a run, just like we planned.”
I nod, but i don’t feel as glad as i did before. Why did Garne have to go and ruin things?
He was a good friend. For a small time.
Maybe that was what he wanted all along, maybe he just didn’t want to say it.