The silence between us was too loud. It drowned out the background babble of students in the cafeteria and made me feel anxious. I scuffed the toe of my sneakers against the ground restlessly, nibbling on my coconut bun.
Finally, Isabelle broke the silence. "It wasn't worth it." she said in a low voice uncharacteristic of the Isabelle I'd known.
"Thanks," I told her awkwardly. "For um, dragging me out of there."
My mind was on a reel, replaying the scene that had unfolded. The red I saw, what the voices in my head urged me to do. End your misery, they chanted, kill her, end her. The moment when Isabelle's voice rang out, pulling me back to my senses. The flash of horror in her eyes before they turned solemn with anger.
Everyone's eyes on us as she told Amelia to screw off very loudly. Yanking on my arm, pulling me out of the class. How she never let go of my hand until we were far away from everyone. The softness of the bun she'd bought and gently placed in my hands. And then silence, as I awaited judgement.
"Why did you never tell me about her?" There was a hint of resentment in her voice.
"I- I didn't want to lose you as a friend," I lowered my head, unable to meet her eyes. I hesitated, then blurted out my confession. "I'm just a coward who can't stand up for herself. You'd be disgusted with me."
"Avery, look at me," she snapped. And when I did, I saw a scorching heat in her eyes. "Don't you remember what I told you?" she asked. "I said I'd always be here for you if you needed me. You were my first friend here. I'd fight for you, anytime. I meant every word I said that day. But you wouldn't even car to tell me something like this? Also, care to explain?" She grabbed my right arm, lifting it up in full view of both of us.
My heart skipped a beat. Dried, scarlet red, from my wrist at the edge of the sleeve of the jacket I'd been wearing, to the palm of my hand, was a single trickle of blood. I looked away.
I felt Isabelle's fingers gingerly peel back the sleeves of my school jacket. Heard her draw a sharp intake of breath as she saw my self-inflicted wounds. I couldn't meet her eyes. Then felt a wetness on my arm.
"My gosh, Avery," she sobbed. "This is so bad. Why?" she whispered, sniffing back tears. "How much pain did you have to be in t-"
And she cut herself off and threw herself at me. I let out a gasp as she enveloped me in a bear hug. "Please don't do this to yourself anymore, Avery. Tell me," she pleaded. I could hear the fierceness in her voice. "Next time, tell me all your problems. I'll hear you out, I'll be here for you even if I can't fix anything. You don't have to face this alone anymore. I hope you know that." She choked out.
And out of the blue, I felt something shift inside me. All the ice cold walls I'd built up around myself, something within started to crack. I felt a lump in my throat. "Isabelle.." I trailed off, not knowing what else to say.
Under the circumstances, it would seem more fitting should I be the one crying on her shoulder. Nevertheless, we stayed in a silence not as tense as before, only occasionally broken by her sniffing. Looking back, that was the afternoon the frozen walls around my heart began to thaw.
-
The shimmery surface of the small raised pool rippled as two different hues of thick liquid dripped into it - blue, the blood of the gods, and black. The water stirred, swirled then turned clear and still again, almost mirror-like.
"It is done," Gaia turned, glancing away from the pool. She pressed the palm of her hand to her bleeding wrist, stopping the blood flow. She looked at the mysterious red-eyed man, licking his wrist clean as it healed. "You're a demon."
"Mhmm. You saw my blood." His fangs flashed as he grinned. "We're partners now." There was an underlying meaning to these words that the goddess did not catch.
"Tell me where the key lays," she demanded.
"As you wish, my lady." Scarlet eyes curved into delighted crescents as he placed a hand on the small of her back and led her back to the dais.
Gaia frowned. No one dared to touch her so casually before, and she did not know what to make of this impertinent behavior. She opened her mouth to snap at him but changed her mind. Wasn't she bound by the contract to give him one thing he desired? If he demanded for her power- she cut off the thought, feeling disturbed. Had her mind and senses grown dull over the years? Why hadn't she seen this very obvious loophole?
Another thought flashed through her mind. His touch felt strangely familiar. She racked her memories but could not find anything. Her eyes scanned the man next to her as they walked. Very tall, lean, his hair was gelled back but a stray lock brushed the corner of his eyes. A strong obstinate jaw, eyes the color of wine, guarded. She knew that look in his eyes. She wore it often.
His words interrupted her thoughts. "After you, my lady," he said with a gracious hand gesture at her throne.
Sharp fangs flashed as his mouth stretched open in another delighted grin. "Shall we begin?"