Chapter 25 The offer stands

Chapter 25 The offer stands

Nyx's p.o.v

I met Lena outside Xavier's house, Kent had gone before us. “You look pale,” she frowned, her gaze dragging hastily over me.

“Lena,” I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes. It was a warning for her to drop it.

“Fine. Fine. You look fire.” She mumbled, raising her hand up in surrender.

I tipped my head in appreciation. If fire could be called for jeans and a tank top.

“Let's go in. See what this ‘holy party' is about.” She said, rolling her eyes.

We got in and this could pass as a hymn class, everyone was sitting down, most I could recognize from high school, listening to Xavier read out something from a book he's currently using to shield his face.

“Everyone's scowling,” Lena whispered over my shoulder.

“Fuming,” I corrected. Looking around to confirm it. My gaze locked with Kent who seemed to have gotten a comfortable place at the corner, sipping on something from a red cup.

He wiggled his brow at me, then he beckoned at me with his index finger. “Come, Kent is over there.” I grabbed her hand and made my way for my brother.

I heard her begin to grumble beside me. “Why do we have to go there?” She asked, wiggling her hand in grip.

I rolled my eyes. “Either Kent or you will be stuck in Xavier's class.”

At the mention of his name, he dropped his book. “Welcome. Welcome. Join us.” He said, smiling at us.

I pointed at Kent. “We will join later.”

He glared at Kent,turned to me with a smile, nodded and continued.

“Now brethren. Let's talk about Sin…” I zoned out his words as we got to Kent.

“I haven't gone to any party but I'm sure this isn't one.” I said,while Kent laughed.

“Sure kiddo, this is the kind of party for people like you.”

I felt a tinge of hurt.

“People like her? The fuck do you mean she's twenty two.” Lena spat.

“Oh hello to you too Lena,” he waved.

“Save it.”

They weren't always like this, the bad blood only started a year ago when they broke up. Neither told me why? I didn't push as well. I wouldn't want to hear about my brother's sexcapade with my best friend.

“One sin that stands out in this generation is Fornication.” My heart skipped as Xavier's voice wafted into my ear. “Sex is the order of the day.”

“Oh man,” Kent groaned. “This fool used to have a lot of it too.” He pointed at Xavier.

“Well guess he changed. Keyword change. I hope some one has too.” Lena chipped in a Xavier turned to her, anger radiating off him.

Oh no.

I wasn't about to witness their argument.

I slipped away before the tension could snap and slice someone open.

Lena was already gearing up for war, Kent’s jaw tight, Xavier’s eyes flashing with that righteous fire he wore too well. I didn’t want to be the reason it exploded. Not tonight. Not when my chest already felt too tight to breathe.

So I stepped back. Quietly. One foot after the other.
The farther I moved from them, the closer I drifted toward Xavier’s voice.

People shifted in their seats as I passed irritated murmurs, low scoffs, restless bodies. Someone muttered, “I didn’t come here for this,” and another laughed humorlessly. But Xavier didn’t stop. He didn’t even flinch.

He stood there, shoulders squared, eyes sharp, the book lowered now. No more hiding behind pages.

“Fornication,” he continued, voice steady, unyielding. “Has been watered down. Romanticized. Packaged as freedom.”
Someone groaned loudly.

“Sex has become casual,” he went on, unfazed. “Without regard for consequence. Without reverence. Without shame.”
My stomach twisted.

“And it doesn’t stop at strangers,” he said, pausing just long enough for the room to still. “People go as far as crossing lines that should never be crossed. Sleeping with those they share blood with. Family.”
The word hit like a slap.

Shame flooded me so fast I felt dizzy.
My vision blurred as his voice kept going, but I barely heard the rest. All I could see was Travis. His hands. His voice. His whispers.

The way I hadn’t stopped him. The way I had wanted it.
Step uncle.
Fiancée.
Pregnant.
My throat burned.

I turned away before anyone could look at me too closely, before my face betrayed everything. I walked straight out the front door, the cool night air hitting my skin like punishment.

Outside, I leaned against the wall, breathing hard, letting the guilt crawl over me, soak into my bones.
What kind of person does that?

What kind of woman sleeps with a man who belongs to another worse, one carrying a child with someone else?

I wrapped my arms around myself, nails digging into my skin as if I could physically hold the feeling in. I deserved to feel this. Every ounce of it.

I was still standing there, lost in the spiral, when I heard footsteps crunch softly behind me.
“Enjoying the party?”
I stiffened.

Xavier stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, head tilted slightly. There was a small smile on his face, but his eyes were too knowing for it to be light.

“Yes,” I lied, too quickly.
He chuckled, low and amused. “You’re a terrible liar, Nyx.”
I didn’t respond.

“Everyone inside is grumbling,” he went on. “Which means the message is working.”
I glanced at him despite myself.

“I tricked them,” he admitted easily. “Most of them haven’t been to church in years. If I’d told them what this was, they wouldn’t have shown up.”

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. “That’s… manipulative.”
“Strategic,” he corrected, grinning.
Silence settled between us again, heavier this time.

My chest tightened, the words clawing their way up my throat. The guilt was rotting inside me. Sitting there. Festering.
If I didn’t say it now, I never would.

I swallowed hard and looked at him.
“Xavier,” I said quietly.
He hummed in response, waiting.
“Do people confess things to you?”

He frowned. “Like their sin”

I nodded hastily.

“Yes, but I'm sorry Nyx I can't tell you.”

“Oh no no no…I don't want you to tell me.”

Silence.

My mind was made up, he wouldn't say anything about their sins. Mine too would be safe with him. This was better, he could rid me of this guilt.

“Xavier.” I called once again. “Can I tell you something?”

“Oh…yes…”

Just then, someone joined us. “A girl is crying inside, says she wants to confess her sins.” The blonde guy I remember from school said.

Xavier turned to look at me. “I'll be back,” he assured and walked off.

I rested my head back on the wall, enjoying the space I had to gather my nerves before Xavier comes back. But minute later I heard footsteps approaching.

“There you are,” Lena exclaimed. “I've been looking around for you.”

“You done chopping my brother into pieces.”

She hissed.

“He led some girls away ages ago.” She scrunched her face as if irritated. “I could only feel pity for them,”

I snorted. Amused by her hate.

“Anyways why are you outside.”

“Fresh air. I'm ti…”

“Wait, can you hear it?”

“Hear what?”

A sharp crash cut through the night glass, maybe. Then raised voices. Male. Angry. Too close.
My stomach dropped.
“That’s from the back,” Lena said, already moving.

We broke into a run, cutting past the side of the house, shoes crunching against gravel and dry leaves. The hymn-class calm was gone now this was raw, ugly noise. By the time we rounded the corner, my heart was already in my throat.
Kent.

He was locked in a fight with a guy I didn’t recognize, both of them stumbling near the back patio. Kent’s knuckles were red, his jaw clenched so tight I thought it might crack. The other guy looked drunk or reckless enough not to care.

“Don’t you dare say anything about my father again,” Kent growled, shoving him hard in the chest.
The guy laughed. Actually laughed. “You don’t even know your father.”
The words sliced through the air.
Kent snapped.

His fist flew before I could even shout his name. Bone met bone with a sickening sound, the guy staggering back, blood already spilling from his mouth. Kent didn’t stop. Another punch. And another.
My chest caved in.
“Kent stop!” I screamed, pushing forward, hands shaking. “Kent, please…stop!”

Lena was shouting too, people pouring out of the house now, drawn by the chaos. Someone tried to pull Kent back. He shrugged them off like they were nothing.
Blood smeared his knuckles. The guy was barely standing.

“Stop!” I cried again, my voice breaking. “You’ll kill him!”
But Kent looked gone. Like something inside him had finally cracked open and didn’t care who saw.

Then “Stop.”
The word was quiet. Hoarse. Not shouted.
And somehow, it worked.
Everyone froze.
I turned slowly.

Pa Paul stood a few steps behind us, his presence heavy, immovable. His face was unreadable, eyes sharp beneath the porch light.

Kent’s fists loosened. The guy slid down onto the ground, coughing, spitting blood.
Pa Paul looked around at the crowd, disgust curling his lip. “Get out of my house. All of you.”
No one argued.

People scattered immediately, whispers trailing behind them, the party dissolving into nothing but shame and silence. Lena grabbed Kent, dragging him away before anyone could say another word.
I followed, numb, my ears ringing.

As I passed Pa Paul, his hand shot out, gripping my wrist gently but firmly. He pulled
me closer, just enough that his breath brushed my ear.

“The offer still stands,” he whispered.
My heart dropped straight into my stomach.
He released me like nothing had happened.
And I walked away…ran off.