Chapter 24 Where is Eros?

Chapter 24 Where is Eros?
I walked the long hallways down to Eros's place, my shoulders fallen, my legs still damp from the lake. I could hear Knox still walking behind me despite my insistence for him to just go to his own room.

I didn't want Eros seeing us together, especially not after what happened. 

We got to the front door, and my eyes searched for the clock. It was a few minutes after eight.

I swallowed hard, then turned. Knox stopped, his hands going behind him, his eyes wide.

"Sorry," he said, then broke into one of his beautiful smiles. "I just wanted to make sure you got here safe."

I nodded slowly, forcing a smile. "You should go now."

He nodded, biting down on his lips slowly. "Goodnight, Kian."

I could see his eyes. They looked like they were holding secrets, like he had something he wanted to say, yet couldn't.

I bit down on my lips as hard as we stood there in awkward silence.

"Goodnight," he said again but made no move to leave.

"Goodnight," I said too, but didn't move either. 

It was a combination of dread of what I would meet in there and cowardice. I am nothing but a coward.

Knox suddenly covered the distance and wrapped his hands around me. He smelled fresh, like flowers, like the lake. He was soft and gentle. 

"Goodnight," he said again before turning away. 

I watched his back as he ran down the hallways, turning once he reached the corner. He waved at me, his smile big, his happiness exuding off him.

I waved back, and he broke into an even bigger smile before he turned away, leaving me standing outside, realizing just how big a monster I have become.

Slowly, I turned to the door and opened it. I stepped into a dark house, my heart pounding hard as I looked around.

I couldn't hear a single thing, but Eros's scent hit me hard, reminding me of all the reasons I had run in the first place.

I turned towards the path I knew led to my room. I pushed my feet in that direction, my chest heaving lightly.

My hand stretched out, and I touched the cold door knob, then started to turn it.

"Were you with him?"

I turned sharply, my hand leaving the door knob, my heart jumping into my throat.

"Eros," I breathed, my chest heaving.

He didn't try to turn on a light. The house was dark, and I could barely even figure out where he was or what he was doing.

"Answer me," he said again, his voice low, controlled. "Were you with Knox?"

I bit down hard on my lips. "No. I wasn't with Knox."

There was a moment of silence. "Where were you?"

My lies were piling up, and I was starting to have a hard time keeping up. "The lake."

Another second of silence.

"How did you find it?"

My fists clenched. "I wanted to get fresh air... and I just found myself there after walking around."

"You weren't with Knox?" He asked again.

I hated how I couldn't even gauge his expressions because of the darkness. 

"Yes," I replied firmly. "He came to get me, but we parted ways right after."

He didn't say anything for the longest time, and I held my breath, waiting.

Suddenly, I heard the door to his room open and close. Just like that, he was gone.

I stood there in the darkness, my heart beating wildly in my chest.

You filthy little liar.

I closed my eyes, then walked into my room.

The first thing I saw was a tray of food on the bed, with a few pills in a small, transparent medicine pouch.

A pang of guilt sliced through my chest, and I leaned back on the door, my heart breaking.

I am ruining more things than I could count. Ruining more people than I could bear.

I woke up curled up on the floor next to the door. I stood up slowly, my brows furrowed at the bright sun rays that filtered into the room. 

I pushed myself up to take a bath. I got rid of the clothes I was wearing, then stood under the shower, my eyes falling on my reflection in the glass.

I stood there as Skylar, carrying the kisses of two men on my lips and the weight of countless lies in my hand.

I got out of the shower and slowly got ready. I watched in the mirror as Skylar gave way for Kian, the hair, the eyes, and then finally the large shirt and even bigger trousers.

I walked out of the room, expecting to catch a glimpse of Eros. The house was empty.

I dropped the untouched tray of food in the kitchen, then slowly made my way to his room.

I stood in front, my heart hammering hard. What if he was in there? What would I say? What would I do?

I shook my head. I could thank him for the food. That's right. Thank him, and move on.

I knocked on the door. No answer. I let my hand go down to the door knob, and I turned it. It was locked.

He was most likely not inside.

With a small sigh, I walked out of the house, closing the door behind me.

To my surprise, Knox was waiting for me just a little distance away from the door.

"Breakfast time," he announced before throwing an apple towards me.

I caught it, a small laugh escaping me. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "Waiting for you. I knew you would come out any minute."

I nodded, taking a bite of the apple. "Thank you."

He shrugged it off, and we walked in silence down the hallways.

I could hear the loud chatter of the students in the dining room before we even reached it. I swallowed hard. Maybe Eros was in their private section?

We entered the dining room, and all of a sudden, a hush fell on the crowd. 

My brows furrowed, and I held the apple even tighter as I looked around.

The students were looking at us, some murmuring, pointing, laughing.

I turned to Knox for any help, but he looked just as confused.

"Ignore it," he said all of a sudden. 

I nodded, and amidst the hushed whispers and stares, we got our food.

Knox's usual table was now empty, and my gaze flickered to the private section. It was empty. None of them were there.

My brows furrowed as I took a seat, an unsettling feeling twisting my stomach into large knots.

"Eat. Don't..."

Before Knox could finish what he was saying, I felt my feet leaving the ground.

It happened so fast. One minute, I was sitting on the bench, the next minute, I was dangling on the dining wall, Alpha Karl's hand wrapped tightly around my neck, his eyes wide with rage.

"Alpha!" Knox yelled behind me, but Alpha Karl barely even acknowledged it.

"I told you," he said, his claws drawn, his eyes a deep, dark vortex.

I could barely breathe or talk, and my hands wrapped around his, begging for space. Begging for life.

"What the fuck did you do!?" He screamed again.

Tears filled my eyes as I gasped for air. I could feel his fingers tightening around my neck, closing every pathway.

My legs started to go weak, and I could feel strength leaving me.

"Karl," came another voice from behind.

I managed to look up, and Alpha Kyran was standing behind us.

He was holding Knox, who was now on his knees by the hair. Knox's lower lip was broken, blood running down his chin.

"Let him go," Alpha Kyran said, his eyes darting towards me.

Alpha Karl let out a hiss, then let me go. I fell to the floor like a rag doll, my body shivering as I gasped for air, my hands wrapping around my neck.

"Why are you doing this?" I managed to cough, as Alpha Kyran dragged Knox to where I was, pushing him back to the wall.

"Why?" Alpha Karl asked, then leaned to me. "What the fuck did you do at the lake yesterday?"

All the colour that I had managed to regain from the strangling drained from my face.

"Wh.. what?"

Before I could say anything else, Alpha Kyran dropped pictures to the floor.

I looked down at them, and my heart immediately sank to my feet. There were lots of pictures, of Knox kissing me, his hand on my thigh, him between my legs.

I turned to Knox, whose eyes were watching the pictures, his chest heaving hard.

"Where is Eros?" Alpha Karl asked, kicking the pictures away.

"What?" I asked, and he grabbed me by the collar, his eyes darting across both of mine.

"Where is Eros?"