Page 57 of Mayhem

“Someone broke in last night while I was home alone. I was freaked out and ran over to Midas’s house. It doesn’t look like they stole anything. Everything is fine.” It’s the truth, sort of. I don’t feel like I can tell them everything yet.

Odin’s hand tightens on my arm. Zeus starts looking around the kitchen, trying to imagine what happened last night. Midas is the scariest one of the three. His face is blank, calculating, determined. He gets up and starts roaming through the house. I try to get up and run after him, stopping him from seeing my room, but Odin keeps me in my chair.

It’s not long after that, I hear a roar of anger coming from my room. Odin and Zeus instantly get up and run off to Midas. I stay seated, wondering if I could run out of the house and to my car before they return.

Before I can decide if that’s doable, they storm back in.

“What the fuck, Serena?” Odin murmurs.

I duck my head, feeling like I did something wrong. The tears threatened to fall. I suddenly feel like I did with Evan. Everything is my fault. I should have been better. I should have done better. I am the reason this is all happening to me.

I can’t breathe. I feel like I can’t get enough oxygen into my lungs. Zeus runs over and holds me close. He is whispering words that I can’t hear over the fog in my head. His hand starts rubbing my back in soothing circles, his words becoming clearer.

“Relax, breathe. There. That’s it.” His voice is so gentle like he is talking to a wounded animal. I guess I am wounded.

I look between them as they silently communicating something to each other. They nod their heads when they come to some conclusion. Zeus helps me stand and walks me to my room. The rose is gone. If I didn’t know any better, it was all a bad dream. I look up at him, wondering if he got rid of them for me. The shy smile he gives me lets me know that he did.

He walks me into the bathroom and turns the shower on for me. He slowly strips my clothes off, keeping his eyes on my face. I’m thankful for that because I don’t know how I would feel if he was looking at my body right now. He helps me get in before closing the shower curtain and slowly backing out of the bathroom.

I take my time in the shower, letting the hot water soak in my body. I scrub my skin until it feels like I have scrubbed as many layers off as possible. It’s raw and red when I finally get out of the shower. I wrap a towel around my body and walk back into my room. I expect to find Zeus or all three of them sitting on my bed. Instead, I see an outfit picked out for me and lying on my bed.

I quickly dressed, brushed my hair, and tied it in a ponytail. I take a few deep breaths, look at myself in the mirror, and remind myself that I am not the same girl. I am a bad bitch. I am a queen.Just keep telling yourself that, and maybe you will believe it.

I silently walk down the hall and hear the kings arguing in the kitchen.

“I am going to fucking murder whoever did that.”

“I agree, but we got to figure out who it is first.”

“I still think we should stick to the original plan.”

They all murmur their agreements, and I feel furiously confused. What plan are they talking about? I swear, every time I take a step forward, I stumble three back. Nothing has made sense in my life since I moved here.

I walk into the kitchen, and they all become silent and look at me. Odin smiles before walking over and wrapping his arm around my waist. As much as I want to stay in his arms, I pull out and give myself space. He frowns at me, looking like I just kicked his puppy.

I grab my stuff off the counter and try to walk to the door. Midas grabs my car keys before I can reach them and walks off with them.What the hell?I stormed after him, calling his name. He rips open the door and walks out to my car. He opens the passenger door. No way in hell am I driving him to school.

I stomp over to him and prepare to yell at him, but he grabs my bag, tosses it in the back, and points at the seat, expecting me to sit. I loudly laugh in his face and stick my hand out, waiting for him to return my keys.

It quickly becomes a battle of wills. Neither of us wanted to budge. We stare each other down until Zeus pipes up and tells him to give me my keys back. He scowls at Zeus over my head but eventually gives in and gives them back to me. I smugly smile at him before slamming the passenger door closed and walking over to the driver's side.

The guys all walk off to Midas’s laneway and get on their bikes.

They wait for me to start my car before they start their bikes. I guess I have three bodyguards today.

Zeus

I have officially made my mind up. I am installing those cameras in Serena's bedroom.

I was starting to think I didn't need to. But after the text messages and someone breaking into her room while she was home, everything changed. I won’t let that fucker get close to her again. I will do anything and everything in my power to keep her safe.

After watching her drive to school this morning, I broke off from the guys and drove to my mom’s house. I knew she wouldn’t be home, so I quickly ran in and grabbed everything I needed before heading back to Serena’s house.

When Midas stole her keys this morning, he managed to take her house key off the ring. Thankfully, he is quick on his feet. I unlocked the door and walked back to Serena’s room. I place my bag on her bed and start to get to work.

I take out five cameras and find the best places to put them: three in the bedroom, one in the closet, and one in the bathroom. I pointed the cameras at the vanity and door. I may be taking most of Serena's privacy away, but I won’t take all of it. She doesn’t need us watching her while she is showering.

Once I installed and set the cameras up, I decided to snoop around a little. I know Serena is hiding more from us, but I don’t know what. I have a gut feeling there is more to the story than we know. I start opening drawers and looking around, ensuring I put everything back where I found it.

---