Page 51 of Living Legend

Elise stepped inside the bathroom, her feet making softs thuds on the tiled floor. “Your obscenely large brain isn’t going to solve this in one damn day, you know.”

“The faster we solve this shit, the sooner we can go back, and you and I both know you are counting the days.”

“I have to admit, I’ll enjoy not playing demonic liaison to those angelic shits anymore.” She left the bathroom door cracked enough for me to see her turn the sink on. “I think you’ll miss it here more than I will.”

“Yeah?” I prompted.

“Oh, come on, you’re practically begging pretty boy to rail you with every blink of your eyes.” She pulled open the door and leaned against the doorframe.

“It's harmless. It passes the time and gives me a good laugh.”

“That resistance is crumbling. Honestly I feel it in my cold, dark bones that he has a big cock.” She clucked her tongue and took a few steps to her bed.

My mind instantly slithered down, to when I was in his arms flying to Oculus. I started to wonder about his shaky resistance. I lightly touched my thigh where he had wrapped his hands and pressed his fingers into my skin. I remembered the way his goosebumps had teased my skin when I said things I don’t think he was prepared for. I was honest when I said it was all in good fun, but there was a small, tiny part of me that wanted to know what he was like unleashed and wanting, what it would be like to have him over me, panting and urgent, untethered from the confinements of what this realm has made him believe he had to be.

“Oh, my fucking god, you’re thinking about what it would be like to fuck him right now, aren’t you?” Elise’s usually raspy voice took on a slightly high-pitched tone and pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Grow the fuck up, would you? It’s your fault anyway. You brought it up.”

She threw her hands up in surrender. “I just spoke the truth, that’s all. If you don’t like it, I suggest you stop making ‘fuck me’ eyes at him and focus.”

I snorted. “Wow, you actually sound like you care how this whole mission goes.”

“Like you said, I would like to leave and go home,in peace. I don’t want all this bullshit to follow me. It’s been exhausting enough trying to be the smart one.”

Home. It was a word she used easily for that place. Every time I called it that, it came out dry and brittle, foreign on my tongue. To everyone around me, it was where I belonged, so I accepted it for what it was.

I caught a flash of something gliding across the front of my face and back again. It looked like a hand. I blinked rapidly for a second to focus on Elise standing in front of me, waving her hand back and forth. I swatted her away and walked around her.

“You zone out like that again, I swear I’ll slap you,” she claimed, returning to her bed.

I sat on the edge of my own bed, letting the events of the past week run through me. We’d been secluded in this room since Natalia’s visit, and I was starting to get a bit antsy. I had seen so much of this place, and I couldn’t help but want to see more of it while I had the chance. I found myself staring at the window again, but this time, my intentions were caught.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Elise said.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I challenged.

“You want to go exploring, and now you’re a depressed bitch. So, since I don’t want to sit here and feel your sad ass energy, we can keep blurting out ideas for the portal key until I fall asleep. I only offer this one time, though, so take it or leave it.”

I placed a hand over my heart. “I’m honored you’re choosing me over taking a nap.”

The doorknob started to turn suddenly, causing both of us to jump. Elise stood up from her bed, her shoulders tense, with a stance that meant she wasnotin the mood for anyone’s bullshit. The door creaked open, letting our new besties inside. They said something to the guards outside before closing the door behind them.

Reese casually sauntered over to the loveseat behind the door, resting his arm over the back. Nicholas sat on the arm, looking uncomfortable.

“Are either of you going to tell us why you’re here?” Elise asked, relaxing her shoulders a bit, the annoyed look on her face never evolving.

“We’ve been thinking—” Reese started.

“That’s never a good sign,” Elise interrupted, tilting her head up to the ceiling.

Reese bared his teeth, pulling the sleeve of his shirt up to his elbows. Nicholas continued for him. “At the moment, we might need a little bit more help than Natalia can give us.”

“What do you suggest? Seeking out one of your executives to help? Because from the looks of it, they haven’t been very honest,” I said, leaning back on my bed.

He gave me a look as if I had just said everything he’d been trying to avoid. It was like the words he’d been trying to stuff down a hole had just been blurted out. All the evidence pointed to the people in charge. That was something I wasn’t going to say out loud, though.

“That’s not an option at the moment.”

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