Page 17 of Caged Heart
A wave of unfathomable anger took over, and I chucked my phone, not caring what had happened to it.
There was no one to whom I directed the question, and I didn't want anyone to answer me either. I wrapped my arms around my knees and rested my head in my lap as I cried, releasing tears I hadn't released since I found out mom took my money. The ripple of anguish and betrayal ripped through my body, not letting me go, holding me prisoner instead.
Fingers traveled in my hair as a soothing method which made me raise my head, and I came face to face with Ares. He anchored his gaze on me, and my tears wouldn't stop.
"Let's go home."
Words I've never heard anyone say to me gripped me hard in its clutches.
Ares wiped my tears away. The light touched his eyes, and they were as soft as the scent of rain. There was an unwritten emotion in his eyes that stirred me into action. Without putting much thought into it, I lifted up some more and kissed him, not caring if any of our friends saw us. For a moment, just for one split second, I thought he wasn't going to kiss me back, but when he did, my insides performed a pirouette, and I felt a rush of blood as it traveled through my body.
Ares grabbed my jaw and kissed me harder, pulling me up and slamming me against the wall. His other hand lowered to my ass and gripped it in his hand as he slammed his body into me. My caged heart thrashed against my chest, trying to run out of my body. Ares stopped kissing me, and when our eyes made contact, my heart pitter-pattered against my ribcage. There was no way this was happening right now. I looked away from him, and a shudder ran through my body.
"You cold?"
Before I could answer, Ares moved back and removed his hoodie. He passed it over to me, and I put it on.
"Thanks."
"Let's get the fuck out of here."
Chapter11
Ares
The need to feed on her darkness disappeared when I saw her tears. It didn't make sense to me, and I wanted to help her and not feast on her anguish. Something was wrong.
"It's not your job to save whoever you're trying to save."
Words that I've heard directed me when we were placed in a specified therapy with specified treatment when Artemis set herself free spilled out of my mouth before I could even stop myself.
Carmen doesn't say a word as we drive back to the apartment. I called it home because it is home but is it hers too? I don't know why I said it, but I did.
The soothing sound of Charlotte Cardin's voice while she sangJe Quittelulled us into this quiet moment. A serene one that I've never had while driving somewhere.
The French words and notes spilled out of the speakers and wrapped around me. It provided a false sense of security and peace I don't remember ever feeling.
"It was my mom."
Carmen added to the flow of the mood, and it wasn't interrupted.
"The person who you're trying to save?"
"Yes. I know it's stupid because she's been so awful, but I can't abandon her. She's my mother."
"What about you?"
Asking that question wasn't for me to get an answer, and it was more for her to ponder, but sleeping with someone makes you much more talkative than usual.
"What about me?"
"You think you gotta take care of her? Is she not capable?"
"I just," she sighed. "I've always taken care of her ever since I could remember. She's just going through a rough time."
"A rough time?" I chortled. "You had to move in with someone you can't stand so you wouldn't be out of a place. Do you know how fucked that is?"
"She's not a bad person," Carmen defended her mother even though I didn't care to know. She doesn't have to defend anyone. It's not my family. Hell, I barely supported them with anything. "She's just been dealt a bad hand, you know?"
