Page 112 of Anathema Codex

“Well?” I prompt her and Ichabod sighs at me like he actually cares about this murderous little street urchin. Of course, he’s always had a soft spot for the particularly unhinged ones.

“I’ll go get in the car,” Red mumbles, throwing her backpack over her shoulder and swaying slightly as she walks out the front door. I really don’t give a fuck if she’s drunk or sick. She’s just going to bear witness, so as long as she stays conscious I’ll keep her around.

“Wait, Lakyn?” Ichabod pipes up, his voice small.

I do my best not to sigh as I look down at his skinny little hand on my arm.

“What now?” I ask as calmly as I can.

“That girl in the back seat…”

“Hm?”

I have no idea who the hell he’s talking about for a second and then it clicks—oh! The new goat girl. Right. He’s been obsessed with that bitch since the night I got back even though she’s been liquified for a while now and off my radar for even longer.

“What about her?” I ask impatiently.

“Please tell me the truth, Lakyn… Did you fuck her?” he asks me quietly.

“You’ve really got your priorities screwed up, Ichabod,” I scoff as I shake my head and walk out the door. I almost make it to the car when I hear his whiny little voice crack behind me.

“Did you?”

Grabbing the handle, I pull the driver’s side open and look over at where he’s standing in the doorway. “Technically? No.”

“What does that mean?” he calls out and I slip into the driver’s seat. I slam the car door as Red begins to secure her seatbelt, crank the key, then roll down the window.

“I’ll be back with your bestie in a few hours. Don’t wait up, sweetheart!” I shout, completely bypassing his question as I shift into reverse and peel out of the driveway.

That’s an argument that can wait for another day as far as I’m concerned. Besides, I’ve got my priorities in the right order, and putting Satan’s number one slut in her place is top of the fucking list.

* * *

“You alright over there or did you lie to me and she actually turned you into a tweaker too?” I ask Red curiously as she rests her head against the passenger’s side window. I haven’t known the little crazy redhead that long, and it’s not like I pay that much attention to her, but I’m pretty confident that she’s normally a hell of a lot more energetic than this.

“I’ll be fine,” she mutters.

“If you say so.”

Pulling a cigarette from the pack in the visor, I light one up. I really don’t care if she’s doing fine or not, but I refuse to have another road trip with a junkie. The first time was bad enough, even when I found out that they had been fucking with me and he wasn’t smacked up on the drive. Granted, it just showed me even more that Trixie can get anyone and everyone to do whatever the fuck she wants.

I’m too tired of playing her goddamn games, though. I’m not interested in our constant dick measuring contests even though we haven’t had the opportunity in twenty damn years.

I think the only way to show this precious little cunt that she’ll only ever be second best is to take away her following.

A fish rots from the head down, after all, but this bitch needs her pond drained to understand that she’s nothing special. And if this new and improved Trixie is anything like the old one, once her light worshipping assholes run off and leave her alone, she’ll fold because there won’t be anyone around to worship her anymore.

Then the kid will see her for what she is, and that’s just another win in my book. That cocky brat may think he’s won something, but Trixie isn’t a goddamn trophy. She’s a pathetic addict, and once he sees the truth he’ll realize he’s just as pathetic as she is.

Crazy girl lets out a quiet groan from the passenger seat and I reach over to turn down the Blondie CD I grabbed from my workshop. She really does look like shit, and that brings up a damn good question.

“Hey, how’d you get back to my place, anyway?” I ask Red. Not that I particularly care, but curiosity has always been a sin of mine.

“Hitchhiked,” she answers softly, and I shrug.

“Take a load off. We’ll be back in the desert in no time. Then maybe me and you can have a little fun, eh?” I reach over and giving her leg a squeeze.

She grunts and I smirk.

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