The Huntress' Name (sequel to The Huntress)

Chapter 21

When I woke up in the morning, I was in the same spot on the ground. The hears had dried on my cheeks, and the blood had crusted in my clothes. 

Jared hadn't come back during the night, and that sent another aching wave through my heart. 

He just needed some time to cool off, that was all. I was sure he'd be back when everything settled down. I just needed to occupy my time until then. Time. I had a lot of that now that Klarke had given me the rest of the week off. 

"Layke." My voice sounded strange in the otherwise empty, silent room. 

If I had the free time and the information, I may as well check it out. 

Isaac could have tried to set me up. It wasn't completely out of the realm of possibilities. If this Layke was what he said it was, and if these people were on Klarke's radar, the act of telling me could be enough to get him in real trouble with Klarke. Family or not, I had to assume Isaac wouldn't put himself in danger to help me. He wouldn't go down for or with me. 

Even if it was a set up, it was the only lead I had. I couldn't just sit on the information and do nothing, especially when it was what I'd set out to do when I left the country anyway. 

I sighed and got up from the floor. I took off the clothes, and threw them in the trash. I didn't want the reminder of what had happened the day before. I wanted to forget the blood, I wanted to forget the thrill as I'd made the fatal slice, and I wanted to forget the pain of Jared leaving. 

The blood on my skin had darkened. Some had flaked off when I'd peeled the clothes free. A scalding hot shower was exactly what I needed to fix everything. 

I turned on the water, letting it heat up, and I looked in the mirror. My eyes were red and sore from sleeping with the contacts in. The face I looked into didn't look like my own. I don't mean that in the sense that I'd changed, though that could very well have been part of it, but it wasn't my face. The flaming red hair bordered the same pale skin, but my eyes were so tired, and the sharp green covered my regular blue. 

I blinked a few times and battled with the contacts, working to get them out before cleaning them and placing them back in their tray. 

Even with the blue staring back at me, I didn't recognize the girl in the mirror. I'd always hated that line in books that I'd read, but standing there, seeing the emptiness that stared back, I truly understood what that meant. 

For the first time since Jared had waltzed into my life, I wished for things to go back to how they used to be. I wouldn't mind going about my life in ignorant bliss, killing supernatural creatures because I thought they were evil. At least I'd felt like I had a purpose. What was my purpose supposed to be now? I hadn't been lying when I told Isaac the only thing I was good at was hunting. I'd put my entire being into the craft when we'd been shown the door to the supernatural world. 

The steam started fogging up the mirror, and I turned back to the shower. As soon as I stepped in, the water turned pink as it streamed down toward the drain. I rubbed the soap all over, making sure every last bit was gone. 

I looked at the clock when I left the bathroom. It was just after six in the morning. I made a cup of tea hot tea and stood at the window of the bedroom. It was the first time I'd gotten the chance to look at the sun rise. I'd always slept in or been working before the sun came out. It felt different, being able to stand there and watch the new dawn approach.

 Despite all the bad things going on, and the pain I felt inside, the sky was beautiful, and it gave me a sliver of hope. That sunrise symbolized the beginning of new things. Today it was a new day, and if I followed the lead Isaac face me, it would hopefully symbolize a new start. One where I could truly step away from the clutches of The Organization.