• Chapter 11 •
"I wanted to tell you all my secrets, but then you became one of them."
-Anonymous
"I can't tell you."
I could have sworn I saw smoke come from her ears.
"Can't tell me? You promised!" She yells. I step out and shut the door behind me so the guys won't here.
"I know, and I'm so incredibly sorry for that but it has to be kept a secret. I will do anything to make it up to you."
She stares at me and sighs. "Just please at least tell me if your going to be okay and safe."
I nod. "I should be."
"Okay good. And to make this up-" She smiles mischievously. "You're going with me to a party."
I widen my eyes. "A party?"
"Yep! My friends lives in a house on River Thames. They are invited her all her friends from University so it should be a crazy fun party!"
I rub my shoulder. "I don't know Claire, I'm really tired." Which wasn't at all a lie, considering I was up all night taking care of Peter.
"Come on, you owe me this. The part starts at seven so I'll pick you up around seven thirty." She smiles.
"Okay fine. But I won't be here..." I stammer. "Uh, pick me up at the school."
"The school?" She asks confused.
"Umm yeah I have to grab something I forgot later so you can just pick me up."
"Alright....." She leads on, walking down the front steps. "See you then!"
The minute she's out of my sight I quickly go back inside.
"Who was that?" Peter asks.
"It was Claire."
"Brennan you're more than welcome stay at my place." Nicolas smiles.
"Oh, thanks."
Peter clears his throat. "Yeah, thanks Nicolas but it wasn't a question. It was an order."
Nic nods. "Yes sir."
Sir?
"Alright, we should get moving." Stephan points to his watch.
Peter lifts my duffel bag but hisses in pain when he uses the wrong arm.
"Whoa!" I yell rushing to take it from him. "I can carry my bag, you need to take it easy."
Peter turns away so I can't grab it. "I'm fine, I'll be fine."
"Listen to her man, you need to ease down your physical exercise until the cut heals." Stephan warns him.
Peter looks into my concerned eyes and hand the bag to me. "Alright, fine."
We all head out to Stephan's SUV. He and Nicolas climb in the front while Peter and I slide in the back. As Stephan begins to drive, the motion begins to make my eyes droop.
"Brennan, you can sleep. I know you've been up all night caring for me." Peter says. He pats his legs. "Here, lay down."
I give a tired smile and slowly lay my head in his lap.
And it's not even seconds before I fall asleep.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
When I open my eyes, the first thing I notice is the walls. They are a dark gray that meet a creme trim. I sit up quickly realizing I'm no longer in the car; but in a bed.
The hardwood floors meet my bare feet with a chill as I walk to the door. I notice how plain the room is, with nothing on the walls and only a dresser in the corner.
I track the mumbled voices through the hallway and down the stairs.
"How'd you sleep?" A voice surprises me.
"Oh gosh Peter, you scared me!" I say flinging a hand over my chest.
"My apologies." He winks. "Stephan's bed comfy enough for you?"
"Did I sleep walk up there?" I ask ignoring his question. He opens his mouth to answer but Nicolas walks from around the corner.
"Nope!" He yells taking a giant bite of his sandwich. "Stephan took you up. Peter would've carried you but obviously he can't." Nicolas smirks.
"Oh.... Well I have to go get ready so do you think it's alright if I-"
"Get ready for what?" Peter interrupts.
"I'm going to a party with Claire."
He presses his lips into a line and nods. "Fun... Uh- have fun?" He says it almost like a question.
"You can just use the bathroom upstairs." Stephan replies walking from the doorway.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
After changing into my casual black dress, jean cardigan, nude wedges, and apply some make up to my naked face I quickly fly back down the stairs and into the kitchen. All the guys sit around the island chatting.
"Whoa-" Nicolas stares at me.
I lift my brow in confusion. "Is something wrong?"
Nicolas bursts out laughing at my comment. "No, nothings wrong! You just look-"
Stephan places a hand over Nic's mouth and smirks at me. "Hot. You look hot."
A dark blush forms my cheeks. How do I respond? I clear my throat and mumble a "thank you."
Then I turn to the gazing Peter, who rests his head in his hands. "Peter? Could I use your phone to search the party location? I would just like to look at it before I arrive."
He nods and pulls the phone from his pocket. "Are you driving yourself?"
"Uh no, Claire is picking me up from the school."
Nicolas tries to hold in his laughter but instead blurts out a snort. "The school?"
"Yeah..." I pause. "I figured it would be best if no one knew where I was staying."
Stephan slaps Nic on the back of his head. "You're a dumbass."
Nic winces and rubs his head. "Ouch! You know; you're really violent."
Peter rolls his eyes. "And you're childish."
"I'm just the only one who stuck to our promise!" Nic shouts at him while wearing a smile.
At the words I see Peter's face lose all emotion and Stephan's flip from content to disappointed.
Then Nic's own face grows fearful as if he has just realized something terrible.
"Brennan, Stephan will drive you to the school." Peter says standing from the bar stool and eyeing Nicolas.
"Have fun at the party Brennan." Nic says giving me a low smile and leaving the room. I hand Peter his phone back as he begins to walk past me.
"Thanks."
"No problem." He replies leaving.
Stephan clears his throat as if he is trying yo get rid of the awkwardness.
"Alright, let's go."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Claire bangs on the steering wheel rapidly. "I'm so freaking excited for you to attend this!"
I laugh. "Attend?"
"My bad, sometimes my poshness gets the best of me." She winks.
"Wow, you're so-" But her overjoyed squeal
startles me.
"We're here!"
I look around confused. "I don't see a house?"
She groans. "Oh goodness Brennan, you're no fun! You can't see the house yet- but can't you hear the music!" Her voice seems to get more excited towards the end.
I listen quietly; and sure enough you can hear the pounding of the turned up bass.
About ten more minutes and we finally arrive. I go in awe as I admire the large white stoned mansion. Claire parks her car and we both hop out.
"Wait till you see the fountain!"
My eyes widen. "A fountain?"
She grips my arm and begins to pull me behind her. "You have to check this out!"
She leads me towards a small garden on the side of the house. In the middle of the dimmed lilies and shriveled roses lies a large fountain of a rock with five mermaids perched around it in different positions. As I stare at it more I begin to notice that all of the mermaids have their gazes fixed to be set upon the top of the rock where a rough and ragged stone sits; and it looks as if the thing that was there was torn away.
"What's wrong?" Claire asks.
"Nothing, but was there originally something there?" I say pointing to the top of the statue.
"Umm I'm not sure..."
"There was another statue there, but the person based off of it didn't appreciate the gift." A voice says behind us. We spin around and Claire's eyes light up.
"Molly!" She yells running to hug the tall pretty red head in front of me. "It's been ages!" She pulls away. "Where are the others?"
"They'll be out any minute." Molly turns to me. "And you're Brennan...." She states.
"Nice to meet you." I smile.
Then four more girls appear behind Molly. "Brennan, these are my sisters. The blonde one is Mia. The brunette is Madeline, black hair is Melody, and golden locks over there is May."
"Pleasure to meet you Brennan." They all say at once.
Okay, creepy.
"Let's go get this party started!" Claire jumps up and down running inside.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
▪️PETER'S P.O.V ▪️
Another punch and my knuckles feel as they have been set to a flame.
"Alright, alright....." Nicolas groans and leans over to spit out blood. "I deserved that too."
"Hell yeah you did." I scowl turning and walking from the room.
"Are you done?" Stephan says looking from his phone.
I huff. "Yes, you'd think that after all this time being being back in London he would've grown up."
"It takes some of us longer than the rest. Like the twins? It took them forever, but I think it's just hard to let go of the one thing that was always the top priority." He states.
My jaw clenches at the mention of the boys that used to be by my side. "And look where not growing up got them- in the freaking grave." I hiss.
It's quiet for a while then Stephan clears his throat. "So where is this party? Maybe we could go crash it or something."
I narrow my eyes at him. "I don't go to parties."
"I know, I know.... you're not fun at all. But I might go, where is it?"
"Hold on." I reply scrolling through my maps. "Brennan searched the-"
An address appears of a house on River Thames.
"Shit!" I yell grabbing the keys and sprinting from the house.