Page 87 of Trivium

She smiled. “Thanks.”

“Zeina told me about Barrow.”

“She did?” Ahmina asked, surprised.

“Well, barely.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You know she doesn’t open up much.”

“Yeah.” She was relieved to know it wasn’t just her that Zeina didn’t open up to. Her chest tightened at the idea of Zeina and Lennox talking in their room late at night, and she tried to wash the image from her mind. She had no reason to be jealous, but she couldn’t shake the strange sting of it.

“He deserved it,” Lennox said, frowning. “And Rory is right; you deserve to let loose. I have some things I need to take care of. Go get into trouble. I’ll be back in a few.”

He gave her hand a squeeze before melting into the crowd and Ahmina headed to the bar. It took her a while to push through the crowd and get to the makeshift table where a tall blonde Slayer with tattoos up the left side of his arm was pouring drinks. She couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful collage of creatures that decorated his arm.

“Do you have anything stronger than mulberry wine?” She needed a real drink.

“A tattoo for every creature I’ve killed,” said the boy, following her gaze. Ahmina swallowed hard, her own creature encounters flashing through her mind. Even after nearly a full term at the Academy, it was still intimidating being around the Slayers, knowing how much killing they were comfortable with.

“Here.” He handed her a glass filled only a quarter of the way with cherry red liquid.

“What’s this?” Ahmina swished the liquid. “I’ve never seen it before.”

“You wouldn’t have,” said the man. “It’s Fleshface blood.”

Fleshface. A Tigress-like creature with open wounds covering its face. Just like a Tigress, it can trick your mind. Except its primary goal is to drink your blood. Human blood heals the scars, until they reappear, thus the endless cycle of human sacrifice. Ahmina knew it from her encyclopedia.

“How did you get that?” Ahmina asked, even though she knew. The man glared at her. “Try it,” he urged. She suddenly felt nauseous, but her anxiety was quickly quelled by the blood. She coughed at the sour sting.

He smiled. “Feel better?”

Her body changed in an instant. She felt weightless and carefree. “I feel great, actually!”

The boy smirked, returning to bartending while Ahmina stumbled onto the dancefloor, bumping into people along the way. After pushing through to the middle, she raised her arms in the air and twirled around like she was the only one in the room.

“I see you found the Fleshface blood.” Lennox’s voice was low in her ear, but she ignored it. Eyes closed, she was engrossed in the music, in the moment, in ecstasy. Nothing mattered, not even him. She hadn’t felt this relaxed, since… ever. She had never felt this good.

“I love this side of you, Mina-baby, you look so fucking good when you’re happy and free.”

But at soon as she thought she heard it, it was gone.

Lennox was gone.

She was gone.

Lost in a euphoria of her own making.

60

AHMINA

“Woah, woah.” Lennox was propped up on his elbows, laying back on the bed. Ahmina was on top of him, her hands frozen on his belt. “Ahmina, baby, slow down.” He let out a breath.

Everything blurred around her as she took in the scene. She didn’t know how she’d gotten here, or where she was, but she could feel Lennox’s toned body underneath her as her vision slowly came into focus.

Lennox looked at her, concerned, and she blinked, clearing her eyes. Holding her by the shoulders, he gently guided her off of him so they were sitting side by side.

She must have blacked out from the Fleshface blood. She stuttered, trying to communicate this, but she couldn’t get the words out.

“You’re okay, just breathe.” Lennox said it so calmly, but Ahmina felt anything, everything, but calm.