12. Revelations

Revelations

I walk into Chongqing, the smell of soy sauce and garlic hitting me in the face like a warm, delicious hug. Sam is already at a table near the window, scrolling through her phone, looking far more relaxed than I expected after the whole breakup situation with Derek. I slide into the seat across from her, shrugging off my coat as she glances up with a grin.

"Hey, finally! I'm starving," Sam says, setting her phone down and flipping through the menu.

"Sorry, got a little held up," I reply, picking up the menu as well. "Ready to order?" Sam nods and rattles off her order to the waiter—dumplings, fried rice, and a mountain of spring rolls. I go for something lighter, knowing I'll be stealing half her dumplings anyway. Once the waiter leaves, Sam immediately dives into her usual rant. "Ugh, you won't believe my day. Mr. Thompson actually had the nerve to say I didn't participate in gym class. Like, excuse me? I was there !" In my mind, I'm replaying gym class earlier. Sam "participating" consisted of picking up the basketballs and putting them back in the basket at the end of the session. I bite back a sarcastic comment, though, because she's clearly on a roll. "I mean, I didn't need to run around like a maniac. I contributed!" Sam continues, rolling her eyes as if the injustice of it all is just too much to bear.

I'm about to say something when Sam's phone buzzes on the table for the third time in the last few minutes. She glances at it again, quickly typing a reply before turning her attention back to me.

"Everything okay?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah," Sam waves it off casually. "It's just this guy I've been seeing."

I freeze, blinking in confusion. "Wait. What do you mean, a guy ? You just broke up with Derek last night."

Sam shrugs, unfazed. "Yeah, but it's not like this thing with Derek was working out for a while. I just… moved on before he did."

Moved on? My brain scrambles to catch up. "Are you telling me you were seeing someone else while you were still with Derek?"

"Someone?" Sam laughs, leaning back in her chair. "More like someone or two ."

I gape at her, my mind doing backflips trying to process what she just said. "Sam… what?"

"Relax," she says, rolling her eyes like I'm the one being ridiculous. "Look, Derek wasn't exactly being a boyfriend these past few months. He was barely around, and when he was, well, he wasn't doing his… boyfriend duties, if you catch my drift."

I blink, still reeling. "So you… what? Decided to… outsource?"

Sam laughs again, clearly unbothered by the entire situation. "Pretty much. It's not like he knew. And honestly, if he did, he would've broken up with me months ago. But he didn't, so I avoided the whole awkward conversation. All he said when we broke up was that he didn't love me anymore." She's smiling, like she's telling me a funny story about a bad date, but all I feel is this uncomfortable knot in my stomach. Derek wasn't perfect, sure, but I thought they were at least being loyal to each other while they were together. The idea that Sam was casually seeing other people behind his back—it throws me off.

I don't know what to say, and I hate that feeling. It's not like Sam and I haven't shared things before, but this? This feels different. I try to laugh it off, but my voice comes out more awkward than I'd like. "Well, that's… something."

Sam shrugs again, completely unbothered. "Look, I didn't cheat. I just… found something Derek wasn't giving me. He wasn't into it anymore, so I took care of myself."

I manage a smile, though my mind is still spinning. "Right. Well, I'm glad you… dodged the bullet, I guess."

Sam nods, clearly moving on from the topic like it's no big deal, but I'm left feeling like I don't know how I feel about any of it. As we wait for our food, Sam launches into another story about her day, this time about how she had to argue with a professor over a grade she didn't deserve. She's animated, talking with her hands, and I do my best to stay engaged, though the whole time my mind keeps drifting back to her casual admission about seeing other guys while dating Derek. I mean, who just shrugs off a relationship like that? It's like I'm seeing a new side of her—one that's a little too self-involved for my liking. And I thought I was egoistical.

"And can you believe it?" Sam continues, clearly in full rant mode. "I actually had to pull out the syllabus and show the professor that I did everything required for the project. If I hadn't, he would've failed me for sure."

"Wow, sounds rough," I reply, though my tone is flatter than intended. Sam, of course, doesn't seem to notice and just keeps going.

"And gym class! Ugh, don't even get me started on that nonsense again. How am I supposed to take it seriously when all they do is make us run around for no reason?" I nod along, but before she can dive into another rant about school, she suddenly stops, her eyes flicking up from her phone. "Oh, hey, speaking of things not going right, did you ever figure out what happened to your grimoire?"

The question catches me off guard. I was hoping to avoid the topic, especially after what she just told me about Derek. My mind races, but I decide to leave her out of it. "Uh, no. Still no idea where it went."

Sam shrugs casually, as if it's no big deal. "You should just forget about it. I mean, it's a book. You can always start a new one, right?"

I try to keep my cool, but her nonchalant attitude about something so important to me makes my frustration bubble to the surface. "You don't understand, Sam. There were spells in there that I spent months— months —trying to perfect. They weren't just random scribbles or practice notes. They meant something."

Sam waves her hand dismissively, already half-distracted by another text message. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. It sucks. But it's not the end of the world."

I frown, trying to explain. "Do you even remember why we became best friends in the first place? Out of nowhere?"

Sam chuckles, setting her phone down for the first time in the conversation. "Of course, I remember. It was because someone put a Hex on me to make me sick, and no matter what healing spells we tried, they kept reversing and making it worse."

"Exactly," I say, leaning forward. "And I was the one who came up with the remedy. I spent days perfecting that potion, making sure every ingredient was precise. When nothing else worked, my potion actually cured you. Remember how you were so sick you thought you'd never recover? I even thought for a while that potion could bring back the dead if I tested it, but I was too scared to try."

Sam just shrugs again, like it's no big deal. "Yeah, that was pretty cool. But still, you should've taken better care of the book if it was that important." Her words hit me like a slap. I feel my heart sink a little, the disappointment weighing heavy in my chest. Normally, I'd brush it off—let the world's judgments roll off my back like water. But Sam? She's my best friend. And hearing her say that, so carelessly… it stings.

I force a smile, nodding even though I feel defeated inside. "Yeah. Maybe you're right."

The rest of the conversation feels lighter, but my mind is still spinning. I wouldn't let anyone else knock me down like this, but with Sam, it's different. She's the last person I want to disconnect from.

After paying the bill and saying goodnight to Sam, I step out into the cool night air, feeling the weight of the evening settle in. My mind spins with everything Sam told me, and no matter how hard I try to shake it off, I can't help but feel... conflicted. I've known both her and Derek a long time—Derek even longer—and while I've always known he and I had this weird insult-filled banter, I never pegged Sam as the type to just... casually sleep around.

The streets are quieter now, and as I check my phone for the time, I sigh. The buses have switched to running every hour, and it'll probably be faster to walk back to the dorms than stand around waiting. At least I wore my boots tonight. I start the long trek back, my thoughts still tangled in the mess of relationships and revelations.

As I walk, I hear the unmistakable honk of a car horn behind me. Ugh. It's probably some random loser who thinks it's cute to honk at girls walking alone. I don't even bother looking; I just flip them off, hand raised high with a clear message.

But then the car slows down beside me, and I catch sight of sleek black metal—the unmistakable frame of a Maserati MC20. The window rolls down, and a familiar voice calls my name.

"Hey, Zaria! What the hell are you doing walking around here like some... after-hours entertainment?" I freeze, my mouth dropping open in shock. Of all the people to run into, it's Sebastian . Leaning over from the driver's seat, his usual smug grin plastered on his face.

My brain sputters as I take in the sight of him behind the wheel. "Why the hell are you in a Maserati?"

He shrugs like it's no big deal. "It's my dad's. I get to drive it on weekends."

Of course. I roll my eyes, trying to recover from my surprise. "So, Daddy's little vampire prince gets the fancy toys, huh? Must be nice."

He just smirks. "Jealous?"

"Not of you, just the car." I quip back, crossing my arms and glaring at him. "What do you want?"

He leans on the steering wheel, the picture of casual arrogance. "Want a ride back to school, or do you prefer walking alone in the dark? I mean, it's a free world, but you know, creepy guys and all that." I groan internally, weighing my options. Walk the rest of the way by myself or... get in a Maserati with Sebastian? Neither sounds particularly appealing, but the thought of walking another half-hour is definitely less fun.

"Fine," I mutter, hating myself just a little for agreeing. "But I swear, keep your hands to yourself, because I'm way more interested in the car than the idiot driving it."

Sebastian grins, clearly pleased with himself. "Wouldn't dream of it, princess. Just hop in and enjoy the ride."

I roll my eyes again, but I can't help the slight smirk that tugs at my lips as I open the door and slide into the passenger seat. I'm not going to lie—sitting in a Maserati does have its perks, even if the company could use an upgrade. We zoom down the street, the Maserati purring like a sleek, dangerous predator. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how I ended up in this car with Sebastian of all people, but the alternative was a long, lonely walk back to the dorms, and I'd rather not tempt fate tonight. Not with everything else going on.

"So, what were you doing out there all alone?" Sebastian asks, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

"I was having dinner with Sam," I reply, looking out the window as the dark streets blur past.

He raises an eyebrow. "And yet, you don't seem particularly thrilled about your night out." I let out a sigh, not wanting to get into it. The whole Sam situation still has my head spinning, and the last person I want to share my feelings with is Sebastian. But he seems to pick up on my hesitation. "Look, if you want to vent about something, you can," he says, surprisingly casual. "I don't really talk to anyone aside from you when I need entertainment." I roll my eyes—again. It's becoming a habit. I have this fleeting desire to smack him, but given that we're currently flying down the street at breakneck speed, I decide against it. Not that I'm worried. Vampires are annoyingly good drivers, and if anyone's equipped to handle reckless speeds, it's Sebastian.

"You could always talk to Kyla," I suggest, half-joking, but also trying to avoid the real topic.

He chuckles, a low, amused sound. "Kylie? Nah."

I turn to him, frowning. "Did you just call her Kylie ? You don't even get her name right?"

He shrugs, eyes still focused on the road ahead. "Sometimes I just like to piss her off and pretend I forgot." Of course he does. I shake my head, biting back another eyeroll. "If you keep rolling your eyes like that, they're going to get stuck," Sebastian says with a smirk.

"Better than looking at you," I mutter.

Ignoring the jab, he goes on, his tone shifting slightly. "Look, the relationship I have with Kyla isn't what everyone thinks it is."

I glance at him, intrigued despite myself. "What do you mean?"

He hesitates for a second, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "I can't get into the details, but I'll say this—I've never been interested in her. I'm not now, and I never will be."

That throws me. I tilt my head, confusion etched all over my face. "Wait. What? Then why are you two—how does that even work?" He doesn't respond right away, just keeps his eyes on the road, his expression unreadable. The car speeds on, but my thoughts are spinning faster. There's only one reason I can think of for a vampire of all creatures to be a witch's boyfriend… when he doesn't actually want to be. I take a breath, deciding to ask a more direct question. "Can I ask you something personal?"

He glances at me, his eyes curious. "You can ask me anything."

"Do you know what a Binding Hex is?"

The question hangs in the air for a moment, tension building as he processes it. He nods once. "Yeah, I know what it is."

I take a deep breath, pushing further. "Do you know what one is… from experience?"

His jaw tightens slightly, and for a second, I think he's going to brush me off. But then he nods again. "I do."

I stare at him, my heart thudding in my chest. "Where?"

Sebastian keeps one hand on the wheel, but with the other, he gestures toward his side—specifically, the side closest to me. Hesitantly, I reach out and lift the hem of his shirt. My fingers brush against the hard lines of his abs, but that's not what catches my attention. There, on his skin, are the faint, dark markings of a Binding Hex.

I suck in a sharp breath. The symbols are unmistakable, curling around his side like chains. And in the center, clear as day, is Kyla's name.

A Binding Hex. It's like magical servitude, forcing someone to obey the caster's will. My mind reels as I try to process what this means. Kyla has Sebastian bound to her. He's not with her because he wants to be—he's with her because he has no choice .

I let go of his shirt, sitting back in my seat, trying to comprehend the weight of what I've just learned.

"Sebastian…" I start, my voice barely a whisper, "this Hex… how long?"

He keeps his eyes on the road, but his voice is steady. "Since the beginning of the school year."

I stare at the dark markings on Sebastian's skin, my mind racing. A Binding Hex . A part of me can't believe it, but the proof is right there, etched into his side like a scar that can't be erased. My heart pounds as I ask, "Why did you stay still long enough to let Kyla do that?"

He scoffs, his eyes still on the road. "Wasn't exactly a choice. One party drink at a get-together, and I was out like a light."

My jaw drops. "Wait. Are you saying she drugged you? Specifically so she could put the bind on you?"

He nods, his expression hardening. "Yeah. She slipped something into my drink. I woke up with this," he gestures to the markings, "and her grinning like she'd won the damn lottery."

I'm stunned. My stomach twists with a mix of disgust and anger. "That's... that's messed up."

Sebastian glances at me, his jaw tight. "Welcome to my world." There's a beat of silence as I process the weight of what he's just told me. Kyla didn't just trap him—she took him, stole his agency, and forced him to play the role of her perfect vampire boyfriend. The very thought of it makes my skin crawl. And then my mind turns dark, driven by morbid curiosity.

I hesitate, but the question slips out before I can stop myself. "I'm sorry to get personal, but I have to know... how does it feel, you know, fucking with a witch you don't even want to be around?"

He chuckles, and for a moment, I wonder if I've crossed a line. But his response takes me by surprise. "When I found out she could command me, the first thing I told her was that if she ever forced me to get close enough, the first thing I'd bite is her jugular." I blink, half-bewildered and half-impressed. He found a way to maintain some control, some piece of himself, despite the bind. The fact that Kyla hasn't forced him into anything more physical speaks volumes about the threat he posed.

"Wow," I mutter, shaking my head. "That's... actually kind of badass." He smirks, but there's no arrogance in it. Just a shared understanding that what he's dealing with is way beyond anything I could have imagined.

As we pull up to the school, the weight of the conversation lingers in the air between us. I hesitate, my hand on the door handle, but I don't get out immediately. There's something about the way Sebastian is looking at me, something deeper than the usual banter we throw at each other. He finally breaks the silence.

"Do you know a way to break binds like this?"

I shake my head, feeling a pang of regret. "No. I don't. But..." I pause, looking at him with more determination than I thought I had in this moment. "Being told something's impossible has never stopped me before."

A flicker of something—hope, maybe—crosses his face. "Good to know."

I open the door and step out, but before I close it, I turn back to him, hesitating. "Seb... I'm sorry."

He furrows his brow, confused. "For what?"

"For all the shitty insults I throw your way. I didn't know you were stuck with Kyla... by accident. Or force."

His smirk returns, though this time it's softer. "Don't apologize, Z. I'd be disappointed if you stopped. That would mean you'd lost interest in me."

I roll my eyes—again—but there's a small, genuine smile tugging at my lips. "Don't count on that happening."

With a final grin, he takes off, the roar of the Maserati fading into the distance as I watch him disappear into the night. And for the first time, I find myself thinking of Sebastian not just as Kyla's annoying, smug boyfriend—but as someone trapped, just like me, fighting to get his life back.