3

Sal

Walking down the stairs felt more awkward than it ever did. I didn't expect all the guys to be in the house, gathering around the table. They all look like hell, uniforms covered in blood, and walking around the house like that was normal.

Osiris was the first to notice me, eyes locking on me. His short jet-black hair was hanging in front of his bright blue hard eyes. Blood was on his face, a few battle wounds on his cheeks and hands. His hand was wrapped around a beer bottle.

Briar was behind him, leaning against the white marble counter. His eyes were closed, and his normally pushed back chestnut hair was a mess.

Beckett wasn't smiling, eyes locked on his computer as he finished typing. Like his twin, his jaw was sharp; his short crew-cut hair was chestnut brown. His eyes were dark, though Briar's was darker.

Jinn grabbed a water bottle for me, handing it to me as I got closer to him. "Oh shit. I should have opened it, right?"

I shook my head, drawing attention to me. I opened the bottle with one hand and sipped it. My arm was back on but just useless like it's always been. "I am very capable of a lot."

Cain sighed next to Jinn. Cain was Abel's older, hotter big brother. His dreads were longer, body bigger, and skin just as beautiful as Abel's. Jinn leaned onto him, sighing. "I know… Today has been shit."

I looked down, setting the bottle on the table.

Beck's eyes were now glued on my mechanical arm.

Though I was dressed, I felt naked under his eyes.

"But you lied to us," Cain finished.

I scoffed. "No offense. I feel like the only people I lied to were Beckett, Briar, and Abel. I don't owe you guys an explanation, though you'll get one."

"Okay," Briar started, crossing his arms over his cheek. "Start about the arm and how you lied and told me you broke it."

"I did."

"Oh, you did. Thank God you told the truth. Case closed," he said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Are you going to listen or just continue to be a dickhead?"

He stood up straight, motioning for me to go on, though he still had an attitude about it.

"My arm was broken twice by my foster father. The third time…" My confidence faded a bit as I remembered my screams and the sounds of the cleaver crashing straight through my bone. "I wasn't so lucky."

"Why would he even do that?" Osiris scoffed.

"Do you know how much an arm costs on the black market?" I asked. "Plus, I was the most rebellious kid. He needed to set an example with me and make sure everyone stayed in their lanes."

"Do we believe this?" Kier asked, entering the kitchen with only a towel on. I tried so hard not to let my eyes wander around his body, though I saw flashes of colorful tattoos and pink ivory scars. "Do you have a medical record or an oracle report?"

I snorted, narrowing my eyes. "You think I got medical attention? I got a hot knife and alcohol poured on it. I was lucky enough to survive infection."

"Say we believe that" Beck said, soft brown eyes on me. "This… Spectre thing?"

The room ran silent, and all the boys were listening.

But my eyes were glued on Beck. I hurt him. My lies did and whatever happened today hurt him too. I couldn't lie anymore. "At sixteen, a guy approached me after an Oracle guy kicked the shit out of me. I was mad, wanting the Oracles to all die. They didn't help us anyways, and we were scum to them. He asked me what I would give to change things, to have full mobility back. He helped me train and helped my friend learn how to make an arm from scratch. Together, he helped me become a vampire hunter, said he was one before I was even born, before the Revelations."

"And you believed him?" Kier snorted.

"Wouldn't you?" I asked, looking up at him. "A guy offering you more money than you've seen, though it's nothing to compare to this. He gave us food, shelter, and everything we never got."

Kier shrugged. "And is that who we are picking up today?"

Osiris's brows pulled together.

I shook my head. "My friend. He's going to fix my arm."

"The one who made the arm is going to fix it? The arm that broke mid-battle?" Briar made a statement.

I nodded. "You must realize that this arm was made when I was seventeen. I'm twenty-two. Of course, it's broken. At eighteen, I came back to Ashbourne alone. I wanted to help the people here and slay vampires."

"Becoming Spectre," Jinn said. "I think it's very Girl Boss of you to become Spectre and make everyone think it's a man."

I chuckled, shaking my head.

"And this guy? Who is he?" Beck asked, waiting for an answer that he had made up in his head.

"Cozen. We grew up together in the orphanage."

"He never wanted to be an Oracle?" Jinn asked.

"When we were naive, but he refused to come back and help me. So, he faked his death, and now he can't come back."

"Are you two a thing or something? Is that why you were so unwilling with any of us?" Beck snapped.

My eyes widened a bit. "Cozen is my mechanic and friend, if that. It's been four years since I spoke to him. Other than that," I looked at him, "I lied to everyone about who I was. I'm a fraud who tends not to trust anyone."

"So, you trust us now? Why? Because you know everyone is against you and you need men to protect you?" Briar said, making me smirk.

"No offense. I have been training as long as Kier has been and I know for sure, I can take him down a few times."

"Let's see you try," Kier muttered, crossing his arm over his chest. I ignored him.

"I don't need men to protect me. Never did. I just… I don't know why I'm choosing to trust you guys, because I feel like it, or maybe because I need help. I don't know."

Osiris eyed me. "What do you need help with?"

"There's more going on with the vampires. I've never seen a vampire have the magic to create a force field and float. They have other powers, just not that."

"Maybe, they developed it," Kier shrugged.

I shook my head, trying to think more, but there was no excuse for it. "I do know… that Cozen wasn't the only one that faked his death."

They all watched me, waiting for the answers I had. However, I didn't know if I should be telling them this.

"The vampire hovering… that was my supposed dead sister."

Silence stayed in the air.

"I recognized her instantly." The bleach blond straight hair, the beautiful ivory features, and bright blue eyes. "But she didn't seem to remember me until someone said my name. That's when she recognized me."

"And you sure about this?" Kier asked.

I nodded.

"Are you sure she was dead?"

"I watched her die in the hospital. I watched them try to save her, but… it was too late."

"How did she die?" Beckett asked, typing on his computer.

"They don't know. It was very sudden. She was twenty-two at the time."

He nodded. "Same last name?"

"Yeah. She died in the Ashbourne South hospital."

"Yeah… I got her death certificate, no picture or anything, though."

I thought about it for a second before realizing my only picture was in a place I would never forget. "I can get a picture, but it might take a second. It's in Ashbourne."

"You're not going to Ashbourne," Kier said. "You're not leaving our sight until we can trust you again."

"You never trusted me in the first place, Kier, or shall I remind you by pulling your hair?"

"You're lucky I'm allowing your friend to join us because I would have said no."

"Then why didn't you? You don't think I don't know you have a motive? Why else would you have me stay here?" I asked.

He smirked, eyes dropping over my body, though I knew it wasn't only that.

"In your dreams."

"A few days with me and you'll want to give in," he teased.

"To what? To death? I would rather die than let a huge headed egotistical asshole touch me."

"Whoa! A lot of big words for an Ashbourne girl!"

"What? Asshole? Is that too big of a word for you? Because—"

"Oh my god. You guys are going to make me go insane," Jinn whined.

"Thank god. We are not staying here," Cain muttered to him.

"They should just fuck and move on," Jinn said, clapping Kier's shoulder.

But Kier's eyes were locked on my body.

I scoffed. "As if. Though I appreciate the free stay—"

"Who said it was free?" Kier crossed his arms over his bare chest.

"Me. Now, I can buy a better arm and train with you guys to stay in the academy."

Osiris scowled. "Stay in the academy?"

"Per Father Frazier," I said with a fake smile as I sat down at the island. "I have seven days to prove I belong here and to prove I am Spectre."

"What do you even need training on?" Briar asked. "You used Alchemy and Weapon summoning. What else do you need?"

"I know how to use magic. I just don't like to. I need to touch up on fighting skills and classes, that's all."

"Well…" Kier stood up straight after grabbing a new beer from the fridge. "I guess we should make sure you don't fail and get kicked out and killed."

I rolled my eyes. "What's your motive since we are having an honesty hour?"

He shrugged. "I like good pussy too, Sally Girl."

"Fuck off, Kier." I gagged at the nickname.

Beck stood, running a hand over his hair. "I am going to finally shower. Paperwork is finally done." He grabbed a drink before going upstairs. He didn't even look at once, though I watched him climb the steps, wanting to chase after him.

"Forgive him," Briar muttered, passing me. "Too many girls lied to him."

I looked down at my mechanical arm. I never thought about this day because I was hoping that I would be able to hide it longer. But I couldn't.

Not anymore.

Now I was here, unable to know what to do or what to say.

I had a few hours before getting Cozen and moved back upstairs. Cain and Jinn left for their house down the street while Kier cooked some food in the kitchen for us. I didn't know how well he could cook, but I didn't care to check on him.

I found Beck's room and invited myself in. His clothes were scattered on the floor, telling me I had picked the right room. The shower was going, and I decided to give him alone time. I sat on his bed, looking around the room. Almost like his frat room, it was decorated like this was actually his room. A few movie posters and a few small trinkets were around the room.

A picture of Abel and the twins was on the dresser. They were happy, surrounded by an emesis amount of snow. They looked like they were snowboarding with gear on for the weather.

"I think you have the wrong twin," Briar said, stepping from the bathroom. I twisted around, looking at the twin with a towel wrapped around his waist. His chestnut hair was clinging against his forehead as drops of water traveled down his body.

Briar was another one I didn't think looked strong, but seeing him half naked, I could see why he was the defense teacher.

"Mhm, I thought with the clothes everywhere this would be his room… Sorry."

He shrugged, moving to me. I didn't move, a bit nervous.

Why was I nervous around him?

My eyes dropped to the various scars covering his chest, including the burned scar. Then I looked back up at him.

"You're in front of my clothes, Sal."

I looked back at the dresser before stepping to the side. "I am sorry… I lied to you, Briar."

"I know you think you owe me anything, but you don't. I'm not your boyfriend," he snapped.

I nodded. "Yeah… There's no way a man like you would ever want me."

"Yeah, no way."

Our eyes met, and I smirked, able to realize he might be lying, though he had a poker face.

"Now, which room is Beck's?"

"Next door," he answered.

I nodded before leaving. Outside the room, I felt like I could breathe again.