His brows furrowed as though he knew the hidden lie she was keeping but decided not to press it further. Instead he changed the topic. "Um... are you going to classes tomorrow?" His eyes lingered on hers and she was suddenly lost in how perfect he looked. He had these features that were so pronounced and strong that it sent her heart racing in her chest.
"Yeah, I think I'll go to classes. Are you?" It felt good getting off the topic, it was a lot to process after all. She was glad that he saw the worry and anxiety building up inside, yet she did feel annoyed since he could always read her like a book, but she loved it at the same time.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, eyeing her. "I'm going," he studied her a moment before continuing, "I don't think you should go though. You need to rest."
She hid a smile beneath the large lamp that hovered over the top of them and pulled her chair further into the table until she was just a few centimetre's away from him. "I'm perfectly fine." She said again.
"Kit," he said and reached out to touch her hand. She shuddered slightly until she eased into his warm touch, loving the way his large hand gripped her small one. "Stop saying that, I know you aren't fine, you need to just rest for once, please."
He looked at her as though he were pleading for her to understand. Slowly, she gave in. "Okay, I won't go tomorrow."
"Good," he smiled and released his hand. He watched her a moment until his eyes rested on her shoulder, he gaped. "You need to get that fixed." She could tell that he had forgotten about it and maybe he even felt bad that he hadn't made her go sooner.
Kit's hands hovered over her bleeding shoulder. It was just a scratch... well not exactly, but it would still heal. "It's okay, really."
"No, it's not, you need to get it fixed now."
"It's fine."
"No, it's not." The worry seemed to finally kick in as his tone raised higher than hers, not by a lot, but it was enough to let her know how worried he was about her. The thought made her want to smile and kick him at the same time. She was perfectly fine looking after herself.
"Why do you care?" she crossed her arms, hating how sour that sentence sounded. She felt bad as a look of hurt crossed his face, but it was replaced by anger a moment later as his blue eyes shone like ice-off-a-glacier.
"Because..." he trailed off and cursed under his breath. "Why do you seem to always do this Kit? I'm just trying to make sure you're okay and you act like everything's fine. I'm seeing your expression, I can see the hurt, the pain and the worry and it's written all over your face. Why does this seem so hard for you to just accept that you're not alright?"
His words stung, but Kit knew he was right, but it still angered her. She stood up, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks, but she pushed them away. "Maybe," she whispered, "it's because I'm not use to anyone caring about me as much as you seem to."
His expression softened as he stood up to walk over to her, but she simply wasn't in the mood, not anymore at least. It was too much of a sensitive topic. When she was growing up, all her instructors had basically brought her up differently. At least everyone else had good instructors but the people who taught Kit tried to turn her into a killing machine and she didn't understand what it felt like to have someone as good as Levi there to ask her.
But now she just felt like being alone.
It was too sensitive of a topic and she was not in the mood to discuss it. She could hear his footsteps trying to catch up to her, but she was already too far ahead as she heard his steps slowly start to fade away.
I'm sorry, she thought as though she were saying it to him, but I can never be good enough for you. I'm just too good at ruining everything.
As she walked away, she felt the regret catching her as though hands were coming out from all the corners of the dark.
She ran back to her dorm as tears threatened to pour down her cheeks.
*
Levi wasn't sure how to react as he watch Kit fade into the shadows. Why had she been like that? Something must be stopping her. He thought these questions over and over in his mind, wanting to punch something for letting her just leave.
If he hadn't of been so angry, he would have chased her across all the floors of the Academy just to see he, just to hold her and tell her everything was alright. But she couldn't see how worried he was about her, she had pushed him away.
But why?
Hurt washed over him but it wasn't as strong as the anger he felt.
It was so strange how she reacted before, it made him fill with worry. Why was he so worried about her? But more importantly, why couldn't he get her out of his mind?
*
Kit absent-mindedly stormed into her dorm room, the thought that Debra might be sleeping suddenly vanished. She was being selfish but the whole incident with Claudius was too much for her, she didn't need Levi constantly asking her questions. Well, maybe she did.
"Oh, what have I done?" she sighed as she half-slammed the door of her dorm as she got inside. She slid down the wall and tucked her knees into her chest.
"Kit? Is that you?" Debra pounced off her bed where she'd been sitting with her face in a fighting manual as she bounded towards Kit, a smile on her face. When she noticed Kit's frozen expression, she frowned. "Oh no, what happened?"
Kit shook her head, "sorry... everything's fine." She realized the moment she said it that she was lying to herself again and sighed even more. "No, actually everything isn't fine."
Debra sat down cross legged opposite Kit, her expression showed lots of worry. "Tell me all the details."
Kit launched into a summary of what happened. She told Debra how she and Levi had started to from this weird but good relationship. She told her about the incident with Claudius, about her weird nightmares that she kept happening. She mentioned the part about how amazing she thought Levi was and how everything they had seen in the warehouse had black eyes and called themselves 'hybrid's'. She also told her about the little incident that happened with Levi which was why she was so upset.
By the end of it Debra was practically speechless as she seemed to find the right words to say. "Okay," she started, sweeping her blond hair over her shoulders, "let me get this straight. You were alone for three days with Levi Larkson, who is completely gorgeous, and you a) didn't sleep with him, b) have ruined your little thing with him and c) you didn't sleep with him, I already said that but that's just my point.
Kit rolled her eyes and cringed as Debra repeated the last two points she made. "He's not that type of guy, he's so much more. I can't explain it, you wouldn't understand." Kit shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, I'm just saying..."
"I know, but he's really great and I've completely ruined everything. He probably hates me now." Kit's rested her chin on her knees and looked at Debra. "Do you think he hates me?"
Debra laughed slightly and shook her head. "Kit, you are absolutely stunning, if he hasn't noticed how great of a person he is then, well, he's an ignorant asshole and isn't worth your time." She stated matter-of-factly.
Kit smiled slightly, "I hope you're right."
Afterwards, Debra launched into all these questions about Claudius and the Hybrid's.
"Honestly, I don't even know myself, it's just so weird, and everything's all messed up in so many ways. I spoke to Markus, he seemed so worried and I actually think they already know about it."
Debra nodded as Kit stood up.
She walked over and took off her armour, lying it down on the floor. She changed into black jeans and a loose grey sweater. She collapsed on her bed and cleaned the blood off her arm, glad the wound was healing properly.
Debra came and looked at Kit who smiled back at her.
"Don't worry, everything will work out for the better." And with that she walked over to her bed, turned the light off and continued sleeping, leaving Kit with a dark circle of thoughts swirling around her mind.
*
The sun was a vast stream of light across the open room. It was quiet, even as K
it got out of bed after what felt like an eternity of sleep she needed. Yet she knew she'd only been a sleep for around twelve hours. Midday light was what greeted her, it was a reminder that, despite it usually being dark, and at least the sun was there to meet her.
She smiled, still wearing her jeans and loose sweater. She tied her hair up into a high ponytail and buckled her combat boots up. Today would be a day filled with remorse and anger. She knew she had to talk to Levi and she hoped he would understand.
She gathered her book and made her way towards the study hall.
Everyone watched her as she walked by, all their expressions were the same, it was a mixture of curiosity as they walked past. She realized it was because everyone knew about her mission.
She sighed and sat down at a table and pulled out her manual. Classes didn't seem like they were on her mind as she read the mind-numbing prints of the manual.
There weren't many people around – everyone would have been at their combat classes – she realized that only Natalie was there... and she was approaching with an extremely unpleasant look crossing her perfect face.
"Kit," she said in an overly nice voice as she sat down opposite Kit, her two minions, Tara and Erica, stood behind her with their arms crossed.
"Oh, hi Natalie," her voice came out more bitter than intended as she stared at the ground. Great, this was just what she needed, a couple of jealous girls. Kit knew exactly why Natalie was here and it had everything to do with Levi since he broke up with her a month ago.
"So," she started, "how did your mission go with Levi go?" she saw the glare that passed between the three of them.
Kit and Natalie had a very bad history. Since Kit started attending The Lunar Academy, Natalie had preyed on her since she was always getting top marks on her classes. During their Grace Training course – Natalie had pushed Kit off the high beams as they were doing their exercises. Kit had dislocated her shoulder and broken her ankle.
It was still quite a tender topic to even think about considering she was out for months.
Kit suddenly felt like she wanted to get back to Natalie, so she responded with saying, "oh, it was great."
Natalie's face darkened. "Well, he's probably only even talking to you to make me jealous. Kit, please, look at you, do you really think a guy like him would ever even think about going out with a girl like you?" she kept emphasising the word you and it made Kit want to punch her square across the face.
But she remained silent.
"Besides, he's using you. Don't tell me you thought he liked you." She started laughing and all the girl's joined it.
Kit gaze darkened as she stood up. "Believe me Natalie, I doubt he'll ever go back to you, you're just some cold-hearted bitch. He dumped you for a reason, didn't he?"
Her face turned sour. "No one likes you anyway!" she said and stood up to and suddenly they were having a glare-off. "You're so weird, you basically sit alone, by yourself, and everyone can it!"
Kit balled her fists together. All her words sunk in and she realized how right she was. Levi could be using her. He could just be trying to get the most popular and perfect girl in the Academy back. How could Kit have been so stupid to assume that a guy as good as him would go for a girl like Kit?
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't go through her whole life of training just to throw it away.
"You're so pathetic Kit," her voice became aggressive as she neared closer to Kit until she was just centimetre's away. "What are you going to do? You're just some girl who no one even notices. Aw, do you want to hit-"
And before anyone could process the information, Kit's fist had gone straight past Natalie's face and knocked her right in the nose. She stepped back, pain coursing through her fist as she watched Natalie's face as scarlet blood ran as fast as her tears did.
Oh my god what have I done?
All the previous worries, all the stupid mistakes, the guilt of what she said to Levi, the thought that he could be using her all came back to her in that moment as Erica and Tara hugged a bleeding Natalie.
Kit stepped back, she was so angry and furious as tears came pouring down her cheeks. With one smooth motion, she just ran as fast as she could before anyone saw the tears. She didn't even grab her manual. There was no turning back from what just happened, even though Natalie deserved it.
Her heart was racing a million miles and she was sure she could hear it everywhere. When she rounded the corner near the library, she happened to run straight into the worried eyes of Levi.
He stood there, watching her, all the previous hate he seemed to have towards her vanished as anger flared in his face. "What happened?"
"Why do you care?' she whispered menacingly and tried to walk past him. She wouldn't have said it unless Natalie's words meant something. How could she have been so stupid? The pain she felt was replaced with anger as she stared at him wide-eyed.
He cursed under his breath, raking his dark hair through his fingers anxiously. "What the hell Kit? What's your problem? I haven't done anything." His voice started to come down as he took in her appearance. The tears started to come quicker as she looked away, unable to look at him knowing that what Natalie said seemed so true.
She quickly hid her bruised hand behind her back, but he was quicker as he saw exactly what she didn't want him to see. No one was around them as they stood in the large open room.
It was just them.
"Did you punch someone?"
She didn't respond.
"Oh wow, you did," he let out an exasperated sigh as his eyes softened slightly. "What happened?"
Kit was about to tell him a different story, but his words from the previous day came flooding back to her. "It was Natalie I punched. She told me you were using me to get to her, she made me feel like I was nothing. I'm so sorry, you don't deserve this." Kit started to walk away when Levi closed the distance between them until they were merely centimetres apart.
He gently brushed the hair away from her face, his expression turning gentler as he watched her. They were the only two people in the large room and it felt like there were no worries in the world as she stared at him longer, his eyes never wavered from hers.
"I want you to know," he started, "that none of those are true. Kit, you are everything that girl's like Natalie will never be. You're incredible, how could I not like that in you?"
She blushed. Did he really mean that? She smiled, her tears forgotten about as she watched him. "I'm so sorry." She repeated. "It was just everything that's happened... it's all too much."
He smiled carefully and pulled her into a tight hug. She loved the way his muscled arms wrapped around her, she could feel his broad chest and hear his heartbeat that seemed to match hers.
When she was around him, that barrier she'd built around her mind came crashing down as she drowned in his embrace. She'd never been this vulnerable before because no one had ever cared about her like he seemed to.
It was strange.
"You're amazing, you know, that right?" she whispered.
He rested his head atop hers and she loved how tall he was and how small she was, it just worked and felt right.
"Yeah Kit," he breathed, "I know."
CHAPTER SIX
REVELATIONS
SIX YEARS AGO
THERE HAD been far too many storms in such few days that it had turned the sky into this sullen shade of grey that Kit had become so used to seeing. She'd spent most of her time watching the raindrops gather on the window sill in her home in Brooklyn that she'd forgotten what the time was.
Yet her eyes pressed closely to the outside world, she watched people pass by, noticing how some of them were holding hands or holding each other underneath the shade of the umbrella as they tried to get away from what must have felt like a never-ending storm. Her face fell into her hands as she stared at them with envy, wanting nothing more than to understand how they felt.
For most of her spare time she was like this, too wrapped up in everyone else's
reality that she forgot she had one too. The one thing they had told her to do was stay hidden from the world during the day, they said she could only come out at night.
She was suddenly startled out of her reverie at the sound of aggravated voices from downstairs. With a rush of fright, she quietly walked to the door and crouched down, eager to listen while her hand carefully
grasped the dagger at her side.
"You can't be serious," an unrecognisable female voice said, "she's just a girl! She's ten-years-old and you're basically turning her into a killing machine."
There was a moment of silence as Kit pressed closer, staring down the dark wooden stairs to hear more. "I've told you Syria," this voice she knew to be Peter, her trainer, but he sounded upset. "She's important, Kit has everything to do with the future of New York. She will do this city justice, I just need her to train more-"
"Enough! I can tell that you know how this will end." The woman, Syria, paused for a second. "What if her Father comes looking for her, you know how dangerous he is, for all we know Kit is just as dangerous too, or she could have the potential to be. I-I just worry, she trains so hard and fast, I don't want her to end up like him."
Peter pressed a forced laugh, "she's not going to become a murderer..." he trailed off and Kit hoped he didn't notice that she may be listening. Last time he checked on her she was sleeping. "I had to take her out of training, that's why she's here, hiding away from the world in this house. All the other Night Walker's her age is at the Institute and I know she can't be there. I'm trying to protect her."
The word's escaping Peter's mouth were foreign to her. She knew that she couldn't see her Father, she didn't even know his name and she remembered nothing about him. They'd told her that her Mother had died when she was born, and her Father was too dangerous, so they took her away from him, but no one had ever talked about him being a murderer.
"I understand." Syria spoke carefully, "you've done a lot for this girl, you've taken her out of school, but she doesn't even know the truth. When she's old enough, in two years, she must come to the Luna Academy, she'll be safe there. But for the time being, make sure you keep changing locations, maybe take her back to the Institute, just promise me she'll never have to see the monster her Father's become."
The Night Walkers Page 8
