Rivers Burst

(Cera's POV)

I didn't like Snowe from the moment I saw her… only because Zai's eyes stayed trained on her no matter what she was doing or saying. And before I even got a chance to know her, I was told they were dating.Zai—who has never shown genuine interest in anyone outside of platonic relationships, male or female.Zai, who protected me when we were kids and always made an effort to include me when everyone else forgot I existed.The person I love.

Not long after that, I found out he bound his soul to hers—making them inseparable in a way that trumps all verbal vows. There's no room left for me, even if I convinced her to move away.

Unfortunately, the way I found out put me on Zai's bad side. I hurt that woman, and Zai retaliated by causing me ten times more pain.They kicked me out of the mansion where I could see him whenever I wanted. My soul plummeted into darkness—depression becoming my closest friend.I shouldn't have let jealousy get the better of me...

Days Later...

"Fk him! His loss—because you're fking awesome," Markis assured me, topping off my drink with more Bane.

"I don't think so… I'm timid and weak and I haven't even fully mastered my element," I slurred drunkenly. Markis lifted my cup to my lips to help me drink what was left.

"Then master it. Practice your ass off and show them how dumb they were to abandon you."

I nodded even though a voice in the back of my mind screamed that Zai wouldn't care if I was strong or not. His opinion was the only one that mattered to me.

Once my cup was empty, Markis kissed me, moving his tongue against mine and slipping his hand into my pants.

"I'll make you feel better, Cera… don't worry," he whispered.

I woke up with him naked in bed beside me. We'd never crossed this line before. My memory of the night before was fuzzy, but the humans who'd been partying with us were sprawled across the floor, nearly depleted of energy. If I'd been sober, I would've sent them home. I can't risk the Infaniyans tracking me down.

"What the heck did you do?!" I grumbled.

He stirred groggily, then sat up and grinned.

"Good morning, handsome." He was completely remorseless. He licked my neck and I shivered, instinctively covering the spot with my hand, staring at him flustered.

"Why do you look so grumpy? You should smile more."

"No! I have to get these people out of my house. If I get caught here, I could implicate everyone… even Z—"I bit my lip. I've always ranted to Markis about Zai, so he knows how I feel, but it feels awkward now...

"I'll take care of it. Don't worry. I'd never do anything to hurt you," he promised.Then he kissed me again, and somehow persuaded me to bend over for him again.

When we were finished, I napped. When I woke up, the humans were gone—and I could tell he'd even cleaned up some.

Markis looks a lot like Jey, minus the eye color and moles. It's unnerving—especially in the dark. I never thought about Jey that way, but when someone with his face is kissing me and touching me... I can't seem to resist.

Maybe I did have repressed feelings toward him at some point. It's the only explanation for how weak Markis makes me feel.

"Oh, you're up!" Markis greeted cheerfully, walking into my apartment like it was his own.He dropped herbs and alcohol on the coffee table, then brought me a bottle of water and an everything bagel.

"You definitely need to rehydrate after last night," he said teasingly.

I snatched the bottle and hung my head."Thank you," I muttered.

He shoved the bagel into my mouth. "Eat too."

I obeyed quietly while he turned on the TV and streamed some animated action series he liked.

"What do you think about… moving in together?" he asked.

I choked on my bagel."What?! Why?!"

He turned to me and tilted his head."I thought it'd be fun... but never mind."

Markis gets a thrill from breaking rules—especially ones that torment his little brother, who's outshone him since birth and whom he blames for their mother's death. Living with someone like that would be difficult.

Plus, I want Zai to forgive me eventually. Moving in with Markis would ensure he never does.

After breakfast, we drank and smoked. Then we had sex again until the sun went down.

He suggested we go to a club. I actually tried to look presentable for once.Once we got there, he invited random humans back to my place. We played cards, smoked, and he took one of them into the guest room.

I know it's his habit to feast on humans…But today was the first day I felt it—jealousy.The urge to possess.

I slept with one of the male humans just to distract myself, but it felt gross.I don't understand how Markis tolerates it.

He restrained himself and sent the humans home without incident, so we went to bed.I caught myself staring at him five times before falling asleep.

Why would I like Markis? Am I that lonely?Is it because he's here?

He's a bad influence.He tempts me to indulge in darker habits.

He tells me to train, but monopolizes my time so I can't.I feel weak… like I'm giving up on Zai too soon…

Markis suddenly laughed, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"You keep looking at me… do you need help sleeping?"

I gasped."I wasn't looking at you."

He scoffed and pulled the covers down to give me a blowjob—making it impossible to think about anything outside that room again.

He wasn't there the next morning.All he left was a text saying he went home.

"That cold bastard," I muttered. I can't believe I was starting to like him.

I tried training to pass the time, and I did get stronger.But weeks passed. He didn't return.

I lost motivation and turned to drugs and alcohol again.

At first, I wanted to share my progress with Zai…But now, the first person I thought of was Markis.

I should've just said yes when he asked to move in.

His dad considers him worthless.His mom is dead.All his friends abandoned him when he became Jey's Earth Caretaker.

He must be just as lonely as I am.

"I got stronger."I texted him.

It took five hours for him to reply:K.

The heck?! I waited five hours, and that's all he has to say?

"Aren't you curious about what I can do now?" I asked.Another hour passed.

"Busy… I'll visit you soon ♥."

What is that supposed to mean? Busy doing what? It's been months since I saw him…Does he not care about me?

Was I really tricked by the way he touched me? Kissed me?

Yeah… he was promiscuous from the start.I was dumb to develop real feelings for him.

A few days later, he called.I answered on the first ring.I'm so pathetic.

"Markis?! Hey—" I tried to calm myself.

But it was a woman.Tana.

She asked where Zai was.

All I could do was give her the address to our family mansion.

A part of me hoped she'd go there and cause a scene.Make Snowe feel even a small bit of the pain I've been feeling.

So I gave her everything. Even landmarks.

Finally—something good.

But minutes later, Markis called.

"Hey," he said, and just hearing his voice melted me with regret.

"Hi."

He kept talking.

"Tana… looks way different now. She's gorgeous. Like, I finally get why my dad was so obsessed. I wanted to f**k her just once, but she turned me down. I thought she'd sleep with anyone who asked."

"You… you're pissing me off!" I shouted.

"OW—my ear!" he groaned.

"You left without saying goodbye, and now all you talk about is some woman you want to screw?!"

"What's your problem?" Markis asked.

"You! You're my problem! I don't care who you sleep with—just leave me out of it from now on!"

I hung up.Deleted his number so I wouldn't be tempted.

Some humans I'd met earlier came over, so I let them stay to drink and play games.Later, RJ showed up, and I kicked the others out so we could talk freely.

He told me Tana went to the mansion, but Zai doesn't live there anymore.She didn't cause any trouble.

So much for my revenge.

The only upside: Jey says I can move back in, now that Zai's gone.I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Jey spent the afternoon catching up with me.It helped… but seeing his face made me regret cutting Markis off.

I couldn't stop bobbing my leg anxiously until Jey finally stood to leave.

"Oh, by the way," he said, hand on the doorknob, "Feel free to contact my brother. Talk some sense into him if you can.You're not perfect, but you're a hell of a lot better than him.He could learn a lot from you."

I blushed, realizing he'd been reading my thoughts this whole time.I stood there alone in the entryway, long after he'd left.

I don't really want to…But I should probably go to Markis's place tomorrow...

I got into bed and closed my eyes, but then I heard my front door fly open.

"CERA! COME OUT! I KNOW YOU'RE HOME!" Markis shouted.

…I hope he didn't break my lock.

I groggily dragged myself to the entryway.

He glared at me."Are you allergic to honesty or something?!"

I pouted."Why the heck are y—"

He cut me off.

"Then why can't you be upfront with me?! You never said you liked me! Never said you liked having me around! Never said I looked good or that you missed me!How am I supposed to know something's wrong if you don't speak up?!"

I was stunned."I… thought… you wouldn't care."

"Thinking isn't your specialty. You're dumb—so ask questions so you can learn something," he snapped, then pulled me into a tight hug.

My heart was racing so hard, I was scared he might feel it.

"You're right… I've been thinking too much. I… like having you here, Markis.Let's move in together."

I forced the words out, teeth clenched, face burning.

He muttered, "Idiot," and kissed me.

Then added, "Why would you like me? What's wrong with you?"

"Plenty of people like you," I replied.

He scoffed. "Maybe humans who don't know any better. But you know me."

I gave in and hugged him back.

"I guess… It's because you were here…" He kept me grounded, and kept my loneliness at bay.

He laughed. "Is that all? That sucks."

He let go and turned toward the door.

Was he going to leave?

"I like a lot of things about you," he said. "If I thought you liked me back…I would've treated you better."

Oh…I guess there are benefits to being honest sometimes.

After that day, I moved into his house.It made sense—his place was paid off and felt like a real home.

I cleaned it up, inside and out.

Markis stopped inviting strangers over.We still partied and clubbed, but the house became ours.

Two weeks later, I got a call.They wanted me back at the mansion…

To talk with Tana.