Typhon's Revenge

Chapter Seven

Wind

I rushed to call dibs on taking a shower because I needed some space from everyone. Since lunch I could tell something was off, before then actually. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Alex and Mason were really close to Aileen and that they obviously felt uncomfortable about the situation they had witnessed while I had been possessed by the darkness. The tension that appeared between us was almost suffocating. 

And I was beginning to think I had only made it worse during dinner. I wasn't sure of what I had said or what triggered Aileen, but I felt her frustration and hostility directed right at me. It made me uncomfortable at first, but I quickly shrugged it off and shook my head.

I was Princess of the Gods, nobody looked down on me, not even the Princess of Hell herself. Maybe it had been a rash and stupid thing to act so full of myself when I should be trying to make everyone like me, or at least tolerate me, and even so, I didn't back down. I couldn't. It was as if it was wired deep in my mind and before I knew it, I was already responding rather than thinking about the consequences. 

Now that I was standing under the hot flow of water pouring over my body, I started to relax and to think everything over. Yes, I had been a little overbearing, and frustrating, but I could also be an understanding person. I just needed to feel comfortable with my surroundings. Something I didn't feel. 

I sighed and shook my head as I reminded myself I still needed to talk to Aileen. 

While we had been traveling down here, I could feel Aileen's tension, especially when I was near Andrew. I had actually talked to Andrew about it and asked him if he had talked to Aileen, to which he only shook his head and a defeated, ghostly look covered his face. I knew the situation hurt him just like I could tell the guilt was eating at him with every moment that passed by that Aileen avoided him. 

I knew I wasn't exactly helping, especially if I didn't keep my distance from Andrew, but I couldn't help it, he made me feel safe. He was the only person I knew after the journey we had been through and neither Alex nor Mason felt too eager to get to know me either. 

What had happened in that cave had been a mistake. I had never intended on kissing Andrew. Maybe the thought had crossed through my mind several times, but I never intended to act on it. I knew he had a girlfriend, and the last thing I wanted was for someone to feel the same pain that I had felt when I saw my ex cheating on me with another girl. 

But whatever darkness had taken a hold of me, it made sure that Aileen was there to see everything. I didn't know how, but it knew. Aileen still hadn't explained to us exactly how or what she found out about the darkness and how to end it. I didn't think she was too eager to do so now.  

The water turning cold made me yelp as I shook my thoughts away and quickly turned it off before jumping out of the shower and wrapping a towel tightly around me. I had lost track of time and I was dreading walking out of the bathroom and finding Alex and/or Aileen in the room glaring at me for taking so long. 

So I took my time and dried off the excess water until my body was nice and dry. Truthfully, I was just stalling and praying that the water would warm up quickly for either Alex or Aileen. 

I reached for my backpack and took out a fresh set of clothes. I wasn't sure what to do with my dirty clothes, especially since they were starting to pile up inside my bag, but I knew I couldn't leave them here in the bathroom. So I quickly took them in my grasp and closed my backpack before stepping out into my room. 

The room was surprisingly empty. The only sign that Alex and Aileen had been in here was Alex's backpack that had been thrown onto the bed she had already claimed next to the window. I was surprised there was even a window, it wasn't something I noticed when I walked into the room since I had rushed into the bathroom. 

Under different circumstances, I would have probably fought Alex for that spot or even negotiated some sort of agreement in which we would alternate, but I didn't think that was the best choice. I had claimed the bathroom before she had even said a beep, it was only fair she took the window. Especially since the sky that was outside was nothing more than an illusion. I missed the real thing. Not this bad, fake version. 

Sighing, I shook my head and placed my things on the bed nearest to the door when Alex rushed in. As soon as she saw me she stiffened but quickly plastered a smile on her face. "Hey, Kalani. I hope you don't mind that I took the bed closest to the window. I have a thing for sceneries, even if they're made up," Alex explained as she walked towards her bed.

Shaking my head and placing a stiff smile on my face, I waved her off. "Not at all. It's fine. I would much rather sleep closer to the door." Liar, I thought to myself as I looked at the brunette in front of me.

"Right, well then. I should probably let you know that you can throw all of your dirty clothes in the laundry bin inside the closet. Noah said that it will be all cleaned by the staff. I told him it wasn't necessary, that we could clean it by ourselves but he insisted," Alex said with a shrug and a frown as she shrugged and pulled out all of her dirty clothes from her bag.

She walked towards the closet and opened it before throwing her clothes into a bin on the far end of the closet before a quick, gurgle sounded in the room. Alex jumped at the sound and quickly reached for the lights in the small room and instantly gasped. 

"Holy He-" she trailed off as she stood frozen inside the small room. 

With my eyebrows creased together, I got up from my bed and walked towards her only to take a sharp breath and stop right next to her with the same overwhelmed and perplexed expression. The room was much bigger than it appeared from the outside. 

Two bright bulbs illuminated the whole place. The bin was exactly in the middle of the wall in front of us and next to it, were two long mirrors for a full view. On both sides of us were clothes hanging from tubes in two rows. They all varied from casual clothing to more formal pieces. 

Slowly, I made my way to one of the racks and ran my hands over the textiles. I was too in awe to express my excitement. This was something I had never expected but that I loved. I had always been a fan of fashion and this closet seemed to have it all. From shoes of all shapes and heights to clothes for all occasions. 

My fingers stopped on a long gown that was hanging at the end of the rack. Hesitantly, I pulled the sky-blue gown out of the closet and my eyes widened when I saw the beaded corset along with the matching, long skirt that gleamed under the light. It was beautiful. And curiously enough, I was very confident that it was about my size. 

I looked at the rest of the clothing and nodded my head in affirmation, I was sure everything in here could fit me, and Alex too. She may have been slightly shorter than me and more built, but she was still thin. Whereas my complexion was firm but tall, which made me look way skinnier than I actually was.

"I can't believe all of this is here. Do you think we can use it?" Alex managed to say after a couple of moments. 

I chuckled and nodded my head without looking at her. "Definitely. It's here for a reason," I said with a shrug. 

Alex didn't say anything as she walked towards the laundry bin and looked inside before stiffening. "This isn't a bin. It's a hole that leads somewhere else," she said hesitantly and I looked inside. She was right, the darkness of the hole was evident and I quickly said, "where do you think it ends?" My voice echoed inside the tube and I quickly pulled back in discomfort. 

"I'm guessing... hoping that it leads to the laundry room," she muttered before walking out of the room without even sneaking a glance at all the clothes around us. 

I raised an eyebrow and followed after her. She was pulling out a fresh set of clothes from her backpack with a neutral expression on her face.

I stood awkwardly at the door of the closet as I watched her. A million things were running through my mind as I considered what to say next. Should I give her a compliment? Should I ask her about herself? About her past? Should I ask about Aileen?

I didn't know, and soon, she was turning towards me with a nervous expression that mimicked my own. "I'm sorry, it was rude of me not to introduce myself properly. I know things have been a bit... awkward between all of us but that is no excuse for hostility," Alex murmured with a sly smile as she walked towards me and stopped a couple of inches in front of me.

She extended her hand forward and continued, "Hi, my name is Alex Monroe, the human. It's nice to meet your acquaintance."

My eyes widened slightly and I quickly shook my head to clear all doubts and shock from my mind. grabbing her hand, I smiled. "Nice to meet you, Alex. I'm Kalani. Kalani Himmler."

She nodded her head and gently pulled her hand back. "I'm going to go take a shower, I think we should talk after. The last thing this group needs is more division amongst its members," Alex said as she shrugged and pointed to the bathroom behind her before rushing towards it with her clothes in hand. 

I stood stunned as she disappeared, I wasn't really sure of what to do now that I was alone. 

Should I talk to Aileen? Or at least try to?

Shaking my head and taking a deep breath, I headed out of my room and knocked on the door where I presumed Aileen was. 

My hands were sweaty and I was trembling slightly as the sound seemed to echo in my mind. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. I was terrified. I was certain that the last thing the Princess of Hell wanted was to see me standing outside her room. But I had to do this. I had to talk to her.

But as the seconds passed, no one seemed to approach the door. Creasing my eyebrows together, I wondered if I had knocked too soflty that she hadn't heard, or maybe she was asleep. it had been a tiring day for all of us. But I knew most of all that Aileen must have been exhausted, it's not easy getting through an infidelity and putting on a brave face. 

Inhaling sharply, I knocked once again, a bit louder this time. But still, no one came to answer the door. 

A part of me was relieved that I could postpone this a little bit longer and maybe ponder and arrange my thoughts a little better. Yeah, that would probably be for the best.

"Kalani? What are you doing?" I heard him ask behind me and I jumped as a yelp escaped my lips. 

My heart was pumping in my chest and I started to gasp for breath as I turned to face Andrew who was standing behind me with a confused and bewildered expression on his face.