Strings of Fate


    Cam 9- Exes and expectations


    I intended my refusal to be angry, or at very least louder and more demanding. Instead ites out


    almost as a plea. My heart is racing. What if he doesn’t stop? Incubi aren’t exactly known for their self


    control. Or for respecting boundaries. Harrison freezes in ce and stares at me with a furrowed brow.


    It’s like he doesn’t understand what just happened. I suppose he isn’t used to being rejected. I doubt it


    happens to him all that often. At least not when he’s making an effort and sting people with his


    magic the way he is with me. His grip on me softens and I know he’s about to release me when my


    phone starts to ring loudly. He tightens his grip again for half a second then releases me entirely. I step


    away to check my phone, trying to shake off the tight feeling in my stomach and the part of me that


    regrets leaving his


    arms.


    A nce at my phone tells me it’s my mother calling. Ugh. Dealing with her is hard enough, I’m not


    doing it in front of Harrison. I decline the call. It immediately starts to ring again. I sigh, switch my phone


    to silent and drop it face down on my work bench. I’ll just let it go to


    voicemail.


    “Who is it?” Harrison asks curiously.


    “No one. Don’t worry about it.” I step around him to recover my partiallypleted potion. My phone


    starts ringing for a third time. Vibrating loudly against the table. I pretend not to notice. I breathe a sigh


    of relief when it finally stops vibrating only to tense up again when a series of text messages start


    coming through. No doubt my mother berating me for ignoring her and for just about every other life


    choice I’ve ever made.


    “Are you sure it’s nothing? Sounds like someone is really desperate to get ahold of you.” Harrison


    comments, reaching towards my phone. I m a hand down over it before he can


    touch it.


    “I said it’s nothing. Which means it is none of your business so back off.” I tell him aggressively. He


    frowns.


    “You don’t want me to see…” He states thoughtfully, his expression changes and he res at my


    phone.


    “It’s that other Incubus, isn’t it?” He demands. I roll my eyes.


    1/4


    Cam 9- Exes and expectations


    “No, it’s not.” I answer. I’m done with the conversation. Actually, I just want him to leave. I’m tired and I


    want my privacy so I can deal with my mother without judgement or pity. I put my phone in my pocket


    so he won’t try to pick it up again. Harrison narrows his eyes.


    suspiciously.


    “Then why are you hiding your phone?” He points out. I feel it ringing in my pocket again. and I snap.


    “I’m hiding it because it’s none of your damn business. We aren’t friends, we’re barely even


    acquaintances. You’re not someone I want to confide in and you have no right to any of my secrets. So


    BACK. OFF. Now, you need to leave so I can take this call.” I insist, moving to open. the door. I wait by


    it, gesturing for him to leave. A hurt expression crosses his face and I feel a twinge of guilt which is


    quickly crushed by the feeling of my phone vibrating in my pocket again. I cross my–arms over my


    chest and re at him. His expression changes to one of anger and I can practically see steaming


    from his ears. He stomps out of the room in what has to be the most abrupt movement I’ve ever seen


    from him. Leaving no space for regret, I close the door behind him. I have to work not to m it but I


    remind myself the bar is still open and I don’t want to draw attention to myself.


    My phone has stopped ringing when I pull it out of my pocket but I know it will start again any moment


    now. I choose to read the messages first.


    Mum- Sweetheart, why aren’t you answering your phone?


    Mum- Pick up, I have something important to tell you.


    Mum- Stop sulking and pick up the phone. You’re an adult, act like one.


    Mum- ANSWER. YOUR. PHONE. NOW


    Grandma- Your mother is trying to contact you. You might be throwing a tantrum but you are still a


    member of this family and that means being avable when we try to contact you. I am very


    disappointed in your behaviour. Call your mother back immediately or there will be


    consequences.


    Mum- I need to talk to you. Your grandmother is very upsex You know stress is not good for


    her health.


    2/4


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    Cam 9- Exes and expectations


    I can’t help a snort ofughter at that one. My grandmother is as healthy as a horse. I doubt any illness


    could kill her. A gue could pass through the city and she would simply refuse to be infected. Not to


    mention that they keep enough healing potions and remedies around that I don’t think anyone in my old


    coven has been unwell a day in their life. I caught a cold a few months ago and without ess to the


    family grimoire it took me two days to figure out how to make the remedy in the right dosages. All I can


    say is I had never realised that being sick was so ufortable. Like I didn’t think it would be FUN but


    a stuffy nose is somehow worse than all the headaches or sprained ankles in the world. My phone


    starts ringing again. I stare at it for three whole rings before forcing myself to pick up the phone.


    “Hello?” I answer ndly.


    “Camille! It’s about time you answered me. I don’t know what you thought you were doing but you need


    to prioritise your coven more.” She scolds me.


    “I’m not part of your coven anymore. I left, remember?” I remind her. She snorts and I can practically


    see her eye roll.


    “You’re just throwing a tantrum. You’ll get over it. You belong with us, who else would take you?” She


    comments rudely and I have to work not to flinch. A tantrum? It’s been over two


    years! Have they not figured out that I won’t being crawling back to them? That I’m doing just fine


    without them?


    “Whatever. What was so important that you had to call me repeatedly and try to guilt trip me into


    answering?” I ask. The sooner she tells me, the sooner I can end this conversation. I know I should just


    stop answering and cut my family off. But she is right about one thing. Despite a few years having


    passed, I’m still alone. I don’t have anyone. My family might be awful, but at least they still remember


    that I exist. No one else remembered myst birthday. They called andined at me, but at least I


    was worth their time.


    “Oh! Darling, I have wonderful news. Simon is back in town and he’s asking after you! I thought he


    might have given up on you after you ignored him for so long but I was wrong. Apparently he is still


    interested in having you for a wife. So you haven’t ruined everything. after all. He’sing over at two


    this Sunday, so I’ll need you to put on something appropriate ande home by one–thirty.” She


    rattles away. I feel sick. I thought they had finally given up on this marriage scheme. After Simon left


    town they despaired that he would marry someone else and I was thrilled. The guy always gave me the


    creeps. This is the worst


    news.


    3/4


    Cam 9- Exes and expectations


    “Mother, I am not marrying Simon.” I tell her calmly.


    up


    the


    “Of course you will. Don’t be such a child. I know what’s best for you and I will be expecting you here


    Sunday. That is thest I want to hear on the matter.” With that she hangs phone. Jokes on her I guess.


    Sunday she is going to be sitting there with Simon with no wife. to present to him and I’ll be here, as


    independent as ever.