Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate Cam 9- Exes and expectations | intended my refusal to be angry, or at very least louder and more demanding. Instead it comes 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 place and stares atwith a furrowed brow. It's like he doesn’t understand what just happened. | suppose he isn’t used to being rejected. | doubt it happens to him all that often. At least not when he’s making an effort and blasting people with his magic the way he is with me. His grip onsoftens and | know he’s about to releasewhen my phone starts to ring loudly. He tightens his grip again for half a second then releasesentirely. | step away to check my phone, trying to shake off the tight feeling in my stomach and the part ofthat regrets leaving his arms.

A glance at my phone tellsit’s my mother calling. Ugh. Dealing with her is hard enough, I'm not doing it in front of Harrison. | 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.” | step around him to recover my partially completed potion. My phone starts ringing for a third time. Vibrating loudly against the table. | pretend not to notice. | 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 beratingfor 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. | slam 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.” | tell him aggressively. He frowns.

“You don’t wantto see...” He states thoughtfully, his expression changes and he glares at my phone.

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

1/4 Cam 9- Exes and expectations “No, it’s not.” | answer. I'm done with the conversation. Actually, | just want him to leave. I'm tired and | want my privacy so | can deal with my mother without judgement or pity. | 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. | feel it ringing in my pocket again. and | 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 | want to confide in and you have no right to any of my secrets. So BACK. OFF. Now, you need to leave so | can take this call.” | insist, moving to open. the door. | wait by it, gesturing for him to leave. A hurt expression crosses his face and | feel a twinge of guilt which is quickly crushed by the feeling of my phone vibrating in my pocket again. | cross my-arms over my chest and glare at him. His expression changes to one of anger and | can practically see steam coming 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, | close the door behind him. | have to work not to slam it but | remind myself the bar is still open and | don’t want to draw attention to myself.

My phone has stopped ringing when | pull it out of my pocket but | know it will start again any moment now. | choose to read the messages first.

Mum- Sweetheart, why aren't you answering your phone? Mum- Pick up, | 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 available when we try to contact you. | am very disappointed in your behaviour.

Call your mother back immediately or there will be consequences.

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

2/4 Cam 9- Exes and expectations | can’t help a snort of laughter at that one. My grandmother is as healthy as a horse. | doubt any illness could kill her. A plague 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 | don’t think anyone in my old coven has been unwell a day in their life. | caught a cold a few months ago and without access to the family grimoire it tooktwo days to figure out how to make the remedy in the right dosages. All | can say is | had never realised that being sick was so uncomfortable. 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. | stare at it for three whole rings before forcing myself to pick up the phone.

“Hello?” | answer blandly.

“Camille! It’s about tyou answered me. | 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. | left, remember?” | remind her. She snorts and | 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 | have to work not to flinch. A tantrum? It's been over two years! Have they not figured out that | won't be coming crawling back to them? That I'm doing just fine without them? “Whatever. What was so important that you had to callrepeatedly and try to guilt tripinto answering?” | ask. The sooner she tells me, the sooner | can end this conversation. | know | 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. | don’t have anyone. My family might be awful, but at least they still remember that | exist. No one else remembered my last birthday. They called and complained at me, but at least | was worth their time.

“Oh! Darling, | have wonderful news. Simon is back in town and he’s asking after you! | thought he might have given up on you after you ignored him for so long but | was wrong. Apparently he is still interested in having you for a wife. So you haven't ruined everything. after all. He's coming over at two this Sunday, so I'll need you to put on something appropriate and chby one-thirty.” She rattles away. | feel sick. | thought they had finally given up on this marriage scheme. After Simon left town they despaired that he would marry someone else and | was thrilled. The guy always gavethe creeps. This is the worst news.

3/4 Cam 9- Exes and expectations “Mother, | am not marrying Simon.” | tell her calmly.

up the “Of course you will. Don’t be such a child. | know what's best for you and | will be expecting you here Sunday.

That is the last | want to hear on the matter.” With that she hangs phone. Jokes on her | 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.