Forbidden

Reminders

Luca

 Luca stared out the frosted glass, doing his best to ignore the incessant chattering around him. Wanda's was packed, something that wasn't unusual, but given his current state of mind, he'd hoped to find a bit of peace in his favorite hang out space. Instead, all he found was a reminder of what had been stolen from him. What the Slayers had taken when they ripped a child from his family.

But being at home was worse. His mother was a poor counterfeit version of herself- the right words fell from lips that never smiled, and she moved like a woman four times her age. Papa wasn't much better. Luca could tell he was trying to be strong for the family, but it was a difficult task for someone who felt as if he'd already failed them. His sisters just alternated between bouts of tears and looking at him with hopeful eyes. Hope he destroyed every time he walked into the house without Brantley in his arms.

Then there was Livy. She hadn't talked to him since the incident in the cafeteria, and she didn't even bother pretending to not be at home when he stopped by. Her mother would just look stare at the ground while delivering the news that Livy didn't want to speak to him. He had no idea how lonely the world was without her in it.

"Are you going to eat that?"

"What?" he asked, turning his head slowly to find Van pointing at the triple patty bacon burger resting on a plate. Thick, steak cut fries seasoned with salt and pepper lay untouched beside it. He'd ordered the meal because it's what he always ordered, but his stomach had revolted the moment the first bite of grease and salt hit his tongue.

"Your burger? Are you going to eat it?"

"No, it's yours," he said. The plate scraped across the worn tabletop as he pushed it to the girl as she scooted into the booth seat across from him. She flashed him a smile before squeezing a glob of mayonnaise onto the plate and dipping a fry into the white.

"Good lord, Wanda can fry a potato," she said with a smack and a sigh. "I can't believe you're not going to eat this."

Luca just stared at her. Not a single word from her for over a week. She'd missed every day of school, and all the texts he sent were left on read. The only reason he hadn't stormed inside of Helsing Manor was because he knew she was safe within its walls.

"Do I have something on my face?" she asked, holding a fry just in front of her lips. A light sheen of oil made them shiny in the harsh light dangling above their booth, and he noticed even the tint of purple had faded from her hair.

"No, I'm just surprised to see you out among the living," he said, reaching over to steal a fry. Strange how his appetite suddenly reappeared, but as she licked the salt from her fingers, he wondered if it was food he was craving.

She arched a brow. "Now you want your fries?"

"Shouldn't have talked about how good they are."

Van smiled and took a bite of the burger. Luca couldn't help but wonder at the difference in the girl across the table. She looked calmer, more at ease with herself than before. Gone were the prickly edges- the fire was still there, he could see it simmering in her eyes- but it was contained not lashing out to wound whomever got too close.

It made Luca happy. His world was falling to pieces, but Van's was reforming. Whatever she'd experienced in the last week had renewed her. Perhaps it was something he could take off his shoulders...his happiness receded. If he didn't have Van to worry about, he would be forced to deal with the full weight of losing Brantley. And despite his determination that his brother had to come home, he'd yet to figure out how to make that happen.

"So you're feeling better, then?" he asked. "I was worried when you didn't come back to school."

"About that..." She dropped her hands to her lap and wouldn't look him in the eye. "I won't-"

"There you are!"

Luca flinched as Hailey Francis plopped herself onto the cracked vinyl beside Luca. A flush spread across Van's cheek.

"What are you two up to?" Hailey asked, hooking her arm through his and batting her eyelashes at Van.

Tonight, she wore a snug, sapphire blue sweater with a v-neck so low he could see the lacey edges of her black bra. Swallowing hard, he tugged his gaze away from the generous swell of her breasts. She wasn't his type- never had been- but damn it, he was a teenage male. One who also happened to have some very strong animalistic instincts. Could he really be blamed for looking?

According to Van's face- the answer was yes. He gave her an apologetic smile, but it only caused her features to sharpen- which in turn made his smile grow brighter. And her anger shifted to confusion.

Hailey cleared her throat. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No," Van said, shooting him a final glare before focusing her full attention on the newcomer. "I was actually here to meet you, and I saw Luca sitting by himself. Just wanted to say hello."

Well, that was new. Van seeking out Hailey. He remembered Hailey mentioning that her mother had been friend's with Van's mother. Perhaps they were getting together to arrange a chance for Van to talk to Mrs. Francis...because the other option terrified Luca. His raw nerves frayed further, and he had to sit on his hands to hide the lengthening nails as his panther pushed for release.

"Luca, what's wrong?" Hailey asked, her blue eyes darkening with concern as he nudged her to move.

"I'm just not feeling well. Excuse me, I'm going to go to the bathroom."

"Luca?"

His name on Van's lips almost brought him to a stop, but he kept on, pushing through the patrons until he reached the single occupant restroom. He slammed the door shut and wrenched the cold knob on the sink. Splashing the icy water on his face, he urged himself to calm down. This was twice in one week that he'd almost lost control.

He lifted his head and stared at his reflection in the smudged glass. His tan skin was sallow, and shadows circled his eyes, making the brown of his irises look dull. The shine was gone from his hair, the ends looked frayed.

Why was he an idiot? He'd known from the first day Van Anderson walked into Briarwood Academy that she was off limits. She was born to be a Slayer, born to be the person who held the key to his family's chains. Shifters were nothing more than tools to use in the Slayers' war against Vampires, and he was a fool to think she would escape that fate. Not when Abe Helsing was her father.

They were made to hate each other.

With a shuddering breath, Luca turned the water off and dried his hands. He had to accept the truth. Between Van's absence this week and her sudden friendship with another Slayer, she knew what she was.

And it wouldn't be long before she knew what he was too.