What was so wrong with smoking cannabis? It wasn't harmful.
‘Thanks,' I mumbled.
Gemini was lucky I didn't punch him. For a second, I had been tempted to throw my fist into his clean shaven jaw. I didn't need help from anyone.
My phone beeped, so I slipped out of the house.
‘Taurus!'
The hiss of a male voice brought my attention to the alleyway next to our home. The sun was sinking, so the shadows hid his face. I stepped forward but didn't enter the alley. I wasn't going to put myself in danger for no reason. Not that I was scared.
‘Did you give my note to Cancer?'
His face became clear as he moved on his feet. Why was the man so interested in her? He was married and he worked for Nick.
‘What do you want?'
Matt. That's what Cancer had called him. The foggy memory surfaced as I watched him. His dark eyes searched the area around us.
‘I need to see her.'
I lifted my arm, tempted to bring the sun higher in the sky so that I could see his face better. Aries would have either killed him or taken him hostage by now. Instead, I stood there with my shaking arm lifted in the air, doing nothing.
‘Can you help us?'
His voice was small and pathetic. What was it with men falling prey to women? I had never understood it. No woman would ever reduce me to a quivering wreck. Only drugs did that to me. Clenching my hand, I let my arm fall to my side.
‘No, go away,' I said, turning towards the pub.
His footsteps followed me. They tapped lightly on the pavement as I pulled my cap low and made my way to meet Sophie.
‘I see you've met someone new,' Matt said, drawing level with me.
I tucked my chin into the top of my hoody and ignored him.
‘Nick has asked me to spy on you. He thinks that you could meet your twin flame soon.'
///
‘You really believe in that crap?' I stopped and turned towards the man that was clad in black. ‘It's a load of rubbish. Tell Nick that he doesn't need to worry about me.'
Matt chuckled in my face. His breath stank of stale alcohol. It made me cringe away from him. Was that how I smelt after a heavy night?
‘Good old Taurus, straight to the point.'
Rolling my eyes, I carried on walking. If he was going to do anything to me, he would have done it by now. I wasn't afraid anyway. Nick could kidnap me. He could kill me. I really didn't care.
‘I need you to arrange a meeting with Cancer for me. Nick is getting worried. He is majorly pissed off that you managed to rescue your guardian.'
‘Does it look like I give a monkeys?' I hissed, spinning to him. ‘I just want to get on with my life. Now, leave me alone.'
Matt tutted as he shook his head and crossed his arms. His hair was darker in the fading light. His pale skin showed the expression of pity on his face.
‘You're so lost, aren't you? Trying to feel better by drowning your sorrows won't help.'
The growl that erupted from my throat surprised both of us. Reaching out, I buried my hand in his jumper and lifted him from the ground. His feet dangled, but he didn't say a word. The movement of his throat was the only indication that he was nervous.
‘Tell Nick to bring it on. Whatever problem he has with me, bring it directly to me. He needs to stop being a coward by threatening the other people in our relationships.'
Matt laughed. I tightened my grip, pulled my head back and head-butted him. It had the desired effect.
‘That hurt!' he exclaimed.
Dropping him, I left him where he landed.
‘Wait! If I arrange a meeting between you and Nick, will you help me with Cancer?'
His puny voice was grating on my nerves. Why would I want to see Nick?
‘He can make life easier, you know that, don't you?'
His words made my feet slow down. How could Nick make life easier? All my life I felt unwanted. People didn't want to interact with me. They always saw me as the loser. The man that wouldn't amount to anything.
‘I don't need any help,' I replied.
His hand touched my arm. It sent me into overdrive. Grabbing him by the throat, I spun and thrust him against the brick wall of a house that was in darkness.
‘What do you want?'
Spit flew from my lips and landed on his face. He flinched away from me but couldn't move.
‘I need to see Cancer. Nick always says that he wishes he could get hold of you. He says that he could make things easier for you.'
My breath was heavy as I loosened my grip slightly. His face started to go red where I pressed my forearm against his throat.
‘How can he make things easier for me?'
Despite myself, I was intrigued. I had no idea what made me take drugs. I didn't know why I drowned myself in fake highs.
‘He can unlock your memories. You don't believe all that you've been told by your guardians. If you allow him to unlock your memories, you'll know the truth for yourself.'
I released him and stepped back. He slouched against the wall, rubbing his neck as he tried to get his breath back.
What memories did he mean? I remembered everything that had happened to me.
‘I'm ten years older than you. I've been with Nick my whole life. My father served him, so I followed. I know everything about you. Even what you went through before you came here,' Matt said, blinking when his phone started to ring.
‘There's no such thing as reincarnation. We got here through evolution. Are you going to get that?'
He shook his head, leaving his phone in his pocket.
I was right. He was wrong. No matter what anyone said, I would never be swayed to believe in something I couldn't see. Debating the facts was one of my favourite pastimes. Maybe I should meet Nick. I could tell him to go and live a normal life. As soon as he realised that there was nothing to stress about, maybe he would leave us alone.
‘Okay, I'll meet him,' I said.
Matt's eyes widened a fraction. He had obviously believed that I wouldn't budge. It was unusual for me to agree to do anything someone else asked, but I wanted to put a stop to the stupid threat.
‘Will you set up a meeting with Cancer?'
He clasped his hands together in front of him. He was a bit smaller than me with broad shoulders. Why was a tough man that worked for the Dysfunctionals brought to his knees by a girl like Cancer?
‘If I have to,' I replied, jumping when my own phone started to ring.
Digging it out of my pocket, I answered it straight away.
‘Hello.' I greeted my new woman.
///
‘Where are you? I can't believe you're late. If you hurry up, I won't down your drink.' Her giggle made me smile.
‘I'm two minutes away. Save it for me.'
I started to walk away from Matt as the sound of her voice lured me towards her. ‘You've been a naughty boy,' she whispered into the phone.
‘Taurus!'
Matt's interruption brought me back to the present.
‘Hold on, Sophie, I'll be right there.'
I pressed the button on the phone and turned back to the man that was starting to get on my nerves. The pub door was in sight, which meant my cool lager was getting warm.
‘Meet me by Big Ben tomorrow lunchtime. I'll bring Cancer. Then we'll arrange the meeting with Nick.'
He nodded once before disappearing into the shadows. I stood rooted to the spot on the pavement. What had I agreed to? I should have told him to get lost. A part of me wondered though. Matt said that Nick wanted to help me. How would he help me? I didn't even know what I needed help with.
I wiped my hand over my face, scratching my palm on the stubble. The joint in the back pocket of my jeans screamed at me to light it. If I had just one drag before I went in to see Sophie, it might stop the shaking. I could have done with another pill to make me feel better. Before I thought too much about it, I dug the joint out and sparked it up. My siblings had gone mad at me when I had got back from hospital. They didn't need to worry about me. I only smoked something occasionally. I had no idea why they were so interested.
Chapter Nine
‘We think you need to go to rehab.'
Pisces stood in front of everyone. Eleven of them stood in the middle of the living room, looking down at me as I sat on the sofa. My fists clenched into balls as I watched their self-righteous shuffling. Had they pulled straws to see who would tell me that I needed help?
‘Why do you think that?' The words pushed through my teeth.
Pisces avoided looking me in the eye by glancing behind her. There were no partners in the room, and thankfully, Sophie was at work. When I had seen her the night before, she had calmed me. We had spent the evening drinking and laughing. She had made me forget everything.
‘You drink a lot. You smoke weed and recently, you've been taking heavier drugs.'
Even Aries was less cocky than his usual self. It must have been serious.
‘I'm fine. I don't smoke or drink any more than the average person who smokes and drinks.' My denial was met with plenty of raised eyebrows. Even the normally jovial Leo was straight faced.
‘Would you consider going to rehab? Father said he would pay for a private-'