I pin myself against the wall so that he can squeeze through, tucking my stomach in and holding my breath as well. I let it out in a sigh as I start walking away but then I feel a hand on my shoulder, drawing me back. I look up in surprise.
“I am sorry, Clarissa,” Theo says.
Another apology. Why are people always apologizing to me?
“I’m sorry about your parents. Kyle and Sebastian filled me in.”
“They did, did they?” I turn around to face him. “What exactly did they say?”
“That they died while having a vacation in Africa.” He places his other hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
I look down. “Why are you sorry? It’s not your fault."
“I’m just saying I understand how it feels to lose someone who’s a part of you.”
“Why, Theo?” I lift my gaze to meet his. “Who have you lost? Was it that woman?”
Theo’s eyes grow wide, his hands leaving my shoulders. “How do you know about her?”
“I saw her picture back at your apartment. Who is she?”
This time, it’s he who bows his head. “No one.”
My hands fall on my hips. “Ah. I see how it is. It’s okay for you and Sebastian to know about my past and my secrets but it’s not okay for me to know yours.” I’m being a brat, but I don’t care right now. I couldn’t stop if I wanted to.
“Clarissa...”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Oh, I’m not surprised. After all, we’re not friends, are we? Or a team. Or anything. We’re all just a sorry excuse for a freak show.”
With that, I march off down the corridor, and turn left into another, eventually getting outside. Finding a small garden but with no benches, I sit on a boulder by a bamboo water fountain, burying my face in my hands in exasperation.
First, Kyle, then Theo, both with good intentions and completely undeserving of receiving the bad end of my temper.
I feel like a loose cannon.
Then maybe you should try to calm down.
I glance over my shoulder, finding Sebastian standing there.
I pout. How many times must I tell you not to barge into my head? Isn’t it enough that you’ve delved into my most painful memory and told everyone about it?
Your father isn’t a Primal.
What?
He moves closer, towering over me.
You were wondering about that earlier when you were talking to Kyle.
Great. Why don’t you just live inside my head since you’ve made yourself so welcome?
Your father isn’t a Primal. Primals cannot mate with humans. Well, they can but no offspring will come of it. If only one could, we wouldn’t be in the dire situation we’re in today.
I look up at him. What dire situation?
Near extinction. Over the centuries, our numbers have dwindled and now, very few females remain. Soon, we will all be wiped out.
I turn away, staring at the fountain. I didn’t know that.