He knew he was taking a chance being here. He knew that the Triplets, and especially Brianna, would be pissed if they found out he was here but he didn’t have a choice. He had to figure out who turned Carter. He had to! And he needed The Book to do that.
He had a job to do. He had done what he had to do. He had to save Carter. It didn’t matter if the Triplets and Josh didn’t believe him. It didn’t matter that his family, his family, had rejected him—sure they didn’t know he was family, but still. It didn’t even matter how much it hurt to see the look in her eyes when she told him she didn’t ever want to see him again. At least that’s what he kept telling himself as he flipped to the next page in The Book; one hand wrapped around his growling stomach.
He had a job to do. Nothing else mattered except the mission: not him, not the pain of his family’s rejection, not even food and sleep. He couldn’t let these things matter. He was running out of time! He couldn’t afford to take time to eat. He couldn’t afford to take time to sleep. If he failed the future—hell the world—would be lost. It was all on him! He grabbed the edge of the podium as he swayed slightly.
“He had a job to do.” It was the mantra going nonstop through his head. It gave him the strength to push through his exhaustion, and the hunger, and the pain of rejection. But even with his magical abilities he was still only human and it was only a matter of time before he pushed himself too hard.
He was already on the brink of exhaustion. He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept more than an hour or two at a time. Even if he could slow down enough to try to sleep, the nightmares would keep him awake. So why try? His time was better spent trying to find the evil that turns his brother. And forget about eating because no job meant no money, and no money meant no food. Sure he'd grab an apple or a banana from the kitchen from time to time, but any more than that and mom—no Brianna, don't think of her as mom—would surely notice.
He swayed again as he turned to the next page. He really needed to sit down. Deep down he knew that, but he came by his stubbornness honestly. He’d inherited it from his mother and aunts. Hell, to be honest, his father could be stubborn, too. His father. Where was that bastard? He’d left his family to go to the Great Above. He was too busy being a full time Sentinel to bother with his family. How could he? He knew there was a danger to Carter! Except none of them believed him anymore. They’d turned their backs on him the moment he’d finally told them the truth. He knew they would. He knew them. Knew they wouldn’t, couldn’t, believe Carter would turn evil.
“And they wonder why I lied to them.” Billy thought as he began to flip the page yet again. The action was abruptly stopped by the attic door opening and Brianna’s angry voice filling the room.
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“What the hell are you doing here?” Brianna yelled seeing Billy standing at the podium. She was pissed. She told him she didn’t ever want to see him again and yet here he was standing in HER home, going through HER family’s Book of Spells and Lore! How dare he?