The name that Alastor had given us reverberated in my head. Martinez. A man named Martinez had bought Helena. They said he liked to buy the young, fertile girls. A shudder ran through my spine and I forced the thought from my head. I could not let myself think like that. Once we reached Flamethroat I would find this sick bastard and set him alight. I didn’t care if Jack was against it.
That night, I told Jack that we would be leaving first thing in the morning. He agreed and packed his belongings within the hour. We told Georgia that we would not be a burden on her hospitality any longer. She seemed quite sad that Jack was leaving, but I was not sorry. I hoped Jack would never see her again. Georgia asked a lot of questions. Where are you going? Why are you going there? How long will you be? Are you going to come back? We could not or did not want to, answer any of these questions.
That night, while I lay in bed, I listened for any sounds around the house. I did not want Georgia going for another night-time wander into the sitting room where Jack slept. I had to keep reminding myself that it was none of my business. Even if Georgia did go to Jack in the dead of the night, what could I do about it? Interrupt? Send her back to bed? The thought was laughable. However, I heard no one creeping about the house that night and was able to sleep, despite the nightmares.
~
I woke before the sun had risen and packed my few belongings into my rucksack. I stole a loaf of bread from Georgia’s kitchen. I didn’t care if she minded. I thought Jack was still asleep, but it occurred to me that I could not hear the usual cacophony of snoring coming from the sitting room. When I walked in, I was surprised to find him awake and dressed. He leaned on the mantelpiece, looking rather stern.
‘You’re up early,’ I said. ‘Couldn’t sleep?’
Jack shook his head and stared out of the sitting room window.
‘We should leave before the sun rises. It will be daylight by the time we reach the forest’ I said.
Jack nodded. He seemed deep in thought.
‘What’s wrong?’ I asked, walking closer to him. ‘Are you still mad at me about yesterday?’
‘There has been a change of plan,’ Jack said after a moment of silence.
‘A change of plan?’ I repeated.
‘Yes,’ Jack stood up straight. ‘I can’t go with you to Flamethroat.’
I raised my eyebrows. ‘Why? What’s the matter?’
‘I want to stay here.’
‘You … you want to stay here?’ I said, ‘Why? In case Alastor or The Realm turns up?’
Jack looked confused. ‘What? No.’
‘You are really mad at me, aren’t you?’ I asked.
Jack shrugged.
I was growing increasingly suspicious and was not quite sure what Jack was trying to say. A strange feeling was brewing in the pit of my stomach. ‘But you said you would help me.’
Jack glared. ‘You are so selfish, Avalon.’
I blanched. ‘What?’
‘You are the most selfish person I have ever met,’ said Jack.
‘What’s gotten into you?’ I asked.
‘What’s gotten into me?’ he exclaimed. He looked simply furious.
‘This is about Korra Waterson, isn’t it?’ I asked.
‘This has nothing to do with her,’ Jack snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.
Was it my imagination or was Jack towering over me? He had never talked to me like this before. It was as though he hated me.
‘Then what is it?’ I asked.
‘It’s about Georgia,’ said Jack.
I hadn’t expected that. I pulled a face. ‘What about her?’
‘I’d rather stay here and be with Georgia,’ said Jack. His eyes burned through mine and I suddenly felt very cold.
‘But you barely know her.’
‘I know her well enough,’ He said with a scowl upon his face. ‘I know she isn’t like you.’
‘Right, let me get this straight,’ I said holding up a hand. ‘You’ve only known Georgia a few days and already you would rather stay with her?’
Jack nodded.
‘You choose her?’ I clarified.
‘Of course I choose her,’ Jack burst. The look in his eyes was heart wrenching. ‘She is funny, smart and beautiful. Why would I choose you? You’re nothing but a fire demon.’
I was speechless. What was I meant to say? Hurtful things had been said to me before, but nothing like this. The words stung as though they had pierced my heart.
‘I don’t know what I was thinking, being with you,’ Jack added.
‘So, what? Are you in love with her?’ I asked, bewildered.
Jack did not respond. His silence said more than words.
‘You … you are in love with her?’ I said in disbelief. ‘Jack, you don’t know her!’
I was becoming angry now. My confusion was replaced with hatred for Georgia. Part of me was furious with her for taking Jack away from me and the other part wanted to knock some sense into him. Jack was not acting like himself at all.
‘She’s tricked you,’ I said suddenly. ‘She’s put some charm on you to make you fall in love with her! I saw you two kissing the other night. What is her Power then?’ My stomach flared angrily at the thought of Jack choosing Georgia over me.