Smiling, I tilted my head once Matty straightened, and he grinned before walking forward. I kept pace beside him until I walked into an invisible wall. A pained gasp escaped my mouth while my chest constricted as if a substantial weight crushed me. My legs gave out, and I shook my head while leaning on my hand and glanced at Matty’s back while he continued without realizing I stopped. “Matty! No!” I cried upon spotting what lay in his path. He turned around with a startled expression, setting his foot in the trap.
I winced when a soft click broke the silence, followed by something black and shiny springing forth from the ground to encase Matty’s foot and half his lower leg. From where I sat, it looked like a plastic boot. Frowning, Matty grabbed it, grunting when he couldn’t get it off. I watched him pull its edges, noticing that he could move it, but needed another set of hands to pry it open. Swallowing nervously, I rose to my knees before standing to glare at the invisible wall separating us. Raising my left hand, I touched it, jerking my fingers back when something vibrated painfully within my arm. This would suck. But Matty was only a few feet away. So, in theory, I should be able to tough it out long enough to reach him. Because, when I felt the wall, I pushed against it, and it gave.
Gritting my teeth, I prepared myself for what was coming and took a step forward. God, it hurt. It felt like a current was vibrating through me, intending to rip me apart. With each step, the vibration grew more intense with something oozing from my ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. I knew what it was, but I refused to let it stop me. No. Matty needed me. I didn’t know why they trapped him there, but there was zero chance it was for anything good.
Even though Matty was only ten feet from me, by the time I reached him, my entire body trembled violently, and my head pounded so horribly I could barely see. I ignored the alarm I sensed from him when he stared at me, open-mouthed with horror in his eyes. The next second, my vision blurred more, and I shook my head. Whatever. I didn’t need to see. I brushed his leg and let my fingers trail to the boot trap. It felt more like metal, although it looked like plastic. Meh.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the edges and pulled them as far apart as I could. I knew when Matty followed my lead because the mouth of it opened further. Naturally, the pieces I held offered more resistance and my arms shook while I struggled to keep them pried apart. Sighing with relief, I released the boot after the rough edges of his shoe brushed my fingers. “Come on, Angel,” Matty pleaded, grabbing my hand to pull me back to the other side of the wall. I shuddered when my feet moved far faster to get back within its borders than they did upon leaving the area it encased. Collapsing, I sighed with relief once I returned to Ryker’s territory, and the agonizing vibrations stopped tearing me apart.
After a few minutes, my head stopped pounding, so I blinked several times, and my vision cleared. Uh oh. Matty’s mutinous expression was back full force. “You knew,” he accused quietly, and I frowned. Hell no, I didn’t know there was a trap waiting to capture him. When I opened my mouth to protest, he growled, “you stopped.” I tried again, and his voice became almost a whisper, “you stopped because something made you, but you would have let me leave you. You knew you couldn’t continue, but you intended to let me go without you.” I pulled him close when he sobbed, my arms tightening when his hot tears fell on my skin.
“To be honest, I suspected I would have to stop but had yet to discover how far I could go,” I admitted in a whisper, and he shuddered. “The wall knocked the wind out of me, and it took me a few seconds to recover. It feels terrible, like it’s trying to tear me apart when I push through it. I didn’t see the trap until right before you stepped in it. I dislike this, little brother. The size of that tells me they meant it for you. They knew I would stop here, and they stopped you there. Why? So, if I chose not to save you, the dogs could rip you apart while I watched? Then they could hand me the foot your trap preserved?” A dark thought, yes, but Matty would be more upset if I kept it from him. Plus, he was intelligent, so he might have come to that conclusion himself and fear saying it in case I scolded him for it. Not that I would. But it was hard enough to be a kid in the human world, I couldn’t imagine how much more difficult it would be to navigate this darker one. “How dramatic.”
Despite himself, Matty snorted a laugh, and I relaxed with a wry smile. “Oh, you were lazy, well giving you a hand is over-hyped, so here’s a foot,” I mocked in a high voice, and Matty snickered. “In all seriousness, little brother, what happens next is up to you. As you proudly say, you are eight and nearly a man. Therefore, you deserve the chance to make your own decisions. We’ve seen one trap already, and we know without a doubt that I cannot leave considering how hard it was for me to traverse the few steps it took to reach you. So, you can continue on without me and face who knows what kinds of traps, ones that might risk your limbs or life. Or, you can stay here with me and face who knows what. They knew we would be here, which terrifies me because it means they were ready for it. What else have they anticipated? What are they preparing back at the house as a punishment for our escape? Are there traps on the ground or in the trees further in the forest? Will they catch you as soon as I can no longer see you? So you’ll scream for help where I can’t reach? Is that a better fate than the one that awaits me? Is this trap the only one? Was it meant to scare you into staying? We cannot answer these questions because only time can tell. If you decide to leave, that’s how you answer those questions, if you stay, we’ll learn the answers to the others together. I don’t know which path I prefer you to take. I want you safe, so I desire to keep you close so I can protect you. But I’ve witnessed Ryker's temper, and I fear what he will do to you to punish me. So, I offer you the chance to decide for yourself. If you don’t want to, then I will choose for you. Make sense?”
Matty nodded, sniffling, and I chuckled while ruffling his hair. “What are you thinking, Matty?”
“I want to stay with you, but I know you will worry and do everything you can to protect me if I do,” he whispered in a defeated sounding voice.
Chuckling, I offered, “Matty, no matter where you are, I worry about you. So, don’t let that deter you. You’re my baby brother. I will always worry about you, little man. Even when your hair turns gray.” The relief in his eyes made me laugh again, and I hugged him. “You out in the world, on your own, terrifies me. But I don’t want to stifle you either. I don’t know the right decision. That might be the only trap, or there could be nastier ones. Our escape attempt could amuse the vampires, or they might be furious and make us suffer for it. All that matters is that you’re safe and as happy as you can be. If that means you leave me to suffer an unknown fate, then so be it. If it means you would rather wait with me, then that’s what we’ll do. I am hesitant to send you further into the forest because you have little survival training, and we have no supplies. Tammy was a fool for not letting us stop to grab water bottles and food. Adrenaline allowed me to overcome my tiredness and weakness from Ryker drinking my blood, but now it returns with a vengeance. I won’t be any help when they arrive. Nor could I walk you through navigating the forest without a way to demonstrate. You’ve always been a hands-on learner. Lectures just don’t do it for you, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But it means I can’t teach you what you need to know. With that in mind, do you want to stay, or would you rather risk the forest?”
“Angel, even if I knew how to survive the forest, or had all the supplies in the world, I wouldn’t leave you. Were our situations reversed, you would never entertain leaving me behind,” Matty replied in a level voice. His eyes held a little fear when I met his gaze, but also determination, and I smiled.
“No, I wouldn’t leave you behind even if you begged me to,” I agreed, ruffling his hair again, and he chuckled. “So, we shall wait together for the consequences of what Tammy threatened us into doing.” Goddamn bitch. How could she be so stupid? Was life that bad in the vampire’s house? “Has Ryker hurt Tammy?” I asked after a moment.
“No. Ryker’
s very kind, and he made the other vampires behave too,” Matty answered. What the hell was her problem then? I get that living under the roof of something that can eat you is scary, yes, but to force two kids to risk their ire was dumb. “Will he hurt us?” Matty’s voice wavered, and I sighed. Poor sprout.
“I don’t know, bud,” I answered honestly. “I’d like to think he won’t, but he warned me he would hurt me if I forced his hand. I’m not sure if this counts. From his point of view, it probably does. I don’t know if explaining what happened would change that, or if it would make it worse. We could have shouted or something, I suppose. But if we tried, that might have inspired Tammy to attack and leave one of us bleeding out without alerting them. So many things were and are beyond our control that it’s difficult to understand what we should expect. We will try, Ryker seemed reasonable, and Tyger can verify our truth by listening to our thoughts. But I will never forgive myself if they harm you because the vampires know that’s the truest way to hurt me. I’m sorry I got us into this mess, Matty. Had they not wanted me, they would never have caught you. It’s my fault you’re not at school, and hell, this entire thing is my fault. If our monster did not take a liking to me in the first place, you at least would have a decent life. Father didn’t like me, but he adored you.”
“I prefer this way,” Matty whispered. “I would rather we be together like this than father beat you when mom isn’t looking. Or we face whatever the vampires have in store instead of you facing that monster on your own to protect me. I disagree with you. Had I never been born, then our father would never have decided he no longer needed you. Therefore, it’s my fault we’re here.”
Chuckling, I proposed, “how about we agree that circumstances sucked and neither of us are to blame?” I’d still blame myself, but hopefully, Matty would let go of his idea that he was at fault.
Snorting, my little brother drawled, “I suppose you think I will believe that you’ll give up your blame? Right. I’m not a stupid little kid, Angel.” I burst out laughing, pulling him into another tight hug. “I know you want me to stop blaming myself, but I refuse to do so unless you do too. And, I know you, sis, you won’t.” Ah, perceptive as always. Oh well, I tried. Someday we might shed our belief that we were at fault, but, until then, we’d soldier on.
“I know you aren’t stupid, Matty, although you are still a kid,” I sighed. When he scowled, I added, “I’m still a kid too, kiddo. I grew up fast, but I’m not entirely mature either. I have my moments of self-doubt, and situations I don’t understand. I make the wrong decision sometimes as well, but that’s part of growing up. We have to scrape our knees to learn it hurts, and that the scars give us stories to tell. Sometimes they’re funny, others reduce everyone who hears them to tears, but scars are proof we’ve lived. Some remind us we can make decisions and survive the consequences. Others give us the strength to carry on because they’re proof that a little pain won’t break us. I believe the most important thing to do is live a life you won’t regret. I will never regret protecting you. What you view as a sacrifice, I see as a choice to save the most important person in my life.”
“I love you too, Angel,” Matty whispered tearfully, and I ruffled his hair with a smile. “Someday, I hope to be strong enough to protect you.”
“I’m sure you will,” I chuckled, “but I’ll still try to keep you safe even when you’re stronger than me, sprout.” I couldn’t fathom a world where I didn’t stand between Matty and whoever tried to hurt him. I wasn’t against him living a life where he fell down, but I wouldn’t let the monsters lurking in the shadows get their talons in him. He smiled brightly, and I pulled him onto my lap, hugging him while we awaited our fate. My only hope for our future was that I could plead for them to spare Matty. I cared not what they did to me so long as he remained unharmed and as free as a human could in the realm of vampires.
The first rays of light kissed the sky when Tyger stood in front of me with his head cocked to the side, and his brow quirked. “What have we learned about running away in a dress and boots? I’m sure your feet loathe you,” he murmured in a teasing tone, and I tensed. “Shifters do not fear the sun, and can walk in its light. The older vampires can withstand the sun’s rays when they are muted. Overcast skies, rainy days, early morning, and late evening are times you may see the elder vamps outside when the sun is awake.”
The way he said that had me chewing my bottom lip, and I swallowed audibly before turning my head to discover Liam standing next to Ryker. The lord leaned against a tree with a nonchalant air, and I shuddered when the feeling that they planned this resurfaced. Sure enough, another vampire, this one with a dog that snarled and tugged on its leash, emerged from the dark depths of the forest. Once I saw the poor creature that pulled and tugged at the one who restrained him, my heart ached. He was not a wolf, but a hybrid. Surrendering to an instinct deep within my soul, I held my hand towards the snarling wolf-dog.
He lunged to snap his teeth shut centimeters from my fingertips, but I did not flinch. Matty whimpered when he saw it, and I hugged him closer but kept myself calm. The dog jerked forward, and my hand ended up in his mouth. Once his teeth touched my skin, he stopped, albeit he growled in frustration. Continuing to breathe calmly, I waited him out, petting his head once he released my hand to lick the skin he never broke. “Hmm,” the vampire who held the leash noted, “I’ve never seen a human not afraid of Brutus. Nor has he refrained from ripping apart any who are foolish enough to get close.”
With a whine, Brutus lay beside me, and I stroked his coarse fur with a soft sigh. “That’s because all who approached him, vampire and human alike, were not omegas. Brutus is an alpha, and he will not hurt Angel even if you tell him he must. It goes against his instincts. I suggest you let him visit when he desires, or there will be mutiny,” Ryker chuckled. “For now, we better get my bunny and little Matty back to the house. As we feared, Tammy betrayed them. But, like I predicted, Angel will suffer anything to protect her baby brother, and pushed through the barrier to save him from the trap.” The vampire controlling Brutus flinched, and Ryker lowered his voice to growl, “do not question me again.”
Brutus growled too, his eyes on the vampire at the other end of the leash, and he got his feet underneath him, preparing to spring. “No,” I whispered, petting his head, and he grumbled a growl but relaxed. However, his eyes remained on the almost translucently pale vampire. I frowned at Ryker when he quirked his brow. “Don’t you dare make him choose who he listens to,” I warned vehemently. “That is beyond cruel, and Brutus does not deserve to suffer such an unnecessary, barbaric action.”
“Perhaps it is necessary,” Ryker argued with a slight smile. His lips curling to reveal his fangs when I huffed. A faint smile curled Liam’s lips when he knelt beside me, indicating Matty, who tightened his arms around my neck. “No harm will come to the boy,” Ryker murmured gravely. Still, I kissed Matty’s forehead before I nodded, cringing when Matty whimpered and tried to hold on for dear life. No, little brother, Ryker promised, and I won’t allow you to risk that because you don’t want me to get hurt. Brutus whined when I shuddered, and I pet his fur, soothing us both.
However, I met Ryker’s gaze defiantly once Liam took Matty a few feet away. I couldn’t hear him well enough to perceive his words, but his voice was gentle while he spoke to my little brother, and his expression was tender. Thus, I believed Matty to be safe and well looked after. Therefore, I could focus on what I must face. Albeit, I refused to sit on the ground like some simpering princess. No, I would stand to face my fate. Ryker quirked his brow when I knelt before forcing myself to stand. My legs shook, and my head pounded once more, but I would not cower from the consequences of my actions. Sure, Tammy threatened me into doing it, but that did not remove the blame from my shoulders. I was confident I could have found another way, perhaps if I were not so exhausted. After glancing at me, Brutus returned to the side of the vampire who brought him here. I smiled at the wolf-dog, and he thumped his tail on th
e ground before lying down and lowering his head to his paws to watch me.
“You should sit, bunny,” Ryker noted in an emotionless voice. I shook my head, blinking since my vision became blurry once I stood. My headache worsened, but I refused to appear weak, since I already was compared to the predators watching me. Stubbornly, I raised my chin, although I had long since dropped my gaze. “Bunny,” Ryker’s voice gentled, and he murmured, “your legs are shaking.”
So what if they were? I could continue to stand and insisted that I did. Ignoring the tremors shaking my legs and my body, I stared at the trap Matty stepped into. They knew, but was that because they set it up, or did Tammy let her plans slip to someone who wasn’t sympathetic to her plight? Did Tyger hear her plotting? I suppose only time would tell. Either way, I needed to remember the vampiric domain was dangerous. The soreness I experienced before leaving Ryker’s house returned, and I swallowed my groan of pain when my feet made their displeasure known. Was my outfit chosen to test if I would dog Matty or give up because I had the wrong shoes? That would mean Tyger knew. Unless he only did as Ryker ordered. My brow furrowed when something leaked from my nose again, but this time I touched the warm, thick liquid. My fingers came away crimson, and I eyed the wetness with a sigh. What a sight I must look with red tracks from my eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Oh well, I didn’t come here to take part in any beauty pageants. I was here for what I accomplished today. Protecting Matty.
I jerked when Ryker stood so close to me our noses almost touched. “Well, that’s not good,” he mused, laughing with a shake of his head when I huffed. No shit, Sherlock. Anything else you’d like to point out, captain obvious? Tyger snickered, but I kept my gaze on the collar of Ryker’s sweater instead of glancing at the amused shifter. “Dare I ask?” Ryker questioned in a pleasant voice. He’d make an evil villain with how friendly he acts.
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