by Jemma Grey
He let out a breath and tightened his hand aro und mine. “I'm sorry you had to see me like that, Jen, and I'm sorry I scared you… but if Zane tries to hurt you again, you will see that part of me once more. He won't escape.”
I forced myself to swallow. Eric's voice had gone hard and cold and sure. “I know,” I whispered. A short silent moment passed over us and then I heard myself say. “Eric…” I murmured feeling sleep pulling me further away from him. “Are you reading me now?”
“No…”
“You should be…” I said, my voice dragging. There were so many things I wanted him to know; things I could never admit out loud, but he needed to know. It was time he knew, but I couldn’t tell him – I couldn’t say the words.
I felt hot tears stinging my cheeks as though they were liquid fire rolling down the side of my face, tickling my skin. I didn’t make a move to wipe it away. I was too afraid that if I moved, I would chicken out and not tell him.
“I…” I swallowed and then took another deep breath. My heart was racing in my chest and banging against my ribcage loudly. Any moment now, it would rip open my chest. I could feel tight, tense knots buried in my stomach that only got tighter as time passed.
“I called him,” I whispered. “I called him and that's why he was there…” I took another deep breath and as I launched into the story the memories began flashing through my head. I knew he was reading me now. He could probably see it as clearly as I saw myself sitting on the sofa, joking and laughing with Danny, Shane, and Collin. I could almost feel the warm air as it passed over my skin. The taste of excitement was strong and leaking off everyone, as if it weren't a feeling but something that you could reach out and touch. There was a strong scent of alcohol and cigarette smoke that stained the air. It was like a wall I could literally walk into.
I remembered as I had excused myself and shoved my way through the crowd and then up the stairs. Shane's parties were always huge and packed with people. It was hard to believe that he’d known all of them, but then again he was a popular DJ. Usually there’d be a line outside the downstairs bathroom, so I had gone through the corridor and into Shane's bedroom to use his.
When I’d finished, I had washed my hands and then pulled out my phone, and had dialed Daren's number. He'd answered on the second ring, even though I knew he’d been sleeping. “Jenifer Carson, you better be on fire if you're calling me at 2AM,” he'd muttered sleepily.
“Well…” I mused, “I am hot.”
“I hear music. Where are you? “
“Shane's party; come and get me?”
“I'm already on my way.” I listened closely and then seconds later heard the sound of his car starting. “Who's with you?”
“Shane, Collin and Danny…” I trailed off biting my lower lip.
“I'll see you soon,” he said and I hung up the phone, walking outside into the corridor.
As soon as I was out rough hands grabbed me from behind, pulling me towards one of the bedrooms. Immediately I opened my mouth to let rip a loud, shrilling scream from my throat but before I could make a sound, the person holding me clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling the scream. Instincts kicked in almost instantly and before I knew what I was doing, I shoved my elbow into the person's stomach, making the person drop me. I landed with a heavy thud on the floor and before he could get me again, I shot up, on my feet running towards the end of the corridor.
I was just inches away from the stairs, mere seconds from being free when something solid swiped my feet off the floor and then I was falling face first to the carpeted ground. I landed with a hard smack on the carpet that seemed to knock the breath out of my body. Groaning I turned, looking down at my feet to find a young blonde boy around my age grabbing onto my ankles.
I pried one of my feet free and with adrenaline rushing through me and my survival instinct on high, I reacted without having any control. Before I could think I found myself launching my free foot at the boy, with all the intention of smashing his pretty face in. My shoe made direct contact with his face, yet he didn't release my other ankle and I pulled my free foot back, slamming it into his face again and again, until he released me from his iron grip.
As soon as I was free, I scrambled off the floor. I was barely up when his hands wrapped around me again, this time with more strength. He gripped me so hard and tight that I couldn't move. Before I could even think about fighting him, he raised me off my feet and dragged me into a bedroom, then dropped me on the floor. I landed on my hands and knees at his feet, and instantly I heard the door click shut behind me. Seconds later the lock turned, loudly echoing through the room.
My heart was pounding in my chest as possible scenarios of what this night could end up like played out in my head. I could feel it pumping the blood and adrenaline through my body. My pulse was beating at my veins harshly and my breathing had all but stopped.
A pair of black boots stepped up in front of my face and my eyes began travelling up slowly. The boots led to dark jeans, tainted with specks of white dust, to a plain black t-shirt, also spotted with dust, and then suddenly I found myself looking up at a tall, strapped man the size of Hulk. He was huge - literally giant-like. His broad shoulders and chest took up my entire view. His skin was a light creamy color and dark, straight hair fell to his shoulders.
Before I could do anything he bent down, grabbed my shoulder roughly and pulled me up effortlessly. As soon as I was on my feet, he released me. “You're Jenifer, right?” he said in a deep rough voice that made me take a step away from him.
My back bounced against the other guy who had brought me into the room. Immediately I turned facing them both yet still backing away. “What do you want?” I said keeping my eyes on them.
“Just answers,” he smiled and my back pressed against a wall. I forced myself to swallow, looking around the room for the first time. My breath hitched when I realized that it wasn't just the three of us in the room. There were five other persons, two girls and three guys.
My eyes flashed back to the guy that seemed to be in control. “Answers?” I said uncertainly. “To what questions?” My heart was racing, and at any moment I felt as if it would rip my chest open and fly away. My nails were biting into the skin of my palms and in response I forced my hands open at my sides.
“You race with Red; you're one of the few persons that knows who Red is. Tell me, and I'll let you go,” he said casually. I didn't say anything; instead I kept my mouth shut and eyes on him.
When it was clear that I wasn't going to answer, he began walking up to me. Once again his frame blocked my view from anything other than him and the closer he got, the more intimidating and scary he became. With each step he took, closing the distance between us, my throat tightened.
He stopped when he was standing directly in front of me and then slowly he raised his hands, placing them at the sides of my face. “I will not ask again this nicely, Jenifer,” he whispered, leaning in closer to me, his breath passing over my skin with each word that came out of his mouth. “Tell me where Red is.”
A silent second rolled over us and then finally I opened my mouth to speak. “I - I don't know,” I lied, my voice barely a whisper. I didn't know what these people wanted with Kris, but I knew that it wasn't good and he could say or do what he wanted to me, I was not going to tell him anything.
“You,” he chuckled amused as he pushed himself off the wall, jabbing a finger to me, “are a very good liar.” He turned away from me taking a few steps.
From the corner of my eyes, I noted that some of the others had left the room. Now there were only three of them - the two girls and the man standing in front of me. “So good,” he continued, turning back to me, “that I almost believe you… Tell me who Red is!” he screamed and before I could do anything, he was in front of me again. In the same instant he brought his hand up and shoved it into my stomach.
Pain shot through my entire body, making my knees turn to ice and a second later they shattered under me. M
y body fell to the floor instantly, curling into a ball. Before I could recover from it, his fingers, rough and hard weaved through my hair pulling me up to my feet. For a moment, all I could do was stand there, staring at him in defiance while he glared back at me in anger.
One of the girls spoke up then, in a language I didn’t recognize. It was harsh and strong, yet at the same time musical. Seconds later the man answered in the same language, and as if he'd commanded them, both girls turned and left the room, only to return seconds later, dragging something behind them.
My eyes bugged out instantly and another dose of adrenaline surged through me as I took in the limp figure leaving a small, broken trail of blood behind. Shock and anger erupted in me at once as my heart shot off, shooting yet another round of adrenaline through my body. “What’d you do?” I screamed at the man, kicking and struggling in front of him, trying to get free and go to Brandon.
He wrapped his arms around me immediately, forcing me to keep still as he leaned in closer, whispering, “Brandon wouldn't tell us about Red either.” His hands tightened around me and then without warning he spun us so that now we were both facing Brandon and the two girls. My back was pressed to his chest and one of his arms was around my neck.
“Now, Jenifer,” he said casually. “With each second that you don't give me a name, I'll have Jenny and Zoryiaa chop off a finger.”
Tears ran down my face as if a waterfall had sprung to life in my eyes. I didn't know what to do - how could I just stand back and watch them hurt him? How could I give up Kris? How could I decide between my best friend that was a sister to me and her boyfriend, who was like a brother? I had grown up with these people; they weren’t blood but they were my family. What did I do?
I watched horrified as Zoryia bent down at Brandon's side pulling out his hand from under him while reaching behind her and getting out a small, neat, silver dagger from the waistband of her pants. She placed its sharp tip between Brandon’s baby and ring fingers, smiling sweetly at us and she asked, “Zane?”
The guy, Zane must have done something behind me because without hesitation she pushed the blade down harshly, completely chopping off his baby finger.
Bile rose in my throat, and as tears streamed down my face I let out a loud shattering scream as blood gushed out of the stump, flowing towards my feet. I couldn’t stop screaming.
Brandon didn’t do anything - he didn’t even twitch and my mind was filled with the terrified thought that he was dead. I swallowed forcing myself to look at him; to find anything that told me he was alive. I didn’t find anything other than he was bleeding. The dead didn’t bleed, right? I mean bleeding was only possible if there was a heartbeat. I hoped that was true.
Without so much as a hint of hesitation, Zoryiaa placed the bloody knife between his ring and middle finger. This time she didn’t look up for confirmation, she just shoved the blade down on his ring finger. “Please, please stop, I’m begging you. Stop!” I cried, struggling in Zane's arm, trying with all the strength I had to get to Brandon.
“A name!” Zane screamed, nodding to Zoryiaa who placed the tip of the blade between Brandon’s middle and index finger, then cut that one off too. Blood was pouring out of the open wounds, soaking my shoes.
“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you… Just… Just stop… Please, just stop!” I screamed.
“Look who we found lurking around,” one of the other two guys who’d left earlier said as they walked into the room. Each of them was holding one of Daren’s arm and seeing him, I felt like my heart was about to explode. His clothes were stained with blood, making his t-shirt stick to his skin and with every step he took, he left a bloody shoe print behind. Desperately I scanned him, looking for any wound and when I found none, it was like a huge weight had been lifted off me.
Seconds later, when I realized Zane was going to hurt Daren too, my mind and heart kicked into overdrive sending me crazy. I couldn’t form a thought in my head other than the idea of Zane doing to Daren, what he'd done to Brandon, or worse.
“Well, if it isn’t Daren,” Zane said and I could hear the amused smile playing on his lips. “I see you’ve killed half my pack.”
“Let her go, Zane, Jen doesn’t know anything. What could you possibly want with her?”
“Fine I’ll let her go,” Zane smirked, yet his fingers tightened around my neck. “Who’s Red? I know she’s the pureblood Katalin’s been hiding… and I want her. I’ll make you a deal, your 'charge' for your girlfriend.”
“You know I can’t do that, even if I wanted to,” Daren replied calmly, almost as if he was commenting on the weather. I didn’t understand anything. How could Daren be so calm when he was covered in blood and Brandon was bleeding to death in front of us? I was so confused.
“Then you’re of no use,” Zane remarked and on cue the men shoved him to the floor on his knees. One of them held him down while the other began twisting his head to an awkward angle, and then I was screaming again, screaming so loud and hard that it seemed like an explosion had gone off in the room.
“Jenifer,” Zane whispered and at his words the guy twisting Daren’s head stopped and then looked up to Zane and me. I stopped screaming instantly, my eyes glued to Daren desperately. “I only need one of them alive so you can choose which dies…” he muttered in my ear.
His voice was just a breath, but somehow Daren must’ve heard him because his face snapped up looking to me for the first time since coming into the room. “You son of a bitch,” he snapped angrily, trying to pull himself away from the men holding him. “Don’t make her do it, Zane,” he warned, his voice deadly.
“Then give me what I want,” Zane chuckled. Daren just stared at him, his face gripped in a mask of horror and hate at Zane. “Jenifer,” Zane smiled, “choose quickly.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off Daren, I had never seen him like this and it scared me. Tears rolled down my face and dropped to the floor, mixing with Brandon’s blood that now soaked my shoes and the carpet all around me.
“Your time is running out, Jenifer…”
“Jen,” Daren called urgently and I forced myself to look at him. “Trust me, choose me! Save Brandon and choose me Jen!” Daren was frantic.
“I can’t,” I cried as tears, endless and heated streamed down my face. “I can’t let you die.” I turned away from him not being able to face him anymore. Just as I was about to open my mouth and whisper the words that tainted my soul, Brandon stirred on the floor and opened his eyes slightly, looking at me, then going unconscious again. “Oh my God,” I breathed out, broken. Everything inside me was raw and coming apart.
“Jen, look at me,” Daren begged hysterically. “Don’t do this. Choose me… choose me. You have to choose me,” he screamed. I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t.
“You’ve two seconds or I’ll kill them both,” Zane muttered at the side of my head, his breath warm and tickling my ear.
Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I locked eyes with Daren. He was looking back at me with so much intensity and focus; silently pleading with me to listen to him. I couldn’t though, I just couldn’t do it. “Kill me,” I breathed out, my tears stinging my face. “Kill me, and leave them. I choose me.”
“I quite like you,” Zane whispered in my ear, “so no… Brandon,” he paused, forcing my face in Brandon’s direction. “Or Daren..?” he asked, making me lock eyes with Daren again.
“Don’t kill Daren,” I whispered, so low that only my mouth seemed to move as I dropped my eyes to my feet. All I saw was blood, everywhere and all around.
“You are going to watch this,” Zane snapped gripping my head, and forcing me to watch as Zoryiaa bent over Brandon’s body. She then turned him over on his back and I could see his face for the first time now.
I hardly recognized him. His face was swollen and red. Blood stained his entire frame. His eyes oozed blood, and his lips were busted open. How could he still be alive and look as he did? I couldn’t take my eyes off him as Zoryiaa took the
knife, and without an ounce of pity or emotion, she shoved it into his neck at the base of his throat.
I heard myself scream as she ripped the knife out and blood spurted out of the wound. I couldn’t do anything as he made a choking sound. I couldn’t think about anything other than Brandon was dying and it was my fault. Nothing made sense anymore. I felt as if the world was slowly slipping away from me; as if I was going mad.
Zane then turned me to face Daren, his nails digging into my arm. I couldn’t face him and I dropped my eyes, again seeing nothing but the blood that soaked my shoes. “Choosing between two loves can be crushing, can it not?” Zane smirked. “It can literally destroy a person… break a heart into such tiny fragments…”
“Now that you’ve seen the girl you love destroy her soul. Tell me what I want to know or I’ll kill her while you watch... Oh and Daren, I know about protectors, and how that bond works… Who is your charge?”
I didn’t understand what they were saying - all I could hear was useless noise and sounds that I could not comprehend. I watched blankly as Zane brought one o f his hands to my neck, cutting a thin shallow line at the base of my throat. I felt nothing.
Blood slowly oozed out of the thin scrape and then everything blurred together. Air whipped around me, and then I found myself standing beside Daren in the middle of the bedroom. Nothing had seemed to change - Zane still had his hands up, as if he was holding me, the two guys were still standing at the door, and Zoryiaa was in the same position she’d been in - except now Daren had Jenny in front of him, one of his hand gripping her neck, and I was standing behind him. I could see blood tickling down Jenny’s neck, starting at the exact point where his fingertips touched.
Then all at once, as if time had caught up Zane dropped his hands as Zoryiaa and the two guys collapsed to the floor. “What you don’t know about the seal Zane,” Daren sneered, his voice animal-like. I knew that he had lost everything about him. He had completely changed, going dark, cold, and utterly emotionless. “Is that once blood is drawn from a charge, it’s power that you can’t comprehend.”