Madison smiled. “That’s a romantic way to put it.”
***
There were the brick walls and their roughness was apparent when she pushed back against it.
She felt the lick and she gasped, opening her eyes to see a man she did not know.
“Let’s not back down, Atticus. Not now when we’ve come so far.” She said.
The man was still hesitating.
“Please.”
And then there was a sharp, excruciating pain on her neck.
Chapter-7
It was All for Their Vengeance
The revelation, as opposed to being a deterrent in their relationship, made their desire to be together stronger. They acknowledged that whatever affection they had was not only a result of their ancestors’ bonding but also their own affections, which blossomed as time passed.
It was strange and overwhelming, knowing how deeply intertwined their lives were. It was also intimate in a way and it made them more certain that their meeting was fated.
What still bothered them was Courtney saying they could be each other’s cause of deaths but Madison dismissed it because Easton swore to take care of her and she found comfort in it. All other trivial details be damned.
She faced the new day with a renewed vigor.
When Monday came again, Easton never strayed away from her. He never let her out of his sight, even foregoing attendance to his own classes and insisted that he wanted to be there to protect her. It was downright mad but she could see the worry in his eyes so she let him be.
They avoided speaking about Gavin the whole weekend but meeting him would be inevitable. Easton even stayed at their house, admitting that he wasn’t sure what he would do if he and Gavin would be left alone in their place.
It was near the end of the day and Gavin was nowhere in sight. Madison thought that he probably gave up but Easton remained alert, eyes constantly scanning the crowd and hands always holding hers wherever they went.
She wanted to tell him that it’s okay but she was also aware of what Gavin was capable of doing. He did not sound the least bit guilty the last time, there was a hint of arrogance when he challenged Easton.
***
She was going out of the restroom when she was pulled inside a cubicle. Her scream was muffled by a hand and she recognized him in an instant.
His bruises have faded like Easton and there was that sinister smirk which made him look dangerous. His eyes glittered and he rejoiced when he saw her fear.
“You should keep quiet if you don’t want Easton to know.”
Madison held his wrist and forced his hand away and she shouted for Easton but he was fast enough to silence her again.
“Madison. Promise to shut up and I won’t hurt you.”
Hesitantly, she agreed with a nod.
He removed his hand and waited if she would scream again but she didn’t.
Madison took it as another chance to talk things out. If there is a way to salvage Easton and Gavin’s relationship, then she would choose it. It was a brotherhood that stayed strong for a century and it’s not about to be broken now.
“Think about this.” He held her face so they would meet eye to eye. “If you run away with me now, you will save Easton from hurting later. We could make it work, Madison. We could be happy.”
She gritted her teeth. She could not think of a way to tell him that she was not interested. All her rejections only fell on deaf ears. “I don’t see you that way, Gavin. How many times do I have to repeat it so you’d believe me?”
He smiled serenely. She shivered at the sight.
“I’ll never believe you because I know you’re just lying.” He grasped her elbows this time and incher his face closer to hers. “You’re lying because you don’t want to hurt my brother. But don’t you see, you’ll never be happy with him because it’s me who you want to be with. Admit it.”
“Are you out of your mind? I don’t want you--,” Whatever she was about to say was cut. He pressed his fingers on her chin.
“You do. Believe me.”
Madison swatted his hand away and tried to duck to his side but he blocked the door with his body.
“Gavin,” she begged. “Just leave me alone.”
Suddenly, he surged forward with the force that wrenched the door open while Madison jumped to the side to avoid colliding with him.
Easton gave Gavin a cold glare. She took advantage of Gavin’s stunned state and run to Easton and hid behind his back.
“Let’s go.” She grabbed him and attempted to lead him out of the restroom. Madison could not decide if it was fortunate or not that there was no other person to witness this.
“Go ahead.” Easton did not spare her a glance and she worried her bottom lip. She could not leave them alone or else the worst could really happen.
“Easton, please. Let it go. I wanna go home.”
Easton gently pried her hand off. “I’m sorry but you have to go home alone today.”
Madison was on the verge of crying. Easton was saying things with a tone of finality. She didn’t even want to imagine what was on his mind.
“See? I told you he won’t make you happy. I’ll walk you home every day Madison. I’ll be beside you as much as you want.” Gavin was coy and he held no boundaries, raking his eyes over Madison even while under his brother’s scrutiny.
The lines in Easton’s forehead deepened. Gavin was acting out of character. He was never straightforward and he was a man of few words. The Gavin he knew was considerate and never ridiculed anyone.
“Why are you doing this Gavin?” He sidestepped and Gavin smiled triumphantly.
Madison fell flat on the floor when Easton shoved her, as Gavin aimed a punch in their direction.
Chaos ensued and both men stumbled down and wrestled. Easton grazed his knuckles against his brother’s cheeks while Gavin hit him back on the head and grappled for his neck.
Desperate, she ran outside in search of anyone who could help her but the hallways were deserted. Her breathing was echoed in its emptiness and she dashed to the stairs but there was still no one.
Their grunts and snarls could be overheard. She was beyond nervous. The men were only recovering from their recent bout but here they were again, prepared to smash the other’s face.
Not having any other choice, she ran back, only to be met by a locked door.
She banged her fists on it and shouted. “Open the door! Please. Easton, please don’t do anything you will regret.”
There was laughter from the other side and she stopped. She could not hear Easton nor Gavin but there were men who were laughing. There was one that stood out among them and she pounded on the door harder. She never thought he would dare to come back after what happened but he did, and he was definitely not alone.
She reached for the nearby metal trash bin, emptying its contents on the floor, and used it to hit the knob. The metal rattled and she repeated it until it gave away, the metal parts tinkling as they fell on the floor.
She pushed the door open but was met with Easton’s pallid face. He manhandled her and Madison lost her footing as he lifted her to his back and secured her safety. Before he ran, she managed a glimpse of the room and her stomach churned upon seeing the gruesome image.
She clung to Easton’s neck as he hurriedly dashed and navigated them out of the building, ignoring the curious looks of the passers-by.
Easton’s priority was her safety and he would do whatever he could to take her away from them.
A flash of his brother’s lifeless eyes triggered him to stride faster, shoving Madison in the passenger seat of the car and following not a second later.
There was no one following them when he stepped on the engine but a glance towards the building showed Richmond and his comrades sneering at him.
He squeezed the wheel as they drove away from school and into somewhere far from the city.
Chapter-8
If being with You was a Sin, then I am a Sinner
It was dark when they reached their destination and wordlessly, Madison got out of the car and observed the small house situated in the middle of trees. They had to drive through rough road for the past hour and it intensified her nausea.
The place was rundown. Half of its wooden fences laid flat on the floor and the small window at the front had a broken glass.
Easton guided her inside and she coughed at the dust that flew. She alternated between coughing and sneezing that she had to pinch her nose tightly to stop it.
He pulled her in his arms and cradled her head. His body was rigid and she clung back at him.
“I saw him.” She bit her lip when he tensed but she had to say it. Easton needed to let out his grief.
“I knew it wasn’t completely his fault.” He looked down at her and pressed his lips on her forehead. “When they arrived, the first thing Richmond did was to thank him. Gavin looked so lost and they only laughed at him as he became hysterical.”
It made more sense to Madison. Gavin was not himself and he did not fit Easton’s stories about his loving brother. There was no trace of the Gavin they both know. Why did it not occur to them that he was being used to create a rift between them? Why did they not see through Richmond’s plans? If they did, then Gavin didn’t have to die.
She rested her ear against his chest. There was no sound but it made her calm. Seeing Gavin’s wide, lifeless eyes will forever remain etched in her memory. His head was twisted in an impossible way and there was a piece of wood pierced through his back.
Madison could not imagine how Easton felt seeing his brother killed.
“They wanted us dead. They used him to lure us, to complicate matters, and it worked. If Gavin and I were okay then…” He trailed off. He and his brother was the perfect pair. He complemented him perfectly, aiding his weaknesses and enhancing his strengths. They could have had a chance to defeat them even if they were outnumbered.
But they knew the perfect chance. They caught them unprepared and weak.
She clutched the back of his shirt. “I can’t believe he had the audacity to go back after what happened.”
“He’s desperate to kill us. He’s a vampire hunter and he would not stop until he wiped out all the vampires he came across. It is his nature just like how blood sucking is to us.” He said in despite. The difference between them is that he never used a dirty tactic.
She hugged him tightly. Gone were the dust and the weird musty smell of the house and was replaced by the warmth of Easton’s arms around her.
***
She glided through the streets, lifting her dress that fell below her ankles and adjusting the cloth and pin that held her bun up.
The streets were busy and cars and carriages sped by. She checked for each side and even the windows around before slipping into the dark alley.
A long and searing kiss welcomed her and she lifted her hands to his neck, savoring the feeling of being with him.
“What took you so long?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, making her cheeks crimson.
“Dad kept his eyes on me and it was a challenge to even get a step away.”
“You escaped?” He chuckled at her. It sounded like chiming bells during a good morning.
“I did. For you.” She emphasized her point with a peck on his lips.
The image turned into a blur and she was younger, pointing at a boy who was doubling with laughter. The streets changed into trees and grasses, the people became boulders, and the vehicles morphed into the clear water of the stream.
“Buy me a new doll or else!”
The boy stopped and wiped the drops of tears at the edge of his eyes. “Or else what? You’ll tell mummy?”
He jumped off the tree branch and showed her his masterpiece, a beheaded doll and its body. When the girl lunged for it, he threw them on the stream and watched as the water carried them away.
The girl wailed and punched his chest. “I hate you!” She ran away and did not see the boy jump to the stream and followed the toy.
It became dark. This time it looked like a house. The floor creaked beneath her feet and she winced with every noise she made.
She knocked at the farthest door but received no reply.
“Atticus?”
“Go away,” came his gruff voice.
“You haven’t been going out, your mother said. Is anything the matter?” She called out.
“I said go away!” He shouted followed by a loud bang produced by an object thrown at the door.
Madison woke up with a start. It was not the first time she had a dream where Atticus was mentioned. Beside her, Easton was staring at the ceiling.
They found a blanket in Easton’s car and it served as their bed for the night.
“Can’t sleep?” She snuggled close.
Easton laughed at the question.
“I’m glad I made you laugh.”
“You always make me happy.” He slid an arm beneath her head. “What were you dreaming about? You kept tossing and turning.”
“It was about Atticus.” His brows furrowed at the name. “What about him?”
She recounted all the scenes in her dreams. They were still vivid in her mind and she could replay the movements like she was watching them happen before her.
Once she was done, he heaved a deep breath.
“I suppose the girl was your grandmother?”
“I think so too.” She murmured. “They really loved each other. I think they used to fight a lot when they were younger but I can feel how much they cared. I only saw them together briefly but they were very fond of the other.”
She recalled her aunt’s story. About how her grandmother and Atticus chose to have her turned because they wanted to be together.
“Will you turn me?” He gaped at her.
“Will you turn me when the right time comes?”
His shock turned to glee when it dawned on him that she truly wanted it.
“If you want to.” He closed the gap between them and kissed her slowly. He nipped her bottom lip, making her groan in return. It lasted long until Madison had to push him. She panted as she tried to catch her breath.
He found her endearing.
His delight faded away when he recalled how it was to be turned. “But it could be lonely. You’ll watch your loved ones die and you’ll live for as long you don’t get killed.” He remembered the times when he contemplated on dying and how a natural death seemed to be a blessing rather than a curse.
“It won’t be if I’m with you.” She mumbled. He felt light-hearted at the words and resumed kissing her like there was no tomorrow.
***
The smell was faint when he first noticed it but it grew stronger at a rapid pace. He woke Madison up just in time when Richmond, along with two brusque-looking men with long hairs and piercings lining up their upper ear lobe, burst in.
“I’m sorry to wake you guys up but it’s time to end this madness. Come here, Madison.” He reached a hand out which Madison eyed disgustingly.
“No one’s coming with you Richmond. Leave us be!” She yelled, coming out from Easton’s back. “Did Aunt Courtney put you to this?”
He cocked his head and smirked. “No one put me up to this. I came back because I want to save you from that monster.”
“If there’s any monster in this room then it’s you.” Her hands balled into fists and she looked at them with fury in her eyes. “How could you do that to Gavin?”
At the mention of the name, they snickered. “He was an easy target. He already liked you. It wasn’t that hard to use his feelings to manipulate things into our favor.”
They both tensed at the revelation. So Gavin indeed liked her, but he was not the man who assaulted her multiple times and demanded for her attention.
“You’re despicable.”
“Says someone who insists on being with a bloodsucker.” Richmond stepped closer. “Don’t you feel any shame, Madison? Don’t you feel ashamed that someone from
a lineage of hunters like you is going crazy over a bloodsucker?”
She froze. It felt like a bucket of ice was dumped on her.
Chapter-9
We are One and the Same
The trio advanced and Easton snapped back into attention. It was not the right time to deal with matters concerning their past. Richmond was set on killing him and in the process, Madison may also be harmed. He needed to think of a way to save Madison out of this mess.
The Truth in Lies: A TALE OF MANN Page 14