I didn’t react as he bent closer, and allowed him freely to pull me near, and place his lips upon my own. I didn’t know why I let Caleb kiss me. Nor did I know why I kissed him back. But his touch was lighting a fire inside me that had long been dormant and who was I to hold it back. The numbness exploded in a symphony of colour and fire. There were bells inside my ears and electric running in my veins. It felt nothing like kissing Xavier; that had been all fire, and this was all ice.
Caleb pushed me deeper into the tree, growling as our lips forced each other’s apart and my hands wound around his neck. His own hands grabbed my waist and hair, holding me tightly to his chest. I had the strongest desire to stay there forever and let him do with me as he pleased. If not for the bang of the Green Rooms door opening I probably would have stayed.
“Hey mom, you have to be quick. I’ve gotta be somewhere.”
Ryder was outside the door, on his phone and looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“We shouldn’t have done that.” Caleb mumbled, running a hand through his curls. “You’re going to hate me for it later.” He began chewing his lip, his eyes darting back and forth like he was looking for something. “You need to leave.”
“Let’s pretend it didn’t happen,” I said, untangling myself from him, “Save us both the embarrassment.” I walked away without another look back, cursing myself for being so damn foolish.
Laina
If I had known all it took for me to grow some lady balls was three shots and a bottle of prosecco, I would have done them all sooner. Tory had changed her mind and wanted to come to the party. And once ready she had looked even more beautiful than normal. Her dark skin was shining with gold glitter that complimented the flecks in her eyes. And each time she caught me staring at her, she looked back in such a knowing way that it sent shivers right up my spine.
I didn’t know when we started dancing together, or when our innocent dancing became something more. All I knew is that when she was wrapped in my arms I couldn’t think of anything but her. And when she had grinned at me, with that damn perfect smile, I couldn’t stop myself from reacting. I had kissed her. I kissed her.
I just took her lips with mine and kissed her like my life depended on it, refusing to think of the room filled with people or the fact that I had only ever kissed two other people before. There were butterflies in my belly, fireworks in my ears and a whole lot of sweet satisfaction soaring through my spirit when she kissed me back.
“Well, that was unexpected.” Tory whispered, when we finally pulled back for air.
Not one to brag, but I thought it had been an absolutely mind-blowing kiss.
“Unexpected, good, or bad?” I asked, as I grabbed her hand and our fingers entwined.
“Very good.” Tory replied, “I’ve been hoping you’d do that for ages.” She was breathless and so was I, but I doubted I could hear her shallow breaths over the sound of my own pounding heart.
I had never had a crush like her before. And knowing she liked me and had actually wanted me to kiss her for as long as I had wanted to do so, was real damn good.
“I wanted to do it for ages too, but I didn’t know if you would like it.” I chuckled. Tory lifted her hand to my cheek, staring right into my eyes.
“I want anything you’d give me,” She declared, “I really like you Laina.”
“As sweet as this is,” A voice interrupted, “I need Laina for a game.”
Xavier was behind us, his full lips twisted up in a smirk.
“Why do you want me?” I snapped, irritated at his interruption.
“Come with and you’ll find out.” He pointed over to the back of the room, where the other Heirs stood in the shadows, except Caleb who seemed to be missing. “Dari is there too.”
“I don’t know what you’re playing at,” I muttered, “but if you try anything I’m going to kick you in the dick.”
Xavier just rolled his eyes as I followed him to where my sister stood. One look at her face on arrival told me it wasn’t anything good. I should have known better than to presume anything could go right for me. Drinking bleach would have been a better option than being alone with the Heirs and a handful of classmates who couldn’t care less about what happened to us.
“Let’s play a game,” Mikel began as he twirled a rope of clear water through his hands, “I want to see if my source was correct.” Source?
Dari shook her head at me, words unable to form. As Poppy, the Vampire girl who hated us all, slapped her across the face. A bright red handprint was left in her wake, and yet Dari didn’t even flinch.
“She’s so much better when she can’t speak.” Mikel said, the laughter of the others ringing in my ears. Poppy turned to me; her face twisted with malice.
“Be quiet. And go along with our game.”
I could do nothing but stand still as a statue, as the seconds ticked by, and we waited for whatever was coming. A few minutes later Caleb appeared out of thin air, a scowl marring his face.
“She’s coming.” He said, as he moved to right beside Dari. I watched as he began to twirl his hands around, summoning some air and letting it dance across the space around them.
As Kaida came into view Mikel did the same. He waved his hands, the water he controlled getting bigger by the minute until it was large enough to hold a man in the sky without concern.
“I wonder if it came down to it,” he shouted to the room of eager watchers, “which sister Kaida would choose to save?” And with that foul question he threw his hands, soaking me from head to toe and pouring every ounce of water he had inside me. My lungs filled with the freezing waves, and I immediately struggled for breath.
In the same second Caleb grabbed Dari, and slowly began choking her by shutting the air off to her lungs. Oh Gods, I can’t breathe.
“Let them go.” Kaida snarled, her burning eyes lingering on Caleb with some emotion I couldn’t figure out.
“We will,” Mikel laughed, “once you choose which one to save first.”
I knew what they were aiming for. Kaida was supposed to make an agonising decision between her sisters, and whichever one she left behind would, in their minds, no doubt bear a grudge against her for an awfully long time. But even as me and Dari began to tremble from lack of oxygen, we both knew what would happen. And it would be nothing like they thought.
The Heirs did not know the countless times we had already been tasked with making this same choice, and that despite loving both of us equally, there was already agreements in place for who would take the brunt of the pain should the need ever arise. I didn’t agree with it, but Kaida and Dari where far too stubborn to ever back down.
“Let Laina go.” Kaida said. Not even five seconds after the question was asked.
From the looks on people’s faces it was evident she had not been expected to make a choice, let alone so fast. Mikel stuck to his word, and the water burning me up was withdrawn. The sweet breath of air was soothing to my aching lungs, and as I ran off and hid behind Kaida like a coward, I could do nothing but concentrate on breathing and coughing up water.
“Enough now boys; this is stupid and too much.” Ember seethed, his hands shaking; he looked mad.
Everybody ignored him and Kaida stepped towards Dari, her hand reaching behind her back for that knife she always carried.
“Let Dari go.” She snarled at Caleb, “or I won’t hesitate this time.” I didn’t know what she was talking about, but he and Xavier did.
“You wouldn’t have the guts Kat.” Xavier sneered.
“You’re no killer.” Caleb added, but he refused to meet her gaze.
I was the one to find things funny this time. I laughed loud enough that I knew I sounded a little psychotic.
“You don’t know Kaida if you think she couldn’t end you sanguisuga,” I stole my sisters nickname for him, “now let go of Dari before you run out of chances to keep breathing.” I did not stutter. I knew without a doubt that Caleb, along with the other Heirs, h
ad indeed run out of chances if they continued to goad Kaida.
Lucky for them, or unlucky I supposed. They didn’t get to find out just how far Kaida would go for her family. For Ryder shot out of the shadows, landing such a perfect punch on Caleb’s jaw that he flew across the room and hit the wall. His air stuttered and blew out, and Dari dropped to her knees as she coughed and breathed again.
Ryder didn’t stop there. He ran at Caleb again, yanking him to his feet and shaking him with such ferocity that a non-Vampire would have shattered.
“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU PLAYING AT?!” Ryder yelled, his face burning with fury, and he hit his brother once more.
“Get the fuck off me.” Caleb snarled, trying to loosen Ryders’s grip.
But Ryder was having none of it, and once again Caleb was sent soaring through the room, landing with a thud, and shattering a table. Ryder spun round and flitted towards the speakers, ripping the plugs out and silencing the party.
“EVERYONE OUT NOW UNLESS YOU WANT A MONTH’S WORTH OF DETENTION!” It was safe to say nobody stayed behind. “Except you lot.” Ryder added, pointing at us and the Heirs.
The room emptied within seconds, with only Allie and Asher brave enough to risk Ryder’s wrath.
“You okay babe?” Asher asked, as he helped Dari to her feet.
“I’m fine.” She whispered, her voice cracking. “But you should go. Both of you.” She smiled at Allie weakly. Allie was staring at Bette, who one again was on the fringes of the Heirs assault but not directly involved.
This time I was mad at Bette though. There were no excuses for her to stand idly by as her friends tried to murder us. And for once it seemed even the impartial Allie had something to say about it.
“I don’t know what the fuck you were thinking cousin, but I thought you were above this type of thing.” Allie shook her head disgustedly, “You’re behaving like Huan, and I don’t know if I can stomach to see that.”
Without another word Allie left, taking Asher with her. Bette didn’t say a word, but I could see the misting of tears cloaking her eyes.
“You four are in detention with me for the next two months. Ember, I know you told them to stop it, so you can have two weeks -” Ryder began, but Caleb interrupted him.
“Seriously?! What the fuck-”
“Another word out your mouth Caleb and I will break every bone in your stupid face.” Ryder squared up to Caleb.
Nobody dared say a word as Ryder shook with anger. I had never seen him mad before, let alone brimming with a murderous rage. Even Kaida was stunned and a little nervous as she barged past Mikel to our sister, and her and Ryder checked on Dari.
“Dare?” Kaida whispered.
“You okay Princess?” Ryder asked, holding Dari’s hand in his. “Are you hurt?”
Xavier was the first to question the scene before us.
“Are you on their side then?” He snapped, glaring at Ryder like he was something filthy on the bottom of his shoe.
“There are no sides.” Ryder seethed, “But if you’re asking if I’m going to stand beside and let you murder an innocent girl then the answer is hell no.”
“Innocent?” Mikel snarled, “the bitch is hardly innocent.”
Everything in the world seemed to slow down after that. I saw Kaida turn, brandishing her blade as she aimed right for Mikel’s chest. By a sheer chance of luck, he slipped as he jumped back, narrowly missing her blow as he grabbed onto her arm. The pair frozen instantly; their heated gaze locked together as a horrible feeling crept over my skin. Oh Gods.
Kaida
I had rarely ever felt such fury as I had in this moment. I didn’t know if it was the pixie dust amplifying my emotions, or if it was the sheer fact that the boy in front of me had been drowning my innocent little sister with his bare hands. All I could think of was ending Mikel’s life, and then turning around and doing the same to the others. Only Ember was spared my wrath; for he had tried to intervene in our defence against his friends.
But as Mikel’s hand connected with me the power of his Siren mind tricks overwhelmed me. I felt the pull of his skill in my soul, and I couldn’t stop the cloud of memories from blowing out of my mind into the centre of the room. My knees shook and my breath hitched in my throat as I prepared to see whatever memory that the stronzo had stolen from me.
The second the scene began to form my heart shattered. There was no doubt in my mind what was playing out before me. Oh, Gods no, please not this.
“Scared of the dark love?” Caleb chuckled falsely, as the cloud of smoke turned into my old bedroom with me sleeping soundly in the bed, surrounded by a curtain of darkness. I knew what was coming and had no spirit left to respond; there was nothing I could say.
My body slowly began shutting down as I compartmentalised my fear as I had done so many times before. The Heirs watched on as I slept, laughing as they presumed I was scared of the dark like a little kid would be. It took them far too long to notice the memory change as I waited for Laina to run through the bedroom door terrified and sobbing.
The sight of my sister from that night wounded my soul like a dagger would, and I would have dropped to my knees in despair had I been a weaker girl. But I would not show my fear in front of them, I would never have been able to forgive myself if I did and the voice of my father creeping into my head only forced my desire to remain strong. “Weakness is a sin little one, do you want to be a sinner?”
I was about to be ruined, my soul permanently scarred black, by a man who cared nothing about the pain of others. A man I barely knew but had known me. I made a vow right then and there that no matter what happened to me at the hands of the Heirs, I would die before they did a thing to my sisters again.
The room was silent except for my calm breathing, until the door wretched open disturbing my peace.
“Kaida wake up! Help me.” Laina yelled quietly and I immediately leapt out of bed.
“Lainy?!” I clutched my sisters shaking body as she trembled in fear. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s coming for me. David has gone and Micah is coming.” She whispered, and I knew what she meant without another word.
My hands shook as I opened the closet doors, pushing the back away to reveal the secret hidden room we had made in the old cupboard space.
“Get in and stay quiet.” I hissed, half shoving my sister into the hole barely bigger than her. Laina grasped my hand, begging me to be careful as she choked back her sobs.
Her eyes slid shut as the grey mist covered her usual brown. Laina grabbed my hand at the last second, her grip tight as a vice.
“Run little dragon, before he tries to break your soul.” I ignored her, shoving the gap closed and shutting the closet door tight before returning to my bed as though I was asleep. Nobody would know she was there; I would make sure of it.
Barely thirty seconds passed, and my door kicked open, the stronzo friend of our fathers hovering angrily over my bed. I faked waking up, pretending to have no idea why he was disturbing me at this hour.
“Where is she?” Micah hissed, his breath reeking of booze and cigarettes and his hair mangled and unclean.
“Who?” I smiled angelically, as his hand snaked out to slap me across the face.
I felt the bite of pain on my cheek and bit back a snarky retort.
“You know who. Where is your bitch sister?” He roared, advancing on me still. His dark eyes were void of feeling and his greasy black hair clung to his head with the sweat of his drunken body.
“I don’t know you fucking psycho, I was sleeping.” I hissed back.
He slapped me again and I wanted so badly to lunge at him. But I remained still, not daring to touch the red mark upon my cheek despite its pain.
“Liar!” He shouted, bringing his hand across me once more as he shoved me back into the bed post.
My head snapped against the headboard with a sickening thud, but once again I refused to make a sound. Micah reached down to my chest and before I registered what was happe
ning he stabbed his cigarette to my bare flesh over and over, desperate for me to scream like I so desperately wanted to.
My silence only spurred him on, and before I could prepare I was dragged onto the floor, his fists raining down on my body and face as he screamed at me. I could feel my ribs fracturing and the blood pouring out the new cut on my brow, but I remained numb and calm.
“Fucking bitch.” He spat. “You and your whore sisters should have been left to die in that orphanage.”
I refused to act back, knowing he would only hurt me more. He had never been this violent, not since the last time David had discovered he had broken my arm. But David was not here now, and I knew the faster I stilled the quicker it would end.
“Stupid girl, wasting my fucking time.”
Micah finally stilled, allowing me to crawl back against the wall as I clutched my breaking body. I could taste the metallic tinge of my own blood on my tongue.
“You think you’re clever being quiet do you?” Micah growled, stalking closer to me again. “I can make you scream.”
I laughed at his words despite knowing the consequences.
“I’ll never scream for you.” I bit. “I don’t feel a damn thing.”
“It’s a shame.” Micah said darkly, as he unhooked his belt from his trousers and unzipped them, “I wanted your sister, but I think I’d rather have you instead.”
Micah came towards me, and my instincts kicked in. This time I fought back, preferring to die than willingly allowing anybody to touch me like the way he wanted to. I kicked, punched, and used everything inside me to stop what I knew he wanted to do to me. But nothing I did seemed to be any use, and his hands were over me with strength I could not compete with.
CONVICTION OF THE DAMNED: SUPERNO ACADEMY BOOK ONE Page 32