“The rules are in place to protect the Works.”
“They are in place because if someone did mix together and had a baby, you wouldn’t know how to control that creature. It’s all about control, and I, for one, will not be a part of that. I won’t feed into it so that you can get ahead.”
It’s like tennis, and I can’t believe what I am seeing. My sister won’t back down, but when my father laughs, all of us stop. Confused. “You silly girl, do you hear yourself? You think you can decide what you will and won’t do? I am the leader of this faction, and everything I do is to help you. You know what would happen if everyone found out you weren’t immortal? They’d push for you to be killed—”
“Because of your established policy of senseless killings. You did this! You’ve made this bed, and now I have to lie in it. So please, if you think threatening me with the people coming to get me if they found out about me not being immortal scares me, think again. I have people trying to kill me left and right. Nothing new.”
She turns, heading for the door, until my father’s words stop her. “I’m going to let what you just said slide. You’re obviously upset, and once you think this through, you’ll see how dire it is that you must accept.”
“Which she won’t,” Cyrus says.
Father looks to Cyrus and points to the door and yells, “You’re dismissed.”
Cyrus’s brows reach to his hairline. “What?”
“You heard me. Leave,” Father demands, and Cyrus looks around, confused.
Cyrus looks to me in complete dismay, and I shake my head. “Just go. I’ll take care of this.”
Laughing, Cyrus shakes his head as he stands. “You do that, brother.”
When the door crashes shut, Rebekah glares. “Since I don’t agree with you, should I leave?”
With a stare that could kill, Father seethes. “Go, but don’t go far. Your surgery for your eye is tonight.”
“Already?”
“Yes, I need to remove them from the donor—”
“I highly doubt they donated their eyes,” she interrupts, and even I know it’s about to be bad. And when Father’s fists crash to the table, I wish she had just left.
Damn it, Rebekah.
True fear enters my sister’s eyes as Father says, “As I said, be ready. Tonight we fix you, like I’ve been doing from the beginning—”
“Just think, you wouldn’t have to if you’d just kill me,” she says, her eyes in slits, and Father exhales loudly.
“Rebekah, that’s enough,” I demand, and she presses her lips together. “Go on.”
She goes to leave just as Father says, “Think about what I said. I want a thoughtful answer before we get started tonight, and if you can’t give me one, then I’ll make the decision for you.”
No. I won’t let him.
She scoffs. “So you’ll make me marry someone I don’t love?”
“Yes.”
Standing up, I press my hands to the table, my gaze locking with hers. “Go. I will take care of this.”
She stomps out the door, slamming it shut behind her. JJ and I glare back at my father.
“Father, this is unreal. You can’t force her to marry anyone! She is only nineteen years old.”
“Oceanus, I don’t care what you say. I will do what’s right for this clan, our faction. We have to be stronger, bigger, and I can’t do that when I’m executing teenagers who could be soldiers. I need this formula.”
“You’re insane, and everything Rebekah said was true. You can’t do this. I won’t let you do this,” I yell, my body shaking with anger.
“You won’t?” he challenges, and I stand taller, knowing I am right. I also know he won’t listen to me. I look to JJ and Samuel.
“You’re not thinking, Father. JJ, Samuel, either of you, please, talk some sense into this man,” I yell, and I hate how my voice breaks. I can’t fail Rebekah, though. I can’t allow her to marry some guy because I wouldn’t marry his sister.
“We’ve tried,” JJ says. “His mind is set.”
“No matter how much we don’t agree,” Samuel says.
“So you save her, only to lose her? ’Cause you do this, and she’ll never speak to you again. Unlike me, she is not forgiving. And let’s be honest, she might off herself before she marries anyone. She isn’t one to be pushed around.”
“Hence why I am doing the surgery tonight. I will save my daughter!”
“You’re not saving her if you force her to do this.”
“I will do what is right for our clan, Oceanus. A good leader does that, and the fact you don’t see that makes me believe you are not ready to lead the Works.”
My laugh is harsh. “Please, you never planned on allowing me to anyway. Not anytime soon, at least.”
“You don’t know that, but that’s fine. We are dropping this. I have a surgery to perform—”
“I’m not done fighting for my sister, nor will I ever be!”
“And that’s fine, son. While you’re at it, go down and get that shifter so I can take his eyes and save your sister’s vision.”
“What?” I roar, throwing my chair behind me, frustrated. “You can’t do this! I thought we were still questioning him.”
“He won’t talk,” JJ says. “It’s time to get rid of him before he causes any more issues.”
“Are all of you crazy?”
“Do as I say, son. Go get the boy. The code is Rebekah’s birthday. Bring him to the lab.”
“No. You’ve completely lost your mind! I don’t care about the shifter. I care about Rebekah. I am not done talking about her.”
“Well, I am. You wouldn’t marry Fredrick’s daughter, so now, she’ll marry his son. In reality, it’s your fault.”
Slamming my fist to the table, I shake my head. “Don’t put that on me!”
“It’s true, and she’ll marry him soon.”
“Fuck no. That is not happening.”
“Then we will not be able to save her!”
“We will,” I yell back, my body shaking. I’m unsure what I am doing, but I say, “I’ll marry the fucking daughter. Just leave Rebekah alone!”
When the smug little grin comes across my father’s face, everything inside me goes cold.
I hate him.
I hate him so much I could scream.
“Oceanus,” JJ says, but I shake my head.
“No, I actually love my sister, and I refuse to allow her to be hurt like this.”
Everyone looks to my father, and he scoffs. “I do this because I love her.”
But I shake my head. “You are insane if you think that is true.”
“Whatever. Oceanus, go get the shifter—”
“Get him your fucking self. I’m not your errand boy,” I snap, heading for the door. Pausing with my hand on the handle, I look back at him and shake my head. “I’ll never forgive you for this. Never.”
He shrugs. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Before I can turn, JJ says, “Please go get the shifter, son. You’re only one who is strong enough to handle him.”
With nothing but a nod, I turn, a lump forming in my throat at the fact I just agreed to marry someone who isn’t Taegan. Someone I don’t love, nor will I ever love.
But it’s for Rebekah.
All for Rebekah.
Like I have told myself from the beginning, I can’t be selfish. I have to do what is best for the people I love.
Even if it continues to kill me slowly.
Chapter Sixteen
Slamming the door behind me, I see Cyrus coming toward me, his eyes dark with anger.
“Not now, Cy.”
“No, dude, I’m pissed! This shit is insane. We can’t let this happen.”
I nod as I start for the kitchen where the door for the bastille is. “I know, Cy.”
“We have to fix this.”
“I already did.”
“What did you do?”
“I’m gonna marry Fredrick’s daughter.”
/> Cyrus stops, while I keep going. I’m on a mission to get this shifter, take him to my father, and then sulk in my room. I also need to call Taegan, tell her the truth before she hears it from someone else. What the hell did I do? I basically just ruined my life even more.
God, I hate my father.
“You’re going to do what?” Cyrus yells, running to catch up.
“I have to.”
“No! You don’t.”
“I have no choice. I won’t let Rebekah be unhappy. I will do everything I can to give her a good life.”
“It isn’t your job,” Cyrus yells, trying to stop me, though I keep walking. “I’m telling you, Osh, this is bullshit.”
I nod, pushing the door open to find my sister sitting at the bar, tears welling up in her eyes. With a shaky voice, she says, “I’m not marrying anyone.”
Rushing to her side, I kiss her temple as I hold her tight. Looking to Cyrus, I shake my head, hoping he gets not to say anything as I whisper, “I know, we’ll fix this.”
She is already upset; I don’t want to upset her more by telling her I’m marrying someone so she won’t have to.
Cyrus must have caught on because he comes around the table and says, “Don’t worry, Rebekah.”
Hugging her tightly once more, I say, “Why don’t you go get some rest?”
I’m surprised when she agrees, and a part of me assumes she is up to something as she says, “Okay.”
I don’t know why, but in my gut, I feel something is off. It isn’t that she doesn’t usually cry—she’s an emotional mess—but this time, it seems raw and I really don’t understand it. Yeah, she assumes she has to marry someone, but it wouldn’t make her cry like that.
No, something is up.
She then wipes her face as I look to my brother. “Cyrus will walk with you.”
“Yeah, come on, sister,” Cyrus says, taking her in his arms before leading her away. As I watch them, I see Rebekah look back at me, her eyes wide and full of worry.
What the hell did she do?
Rushing to the bastille, I throw the door open before falling the ten feet, landing on my feet. The bastille is dark, a dungeon full of nothing but cells for our prisoners. Looking to my left and then my right, all I hear is water falling and maybe some bugs crawling, which is odd. Why is there no other noise? Instead of going right, where our regular prisoners are, I head to where the shifter is being held. I don’t know why I’m running, but I am, splashing through the puddles before reaching the door to his cell. It’s cracked. Which isn’t part of the norm. Going to it, I hear nothing. No breathing, no rustling of him getting up, nothing.
Opening it, I light the lamp that hangs by the door. The light illuminates the room, only for me to find that the cell is not only empty but also wide open.
“Rebekah, what in the hell have you done?” I mutter before dropping the lamp and rushing out of the bastille. Climbing the ladder to the top, I’m met by JJ, whose eyes are wide and confused.
“I was coming to help you.”
Ignoring him, I rush to my feet, running to the wall where a button is. I hit it, and the sirens sound. I look back to JJ, and his eyes are full of bewilderment. “Go get Rebekah. The shifter has escaped.”
I know Rebekah did it, I know it in my bones, but there is no way I’m selling out my sister.
I just pray the shifter doesn’t kill her.
Or worse, convince her to run away with him.
***
“Where is Rebekah?”
Cyrus looks to me, his face a little white. “JJ has her.”
“Good,” I say turning the corner in the Clandestine.
We can’t find him. The shifter. He’s gone. But thankfully, Rebekah is safe.
Even if she is the one who freed him.
“She did this,” I say in a hushed tone so that no one hears me.
“I know,” Cyrus says, and our gazes meet before we shake our heads. “She’s insane.”
“She is.”
“Do you think he was dangerous?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think she’s safe with him out?”
I shrug. “Again, I don’t know. I just want to find him.”
“Yeah,” Cyrus agrees before heading for the front door. “I’ll search the grounds.”
“You got your gun?” He holds up his Glock that is loaded with silver bullets, and I nod. “Okay, be safe.”
“You too,” he calls to me as I head back inside. As I search all the little nooks and crannies that my siblings and I used to hide in as kids, I can’t help but think Rebekah has some balls. I’m not sure where she got them, probably Cyrus or Jonas, because it wasn’t from me. I’m too cautious and unselfish, but if I were to be honest, I wish I could be like her. I wish I could fly off the handle with my emotions and have no care for the repercussions. I wish I had run with Taegan when I had the chance. If I could go back, I’d do it all differently. Instead, I’m stuck living a life I’ll forever hate.
Clearing my throat, I don’t know what I’m going to do about Rebekah. I won’t tell my father she was the one to free the shifter, but I have to have a talk with her. She can’t do that kind of crap. But that’s Rebekah; she has a heart that is too big for her little body. Reaching for the door to the lab, I pause when I hear rustling inside, along with voices. I almost don’t enter. It’s probably my father, and I don’t want to have any interaction with him. He’s livid and calling every source he has to catch the shifter. With my hand on the doorknob, I almost let go, but then I hear a voice.
A deep voice that is not my father’s. “Then let’s go.”
And then Rebekah answers, “Okay.”
What the hell?
I throw the door open, and Rebekah whips around with JJ in front of her, his hands holding her elbows in a very intimate position. I pause, my body going into fight mode as I read her expressions and then JJ’s.
But I know that isn’t JJ.
“Rebekah? I thought you were in your room,” I say calmly as JJ comes around her, tucking his hands in his pockets in a very non-JJ way.
“Figured it’s safer in here,” JJ says, but I don’t move, my eyes locked with his, waiting for him to make a move.
“Oh?” When he nods, I glare. “Rebekah, come here.”
“What’s wrong, Osh?” he says slowly.
My gaze falls on Rebekah, my eyes narrowing as she says, “Everything is fine.”
“Get over here, Rebekah. Now.”
“No,” she says, and my eyes widen.
“Rebekah, now.”
“No,” she says once more, stepping in front of JJ. “Let me explain.”
But there is nothing to explain. Whipping out my own Glock, I hold it on JJ as she shrieks, “Oceanus!”
“No, get over here now. That’s not JJ.”
“I know!” she yells, and my gaze shifts from JJ to her. “It’s Ryland.”
My stomach drops as my face twists in confusion. “Ryland, Ryland Kelley?”
“Yes,” she says, on the verge of tears. And when I look back to JJ, he’s gone and has been replaced by Ryland Kelley. Someone who is supposed to be dead. But as his gaze meets mine, his lips curving ever so slightly, I can see that he is very much alive.
What the hell?
“Please, put the gun down.”
But I don’t, holding Ryland’s gaze as I try to figure out what the hell is going on. How is this guy alive?
“No, he’s here to kill you,” I tell her, holding my gun tighter.
“No, he’s not, I promise. Please, trust me, put the gun down,” she begs, but I ignore her.
“Get over here.”
“Oceanus, look at me!”
I don’t move at first, but then my gaze snaps to hers, and I glare.
“He wasn’t here to kidnap me. Well, at first he was, but then he stayed to protect me from his family—”
“He’s supposed to be dead!”
“But he isn’t,” she says, and
I can tell she is panicking. “They faked his death because—”
“Rebekah, no,” Ryland urges, and she looks up to him.
“He’s my brother,” she says, but Ryland shakes his head.
“And he has a gun.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she protests before looking back at me and how my gun is trained on him.
“Ryland isn’t here to hurt anyone. He’s protecting me. It’s fine,” she promises me, but I can’t move, completely stunned by who is standing in front of me.
“He’s supposed to be dead, Rebekah. This is insane. I went to his funeral!”
Letting out a long breath, Ryland throws his hands up. “I was sent away because I’m a hybrid. An amalgam.”
Everything stops. The time, the world on its axis, everything. The only way he is an amalgam is if he was mixed between shifter and wolf…but surely not. Taking a step forward, I tighten my grip on my gun. That is, until Rebekah steps into my line of fire.
“Oceanus—”
“He isn’t supposed to be alive. Move away from him, Rebekah. He is dangerous.”
“No,” she says, her eyes filling with tears. “No, Oceanus. Stop.”
“He is a fugitive in this house. I have to detain him and protect you.”
“Oceanus, please,” she begs, her eyes pleading with mine while Ryland watches me closely. I don’t blame him. He should. Even I’m unsure when I’ll pull the trigger. “I love him.”
I know she loves him; she loved him before he “died,” but this is insane. He is supposed to be dead! And I’m going to make sure he stays dead this time. Stepping toward him, I go to shoot, but before I can even process what’s happened, Ryland has my gun, and it’s pointed at me.
“Ryland! No!”
I sputter with shock as he holds the gun toward me. Ryland’s gaze bores into mine, his eyes dark, but he doesn’t want to shoot me. He’s hesitating, probably because he knows the bullet won’t kill me. “I’m not going to hurt him as long as he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I say, “Define stupid.”
“No, stop,” Rebekah says, but neither of us really hears her. “Please listen to me, Oceanus.”
Once Upon A Midnight Page 75