Discern (51 page)

“I’m still in love with you, and I always will be,” I murmured.

“I’m so relieved to hear you say that,” he said softly. “I missed you so much. As soon as I left, I wanted to turn around and go back, but I thought I was doing something heroic,” he sighed.

Tears began welling. “I missed you, too.”

“Oh Haley, I’m so sorry to have put you through all of this,” he said pained.

“I’m just glad you’re okay.”

His warm hand softly wiped the tears rolling down my cheek. “I only thought this was the best and fastest way to secure our future, but I failed,” he continued to apologize.

I glanced over at him. His eyes were beautiful green crystals once more. “You did what you thought was best,” I reassured.

“I’ve started something far worse than I expected,” he said, lightly touching the top of my thigh.

“What’s that?”

“A war amongst us children is certain.” His voice was cold as he retracted his hand.

I shuttered slightly at the thought of more danger in store for us. I panicked as I remembered that Alec had gone searching for Andrew. “What about Alec?”

“They have him,” he said flatly.

“We have to save him.”

“I have to save him,” he corrected.

“No, I’m going. You need me. I’m the proof you need,” I said sharply.

“No,” he said darkly.

“Yes. You can’t leave me here. Not after what Alec had to do in order to save me. I refuse to be left here as bait for the government,” I snapped.

His crystal eyes instantly reddened. “What happened?” he snarled.

We pulled into my garage, and I quickly shut the stall door.

“What’s the plan?” I asked angrily.

“What happened while I was gone?” he demanded.

I stormed inside the house and up the stairs, but Andrew did not follow. As I entered my bedroom, he was sitting on the bed waiting.

“It’s good to see you have your strength again,” I huffed.

“Tell me now,” he growled.

“I told you, Mr. Mitchell and a few other agents kidnapped me the night I closed up the shelter and kept me locked in a basement for a day or so. But I would’ve been down there longer if Alec hadn’t rescued me,” I explained angrily.

“Why did he feed in front of you?” His voice shook.

“He had to.”

“Why did he kill someone?” He rephrased.

“He pulled this guy off of me. It wasn’t his fault, he had to do it,” I defended.

“Why was some guy on top of you?” His growl echoed through the house almost deafening me.

“He was trying to force himself on me.” I fell to my knees and began sobbing. Just uttering the words aloud affected me more than I had planned.

“Oh, Haley,” he said softly as he dropped down to his knees beside me. “What have I done?”

He scooped my body off the floor and cradled me like a baby. He gently pulled my hair out from behind my back. His soft, warm lips gently kissed my cheek as I continued to weep. He began rocking my body back and forth.

“I’ll never leave you alone again,” he sighed. “It was a failed attempt and all done in vain.”

“You’ll have to leave again sometime, and I don’t know how I’ll survive,” I sobbed.

“I won’t leave your side again. I promise you that,” he vowed.

“We have to save Alec,” I reminded.

He immediately pulled away. I glanced up at his face. A weird expression formed. “Do you feel for Alec, too?”

“No!” I exclaimed.

“Then why the concern for his life?”

The tears stopped as a new emotion took over. “He saved my life when he had no obligation to do so. We both owe him this.”

“You’re right,” he conceded. “But I want to make sure you’re all right first. He can wait.”

Tears began falling again as this evening’s events flooded my thoughts. “The only thing that ran through my mind when that filthy man was on top of me was that you wouldn’t want me anymore if he were to touch me.”

“Haley,” he breathed. “That wouldn’t have changed my feelings.” He pulled my body closer to his again.

“But my soul would’ve changed,” I wept.

“No, it wouldn’t have. Your feelings toward men might have changed, but not your soul,” he explained. “Nothing will ever change my feelings for you—nothing,” he promised softly.

I nestled my head deeper into his chest and he cradled my body tighter, continuing to rock me back and forth on the floor. My crying would cease momentarily, but always resumed as I thought about the horrible things that had occurred over the past twenty-four hours. Andrew would just squeeze me tighter.

But I could not continue this behavior for too long. Alec was in danger. And so was Andrew. He never discussed the details—afraid I would become even more belligerent.

“What happens next?” I breathed.

“We stay here, where both of us are safe.”

“Are they coming for you?”

“Not all of them, but I have a feeling one will show up real soon,” he replied stiffly.

“Which one?” I shuttered.

“Abrielle will come—she always does.” I heard a faint rumble in his chest.

“She might not be able to find us,” I said, hoping to silence his growl.

“She’ll find us.”

“Alec said my presence jams your frequency making it difficult to discern where you are.”

He lightly brushed his finger along my cheek. “While that is true,” he said endearingly. “Unfortunately, Alec is not as strong as I am, and will inevitably give away our location. But they can’t penetrate the house, so we’re safe.”

“What if they make a scene so we have to come out?”

“They won’t. It would be too risky.”

“I hope,” I murmured.

“You should get some rest.”

“I am a little tired,” I yawned. “But what about Alec?” I asked, still worried.

“Hold on,” he said sternly, as he seemed to be concentrating. His crystal eyes flickered from red to black and finally back to green again. “They let him go, but they know about you now,” he said hesitantly.

“Great,” I grumbled. “I guess I can’t sleep now.”

“Yes, you can, they’re undecided on their next move.”

“Where’s Alec?”

“Headed here, but don’t worry yourself, I’ll talk to him. You need to rest.” He cradled my body tighter as he gently kissed the top of my head.

I again rested my head against his warm chest, thankful that he and I were both safe.

Falling in to a peaceful slumber did not happen quickly that evening. I tried to listen out for Alec. I was forever indebted to him for rescuing me and desperately wanted the opportunity to thank him again—but that opportunity never arose as I slept right through his visit.

25

Sibling Rivalry

The sound of distant arguing sent chills down my spine as I reached my bedroom. I pressed my ear against the door trying to determine if the voices were coming from inside the room. I hastily pushed open the door to see Andrew gone from where he had been sitting moments ago. The muffled sound of arguing continued. I rushed over to the window, carefully prying open a slat in the blind.

 
Andrew stood arguing with a strikingly beautiful woman; whom I assumed was Abrielle as he had warned of a probable visit from her. She was the true incarnation of beauty. Her long soft, golden locks framed her face perfectly. The glow from her skin was even more radiant than Andrew’s. Her eyes were a bright, violet color with many facets that sparkled magnificently, even from a distance. Her body was slender, but curvaceous.

She wore a tight sleeveless lavender blouse that exposed her cleavage. Her short, white skirt was a hint that she had come from somewhere with a warmer climate. I could only imagine the heads she turned when she walked down a street—drivers might even crash their cars if they caught one glimpse of her. My insecurities resurfaced.

Her eyes shot up toward the window as if she could sense my invasion of their conversation. I automatically released my hand from the blind. The arguing grew louder. It was time to face her, before things took a turn for the worse and Andrew was in harm’s way again.

My hands shook as I nervously opened the front door. Andrew’s head snapped in my direction. “Go back inside,” he instructed stiffly.

But I refused to listen. He needed my help now more than ever.

“No,” I said sternly, glaring at Abrielle. Her intense glare was no match for my resolve to ward off another attack on Andrew. This was a showdown, similar to an old western movie, but I didn’t have a loaded gun, just my unique ability to burn his kind, and her weapons were useless against Andrew’s curse.

“Yes, please show yourself.” Her smooth, feminine voice spoke. “You must be Haley.” Her brow arched.

“I am,” I said, keeping my voice stern and eyes locked onto her.

“My, my, isn’t she a beauty,” she sneered. “A blonde this time.”

“Haley this is Abrielle,” Andrew introduced reluctantly.

“I figured,” I said, narrowing my eyes. For once, I wasn’t intimidated by this meeting. I was certain I had the upper hand.

“Abrielle was just leaving,” he said. His body was rigid as he watched her eye me over.

“I have no other plans,” she smirked. “We have much more to discuss,” she insisted, pointing at me.

“What would you like to know?” I asked, pushing my body in front of Andrew’s.

Andrew grabbed my shoulders. “Don’t encourage her behavior,” he said, glaring her down.

“Why don’t you invite me in,” she suggested.

“It doesn’t work like that,” I said smugly. “You can’t touch me or anything that belongs to me.”

“Wow, she has an edge to her. I like competition,” she laughed darkly.

“She isn’t your competition. You could never compare to her,” he said icily.

“I won’t let you or the others hurt him,” I warned. She would have to destroy me first, before I would allow such damage to be done again.

Her eyes flickered from violet to red. “You may have been able to fool the other two, but I don’t fear your alleged abilities. In fact, I think they’re all bluffing,” she said with disdain.

“Touch me,” I dared.

The glow of her skin intensified, as she grew closer. Andrew instinctively pushed me aside placing his body in between us. Abrielle glowered at Andrew as she slyly moved around his body.

“You’ll regret your decision,” he said pompously.

“If that’s so, then why is she hiding behind you?” she asked.

“I’m not,” I said, stepping out toward her.

Our eyes met and we stared each other down. She arrogantly extended her arm. My eyes narrowed as I snatched her hand. Her smug look faded in to an anguished expression. The fire ravaged her hand before blazing up her arm. She screamed loudly as she tried to jerk away. Andrew grinned widely. He waited momentarily before removing her hand from mine.

“Satisfied?” he smirked.

“What the hell is she?” She wailed.

Even her charred arm did not detract from her beauty, which was quite upsetting.

“She’s someone very special,” Andrew smiled as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me in closer to his body. The hurt she felt by our closeness was apparent. She loved Andrew more than he even realized.

“Is she mortal?” she asked as her arm began healing.

“Yes,” he said flatly. “I’m quite sure you already heard the back story of her existence.”

“You can’t expect me to believe that she’s the reincarnation of
Alexandria
,” she scoffed.

“If she isn’t, then how’s it possible that she possesses the ability to protect herself from our kind?” he questioned.

“Trickery,” she accused.

“A mortal with the ability to trick us?” he said, displeased with her accusation.

“I guess that does seem a little absurd,” she agreed. “But I’m supposed to believe that her soul reincarnated and she possesses our father’s alleged journal?” she asked suspiciously.

“It’s hard to fathom, but it’s true,” Andrew assured.

“Is this mortal girl more important than our family?”

“Do I really have to answer that?” he asked coldly.

“Yes,” she nodded.

“Of course she is—nothing is more important than her.” Even during this intense moment, his confession of my importance was still astounding—that a creature as powerful as he would feel so strongly for me.

Her red eyes darkened to black. “Why?” she asked, almost inaudible.

“She’s everything to me. I love her, and always will,” he breathed, lifting my hand and placing his lips against it.

“You love her more than yourself?” she asked.

“I’d give my life for hers,” he said simply.

The color red engulfed her irises. “You’re truly foolish. You’ll certainly die for your treason,” she hissed.