Fate's Path

I scanned the room but he was definitely gone. My heart was pounding as I cautiously faced Chris. He was leaning on a wall, eyelids fluttering and blood dripping. I broke, bolting as fast as I could to him and wrapping my arms around his weak form. He winced but leaned into the hug. I pulled away just enough to place my forehead against his. “Chris, you big dummy,” I sighed, squeezing my eyes shut as I heard him chuckle low under his breath.

“How have you been?” He asked silently, not moving from where he was. It would probably hurt to move, though. I giggled at the memory of Connor’s kiss.

Now wasn’t the time so I didn’t bring it up. I opened my eyes so I could see his weak smile. I furrowed my brows, noticing suddenly that he was mainly using me to stay up. His smile started to fade and his eyes became droopy. I locked my elbows under his arms to try and hold him up. “Responsum!” I screamed his name so many times my voice turned hoarse.

Responsum barreled through the open doorway. His eyes fixed on me, now kneeling on the floor with my brother in my arms. “Piper!” He crossed he room to us in three long strides, and quickly yet carefully lifted Chris out of my arms. “This is your brother?”

I raised a brow at him. “Not at all, this is just some random boy I found on the street.” When he didn’t understand I growled, “Yes, he’s my brother!” Responsum blinked then slowly turned and walked away. I groaned but followed after him when we walked down the stairs. I made it halfway down before I cried in pain.

Responsum glanced over his shoulder at me. “What’s wrong with your shoulder?” I touched my fingers to the wound and held them up so he could see my pitch black blood. I screamed in agony and had to catch myself on a wall. The pain was growing, webbing out to the rest of my body. What the hell is this? He sniffed the air then wrinkled his nose. “Come quickly. We must get you home.” I was about to get upset by him not offering to help me but then I realized he was, he was helping me in the best way possible right now. He was helping Chris. He was-

Already outside.

I cursed and scurried out, still clutching my shoulder and trying to squeeze the feeling out of it. I collapsed on the other side of the ‘wall’ of trees. The last thing I remembered was Connor lifting me, and then at the last moment, I had to chuckle about the fact that this was like a double hit for Max. He got us both. Both the royal twins. He got us both in one hit. The words ‘brother and sister’ echoed in my head from when all this started. I had hoped maybe it would end soon, but, in the back of my mind, I knew this was just the beginning.