Fate's Path

Kiera smiled at me. “Today is your lucky day! I found this when our captors were taking me here. I managed to snag a paper. It has an address and literally says ‘Info’.” She dug into the pockets of her torn dress and handed a paper to Connor. I felt slightly offended that she hadn’t handed it to me, but it was clear she was just trying to get him to be more interactive. He reached his hand out and she pressed it into his palm. I tried to move closer to him, but he flinched, so I stepped back. I would find out what was wrong. His neck wounds were small, pale scars, so I knew he wasn’t in pain. He was acting weird, constantly lifting his hand to scratch his neck. Connor’s hands were unsteady as he held the paper and said the address aloud.

“666 Eastonson St. Hell, Hell.” I rolled my eyes at the irony of the address. He seemed vaguely amused, then he looked up and I saw the pain in his eyes. Real pain. “Father,” He groaned, giving the paper back to Kiera. She folded the paper up and secured it in her pocket.

Kiera waved her arm to the path in front of us. “Lead the way, Connor.”

At that moment, Connor’s eyes turned black. Demon. “Don’t mind if I do.” He turned and looked off the edge of the path we were standing on.

I peeked over the edge and yelped. I am absolutely sure that it is an endless void of blood, pain, and death. My head turned to Demon. “Oh, hell no. There is no way I will jump off the edge of this path.”

Demon’s eyes met mine and he cocked his head to one side, “Who said anything about you jumping?” Something in his tone of voice sent shivers down my spine. There wasn’t something right about the way he was looking at me now. By the time I realized what he was going to do, it was too late. Demon grabbed my arm, yanking me close to him. His arms wrapped around me and he leaned back. Then we were falling. I screamed, “Not again!” and hugged myself against him. I grabbed handfuls of his shirt, I really hate being high up. I hate falling from any height whatsoever. My legs locked around his waist, and at this point, it probably looks like I am a fucking baby koala bear. I can feel my stomach threatening to regurgitate, but I swallow it down and string my arms around Demon’s neck. My head is pressed against his chest and I feel him stroke my hair. One hand pressed to the small of my back. My heart is beating rapidly in my chest. The sound of his beating heart, alive and healthy, calms me.

My muscles start to relax, still not brave enough to open my eyes. It suddenly occurred to me that I was literally hugging a demon and he was holding me. But, it wasn’t a normal ‘holding me’, it was more than that, one covered in a code that I couldn’t decipher. I froze when he planted a soft kiss on the top of my head. It took me a moment to remember we are falling, then I felt us crash. Demon’s arms steeled around me, and he seemed to form almost a protective shield. I felt the soft, feathery touch against my shoulder. I gave myself a mini pep talk and peeled my eyes open. I was surrounded by large, black wings, they were wrapped around the two of us like a soft bed. Demon pulled me closer to him. We were tangled up by the time we stopped tumbling.

I coughed, Demon was on top of me. His body was pressed against me. It took every ounce of self-control in me to not kiss him. Demon or not, I still loved him. He was still Connor, and there was no changing that. That, and the fact that he was so close to me. His wings slowly slid out from under me and folded against his back. My hands were on his shoulders and… a stick hit me in the head. I winced. “Ow.” Kiera stood above us with raised eyebrows and a look of amusement on her face.

“Really, guys? We’re in the pits of Hell, and you two are ‘messing around’?” I glared at her, and I could tell she was trying her hardest not to laugh.

Demon’s eyes change back to green and his face flushes. He stands and helps me up. “We were doing no such thing. All that matters is getting Chris back. Everything else is secondary.” I didn’t think it sounded heartless but the hurt expression on Connor’s face said otherwise. His gaze dropped to the ground as he turned and started toward the house I hadn’t even noticed was there. It was black, with a porch that rounded to the back of the house. Large pillars held the second floor up, and stairs lead to the door. There was a sign hanging on the double doors that read ‘WELCOME’. I know it was likely meant to make the house not seem so terrifying but it did the opposite. I was now completely horrified and definitely not wanting to go inside there. Connor stepped onto the light brown doormat and raised his fist to knock.

He hesitated, and I could see fear and anger and sadness in his eyes. I placed my hand over his shaking fist and lowered his hand to his side. I then knocked on the door firmly and not a second later they swung open. I was nearly hit with one of the heavy doors but was pulled out of the way by Connor. The figure standing in the doorway had short spiky black hair with several gray and white strands, his clothes were brown with dust and matted to his skin from sweat. He looked weak, like he hadn’t even opened the front door in years. Glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, and I realized with a jolt that the man’s eyes were full black, like Demon’s.

Before Connor or I could speak to the man, Kiera stepped up, “Hello sir. We are seeking guidance. We were told that you would be able to help us?”

The man looked at her, then me, I swear he was going to say no. But he looked at Connor and his face went slack. “Connor?” He whispered, his voice was raspy, unused.

Connor avoids my gaze when I looked at him. I frowned. The man examined the three of us again, then stepped to the side. He opened his arms in a welcoming manner and we shuffled inside. I tried to slip my hand into Connor’s but he jerked away. I looked at Kiera, she just shook her head. I sighed, I hate feeling like I can’t help my friends. I have always been able to in the past and now it’s like they are being separated from me. I don’t like it.

The inside of the house is like a replica of the outside, only there are piles of books scattered everywhere, and multicolored paintings on the walls. We walked down a long hall and the man ushered us into the living room. He asked to speak with us individually. Kiera volunteered to go first, which left Connor and I alone. He sat on the couch, but when I tried to sit next to him, he hopped back to his feet and paced to the other side of the room, pretending to examine the black wall. At this point, I wanted Demon to come back, then I could at least be close to my best friend.

Connor’s hands were shaking worse than before as he scratched his neck. Fear crawled up my throat, maybe I had really hurt him when I bit him. “Connor.” My voice sounded scared, even though I tried to hide it. He tensed and looked at me. “What’s wrong?”

He flinched. “Nothing, I’m fine. Just tired, everything is going to be fine.” His first mistake was actually speaking, with one listen I could tell he was lying. His second mistake was lying to me.

“You know what? I have dealt with some pretty crazy things. But one thing I won’t deal with is dishonesty. Especially from you.” I stood and pointed directly at the place where his heart was. “I just want to help you.” I turned just as Kiera was stepping in.

She looked at Connor. “He would like to speak with you now.” My whole body tensed as Connor slipped past me. His head was hung low, and he didn’t meet my eyes. I almost felt guilty, but until he tells me the truth, all he gets from me is a cold shoulder. I want him to tell me. I already lost Chris, I can’t lose Connor too. I need them all in order to be complete. Alone, I am like a puzzle piece living forever in solitude.

Kiera grinned and bounced across the room. “So? How is it going with Connor?” She asks excitedly making me roll my eyes.

“Nothing worth being excited about. But he has been acting strange.” I frowned.

Kiera jumped across the room a.d peeked her head into the hallway then pulled back in the living room and walked back to me. “What exactly happened?” I tried to think. “Piper, start at the beginning. Tell me everything that happened.” Her expression was filled with concern, as was her voice.

“We got here, I fainted so he carried me to the palace. I fell asleep in a bed. I woke up, looked around and stared at a picture of Chris, me, and our parents. Then Connor woke up, he made me bite him. I needed to feed. Then my-” I was cut off when she placed her finger against my lips.

“You bit him?” Her voice sounded like she was about to slap me and I jerked as if she had.

I nodded slowly. “Yeah, but I didn’t drink too much. And anyway, what does that have to do with anything?” I clearly didn’t know where she was going with this. She smacked me in the head. “Ow! What the hell was that for?!”

“You know, you can be so stupid! You’re a goddamned vampire. How do I know this and you don’t?” She narrowed her eyes at me, then turned and paced the length of the room.

I stared at her blankly, hoping she would just tell me what was going on. “Kiera?”

Before I could say anything else she waved towards me, I fell silent. “I think this is something that you and Connor need to talk about. And hopefully before we go against the jerks that took Chris and I. If you screw this up, I’ll kill you.” I thought she was joking but her face didn’t show a single sign of a smile. She was being serious. Maybe Connor wasn’t the only one who was lying. This wasn’t the same Kiera from school. I don’t know what is happening to my friends, but something is.

“Piper.” Connor’s voice came from the hall. I waited a moment for him to enter the room, but he didn’t. I glanced at Kiera but her eyes were crazed, like a beaten puppy. Finally, I pushed away from the wall I had started leaning on, and stepped into the hallway. I found Connor halfway down the hall, he was looking at a picture of the wall.

“Is it my turn?” I asked. He nodded, but didn’t look at me. I wondered what was so special about the painting he was staring at. It depicted a heart, red and bloody, with blue veins. A hand held the heart, blood running over the fingers. It sent a shiver down my spine, I tore my gaze from the horrific picture and placed my hand on his shoulder. I gave his shoulder a slight squeeze, he flinched but didn’t pull away this time. I reluctantly went the rest of the way down the hallway.

I didn’t really know where the room was so I was thankful when I heard a voice say, “Piper Gale Kuro.”

The room was towards the end of the long hallway. The house looked smaller on the outside, but it was as big as a mansion. I was now standing in a library of some sort. The man sat at a desk, scribbling some words I couldn’t comprehend into a notebook with no lines. He didn’t look up, not even when I sat across from him in the chair. My eyes drifted to the rows of books, I tried to see to the end of the room, but even with my super vampire sight, I couldn’t. I strained my eyes trying to see before he spoke again, startling me.

“My name is Responsum, it means -”

I cut him off, “‘Answer’, in Latin.”

His eyes widened then he smiled and started to write again, “Very good, you are as smart as they say. So, I have a few questions to ask.”

Once more I stopped him before he could continued talking, “Why are you the one asking questions?” I didn’t really like this guy. His eyes were creepy, his hair and clothes had magically changed so he looked more like a millionaire.

“I need to know the problem in order to give you want you want.” I looked down at the paper. It had ‘Piper Scarlet-Gale Kuro’ scribbled on the top in almost medieval letters. He jotted down that I am snarky and annoying. I glared at him. “So, where to begin! Oh right, what is your relationship with my son?”

I froze, my hands gripped the arm of the chair and I had to use a great level of restraint to stop from tearing the arms off. “Your son? Connor?” He hesitated then nodded, “What does that have to do with anything?” Responsum just stared at me, one eyebrow raised. I groaned. “We’re best friends. There isn’t much to say.”

He chuckled. “I'd beg to differ. For one, I saw how even Demon treated you. He refused to let you get hurt on the fall. And second, I am not blind. I can also see the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him. I may look about forty but I am far older than you think.” I crossed my arms over my chest and sunk into the wooden chair further, suddenly feeling uncomfortable and a bit ticked off.

“If you think we are so close, how do you explain why he has been acting distant around me for the past hour?” A growl escaped my throat as my eyes flashed red.

He sighed and wrote something else down, this time covering it with his hand. “Addiction is a tricky thing. Same as love and friendship. Don’t worry,” Responsum eyes turned from black to white. “He’ll tell you very soon. He will have to.”

“What does that mean-?”

His eyes returned to the way they had been as he spoke. “Anyway, back to questions. How much would you give to see your brother alive?”

The question was enough to distract me as I thought of an answer, “I would give anything. The only two things I wouldn’t give are Connor and Kiera. But I would give my own life, if I got to see him and know he was safe.”

Responsum made a weird Hmhmhm sound as he wrote on the paper. “And what would you give if Kiera was being threatened.” Before I could answer he waved his hand. “That’s a poor example. Okay, let’s say that Kiera and you are in battle together, and someone has a gun pointed right at her heart, it’s full of wooden bullets. Now let’s add Connor to that scenario. Say, Connor is fighting with you guys as well, and the same type of bullets are loaded in a gun pointed right at his chest. The trigger is about to be pulled for both. Who do you save?”

I didn’t want to be here, how the hell am I supposed to answer that? ‘Well sir, I would save Connor because I am in love with him’? Definitely can’t say that. But at the same time, I would be lying if I said I would save Kiera. I let out a hiss of pain and rubbed the temples of my forehead, my head started to pound. “I would save Connor.” I struggled on every word. It pained me to say that, but for as much as I say I hate dishonesty, lying sure would be poetic.

“Do you have a reason?” Was the next question. I winced at the pain receding in my head and looked at him like: ‘What kind of a question is that?’

“No.” I answered. So much for not wanting to lie. I did have a reason, I just didn’t want anyone else to know.

He didn’t look like he believed me but dropped the subject and moved on, “Same scenario. Only replace Kiera with Chris. Now who do you save? Chris, whom you have just found out is the one good person from your family still alive, or Connor, whom you have strong feelings for and can’t live without.” The Kiera-or-Connor question, I could understand. But what kind of a cruel horrible person would make me choose between blood or love?

“No comment.” I said between clenched teeth, my hatred showing. My red eyes glowing. I pushed my seat out and stood, planting my hands on his desk. The anger was quickly growing and I was curious as to why it was so easy to get angry here. Something about this place made me mad.

He looked me in the eyes, then the black webbed out across his face. The webbing started at his eyes, making his whole face look like it was cracking. “You try to act all big and bad, but you have never seen the true horrors of our world.” I jerked away, his voice sounded more like a demon now, and it was intimidating. “Now, sit down.” He waved his finger and I suddenly plopped back into the chair with a yelp. I tried to get up again but vines grew from the floor, wrapping around my legs and securing my arms to the chair. The more I struggled the tighter they got.

“Let me go!” I roared, I could feel a darkness growing inside me. It was as if being in this place was suppressing my good side and bringing out the bad side of me, which is to say the demon side.

Responsum’s face slowly returned to normal and he smiled wickedly. “Not yet. The questioning has only just begun.”

I growled at him, normally I would have hissed but the growl seemed better. I really wanted out of here, but these vines were a lot tougher than they looked and were already threatening to cut my wrists. I didn’t think too much of it, until one did cut into my wrist and it burned. I screamed in pain. “What is that?” I asked, giving up against the vines. I noted how they seemed to almost loosen the second I stopped fighting. I made sure to glare at them before my eyes attached to Responsum again.

“Repellere. It’s a common vampire poison here in Hell. We use it to keep the vampires and vampyrs under control.” He moved his head from one side to the other, as if he couldn’t figure out which angle would be better to see me.

I started to slouch but attempted to sit up straighter. I groaned, this Repellere was still burning, my whole body heated up. I coughed and a drop of my dark blood landed on my knee. Imagine jumping into a burning fire, that’s the amount of pain I was in. I tried to relax my muscles and that stopped the vines from getting tighter, however, that didn’t stop the poison.

“How did you get here?” Responsum continued with his questions. I wished I could punch him. I didn’t care if he was Connor’s father, I would hurt him in a heartbeat.

“I don’t really know. We were thrown through some type of portal.” My chin rested against my chest, my breaths were shaky.

I could barely hear the sound of him writing, but somehow could clearly hear the sound of Connor’s deep breathing. The rhythm of his steady heart beating. The whispered conversation between Connor and Kiera, about him needing to tell me the truth. I almost forgot that I was upset at him. I almost forgot he had lied. He wasn’t fine. What had I done wrong? I needed to know what was wrong. I forced myself to look up, wincing in pain.

“Okay, I have only one more question.” Responsum paused and glanced up at me. “Who are you?” His eyes looked me up and down.

“Piper Gale Kuro. You know this,” I growled in response.

“I know your name, but I don’t know you. Your mother is Maiestas, as I have heard. Correct?” I nodded, suddenly fascinated with the design on the floor. It had little swirls and stars. It took me a moment to realize the swirls and stars weren’t really there, and the floor was just plain old wood. “Okay. That is all I need to know. You may go.” The vines retreated and I started to fall forward, before catching myself on his desk. He made no move to help so I mentally flipped him the bird and pushed myself to my feet, stumbling across the room. I got to the door before he finally called after me, “I have to finish doing this, then I can bring you the antidote to the poison!”

I didn’t stop to acknowledge that he had spoken, and nearly fell out of the room. I managed to make it a few steps before my ankle gave out and I tumbled to my knees. I rolled my eyes, “Screw it.” I mumble, and began to crawl. Crawling was easier but by no means easy. I made it to the living room, the pain clawed its way up my throat then to my head. The second it reached my head, I screamed in agony. I screamed over and over again, the pain grew a hundred times worse when it got to my brain. The pain was bad, and I was crying as I screamed.

Memories flashed across my vision, “Father! Mother! Josie!” I screamed. I saw them all. “No!” Blood surrounding me from where Josie had been cut with glass, me crying over her body. I felt arms wrap around me and a needle puncture my skin. The memories faded and I blinked, feeling the hot tears roll down my cheeks. I opened my eyes, Connor stood above me. His eyebrows were knitted together in worry. He offered me his hand, and I accepted it. Connor pulled me to my feet.

His expression looked pained, “I’m sorry, and I know you are going to hate this, but we have to stay here tonight. You need sleep, I need sleep, Kiera is acting weird which likely means she does too. Actually, she has already headed up to her room. My father retreated back into his Study.” Connor lead me up the staircase, I wanted to say something. Anything. But nothing came to mind. I hated being upset at my best friend. It was possible that being upset with him was almost more painful than the Repellere.

We stopped in front of a door, it had a piper bird engraved above it in gold. The door itself was red wood and the handle was round and bent inward as if someone had grabbed onto the knob too hard. “Because that’s not terrifying. In any way.” I smiled when he chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone or anything get you.” I could tell he was trying to act tough because when I looked down at his hand it was shaking violently.

My eyebrows creased, “What the hell is going on with you?” I touched his hand but he pulled away. The hall we were standing in was narrow. With my back flat against the door, and him across from me, we were barely inches apart. My fingers grazed his cheek. “Connor, talk to me. Please.” I pleaded. I expected him to pull away again but he didn’t, instead his muscles relaxed. He squeezed his eyes shut. “Why are we really staying the night?”

Connor deflated. “My father is making an antidote for me, like he did for you. Only mine is different and it will be done tomorrow.” His head hung, his hair falling into his eyes.

I moved the hair out of his face. “Antidote for what?”

He flinched, I noticed how not once had he actually looked at my eyes. It was something about me, that much I knew. I repeated my question three more times before he finally broke. “Vampire venom! He is making a cure for Vampire Venom addiction.”

I froze. That’s what Kiera had been saying. Something about an addiction, and it being my fault. I suddenly put the pieces together. The bite. Him suddenly acting weird and distant towards me. “You were trying to get the cure so I wouldn’t have to know that you lied when you said the bite didn’t harm you. Connor, do you know how dangerous that was?” My voice faltered, this was all my fault. I had hurt him. I had hurt him. Those four words repeated in my head, drowning out all my other thoughts.

“I hurt you.” I backed away, trying to process and opening the door, stepping into the room. It had a huge bed with a thick layer of blankets and mound of pillows. There was nothing else in the room but a light that was dangling in the center of the room, illuminating everything, a closet that was hanging open, revealing clothing options, and a small circular window in the corner of the room. I crossed to the small window, glancing over my shoulder at Connor, still standing in the doorway.

“I am so sorry!” I try to hold back the tears.

I hear the small click of the door closing, the soft sounds of his footsteps across the floor, then the warm hand on my waist. I jolted at the touch and turned on my heels to see Connor, well not really him. It was Demon, his eyes were black. My heart sped up as Demon smiled at me. “Connor asked me to take over for the night. I may not be immune to vampire venom but I sure as hell can resist it better than a human.” I took in a deep breath, of course, then my entire body realized how close Demon was standing to me. I tried to step away but my back bumped into the wall and I yelped. He stepped closer, he weaved our fingers together. His other hand caressed my cheek, the sensation growing within me was strong. I couldn’t resist him. My bright red eyes locked on his ebony black ones. My breath hitched as he leaned down. The kiss was soft, not at all what I expect but definitely enough to make the butterflies erupt in my stomach. I pressed my body against his, Demon’s fingers tangled in my hair the kiss growing more urgent. My whole body heated up, this time with longing, not pain. I would have thanked God but we were in Hell, and I felt that might have been a bit disrespectful. I honestly didn’t know how to react to the kiss, so I did the one thing my brain could think of doing in its panic mode. I pushed Demon away.

He didn’t try to fight me or make any noise whatsoever. He just stood there, as if he couldn’t even believe he had just kissed me. I didn’t move at first. Had that really just happened? I couldn’t believe this. Demon had grown the balls to kiss me before Connor had. “Demon?”

His dark eyes shifted from the floor to me, “Huh?”

“Can you answer a question for me?”

Demon’s back straightened and he raised an eyebrow. “Sure, what is it?”

I stepped toward him and he stiffened, “Does Connor even like me? Like that, I mean.”

He burst out into laughter, his whole body relaxed. Why is it that any time I bring up this subject, everyone laughs. If I ask ‘does he like me?’ people laugh. And I don’t know why. Is there really something that funny in me asking if he likes me? Demon placed a hand on my shoulder. “Are you kidding me? He’s crazy about you.”

My entire form went ridged, I opened my mouth but nothing came out. The words were stolen from me.

Demon chuckled snapping me out of the trance, “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?” My gaze dropped to the floor. I couldn’t meet his eyes again. I lifted my fingers to touch my lips and waited for an answer.

“I can’t tell you.” I looked up and he shrugged.

I smacked his arm, and he jolted then laughed and added to his response. “I mean, I promised Connor I wouldn’t tell you. I also promised him I would tell you about his feelings for you.” He shrugged again and I was starting to hate the shrugging. It was making me want to strangle him, but I bit my lip until I felt the soft trickle of blood.

Demon stepped toward me, wiping the blood away with his thumb. “Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what? What’s wrong with this place? Why can’t I control my own fangs? Or my anger?” I said the questions so fast they all slurred together. I was amazed that he was able to tell what I had said.

“Don’t hurt yourself. Even if just a little bit. Also, a lot is wrong with this place. Piper, We are in Hell. Once more: Hell, Piper, Hell. Hell is the answer to everything. It brings out the Demon in all of us. Makes us lose complete control.” He caressed my cheek. Even though I knew it was Demon and not Connor, the warmth of his hand on my cheek was still sensational.

“Thank you, Demon.” I whispered, he pulled his hand away and his gaze dropped to the ground. He looked about as bashful as possible for a demon.

“For what?” He asked, not meeting my eyes. I wanted to laugh but I held back the urge to do so and reached for his hand. He pulled away again, taking a step back. “Don’t. Don’t pretend. I know the person you actually care about Connor.” To my surprise, he sounded almost…... hurt.

Again, I wanted to laugh but I knew that would be mean, “Demon. I care about you too. How could I not? For a demon you are quite nerdy and funny. I care about Connor, yes. But I really do care about you too.” Not a single part of me was lying and I could tell he believed every word of what I was saying. He smiled, but it looked almost pained. He may have believed me, but there was that part of him that would always not believe anything I said. Who could blame him? When I tried to lie, I was really good at it. I could lie my way into anything.

“Thanks…..I think? Is it a good thing to be nerdy and funny?” I froze, Demon fidgeted with the end of his sleeve.

I laughed and he looked at me. “Of course, that’s a good thing! It makes you more likable and approachable.”

It was his turn to laugh. “And on that note, Piper Gale was the first girl in history to say a demon was likable and approachable.” Demon ruffled my hair as he used to all the time back at school. I giggled and swatted his hand away.

“Do I get a metal?” I asked eagerly. I love shiny things. Dorky but true fact about me. We all have something weird like that about us, don’t we? It makes us (part) human at least. Demons can be serious, but others can be smart and nerdy. Even vampires can be nerds, usually they were like that before they turned and the attribute never went away. When you hear the word ‘Angel’ you think big pure winged creature, right? Truth is, they are powerful and can be serious when they need to, but for the most part they are self-conscious weirdos that worry about everything.

Demon thought for a moment then curled his fingers into a fist. When he opened his hand, there was a poof of black smoke and in the center lay a beautiful diamond. I watched as it folded and melted, then stretched out again forming a long elegant sparkling rose. He tucked the rose behind my ear. It was definitely lighter than a normal diamond, it felt like I had a real flower in my hair. I smiled. “Demon. I do believe you have a soft side. Best be careful, people might start underestimating you.”

“Yeah, right. I would pity the unfortunate soul that underestimates me!” Demon grinned, and I laughed at him.

“You’re such a dork.” I shoved him slightly with my shoulder then looked at the door. “Hey, did you notice a change in Kiera?”

He followed my look but upon seeing nothing turned back to me, “I did. You don’t think she could be possessed? Do you?” I thought about how calm and strange she had been acting.

Normally, our Kiera would have jumped around like an idiot talking our ears off. Instead of doing that, she was abnormally quiet and still.

“I think she might be. Only one way to find out.” I was about to walk out of the room when Kiera appeared in the doorway. She was hugging a stuffed animal dog to her chest. “Kiera? Are you okay?” I slid passed Demon and grabbed her shoulders. She looked terrified about something, “Pixie, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Kiera shivered and held the stuffed dog closer to her, “What they did was awful. I would have been fine if it was just me, but Chris got the worst of it. Before they sent me, I was healed but as far as I know, Chris is still in the same state he had been. Beaten. Bloody. Bruised.” She was shaking so much I had to hold onto her tighter so she wouldn’t be so shaky.

Demon joined beside me, his expression was neutral but I could practically feel the worry radiating off of him.

“Do you want me to take you back to your room?” Demon offered and I looked at him in shock. He wasn’t always known to be the most considerate person in the world.

Kiera shook her head. “Can I sleep in here with you guys?” I thought Demon would object but he said nothing.

“With the both of us?” Before either Demon or I could say anything, she nodded. “Okay. If that’s alright with Demon, that’s alright with me.” Both Kiera and I turned our eyes to Demon, giving him puppy dog eyes.

“How am I to say no to the both of you?” I smiled at him just as his eyes returned to normal. Kiera smiled and I pushed her lightly towards the huge bed and she climbed under the blankets. I turned away and looked at Connor. We hovered together with our backs to Kiera. “I know you want to say something, Pipes.”

I made sure to stay a step away from him, “Demon told me about the venom. Are you sure it’s smart to be so close to me before your father has the chance to finish the cure?”

Connor blinked and gulped, running a hand through his hair, “I understand your concern, but shouldn’t we be more worried about Kiera and Chris. Stop worrying about me, besides we’ll be sleeping and father said that in the morning he should be ready with the potion right when we wake up.” He gave my shoulder a squeeze then scrambled to sit by Kiera. I was tempted to lay on the floor, at least that would be better for Connor. The only reason I settled into the covers on the other side of her was because I knew that Kiera came first. Who truly knows what had happened to her? Or what was still happening to Chris. I shuddered at the thought of them being hurt.

Kiera snuggled into Connor and I. She was so small, curled into a ball. Kiera still hugged her dog. I played with the ends of her hair, it didn’t even take long before Connor was snoring.

Smiling, I curled up letting my tears fall. They didn’t wake up as I cried silently. My precise friend. My precise brother. How I longed to be able to hold him like this. To tell him that I was here, that I would always be here for him. I would never again let my brother be taken from me. We had Kiera but I would never feel complete without my brother. It took me a few hours before I finally cried myself to sleep knowing that the truth was way more painful than just being separated from him. My dreams were full of happiness with Connor, Chris, and Kiera by my side. Oh, how I longed to know a place where the word ‘hurt’ didn’t exist. A place where there was no such thing as ‘the painful truth’.