A Hunger to Share ( Book One )

chapter 33

Part Three

James 

"I knew this would happen." Ada's dad, Steven, sighed, rubbing his forehead. He was standing by the fireplace, staring down at his drink.

"Good for you Dad. Want a cookie?" Nora scoffed.

Ben, her boyfriend, put a hand on her arm to calm her down.

"Nora." Her Mom, Grace, scolded her. "We're here to find a solution not to fight".

Steven gaulped down his drink. "I told you to bring Ada back but you didn't listen. I told you there were dangerous people out there who wanted us dead but you didn't fucking listen."

"What's done is done. What do you think we should do now?" Grace asked, blue eyes full of resentment.

"We can try to go after her but we might come back in a body bag."

"I say we go after her." Nora was quick to cast her vote.

After Marcia had made Ada and the rest of them disappear, James and Jack had left the celler as fas as possible to inform Nora what had happened.  

James had been horrified. He still was. Everything had happened in a blink. But maybe if Jack haden't held him back, he could have gone with Ada.

Nora had only believed them when she saw the bloody ground and the broken bottles. Her sharp tongue had let the brothers know exactly how pissed she was.

Not long after, Nora's Mom had joined the brothers and then her Dad.

"I agree." James spoke up, sipping his drink to sooth his dry throat.

"I think we've helped enough." Jack shot him a look.

"We can't just give up on Ada."

"James is right." Nora backed him up. "Ada might be in danger. We need to go after her right now."

"That's not our problem." Jack stared at her. "Ada chose to go. No one forced her."

"Jack..." James started.

"You don't know that." Nora snapped.

"I was there. I do know that. She specificaly asked Marcia to take her away. Tell them Jamie..."

"Yes but..."

"But these people might be dangerous. Dad might be right. We don't know them." Nora helped him out.

"Maggie knew them and you know Maggie. That should be enough." Jack wasn't backing down.

"I knew Maggie." Nora slammed her glass on the coffee table.

"You can go after your sister but leave my brother out of it." Jack stood up. "come on James. We're leaving."

"No." James shook his head. "I need to make sure she's OK."

"Why?" Jack snapped. "She broke up with you. Ada doesn't give a fuck about you. No one here does. They just want to use you. Wake the fuck up."

James winced. "Jack please... She's still my friend..."

"Oh my God Jamie, stop being so pathatic."

James curled into himself. Jack had never talked to him like that. James knew he probably didn't mean it but it still hurt. "You can go if you want. I'm staying."

"No. We shouldn't have gone with them in the first place. This was a huge mistake."

"Jack please..."

"Maggie's dead. Do you want to be next?"

"Get the fuck out." Nora was out of her seat and grabbing Jack's collar in a second. "we don't want you here."

James stood up too. "Guys stop..."

"Gladly." Jack grabbed his jacket and looked at his brother. "You'll regret this and you know it."

James gaulped. "I don't leave people behind."

Jack looked like he'd been punched. "Fuck you." He stormed out of the living room.

James dropped back to his seat and burried his face in his hands.

Nora patted his back. "Ignore him. He's a dick."

James took a deep breath. "He's overprotective."

"But still a dick."

"When are we leaving?" James changed the subject.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Steven asked.

James nodded. "Yes."

"She's my sister." Nora said.

"I'll go whereever she goes." Ben grabbed Nora's hand, making her smile.

"I'm going too." Grace anounced.

Steven shook his head. "No."

"You don't tell me what to do anymore."

"It's not about that. Too many people will be more dangerous. Attract too much attention."

"I hate to say this but Dad's right." Nora looked at her Mom apologatically.

"Fine. Then you will tell me why you're so scared of these people Steven and you will do it now. You owe us that."

"Fine." Steven sighed. "but let me find a witch first. This is a long story."

Jame cleared his throat and stood up. "I should check on my brother. Call me when you're ready."

Grace smiled at him. "Of course. Thank you for caring about my daughter."