Blood Curse

Chapter Thirteen

Two days go by while we try to come up with an adequate plan. Noah and Wyatt think if we can take down Noah's family first it will be a lot easier to stop the others afterwards, but Noah keeps shooting down every suggestion we come up with. He says Silas is too powerful and there won't be a way for us to stop him without someone getting caught in the crossfire.

The whistle of the kettle startles me so much that I nearly drop the mug I grabbed just a second ago. I left Spencer and Noah bickering in the living room in favor of making some tea and taking some painkillers for the headache that pounds inside my skull. Wyatt left a couple hours ago to restock the blood supply that had dwindled the past few days and Morgan was outside with Cole learning some self defense skills.

"Why can't we just ambush them?" Spencer huffs.

"Because three vampires and three humans aren't going to win a fight against a 150 year old vampire and his followers," Noah retorts.

"Well what do you suggest we do then?"

Noah runs his hands through his hair, practically pulling at it, and stands to pace the length of the room. His wounds had healed overnight and he is back to being his normal brooding self again. Although now he carries an air of worry in the way his eyebrows have a slight crease between them as if he constantly has something on his mind. I can tell the last visit to his family has put him on edge now that he can never return without being killed and it pains him that he no longer has an inside edge to their plans.

I set a second mug on the counter and fill them both up with boiling water and a bag of peppermint tea. Vampires don't need human food; however, it helps them maintain a more normal life according to Wyatt. I just hope the tea will have the same calming effect on Noah as it does with me.

As I set the mugs down on the coffee table the door pushes open and Wyatt walks in holding a large cooler.

"I had to go farther than I wanted to this time," he says. "I didn't want to chance being seen and recognized by anyone in the city."

Noah sits in the armchair near the couch and picks up the mug to take a sip. I catch the look of pleasant surprise on his face before Wyatt captures my attention again.

"Any luck coming up with a plan?"

"Don't get me started," I sigh, leaning back against the plush cushion of the couch.

Spencer tosses his arm behind my head and pulls me into him. "We'll think of something."

I lean into his touch, accepting the comforting gesture, and notice the way Noah's grip tightens on his cup of tea. I know he feels guilty for what happened when he went back to his family. I can see it in his eyes. It's partly why I feel like I can trust him a little more. He knows he lost the inside advantage he had but I think he is also relieved that he doesn't have to pretend anymore.

"Is there any way to gather more information?"

"Not without dying in the process," Noah tells Wyatt, taking another sip of tea.

The four of us sit in pensive quiet, trying to think of any plan that won't cost one or all of us our lives. I should be the one to come up with a plan. It's me he wants in the first place. If I hadn't escaped we wouldn't be in this mess, but then Morgan would still be trapped along with me. The only silver lining is that she isn't being fed on anymore. If there is any way for me to stop the vampires without Morgan, or anyone else I love, getting hurt I would do it. I need to get Noah and Wyatt alone to tell them to protect Morgan and Spencer no matter what. Even if my life is in danger, they need to protect them first.

Before anyone could say another word, a bloodcurdling scream from outside had us jumping from our seats and out the door in seconds. The sight before me had my heart seizing in terror. Not for myself, but for Morgan, who stood behind Cole surrounded by six men with eyes as black as night itself.

Noah shoves me back through the doorway of the cabin before I can react and I stumble to the ground. I watch as Noah and Wyatt run to the nearest vampires and slaughter them with their bare hands and teeth. I watch as Morgan is knocked to the ground as vampires attack Cole and I watch as Spencer is too late in reaching his sister.

I watch as hands grip Morgan's hair, her screams echoing through the trees, and I watch as teeth sink into her neck so violently her neck snaps to the side.

My heart shatters as Morgan's body hits the ground. I'm frozen in terror, my only movement being my trembling lips as tears blur my vision.

Her name a whisper on my tongue, I finally am able to move enough to run to her. I dodge the others who still fight in front of the cabin and drop to my knees at Morgan's side. Her eyes stare up at me, lifelessly blue. Blood coats her throat and upper torso. So much blood, my hands are slick with it.

"Morgan," I croak.

My fingers intertwined with her pale hand and I hold onto her, praying that she'll laugh and say it's all a joke.

I barely notice the fighting around me has stopped. The woods have gone quiet and Spencer sobs on the ground next to me for his sister.

"Morgan," I cry. "Please. Please don't leave."

Hands grip my shoulders but I yank out of their grasp. This can't be happening. Morgan can't be gone. It's supposed to be me. It's me they want, not her. I wish it was me.

"Sadie."

Someone says my name but I can't register who. All I see are Morgan's eyes staring blankly at me. Eyes that will no longer smile at me when she grins mischievously. Eyes that will never again roll in exasperation when Spencer messes up her hair on purpose.

Every memory of Morgan flashes through my mind as someone wraps their arms around my waist and hauls me into their chest. They begin to pull me away from her but I refuse to let go of her hand. If I let go that means it's over and it can't be over. She can't be gone from me.

I fight them as hard as I can, but they're stronger, and Morgan's hand slips through my fingers.

And nothing will be the same again.