Love Torment (Old Version)

46

"The air of the night was refreshing."

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When he said the words, he wasn't looking at me. We were walking side by side on the golden pathway. We were slowly walking back to my room. My uncle was expecting us back before sunrise. The trees on each side of the pathway shadowed his face.

He was being a mood.

He held his hand in mine.

I didn't think he was mad at me. I knew he saw something. Something he didn't want to see. I was wondering what it was. What did the time-travelers show him?

"I'm staying." He told me as his eyes were far off. I let the words settle. I stayed silent as I was finding the words to speak.

It made sense. He was in no position to stay in an apartment that his grandparents rented out for him. He needed to make something of himself. To do that, he needed a place to stay. Mia and Javan were vampires. Their families wouldn't even bother with the idea. My uncle and I were uncertain of our situation. I couldn't ask him to stay with me unknowing of what my future held.

The Vixen was the obvious choice.

Siege glanced at me briefly when I didn't reply. I drifted my eyes away from his. His mood was affecting me more than I preferred. How and when are my emotions dictated by him? My heart thumped nervously before I decided to speak.

"What did the time-travelers show you?" I questioned him as I kept my gaze straight. He squeezed my hand to assure me. I glanced at him and gave him a weak smile.

He stopped avoiding eye contact and gazed straight into my eyes. His eyes were a clear grey. They were sparkling in the night. I blinked at him a couple of times, waiting for his reply. He stopped walking, halting me with him. There was one last moment of silence between us.

"I'll tell you. Just not now. There's no need for it to both suffer. " He spoke to me in a low soothing tone. He took a step closer to me before pulling me into a hug. I rested my head on his shoulder as I closed my eyes.

I wanted to feel assured. I wanted to be okay, not knowing what would make me miserable. I was beginning to wonder if oblivion was bliss. I found myself slipping into sadness. It was happening that very moment. We were so HAPPY at the beginning of the day. The mood shift was so sudden.

I didn't want to rollercoaster like that.

Even so, I was going to do my best to trust him.

"Uhh."

It happened so suddenly. Siege let out a low yelp of pain as he slumped his weight on me. My heartbeat accelerated as I pushed him back up to his feet. I took a step away from him to examine him. When I looked down at him. I didn't see anything. I looked into his eyes. They looked pained.

"Arrow. Back." Siege let out. I reached his hand to his back. He arched his back as he let out a grunt. He tugged at his back before swiftly moving his hand back into view.

Gripped tightly in his hand was the bloodied arrow.

"Dome us. Quickly." He spoke out before he simply fell onto the ground. He was on his back in an instant.

I watched him close his eyes helplessly.

I felt it headed straight for the back of my head. I kept my expression neutral as I turned around. I let my force block the arrow from reaching me. It fell to the ground.

"Little girl's got tricks." The voice came out mocking. I spun around. I watched a woman emerge from the trees.

From behind, I heard more rustle of the movement from the trees. I snapped my head to see two more women near me.

All three of them were in the same black bodysuits with sweaters covering their upper bodies. They had them arrow carrier thingies strapped over their shoulders as they held their bows in their hands.

One had dark features and a mess of curls barely tied back. The other had her head shaven clean. The third one had her hair braided into twists. All three of them were glaring at me as they formed a triangle around Siege and me.

When the initial shock washed away, the only emotion I had left was calm seething irritants. I turned to face the one who spoke to me first.

"We'll be taking him." She told me with a smile of delight. I didn't react to her words. I simply stared at her. She entertained me for a few moments as she held my gaze.

"Let's just shoot her." One of the girls called out in a tone of annoyance.

I didn't move.

I glanced down at Siege, a pool of blood was tainting the golden tile. It sent a pang to my heart. A pang that sent a throbbing bust of anger through me.

"His grandmother has the antidote to the poison on the arrow. The only way he'll survive is if he returns to the Siren." The one with messy curls told me. Her voice was raspy. I glanced at her, she looked unbothered by the situation.

It was his family.

They came to get him once again.

There was one thing I knew from my week staying with the Vixen. The Vixen held the most powerful magic. I was certain they would be able to help Siege get better.

That was what I told myself when I let my angry bubble over.

There was a moment when the time stilled. I turned myself around carefully to memorize every one of their faces. It was as if they were frozen in place. I had never moved that fast before. Each was prettier the next. I could see how they fitted the image of Siren woman. The one who spoke to me first was reaching for her arrow. The one rocking shaved hair was sneering at me impatiently. The third girl was looking at me with no particular emotion.

I smiled ever so sweetly. I smiled right before I let out a blood hurling scream.

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." I let my force rush out of me as I let them scream last long.

FUCK ME.

I WAS SO ANGRY. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS THAT ANGRY UNTIL I LET OUT THAT SCREAM.

Everything was already icy, frustrating, and confusing AND THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD SIMPLY WALTZ IN AND TAKE MY SIEGE?

I didn't think so.

"Veéta! Veéta STOP!" The voice came out in the distance. It felt as if it came out from the distance.

It was my uncle.

I clenched my fists and willed myself to stop. My breathing was heavy and a scowl had found its way to my face. In a second, I was engulfed in a hug. I took in the smell of my uncle before I wrapped my arms around him. Before I knew it, tears were falling down my face.

"They're coming to help. Don't worry." My uncle spoke to me in a low tone as he rubbed my back as if everything was going to be okay.

"Wait." I spoke out to him in a raspy tone. I sniffled as I pulled away from my uncle. I was thinking that I had to finish them off.

Whoever they were.

They hurt Siege.

When I turned to catch sight of my surrounding, my heart skipped a beat.

Shit.

"It's okay, Veéta. It's going to be okay." My uncle consoled me as he put a hand on my shoulder.

The trees were cleared off. Far and wide around me, the trees were toppled onto the ground. I could see them scattered around. Their bodies laying limp in the mess. Each one of the Siren women were laying on the ground unconscious.

Shit.

"They hurt Siege and they were trying to take him away." I felt the need to explain myself as more tears free dived down my face.

Shit.

"They won't die that easy. Siege won't die that easy. It's okay." My uncle explained to me carefully.

I tried to hear his words but all I could see was destruction.

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