Maya (Book #3)

Chapter 2

When I woke up, I was lying flat on my carpet with my legs propped up precariously on my bed. Dominic sat on the bed, holding my feet together and trying to make sure they didn't fall.

"What are you doing?" I asked dazedly as he came into focus.

"Maya!" Brooklyn and Caleb shouted from beside me as they reached down and wrapped me in a hug.

I tried to move to hug them back, but my head was pounding, and I had the feeling that something was wrong. Damon rushed up after they separated with a glass of water and pulled me up to rest against him as I sipped it slowly.

I smiled weakly and said thank you and his lips twitched up a little, although the worry didn't leave his face.

"What happened?" I asked, clutching my head as it seemed to echo a drumbeat through my brain.

Charlotte came into view as she lowered my legs to the floor and sat beside me. Damon sat behind me, and I rested on his side so that I was sitting upright and didn't have to exert myself.

"You disassociated sweetheart." She said, looking at me sadly. Her head was tilted, and her eyes were watery like she was giving me bad news. That's when I knew she understood what I said. I don't think the boys had yet.

"I know," I told her. "I could tell while I was doing it. But why did I faint?"

"Sometimes when we're scared or anxious, we release adrenaline into our bodies. That way if we need it, blood is sent to the legs, and we can run away if there is danger. If there isn't a physical danger but your blood is still going to your legs and not to your head, fainting becomes much more likely." Charlotte explained. Dominic added, "Elevating feet helps bring the blood back to your heart and head."

He walked over and sat beside me, brushing a hand across my forehead to move the hair out of my eyes.

"Are you okay, My? What did you mean by 'he's back'? Who is he?" he asked, scrutinizing my face. I tried not to look as perturbed as I felt. I dropped my face into the blankest expression I could manage, and some of the cool numbing came over me.

"Remember how I told you guys about my uncle?" I asked vacantly, looking around at each of their uneasy faces. "I think he's back in town. And if he's here, I know what he's here for... Me."

I watched as my brothers switched from apprehensive to infuriated in a quick couple of seconds. I saw Damon's hands squeeze into fists as Brooklyn's jaw clenched. Caleb began glaring at nothing and turned to Dominic to see what to do. When I faced him as well, I was surprised at his response. He wasn't furious or fuming like I imagined he'd be. He looked crestfallen and continued brushing my hair back.

"She's sleeping in my room." He stated to his mom; his brown eyes still focused on mine.

Charlotte paced the floor as she considered what to do. She was typing away furiously on her phone and I could hear noises downstairs as the house responded to her device. I knew the doors were locked but I could hear the curtains close, and the house lock up as she thought about what to do next.

"Who did you hear this from?" Brooks asked, thinking about it in depth. "Why would your uncle even come back? You're ours now."

"Umm... my friend told me that he came up to them asking about me. I don't know why he would come back, except that he doesn't like others taking what's his." I explained, trying to distract them from asking who my friend was. I didn't say anything that wasn't true though. I could distinctly remember my uncle getting enraged when I used things in our house without permission or yelling at me for disobeying him. He considered me his as well.

"You're not his," Damon hissed. He stood up and walked over to the window, looking out at our backyard. "You're ours."

"Thank you all," I said shyly.

"Of course, Maya. We're here for you."