World Against Us (Unleashed #1)

Chapter 13 - R

"Rose, God, don't do this." Rosalina did not respond. I place my ear to her stomach. I blew air into her. She still didn't move. "Oh, Rosalina. Please." I say. She wasn't breathing. I yell at her to wake up.

He cries over my dead body.

...

Rosalina's POV

I wake up, rattled. "R?" I say, frightened. He squeezes my hand, one hand on the steering wheel. "Nightmare?" He questions. I nod silently. "Rosalina, we're almost there. Go back to sleep." I shake my head. It was night, pitch black - the headlights the only source of light. "You fell asleep after breakfast. And no, you did not die." He says, glancing at me. "Remember the night before? I could read your thoughts. It's faint, because soon it'll wear off completely." The car came to an abrupt stop. "We're here."

Hesitantly, I got out of the car. "R!" I call out, grabbing my bags. I face away from the car, staring in awe. And old mansion looms in view and it looks just about an excellent place to explore. It's near a park and a little isolated from the rest of the other houses. But that's okay. A little privacy, the better. The backyard has a small swing set but it looks like it hasn't been used in years. The paint is faded and chains for the swings look delicate. The mansion has been painted fresh with dark brown paint. The windows are mostly boarded up except for some of the bedrooms. I have to ask R to let me have a room that overlooks outside.

"Boo!" Someone yells behind me, snapping me out of the trance-like daze I was in. I gasp, turning behind me, dropping my bags. A dark figure greets me. "Are you here to donate some of your blood?" He asks me mischievously. My lips part in disgust. "No! Get away from me!" I hiss. "Nope." He says and I groan, thinking that now I have to deal with him. That was until R whacks him with one of my bags. "Help out, Axe." The boy, who appears to be the same age as me, glares at R. "It's Axel, get it right, Rey-bear."

I'm confused.

R grins. "Welcome to my home, Rosalina. You just had the disappointment of meeting Axel. My annoying little brother." My eyebrows knit together, not believing him. But it would explain a lot. Axel looks hot, though. Dark brown hair that seems familiar - only because he's R's little brother and it clings to the sides of his face. He has the same darkish brown honey colored eyes like R, except Axel's eyes are lighter. He has a pale, snowy complexion and he's wearing a tight blue shirt, the sleeves coming up to his elbows. They show off his muscles which makes me think he must hit the gym a lot. He's got on faded jeans and casual sneakers. I look away trying not to stare.

Axel punches R's shoulder playfully, grabbing some bags. "Take it back, Reynolds." My mouth flops open. That vampire said he was looking for Reynolds. "Your name is Reynolds?" I gasp, a hand to my neck as if that would help my irregular and erratic heartbeat. Axel glances between us and smirks. "Grabbing oblivious girls, I see." He says mysteriously, running inside. R shrugs it off. "Don't listen to him." He matches my pace, walking slow - for him anyway. Axel ran our and grabs more bags. "Oh so now you're playing gentlemanly." He says, winking at me. I blush. R tugs me inside and grabs Axel when he tries to run and get more bags.

"Axe, show her around and don't scare her." R warns him. Axel yanks his arm from R's grip. He smirks and bows at me. I look at R quizzedly and smile at Axel shyly. "Come on, milady. I'll show you Reynolds room first." R throws one of my pillows at his head. Axel grins and catches it with ease. "Thanks, Rey-bear. Good idea." He looks at me, giving me a mischievous smile. "I'll show you my room first." Well, Axel seems mighty interesting to me. I smile to myself and follow after him.

...

"Axel, I love your room!" I say, excited. Axel beams, happy to please me, I presume. "Can I get a souvenir?" I ask. So his room was way cooler than I thought. It contained a library and as much as I hate boring old books, he tilts one of the books and it reveals a staircase. It leads to this room of gadgets - knives, daggers, crossbows, maces - you name it.