Sirens

Chapter 25

"Stop it!" I scream. "You're going to kill him!"

"Now that wouldn't be so bad, would it?" Calix growls. I try to tear Jaylyn out of his grip, but it's useless. Calix fingers tighten.

I kick one of the side spotlights over and glass shatters. I take a piece and hold it to my throat. "Let him go or I'll cut myself," I threaten.

Suddenly looking scared, Calix drops Jaylyn on the ground. He coughs and wheezes and I rush to his side, but I'm yanked away. 

Calix throws me over his shoulder and I punch his ear, trying to get him to let go of me.

"Let me down you sick bastard!" I screech. But Calix's grip only tightens and he carries me out of the party room.

He continues to carry me down the halls as I flail and screech, trying to get his hands off. Once there's no one around, Calix slaps my ass. It shocks me and I shut my mouth and stop moving.

Then Calix stops. As I realize where we are, my protests start up again. "No, no, no, no! Get off of me you psycho!" But Calix stays silent and throws me on his bed. His silence is scaring me and I start to recall the nights with Shawn. 

I lay on the bed, my breathing erratic and my limbs shaking as he sits on the bed, his back to me.

After minutes of silence, he finally asks, "Do you really hate me that much?" His voice is shaky and sad, like he's on the verge of tears.

As much as I hate it, I feel a pang of guilt. "What kind of question is that?"

"You constantly run from me, reject me, and refuse any of my compliments or help. And tonight, you were with another man. Do you really not want to be with me?"

I hover over his question for a moment and then start laughing.

"I don't know why you find this funny, Harper."

I stop laughing instantly. "Oh, I don't find it funny. I don't find it funny at all."

"Then why were you laughing?"

"I'm laughing because I'm tired, because this is such a backhanded situation. I was prepared to die, but then you, the very same person who got me into this mess, come along and whisk me away from my fate."

I take a deep breath before I move onto the next part. "So of course I'm going to run away from you, of course I'm going to reject you! I don't accept any of your compliments or help because I feel sick to my stomach when the person who tore my life away from me wants to keep me like a pet, and I don't want that! And you wanna know why I was with another man? It's because I can't find my mate until I turn twenty-one and I absolutely abhor the idea of spending the rest of my life with you! I don't want you! You've ruined my life, Calix!"

I expect him to yell at me back, but to my surprise, Calix just sits there quietly.

"Well?" I demand. "Aren't you going to say something?"

He laughs lightly, a weary sound. "What else is there to say? That I don't want to keep you like a pet? That I'm sorry I make you feel sick to your stomach? That I'm sorry I ruined your life? Harper, I am trying my hardest to make you happy, but you won't accept any of it. I have, nothing, left to say to you."

"Good," I reply, my tone icy. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave."

I slam the door on my way out, but when I turn to go to my room, something stops me in my tracks.

It's the sound of Calix crying.

And although he tries to hide it as best as he can, his muffled sobs can still be heard through the door.