Caught in Between

-32-

The next few weeks were spent with Jen devoting her time to training me and sharpening my skills, including my ability to control myself. Keith and Kaleb prepared for the war under the Officials' instructions while they had Georgia and Josh lead the blood drive project. Everything was running smoothly with everybody on edge. It was only a matter of time before one of the sides launched their first attack, and the brothers wanted to make sure that everyone was completely ready.

I was extremely glad that they were keen on my idea, because I was dead set on assisting them in every way that I could. Granted, it didn't help that even though I was a vampire and clearly had the strength and power to defend myself, Keith and Kaleb insisted on trying to protect me. I admitted that it was sweet of them to want to keep me safe, but there was no way that I could be viewed as weak. Not when I was the Vampire Queen.

"Zach's here. Again." Kaleb suddenly announced. His senses were a lot sharper than the rest. Naturally, everyone was on alert and prepared.

I glanced over at Keith who was signaling for me to get inside the cabin, but I refused. I did my best to tell him with my eyes that Zach would only know me as a vampire and that he would have absolutely no idea that I was the Vampire Queen. I didn't even think any of the werewolves would have a clue about who that was considering our side never saw a Queen for over four hundred years. There was no way.

Zach pranced over with a sly grin on his face, studying every single one of us until his eyes landed on me. His grin disappeared from his face and he stopped in his tracks. "Becky.. what a surprise," he said with a flat tone of voice.

"It sure is, considering the fact that you killed my mother," I responded with disgust.

He snickered at me. "It was only a matter of time. It's what happens when you choose to side with them.. All the ones you love, all the ones that are close to you.. You lose them all."

"It is not because of them. It's because of you. You're too brainwashed to even see how despicable you are. Every death is on your hands and you don't even care."

"I don't need to care. Vampires took everything away from us, and it's about damn time we do the same. You guys walk around with your noses to the sky, thinking you're better than everyone else, but news flash, you're not. I'll kill every single last one of you until there are no more vampires."

Keith butted in, noticing that my blood was boiling and I was about to blow a fuse. "Zach, why are you really here?"

"To see Rebecca. Debby told me you were hiding out here, but didn't mention to me that you turned into vermin. It's a shame that I'll eventually have to kill you, after I dispose of Debby, of course." His eyes lit up in amusement when he saw my eyes glow red. I lunged at him, my hand around his neck. He raised his hands up in a mocking manner. He wasn't going to do anything because he knew it would end badly for him.

"Rebecca, step away from him," Keith warned me.

"Don't even think about hurting Debby. You go as far as just laying a hand on her, I'll put you through the worst pain imaginable that I'll have you begging me to kill you," I threatened him, bearing my fangs. I truly wanted to rip him to shreds. The thought of him dead brought satisfaction, but I knew if I made the wrong move, we'd all be thrown into war. And I didn't want to be the cause of that. I was their Queen. I was supposed to lead and guide them, not throw them to the wolves. Literally.

He cocked his head, the grin back on his face. "You've always been feisty, Beck. That was a side of you I loved." He reached his hand out to stroke my face, but I tightened my hand around his neck even more. His eyes grew dark, and that was when he decided to be more blatant about his true colors. "I'll give Debby a few more days to live until you guys decide to give me something I want."