Tainted Blood [3]

Chapter 25

Nadia still wasn't talking to me, even if she did she just answered in short clipped answers.

"Morning," Archer brought me out of my thoughts and wrapped his arms around my waist as I made pancakes.

"Morning," I flipped the pancake before turning around and kissing him. "Want some pancakes ?"

"I'd love some," I picked up the plates of finished pancakes and sat down at the table next to Raine.

"Where's Nadia ?" I looked around the table, everyone was sitting at the table eating, I looked at Vicky when I asked.

"She's training, she got up early to eat so she could train for longer," Vicky replied, shoving a sausage in her mouth.

"Didn't she ask you to join ?" Dayton said around her mouthful of food.

"No," I sighed and Hunter gave me a sad look. "That's it," I got up and started walking towards the basement door.

"Where are you going?" Hunter asked, getting ready to stand.

"Going to train with Nadia, wish me luck," I flung open the door before going down the stairs. I saw Nadia punching the bag while panting, by the looks of it she'd been at it a while. "Nad, can we talk?"

"Nothing," punch. "To," punch. "Talk," punch. "About," punch kick.

"You seem pretty angry for someone with nothing to talk about," I got to the bottom of the stairs and turned on the stereo.

"Well what do you want me to be ?" Nadia spun around to face me. "Do you want me to encourage you ? To give you a pat on the back ? Because I am not going to stand there as you land yourself a burial plot next to Chloe!" She screamed and started to pace.

"This is the only way to get Stefan off our backs Nad, and you know that," I started playing with my necklace, something I realized I did when I was nervous.

"So he's worth dying for ?!" My anger took over at that point.

"No but you are! Vicky, Dayton, Hunter, Max, Raine and Archer, you guys are worth it, you guys are worth the risks and I am willing to take them if it means that means that you guys are safe!"

"Av, please don't go through with it," Nadia's eyes had glassed over as she talked. "Look, I have been alone for the majority of my life, and everyone here has grown to be my family, and that is because of you, you are the first person who didn't look at me in disgust, who didn't treat me like dirt, who actually cared, I love you like my own flesh and blood and I am begging you, please don't do this," I felt tears  threatening to fall down my cheeks as Nadia spoke, I saw the broken girl who was kidnapped and imprisoned for almost her whole life.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let any more blood be spilled over me," I started to walk back up the stairs. "I hope you respect this, this is my decision, you don't have to like it Nad, just don't hate me for it."

"I don't hate you for it, I just don't want to lose my best friend," I smiled at her.

"You won't, I'm too stubborn to die," She shook her head and followed me up.

"You two better now ?" Hunter asked, hesitantly.

"Yeah, we're all good," Nadia replied, smiling at me.

"Well let's go outside, I could do with some fresh air, and it's sunny," everyone agreed and followed me out to the backyard, I laid down on the grass as Max got a football out and started a game of football with Archer, Hunter, Dayton, Raine and Vicky. Nadia and Tyler joined me on the grass.

"Girls VS boys ?" Hunter suggested, Dayton glared and smacked him over the head then. "What the hell Day ?"

"Sexist much ? Why can't we play mixed teams ?" Dayton crossed his arms.