Take Courage, My Heart

Chapter Ten

Hell broke loose. My father was screaming at the top of his lungs, harsh words that only expressed disappointment and disgust. My mother was pressing her back against the closed door of my room, hands on her face crying her eyes out. My younger sister and brothers -the twins- were also in the room, all three of them rummaging through my closet and looking absolutely appalled with each piece of clothing they pulled out. And my older brother; he stood by the foot of my bed, staring down at me and holding a gun straight to my head. I couldn't do much other than shake in my bed and look at the barrel of the gun.

This couldn't be real. This hadn't happened.

I opened my eyes with my heart in my throat. A lot of things had happened, but my older brother had never pulled a gun at me. He would never. He hadn't even been there; he had been in the military at the time and still should be there. Did he even know what had happened?

I rubbed my face and brought my knees up to my chest, trying to ground myself into the present. I wasn't in my old bedroom, I was in a penthouse filled with vampires. Night had fallen but the city lights shone through the large windows. I wasn't used to bright nights. I was used to darkness and quiet and my own thoughts echoing in my mind. The horn of a car made me jump a little and I decided to get up and stretch my legs. A joint at the back of my neck popped as I rolled my head and pushed myself up on my feet. I looked down at my wrist and touched the scabbed bite. I was still wearing the thick sweatpants and tee I had on earlier. I had managed to find some socks in the walk-in closet, but they were thin, barely keeping my feet warm.

I stayed standing in the middle of my room for a couple of moments until I grew bored. I used to pride myself on never getting bored. I wasn't the most social person growing up, I didn't have a very tight group of friends or even a best friend. I had taken a gap year after high school so I hadn't made any friends at college as my younger sister had. I wouldn't call myself a loner, I was always amongst large groups of people, hanging out at parties or events, but I was always alone.

I liked being alone. I liked doing my thing and not pretending to enjoy the people around me. I didn't get bored. I was always busy. And yet, here I was, bored and tired and just... lonely.

I left the dark room and stepped out onto the balcony of the half-floor. Movement caught my attention and I turned to the window panes by the stairs. Curled into himself and sat on the ledge was Leander, knees brought up against his chest, arms wrapped around them, and his head resting on his knees looking out to the night city view. Slowly, he turned his head, not bothering to lift it, and looked at me.

"Can't sleep anymore?" he asked in a hushed tone.

"Saw a nightmare. Didn't feel like sleeping anymore," I replied and moved towards him. He followed me with his gaze, lifting his head a little, and then rose to his feet. "Why are you out here?"

"My sleep schedule has been fucked since the start of the last century," he replied and nodded for me to follow. I chuckled at his answer and then went down the stairs with him. He was still dressed in the same outfit he had on earlier, though it seemed slightly more creased and worn than it used to. It still was fancy as shit. "Do you want to talk about your nightmare?"

"Not really," I said with a huff of air. "It was about my family."

Leander didn't say anything. He kept walking downstairs, through the sliding door and then ended up at a balcony that overlooked the other side of the city. He went out to the balcony, but I stopped short at the door and shivered where I stood. It was freezing cold out, and I had no intention of stepping outside with the thinnest socks in the world and a fucking tee on.

When he noticed I didn't join him, Leander turned and looked at me with an unspoken question in his eyes, which was quickly answered by my state. I had my arms wrapped around my body and was shivering like crazy. He made his way back and smiled at me, holding up a finger and signaling me to wait. I blinked at him and without an explanation, he walked past me and disappeared in a blur.