Ephemeral

Introducing Fear

I held my breath as I kept staring at the door, wondering if Bella was going to break through. As much as I wanted to see her, I really didn't want to see her...here. If she were here, then I wouldn't be able to protect her and I wouldn't be able to handle it if she got hurt because of me.

I waited as the knocking continued, and I wished that I would be able to distinguish her knocking from a stranger's, but I couldn't.

Rafael reached to his hip, lifted up his tucked shirt, and revealed a handgun that was stashed away there. He went to move closer to the door, and I quickly snatched his arm, preventing him from walking too far away from me. My fingers pushed down into his flesh, but if he really wanted to free himself of my grip...then he would be able to push me off him effortlessly.

At my sudden touch, he stopped his movements all together, settling to raise an eyebrow as he turned to look at me – "What's the matter, baby?" Much like all the times when he said the word of endearment, it was mocking. "I only want to..." he trailed, pretending to think of a word. The smirk that was ever present on his face proved that he was only stalling to worry me more. "Welcome our visitor. We shouldn't keep them waiting-!"

"N..!" My word was trapped in my throat – lodged inside of it.

I didn't want him to so much as breathe in front Isabella, much less getting too close to welcome her. I knew that I needed to keep him away from her in any way that I could – I failed in protecting her when Aidan had her...I failed when Faye nearly killed her back in Russia. I also failed when Rafael admitted to his medical misdoing of giving her an infection, which also nearly killed her.

As the older sister...I had to do better.

I needed to do everything that I could to make sure that she was safe.

Rafael went to take a step forward, tugging my hand away from his arm, as I knew that he would be able to do easily. He was bound and determined on making sure to hurt Bella, though I would not stand here and wait around for when he did-!

"No!!" I yelled, shooting up from my chair and running in front of him. I was out of breath already, my arms raising up to their sides – even the one with the sprained wrist. It didn't matter to me if it was going to be broken after this encounter with him. No matter how severe the pain I needed to suffer through...if it saved Bella --

If it saved Bella I was ready to risk any injury.

"I won't let you hurt her-!" I yelled again at seeing the way he had his head slightly tilted, as though he were observing me. It irked me that he wasn't taking my demand or threat seriously. "Do you hear me? I-I won't let you-!"

"I hear you, baby," Rafael muttered under his breath with a smile.

He took a few more steps, now standing directly in front of me. I had to strain my neck up in order to make eye contact with him. His hand reached out and lightly stroked my cheek with his knuckles. I couldn't help but flinch at the contact as I was expecting him to hit me.

"I just don't care what you're saying..." He said, his smile transforming into a wicked, demented grin.

My heart was beating rapidly in my chest and I was taking short, panicked breaths in order to calm myself down –

"Look at you!" Rafael remarked, no doubt making a statement about my terrified state.

I couldn't control my emotions when my family was being threatened. I was losing any sense of composure that I once had, along with any pride that I might have been still inside me. It scared me that I couldn't do anything – I was useless in this type of situation.