Bloodlines (The New Order 2)

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Cain forced entry into our bedroom just as I finished dressing up. He stared at me in disbelief and I returned his stare. Knox walked out of the washroom, cocking a brow at him. It had been only minutes since we both finished. Was he outside? Hearing us?

Cain turned his attention away from Knox and onto me, "Gideon wants to see you."

"Yeah, no fucking way." Knox stepped forward, in front of me, protecting me.

My heart raced. I knew something like this was going to happen tonight but I didn't just expect it so quickly. The eclipse only began. It was going to be dark in Thornwood till morning, till the sun would rise.

"He's already here." Cain clarified, shooting his glance back at his brother and then at me.

I stayed behind Knox. The hair over the back of my neck rose and goosebumps spread all over my skin. There was nothing that was going to stop Gideon. The darkness was upon us—me.

"That's not possible," Knox shook his head and grabbed his phone from the night table to find if anyone had alerted him about any unwelcoming guests in the town. "None of my men have reported anything. You're bluffing."

"I'm not. He's here, in the lake house and he's waiting for her. The longer he waits, the worse it will get. He has promised no harm to Candice. He simply wants to talk to her and that is all." Cain explained, his face tensed just as Knox's. There was uncertainty in his eyes but his words were different, he trusted Gideon.

I could tell.

Knox opened his mouth, "No—"

I cut him off and stepped forward, "I'll go."

"What?" His eyes widened as he cocked his head to me. "No. I won't let you. You don't know what he's capable of and whether or not he tried to kill that imposter, I'm still not letting you anywhere near him." Knox grabbed my wrist, seizing it.

It was all a lie about Lucy. She was sent here by someone else, someone who wasn't Gideon. He didn't want to harm any of us. Not anymore. I didn't find any reason not to see him.

"I know what he's capable of, Knox. I've seen him, his face, the real him. He won't harm me. I believe that." My head slowly moved to Cain while fear tightened over my expression. "But I know he will harm others I don't see him. It's just tonight and I don't want any blood shed because of me."

"Good girl." Cain smiled at me.

I tried not to think too much about him—or Gideon—or either of them. I just wanted the night to be over and the safest way to end the night was by seeing Gideon, meeting with his demands so he wouldn't take any souls from Thornwood.

I cleared my throat and continued before either of them had the chance to say anything anymore, "I'll go to the lake house on my own and I'll talk to him."

"No." Knox's eyes turned bright red.

"Yes. Please." I wrapped my hand around his and gave him a tight squeeze. "I'll be fine. I promise. Nothing is going to happen."

His nostrils flared, "No. I don't trust him."

I turned to Knox and placed my hand over his chest. My fingers spread and I whispered, "He's your blood. If you would never harm me, neither would he and I believe that. Let me go this once. I promise I'll be back before you know it."

Knox hadn't agreed. He simply didn't want to even when I sat in the driver's seat and switched on the engine to leave for the lake house. His silence tortured me, but there was nothing I could do. Once the night was over, I knew he'd be fine.

Cain placed his hand above the roof of the car and leaned inward, "If anything happens, call me. I'll come." He whispered under the cold wind.

"I'll be fine." I replied, tightening my hand around the steering wheel and inhaling deeply.

Just an hour.

Gideon could never hurt me. I was his mate. That was the last thing in his mind. He just wanted me to listen to him or understand whatever he wanted to say.

"Don't worry. Just make sure Knox doesn't do anything stupid while I'm gone." I turned to the other window and rolled it down.

The house looked beautiful under the red moonlight and in the dark. I had never seen it before at night. Just outside, near to the entrance, Knox stood, peering at me. I waved at him, and he turned, going back inside the house.

"I'll handle him. Don't worry. Get there as soon as you can." Cain placed his hand over my shoulder, giving me a light pat before he stepped away from the car and allowed me to leave the driveway.

I began driving across the fairly empty streets. There were patrols on every inch of the town, asking for identification and forcing other people to return home as quickly as it was possible. I wasn't stopped by any of the patrols and I assumed it was because of the car. It belonged to Knox and he was behind setting up these patrols and checkpoints all over the town.

The road to the lake house was empty. There was no one on the highway with me. Above, the blood moon stared back at me. Stars and clouds became even more visible in the clear. The sky was the darkest shade of black I had ever seen in Thornwood.

The entire drive to the lake house was silent. I only heard the sound of my rapid heart beat and my heavy breathing.

I was nervous and on the edge.

I didn't know why Gideon wanted to talk to me or see me.

I had no clue.

The car came to halt at the driveway of the lake house, where I had been just a couple days ago, with Knox. The water surrounding had risen and the waves were stronger when I stepped out of the car and glanced around.

The lights of the lake house were all switched off. It was even more darker here. The sounds of crickets jumping echoed in my ears along with a couple of animals that were in the forest beyond the lake house.

I approached the door. My chest tightened. It sounded like there was no one inside the lake house. No one. I couldn't hear anyone breathing or walking around.

Reaching for the door, I pushed it open and stepped inside.

Another shiver crawled down my back.

"Candice,"

My heart throbbed in my throat as I turned around, facing him, facing Gideon. He stood inside, near to the window, hands folded across his chest. I couldn't see his face. There was no light to see his face.

"I knew you would come." I could sense him smiling, but I still couldn't see it.

I wanted to see his face.

"It's not like you left me with any option," I responded, my fingers tightening around the car keys. I walked closer to him as my curiosity rose. Something coiled in my belly. I swallowed hard. "Show me your face."

"Come here."

"No," I snapped, my breathing hard. There had to be a light switch somewhere. "You go closer to the window." I said while watching the moonlight flood inside the house.

"Come to me, Candice." He repeated, not moving an inch from the wall he was against.

His voice was different—somewhat alluring.

It lulled me in.

Read the full book on Patreon, or on Inkitt.

Patreon: www.patreon.com/miakerr

Inkitt: https://www.inkitt.com/miakerr/subscriptions