Reaper's Lily

21

Liliana's P.O.V:

Kaiden and I were sitting the back of a black SUV. I gazed out the window, seeing the endless amounts of tall buildings as we drove into a big city. It was bigger than the town I've lived in all my life in California, yet it seemed a little out of place for people like Kaiden. Nonhuman people living in a big city seemed like a lot, but I had a small feeling it was to blend in. I noticed one tall building that looked like it was made out of pure glass panes, and stared in amazement.

Kaiden's voice made me jump slightly as he asked with a soft laugh, "Have you never seen a big building before?"

"It's made of glass," I probably sounded like an idiot as I turned my head to look at him, but oh well.

"That building?" Kaiden pointed at it as we drove by. Kaiden only smirked, and said, "Who knew you'd spot one of the buildings hunters use? My grandmother is going to love you."

I felt a weird emotion of silliness coming over me, looking at Kaiden, and he was actually chuckling at me. I knew he wasn't making fun of me, but I wondered what he was chuckling at. Did I really seem like that one tourist other states in the US liked to make fun of?

"You're fine, Lily," Kaiden said, and I stared back out the window. Kaiden sighed, and explained, "I keep forgetting that you've never been in San Antonio or any place close to it. When we get to my place, and you shower and change, I'll take you around town to show you everything you want to see."

"I don't have any clothes," I reminded him, turning my head slightly to show him that I was rolling my eyes.

"I know. Nate's soulmate, Gia, had went to get you some for me." Kaiden stated.

I fully turned to face him now, and said, "She didn't have to do that. I don't have any money to pay you both back."

"You don't have to pay me back for clothes. You'll need 'em, if you're going to be here for a while," he just shrugged.

"But I thought I was here for a day or two!" I hissed.

Kaiden only stared me directly in the eyes, "Lily, you're here as long as the council needs us here while that leech is out running around in your hometown."

"I can't stay here that long! What if Calvin kills one of my brothers, or my sister-in-law? He could kill everyone there trying to get to me!" I shrieked in horror at the thought of going back to bury one of my family members.

"That's not going to happen," Kaiden sounded so sure, and I felt a small hint of confidence tapping me on the shoulder.

I kept silent, leaning back against the seat as I went back to gazing out of the window. How was Kaiden so confident? Did he not understand how unhinged Calvin was? How psychotic he was? I shuddered when I remembered the horrors that came from the hell house Calvin kept me in. The way I would lay there on that dirty and dingy mattress, pretending to sleep so I was left alone, and hear them. The other girls that were brought there only to be completely maimed and treated like a little kid does to their toys. Something that was destroyed—maybe destroyed or maimed wasn't even the right word for what they did to them.

I knew I got off easy by being saved, but I wondered what would've happened to me if Kaiden hadn't come that night. Would I be a vampire like Calvin? Or would I be just another space in the Soto family plot in the stupid cemetery?

"Are you okay?" Kaiden asked me, yanking me out of my own pity party in the process and I simply gave a single nod. He sighed, "You don't have to lie to me. I can feel what you're feeling, remember? We're almost at my house."

I finally noticed that we were being out of San Antonio to the bigger and more spacious houses that reminded me of the places in California. When we pulled up to beige almost faded out red brick house with a big garage that looked like it had two cars worth of space in it. The plants out front in some gravel looked like they needed to be watered. Kaiden got out the car, then appeared at my side as I opened the car door. I took his hand instinctively as I got out, nearly ripping my hand away from his as he closed the door for me, then he walked ahead of me as I followed him on the pavement to the small entrance. He fumbled through a key ring, opening a glass screen door first, then unlocked the front door. Kaiden held both doors open for me, allowing me to walk in first.