The Phoenix Witch

Chapter 27

Christine's P.O.V

Emily's eyes flew open as she sat up, her breathing heavy and her hands trembling.
"Hey, it's over. Look at me, it's over" Aderyn said as she took Emily's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

I handed her a bottle of water after she calmed down and asked "Do you need us to stop?", she stared at me in confusion and I pointed to the window, her head spun towards it and it looked like she was realizing that she was in a moving car only now.

She shook her head in a no,
"Where-" she started to ask but her eyes flashed white and she nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. "Are we going to get her, sweet Emily?" Will asked turning back to face her, she nodded in reply and said "She is in a cabin, deep in those woods. A child is with her, looks like it's hers"

My eyes flashed to Matthew at the mention of a child, in all his plans never had he thought of a child being involved. What the hell were we going to do now?
He glanced at me through the rare view mirror, wondering the same,

"What are we going to do now?" I asked, voicing my thoughts.
"Proceed with the plan or use the child as leverage?" Charlie asked, his voice blank as if he wasn't suggesting probably harming a child.
" We are not using a child" Rose snapped at her brother, her voice sharp.

"Yes, the child will not be harmed", Will said, glancing at Rose through the mirror with an expression that seemed akin to concern. Was this concern connected to the heated conversation they were having earlier? Surely he knew what she felt, and so he must care at least a little for him to show concern, was this vampire just this unusual, or was something going on between them?

"So just threatening him is fine?" Eli asked, snapping me out of my curious thoughts.
"If she isn't complying we might have to take a difficult route", Matthew said finally joining the discussion. His words were final, my mind agreed with him but somewhere in my heart I knew that I didn't have the will to harm a child, so I copied the others and delved into an uneasy silence.

The hike to the woods was silent, interrupted only by the chirping of birds and insects.

"How far ahead is the cabin?" I asked,

"Just a few minutes away", Will said giving me a reassuring smile.

I nodded at him and glanced at Emily, she looked a little tired but I knew she would endure because she needed to know if he was truly dead and if so, who killed him.

The moody silence continued and not being able to handle it anymore, I sprinted a little further to catch up with Matthew,
"Didn't see this coming, did you?" I teased with an undertone of concern.

He glanced at me with a blank expression and said "I did not but it is not much of a concern, all will be handled" 
"So we are going to threaten a child?" I asked trying to keep my tone nonchalant but I knew he saw through it.

"Even the slightest hint of harm to her child will get her to start talking. The child will not be harmed, don't worry, Christine" he said.
I hummed in relief and continued walking next to him,

Curiosity plagued my mind as I thought of vampires drinking blood, did they drink from a child? Or was it not enough blood for them? Deciding to put my thoughts into a question, "Do you drink from children?", I asked.

" I do not drink from children, it is against my morals", he said, his voice blank and curt, as if he was angry by my question.

"Do you drain humans every time you drink?" I asked without thinking and stopped when I saw him freeze. Idiot! I thought to myself, and on instinct, my muscles became taut, ready to spring into action if this vampire tried satiating his thirst.
"You can calm down, Christine, I always abide by my promises", he said, and I relaxed slightly remembering how he had declared that I was under his protection.