Take Courage, My Heart

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Vincent's visits were rather short. He came in, once or twice a day, dribbled some blood to my lips, and took a bite out of me whenever I started healing too fast for his liking. I was tired of asking him when he would uphold his end of the deal. My brothers remained on the chairs opposite me as light came in through the window at the other end of the cellar room and disappeared, day after day.

After about a week, with some missing days that I had been unconscious for, I got to a point where I hoped Leander would be on the other side of the door every time it opened. He had promised me he would be waiting for me. But he had also said that he wouldn't leave us at Vincent's mercy. In part, I hoped that meant he was planning to blow up this entire house, me, and my brothers included.

But every time the door opened; it wasn't him.

Thankfully, Vincent was keeping me fed enough for me to not go fully blood-crazed. Thankfully, he kept my brothers fed and unharmed. Tied up but not bitten.

I was in yet another daydream, thinking about the morning after I turned, when I walked into the penthouse living room and met everyone. They had all looked so scary, but kind back then. I missed them. Even though, it had barely been a little more than a week. I missed them.

I was lost in thought when the heavy door opened, and Vincent came in in a hurry. The scene felt familiar, but I couldn't exactly recognize it. In one hand he was holding onto a gun, while the other was holding up a phone to his ear. That part didn't feel familiar.

"They are not mine," a voice came through and my insides melted at the sound of Leander's voice. "I have held up my end of the fucking deal. You're the one–"

"Get your fucking vampires away from my nest or the eldest Parker brother will be my next pet," Vincent cut him off and I tugged on the chains keeping me low on the ground. Panic shot down my spine. Both of my brothers were as alert as ever, remaining still so as to not further provoke Vincent.

"I haven't sent anyone!" Leander yelled back and he sounded pissed. He sounded as pissed as Vincent looked. "I am holding up my end of the deal. Let them go."

Vincent clicked his tongue, the scowl on his face evidence enough that he wasn't convinced. Whatever vampires were lurking around the nest made him uneasy and he didn't trust Leander.

With a deep breath, he moved away from where he had been standing behind Adam. Two steps back and to the side and he went to loom over Caleb. His eyes flashed red for a brief moment, and I couldn't control myself anymore.

"Vincent, please. No. You said– you said you would let them go, just do it. Please," I begged, and his eyes snapped to me, red again.

The absolute silence that followed was harrowing. Neither Leander nor Vincent said anything. But even more terrifying was the wicked smile that pulled Vincent's lips back, so wide it made his cheeks crease with it. With his now free hand, he reached up and tapped Caleb's pulse point, my younger brother remaining frozen still at the attention. Vincent's gun was tucked in the back of his pants– still too close to his reach for me to try and do anything.

"How old are you?" Vincent trilled to him, the phone up by his ear but his focus clearly on Caleb.

Even from the distance, I could tell Caleb was close to shaking out of his skin. His heart was beating so loudly against his ribcage, fear making him unable to answer Vincent. On the contrary, Adam, right next to them, was buzzing with anger. Caleb's dark eyes, round and scared, found mine in question unsure of what to do and say.

"Six– I'm turning sixteen... this year," Caleb stuttered out and Vincent's smile deepened.

He hummed, considering his next words, his fingers still trailing up and down the side of Caleb's neck. He clicked his tongue and glanced up at the ceiling.