now or never

12

When I got to my room, Sloane wasn't there yet. I threw myself into my bed and pulled the blanket over my head. I want to get out of here, I thought. I grasped the chain of Halden that hung around my neck.

The scar on my rib burned. It was like she was new. I wanted to stay awake so as not to think about how I got it, but tiredness prevailed and I fell into a restless sleep.

"You're meeting the Riorson boy." Alic said angrily. I backed away from him. "Xaden Riorson, son of Fen Riorson. How can you?!" Alic slapped me in the face. How did he find out? Was he following me? My heart started racing.

"You betrayed our family by meeting with him. Have you joined forces?" My boyfriend seemed murderous. The way he looked at me, so full of hate. I backed away from him even further. This time he kicked me and I stumbled to the ground. I was afraid. Fear that he would tell our father. Fear that my brother will kill me.

"Did you tell him? About the Venin? Did you tell him the fate of his and many other families?" I got up. "Did you tell him our secrets?" Alic looked more and more like a predator looking at his prey. I didn't say a word, didn't make a sound.

"So you don't want to answer. Well then, I'll get you to." And with that he took out a dagger. I started running. I ran down the stairs out into the yard towards the forest. Alic followed me. I was unarmed and wearing a dress. I was clearly at a disadvantage.

"You will not escape me!" he shouted after me. The fear grew and I could hardly breathe. Then I stumbled and fell to the forest floor. Alic now stood over me, holding a gleaming dagger."Please Alic.Please. I didn't do anything. I swear" I cried and begged my brother to spare me. 

But he just grinned and swung the dagger before he plunged it into my rib. He stabbed again but this time in my shoulder, in my arm and in my leg. He stabbed and stabbed until I stopped moving and he thought I was dead. And I almost was.

I woke up with a start from my sleep.

Surrounding me were Sloane, Cam, Imogen, Ridoc, Rhiannon, Violet and Sawyer. Everyone looked at me worried. I still couldn't breathe. I was hyperventilating. Cam held my hand and told me to calm down and that everything was fine, it was just a dream. But that wasn't it. It was a memory that I will never forget.

Violet sat next to me on the bed and put a hand on my forehead. "She's glowing," she said worriedly. Ridoc and Rhiannon quickly left the room and came back with a bowl of water and a towel.

"It's okay. Focus on my heartbeat." Sawyer tried to reassure me. He had taken Violet's place and was holding my hand to his heart while he used his free hand to dab my forehead with the wet towel.

"I think it would be better if we leave, there are too many people." Decided Imogen and the others left the room until only Violet, Cam, Sawyer and Sloane were left with me.

"I'm sorry Violet. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. It's just, you know." Cam's eyes darkened. "You dreamed about him didn't you?" It wasn't a question but a realization from Cam. "From who?" Sawyer and Sloane asked worriedly. "From our brother, he almost killed her. Multiple times" Cam looked at me. "But even though he had almost killed her so many times, he was still important to her."

"How could you still love him?! No brother would do something like that!" Sawyer was angry and confused. I had tears in my eyes again and Cam gave him an angry look. "He was my brother, of course I loved him. If I was afraid of something he protected me. If I didn't understand something he explained it to me. I..." my voice broke.

I knew how stupid that was, but that's how it was. No matter how bad a family is, they should always be there for each other. You can forgive but you can't forget it. "It doesn't matter anyway. Alic is dead. Besides, everyone has their quirks." I didn't look at Sawyer or Cam.

Sawyer placed my hand in his. "I don't fully understand and I couldn't forgive him, but that doesn't matter. You've made your decisions, you have your own feelings, but you're mentally damaged by them. I know that sounds harsh, but that's how it is. In this short time Over time you have grown close to my heart, you have become like my sister so I will be there for you and protect you."