Broken Wings (SAMPLE)

Chapter Eighteen

"Why do you think she's doing this?" I asked Shadow. It was the rare occasion that he wasn't interrogating Raven like she was a criminal but from what I hear, he hadn't gotten very far. What he was wanting to know, I didn't even know but I deduced from the frustration he let show that she hadn't told him anything worth knowing. 

"Because of me." He replied, simply.

"If it was that simple, you'd have killed her by now." I shook my head, not buying it. There was something more to it, I was sure. I just couldn't figure out what that was yet. 

"You don't need to know." 

"I do when it's me she wants to kill." I stated, sitting up on his bed. True to his word, he hadn't left me out of his sight since he had tied Raven up. I wasn't allowed back in the other bedroom, I had been staying in Shadow's, much to my protest. The first night was the most awkward one because it was extremely hard to go to sleep when you know there is someone else in the room, just watching. It was incredibly uncomfortable too but I learnt to just get on with it; there was no hope of me ever having space. So much for me having 'free reign', I thought bitterly. 

"All you need to know is that that's not going to happen. Nobody is going to kill you." 

"Nobody but you." I whispered under my breath.

"You keep saying that as though I'm actually going to kill you. Maybe I should," Shadow turned to face me, fists clenched. "Then this whole mess would be over with." 

I didn't reply. 

"You've been nothing but a burden ever since I brought you here. And to think I was saving your life?! Ha! I should have just killed you when I had the chance, or better yet, left that man to have you for himself. You could be his little pet, to do with what he pleases." Shadow seethed, taking a step toward the bed. I instantly got to my feet, afraid. My eyes were wide and my hands were shaking as I watched him warily.

I'd be lying if I said his words didn't have a profound effect on me because it did. I was scared. I was panicking, though I desperately tried not to let it show. No doubt he'd pick on that too with the state he was in. Whether on edge or not, his words struck a chord in me. It was something that my dad would say. After all, he had just essentially told me he should have just let a man rape or murder me so nobody could blame me for being so scared. It reminded me all too much of my dad. 

Apart from, you know, the fangs and all. 

Still, it was scary enough being reminded of my dad when in the presence of someone that could break every bone in my body so I shifted a little, trying to get within reach of the door. My actions didn't escape Shadow's notice, if the smirk on his face was anything to go by. He looked highly amused to see me so scared, so worried for my own life that I couldn't believe he had seemed to resemble a normal human being not that long before. 

"Maybe I should kill you myself or let Raven get hold of you. I'm sure she'd love to have the pleasure of killing you." Shadow spat, his anger increasing the more I backed away from him. 

I wanted to say something but words seemed to fail me. I had no idea what I could say that could possibly help the situation. Any attempt could make things worse and that was the last thing that I wanted. I was now more aware than ever how I got into this in the first place. Try as I may to be nice to Shadow and even attempt to be his friend - of sorts - I knew now that I was kidding myself because at the end of the day, he was still a monster. How could I think we could get along? Shadow could be nice one minute but that could change in seconds. I couldn't figure him out. Who knows what goes on the mind of a vampire.

Suddenly, he turned around and punched the wall behind him, making me jump. It was something that was all too familiar for me. I jumped back, almost stumbling in my haste to get away from Shadow, to put some sort of distance between us.