Expectations

Chapter 8

A hand laid itself firmly on my shoulder, I jerked away from the touch,"Go away Sam!"

"I'm not Sam..." I sniffled and looked up at the pale blonde vampire before me, "Asher? What-"

"They're lying." He stated firmly, his body stiff and defensive.

"W-what! How- how do you know?? Are you sure?" Rage began to built up inside me, my tears froze in their paths.

"I am positive." Asher spoke stiffly.

I was on my feet in an instant, stomping back toward the house as the pack was ready to make their retreat.

A pale hand latched onto my wrist however and pulled me back,"I have a better idea."
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"Where are we g-" I asked, shivering as the cool night air grazed my face.

"Shhh!" Asher cut me off, pulling me through the trees and into a cave, walking deep inside.

"How do you know about this place Asher?" I asked, wincing as a cobweb touched me. He sighed and looked down,"That really isn't for me to tell..."

I huffed in annoyance, obviously he knew a lot more than I did. I heard a jingle as he fished something of of his pocket, I gazed in wonder upon a large old key.

We had now reached a thick iron door with a lock perfect for such a key. My eyes narrowed as he inserted the key and gave in a hard twist, but he made no move to enter.

"Perhaps you shouldn't enter Alyssa." In his voice was a clear warning, his eyes held a look of guilt.

"Why not?" I asked quietly, moving to peer inside,"What's in there?" I heard the rattle of chains for a moment and pushed past Asher, only to find a horrific scene.

"Oh god!! Oh my god!!" My hand flew to my mouth as I backed into Asher.

In front of me was a stone room filled with decaying corpses, their last screams of agony still frozen on their faces. The scent of rotting flesh was nauseating enough, but the sight of my mother made me sick to the core. She was chained like an animal, her wrists and neck binded by heavy metal. Her once healthy glowing skin was milky white and paper thin, showing off deep blue veins. She was skin and bone with sunken in eyes of midnight crimson.

"Mom...?" I cautiously stepped close to her, only to jump as she lunged out with her mouth open and ready to kill. Asher pulled me back toward him, refusing to meet my gaze.

"There has to be something I can do!" I exclaimed and moved to go back closer to her. Asher pulled me toward the door.

"There isn't." He said firmly, giving my arm a tug.

I shook my head,"No! There's always a way!" I wrenched my arm from his grip and walked extremely close to my mother.

"Mom... Please it's me- it's Lissa." My hand was an inch from her cheek when she suddenly jumped forward and snapped her teeth.

In an instant I was out of her reach and in the middle of the forest, my face buried deep in the red shirt Asher was currently borrowing from Emmett. I glanced around in confusion, then looked up at Asher.

He sighed heftily,"I warned you."

I tilted my head in curiosity,"You can teleport..." He nodded,"Short distances- even shorter when I'm not alone."

"That's amazing-" I was momentarily starstruck by his abilities,"But wait! How did you know about the cave? How did you know that's where my mom would be?!  Do I smell venom?"

His eyes glanced down and I followed his gaze to a deep bite mark in his arm, venom still leaking out.

"I'm sorry... I was stupid." I apologized, he shrugged,"It will heal."