Unbroken

Chapter 2: An Enticing Offer

"So what about it?" 

I was snapped out of my reverie. I was thinking about what Ashley said. Abandon Andy and run away with him. I could be free of the strangling bonds of marriage, yet I could become a vampire. But I loved Andy too much to run away. He promised me a life of power and security, wealth and excitement. With Ashley, we'd constantly be on the run, away from the coven. 

"You're speaking treason," Jinxx piped up, his eyes still never leaving his book. CC was passed out in an armchair and Jake was back to watching Ella's future, his eyes cloudy and dazed. They hadn't heard Ashley's proposition. 

"So what? I can leave. He can't stop me."

"And where would you go? Who would cover up for you when you messed up?"

Ashley glared at Jinxx with hatred in those brown eyes of his. 

"I won't mess up," he snarled. Jinxx gave a cold, harsh laugh and put down his book. His dark eyes locked onto Ashley's.

"Then what happened to Sammi, eh?" His tone was frigid and dark. This was a side of Jinxx I'd never seen before, and frankly, it frightened me. 

"I'm sorry, okay? And I wasn't alone! CC had a part in what happened to her!" Ashley argued. Jinxx gave another dry laugh, as if Ashley's arguments amused him to no end. 

I decided that this was the moment to act. "Who's Sammi?" I asked, my voice small and shy. When I said the name, Jinxx burst into tears. It was depressing to see such a cool, calm man dissolve in such a way. 

"She was Jinxx's mate and his wife-to-be. She was a mortal woman, a young one, too. This was a long time ago, when the band was still new. Me and CC weren't as skilled with handling our thirsts around people. We snapped one night and we nearly killed Sammi. She had to go to the hospital and when she woke up from her coma, she didn't remember any of us and she was insane. Eventually, Jinxx signed her into a mental hospital. A nice one, not a scary one. Last time we checked, she was doing fine. She doesn't remember any of us still." Ashley's tone was grim and somber. 

"She was so beautiful and so young! And they ruined her!" Jinxx wept. CC woke up and Jake snapped out of his daze. 

CC coughed awkwardly and ducked out of the room. I saw his face as he walked out the door. Guilt was plain on his face. Jake went to soothe Jinxx, resting one hand on the sobbing guitarist's shoulder. 

"Jinxx, she'll be fine. I can see it in the future. She's recovering. She'll remember you." Jake's tone was soft and comforting. Jinxx shook him off. 

"You keep saying that, but I know she's not going to get any better," he spat before stomping out the door, pass a bewildered Andy. He gave me a puzzled look.

"What happened?" he asked. I shrugged, quickly retreating my hand from Ashley's cheek. Andy glared at him before taking my hand and helping me stand up.

"I'll get it out of someone," he muttered as we walked out the door, my hand enclosed in his.