Legends of Darkstalkers and Nightriders

Chapter 25: Family Is...

Sadie's POV

The first thing I became aware of was the pain, a dull, throbbing ache, all over my back and arms. Next, was the cool grass beneath me and the warm, leathery wing over me. I heard the fire crackling nearby and the sounds of night animals moving around.

I opened my eyes and looked around, Emma and Blaze lay against Nova across the fire from me, sound asleep.

I moved to get up and bit back a groan. Everything hurt. I took a deep breath, readying myself before pushing myself up on my knees. Stardancer, upon feeling me move, pulled her wing away and nuzzled me worriedly.

"I'm okay," I whispered, wrapping my arms around her. "Help me up."

She helped me to my feet and for the first time I noticed the man sleeping nearby. I faintly remembered him stepping in front of Alvin when I'd collapsed, and from the looks of it, he hadn't fared much better.

I looked around the clearing and my breath caught. Blaze told, after he promised.......

Tears burned the back of my eyes as I limped over to the fire place, falling to my knees next to it, taking off the lid from the secret compartment and pulling out the broken chest. At the sight of it, the urge to cry grew more insistent and I ran a hand over the lid.

"How could they?" I whispered to Stardancer. "He promised me."

I heard someone move and I jumped, turning my head to see Emma waking up. She stirred and rubbed her face before opening her eyes and sitting up slightly. Her gaze rested on where I had been lying when I woke up, then it swept around until it found me. "Sadie," she breathed quietly to avoid waking the others. "You're awake. Are you okay?"

I looked away. "I'm fine," I answered shortly, my voice thick with emotion and I swiped a hand across my face. I opened the chest and rummaged through it. "Just leave me alone."

"You need to rest, you're really hurt," Emma said gently.

"I said leave me alone," I snapped, choking back a sob. "You've already done enough."

"What are you talking about?"

"Blaze told you, didn't he?!" I said. "You shouldn't be here! This my place and it's private!"

"He only told us after Seth brought us here," Emma said, nodding at the young man. "Sadie.....he's your brother."

"I don't have a brother!" I cried. Blaze and the young man started to stir, aroused by my screaming. "I don't have anyone! It's always just been me and Star! And it always will be, because it doesn't matter what I do I always end up losing the people I care about!"

"Well you're not losing me, ever, even if you wanted to," she said. "And he is your brother, Sadie. He knew what this place was, he knew your birthday, you look alike."

"So what?! Of course he does, he works for my uncle!" I turned away again, slamming the chest shut, accidentally shutting it on my finger in the process. I jerked it away, cursing.

"Are you okay?" she asked with a sigh.

"Leave me alone," I said, nursing my finger as I leaned against Stardancer.

"I know you're angry," she said, "but building a wall between you and the rest of the world isn't going to help anything."

"I don't care. I can do what I want."

"You do so care, you'd just rather pretend you're all cold and emotionless so you don't have to seem vulnerable. Come on, Sadie, it's me, you don't have to be anything but yourself with me."