The Fawx Bite

XVIII.

Echo had been gone near thirteen hours. Viola was still unconscious. And my nerves were near about fray, and to somehow relieve the stress I paced up near the window. I was quite sure that my trail was soon to tear away at the carpet and leave evidence of my unease. I had been good. Reading a book, flicking through a magazine. Poking Viola in the cheek to no avail. I had wandered out into the kitchen for some food though there wasn't much. Did a little workout in the small space in front of the bed. I had dozed for a few minutes but startled myself back into wakefulness. Around hour eleven I had been unable to stand the sensation of sitting and so had begun my pacing.

Marek had been patient with me. Moving to different parts of the room away from me as I grew all the more restless. Now, he was lying over by the door on the opposite side of me. He had been lying in his usual fashion, with his tail hiked over his nose. He lowered it now and gave me a tired expression, "Scarlet, just sit down and relax."

"How can I relax knowing that my sister is the mental slave of some sort of psycho vampire? Who apparently has been hunting her for over a year? Not to mention my other sister has somehow, mysteriously come back from the dead. We are on the run from a government agency that wants to dissect us and study whatever is inside like that will be able to help them figure out what Sophie never grew up to be a wolf. Let's also pile on that Jin and Momsen were once best of pals before Momsen was given the keys to an entire fucking branch of government. My sister is tied up because she wants to kill us. We're hiding because Stoker and every one else out there want to kill us. I have a feeling that Jin isn't too pleased with us. And knowing just a teeny tiny bit of Echo's past, she's killing someone right now." I coughed, having pushed everything out in one forced breath.

"Feel better?" Marek asked drily.

"No," I plopped down in the chair next to Viola's bed.

"Exactly. Nothing is going to get fixed with you damn near losing your mind. So sit down and breathe," Marek waved his tail at me, emphasizing his point by flexing the spade on his tail. It clicked and opened up like a lethal flower.

But that was the thing. How could you breathe when it felt like the weight of the world was resting against your chest? I didn't say this aloud but Marek released a low hum. Smoke billowed from his nostrils. I didn't need to say my concerns to him. He knew. He blinked once, "You just do."

Before I could reply, there was an explosion of violent knocking on the front door. I stood up, bolting out of Viola's room (though I made sure to close the door quietly). Jin was already standing in the hall. He hesitated to open the door. I came to a halt next to him. There hadn't been the sound of a car to give hint that it would be Echo. And I assumed that Echo had a key.

"Would someone open the goddamn door? I swear I will break it down and then we will be fucked." Echo's voice thundered through the wood. Her voice didn't just hint at violence. It promised.

Still Jin stood where he was. "How do I know that you are you and not some imposter?"

"Für die Liebe Gottes," she swore. "Boy, I will nail you to a chair. Cut off all of your important parts; blend them into a smoothie than stuff them down your throat. The whole time make sure that your mind is trapped within an endless maze of fire, filled with the screams and bodies of all those who you have killed in your past."

Silence was met with her words. The image, unbidden, leapt into my head. Chills crawled down my spine. Jin looked thoughtful for a moment before going and unlocking the door. He looked over his shoulder, spotting my expression. "When we first met, she saw my greatest fear."