Bite Me

Ch. 28 From the Inside

We arrived back at the penthouse early in the afternoon. Once inside the door Tyler pulled me against his chest. He shared my pain; both abandoned by the ones meant to love us always.

"We don't need them Ashley," Tyler said trying to soothe my pain but his words didn't help. I used to be so close to my mother and now she wants nothing to do with me. I felt a void in my heart growing by the second as those I loved turned from me.

"Am I so bad?" I asked tears streaking my cheeks.

"They don't deserve you," Tyler snapped as I sighed.

"It just hurts to know I meant so little to my mom," I said softly.

"You mean everything to me," Tyler reassured me but I already knew that. "I promise I won't ever leave you."

"I love you," I said as I wiped the tears off my face trying to pull myself together. I hated feeling weak.

"Ash," Blake called out. I turned to find him with a panicked look in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked as he handed me his phone.

"We were sent this video about an hour ago," Blake said as I pressed play. My eyes widened in horror as my mother stood beside my sister asking for me to turn myself in. My mother held a knife to Nikki's neck as rage flowed through me.

"How did they even get to her? When did she leave the penthouse?" I gasped as one of the guards looked down.

"She asked to leave and I didn't think that was an issue. I'm sorry Blake," the man said to us.

"How did they get your number Blake?" I asked softly as Tyler grabbed my hand.

"You called me once off your sister's phone," Blake said as anger pulsed through me.

"You aren't going right?" Tyler said as I faced him.

"I don't have a choice," I said firmly.

"But you don't stand a chance," Tyler snapped as I caressed his cheek.

"She's my sister and I have to help her," I whispered as he stepped away from me.

"What about me?" He asked as I looked down. I loved him but he could be fine without me but Nikki wouldn't last the night with the hunters.

"I love you so much Tyler but I can't sit by and watch her die," I said as I stepped around him. He grabbed my hand but I couldn't look at him or I wouldn't be able to leave. It broke my heart to do this to him but I couldn't stay here with him.

"Don't do this," his voice sounded so sad but I kept walking as my hand slipped from his grasp. I continued moving until I stepped outside. I stopped walking leaning against the building. I pushed away the agony pounding in my chest before I rushed down the street. I reached my parents house quickly. I took a shaky breath before I knocked on the door. The door swung open as my dad grinned. I gave a small smile as I wrapped him into a hug. He had no idea what was coming but I knew this would be the last time I would ever see him.

"Hey Ash," he said leading me inside.

"Is mom here?" I asked as he nodded.

"I'll go get her," he said turning to walk upstairs. I let my smile fall briefly until he returned with my mother.

"You ready to go Mom?" I asked as she looked confused before plastering a grin on her face.

"Yeah," she said walking toward the front door.

"Bye daddy, I love you," I said as he pulled me into his arms once more.

"Bye sweetie," he said shutting the door behind us. I climbed into my mother's car with a glare.

"You won't hurt Nikki now correct?" I said as my mother laughed.

"You aren't really in the position to make demands but I won't let them hurt my daughter!" She said harshly as she pulled the car into a parking lot beneath a skyscraper. I got out of the car as several hunters aimed crossbows with wooden arrows at my chest. My eyes locked onto Nikki as she struggled to free herself.

"Why did you come?" She asked with fear swimming in her blue eyes.

"To save you. I don't care if they kill me but I couldn't let them kill you," I said as my mother stood beside me.

"Last chance," she said to me. "Join us or we will finish what we started." I didn't want to hurt innocent people but agreeing might buy me some time to figure a way out of this.

"Fine," I said tightly. "I will help."

"Come with me," my mother ordered walking into the building. I followed her slowly until we reached a room. The door opened to reveal a child chained to a chair with dark eyes. My heart broke at the sight of the scared little girl. She cried for her mother as she pulled against the metal chair. "Stake her."

"She's a kid!" I gasped as she handed me a wooden stick.

"A monster Ashley," my mother corrected me but I just gazed at the terrified tears as they spilled down the girl's face.

"Look at her Mom," I said firmly but she grabbed my arm dragging me toward the girl.

"You will follow orders or I can have you eliminated," she spat as I glared at her.

"Will you listen to yourself?" I snapped. "She is a child and you can't see past her vampire features to recognize how scared she is." I winced as her hand dragged across my cheek.

"You want to be a vampire, so be it," she growled locking me in the room with the child. I ran toward the door trying to break the metal door. I sighed walking over to the girl.

"When was the last time you fed?" I asked her.

"I don't know. Why are they doing this?" She sobbed. I unlocked the chains before scooping the young girl into my arms. I rubbed her back trying to calm her as her head rested on my shoulder.

"I promise we will get through this sweetie," I whispered in her ear as she clung to me. I only hoped I could follow through on my promise.