The Bite [Luke Hemmings AU]

Chapter Sixteen

Darcy at the top!
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Lorelei still hadn't come back. Jackson was done with his first transformation. He was sitting, talking to Darcy. Everyone was sitting and talking to someone.

Jackson looked up at me, "Where's my sister?"

I shrugged, "She walked off and I tried talking to her, but she kept walking away. I let her have her space. But, thinking about it now, she could be lost." I said and looked around. "Wait, where's Saunders?"

"I thought he was right here?" Luke said, looking around.

"Hunter Boy! Come here," Collin yelled at Jace.

Jace gave me a look and started walking towards Collin. Collin put his hands around Jace's neck and soon pulled them away, the bruises were gone.

I smiled softly after the sight.

Jace's and Collin's eyes go to a sight behind me. I turn around to see what everyone else was looking at. Saunders had Lorelei in his arms. Her eyes were closed and her head laid on his shoulder.

Jackson jumped up and ran to him. He looked at her unconscious body. He took her in his arms and carried her to the table.

"What happened?" Jackson asked once Lorelei was laid on the table.

"I found her laying on the ground. Her heart is still beating at the normal rate," Saunders answered with a shrug.

"She might have just been a little shocked and fainted," I stated as I walked to Jackson's side.

---

"Claire, we need to go. Grandmother is waiting. We have to get back before they start looking for us," Jace said quietly in my ear. I nodded.

We had been there for quite a while. Soon after Saunders found Lorelei, she woke up. Saunders offered to let her stay with him for the night. Collin insisted on Jackson staying with them, but gave up on the fact that Lorelei wasn't staying as well.

"We really have to go," I said to the group that had migrated into the large living room.

We said our goodbyes and left. Once we dropped Luke off, Jace and I went back to my house.

I opened the door and my mom's arms were around me in seconds.

"Where were you?" she yelled as she pulled back, her hands on my face.

"We were in the woods. Luke and I showed Jace around a bit more too," I said with a small smile.

"Claire," I heard my grandmother's voice coming from behind my mom, who moved out of the way in an instant. "You left so soon, I never got to see you."

I bit down on my lip as she got closer. I didn't reply, I just stood there staring blankly at her.

"Are you not going to give your grandma a hug?" she asked in an almost bitter tone.

I flashed a smile and hugged her. If she hadn't caught my scent already, she probably never would. I knew she had by the way she looked at me when she pulled away. Her jaw was clenched and her almost smiling lips were now in a thin line. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I know what you are," she said into my ear. "You are no longer the little girl I knew. You're a monster. You will pay for what you have become. With time. You will pay with time, my dear." I gasped and I felt my chest tighten. She pulled back and faked a smile. "My beautiful granddaughter," she said an cupped my cheek.

I tightened my jaw, but I gave in to her act. I smiled and stepped back.

"It's late, why don't I take you to the hotel and we'll take you to the airport in the morning while Claire is at school," I heard my mom speak up.