Kidnapped by the Bad Boy Vampire Gang Leader

Chapter 26

I watched Helena go, feeling more and more dread the further she got. Soon, I lost sight of her completely, leaving me and Liam completely alone.

"So," Liam trailed off. I didn't reply. I didn't even turn to face him. I could promise to hang out with him, but I never promised to like it.

"Not talking?" Liam asked. I said nothing. "Alright. I was going to check on Ruby, so you can come with. Or stay here, whatever."

He shoved past me without saying a word, almost prompting me to yell at him. I guess he wasn't having much of a morning, either.

I decided to follow, just to see how Ruby was doing.

By the time I got upstairs, Liam had just knocked on her door. He glared at me briefly, half-lidded eyes making him look extra sour. I looked away. After a second knock, Ruby opened her door.

She looked...fine. Better than fine, actually. Her makeup was fully done, even so early in the morning, she was fully dressed (well, as fully dressed as one can be in a miniskirt and crop-top), and, most important, every inch of her body that I could see was bruiseless. 

Ruby leaned casually against her doorframe, making me notice that her arm was fine. As in, right back on her body, just like the first time I met her.

"Woah," I breathed, a bit shocked, but mostly just relieved. Ruby grinned at me, flipping her hair over one shoulder.

"Ta-da! I know, I'm amazing. You don't have to applaud, but it is appreciated," she said, voice dripping with smug satisfaction. I let out a short laugh.

"I'm glad you're okay," I said, realizing too late that Liam had said the same thing at the same time. My smile deflated into a scowl as Ruby burst into giggles.

"Aw, look at you two," she gushed. "That's just so adorable." Liam made a weird, grunting noise, and I just rolled my eyes. Suddenly, Liam stepped forward, swooping Ruby into a huge bear hug, spinning her. Ruby's giggles turned into shrieks of laughter. 

"How'd you heal so fast?" Liam asked, finally putting her down. Ruby raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Actually, I've been practicing a lot lately," she said casually. "You know, waiting for you."

Liam frowned. "You've been practicing? Ruby, if you mean," he glanced at me, then said under his breath, "what I think you mean, then stop."

Ruby threw her skinny arms around Liam's neck. "You know I can't. Besides, it's your fault. You've been holding out on me..."

"Ruby, no," Liam said firmly, detangling herself from Ruby. "You promised me you wouldn't."

"So did you," Ruby countered. Liam opened his mouth, then closed it with a sigh.

"Okay, yes, but I tried. Did you?"

"In a sense," Ruby said, clearly lying. Liam looked like he wanted to say something, but shot me another glance. 

"Let's conitnue this later, huh?" Liam said. Ruby shrugged. They embraced each other again. 

I felt out of place, like I was watching something I really shouldn't. By the glare Liam gave me, I think he felt the same.

Ruby didn't care, though. She smirked at me, all the anger of yesterday gone. "Thanks, Blythe."

"You're welcome?" I said, confused. Liam scoffed.

"We're leaving. You go back to sleep. We'll talk later," he grunted. Ruby shrugged, spinning on her heel and re-entering her room.

Wordlessly, Liam and I trudged back downstairs. 

"What now?" Liam asked. I ignored him, standing outside his room. Going outside felt to...familiar. 

"Oh, right. We're still not talking," Liam said sarcastically. He was annoyed. A satisfied little smirk appeared on my face. "Well, you can stand right there all day for all I care. But for the record, I don't think this is what Helena wanted. If you're just going to ignore me, you might as well just stay in her room."

The smile melts off my face as I realize that Liam's right. If I'm not going to make the effort, I might as well have just said no to Helena.

"Fine, jeez," I muttered, moving an inch into the room. 

"Great. I'll get dressed, then we can find something to do." Liam muttered, scratching his face again. I nodded, and he disappeared into his closet. 

That closet. What with the weird smells and Liam coming out of it at weird moments, my curiosity had been piqued. I inched toward the door, reasoning that I would just take a listen.

I put my ear against the door. The smell of bleach was heavily present, even outside. Actually, it was a kind of a welcome change from the rest of the house, which always smelled faintly of blood.

I'd been so focused on the smell that I hadn't even noticed myself leaning forward. And because Liam was in there, the door had been left unlocked. 

The door let out an ominous, almost ear-splitting creak as I stumbled inside. I gasped, jumping back. But it was too late.

Liam's eyes widened in surprise, black shirt halfway above his head. I shrieked, averting my eyes before I got too much of an eyeful.

"Uh...I kind of figured I'd get dressed alone, but..." Liam trailed off. I groaned, red spreading across my face as I focused harder on the calendar in one corner of the closet. Oddly, the day before had been colored dark red, though none of the others had. 

"Yes! Sorry!" I gasped, finally turning around. But as I did, I paused, noticing something even stranger than the calendar. A photo by the the door of two people, their arms wrapped around each other. If I hadn't known any better, I'd say they were Liam's parents.

A hand reached out from behind me and snatched the photo. I jumped. I'd forgotten Liam's presence behind me. 

"Out," he said ominously. I left without a second thought.