The Lost Child

chapter 26

Surrounded by people from ever direction, I felt trapped. Unable to escape my horrifying life. I could feel Stephan's heart thumping beneath my arm as I gripped him. He was losing conscious, drowning into the darkness of his pain. His loud breaths as he gasped for each one. I couldn't resist the sudden ache that speared through my heart. Seeing him like that. Watching him struggle with his agony. I tried to pull his arm through my hair to soothe his pain but I couldn't change his stiff posture. I caught Phillip's gaze for a moment and my pleading expression was enough to get him running towards me, taking Stephan's other side.

"Phillip get us out of here! " I yelled, panicked. We had to dash out I there!

"I can't "his hesitant voice made me scream at his face.

"If we stay here we die! Do something!! " I growled, my blood burning in my veins. He beckoned for Draco and Simon to come closer. Holding Simon's arm, Phillip took Draco's. We held out breath... waiting to survive. I closed my eyes as we were swallowed in the thin air and thrown into another area. Far enough but they still noticed us and the sprinted towards us once more. I heard Phillip swear under his breath as he grabbed my arm and dashed into the opposite direction. Simon and Draco carried the unconscious Stephan and I couldn't stop glancing at him and his torn skin. His blood soaked their arms and shirts and for a moment I was terrified he would bleed to death.
"Why are we running this way? We need to get to the river" I started as I tried to pull him backwards.

"We can't go there.. they'll know how to get to the castle. They'll destroy everything! " he pulled me to keep up. Wherever we go, they'll follow. They'll follow till they see us fall one after the other.. corpse after corpse turning to ash. I had to do something. A spell... anything to protect us. Any chance for our survival. I waved my hand behind us and the thorns exploded from the ground and grew up higher, making a huge fence. They blew out more thorns tangled with each other with sharp edges. For a second I stopped with victory, they could never pass threw. I casted another spell for the throns to keep growing whenever touched. We, re safe I turned to the others with ecstasy, as hope was planted into my heart. We looked for cover. Anywhere we can hide from the sun. Feeling dizzy i knew I couldnt keep the clouds over us all day. I scanned the area and found a dark hidden cave. Leaves and thick tree branches covering it making it almost unseen. I beckoned for them to follow and we hopped in. Checking for no one who could have evaded the fence. Clear. I turned just as they lay Stephan gently on the ground. He was still groaning and moaning in pain. I walked closer and knelt by his side, gently taking his hand in mine and letting it sink into the thickness of my hair. I saw his frowned borrow release with the soothing sensation that flowed three his blood. I observed as his skin collected it's tissues and returned to its normal soft texture and the blood sucked back in. I watched as the color returned to his skin and his hard features relaxed. The others turned in from exhaustion and I was left with Stephan. He slowly opened his eyes and his lip slightly lifted at a side forming a ain't smile.

"You... didn't leave.. me" he managed to say as he looked at me with his eyes partly opened. I came closer in a sudden, shocked of the statement. You thought i'd leave you?

"I could never leave you" I started as tears started to form at the back of my eyes and my vision blurred.

"You weren't lying... you did come all this way to find me.. "he continued, his voice still rough.

"Of course I did! You're my brother" I stopped, took a deep breath "That day... you couldn't imagine how scared I was. I felt stupid.. it was my fault. I told you things I shouldnt have said. Things that tortured you. I'm sorry I'm so sorry. Stephan I came all this way for you. I can't deny I was eager to find Beth as well but finding her meant finding you. When I couldn't find you.. I felt like melting.. "I started to weep "I couldn't bear losing you. Never. I might fight with you, but I could never hate you. " I let myself fall on his shoulder as he hugged me with tenderness.

"I didn't know.. what Phillip had felt. He always told me how he suffered. How being a vampire was a nightmare. I thought he was exaggerating.. I needed power. I felt weak.. inferior to all of you. Oh how stupid I was. "He closed his eyes tightly to stop the tears from flowing "I understand now why he was scared to take any step towards your marriage. The fear of hurting anyone.. especially my beloved ones. You know.. back there at the old castle when we were manacled. I saw your pain and it tortured me to just watch. My heart turned stone like any vampire and that's why I was selfish when I saw you but my love and care for you never died. When you came closer to remove my manacles I was waiting for the pain to sting me.. but it never came. You didn't want me to feel what you felt.. "his voice faded as e remembered. I was speechless.. lost in words. "I'm sorry Lia.. and know that whatever it costs me i'll always protect you.. even if that means my life. I will never let anyone harm you, sister"

"And vampire or not.. I love you tremendously. My beloved brother " I whispered as I watched him sink in sleep. With a gentle kiss on his hand, I surrendered to sleep as well.