The Lost Child

chapter 29

Stephan leaned and asked again, this time I turned to him as he said "what's wrong? "

I hesitated "I -I saw something.. someone is following us " I didn't want to put fear into his heart but I was too weak and scared to carry it alone. He frowned as he glanced around but he saw nothing. Still, he turned and stood at my back keeping me right infront of him as his tall body towered over me. I was quite relieved having him at my back, securing me. We both walked with alarm, trying to catch a glimpse of anything that might seem odd. After what seemed like hours walking with hysterical alarm, I started to feel like I had been imagining and so I quickened my pace to reach Phillip.

"Hey.. " I started as I noticed his brow furrowed and concern cover in his face what's wrong? " for a second I thought he saw what I'd seen earlier but pushed the thought away.

He inhaled deeply and said in a whisper "I'm worried about him" nodding towards Stephan.

"Why so? He looks -well- fine" my voice faded as concern filled me as well.

"When we go back to the castle.. they would never let him be king anymore. Lia, they saw! They saw that he's a vampire. "His face turned red as he continued "they will always fear him. "

I was speechless. I felt my tongue paralyzed and couldn't form any words.
He continued "they hated me. They feared me. I can't see this happen to him"

I breathed "we can't keep hiding for ever, Phillip. We need to go home. "

"I know. But just think of it. A vampire king, a cursed sister and her vampire finacé, a werewolf and two angry sisters. You think they'll ever let such a family to rule them? Do you think they can trust any of us? " his words made sense but what then? Where would we go?

My heart sank and I tried to brighten the thought "but we were all like this before.. the people weren't scared. They knew I could hurt them and they weren't scared. "

"Because Stephan was normal. He's the king. They were sure he could stop you. But now.. they could never trust a vampire whose heart hardened by his new nature. How would it turn to be, huh? Knowing he could easily exterminate them all.. getting them one by one to drink their blood and end his thirst. " His face darkened and his breaths came out ragged. He was right. Every word he had said was right. I felt sudden fear fill my chest and I felt like choking. I felt my face burning and my vision spotted.

"But.. we're away from people. They don't know how to get to the other side... "I tried. Trying to even my breaths, I watched his face turn white.

"There are people on the other side. The guards. And the village, remember? The village where I first found you. The psychos who tried to kill Simon. They are on the other side with us. I have no idea how they got there but we'd still be surrounded by people"

At that I couldn't hold it in. I burst in tears, drawing everyone's attention. Phillip told them I was just nervous. I guess he didn't want to worry them. He came towards me and laid his arm around my shoulder. I sobbed, repeating his words in my head over and over till I was choking. I felt my body shiver at the thought of my brother in danger. I couldn't bear the sting one more time. I couldn't bear losing him one more time and this time it would be real. He would be gone forever. My heartbeats were so loud in my ears, taking over the sound of rain as it splashed between the leaves. Phillip's words were like daggers spearing into my heart. If we stayed in the forest, we die. If we go back home... we die. I looked up as te rain drops hid my tears as they slid down my cheek and dripped down my chin. At that moment, I could only hope. I could only hope for this torturing nightmare to end. I sobbed and sucked in breaths as my world darkened before my eyes. I felt the urge to scream at the top of my lungs and let the agony squeezing my heart flow out. I wanted to beg them to go back.. but then what? People are chasing us. People are trying to cease us and exterminate the diabolical group. I swallowed as I felt the lump rise in my throat. I can't mention anything to them. I bit my tongue to prevent myself from sobbing more and I just followed them.

The rain drops decreased and the fine drizzle dropped small droplets on my face. I was silent the whole way. We turned around a tree, changed paths several times and I thought we were lost but Anastasia seemed certain of the way.
I was petrified when I heard a familiar sound. The sound of water flowing smoothing. The river. We were close.. so close. My heart sank again as we approached it. I saw it as we stood a few feet away. My breathing became ragged and heavy as my heart squeezed at the sight. I stared at the flow in water as it sparkled beneath the moonlight. I felt dizzy and my legs turned jelly. No no I don't want to go in. But there was no other choice. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply but not enough air filled my lungs. I swallowed and walked beside each of them and formed the bag of air around their noses. I watched them as they jumped in one after the other, disappearing in the darkness of the river. I stayed there till I was alone. Taking each step slowly as the conflict inside me increased. Jump. No go back. I leaned and jumped as the river swallowed  me in.

Everything was pitch black down there. I couldn't even see the others. I felt someone hold my hand and drag me forward. It was like drifting into a nightmare. I could hear my heartbeats as they thumped hard in my chest. I felt the cold water as the sensation froze my bones. Couldn't it end here? I closed my eyes.. I imagined myself back in e castle and the light streaks flowing into my room and soaking my bed like water. I imagined everythin was back to normal where my parents were still there, Simon and Chrisy, Stephan was normal and even me. I was a normal lady with happy features and a smile that never left her face. I imagined everything before this wjole nightmare ever started. But then I opened my eyes and the sting returned to my heart. It would never end. It would never go back to normal. I swam into the water already wishing to drown, to suffocate ad the weeds go rounds neck. But that wouldn't happen either. I had to walk this path. I had to end it myself. Even if it was so painful. Even if I had to lose a lot. I didn't have a choice.. I had to end it myself.

I saw the lava stones and I bombed them. They drifted out through the water and we swam past them. We got out and I collapsed on the ground. Gripping the dirt to ease my pain. Sucking in breath so hard, I felt like I has been running. Like I had been in a battle. I turned and lay staring at the sky above me. I watched as it turned from navy blue to a lighter shade.

"We need to find a shade. It's almost dawn "I heard Phillip say and I pushed myslef up. We walked as the I gazed at each tree in the forest. We're back.  I walked in complete silence till we reached a large tree. We sat beneath it as its huge branches blocked any sunlight from touching our skin. We satyed there for days and all of  them were exactly the same. Wake up. Eat. Cry. Stare at the surrounding. Cry. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. I watched each of them and wondered. Do I have to lose any of them?
I always had the same thought.. I was ready to sacrifice my own life for any of them. I was ready to live the rest of my life in torture if that would keep them safe. I was ready to do anything for them..
I was ready..