Rebel

chapter six

***NOT EDITED***

I wake up to a foul smell close to my nose. I lift my arm to swat it away and smack someone else's arm. I jump up and take several steps back taking in my surroundings. Then I see my father, Daniel and Landon in front of me and a sob escapes my mouth. I run the few steps it takes to reach my father and he wraps his arms around me as I nuzzle my head into his chest.

"Daddy" I sob not able to say anything else. He rubbed my back and held me as I cried.

"I am sorry Caroline" He whispers "We should have been able to get you and Alison out" He sounds so broken and it hurts to hear him that way more than anything William has done to me.

"It's not your fault. It's mine. I was the one stupid enough to let us get captured. You taught me so much better than that." I'm not sobbing anymore but tears are still falling form my eyes. I'm ripped out of my father's arms by Daniel who squeezes me in a warm hug.

"It wasn't you fault Care." He uses the nickname that only he uses and it makes me smile. "You had to be outnumbered to be captured, I know it." His confidence in me surprises me.

A soft hand on my shoulder makes me leave my brother's arms to only be wrapped again into Landon's. I have missed them all so much and I realize now after everything that William has done that I can't live in fear anymore. I pull away from Landon to see him with a hurt expression on his face till I stand on my tip toes and smash my lips on to his and kiss him. He is shocked at first but then responds. His lips are gentle and his hands are cupping my face. I pull away and look him in the eyes.

"Landon" my voice is shaky but I have to say it now or never. "Landon, I love you. I was so afraid to say it before but I'm not anymore. I love you"

He sports a smug smile and chuckles a bit. "Well if I had known all it took was for you to be captured by some vampires to get you to admit it I would of dumped you at the castle gates years ago" He says teasingly.

I punch him in the arm and he flicks my nose. I narrow my eyes at him he knows I hate when he does that and that exactly why he does it. I had completely forgotten my brother and father were in the room as well and am brought out of my Landon haze by my father clearing his throat. Heat rises to my cheeks and I blush scarlet. Dear God I never told my dad about Landon and I being together and I just confessed my undying love for him and made out. Well this is going to be awkward. Ok Caroline you can do this just be clear and tell him exactly how you feel about Landon. You can do this.

"So daddy...hahaha...the best dad around town.. I uh...well....you see Landon...and I...we...I..." This isn't going well. "It's his fault we didn't tell you!!" I finally yell out why dramatically point my finer at Landon. Landon look's at me shocked that I just threw him under the bus, but then a smug smirk creeps onto his face. I look over to see my brother and father laughing so hard no noise is coming out. My dad finally composes himself enough to speak. "I have known about you and Landon all along dear. He asked my permission ages ago." I shoot Landon a death glare and he raises his hands in surrender.

I felt so happy just sharing this awkward but joyous moment with the three most important men in my life. They came for me. I have never felt so much love at one time. Then the color drained from my face when I realized that this moment was missing someone very important. Alison.

"What are we going to do about Alison? We can't just leave her there. William will kill her because I got away." My words came out shaky and Landon wrapped his arm around my waist to comfort me. I felt so safe with him. I clung to him and tried to calm my heart.

My father spoke first. "We don't know yet. We weren't expecting you to run right over to our tunnel. We thought we would have to do a rescue mission." He was rubbing his neck with his left hand. He always does that when he is worried and stressed.