Children of Blood ✔️

Chapter Twenty One

I walked out of Alaric's house, it's dark and the night air rings with screams. Alaric sticks close to me, his shoulder pressed to mine.

"What's going on?" I question, watching sparks fly into the air. My heart stops, "please tell me there's a bonfire."

Alaric shakes his head, "not that big at least."

We sprint to the site of screams, glass shattering and commands yelling. I grab Alaric's arm when I see my home up in flames. Two drunk men are hand cuffed and pushed away slurring curse words.

I run to one of the men throwing water onto my house. "Is everyone out?"

The man nods and relief takes over. "All the people who were inside got out before the flame spread. They're over there getting checked up by our medical team." He tilts his head over to a bench where my mom clutches a bag, being rocked in Adam's arms.

"What happened?" I bend down as my mom engulfs me into a hug.

"Thank God at least one of my girls is safe." She sobs and shakes uncontrollably.

"Mom," I wrap my arms around her. "Mom what do you mean one?"

She shakes her head and Adam grunts. "We can't find Izzy, she wasn't in the house and also isn't with Madeline or James."

My stomach drops as the words replay in my mind.

We will take your family and hurt your friends.

No, she has to be fine. There's no way they could've taken her. I clutch my shirt and start to shake. I can't jump to conclusions yet, hold on a little longer.

"How did the house catch on fire?" I ask Adam.

He glares at the drunk men who are being questioned. "They threw liquor bottles through our windows and then matches."

I seethe with rage. "Why?" I demand.

Alaric taps my shoulder as he bends over and picks up a few of the many papers skidding across the ground. "Because of this."

I take the paper from his hand and stare defeatedly at it.

Fellow citizens of the Fide Clan.

Look amongst you, you have you traitors. You think your new archer is a hero?

Jean is from Stratis City.

Another one reads;

Jean and her friends are Undergrounders.

Can you trust liars?

I pick up the pages from the ground and a few read something different- but the message is the same. I'm not to be trusted because I'm from underground.

I look around and catch the deadly glares from the Fide Clan. They hate us.

I turn back to Adam who matches a cold glare of this own. "I don't know why, but I know Izzy's disappearance is tied to you."

I shake and turn around in fast circles trying to grasp onto something. Something sturdy and will bring me back down to the ground.

Luke catches my eye and he approaches us. I sigh and stop to stare at him before he shoves a letter into my chest. "You've really outdone yourself this time."

I look down and watch the letters form the words; Jean kissed your brother.

Every regret and plead burns inside my mouth before I can say anything, just a sigh of smoke and torment.

Luke backs away and shakes his head. "How could you be so soulless? Did what we had mean so little to you?"

I shake my head and turn to Alaric to pass him the note. "No Luke, you don't understand."

"You're right. I don't understand so please explain it to me."

I think about the events. How this kiss felt and my guilt because I knew I did something wrong. I couldn't talk my way out of this one. My lips part and close before I accept defeat and shut my eyes and pinch my mouth shut.

"That's what I thought." Luke's jaw clenches as he walks away.

Alaric rubs his forehead and turns to me. "I have to go see him." Alaric jogs after his little brother, leaving me to smother in my own creation.

Then the bottles come. They shatter at our feet like hearts as people yell and curse in pain. I've betrayed them and now they're hurt. My mom bursts into more tears and Adam towers over her, protecting her from the glass that crashes onto his back like rolling waves.

A series of soldiers push the crowd back. One grabs Adam and my mother before another rests his hand on my shoulder. They're all emotionless and lead us away from our demise into another one.

I am pushed through the crowd as Adam and my mother are pushed another way. "Wait! Where are they going?"

"Somewhere safe so they don't get bombarded by the citizens." One guards states guiding me forward.

I lower my head and subdue a frustrated scream. I close my eyes until I am brought to Windsor's throne.

He sits with his head in his hand, "I had faith in you Jean. That you'd do the right thing in the end."

I gulp, "I'm trying—"

"Stop talking before you dig yourself into a deeper hole." Windsor stands and walks to me. "I don't know how, but Alaric has forgiven you. But my people won't be so easily convinced of your innocence. They are upset and want you and your family out."

I shake my head, "no."

"I'm sorry Jean, but after tomorrow's trial the fate of you and the ones you love are in the hands of the jury."

"Not my family." I whisper as I pull my hair back. "Windsor, please help me. My family is innocent! I'll take their punishments and a thousand more to protect them. They need a home. Please!"

"My hands are tied," Windsor rests a hand on my shoulder. "But if you manage to play your cards right, after tomorrow's trial, your family may stay. But I can't say the same for you. Are you willing to sacrifice a life without your family?"