The Last Theiro

32

Tessa
•••

My hand shakily gripped onto Lily's shoulder as she pulled me up from the ground.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her eyes examining my expression, searching for any signs of discomfort.

My expression remained neutral. I lifted my hand to my head and I fought back a whimper as my fingers grazed the gunshot wound. "How do I look?"

Lily smiled. "Like a survivor."

"Why did you save me?"

"I couldn't resist." She slung her arm around my waist. "Reign, the First Theiro, a villain, a killer, rescuing someone. How scandalous?" She joked.

"Thank you, Lily."

"Why was Storm going to kill you?"

I winced when we began walking. Still, I couldn't bring myself to look at the lifeless Storm. "I don't know. She wanted to take me back to Alec."

A laugh fell from Lily's lips. It sounded so light, so carefree. It was the sound of freedom. I wanted that. I wanted to be free, to not have to worry about hurting others, not having to worry about unleashing my true self.

"How? How did you free yourself?"

Lily's face fell and she dropped her eyes to the floor. "I became a monster. I killed. Ah, the joy of killing. You have yet to feel it." She couldn't hide the excitement in her voice. That what was she wanted. The first Theiro and the last Theiro united. What could possibly go wrong?

We walked in silence for a while until we reached a clearing where Lily gently rested me on the floor. She smiled and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ears. "You will be free, I'll help you. But right now, we must wait. We must have patience." She adjusted her position so that she was sitting behind me and my head was resting on her shoulder.

I was drifting off to sleep when a voice pulled me from the darkness. "Sacha?" I asked, confused.

His long dark hair covered his eyes and the moon light shone on his dark toned skin. Glowing white bands were wrapped around his wrists and a sinister smile played on his lips.

I felt Lily stand up behind me. "Sacha," she said, acknowledging his presence. And, much to my surprise, she pulled Sacha into a hearty embrace.

Lily seemed to realise my confusion. She smiled, her hand not leaving Sacha's shoulder. "Sacha is with us. He went to rescue you from Eden on my request." She paused. "And he saved Eden on my request."

"You-you wanted to save Eden?"

Lily's smile never faulted. But her smile wasn't warm, it was far from it. It was menacing. "Of course I did. I have plans for Eden. I have plans for all of you." She laughed psychotically and then abruptly pursed her lips.

Sacha lifted me up from the ground and I rested my head on his chest. My eyes fell heavy and my body ached.

"You knew," I murmured softly.

Sacha smiled down at me. "You're safe now, Tessa. Now, we are your family."

***