Taken Against My Will

Chapter 20: Theories

Lily's POV

The dim light from above reaches my closed eyes and urges them to open. I fight it, not feeling ready to wake up just yet. I wanted to savour the feeling, the softness of the bed, the fresh air surrounding me from the open window. The flowing waves were something new though. Startled by the sound my eyes open. The softness I thought was my bed is now grass, the open window not there at all. I'm laying in the shade of a huge oak tree, right by me is a beach and a playground. I have no idea where i am or how i got here, as i jump from the ground to stand a light wind passes, blowing my hair from my face and scratching at my eyes. I freeze as I catch the scent. My eyes dart to my hands where i let out a startled breath. Blood is dried all over me, not only my hands but up my arms too. I can feel it all over my face aswell. I run to the water to wash it all off but I stop when I see the pile of bodies laying lifeless on the sand, their mangled bodies being reached by the flowing waves. I feel myself losing control, my emotions taking a ride on a rollercoaster as the only possible conclusion sinks in-I did this. I don't know how, the last thing I remember was Alex leaving the room after I woke up in blood and going to see Alex. I swear I just got in to bed and didn't move. Something is happening to me. Something Mariah did, or something the bald man did i'm not sure. But Alex can't see me like this. The kingdom won't tolerate me after they find it's happened again. I have to go, I have to get out of here I can't face them. I'm too weak. I can't do it. I glance around my surroundings and breathe a small sigh of relief when I see i'm alone. I listen carefully but hear no signs of movement so I take off running. I don't know where I'm going, but I need to find help before I can face Alex again.

Alex's POV

Between the two cases presented before me I don't know which i'm having more trouble understanding. I can't believe that Lily is responsible for the pile of corpses laying on the beach, even though her scent is everywhere. I don't understand how or why she did it. But what else I can't understand is why she ran away. I followed her scent away from the scene but she took off into the water and so I lost her. Nothing is making sense to me and being away from Lily is making things worse. I can't feel her but I know how she would be feeling. She didn't do this on purpose I'm sure of that. I need to find her and help her.
"Alex can you feel or hear her? We have to find her!" Robert demands, his forhead looking as though the veins may burst.
"I can't hear anything. She took off in the water so I lost her trail. Robert she didn't mean to do this. Whatever is making her act out is not in her control." I try to reason.
"I know that, but we have to find her and restrain her until we can figure out what is happening. I hate saying that but it has to be done. Now you need to find her. I'll get this mess cleaned up." He says as he stalks off towards the bloodyed beach. I turn away and walk into the water at the last point her scent touched.

Nothing. No scent, no foot prints, and no voice. I crossed the water and scaled the banks to find something but she must have gone further down. I stop for a moment and take a deep breath. There are only two places I can think of where Lily would go to when she's scared. To me, or to her mother. And then it all falls into place and I know exactly where she is.

Lily's POV

It won't be long until Alex catches me I know that. And although i'm trying to hide from him I want him to find me. I climb the tree across the street from the familiar house and watch from above as a car pulls into the driveway. And then there she is, my saviour, my protector, my mum. As she climbs out of the car she looks my way, but i'm hidden in the thick branches. After a moment of searching she walks to the front door, unlocks it and steps inside, grocery bags in one of her hands. In the other are her car keys and when she presses the buttons I hear the locks in her car latching in and the lights flash twice. I wait until all the lights in the house are out before I climb from the tree and walk around to my old window. I hesitate before I slowly slide it open. It's unlocked. I climb smoothly inside and leave it open behind me. I wonder why she leaves it unlocked, maybe she's still hoping i'll come home. I feel my eyes beginning to burn softly as tears begin to fill my eyes. My room hasn't changed, everything is exactly as I left it. I manage to silently open and close my door and move to my mothers room. I listen carefully and hear the sound of her even breathing. Knowing that she's asleep, I quietly open her door. She's beautiful, she looks peaceful as she sleeps, though her forehead occasionly scrunches up. I resist the unbelievably strong urge to touch her hair, to wake her up and hug her. I know what those consequences would be though. So instead of tempting fate any longer I walk back into my bedroom. I close the door behind me and sink to the floor, tears spilling at a rapid pace. I keep my sobbing quiet, though I know the walls are thick. I have my face in my hands so I didn't notice I wasn't alone until I felt someone sit beside me. I jump up immediately and step back, but then I see that it is Alex. I was so preoccupied with my mum I didn't even feel his presence.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, wiping away the tears from my eyes and cheeks.
"I came to find you Lily."
"I'm sorry I know I should have come to you, but when I woke up on that beach and saw everything that i'd-that i'd done I couldn't face you." The tears were starting again. Alex stands and pulls me to my bed. He cradles me to my chest and just holds me.
We stay like that until I stop crying, and then as I sit up I look at him and see how worried he is.
"Are you ok?" he asks softly, pushing my hair away from my face and wiping one of the tears away.
"No but i'll manage. I suppose you're gonna take me home now and put me in the dungeon?"
"What? Of course not. Why would I put you in the dungeon?"
"So I can't escape and kill people. I don't know why it's happening, I just wake up covered in blood with no memories of it."
"We're going to figure it out. No one wants to put you in the dungeon Lily. But I don't think being here in the human world is healthy for you right now. You're still a new vampire and you still have a strong thirst. Until you can control your feeding entirely I think it would be best if you stayed in the vampire world and didn't visit your mum like this. Just as a precaution."
"You think i'd hurt my mother?" I ask, appalled.
"Not intentially." And with that simple answer I understood what he meant. When i'm out of it I have no control. I could do anything even if I don't want to.
"You're right. I guess it would be too much to ask to stay here tonight?"
"Not tonight sweetheart. Your 'alter ego' seems to come out when you're sleeping. I think we should go home tonight."
"You're probably right. Is Robert mad at me?"
"He's frustrated because he needs to control these kinds of things and he hates having the people in danger. But he knows it isn't your fault."
"I hope so."

As we re-enter the vampire world we slow to a walk and hold hands.
"Why do you think this is happening?" I ask.
"I have no idea, but we'll figure it out."
"You don't have any theories?"
"Well... I think it must have had something to do with Mariah and the man who 'saved you'. Maybe they injected you with something to trigger random acts of violence, or perhaps it was the method of youe transformation. I'm not sure."
"Maybe, it would make sense. I don't think the bald guy was trying to save me, he didn't show much kindness to me. They probably just made me this way so that you'd be the one who has to kill me." As I finish my sentence Alex pulls me to a stop.
"No one is going to kill you."
"It's just a theory." I say, stroking his face.
"I know," he sighs. "Let's go home and go to bed."
"Don't forget to lock the doors and windows I joke. He cracks a small smile and pulls me into his arms. "You're not getting away from me tonight. I'll lock you up in my arms if I have to." He smiles, leaning in to kiss me softly.
"I think you'll have to," I tease, winking at him. And then I saw something i've missed. His carefree smile. The smile that means he's happy. The smile that says I love you a million times over.

Hope you liked this chapter!! Sorry it's taken so long. Let me know what you thought xx