LIBERTY

Chapter XIX

Adam leaned against the open door of the balcony that was attached to Libby's room. He watched his younger sister huddled in one of the lounge chairs with her favorite quilt wrapped around her like a safety blanket. The moonlight casted a soft hue over her face. She had fallen asleep, her cheek resting on her shoulder, her neck angled; giving him a perfect view of the faint fingerprints marring the pale skin. He noticed how her eyebrows knitted together and how her knuckles whitened as she held onto the ends of her sleeves – even asleep, she wasn't entirely at ease.

The wind blew a soft breeze into her hair, causing the strands to shift in her eyes. Without thinking, Adam picked up his hand and gently pushed the locks from her eyes.

Libby wrinkled her nose and stirred. She was momentarily confused as she took in her surroundings. Her eyes found her brother's and she blinked a few times.

"What time is it?" she asked groggily.

"It's almost midnight." He took a seat on the other chair and twisted his body to face her. "How're you feeling, baby?"

Libby pushed herself to sit up and groaned when she felt her muscles and joints protest. She rolled her shoulders, trying to work out the kinks that built up at the base of her neck.

"I should probably go to bed," she yawned, wrapping the quilt closer around her body, cocooning herself in her own comforting space.

"Libby," Adam gave her an awaiting, knowing glance. "Are you okay?"

She chuckled softly. "I am great."

Her brother leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. He stared up at her through half lidded eyes. "Paul told me about what happened."

"Paul doesn't even know what happened. He wasn't there," she mumbled.

"Then you tell me what happened."

His voice was oddly calm and soothing and Libby didn't know what to make out of it. Was he angry, was he disappointed? Frustrated, unconcerned? Which one was it?

"Your brother is a psychopath. That's what's up."

His eyebrow raised. "My brother?"

"Yes, yours," she shot back. "I don't wanna be associated with his kind in any kind of way. You on the other hand, you seem to have the same mindset as his. So when you look at every other aspect, he's definitely your brother."

"You're saying I'm a psychopath?"

"Probably just a family trait you guys share," she shrugged with sarcasm dripping from her tired voice.

Adam ducked his head as he hid a smile, lightly shaking his head. "You still didn't tell me what happened exactly."

"I don't know what happened either," she admitted quietly. The memory was still fresh in her mind as was his touch. She could still feel the way his fingers squeezed her throat and how his eyes had been so cold, so empty. Libby shivered and picked up the quilt, hiking it up her shoulders.

"You have to understand that Axel doesn't exactly mean the things he does. He has a hard time delivering a message, it usually comes out the wrong way and people always take it the wrong way too."

Libby watched her older brother, a look of disappointment crossing her soft features. "Are you defending him?"

Adam's tongue darted out as he wet his lips. "I'm just trying to explain the motive behind his actions."

"He tried to kill me," she whispered through the lump in her throat.

"No, he wasn't."

"Yes, he was!" her voice not loud enough to come out a scream, as if she was trying to hold back. "He almost strangled me – "