Crimson

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"We're on our way!" Darren shouted at the phone before turning it off. All of the wolves stood as one and started hurrying away.

"Can you mind-link Lamech?" I asked Aideen over my shoulder as I followed them.

When we got up to the fourth floor, Lamech, Alair, Stuart, and Olivier were already there, waiting.

"What happened?" Lamech asked as soon as he saw us.

"The rouges seem to be about to launch a massive attack. We have to get back," Darren answered without stopping, but headed towards their rooms.

"Stuart," Lamech said.

"I'll have them ready to leave in ten minutes," Stuart answered before darting away.

"What?" Darren stopped walking and looked back at Lamech.

"We'll come with and help."

"But... You don't have to. I... I don't even know the actual size of it or if they will attack."

"Lives potentially saved is all that matters," Lamech answered and a speechless Darren just nodded before hurrying off to get ready.

I had frozen at Lamech's words. It was the exact same that I had said earlier to Darren. For a moment I thought it had to have been a coincidence. But then Lamech turned to meet my eyes and I knew he had chosen those words specifically because I had said the same before.

I felt a blush coming on and quickly disappeared into my bedroom. There I changed clothes to ones more suitable to fight in. Not that I had any problems fighting in what I had worn. But I felt more comfortable with clothes that covered my body more.

As soon as I stepped out, a hand tightened around my arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" Lamech asked. He looked at me with eyes that seemed to be ablaze.

"To come with. To help fight," I answered honestly and saw how his eyes darkened even further.

"No," he said and that word carried more authority than anything I had ever heard him say before. It almost made me cower, almost even made me bend my head and expose my neck. But I stopped the action and straightened my back instead. Met his eyes with the same fierce determination as his held.

"Yes. I'm coming with. I'm not going to stay here while the rest of you go out to fight."

"This does not concern you in any way."

"Like hell it doesn't! It concerns me as much as it concerns you!"

His voice was low and collected but seemed unyielding, while mine was an angry shout that promised a fight until I got my way.

"It doesn't," he brushed it off. "You are to stay here. I forbid you from setting a foot outside of this house until I have returned."

"You can't forbid me from anything! I'm not yours to boss over. And you can't stop me from coming!"

His hand that didn't hold me flew up and hit the wall next to me. I could hear as the stone cracked.

"You are not coming! End of discussion!" The calmness had left his voice and he yelled just like I had. "I can't have you out there. I can't have you get hurt!"

"I'm a better fighter than most here! Ask any of them and they'll tell you. I'm not some meek girl that can't handle herself!"

"I don't care! Either you agree to staying here, or I'll get someone to make sure you do. Your choice!"

"You're being unreasonable! If you won't let me leave, I'll just use magic to force my way out."

For a moment I thought that he would push me into the bedroom again, tie me up and make absolute sure that I couldn't leave. But the next thing that happened was that he pressed his lips against mine. It was a hard kiss. He sucked my lower lip in-between his teeth and bit down on it. I felt the familiar moment of pain followed by shivers of pleasure as he licked up the drops of blood that came out.

Then he leaned his forehead against mine, his eyes closed as he spoke. "Please understand Crimson. I just can't stand the thought of you potentially being hurt."

His words warmed my heart, but then almost instantly made more anger rise within me.

So he couldn't stand the thought of me potentially being hurt? Then why had he drunk my blood until I was unconscious for days not once but twice? Why had he been an arrogant twat and both been rude and ignored me for days? And why had he let that bimbo into his bedroom?

I pushed him away, not by using my physical strength, but my magic. Pushed him and forced him up against the opposite wall.

"You fucking asshole!" I yelled at him before taking off at a run.

I knew that it was futile for me to try to leave the house. He had likely already mind-linked all vampires and told them to stop me if they spotted me. But I had to get away from him and deal with my anger and hurt somehow and the only place I knew to do that was the gym.

I ran down the stairs, but I never made it to the basement. When I got to the second-floor landing, hands grabbed hold of me, covered my mouth and forced me into a room to the side. I struggled to get free, but the grip was too firm.

"Stop that and be quiet and I'll let you go," a familiar voice told me and I stopped.

Everett let go of me and moved around so we were face to face.

"You want to come with and fight, right?" he said and his eyes had a similar mischievousness to them as before we had started the fight during the night.

"Yeah, but Lamech won't let me," I answered truthfully.

"That overprotective idiot," he sighed. "The way you can fight, it's just stupid to leave you behind. Wait here for a second."

He disappeared out of the room, but was back before I could wonder what the hell he was up to.

He shoved a jacket, sunglasses and hair tie into my hands.

"Put this on," he said and then took out a bottle of perfume that he sprayed at me. The scent was awfully flowery and made my nose wrinkle and eyes water.

"What the hell?" I exclaimed and turned my head away.

"It's to cover your scent as much as possible. Hopefully it'll be enough for Lamech to not notice it before it's too late."

"Too late for what?"

Everett just rolled his eyes at me. "You're coming with. I'm smuggling you out. Lamech will leave among the last so if we're quick, it should work. So get the stuff on you, we got to be fast. If... If you want to come of course."

I stared at him for a second before doing as he said. I put on the sunglasses and jacket and pulled my hair into a ponytail.

"I hope this is enough," Everett said and looked me over. "Stay close to me."

He opened the door and side by side we hurried up to the fourth floor again. A lot of people ran up and down the stairs, so no one seemed to pay any attention to us. On the fourth floor, Everett led me to the left, to a door. He pushed it open and fresh air hit me and the scent of nature. I hadn't been outside for weeks and it felt amazing to be, but Everett didn't let me stop and enjoy it. He pushed me forward and to a car.

He opened the backseat and motioned to me to get in first. There were already three vampires in the car. Two in the front and one in the back. I took the middle of the backseats and Everett went in after me, taking the final seat in the back.

"Fuck, I thought you were joking," the vampire in the driver's seat said.

"Just get going, will you," Everett answered while looking over his shoulder, back towards the house.

"What the hell will you do when Lamech finds out?" the one next to me asked.

"I'll deal with it then. Did you grab the stuff?"

The vampire sighed and bent down to take up something from the floor of the car. He placed it on my lap. It was a small black bag. I opened it and couldn't help the smile that spread on my lips.

"I assume these belongs to you," the vampire said to me.

"They sure do," I smirked and closed the bag again, hugging it close to my chest. It contained my iron knives.

"Hey Crimson, can you give me some pointers when we get back?" the vampire in the front passenger seat asked. "You're freaking amazing at fighting."

"If anyone deserves to have her teach them, it's me!" Everett exclaimed and shot the other vampire an annoyed look before turning to me. He seemed a bit nervous when he opened his mouth again. "If you would be willing to, that is."

I just smiled back at him.

"Can you roll down the windows Henry? The perfume is killing me," the one next to me said and I giggled as the one driving did as asked.

I felt happy and excited and all giddy inside. And determined. To hell with Lamech, I thought to myself. If he thinks me weak, I'll just prove him wrong.