Chereads / STINGER / Chapter 20 - It's not home

Chapter 20 - It's not home

Upon bursting out through those doors ready to steak some heart, petrified to my core but I wasn't ready to give up yet after I had reached that far, Lucinda's betrayal to her kind would have been a wasted cause. To my greatest astonishment I didn't thought it would be a baffling feeling finding the coast clear of vampires but just a path before a very dense forest

"What! It doesn't make sense" I said, I felt it might not be real or maybe they were hiding somewhere knowing of our plan all along as it seemed all too easy for Lucinda to snap four very skilled vampire heads so easily. I couldn't keep away from looking in every direction even behind me to the dark tunnel we left their bodies.

"It's a good thing," Lucinda said removing her hood again, grabbing my shoulder so that I would concentrate on her. she looked at me with a smile

"Now before anything becomes complicated again. You remember what the plan was right," I nodded quickly

"You should take that route and don't look back" she gestured to the little path stretching farther into the thick forest. I looked back at her suddenly feeling guilty, I never thought I would ever feel like not leaving there, I had been anticipating my savior's magical appearance but I was wanting Lucinda with me through this journey.

"Thank you Lucinda" I said my voice cracking as I quickly give her a hug.

"Remember to mask your scent just as we planned!" she repeated quickly turning me to my new found course. I nodded and pushed forward not sparing a thought but that of my survival. I couldn't believe I was just leaving with zero drama, I thought it would turn out bloodier, it was too easy. I twisted through the trees, crunching the leaves covering my tracks and barely looking behind me, the air brushing through my hair as it run down my pipe smoothly. Filling my lungs was the goodness that nature had to offer, it was so good and refreshing that it felt like the first time ever.

I was stopped mid trance by a sound like that of moaning in ecstasy, I quickly looked around spotting a vampire pinning a woman against the tree feeding through her neck while she stood motionless. I quickly shoved back seeing I was literally a blood bank myself in the clearing, doing that I stepped on a twig making a little bit of a snap noise as I hide behind a huge oak tree. I held my breath as I heard a thud knowing that he ditched her for a more fulfilling meal, I slap my hand over my mouth although I knew it was stupid because my heart was beating fast as my eyes dilated scanning in front and beside me hoping he wouldn't find me

I was wrong

With the air, he was right in front of me. A tall hunk, muscled, blonde blessed with light eyes, I could have sworn he was a normal human being if not for his mouth covered in blood making path down his neck and bare torso, he was a dangerous hot mess. He was looking me down like the meal I was. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand a smile playing on his lips like it were a sin for me to see his dark side.

"Don't mind my manners beautiful, are you lost dear?" he was deadly charming too, triple threat. But I had no fucking time for wooing me into a coffin, overcoming the slight tightness in my throats I had one of the stakes secured in my fist. I didn't answer but just stare back pinning myself to the bark of the tree as I continued to heave device.

My biggest fear at the moment was Cassius catching up and not him threatening to send me into a toxic ride before completely draining me alive. As he took a step forward I swung my hand aiming to plunge it into him but it seemed like I moved all too slow, my wrist landed in his death grip. He chuckled deep and dark under his breath, prying the stake out of my grip effortlessly and throwing it to the ground.

That's one perfectly unused steak gone to waste.

"let's make it fair–giving you a head start. Chasing my food makes it whole lot fun" he said venomously as his pupil bled over the iris erecting his fangs simultaneously. As soon as his hand was off me I dashed forward without thinking twice; my legs taking me as fast as they could. Adrenaline pumping faster into my system.

I know it's stupid thinking to out-run a vampire but that terror of never leaving my encampment with vampires drove me farther but not enough to run out of his track. He was suddenly behind me one arm securing me against him and the other pushing my head to the side exposing my bare neck.

"This will be very unpleasant but I will enjoy it" His voice dark and husky. As he was saying that to my ear I rummaged through the bag getting a hold of the holy water she placed for me in a silver bottle, I threw it to his face thus sizzling and eating away his flesh like acid. He roared and in the process of letting go off me, he scratched me in the neck with his sharp nails. Blood bubbled out of the small scratch like a huge wound. As he palmed his face screaming, I grabbed another stake out of my supply bag and plunge it in his chest, shrinking away as I did.

He shoved back falling to the floor screaming as his color got paler before he caught in flames, the air in my throat stuck–I cringed; my second kill. None the less it served him right for trying to be a wall of pricks to my escape and trying to kill me too.

I quickly turned away looking down the path I should continue to, knowing better his screams was like a speaker in the ears of the vampires, so he is a beacon light. I quickly grabbed a handful of the dust and throw it in the air around me before dashing forward.

As I went deeper into the woods, I was overcame by the feeling of déjà vu, a very strong one ;it kept becoming all too familiar. Knowing that I wasn't a fan of hiking or camping and neither of my parents are less busy for those activities, I never went or built any interest on it.

But why the feeling?

Like a heavy rock it reached me, I stopped in my tracks as my heart picked up pace and covered in goosebumps, I'd definitely been here before but I'd never expected it to be real. There I was ahead of me was a bit of a clearing and a cliff.

That was the same cliff end the woman that hunts my dreams jumped off, this is a nightmare. The feeling on impending doom came in a chaotic but yet familiar manner; I was starting to spin. I got pulled out of the shocked state by the faint voice I knew so well, Cassius. They were already caught up, how the hell are they? when I masked my scent?

I cursed under my breath with my heart trashing even faster in my chest the closer I got to the dead end, It was like I hardly moved before they were exactly behind me

Dang! they are so fast

I stuck to my feet for just a second, instead of running I sped walked few feet knowing Cassius wouldn't dare rip the heart out of my chest because he needs me to keep his status as a fearless leader and to attain even bigger statue in the vampire world. Then I finally stopping when I heard my name being yelled.

"Gianna!" I never knew Cassius had grasped my name on his tongue with all the disgust, hating me and stuff. It appeared not stinging but the bitterness was nicely there in-between his harsh utterance. The still air was in echoes of my name and I was shivering beneath my breathe.

Hell knows I've went that far for freedom and I'm not stupid enough to just hand it over or stop and walk back into his grasp because I was afraid of them deadly beast to end me painfully, at least I've got to die trying.

My repeated nightmare was coming to reality the only difference was I was going to make the suicide Jump this time.

It was surprising that I was still standing on my own two feet thinking such thoughts but just then I understood why it was silent after my name was called for the birds to sing tomorrow, I was being ambushed

I saw Damien via my peripheral vision to my right lurking by a huge tree and another by my left, it's a smart move to jump a human like that but I was on alert thanks to the only friendly relation of my Mom's in this part of the world.

The pessimistic part of me was calling up red flags and sirens in my head while the craziest and surviving part was preparing to get me the hell out of there through the last place I wouldn't even think of on Earth as an escape route.

So, I did what every human would do in such a situation.

Lucinda was quite a thinker but she let out the part whether or not I am a good swimmer!

I didn't know when I dashed forward remembering my awful dream, not once thought of living it but here I was also making a whole different decision when my ears caught a vibration setting off from behind me and an air disturbance right to my ear, I was about to jump off when I was just in his hands– Damien's. It was like I leaped into his hands instead

I was looking down at those mean riffles the water was making calling out to me as my escape boat and the next second–on impulse I was dipping a steak into the man holding me. It all happened so fast as I glanced back locking eyes with Cassius's red ones before jumping off.

I only acknowledged a new fear at a new level after the feeling of dread vanished in me

I can't believe I just jumped off a freaking cliff!

Before that fear could settle enough to make me scream I was hitting the water with such force. I was immediately totally immersed in the angry water trying to beat against that force was impossible, it was throwing me around like a piece of paper.

There just had to be broken sharp edge twigs and rocks three times the size of my head in there giving me great makeovers before I could finally push up gasping.

But it was short lived, I got pushed back in again. I was so afraid seeing that I was less than an average of a newbie moreover I didn't get away from those blood suckers to get my ass drowned in the water. I tried as more and more turbulences hit forcing me into all directions until I can't help it scream in anguish taking in generous amount of water before hitting the back of my head with a rock.

Everything was quiet as my body calms, I could barely feel the force of the water against my body or the direction it was taking me to as I could barely breathe. The hallucinations we're back I caught on something red and wavy passing by my view followed by it a lighting of some sort. Like a star dropped from the sky into the water giving it's energy away before dying, like time glitched I found myself mysteriously by the shoreline.

The rocks littering the shore pressing against my face, the littlest of my clear vision stretching to see the grasses were really greener on this side.

In my dazed state true or not I saw the wolf again, the red-eyed wolf towering over me his eyes as soft as gazing into the sky with the blood moon staring back at you. I was suddenly at peace before I blacked out.

**

I gasped awake coughing as I sat up feeling a glorious headache wrap around my head. I clutched my head in my palms before reaching my hand to the back of my neck cracking it and thus remembering everything.

I freaking jumped! Without thinking twice and nearly drowned

I quickly glanced around my body, I wasn't covered in blood or anything the scratches were all gone and I was changed too. But for the first time it was a good thing–I was put in skinny jeans and a blue and red striped T-shirt more over I wasn't shackled.

Although I was puzzled my wounds were healed I looked around my surrounding, I was in a moderate room in a small sized bed tucked in nicely which I undid whilst wrestling up. There wasn't too much furniture but just a mirror to the side of the antique dresser and a sofa on the other corner and for a little bit of comfort that I crave so much the walls seemed wood-like and smelled like one.

Seeing what I have been through for the past weeks of my life I was instantly on defense mode although from my recollection I saw that same wolf but that could also be a figment of my imagination, I could solely be in same danger that I left behind if not lot more.

I stepped on lightly to my feet but the floors might have been a thousand years old so it creaked anyway, I tiptoed to the door twisting the knob slowly and then opening it up but the door decided to creak all the way open too. I bit down on my bottom lip nervously until I didn't get anyone coming to my face trying to choke me.

I proceeded forward into a hall noticing a closed door facing the room that I just came out of and then another adjacent to that which I didn't want to look into since they were closed. I wasn't snooping but trying to find a way to escape so I just advanced to the living room.

Three mismatched sofas scattered in the little living room with a wooden centered table a glass figurine of a wolf placed at the center of it and just a window which was accessorized with a white curtain and up ahead was the kitchen.

I made my way there, it looked like someone was just in there.

My trashing heart just kicked to a 6oknot

The pan stirred bacons were still giving off steam and a knife was laying on a chopping board on a wooden dinning table which appeared to be losing it's chairs, waiting for the owner of this house to finish violating the green vegetable on it. The kitchen was alot smaller accoutrement with cupboards and the table taking most of the space, two people couldn't fit between the sink and the table.

I just noticed a door to the corner side of the room and my boots were carefully placed by it, clean and dry. That was definitely my cue to leave but before I did that, I snatched the knife. I was done putting on my boots in a swift hunkered down to secure the knife in one of them when the door just creaked open.

I jumped up the knife in my hand pointing directly to the person coming into the door–probably the house owner when I noticed it was an old lady.

Black and grey hair in a bun and her fairly tanned skin holding a little bit of wrinkles, she was wearing an apron over her clothing. Above all that she looked around the age of my Nan but only even more good looking

"Oh, you're finally awake. I thought you would never" she said her old voice sweet and low with a smile on her face. It was sure an old woman but I wasn't letting my guard down so I held the knife up following to her movement towards the kitchen table. She wasn't even fazed by me holding a knife at her threateningly while she was just a helpless old lady. She kept the basket of greens on the table turning back at me with same smile and then a little puzzled when she glanced at my hand. She chuckled softly shaking a head a bit like a naive child was in her presence.

"The knife has loose grip, I can easily snatch it out of your hands if I were one of those that wants you dead" she said casually making me glance a bit to my hands that were tightly gripped on the rubber handle of the knife. I was holding on just fine, I was a little more puzzled than I was afraid now.

"Then who are you and where am I?" I asked sternly taking some steps back seeing that she was uncomfortably close to the pointy edge of the knife. I was to threaten not stab an old lady for real. I could just dash out the door also but I won't, I wouldn't want her following me afterwards. I want to settle it not like with the vampires

"I understand you have many questions but this is no way for a proper meeting after a long time for family, child!"

"Family?" I asked more like repeated what she said. I was just putting two and two together, mom had no family except that she mentioned my great grandma was still alive. I didn't see that coming, not that at all. I looked properly at the woman in front of me, she was no older than Nan. If she were to be my great grandma she should be on a wheel chair like a pile of laundry or in a bed on a life support waiting for the light... This just got messier but also anyone could take advantage of that to finish me.

"Don't be so speculated, I am indeed your great grandmother"

My great grandma I stood shocked for a while until she took the knife out of my hand and pushed my lower jaw up with the tip of her fingers walking around me. I quickly turned around and took a few steps back as she was behind me, trusting a person is now a bucket load of work

"How am I supposed to know you are speaking the truth?"

"I made breakfast, you must be hungry" she said grabbing me a stool tucked under the table. She ignored my question like I didn't even address it.

"Come on now, sit" she said sweetly

"Look, I'm not here to have breakfast and I don't know why you brought me into your home but I don't trust you"

"Trust. We will get to that later but if I do want to hurt you, I will give you a fair warning. Now Gianna, sit!" She stated firmly, I wasn't even surprised she knew my name as it was oddly popular now. I knew right then I would have to sit even if it was for a while before I figure where to stare from here and because she took away the weapon. Looking through the window of the kitchen it seemed like an less populated place, it would mean slim chances of getting help.

I walked over and sit as she served me scrambled eggs with bacon and hot tea. I simply watch her serve with a delightful smile on her face like indeed she was serving family, after she was done she took a seat beside me starting on her breakfast. I peered down at both my plate and cup my stomach rumbling for food, it looked promising but if anything was to happen to me after that I would make sure I return the favor. Starved, I ate as fast as I could surprisingly as I was so doubtful of it, glancing up at the woman sitting beside me at every chance I get not daring to lock eyes with her.

"I know you have a handful of questions but we'll have the talk later, you need to rest some more" She said taking her plate to the sink. She must have caught that I was staring at her the whole time she was having breakfast. I was pretty done too so I sat there waiting, concentrating on her body workings, the slightest change and I would be pressing the sharp edge of the knife on the lady's throat.

"I have rested more than enough for a while now, I think I'm ok" I said standing up to do away with my dishes, I was convinced that she didn't add something into my breakfast for the mean time. She nodded and washed the dishes as I stayed on the other side of the table,arms crossed over my chest watching her and then the door.

"What is this place?" I asked

"Shallow falls. We are just on the outskirts, I like it here"

"....I wasn't taking you to shallow falls, not ever"

My heart skipped a beat, it was thesame place my mom suggested to bring me after the rash appeared. I remember how she took me away not to the train station but it was clear we were running away but not to reach shallow falls but wasn't bringing me here for some reason. I knew it meant something bad and I wouldn't stay.

"Shallow falls!?!"

"I'm not supposed to be here" I said absent mindedly, she wasn't suppose to hear it but she did

"This is the only place you are supposed to be at, with family" she stepped closer carefully

"If you are really family where have you been all this while when we needed help, the night,"

"Elisabeth was killed" she chimed in laced in her voice pain and guilt.

"What else do you know?"

"I tried to help but it was too late. They took you away, Elisabeth did her bit to protect you now it's mine to continue,"

"As I saved you from the vampires through an old family relation—broken relations. Even in worst times your alleged enemies are worth making allies"

"Lucinda?! That was why she choose I follow to the edge of the cliff where she know you'd will be waiting?" she nodded as she was done with the dishes already she turned around to look at me. This whole while I was monitoring her facial expressions and body language, there was no ingenuity about her claims but people can be expert in trickery. I still had my doubts

"Are you the wolf I saw?"

No answer was needed but I could see in her sudden change of expression that it wasn't her, it was probably a hallucination. I quickly stare away from my question by looking away from her

"Now, you will be safe for a while If you adhere to my words not necessarily place trust yet as I could see you are still doubtful..."

"I don't think I can trust anyone apart from the family I knew to be mine"

"You are right about that! Why don't you come with me, you can keep the knife" she hand out the knife to me holding up to the grip less end of the knife, I hesitated before moving from the spot I was standing. I took the knife and place it down on the table simply watching me with a satisfactory smile

"I don't think I will need it"

She rounded the table and I followed after her to her mismatched sofas. She mentioned me to sit and then proceeded into the hall disappearing but I could hear her subtle footsteps and a door creak. Having my back turned on the exit door, my heart was pacing a bit more than normal. I could walk out and never look behind me but I also wanted to stay atleast to clear my own conflicts. I needed to know why the world of the supernatural was after my head.

The old lady came back in the living room setting in front of me an old dusty book. As it hit the wooden table a cloud of smoke bubbled up clogging my throat, I coughed a bit sweeping my hand to the air to clear it out.

"Let's look through history, shall we?"