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We stopped for a meal four hours later namely due to the fact that I was turning into a total bitch because of hunger.
Rob pulled off the road and parked near the back of the restaurant because it was so busy, which seemed odd for a weekday night, but perhaps not.
"I'm going to rearrange the stuff in the back. I want to know if there are any weapons from the previous owners.”
Grace laughed. “It has nothing to do with the extra pillow someone stole from the hotel?”
"You stole that pillow!" Rob pretended to be shocked.
Grace popped him in the chest and laughed.
"Oh, right." He got out and I followed him to the back after urging Grace and Michael to go in and get us a table.
"You doing okay? You've been driving for a long while." I reached out and rubbed my hand along the top of my brother's back.
"Yeah, just a lot to think about." He took a shaky breath, glanced around and turned to me. "What happened at the facility? I don't remember much of it. It’s all kind of a blur."
"You tell me what happened when we got to Caleb's and I'll fill in the end of the story." I sat down on the edge of the open trunk and patted the spot beside me.
"Right," Rob stared and turned, sitting down beside me. "I went with Grace to the backyard in search of Sarah and Caleb while you and Michael went into the study that day. It wasn't but a few minutes after stepping out in the backyard that a large guy grabbed me and wrestled me to the side of the house. Mother came out of nowhere, poked me in the neck with a needle and I was out."
Anger burned through me. "She drugged you?"
"Yes, but it was for my own good. If I'd have changed in front of them, all of them would have attacked me." He ran his hand through his mop of curly brown hair. "I was so hurt at first, thinking that she had turned against me, but she told me that she was on my side when we reached the facility."
"I figured out how to access your location with the journal, if you're wondering," I interjected into the story, knowing he was going to ask about it if I didn't.
"I figured you'd mastered some new trick. Pretty handy if you ask me." He snorted. "I could see you the one time you came into the back of the van with me."
"I came twice, but the first time you were out cold." I clasped my hands together and squeezed tightly. "I was so mad at Rebekah. I was sure she was involved and had turned against us."
"No. Never. Not for a million dollars." He reached up and pressed his fingers against his eyes. "She died trying to save us in that warehouse, didn't she?"
"You don't remember?" I glanced over toward him.
"It's really fuzzy. I think I was drugged again at the facility, because I can get bits and pieces of what happened, but no real picture."
I reached over and wrapped an arm around his upper back, pressing my head against his shoulder and relaxing. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
He laughed. "That's my line, silly girl."
"I know, but I want you to know that I'll not raise a hand to Bentos until I know you're safe from the effects of killing him."
"And I want you to know that when the time comes, you need to do whatever you need to do to bring his life to an end, Rouge. If that means the Grollics die in the process, then so be it. I'm willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good."
"There is no good in wiping out a race of people." I jerked back as emotions overwhelmed me.
"Yes, there is." He smiled and stood. “Tell me one more thing and then let's get in there before your baby daddy loses his shit."
I smirked and forced the burn of tears back. I didn't care what my brother was willing to sacrifice. I was being selfish and wasn't willing to lose him. Period.
"What do you want to know?" I helped to reposition the stolen pillows and we closed the door.
"Why did you ask if Rebekah was my mother? You have something running through that complicated mind of yours. I just know it." He reached out and ruffled the top of my head.
I swatted him away and brushed my hair back down as we walked toward the restaurant.
"Because, when I died in the forest with Bentos and Michael, I came back alive as a hunter." I turned to him and let my eyes bleed blue.
"What the hell?" He jumped back and let out a soft yelp.
"Right. No one but Michael and Seth know, well, and Bentos I would imagine." I let out a long exhale and paused in front of the doors to the restaurant. "I expected the same to happen to you yesterday."
"What? Why? I didn't die." He crossed his arms over his chest as if to protect himself from the truth that raced through him.
"Yes. You did." I shook my head as the scene rushed past my gaze. I had been calm and rather collected, but inside of me I was frantic, terrified and lost to the idea of letting my brother die.
"You're sure of it?" He reached out and touched my arm as tears filled my eyes.
I glanced up at him as the first one rolled onto my cheek. "Yes. No breath, no heartbeat and the light in your eyes was gone."
"Oh, Jamie. Don't cry." He pulled me close and wrapped me in a big bear hug.
I let myself feel the sadness and fear that there might not be too many of those hugs left if I didn't figure this thing out with my father soon.
"I'm not going anywhere." He squeezed me one more time and moved back a little. "We'll figure this out, okay?"
"I know. I'm just scared that it won't be in time. I'm tired of fighting and giving everything to lose each time." I shrugged and wiped my tears away angrily.
Rob blinked in rapid succession and got in my face with a goofy grin on his face. "My eyes blue now?"
"No. Silly."
He blinked slowly, far more exaggerated. "Now?"
"No. Idiot." I swatted at him and opened the door as Grace pressed her face to it with a look of impatience. "I'm telling you that something about what happened with you yesterday isn't right."
"I wasn't dead. Simple really," he mumbled at my back as we walked into the warmth of the large cafe.
I turned and pinned him with a hard stare. "Yes. You were."
––––––––
We ate our fill of fried southern food and forced ourselves back to the SUV as the sun was setting in the sky.
"Who's up for driving? I have to take a nap and let my food-baby digest." Rob puffed his stomach out and rubbed it slowly.
"I'll drive." Michael took the keys and turned to me. "You need to take a nap too. You have to take care of yourself."
I chuckled, unwilling to respond with a snarky remark like I usually would. He was playing the protective father for the baby inside my stomach and not so much for me.
I nodded and turned to Grace. "You okay up front with Michael?"
"Yes. I need to discuss with him about that crap Caleb said the other day." She opened the door and winked at me. "Besides, I like giving him hell anyways."
I smirked and got in the SUV, taking Rob's offered hand for assistance and snuggling down with one of the stolen pillows. Guilt swelled up inside of me over not telling Michael and Grace what I knew about the dark angel being their father, but it was a conversation that was far more suited when we had time to dissect the implications and after I gained more proof. Starting them on a search for the truth with a possible lie wasn't the right way to go about things.
It didn't take more than a few minutes and I was lost to the waking world.
––––––––
Dark trees loomed around me, swaying softly back and forth as the moonlight hid from us. I turned in a quick circle, taking note that Rob and Michael were at my back and Grace by my side. We were surrounded by Grollics under the control of evil.
Their teeth were bared and spittle dripped from angry jowls as their warnings filled up the night around us.
Bentos moved out from the darkest parts of the forest and lifted his hand, forcing the three Grollics closest to him to stand on their hind legs.
"I'm glad you've figured out the secret to your success, daughter." His voice was filled with pride.
"You'll die tonight because of it," I responded coolly. I knew how to kill him and I'd pulled the tie between him and the Grollics off of his shoulders. I could slaughter him and never harm one of them.
"I will. You're right, but so will one of your beloved." He winked and rushed at Grace, picking her up and throwing her toward a large tree. She hit it with a sickening crack and the Grollics attacked.
I couldn't get to her because of the onslaught of beasts rushing toward me, readying for the fight of their lives.
"Don't let them bite you," Michael cried out.
I worked to get through them, twisting and turning as I threw their large bodies and cracked a few of their necks. It wasn't a time to feel burdened by offering death. They were harbingers of pure evil in that moment.
Bentos circled Grace as he laughed deeply from his chest.
I pushed forward, but realized I'd never make it in time. I spun, throwing a solid punch into a large brown wolf’s muzzle. My eyes scanned the scene behind me. Rob and Michael were fighting furiously, Rob having transformed into a large amber wolf. They would be no help in rescuing Grace.
There was a cost to call on the help that I needed, but I wasn't willing to watch my best friend die because of my own failures.
I turned in time to see Bentos lift a long blade into the air.
"Malaz," I screamed. "Aid me and I will repay your costs."
Bentos turned and growled loudly as a dark shadow picked him up and twisted him around in the air above us.
I raced toward Grace, pulling her up and getting in her face. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Thanks for the help." She pushed at me and chuckled. "Let's get back to doing what we do best."
I smiled and picked up my father's blade before lifting my eyes to the heavens. The dark angel shifted from the trees and headed with expedience to the spot just before me. He drove my father into the ground, causing the earth to buckle and shake violently.
I righted myself and moved without a thought in mind, jamming the sword deep into Bentos’ chest and screaming out words that came from deep within me. The light in his eyes died and I let out a cry before looking up at the dark-haired angel who watched me with interest.
He was incredibly beautiful, but just beneath the surface of his alabaster skin pulsed dark veins. Evil. I took a step back, realizing that perhaps I was calling on the wrong entity for help.
He nodded toward me and whispered softly, "My cost for my service."
"Is what?" I asked and glanced up, noticing that the fighting had yet to cease. With the Grollics now tied to the dark angel, they beckoned to his call. Why were they still fighting against us? Was that his purpose as well?
He smiled, his teeth black as night. I jerked my face away and only looked up as I heard the agonizing scream of my best friend.
Grace.
The spirit lifted into the sky until I couldn't see him anymore. I was frantic, screaming for him to bring her back, and he did.
He dropped her lifeless body dead. At my feet.
––––––––
"No!" I screamed and jerked up from my slumber, swinging wildly and trying to break the hold that someone had around me.
"It's me, Rouge. It's your brother. Stop it." Rob squeezed me tighter and I relented, panting softly as I looked around the darkened car.
We were stopped at a convenience store and Michael and Grace weren't in the front.
"Where's Grace?" I pulled from Rob. "Where is she?"
"Hey, calm down. She went in to grab a drink. Come on, let's go in and get you something too. Jeez." He opened the door and offered me a hand. "Bad dream?"
I took in long gulps of air and worked hard at not running toward the store. Fear permeated every cell in my body. The battle couldn't end with my best friend dead at my feet. It had to be a nightmare and not a vision, yet I knew different.
Utilizing the help of Malaz would only bring death and destruction to my door. Why had I thought it would be different? He had to be destroyed. First.
We approached the store and I paused as Michael's voice caught my attention. He was on the phone from what I could tell, and he was agitated.
"I'll be in there in a minute. Just going to check on him." I nodded toward Michael and forced a smile for my brother. "Just a bad dream. I promise. Scared the hell out of me, okay?"
"All right. You want a coke?"
"Yes, Sprite and some chips. Any kind." I turned and walked around the side of the store to see my boyfriend pacing back and forth.
He glanced up and pressed his finger to his mouth as if to tell me to be quiet. I nodded curtly and leaned against the building.
"You lied to me. There is no way around it." Michael let out an exaggerated sigh. "I realize that, but you promised sanctuary. I don't trust you and it's not just me and Rouge now, Caleb. She’s pregnant with my child. I don't care what you think about the situation. It is what it is and I'll kill every damn one of you if you try and hurt her or my son. Tell me that you hear me."
I stiffened, not quite sure what to think. Caleb had obviously reached out to Michael. There was no way things would have happened in any other manner.
"I'm not coming home. Neither is Grace. You drew a line in the sand. Period. I've now stepped across it." Michael growled and ran his hand through his hair. "I know I'm like a son to you, but what you've done... it's unforgivable."
I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling the pain of Michael's plait all too well.
"Rebekah died at the facility, Caleb. The fact that she would turn on her own son and daughter leaves me with very little sadness toward losing her." Michael turned to pin me with a stare before walking over and sliding his hand over my neck and cupping it tightly as he watched me.
"She was nothing to me."
He must have meant Rebekah.
"Of course Grace and I want to know more about your reference to us being impure, but not at the cost of returning to you." Michael growled. "Stop beating around the bush. If you want to tell me something... tell me."
Michael pursed his lips and pulled the phone from his ear, dropping the call and letting out a growl. "He wants to see me. He feels the need to explain how I'm intimately connected to not only the dark spirit that you've been playing with, but Rebekah too."
"Rebekah? My mother?"
"Yes." He shook his head and pulled me close. "I don't know what he's getting at, but it's nothing to worry about."
I jerked back.
"Did he say Rebekah was your mother?" Sickness rolled through me at the thought and I shook my head. "That's not possible."
"I agree. It's his hook in my back to get me rushing back home. I don't need to know the truth Rouge. I've lived this long without it. I'll be fine." He pulled me close again, kissing the top of my head.
He would be fine? What if I wasn't? A new fear began forming in the pit of my stomach.
