Luka pov“Those idiots got their hands on a few drops of venom, that’s why you can’t open your eyes. Don’t freak out just yet, it’ll take a few hours until the effect wears off, so you’re not in any immediate danger, and neither is your vision.” The stranger warns me as he carries me away from the awful stench. I’m on his back like a wounded animal, and quite frankly, I’m surprised he talked dumb and dumber into giving me to him. I don’t dare to assume that I’m safe with this man. There’s no such thing as safety around strangers and those who stood with someone who decided to kidnap me. For whatever reasons they did it, I’ll figure out who they were and have their heads handed to me.“Why are you helping me?” I ask the most important question. This man didn’t lay out his intentions when he decided to get me out of there, so I can’t trust him just yet. Especially since I can’t see where he’s taking me. “Because I’m not that thrilled about the idea of kissing my life goodbye. Come o
Lazarus povSarah was awake for all but two minutes until she fell asleep again. I wish I could gaze into her eyes for longer, but at least the doctors assured us that it’s normal to feel extremely tired in her condition. They say it’ll take a few days until she comes back to her senses completely, so for now, everything is a waiting game for us. Than walks me out of her room and stops in the hall. I shouldn’t be, but I am happy that he’s the only one of our parents left in the hospital. Mom needs to take care of our siblings and the rest of the dads are running around her like she’s a miracle. I’m not trying to say it’s a bad thing, because it’s truly wonderful, but my feelings are far too conflicted right now. A part of me wants my parents around so they could give some much-needed support, but the other part screams they shouldn’t be a part of the misery. Than’s massive palm lands on my shoulder. “It will be okay, son. She needs some rest; the baby is safe, and we will find L
Lazarus pov Well, shit. Great. That's just what I needed. Note the sarcasm. Sighing, I give up on any idea that ran through my mind earlier and mutter, "I'll be on my way to greet the Elders then." Even though I'm on pretty good terms with some of them, I can't flaunt amazing communication abilities when it comes to the Elders. Luka is the brains of the bunch and he has plenty of Council friends. Speaking of which, he disappears right when he's needed the most. I know I am unreasonably irritated by the situation and the Council members falling on my head like unexpected snow, but I can’t help myself. For the time being that I have to spend next to those men and women; I’ll pretend everything is okay. Now to think of a believable excuse for my brothers. As always, I reach the main building before I’m ready to face the guests. My mind is blank, nothing I think of seems like a legit reason to excuse Luka and Lenox, so if shit really hits the fan, I’ll have to come clean with
Lenox pov“Do you guys have mutated dust here? I swear, my balls feel like someone’s brushing sandpaper against them,” I groan and reach into my pants to ease the itch. As I relieve the annoying sensation, both men turn their gazes on me. “What?” I snap at the morons who stare at me in disgust. “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen a guy scratch his balls before. Come on; it’s the most natural thing to do. Besides, it’s not like I have an STD or anything. And for your information, no, I don’t plan to fuck you, so my itch stays where it belongs – in my pants.” I grin and carry on with my business. “Normal people don’t do that with a spoon,” one of them scoffs. Well, that’s offensive. “Pray God I won’t shove the spoon down your throat and share the taste with you.” I wink at the guy who keeps making weird grimaces. In all honesty, I should’ve killed these two, but after the call with my brother, I would rather stick around for a little longer than return home and face Laz’s wrath. Some
Luka povThe silence is louder than I thought it could be. It’s suffocating me. I need to get away from here, from the man who claims to be the saviour but acts like the world is nothing but a big mystery. Trusting someone I just met has always seemed like the most ridiculous thing to do, and even though he did technically save my life, I can’t look at him like someone who means well. Fenton accompanied the men who kidnapped me, and if he could turn his back on them, where’s the proof he wouldn’t do the same to me? The only people I can trust are my family. Outsiders don’t belong with us, as stupid as it sounds, and I’m sure none of us would willingly accept any. I can’t claim the statement to be awfully precise because we just welcomed Than into our family, but that was a different case. He never helped anyone to kidnap us or meant harm. Once the silence stretches out and becomes uncomfortable, I clear my throat. Fenton’s gaze settles on me the next moment as if he’s been wait
Lazarus pov“I mean this with the most disrespect you could imagine, but have you lost your fucking goddamn mind?” I roar at the Elder. My reaction might have some serious consequences but fuck that! Have they all lost their minds?The gall to enter my home, my territory and throw demands at us? Yes, I will tolerate their disrespect and unreasonable demands. As if. “Alpha Lazarus, please calm down,” the Elder raises his hands and takes one step back to increase the distance between us. Maybe he noticed I’m ready to jump over this damn desk and attack him if another word will leave his mouth. I can picture the satisfying look on his face while he would choke on his own blood. “Please, listen to me. It’s important to have a Luna, and I don’t see an issue with claiming the woman. Your brothers and you have the woman right here, under your noses. Is this request really that unreasonable?” He keeps blabbering his nonsense. I straighten my body and walk around the desk. With each step
Sarah povI am seriously getting sick and tired from waking up in the hospital. Lazarus was here earlier, but I’m not sure how much time went by since I passed out again and woke up. The room is quiet and reeks of medicine. Thankfully, there are no wires attached to me, so pulling off any won’t alert the medical staff. Carefully, I sit up in the bed and rub the remains of sleep from my eyes. I wouldn’t freak out if there was a baby crib in the room or anything that might prove the presence of the baby, but there’s nothing. I can’t believe anyone didn't think of bringing my daughter to me. Speaking of which, I still need to get my hands on Lenox. That little, annoying asshole is going to get some piece of mind from me for the birth certificate. He named our daughter Optimus Prime; who does that? For fuck’s sake, of course, he does. Just as I throw my legs over the edge of the bed, the door to my room opens, and a cheerful voice echoes off the walls. “Oh, goodie, you’re awake.”
Lenox povI’m not actually going to fuck his dad. Well, maybe, it depends on how the old man looks and if he fits my liking. Would Sarah consider this cheating? I sure as fuck wouldn’t, but I never know with that woman. Yeah, I better find the willpower to hold back from any temptation. A simple slip of a leg, and I’m fucked forever. I don’t want to lose my wonderful woman and access to our warrior Optimus. “You sick-” the damn fool chokes on his own words. “You sick bastard, I’m an orphan!” He screams through tears. I roll my eyes and kick his leg. “I didn’t ask for your backstory, moron.” Sometimes I wonder why people are so damn adamant to talk to me. The questions, of the questions; they never stop. Who are you? How did you get inside my house? Why are you doing this? Where are you taking me? Why are we going to the basement? What are you going to do with that spoon? Shit, they’re so predictable. “Anyway,” I drag the word as I take in his miserable appearance. “Am I getti
Than povReturning home has never felt like this before. Not in a sense that I’ve been eagerly awaited, which obviously is the case here since everyone around me seems very pleased to see me. What I mean is the feeling that I don’t belong here anymore. It’s not about others, it’s about what has changed within me - it’s deep rooted, captivating, something that has gripped me so hard, I don’t think it will ever let me go. Seth. It has to be the change she has brought me - the sense of belongingness I have whenever I’m around her. With that woman, I feel at peace, wanted, respected and needed. With her I feel everything I don’t have here. Home, on the other hand, hasn’t changed much, if anything at all. The same dark, slimy cave walls, those same faces of the demonic creatures that surround me. I could say something has shifted, but I’m not sure if it’s more my problem than any other. “My Lord, we have been waiting for your next visit. It’s such an honor to be present when the Lord
Sarah povI feel weird. Something about me feels different, but I struggle to pin-point why and if anything has changed. A little obsessed with the need to figure out what has changed, I start by touching my arms and legs. Then, I count my fingers and toes - all intact. I can’t check if anything inside has changed without an x-ray, so I don’t focus on that possibility. A minute of me wondering passes, then three and then I don’t even know how long until I realize something. The voice in my head is gone, it has stopped haunting me, stopped screaming at me and demanding for something. “A-are you there?” I stutter as I whisper into the darkness, but there’s no answer, both from outside the cell and inside my head. “This isn’t funny. Stop messing with me and speak up,” I say, a little louder to appear like I’m challenging the thing, yet still nothing. The only thing that happens is some footsteps in the distance that I hear slowly approach me. Looks like I haven’t been as silent as
Lenox povThe little shit is persistent, that much credit I can give him. I’m not one to grant first chances, let alone second and he sure as fuck doesn’t deserve any, given he kidnapped Luka and all that. However, here I stand, becoming a better man than I ever was and changing my way. Except, the shit head isn’t taking the goddamn hint at all. Lord have mercy on my soul because I’m about to bash someone’s head in with my trusty spoon. Speaking of which, where did I put it? As I start patting down my pockets in search of my magic weapon, the damsel in distress clears his throat and starts nervously scanning the damn surroundings. “What?” I grumble, half-assedly paying attention to him. “Nothing, I’m just worried, you know,” he mutters and casts his gaze down. “Yeah, yeah,” I grunt and give up. “Where the fuck did my spoon go this time?” I shout, a little louder than intended. How am I supposed to make this sacrifice and kick the demonic asses of whatever is on the other side of
Felix pov“Go on, run. Shoo, shoo, little pet, you’re free now. Don’t make me shoot at the sky or some shit just to scare you away. That bullet will come back down and there ain’t no way in flippity flappity fuck hell I’m standing here to accidentally take myself out with it. Nope, ain’t happening.” Lenox mutters in a baby voice. First of all, this approach of his, acting as if I’m some kind of a kid is downright disrespectful. And mean. Yes, mean too. Sure, I didn’t want to follow him at the beginning, but the guy has grown on me now and I really don’t want to watch him head into danger alone. So, like any proper brainless moron, I shake my head and refuse to move for an inch. If this guy is about to die, I’m doing the same. Besides, it’s not like I have anything better to do with my life anyway - why not become an unlike hero, huh?“Come on, man,” Lenox grunts and rolls his eyes. “I’m allowing you to live and see the day your balls finally drop. Don’t take this experience from yo
Lazarus povBy the time Alister finally wakes up, I manage to do a quick trip to the car and back. I grabbed some food and blankets to cover him and in the meantime, I started a fire to warm up some food for us. Every once in a while, I glance at Ophelia and for most part, check her pulse. Babies aren’t supposed to be this calm and sleep this long - she has to eat, but instead, she’s just sleeping. When Alister stirs awake, his eyes instantly seek me out. Once our gazes meet, he flashes me a smile and something within me shatters. That is my son - the little boy who’s been forced to grow up too soon, all thanks to my inability to be the father he deserves. “Dad, why are you sad?” He asks, instantly picking up on the change in my mood. Like the selfish, scared fool I am, I just shake my head in denial. “I’m not sad, just thinking.” Wordlessy, he kicks off the blanket, gets back to his feet and walks closer to me just to plop down next to me. Again, he rests his head against my upp
Luka povLeaving Sarah in the cell has to be close to the hardest thing I have ever had to do. The pleading look on her face, the desperation and sadness in her eyes paired with her words will forever haunt me. As I move through the halls, my mind instantly kicks into the right gear. First and foremost, I need to figure out how to fix this mess and then, we can move along with whatever has to be done next. Rounding the corner, I manage to run into the man she begged me to seek for - Than. “Luka? What are you doing here?” He asks, looking like he has just been caught red-handed, doing drugs or some shit. I raise an eyebrow and remain silent, waiting for an explanation to come, but that doesn’t happen so I groan and shake my head. “I was looking for you, actually.” Than tilts his head, obviously intrigued, “why?” If I wouldn’t be in such a hurry, I would use this moment to fuck around a little, but since we don’t have time for foolish behavior, I get straight to the point. “I went
Lazarus povI have no idea how much time has passed and while I sit here, with a baby in my arms, I can’t help but feel completely fucking useless. My son is in a place I don’t trust. The baby I’m holding keeps sleeping as if she’s in a coma - no signs of life other than the obvious raising and falling of her tiny chest. My wife is locked away, parents do whatever the fuck they do and my brothers - I don’t even have any idea what is up with them both. How the fuck did we get stuck in this loop of madness? Another roar of thunder echoes around me, so I look up at the sky. Perhaps Alister is right - it really looks like the sky is raging because it demands something to be returned. Or, more precisely - someone. I pry my eyes off the sky and look back at the calmly sleeping baby. She’s a thing of beauty - perfection, no matter how long I look at her. Ophelia looks like a mix of Sarah and Lenox, in a way, as if mother nature gifted her the best parts from each parent. At one point, I
Lenox pov“You can’t be serious,” my sidekick gasps. “N-no, y-you just c-can’t,” he starts stuttering as his hand grabs my upper arm and he tries to pull me back. Too bad he doesn’t realise that his strength has nothing on me. No matter how much he tries to hold me back - he simply doesn’t have it in him to stop me. Ever. No army has stopped me before and I don’t plan on changing that. “I’ve made up my mind, my beautiful mutt. Come on, let’s go, we have no time to waste,” I flash him the weakest smile. Truth be told, I don’t want to do this. Really, I don’t. But, by putting my priorities where they really should be, I save them all. And then, the downside is that I’m willingly missing out on my daughter’s future. I won’t be there for her first word, first steps and first milestones. “Totally worth it for as long as we ensure she has a future.” Atlas grumbles. I can’t help but agree with him. “You crazy bastard!” My sidekick snarls. “How can you give up on everything you have? D
Felix povOkay, I might have underestimated how far those bloody shadow forests are. Seriously, it’s already getting dark and I feel like I have been walking for years. It doesn’t help that everything in this part of the forest is starting to merge into one, big mess. I can’t keep track of the times I already tripped on something and I keep doing the same nearly every two steps I take. “Lenox Vincent, where are you? Come here and grab your death tools, I’m tired,” I hiss under my breath but still push forward. If he is already there, doing whatever a crazy person does in the middle of a creepy forest, he needs me to get there as soon as possible. I’m not sure when I changed my opinion of him as someone I need to escape to someone I need to reach as fast as I can, but that doesn’t matter. What does is he can’t do without his tools, the same things I’m carrying around. After another time of nearly kissing the ground, I stop and lean against the tree to rest a little. The water is g