CHAPTER 49

LUCY'S POV

My heart skipped a beat as the bag fell from my shoulder, the blood bags which I had stolen from the pack clinic sprawling on the floor.

“Oh my God! Caine!” I exclaimed, trying to hide the guilt as I started linking them up with a rush. I tossed them into the bag, not paying attention to whatever he was saying.

“Lucy, I asked a question!” He pulled my shoulder, sending me to the floor. I fell on my butt, wincing in pain. “Oh my…Luce, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to,”

“Stay away from me,” I yelled, stopping him with an extended palm. I took my time on the floor, thinking of what lie to give to him so he wouldn’t go asking questions.

“Lucy…I didn’t mean to hit you in that manner,” he apologized, taking further steps closer to me. I burst into tears, burying my head in my legs. That was the first excuse I could garner from my thoughts, just so I’d have enough time to think.

“Don’t touch me, Caine,” I whimpered, sobbing into my palms. “You almost ruined it all. My efforts. My hard work!” I cried, gradually finding my words. “You almost wasted them!”

“What are you talking about Luce?” He interrupted, crouching before me. I tried to turn away, but he held me in place. “Please…just…talk to me. Okay. The blood bags…where are you taking them to? Is it even legal to take them from the packed clinic?”

“Is that what matters? The legality? We have enough blood in the clinic. Pints of blood lying in waste in the coolers. Yet there are humans out there who need them. They’re dying, they need blood. I couldn’t…I couldn’t…” I choked on my words as more tears streamed out.

Caine pulled me into a hug, holding me in tight. I bet he was still trying to wrap his mind around it. Well, that makes two of us, because I was still figuring out how to fix this puzzle I just got myself into.

“If you would just calm down, and speak to me, please,” he begged, kissing my head and pulling me out again. “The blood bags…what or who are they for?” He asked again, staring into my eyes. I kind of found it difficult to keep up with the lie, but I had to.

“I know it’s illegal,” I started, sniffling all through at intervals as I spoke. “I know it’s illegal to have sneaked out into the human world or even to have this amount of blood in my possession, but what I saw out there…I couldn’t let them die,”

“Out where?”

“In Fildare city, you know it?”

“Yeah, Yeah I do,” Caine said, helping me up.

“I’ve been busy with my aunt, we go into Fildare to help the children in need. Then yesterday, we visited the hospital. And…and what we saw Caine…” I shuddered, falling back into his arms. “They are dying. Something is killing the humans out there….and I can’t just sit and watch,”

“Something?” Caine interrupted. For a moment I thought he’d get me. He was smart and has always been, but this time I had to outsmart him. “Like…”

“I don’t know, Caine. A wild animal…a beast…I don’t…I don’t..” I stuttered.

“Hey, it’s alright, okay,” he consoled me, stroking my hair. “But this is way too much to be in your possession. I’ll call my uncle, Sherwood, he’ll help look into whatever it is,”

“No, no,” I stopped him from taking out his phone. “That’s…not necessary. My aunt and I have it under control. We’re walking with the Fildare Sheriff department,” I tried to convince him. I doubt he bought it, but he trusted me.

“Okay, then I’ll drive you,”

“No, Caine. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll be safe and fine. My aunt is waiting,” I packed up the last bag and kissed him. He didn’t want to let me go, but he had to, I made sure of it with that kiss.

I tossed the bag at the back of the vehicle and drove out. I drove past the hills, heading south, away from the tall and expensive buildings in the city, until I was hit by the black smoke that hovered over the village in the hills.

For two nights, I’d become familiar with the dread of the hill, the eerie feeling that made my stomach churn, and the black smoke that mixed with the atmosphere. I packed my car in front of an old cottage and walked out, holding the blood bag.

The stairs creaked as I stepped on them, reminding me of the dread that awaited within.

“Adrian?” I called, shutting the door behind me. The house was as quiet as I left it, and I wondered if he hadn’t woken up. “Adrian…it’s me,” I called, taking slow and careful steps forward.

The wind rustled past me, goosebumps crawling up my skin immediately as fear seeped in. I exhaled, my heart racing fast as I turned towards the direction of the wind.

“You can come out now, no need to hide. It’s me, Lucy. Your sister,” I breathed, taking in and letting out my breath with a head count. In a split second, I was pushed against the wall, facing the red, blazing eyes of my brother. “Adrian…it’s me,” I struggled with my breath.

My legs slowly left the ground, his arms tightening on my neck. I snapped out my claws and sank them into my hand, kneed his thigh, and bought myself a loose end to escape his grip.

The moment I slipped out of his grip, I ran toward the bag that dropped when he grabbed and tore a blood bag.

“Food,” I said, tossing it to him. His attention shifted from me to the blood bag. He pounced on it and started squeezing its contents into his mouth. I used that opportunity to toss the remaining bags, and then I stood at a corner of the wall and watched.

The door creaked and opened, shifting both of our attention to it.

“It’s me…it’s me…Bryan,” Bryan said, with his hands in the air. Adrian picked up the blood bags and ran into the darkness.

“The lights, Bryan…shut the door,” I told Bryan. He did that and joined me by the wall, watching Adrian devour the blood like a hungry lion.

“Jesus, Lucy. Your father created a monster,” Bryan breathed.

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