Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
“CARRY ME HOME” BY S?D VEN
LUNA
The next couple of days, I hid in my room, especially after Mom came and told me she and Richard were going away for a few days, but not to worry, the boys will take care of me. Yeah fucking right.
I’m taking my evening meds—anti-nausea, immune boosters, and low-dose steroids—when there’s a knock at my door. Quickly swallowing the last of my pills and setting the bottles back on my dresser, I take a deep inhale and walk over to the door, unlocking it and cracking it open a little.
My heart gives a jolt when I find all three of my stepbrothers on the other side, looking handsome in clothes that are clearly meant for going out. I’m refusing to admit it’s because they look so good.
“We’re heading to the Fosters’ party. You should come,” Thorn suggests, and I snap my wide gaze to him, my brows practically in my hair. It sounded more like an order than a request.
“Me? Come with you to a party?” I question, more than surprised by the invitation. I thought they hated me, so why are they inviting me out with them?
“Richard mentioned you haven’t been socializing. It’s...concerning,” Chase adds, and I flick my gaze to him, my brows lowering as I try to puzzle out why the sudden change of heart.
“I’m not sure…” I start, having planned to stay home and ride out the fatigue and nausea that these meds will no doubt bring as they do every night.
“You wouldn’t want to be ungrateful now, would you, pretty stepsis?
After all, we’ve taken you in and secured you an invitation to an elite party,” Thorn says, and I chew my lip, my refusal dying on my tongue because he’s right.
Blade just stares at me, his scrutinizing gaze making me squirm like usual.
Maybe this is an olive branch, and regardless of past behavior, I should make an effort.
And maybe it’ll be nice to spend some time with other people around my age.
“Okay, just for an hour,” I find myself saying, and Thorn gives me a Cheshire Cat grin.
“Of course, you can always call Percy to bring you home at any point.”
“Be ready in ten minutes,” Chase commands before they turn on their polished heels and leave me gaping in the doorway.
“Okay, you’ve got this, Luna,” I affirm to myself, shutting the door and hurrying over to my closet. Riffling through the dresses that I think would work for an event like this, I’m relieved to find one that has a high neck, the material gathered in a collared band so my port will be hidden.
It’s a turquoise color but covered in an abstract floral pattern, has short puff sleeves, is mid-calf length with a slit up one side, and gathered in at the waist with a fabric belt.
It doesn’t take long to get on, and I finger-comb some styling mousse in my hair, quickly doing my make-up to be natural but bringing some much needed color in my cheeks.
I grab my favorite glitter converse, a purse which is also sparkly and rainbow and just fucking perfect, then call it, rushing out of my room and down the stairs to find all three guys waiting for me.
I pause partway down the stairs, their intense gazes making me second-guess my choices.
“Is it— Is the dress okay?” I ask, my fingers tangling in the silk skirt.
“Who knew you could scrub up so well?” Thorn states, his voice lower than usual and with a rasp that sends shivers fluttering all over my skin. Though I still frown at the backhanded compliment.
“The dress is fine, let’s go,” Chase orders curtly, and I roll my eyes, deciding that I don’t give a fuck if they like it or not. It makes me feel pretty, so I’m wearing it.
I follow them out of the front door, a large, brand new Chevrolet in matte black idling in the driveway.
“Nice ride,” I comment as Blade gets in the driver’s side, Chase the front passenger, and Thorn in the back. Huffing, I make my way around to the other side, opening the door and climbing in the back too. Gentlemen, they are not.
No sooner do I have the door shut than Blade is revving the engine and speeding out of the driveway. My heart thrashes as I quickly buckle up, cursing inside my head at his reckless driving.
“Don’t worry, Goldie. Blade won’t kill us.” Thorn chuckles from beside me, and it’s not exactly reassuring, but I decide not to say anything, just in case they decide they still hate me and kick me out.
Soon we’re pulling into another driveway, the mansion similar to ours. The front door is open, music pouring out of it, and there are valets waiting to park the cars. One takes Blade’s keys, getting in once we’ve got out, and driving the car around to god knows where.
“No one touches you,” Blade snarls into my ear before all three head inside, leaving me gaping in the open doorway.
What the fuck was that about?
Shrugging, my heart pounding because I’ve not been to a party since I was nine years old, I take a deep inhale, planning on finding a quiet corner to pass the hour and manage the nausea that got worse as we drove over.
I spot a place in the crowded living room, and just as I take a step towards it, three girls step into my path.
“You're the Banks’ triplets’ new stepsister, right?” the one with pin straight blonde hair and wearing a form-fitting mini dress that shows off her incredible curves asks. My inner bitchy voice tells me the boobs are fake, but they look good on her, so who am I to judge?
“Um, yep, Luna, that’s me,” I awkwardly reply, but they all titter like it’s the funniest thing. My mouth turns dry, not knowing if I should laugh too.
“They told us to take care of you,” she states, holding out a glass of what looks like fruit punch.
“Oh, thanks, but I don’t drink,” I tell her, giving a smile that I hope covers the fact that my stomach is swirling and there’s the very real possibility that I'll upchuck all over her pretty heels.
“Yes, they said,” the brunette one adds. “It’s a virgin cocktail.”
“Oh, thanks,” I reply, taking the drink and having a small sip. It’s good, fruity and sweet. Just as I’m about to say something else, they turn around and sashay off, leaving me alone again. Weird.
I resume my original plan, slowly sipping the drink and heading to the corner that clearly has my name on it, given it’s out of the way and a bit in shadow.
I people watch as time passes, something I’ve become accustomed to doing, when suddenly a wave of dizziness rushes over me, my heart pounding inside my chest.
Swallowing back the nausea that has returned with a vengeance, I look around, trying to locate one of the triplets, but can’t see them. It’s too crowded in here, and it’s so fucking hot. Maybe some fresh air would be good, might help clear my head.
I stumble my way outside, the sound of the music fading in and out until the night air hits my face.
It makes me feel a little better, though my vision keeps blurring.
Seeing a bench in front of me, I slump down into it, just focusing on breathing as I set my drink next to me before the world turns dark.
“WAR OF HEARTS” BY RUELLE
BLADE
I lost Luna when one of those annoying bitches came to talk to me, and as I gaze around the interior of the living room, I don’t see her in the corner she’s been occupying all night.
Ignoring the calls from people I know, I look around, catching a glimpse of blonde curls as the person heads into the garden.
I push through the crowd—fuck, there are so many people—and manage to make my way outside just as my new stepsister falls onto a bench and then slumps down, her eyes rolling.
Rushing over, I catch her just as she almost slides off the bench, cursing at how drunk she clearly is. It’s been less than an hour, which surprises me, as I thought she didn’t drink.
“B–Blade?” she slurs, and I notice that her breath doesn’t smell of alcohol. A pit opens up in my stomach as I see the fruity drink next to her, only half drunk.
“What have you drunk, Goldilocks?” I rumble, shaking her a little when her eyes close. She snaps them open, barely able to focus on me.
“Virgin… cocktail,” she says, and my brows furrow. “Blondie gave it to me. So hot.”
Her flushed cheeks make me wonder if she’s referring to the blonde person she mentioned, or the fact she feels hot, but when I press the back of my hand to her forehead, I hiss.
“Fuck, Goldilocks, you’re burning up.” Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I hit dial on Chase’s number. “Get outside. Now.” I hang up, shaking Luna again as she slumps against me. “Wake up, Princess.”
“D–don’t feel good, B–Blade,” she murmurs, barely able to keep her eyes open.
“I know, Princess. We’ll get you home, I promise,” I say, my voice unusually soft as I hear my brothers approach.
“Woah, looks like she can’t handle her liquor.” Thorn laughs, and I shoot him a glare.
“She’s not drunk. Something else is wrong.” His face immediately loses all mirth, and he rushes over, spotting the drink.
“Who gave her a drink?” he snarls, and I shrug.
“Someone she called blondie,” I state, gathering her in my arms, deciding we can’t do much more here but maybe back home we can help her.
Chase takes charge, as he so often does even though I’m the oldest. “We need to get her home before she makes a scene.”
We head around the side, Thorn hurrying ahead, no doubt to find a valet to bring the car around. Thorn is waiting in the driver’s seat as I approach, and normally no one else drives my baby, but this is an emergency.
My heart is thudding loudly inside my chest, something I’m not used to as I carry her in my arms. She’s so fucking light, too light for someone her age really, and something inside me makes my arms draw her closer to my body.
Chase opens the back door, and I carefully place Luna in, buckling her seat belt before I jog around to the other side and get in next to her, Chase taking the front passenger.
The atmosphere in the car is tense as we drive away, Luna’s head lolling as I keep my gaze fixed on her.
My arm darts around her before I’ve even thought about it, steadying her head against my shoulder.
“Do you think she was drugged?” Chase asks, and I purse my lips, a sour taste filling my mouth.
“Maybe. She said her drink was a virgin cocktail,” I tell them, and Luna blinks her blue eyes open, staring straight at me.
Her pupils are blown wide, her gaze going unfocused, and my hand clenches into a fist against the seat behind her.
I know we wanted to fuck with her, but not like this.
Drugging women is a line that none of us would ever cross.
“Maybe we should take her to the hospital?” Thorn suggests, and I watch as panic makes her straighten.
“No! I’m fine. Something just messed with some meds I take,” she says, her voice clearer than it has been since I found her. She blinks as she tries to get her eyes to focus. “Just take me home please.”
Something tightens inside my chest at her calling our house home, but it’s not annoyance like I expect it to be. I choose not to examine it too closely, and soon, we’re pulling back into our driveway.
I’m out of the car before it’s even fully stopped, rushing to her side and opening the door just as she reaches for the handle. Our gazes meet again, and although her gaze is still a little unfocused, she’s more with it now.
I still slide my arms underneath her, lifting her out of the truck even though she protests weekly. “I’m fine, Blade. I can walk.”
“Doubtful,” I reply, striding into the house. No one greets us. I told Jerry and the others we’d sort ourselves when we got back, and contrary to what we told Luna, we were always going to bring her back when she’d had enough. We’re not total bastards.
I take her to her room, the others following behind, and settle her on her bed once we get inside. She immediately snuggles onto her side, curling up into a fetal position and closing her eyes.
Exhaling, I sit down next to her and start untying those ridiculous glittery Converse of hers.
“What are you doing?” Thorn asks, his voice a low whisper, and I look up, finding him watching her, studying the rise and fall of her chest.
“She can’t sleep in shoes,” I tell him, resuming my work until I have them both off and set down on the floor.
“Her temperature has come down,” he says, the back of his hand brushing her forehead. “I’ll grab her a bottle of water, for when she wakes up. Maybe some painkillers?”
“I’d be careful of any medication,” Chase whispers from across the room, and I get up to go over to him when I see he’s in front of her dresser, several bottles of pills in front of him. “Anti-nausea meds, immune boosters, and low-dose steroids.”
“Why would she need those?” Thorn queries, coming up next to us.
“I don’t know, could be multiple reasons,” Chase states, and my mind races as I run through the options. There are too many to know without asking, something which I plan to do when she feels better.
“Shit, I thought she was just lazy and antisocial, not sick,” Thorn murmurs, casting another glance at her, his brows furrowed.
“Maybe she has an eating disorder? She barely touches food at dinner,” Chase suggests, replacing the bottle and looking at her too. “Whatever it is, it’s not our problem. It doesn’t change anything.”
I’d believe him to be an unfeeling bastard if it didn’t sound like he was trying to convince himself as much as us.
“We should check on her throughout the night,” I tell them, a niggle in my gut saying that there is something at play here that we’re not aware of.
“Do what you like,” Chase huffs, striding from the room, leaving Thorn and me alone with the sleeping girl.
“You don’t think she’s sick-sick, do you, Blade?” Thorn’s voice is quiet, laced with worry, and I turn to look at him. He’s nibbling his lower lip, something he does when he’s worried. He always felt things a lot, even as a child, and Mom’s death hit him hard.
“We’ll find out,” I state, placing my hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
“Okay.” He gives me a nod, squaring his shoulders back. “I’m going to get that bottle of water from the den.”
Then he strides from the room, leaving me with our new stepsister, who is more of a mystery now than when she first arrived.
“What are you hiding, Goldilocks?” My voice is barely a breath, but she stirs a little all the same, and so with furrowed brows, I leave the room, planning on checking her every thirty minutes for the rest of the night, just to make sure she’s okay.