Chapter Sixteen
Praxis assured Verena multiple times they weren't dropping her off somewhere when he told her they were going out to eat to meet someone. She immediately hyperventilated and tried to hide under the bed again but Praxis was able to calm her down.
He felt almost nauseous seeing Verena get worked up over something that shouldn't be that big of a deal. It was a huge deal to her with her trauma. The trauma they caused.
Praxis hoped that everything would go well today and a war wouldn't be started. That was the last thing they needed. Praxis pulled his phone out of his pocket when he felt it buzz.
Are you guys ready yet? Davian had texted.
Praxis immediately texted back. Almost. Verena is almost ready. I had to calm her down. She thought we were sending her somewhere again.
Davian didn't respond back and Praxis put his phone back in his pocket and Verena exited her bathroom. She was dressed in different clothes Praxis had bought for her but her hair looked like it was overrun with knots.
"Is it okay if I help you with your hair love?" Praxis asked gently.
Verena nervously looked up at him. He just gave her a small smile and she hesitantly nodded her head.
Praxis went and grabbed her hairbrush from her bathroom counter and then walked over to Verena who was sitting on her bed with her hands folded on her lap. He slowly walked over and sat on her bed next to her and she tensed up making him frown.
"You, okay?" Praxis asked, confused.
Verena just nodded and slightly relaxed. He looked at her for a moment before he gently ran the brush through her hair. It took some time but he eventually untangled all of her knots in her light blonde hair. It looked like it had not been brushed for some time.
"Okay all done. Davian is probably is waiting for us at the door." Praxis held out his hand for Verena to take and she slowly slid her hand in his rough one.
When Praxis saw Davian standing by the door, he knew immediately that something was wrong. Davian was extremely tense and his jaw was clenched.
Praxis furrowed his eyebrows. "Davian? What's going on?"
Davian just shook his head dismissively. "Nothing. Let's go." He prompted walking out the door.
Praxis didn't like that answer. He knew something was very wrong because he had never seen Davian this on edge before. It made him uneasy.
"Davian, seriously what is going on?" Praxis demanded.
"Not now Praxis." Davian snapped.
Praxis narrowed his eyes at his eldest brother but reluctantly let it go for now. It wasn't a time to grill Davian. That could wait.
Praxis guided Verena to his car and Davian raised an eyebrow. "Who said you were driving?"
"I'm not getting in a fucking tesla." Praxis scoffed as he opened the back door for Verena.
"Are you serious right now?" Davian groaned wiping a hand down his face.
"I'm not getting in a vehicle created by that stupid nazi fuck Elon Musk. No way. My sister shouldn't be exposed to that shit either." Praxis retorted.
"You are so dramatic. Move." Davian huffed as he shoved Praxis out of the way and sat in the driver's seat.
"HEY!" Praxis roared, "This is my car! I didn't say you could drive."
"Shut up and get in the passenger seat. We don't have time for this." Davian hissed back.
"It's my car!" Praxis bellowed.
"And who bought it for you?" Davian growled back clearly losing his patience.
Praxis pressed his lips together and reluctantly went to the passenger side and slowly slid into the car. He crossed his arms and looked out the window, refusing to acknowledge Davian's presence.
Verena looked at her older brother who was pouting in the passenger seat. A grown man pouting like a child amused her. She couldn't stop the light giggle that escaped her mouth.
Davian and Praxis froze and Praxis turned to look at her while Davian's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. Verena turned bright red realizing she made a sound and quickly diverted her eyes to her lap. Praxis couldn't help but smile from actually hearing laughter come her and not screams of fear.
Davian looked away and started the car and opening the garage door. The car stayed silent as the car drove down the road passing buildings and tress. The windows were tinted so she wasn't blinded by the sun.
They eventually arrived at the restaurant with a nearly empty parking lot. There were regular cars that must have been employees and a black Ferrari. She knew that car had to have been her half-brothers.
Davian pulled into the lot and parked Praxis's beloved Bronco multiple spaces away from the Ferrari. It was like he was trying to be as far away as he could.
Verena stayed still as Davian and Praxis got out of the car. After a few moments, Praxis opened Verena's door and held out his hand. She looked at his hand and then slowly unbuckled her seatbelt. She felt her heart pounding from nerves.
Praxis noticed the distressed look on her face. "You're safe sis. I promise."
Verena sighed and took his hand and they walked into the restaurant. The smell of fish immediately took over her sense of smell and she looked over to see the live lobsters in the tank. She internally cringed for them knowing their upcoming fate.
She remembered a time from when she was about seven of her brothers bringing home leftovers and Riven purposefully kept the head of a lobster just to torment her with it.
"They burn them alive you know?" He said chuckling, "You can hear their little screams of agony as the boil"
She closed her eyes at the memory. Verena always felt like she was burning to death just by existing.
Her breath hitched when she saw the white eyed shadow sitting in a booth staring at her. She couldn't see the smile but she knew it was there. Mocking her. Making sure she knew he was there.
Her eyes then flickered to two scary looking men at a table in the middle of the restaurant. They were both muscular and covered in tattoos. The older one had sandy blonde hair and dark blue eyes while the younger one had black hair with piercing light blue eyes that were as sharp as a knife.
The blonde one spoke up with a smile on his face that made Verena uneasy. "Ah so glad you all could make it.