Chapter 62
Chapter Sixty-Two
APRIL
‘They are petrified of me.’ The voice in my head chirps, but I continue walking, ignoring the stares.
Keeping my eyes on a still-unconscious mutt, I search for an empty space away from everyone so I can sit down and take care of my protector.
The poor dog has gone to hell and back from the day I found him.
I’m still not myself, or maybe I am, but I can’t tell the difference anymore apart from that one instance when mutt got hurt.
That, and when I pulverized the mage. But the asshole deserved it, so I’m not feeling too bad about that.
Even if I were human, I would’ve done the same—tried to do the same in any case—after he lit me on fire. I’m not vain enough to worry about my hair or my looks, but it did freak me out that I might burn to ash when I saw the flames dancing up the strands.
“Come on, buddy. Open those brown eyes.” Petting mutt gently after I curl him up on top of my crossed legs, I murmur to him.
My mind keeps going back to what happened in the last twenty-four hours.
They almost killed me with their tainted blood.
Then they attack with no provocation at all, bringing my new home down and nearly killing me and those I care about in the process.
And that wasn’t enough, no. Three of them stayed behind, concocting some chance to do God knows what if we didn’t go searching for them.
Don’t forget they almost killed Sebastian, as well. That same voice reminds me. And they hurt mutt.
That right there boils my blood. If there is anyone innocent in all this clusterfuck, it’s my dog. His front legs twitch as if he heard me, and I cuddle his head to my chest. I will get them all for this buddy. They will pay. I promise. I swear to him over and over, rocking gently.
“Can I help in any way, April?” My head snaps up when Sara speaks, and she takes a step back, widening her eyes.
Right, my face is still healing, and I look like I’ve bathed in blood. Whoopty do. If it bothers her, she should stay the hell away from me.
“You’ve helped plenty already, traitor. We don’t need you or your lies.” I add a glare just to spook her more. To my dismay, it doesn’t work.
“April…” Inching closer, she drops on her knees not far from me, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. “Please hear me out. Eddie was dying, my only chance of saving my little brother was to help them, and in return, they would turn Eddie into one of them. Better a vampire than dead.”
A lump the size of a fist lodges in my throat, and I turn my face away so she doesn’t see how her words affect me.
What she says is heart wrenching and no matter how much I hate that she lied to me, would I have done anything differently?
The boy is nothing to me, but I still jumped into this whole mess just so I could find food and medicine to help him get better.
His gaunt cheeks and pale, sweaty skin pop in my head to taunt me.
Mutt whimpers softly, bringing me back from that disaster of memories.
When I look down, I see his intelligent brown eyes staring up at me without fear.
Even with half my face melted off, mutt watches me with devotion in his gaze.
My chest feels like it’ll burst, pressure expanding my ribcage to painful levels.
“Hey…” I choke out, clear my throat, then try again.” Hey buddy, you are okay.” The tail thumps once limply. “You saved me again, you little shit. I told you not to follow me.”
“He was attached to you from day one,” Sara says softly.
“Yeah, unlike others at the time.” Sarcasm is weeping in my words.
“I said I was sorry. I told you why I did it. I honestly don’t know what else to do so you forgive me.” Her voice shakes when she speaks. “I don’t want you to hate me, April.”
I look at her sharply when she speaks her last words. Everything she said, every time she spoke, honesty was loud and clear. That last part sent a stench in the air like a punch to my face.
“Why do you care what I think, Sara? You’ve only known me for what? Two, three weeks? Why does it matter if I like you or not?”
“I like you.” Lie! the voice in my head screams, almost making me jump. She keeps talking. “We got along so well the time that we spent together. I don’t have many friends. I don’t want to lose the friendship we had.” More lies.
Cocking my head, I keep watching her mutely.
She fidgets under my scrutiny, twisting her fingers in her lap.
Mutt gets more animated, wiggling slightly in my arms, and I pull him closer.
What on Earth is going on here? She already set me up for Sebastian to track my every move.
I have no doubt they would’ve snatched me even if that jerk didn’t find me in the dumpster.
So, what does she have to gain now? I’m finally one of the monsters, so she gains nothing by lying when asking for friendship.
I’m either stupid, or I’m blind to some schemes.
And as always, Fate decides to clear things up for little ol’ me.
It’s like watching an accident happen. You feel your heart beating in your throat, and your stomach is flip flopping wildly, but you just can’t look away.
Barely blinking, you stare as the crash happens, wincing at the sound.
I did that once before I returned to LA.
It was horrible. It’s the exact same feeling now.
“He is awake, my redemption.” Sebastian’s deep voice sends tingles in my lower belly, as usual.
But I’m not looking at him. My eyes are glued to Sara’s face, and I watch, like in slow motion, when she tilts her face up.
Her entire being changes. She straightens her shoulders, her lips part slightly, and a look enters her eyes like she has seen God himself walk up to us to give us the biggest blessing of our lives.
“Sara, what are you doing here?” The warmth leaves his words when he turns on her. “I told you to leave April alone and to stay away from her. Go!”
Her cheeks turn red, then a dark cloud shrouds her when her head hangs limply on her shoulders, and jumping up, she runs away.
That’s why she asked for forgiveness. Sara is in love with Sebastian, and I’m the one thing keeping her at a distance.
How much of her helping them was for the sake of Eddie?
And how much of it was because Sebastian simply asked her to do it?
“You are so stupid,” I tell the jerk looming over me. “He really is stupid.” I also say to mutt just for the sake of it.
“What did I do now?” Sebastian has a bewildered look on his face.
“I do not want you upset, my redemption. Sara always gets you angry when she is around. That’s why I have forbidden her to come within a few yards of you.
She took me by surprise earlier this evening, but after your reaction, I knew I made the right decision.
Besides, you’ve had enough stress for one night. ”
“I told you he is stupid,” I mumble to mutt and, of course, my protector agrees with me. He whimpers softly.