Chapter 26 Kael
KAEL
If you had asked me a few weeks ago what I thought of this basement, I would have said it's one of my favorite places in the world since it's the exact spot I got to enjoy torturing Warren Blackwood. It was fun having a readily available target to channel all of my anger into.
Alas, that monster is now gone, and in his place sits another.
Me.
I’ve always loved the label of being a monster. My parents made me feel special because of it. But what good did it do them? None. And so far, it’s not serving me the best either.
Not when I find myself locked away for the sake of others because there’s definitely something more special about me than the rest of them.
But I don’t want the label.
It makes me my brother’s weapon.
The branding sticks to me like a tattoo and I loathe it.
Now, the only torture happening down here is in my mind, but it's the right place for me to be.
Nothing can happen to Elodie; not because of me, not again. I refuse.
Nathaniel caused chaos so easily. In the blink of an eye, my vision blurred, my intentions locked in, and I was no longer in control. The more distance between us, the better.
That doesn't mean I have to like it, though. I hate it to my very core, especially since I didn't even consider asking for a mattress, let alone a damn pillow or blanket.
Thankfully, I’m too lost in my head to acknowledge the cold.
All I have is a hard floor and a wooden chair, along with plenty of tools to torture myself if I see fit.
I haven't done it yet because I have my mind focused on one thing and one thing only: having the power and strength to overcome whatever this is with Jude so that Elodie can be safely in my presence again.
She might not want that, but it's all that's keeping me going. She wanted me the other night, and I decided to lead with the tiny bit of honor I have, but now I’m regretting it. That was… she was right there, in my damn lap. But that was before I went for her again like a feral-yet-controlled puppet, dangling on the strings controlled by someone I wish I didn’t know existed.
Jude.
I try to remember a time when it wasn’t like this, but there isn’t one. I’m surprised I’m still alive, honestly. I probably should have been dead at his hands a hundred times over by now.
My cell phone vibrates from the desk across the room, cutting through my thoughts, and my fingers instantly twitch to check it. It’s not the first time it’s gone off since I’ve been down here, but I haven’t looked at it yet.
I continued to carry it around with me because I was under the illusion that maybe everything would be okay once Thorne helped me the first time. If I don’t look at my cell phone, then Jude can’t make me do something against my will. But what if it’s Elodie and I’m ignoring her?
Frustrated, I huff, turning away from my device on the table across the room as I internally berate myself for the damage I’ve already caused. Fear grips me as I consider the extent of my situation, where it could go or has been without me fully understanding.
He's messed with my mind in more ways than I can comprehend. It’s a violation on another level.
The sound of my cell phone vibrates again from across the room, and this time, I'm unable to stop myself as I launch to my feet and storm toward the device in question.
Panic ripples down my spine as I wrap my fingers around it, worry curdling in my stomach.
Casting a glance over the brightened screen, the notifications display before me.
Elodie’s name flashes across the screen, but it doesn’t stand alone. Thorne, Rion, and apparently Ocean have messaged me too, but none of that competes with the sixteen notifications that have my brother’s name scrawled beside each of them.
My thumb hovers over the text message notification from Elodie, the desire to read them overwhelming, but the fear of clicking one and inadvertently perusing them all makes my chest tighten with panic. So I do what any good vampire would do: I destroy it.
The device sails through the air, smashing as it hits the concrete in the far corner, but it does nothing to eliminate the strain in my chest as I heave with every breath, anger violently whipping through my veins.
Defeated, I put my hands on my hips and take a few deep breaths. A sound in the distance resonates, as if the door at the top of the stairs has been opened, making me pause.
My suspicions are confirmed when footsteps echo off the stone stairwell, the sound growing louder as they draw closer, before a key turns in the lock of the door in front of me.
A half smile curls the corner of my mouth as I’m reminded of the fact that Elodie knocked the entire thing to the floor with her brute force, breaking it off its hinges in her bid to bring her father to his demise.
Impressive.
Thankfully, it didn't take too long to put back into place, but knowing it's so easy to tear open has my vampire urges itching to give it a try myself. Only my ego stops me in fear that I might not be as good at it as she was.
My pulse rings in my ears as the door creaks open. My hands curl into fists, ready to greet whoever stands on the other side, but my anticipation is answered a few moments later as Rion appears.
He wears an effortless grin on his face as he gives me a nod, closing the door behind him before locking it in place.
Foolish fucker.
Locking himself away in here with me is not the best idea right now. I open my mouth to tell him just that, but he speaks before I get the chance.
“How are you holding up, man?” He scrubs his hand through his short hair as I glare at him.
You shouldn't be here,” I grunt, and he cocks a brow at me.
“You’re right. Not when you've got that level of attitude,” he retorts with a smirk, plastering his hand against his chest for added dramatics, and I sigh.
I’ve known this guy long enough to know that he won’t let this drop right now.
Instead of fighting with him over the matter, I decide to use the moment to get some information, since I shattered my cell phone.
“Is Elodie okay?” I ask, and he nods.
His smile grows wider at the mention of her and it makes my stomach clench.
I hate that he can just express his feelings without care, let his walls down, and openly chase the woman we’re obsessed with.
“I’m on my way to find her after I check in with you,” he explains.
Instead of letting jealousy creep in, I focus on the facts, turning the conversation on him.
Widening my eyes, I gape at him. “Are you telling me you didn't barricade yourself in her room last night?”
He sticks his middle finger up at me and scoffs. “No, I had Nathaniel to deal with,” he states, and my blood runs cold at the mention of him.
“Thank you,” I rasp, but he quickly shakes his head.
“Don't thank me. It's not your fault that he was a cunt, working for Jude,” he grunts, and I scoff, the sound hollow and raspy in my throat as I look anywhere but at my friend.
“It's because of my brother,” I clarify, fully aware of the extent to which this all links back to me. I’ve had hours to throw my own little pity party, and although it’s completely out of character for me, I bask in it.
“Fuck Jude,” he bites, anger vibrating in every syllable. “Fuck all of this. All that matters right now is that you’re feeling okay and whether you’re ready to leave,” he adds, and I shake my head immediately.
“No,” I blurt, watching his eyebrows crinkle with confusion.
“Why? You seem okay to me.”
I wish it were as simple as that.
I exhale slowly as I wipe a hand down my face, defeat creeping in again. “I can't risk putting her in danger like that again,” I admit, and he sighs.
The sympathy that lingers in his eyes makes me want to gauge them out, but I focus on the fact that he’s my friend and that he helped with the Nathaniel issue last night while I sat down here doing nothing.
I don't fucking deserve his aid.
“Kael,” he starts, and I shake my head, frustration getting the better of me as my eyes darken and my teeth elongate, my vampire bursting to the surface, ready to protect my stubborn integrity.
“I mean it,” I snap, nostrils flaring as rage radiates through me. “Until we’re sure she’s going to be okay, leave me down here.”
He nods in understanding and my body relaxes a little, but it irritates the hell out of me that there’s not an ounce of tension emanating from him as he comes face to face with me.
There’s no fear as he approaches, like he knows I’m not a danger to him in my current state. Not even his wolf flickers in his eyes.
I should be a danger to everyone.
Annoyingly, it calms me in a way I can't seem to calm myself, and I sigh.
“I just have to hope Thorne will figure this out,” I mumble, and Rion grimaces. “What's wrong?” I ask, and he rolls his eyes.
“Nothing, his mood was just stellar this morning,” he answers, and I snicker.
“When is it not?”
He shakes his head. “He's on a new height today,” he insists, and I frown.
Thorne is a prickly bastard at the best of times. To notice he’s worse than usual is something, and it’s probably because of all my shit he’s dealing with. Not that I say that out loud, I don’t need to be deemed self-centered on top of everything else.
“Do you know why?” I settle on, and he grimaces again.
“No, but when do we ever with him?” he replies, and I hum in agreement.
It’s not lost on me that my muscles aren’t bunched as tight and my teeth have returned to normal. I can’t decide whether I hate the fact that it’s because of my friend or not. It seems a silly, inconsequential conversation can make such a difference.
I’m a vampire. I’m supposed to just be an asshole all of the time and like it.
Rion clears his throat, cutting through my train of thought. “Do you need me to get you anything to eat?”
I shake my head, even as my stomach grumbles in protest of my refusal. Maybe this is my punishment. I deserve more than this, but starvation will do.
Rion clears his throat, rocking back on his heels as he offers me a tight smile. “Okay, then. Well, I hate to love you and leave you, but I'm going to go and find our girl,” he states, and my heart flutters in my chest.
“Our girl?” I repeat, spluttering over two small words, and he snickers, wagging his eyebrows at me.
“Don't deny it.” My heart aches as excitement and joy blossom across his face.
“There's not a chance in hell left for me now,” I admit, knowing it deep in my soul.
He heads for the door, the sound of the lock clicking through the air, but he glances over his shoulder before he leaves, his eyes settling on mine as he gives me a pointed look.
“The fact that you're willing to lock yourself away in here tells me otherwise.”