Chapter 66

I saw red, not as in the colour, but i felt rage like i have never felt before and it was like a haze came over me. A haze of red. Maybe it is true what they say, maybe anger really does give you strength that you never knew you had, and i am about to use it on those who wish to do me harm. Just because of what i am.
I can’t help what i am, it is who i was born as, who i was always meant to be. They wanted me to be different, they wanted me to be one of them. But i am not one of them, and i never will be. Not now. Not ever.
They are the real monsters, the one’s that Nati warn their children about. They do not know how to show mercy, and even if they did, they wouldn’t. Especially not to me.
They are driven by hate, and that is the worst way to live.
I fear that i hate them as much as they hate me, but i would never kill their children. I would never torture and disfigure their young. But that is exactly what they do.
I turn to Mihai as i slowly pull the blade he gave me from my bag, it was a birthday present. A replacement for the one i lost.
I'm not surprised when Mihai gives me and Luthor a small signal, we had talked about it once before, before we arrived at the restaurant.
I nod once, turning and running back into the building as all hell breaks loose outside, shouting and screaming shattering my ears and thickening my skin.
We won’t be able to save all the Nati here, or the humans who get caught in the middle, but we will do our best to help as many as we can.
I run straight to the red button behind the bar, smashing my hand into it as hard as i can. Alarms blaring through the entire building.
I turn to one of the waiters, “take the children to the safe room and don’t let anyone else know the code.” I tell him, quickly moving towards the crowd of people who are rushing around in a blind panic. “This way!” i shout over the noise, “We will take you to safety.”
To my surprise the crowd of people go quiet, and they follow the waiter into the back room behind the kitchen. The children are crying and clinging to their parents, and whilst they don’t say it, the parents are terrified. Every Nati knows what it means when hunters attack. They know that there is a chance they will never make it out of this restaurant alive.
But i will do everything i can to make sure each of them survives the night, even if that means dying. They don’t deserve this. The hunters are only here because of me.
This is my fault.
I turn when i hear the door open, not even a little surprised to see Nathanial and Sean walking inside, their weapons drawn.
The man who raised me takes one look at me and anger shrouds his face, “So you did become one of them after all.” He says, tightening his grip on the wooden stake in his hand. “I should have known you were vermin.”
I pull the knife closer to my body, already prepared, they’ll attack me, i know they will. It is what they came here to do.
“Were all the years i spent under your roof a lie?” i ask coldly, lowering my stance.
I've fought Nathanial more times than i can count during training, and i never won. Not once. I have to make this time different. I have to win.
My life depends on it.
“No.” He says, slowly shaking his head, “I had hoped you would grow up human and never change. But i was foolish. You always had to signs. They were clear. But i chose to ignore them because i loved you.”
“Loved.” I repeat, “Not anymore i take it.”
“You killed one of your own, what did you expect?” Sean growls, taking a step forward only to be stopped by his father.
“Yes.” I admit, “But that is because you sent her to kill me. Or don’t you remember that part?”
Sean's face reddens with rage, but it is Nathanial who growls, “You don’t get to speak to your brother like that!” he shouts.
I sigh a little in relief when i hear the shutters close on the safe room. The children are safe, for now. I just have to make sure they stay that way.
“In case you haven’t noticed, he isn’t my brother anymore, that stopped when i realised just how much he wanted me dead.” I take a long breath in through my nose, “Now you have two choices, one, leave and never come back. Or two, die here where no one knows or cares about either of you.”
The man who i used to call father smirks, “You’ve got this all wrong Mae, we aren’t here to kill you, we are here to take you home.”
I laugh, “Somehow, i don’t believe you.”
Does he think i am stupid? The moment i let my guard down they’ll drug me and hang me on the nearest tree with my heart torn out.
“Silly girl.” nathainial laughs and it sounds colder than ice. “the plan was never to kill you because we have a better idea, you heal at an alarming rate, don’t you remember that? It'll be faster now you have fed.”
How does he know I've had human blood?
“Killing you was never an option, we are going to take you back and make you a good little girl again.” he steps forward, pulling out a syringe. “you’ll come round eventually and then you’ll be our greatest weapon.”
My heart skips a beat, and not in a romantic kind of way, i am fucking terrified. I know what he does to people to make them cooperate, and i do not want to experience it firsthand.
No fucking way.
“No thanks, papa.” I snap coldly, “I think I'll stay right where i am.”
“Look at the poor girl, Sean, she has been brainwashed to hate us.” he sighs heavily, walking forward as i walk back. “It’s ok, Mae, we’ll make you a part of the family again.”
He's fucking crazy, how did i never see it before?
Maybe i did see it, but maybe i ignored it because i wanted him to love me.
But i don’t want his love or his pride, not anymore.
Sean circles to the right, whilst Nathanial circles to the left, it isn’t the first time i have been outnumbered. I can do this. I have to do this.
I prepare myself as much as i can, but when Sean lunges at me, i still scream and panic, jumping over the bar to put some space between us.
I hope Mihai heard my scream, i need his help.
I really need his help, otherwise i am as good as dead.
I'm not ready to die.