I folded my arms. Even though a voice in my head knew he was right. Another voice, one who needed to hold onto some sense of power, refused to listen. “No.”
“Yes. It’s not a negotiation. This isn’t a democratic society you can do as you please in without consequences.”
I snort bitterly. “You’re right its not a negotiation because I’m going to do as I damn well please. And there will be consequences if you try and?—”
“Now, now, kiddies, stop your bickering. You two are enough to wake a vampire from his coffin,” Ethan said, looking like he’d just clambered out of bed. His hair was wet at the tips and ruffled, and his t-shirt was crumpled. He must have gotten home just before Karson, showered and snatched a bit of sleep.
“Morning, Rocky, I heard you calling my name. You look like shit. And Karson is right. You stay here, and I’ll get Darcy to come over and we can all search together, okay?”
“Fine,” I said, beaten, but at least it was a compromise.
Except it wasn’t.
“
Chapter 78
Nothing Can Trump A Vampire
Monique and Michael left to see if they could pick up the scent in places witches are known to frequent. Dahlia went to get cream for the bruising. Karson and Ethan remained. I sat on the couch, legs curled under my body, holding a warm tea between my hands, absently tugging on the string. My body was there, the feel of the warm cup was tangible, but my mind was displaced. The visions came back, hot and fast. Karson’s eyes reflected back like a ghostly portal to hell. His teeth as they tore into a man’s neck. The heart tossed to the ground. The fist coming at my face. I jerked, hot tea spilt over the cup.
Karson was sitting in the armchair, elbows rested on his thighs, hands clasped together, leaning forward, watching me. I wiped my wet hand on the fabric of my jeans.
“I think it’s best when Darcy comes you make yourself scarce,” he said in a low, quiet voice.
I removed the tea bag from my cup, wrapped the string around it and squeezed. I placed it on the side table. “I’m staying.”
He sat up straight. “I’m trying to protect you, there are some things you don’t need to see.”
“You really think there is anything else I could see that could be worse than last night?”
His left eye twitched, it was the only indication my words had hurt him.
“You do not belong in this world and I’m asking you to make yourself scarce.”
“I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m already in it. I’m not going to hide in the bedroom like some pathetic victim. I’m tougher than you think and I’m going to find who came for me.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You want to be in this world. You think you are tough enough to handle it.” His voice rose. “Look at you, you are a mess, Amelia.”
“Karson, that’s enough,” Ethan sighed. “Just leave her be.”
“She thinks she can handle it.” He shook his head. “You know I’m right, Ethan.”
I was fragile emotionally, I knew that, but if I hid away it made me weak. The weak always suffered. I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m staying and, once the bruising is gone, I’m going looking for them. It’s my battle to fight, not yours.”
Silence hung in the air for a long moment. The fire crackled in the background like a cracker had met its demise somewhere in the heart of the wood. It was too close to the sound of shots that’d split the wood of the fence in front of me last night. I startled.
“You are not.”
“I am.”
“No.”
“My skills could be handy. I can do things you can’t,” I implored.
He smirked. Smirked, like it was the most amusing thing he’d ever heard.
“There’s nothing a witch can do a vampire cannot trump, Amelia.”
