Where is my sister?
“The last city of the familiars has fallen, and I will find you next, Anastasia,” Bethany claims with a sneer, and I feel like she is looking right at me. Like she is next to me, her words cutting directly into my chest. “Or you can come to me, and I will let you live. Immortal life is long, and I will forgive you in time but not if you continue to hide and evade me. Watch this city burn, sister, and know your home will be next.”
The video cuts out, and I feel like I can’t breathe as I just stare at the empty screen even as we sit in silence. Mum starts crying, and dad comforts her, while Mason places his hand on my shoulder, but his touch makes me snap out of the pure shock. I push away anyone who reaches for me, and I run outside, heading down the beach, my shoes falling off at some point. I don’t know how long I run for until I come to a halt and kneel down in the wet sand, the waves brushing over my clothes and drowning me in cold water almost as much as my heart feels drowned in pain. I burst into thick tears as I come to a realisation that is impossible to ignore anymore: My sister is gone and I can’t save her from herself.
I was naive to ever think I could after she tried to kill me, but I wanted to so badly that I couldn’t give up. I needed to believe she had some good left in her, but seeing a city burning due to her destruction told me everything I needed to know.
The chaos inside my sister’s heart is unstoppable. Even for me.
“Can we sit with you?” Liam softly asks, and I have no idea when he got here. I look up to see him standing over me, a gentle smile on his lips. Right behind him, Mason and Alex wait silently, just here if I need them. I nod and he kneels at my side, just being there for me like I need. They are all here for me. Eventually I wrap my arms around Liam, and he picks me up, carrying me back to our home.
Always saving me.
Always loving me.
And that is worth remembering, even if I can’t save my sister anymore.
Chapter 11
Alexander
An army to take over the world.
“You made this for the baby?” Ana asks Skye, holding the small line of shells on a string. Each shell is polished, thanks to my help, and has a tiny hole in it so Skye could put the string through it. I remember Skye’s look of joy and thrill when I told her there was a new baby on the way and she would be an auntie. I know Ana sees Skye as her sister as much as Phoebe is, and the same for Skye. I’m so fucking happy they love each other.
“Do you think he or she will like it?” Skye nervously asks, a strange emotion for my little sister. She is usually the confident, argumentative one, but I know she cares so much for Ana’s opinion. I’ve noticed how Skye wears the same colour clothing as Ana and follows her everywhere she can. She even eats toast instead of cereal because it’s what Ana eats. It’s fucking cute.
Ana’s face softens. “We will hang it at the top of one of the windows so it shines light around the room. I imagine the baby will love it because it’s from you.” She bumps her shoulder. “Auntie Skye.”
Skye’s smile is so wide that it must hurt her face. I chuckle and pick up the car keys, not really wanting to leave them at all, but I should go. As much as I don’t think I need Ana’s dad’s permission or respect to date his daughter, I would be lying if I said him being a fucking god isn’t worrying. Though I think he isn’t as godly as he used to be.
“I have to go and meet your dad. Do you want or need anything from the city?” I ask Ana, walking over to her side. I kiss her cheek, and she grins at me.
“Chocolate brownies?” she asks with innocent big eyes, and I laugh.
“I will search the city for some. I promise,” I tell her, loving the light in her eyes that hasn’t been there for the last few days since we got Bethany’s recording. Even when Liam’s mum, Dorothy, was brought to the island and Liam told her the happy news. She was over the moon and insisted on moving in with us to one of the five spare bedrooms this place has. With Skye and Phoebe in one of the other rooms, the place is hectic, and we never seem to get much time alone. I kiss Ana one more time on the cheek and ruffle Skye’s hair before heading out. I have to admit, I like this place. The sea air, the bright and open hut on the sea, and the freedom this place seems to have. I sense that Ki-Ki really loves it here as well, and that means this place, this is beginning to feel like home. I wonder if Mason and Liam feel the same way.
It doesn’t matter anyway. If Ana doesn’t want to stay here and have the baby live this life, then we will follow her anywhere she wants to go.
And I would understand if she wanted to leave. Her parents are always going to be a reminder that they left and that they set Bethany upon a long life of revenge and bitterness. I don’t want Bethany dead, even after everything, because I know it
