On our way back to the kitchen, I heard a noise that made my skin crawl, and my feet stuttered. Turning, I stared at the ajar door at the end of the hall while a shiver raced along my spine. The last room I looked into did not end well. Still, that noise sounded again, and I realized it was a scream of agony. Matty bit his lip beside me, his confusion and worry dancing across my awareness. I grabbed his hand, squeezing gently to reassure him everything would be all right, and he sighed with relief. Poor sprout.
I wavered, not sure if I should investigate. On one hand, another creature suffering pained me to my soul. On the other, Matty was at my side, depending on me to make the right decision to ensure his safety. Biting my lip, I hesitated until another scream filled the air. Along with it came a sense of familiarity that made the hair on the back of my neck stand. The soft sob that reached my ears afterward pained my soul and caused my heart to ache so badly I feared it would stop working to escape the pain. My lip trembled, and I glanced at Matty, who searched my face. After a moment, he nodded before starting down the hall towards the open door. Alarm and fear stirred within my soul along with a need to run to the door. However, I kept pace with Matty.
Upon reaching the ominous room, I warned Matty to stay close, just in case there was danger, and he promised he would. Swallowing nervously, I pushed the door open the rest of the way, and the scent of blood filled my nose until it was all I could perceive. Soft light spilled from the doorway, almost as if to apologize for what happened inside.
After a few hesitant steps into this new space, I reached the end of the small hallway inside the door. Upon rounding its corner, my heart ached so terribly I feared the horrible pain was all it would ever feel for eternity. Tears of woe stung my eyes while they took in the cruel scene I intruded upon.
Both of the vampires’ eyes were filled with cruel delight, and their knuckles had blood on them, but it wasn’t theirs. No, definitely not. Their clothes were unruffled, which only added to their cruelty. Did they start this? Or were they enjoying the labors of another? Either way, I loathed them. The one standing closer to me had most of my focus because of the metallic rod in his hand, from which blood dripped. He lowered it to the battered body at his feet, pressing a switch which caused electricity to dance across the tip.
Horror rooted me to the spot, but the scream of agony that echoed throughout the room snapped me out of it. Patting Matty’s head to silently tell him to stay away from the cruel bastards, I stormed across the room on silent feet. Neither vampire was aware of my presence until I tore the rod out of the closer one’s hand. A sneer curled his lips while he turned his head towards me, only to scoff when he saw who took his toy. “Get out of here while you still can, omega,” he scoffed. “What we do to these trespassing dogs is no concern of yours.”
He took a threatening step towards me when I refused to retreat or return his cruel toy, albeit Arctic appeared in front of me. With a low snarl, he shoved the vampire back. “Back off, vamp,” Arc warned in a terrifying voice. Glancing over my shoulder, I discovered that Snow had Matty’s hand in hers while Tyger approached the other vampire who had moved to help his friend gang up on Arctic. As if that would save him. No, my soul believed Arctic could take them on his own. With a smile once Arctic shoved them back several feet, Tyger held his hand out for the rod. Sneering, I gave it to the shifter who grinned with malicious delight at the vampires while twirling it.
“Those dogs are significant to me,” I warned quietly, my hands curled into tight fists while I let anger burn through my veins to hold back my tears. “Judging by the shape you are in versus them, they never had a chance. Yet you continue to hurt them while they are down. You’re nothing but spineless cowards.” With that, I spun on my heel to let the shifters deal with the vampires. I was thankful they arrived when they did to offer their aid. Had they chosen to side with the vampires, I never would’ve forgiven them.
Kneeling, I brushed matted black-tipped white-blonde hair from a bruised and bloody forehead while tears of sorrow burned my eyes. The first tear fell when beautiful sky-blue eyes fogged with pain opened only to widen with alarm once they recognized me. “Angel,” Riff rasped, coughing with blood leaving his lips in rapid drops, “Angel, run. I’ll hold them off, just go.” Several more tears fell while my heart warmed and curled in on itself because of the agony his words inflicted. Oh Riff, you stupid, beloved fool. His voice was so tormented that my soul radiated a pain which caused even my teeth to ache.
“No, Riff, I cannot. Even if I could leave, I wouldn’t. Not with you like this,” I whispered past the painful lump in my throat. Riff weakly pushed himself up, an argument on his lips, but I shook my head and moved to check on the still body next to him. My fingers ran through his ashen brown hair while my eyes desperately watched to see if his chest rose or fell to indicate he still breathed. My breath shuddered past my lips when a rattle declared the badly beaten boy still lived.
Recalling how we parted, tears flooded my eyes to
