Tamed: A Huntress Spin-off Novel (12 page)

“That wasn’t Silas, though. He didn’t kill her. I know he can be trusted.”

His nose flared as he shook his head. He was getting frustrated. “How do you know? You just met the dude.”

“I can feel it on the inside.”

“Oh, you can feel it, huh?” He pressed his finger to my temple. “He’s in here. Open your eyes.”

I scowled. “He is not.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “If you want to go see Andie then please go get dressed.”

He was dismissing me. I stomped my foot on the ground. “Eli!”

“Paige!” he yelled back.

There was so much more that I wanted to say to him, but I bit my tongue.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine,” I snipped out.

I didn’t have it in me to fight with him anymore, and because of that, I knew that I cared about him more than I thought I did. I don’t walk away from a fight with anyone. He was growing on me, slipping through my walls every time we were together. I refused to be the match that lit the fire. He was already crushed, knowing that the girl he wanted was cozying up with someone else—an incubus at that. So I walked away with my head bowed, feeling sorrow build in the pit of my stomach. Arguing with him just didn’t seem to sit well with me.

****

I stood outside of Athena’s home, looking up at the massive, beautiful, three story manor that took my breath away. It was bigger than my home and that was saying something.

I jumped as the car door slammed shut and the window shattered. I scowled at Eli. This was going to be a long day. We didn’t talk the whole way here. Eli was in his own little world most of the time. I was one hell of a moody brat. Not only was I annoyed with Eli, but I was nervous about seeing Andie. She was an immortal now, so I didn’t know what to expect.

He shrugged. “Super strength. I’ll pay for it.”

“More like anger.”

“I’m not angry.”

The vibrations of hostility that ran through him and right into me was unwelcome.

I narrowed my eyes. How could he say he wasn’t angry? It was clear as day.

“Really, Eli. I know you are. I don’t want you to be mad at me. I don’t like it. It’s actually kind of weird because I enjoy pissing Taylor and my father off, but not you.”

“Okay, I’m extremely upset. I care about you and I protect the ones that I care about. Whether you like it or not, I will continue to fight for you and I will protect you from him if I need to. I’m not going anywhere, Paige.”

“Okay, I don’t want you to go anywhere, so if Silas is going to cause turmoil between us then we don’t need to talk about him.”

“Yeah, we’ll see how that goes.”

He held the door open and beckoned me inside. I stood by the door, hesitant to go inside.

“Is she okay?”

“Well, we had a little problem with her. When she woke up and found out what she was, she flipped out. She went crazy when she smelled that a human was in the house, but she has already fed so she should be full.”

“Am I safe with her?”

“You wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think you were safe.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me inside where, in the distance, a double staircase had caught my eye and the huge, crystal chandelier shined from above. It was elegant yet modern. It didn’t seem like Athena’s personality whatsoever. She had the edgier vibe going for her, and the only thing edgy about this house were the dark walls.

“Athena owns this home?”

“Yep; she inherited it when her father passed.”

That explained the feel of the house. It was what her father wanted.

I shook my head, feeling sad for her. She must have been devastated.

“What happened?”

He shrugged. “She killed him.”

My mouth fell open as his words shocked the hell out of me. He said it so nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal.

“You’re not the least concerned about that?”

“He tried to kill her first. She betrayed him for loving Lucas. He deserved it. He was a bad, controlling guy, who created our society of reapers to get revenge on her mother, who left them when she was three years old to go off with a vampire. His hatred is what started it all. He treated Athena terrible, because she reminded him of her mother.”

“Pain and death surrounds us all, it seems.”

“Unfortunately.”

I walked over to the round table in the center of the foyer and picked up the silver photo frame that was surrounded by lit candles. It was of an older woman, maybe in her early sixties with grey hair, a beaming face, and soft, blue eyes.

“That’s Mrs. Wilson.”

“Athena’s grandmother?”

“No; more like mom. She took care of us all, actually.” He immediately looked down, trying to hide the sorrow that showed on his face.

I rubbed his arm. “I’m sorry.”

He cleared his throat. “Come on.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the double staircase. There were portraits of men, women, and even children all over the walls. I stopped and Eli tugged at my arm as he took another step up the staircase. I ran my hand over the many faces, finding Athena and Taylor out of the bunch.

“Those are portraits of all the hunters and huntresses that were once here. It seems endless. It goes all the way up to the hallways.”

“It’s pretty cool. Was your family hunters as well?”

“It was only me and my sister. My parents don’t know what I am, and I’m content with keeping it that way.”

“How do you hide it?”

“I always made sure I kept my composure. I haven’t visited them since I was turned. I’m kind of avoiding it.”

“Contacts and composure…you’ll do just fine.”

He smiled. “Yeah, I guess that could work.”

“How do you keep your composure around me?”

“I try not to think about it. I make it a point to stay full when I’m around you or any other human. It’s easier for me to control the urge.”

I jumped as I heard Andie’s screams, demanding that they leave her alone. Such rage filled her voice. My widened gaze looked up at the stairs. She didn’t sound that far away from where I stood.

Eli shrugged as my eyes fell on him. “She’s been this way since she woke up. She doesn’t want to be here.”

“She’s probably scared. I need to see her.”

He nodded and led the way to the hall that led down to the north wing, and standing at the end of the hallway was Lucas, Athena, Kyle, Chelsea, and Taylor. They were huddled in a group, talking.

Taylor looked up as we approached. “Joy is just radiating from her.”

Eli snickered. “I bet.”

Chelsea scowled my way and placed her hands on her hips.
Yep, she’s still angry.

“I hope you had fun last night. I was really worried about you, Paige Jacobs.” she said.

“Oh, I had a blast. I fell down the steps and got attacked by two succubi, but I’m still alive. I’m sorry if I worried you, though.”

“Oh, my jewels had a blast,” Lucas said.

“So how are you holding up about the Andie issue?” Athena asked.

“I’m just really happy she’s alive.”

With sympathy filling her eyes, she sighed. “That doesn’t mean she’s going to be the same Andie. She’s a vampire now. Things are going to change. I just want to make sure you understand that.”

I nodded. “If she’s anything like you guys then she’ll be fine, right? I want to see her.”

Taylor moved to the door, blocking it so that I wouldn’t enter. There was a look of uncertainty on his face. “She’s a firecracker.” It was a warning; one that left me nervous.

I forced a smile and shrugged. “She wouldn’t hurt me.”

As I said it, I knew I was more so trying to convince myself than I was him. I was certain I would be fine, but there was always that possibility that something would go wrong; and in my case, everything always went wrong.

“We
think
she won’t hurt you. I suspect something, but I have to see for myself to be sure, and you’re the perfect one to give me my answer because you’re so close to her,” Athena said.

Taylor exhaled. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“We have to know so that we can handle the situation. You and Eli are going to be in there in case something goes wrong, and I really hope it doesn’t,” Chelsea said.

“But that’s my sister.”

“And that’s her best friend. She’s the only one that can give us our answer,” Chelsea said.

“What are you guys talking about?” I asked, confused.

Athena waved it off. “Never mind; just go on in.”

Eli’s hand settled at the small of my back and I immediately felt comforted by his touch. He was right behind me, and so were Taylor and everyone else that wouldn’t let her hurt me even if she tried. Everything was going to be okay.

When we entered, the room was dark with only the light of day, seeping in through the heavy curtains to guide me to her. She was sitting in the corner, hugging her legs to her chest. Her blue eyes stalked my every move as I cautiously walked toward her.

“Hey,” I said, my voice soft.

I kneeled in front of her. Her eyes widened as she breathed through her nose. I knew being so close to her affected her, but she remained calm, so I stayed where I was. I noticed right away that there was something different with the way she looked at me; it was as if there was nothing left of her, as if she was empty inside.

“Paige, be careful,” Taylor said.

I waved him off. “I got this.”

“I should have listened to you when you had a funny feeling about him.” Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked down and sniffled. “Now I’m stuck like this. What am I supposed to do now?” Andie cried.

I opened my mouth to talk, but no words came out. How was I supposed to tell her that her plans for the future were over? No more college. No kids. Everything was about to change for her. The distraught look that I saw on her face broke my heart.

“I don’t know.”

She pulled me in for a hug. Feeling my body tense, I rubbed her back and tried not to think about her lips brushing against my shoulder.

She inhaled through her nose. “I’m always so thirsty,” she whispered.

She was going to bite. My stomach twisted in trepidation as I tried to push her away, but her long nails cut into my skin as she kept me in place.

“No, Andie!” I shrieked.

I heard her sigh as her mouth came down on my shoulder. She gasped as her body flew back. Her head hit into the wall as her nose dripped red.

I was shocked. I knew I shouldn’t have been, but I was.

Taylor pulled me to my feet and rushed me out of the room.

“I want her blood!” Andie screamed.

She ran after me, her fangs bared as she hissed. Eli caught her by the waist and threw her over his shoulder as he carried her to the bed.

“She’s mine!” Andie screamed.

“Just calm down,” Eli said sternly.

“Oh, bite me.” She then began to laugh. “She actually bought that sob story…I should be an actress.”

My mouth fell open in shock as I looked at Andie. She was doubled over on the bed, just laughing away. I couldn’t believe her right now. Eli looked at me, shaking his head.

“I knew it…she is one hell of a manipulator,” Lucas said.

“Knew what?” I asked.

Athena’s eyes shut as she sighed and shook her head. “I hoped it wouldn’t come down to this.” Her voice was low and sad.

She pulled a syringe out of her back pocket, remorse rushing over her at once

“Wait, what is that? Will someone answer my damn questions? What is going on?” I said.

“We suspected that she had turned bad, and we needed you to confirm it. Vampires who still have a heart wouldn’t dream of hurting the ones that they care about. We thought maybe she was just scared and it was you that she needed to see in order to calm down, but that’s certainly not the case,” Lucas said.

Stricken with sorrow and regret, Taylor looked down at me, air escaping his lungs as he sighed. “She lost her humanity.”

“Some vampires never lose their humanity, but the others, the ones who completely become detached, are the cruelest ones,” Lucas said.

I felt a rush of sorrow as a feeling of loss settled within me. Andie wasn’t there anymore. Her heart was blackened with rage and a thirst for blood, and now all hope was lost for her. I really did lose my best friend.

I looked down, took a deep breath in, and held it for a moment. That always seemed to stop the tears from building. “She’s really gone.” I cleared my throat. “What are you going to do with her? She’s a monster. How will you control her?”

Athena’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at Taylor then back at me. I could see the sadness grow in her eyes. She then held up the syringe. “This is going to take care of everything. It will put her to sleep until you leave then we take care of her.”

I shut my eyes in anguish, feeling the overpowering pain slam into my heart. I was trying so hard to hold myself together. “She dies,” I said, my voice painfully sad.