Broken Dreams(142)

Claire turned around and gathered herself. She straightened her shirt and adjusted her hair before she opened the door and locked eyes with Kellan. In a snap, she was back to reality, and a sudden spark of the devil lit inside of her. She laughed in the classic Kellan way. It felt good to make him feel a little off his game, letting him think they were planning something for him. Nick smirked as he walked in behind her. He understood exactly what she was doing, and he thought she was pretty fucking awesome.



***



Claire strolled back into the kitchen. I was in there, heavily protesting their decision. She put her hands up in between everyone. “Enough! Elaina, Thomas and I are going with Sophie, and that is final.”

“But…”

Claire stopped me, my mouth still hung open midsentence. “Shut it.” I did. “We’ll be fine. And, besides, someone needs to cater to this slightly damaged man right here.”

She seemed rather jovial for someone who was about to go out into the crazy, fucked up world, minus the comfort of a boatload of ammo.

“Now. Here’s my worry.” I knew it was in that head of hers somewhere. “What if you, Nick, and Kellan need blood?” Henry looked at Sophie. I was a bit curious as to why she was worried about getting blood for Kellan. The only thing I could think of was keeping him unchanged until Henry was stable enough to be able to get information from him.

Everyone stood quiet, until Henry spoke. “Well, can Sophie, Nick, and I split bags from Claire and Thomas before you leave? You may be gone for a while.” No one responded. Henry looked around at everyone. “I know I’m asking for a lot.”

“And Kellan?” I asked.

“Okay, here’s what I think.” Oh boy, more words of wisdom from Sophie. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what was about to be said. “Nick and Henry get a bag from Claire and Thomas. Then Elaina can provide vials for you two and the arseface…only if there’s no other choice.” I didn’t want to give the asshole any of my precious blood.

“What about you?” Thomas murmured.

“I can live on vials for a bit more. I’ll probably seek out some on our little field trip. Or, if we get back sooner rather than later, I can get one then. Can we all agree on this?” Everyone reluctantly nodded.

“One more thing.” Henry held out his arm with the tracking device in it. “Let’s cut these out and you can take them with you and leave them at my flat.”

“Wait.” I didn’t like that idea at all. “Having all the tracking devices on them while they fight their way back could put them all in danger! What if more like him are out there trying to get to us?”

“You have to trust me.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “I’m sorry, but this is not the time for the ‘you have to trust me’ speech, Henry! They can’t do that. What if they get stuck somewhere for days? It will compromise them, seeing that they won’t have enough ammo to significantly defend themselves.” He knew I was right, but I wanted to hear him say it. I glared at him.

“Fine. You’re right.” There. Chalk one up for little ol’ me! He didn’t want to agree at all, but he did. “Take them with you and throw them out somewhere midway.”

“I don’t like that, either.”

He threw his arms up in the air, and immediately regretted it. He bent over in pain. “Fuck!” he yelled in agony. I tried to grab him and support him, but he shoved me away. He leaned over the countertop, and it took him a minute to catch his breath. “What do you want to do, Elaina? Tell me your fantastic idea! Ugh! Motherfucker!” I was aching for him again. I did that to him. I tried to grab him and apologize but, again, he shoved me away.

“I don’t have any ideas. I’m just worried! Okay?! I’m scared! Is that what you want to hear? There, I said it. I don’t want to lose any of you! You are all I have left!”

I stormed into the dining room and, with the highest level of maturity, I put my fist through the wall. I roared and stormed up the stairs.

I paced the floor of my bedroom, thinking of all sorts of great things that I should have said, instead of punching the wall. Then I realized there was a warm wetness running down my hand. I looked down, and guess who cut themselves while acting like a fifteen-year-old boy? Then I heard a knock on the door.

“Shit.” I grabbed the first thing I saw and wrapped it around my hand. I cracked open the door and saw Henry’s fading eyes.

“May I come in?” I stepped back and pulled open the door. I couldn’t bear to look at him because I was ashamed of my behavior.