Page 17 of Liberty

Chapter 8

OAK

I couldn’t breathe.I couldn’t think. The only thing I was hearing was her name playing on repeat, a never-ending loop through my head. I should have known, or at least guessed, but I wasn’t prepared for the words to leave her lips. I hadn’t predicted the vise that would squeeze my chest at the mention of them or the trance that would fall over me.

Ellis cleared his throat, “It appears we’ve solved one mystery today.”

I didn’t respond, not like I could anyway. It was taking every ounce of strength I had just to hold myself upright. But when you add the shock of the recent piece of information, I was weak. James didn’t have to tell us to protect her; I would have done it with my life from the moment I saw her.

I walked out the door, aware that all eyes were fixed solidly on me. Ellis and Sterling knew; after years of friendship, then years of rebellious hate, reading each other was second nature. We learned how to push each other’s buttons; we knew how each other felt. They would have to be blind to miss it; they knew this girl was getting to me.

I walked the halls of the empty house until I reached the kitchen. I didn’t know what happened tonight, but it was a first. Never had I used so much energy and power; never had I felt so much anger inside, Nothing before compared to the fury I felt when I saw that vampire’s skin touching Liberty’s.

I lost control.

I never lost control.

The anger, the rage, the untapped power that surged inside of me – I pushed it down, feeling it push forward, trying to escape.

No. I couldn’t lose control like that again. I could have scared her. I was sure I did. But that didn’t stop her unconscious body from leaning into me when I picked her up, or her long fingers from curling into my shirt and clinging to me. I wanted her more than I wanted anything in my entire existence. It scared me.

I pulled open the fridge, the door’s resistance causing me to struggle. Fuck, but I really was the weakest I’d been in centuries. I knew it sitting in that room, but it was hard to leave Liberty’s side. Even knowing Ellis and Sterling would protect her didn’t make it easier. Not when I knew both of them wanted her just as much. It was Anabelle all over again. But this time, Liberty was worth more than me sitting back on the sideline and hoping she picked me. I was willing to earn it.

Human be damn. The girl was mine.

I found the bag of blood in the fridge, a day past good, but it wouldn’t kill me. It would give me enough oomph to make it through to my next feeding. I tore open the bag and tipped the contents into my mouth. It was like disgusting sludge sliding down my throat. I never got used to it; I never wanted to. The moment I enjoyed sucking down someone’s life force was the moment my humanity finally left me.

I gagged as the last drop hit the back of my throat, then when it was finished, I tossed the empty bag in the trash. After rinsing out my mouth, I laid my palms on the counter and just -absorbed.

This situation was impossible; I think we all knew it. What good could come of it all? Not much, that’s for fucking sure. Still, I couldn’t help think of all the possibilities if we eliminated the threat. Knowing where my mind kept wandering, knowing how illogical my hopes were, didn’t stop them from blooming, didn’t stop the dream of taking root in my chest.

I was leaning against the counter, my head bowed when Ellis came up beside me. “Well, isn’t this a bunch of confusing shit?”

I turned my head to spare him a glance. “Confusing wasn’t the word I was thinking of using.”

“What are our plans?” He leaned his hip against the counter, his arms crossed.

“I thought we would just wing it this go around,” I admitted. We didn’t know all the factors; we needed to get it worked out.

He raised a brow, “You wing nothing. Ever.”

I did like to think and assess, but this situation had left little time for that. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you, El. I don’t know what the fuck is going on. I’m just as lost as you.”

“I know,” he sighed. “It’s just you’re usually so solid.”

“If you fucking say it, I’ll break your neck,” I warned.

“Say what?” he asked.

“You know exactly what I meant.”

He held his hand up innocently. “Do you think I would be so ill-timed to make Oak jokes now? At a time like this?”

“Yes.” Absolutely.

“Then, you know me well.” He laughed.

“I’ve known you for longer than I should admit. I think I would know by now when you’re about to make an awful joke.” I turned, mirroring his stance as I leaned against the counter.