Lurking in the Shadows (Completed)

Chapter 10

Willow, back at the ball

Nyx goes off gallivanting with her mate and I’m so happy for her, Mina just hides in a corner, but I think Jasper is with her. I usually like to do my own thing as well. I’m minding my own business when I accidentally bump into someone.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I look up at the stranger, and it’s the guy I met at the market.

“Miss Willow, right?” I slowly nod my head and I’m trying to keep my guard up.

“Uh huh… Mr Draven, yes?”

“Very good, glad you remember. Are you alone or do you have an escort?”

“My sisters escorted me.” I give him a polite smile, but I’m just wishing he’d go away.

“Oh, how sweet?” He puts his hands behind his back trying to be proper.

“Yeah it is.” I opened up my fan to hide my face. Awkward silence. I think he was hoping I was alone…

“Would you like to get some food with me?” He offered his hand to me.

“No thank you, I just ate.” I’m trying to get this guy away from me since he’s creeping me out.

“Well, it was good talking to you again Miss Willow I’ll see you around.” He goes away going towards the dance floor and I let out a sigh of relief. I make my way to the food to get some finger food and a drink. I eventually found Nyx and her mate, it makes me a little jealous that she found hers. I wish I could find mine. Once I finish my food, I take out my knitting and go outside to get some spring air, and get away from the crowd of the party. I know this is the same spot that Mina was attacked in, but there are more guards and security now. I don't think anyone else would try anything that crazy again! I’m planning on making a blanket so I need a lot of balls of yarn. 15 to be exact. My goodness. I picked the colors of the house crest, black, maroon and a hunter green. I start off with black first so my mistakes aren’t as noticeable. A soft wind blows and I just relax for a moment. I’ve always enjoyed spring. The flowers blooming bring me peace. I hear a stick break and I stop my knitting, but hold on to my needle as protection.

“Hello? Who goes there?” I shout into the garden, but nobody’s there. I relax a little thinking it’s just an animal. The air gets cold and I’m about to clean up and go back in when someone grabs me from behind. I feel their cloak against me and the person grabs my mouth with a gloved hand. I screamed as loud as I could and I could see Nyx and father from where I’m sitting. I realize I still have a needle in my hand so I attempt to stab him with it, but it just rips his cloak. He tries to drag me away, but I stomp on his foot. He groans in pain, but that doesn’t seem to stop him for long before he bites me! I scream in horror again and I see Nyx and father running towards me. My attacker limps away before they can get to me.

“Willow! Willow honey, talk to me!” Father tried to console me but I could barely see his face.

“Father?” I could barely talk above a whisper. Now it’s my blood staining the stone this time…

“That’s my girl, now I’m going to suck out the poison, ok?” I nodded my head, and he did so. I was in excruciating pain that I screamed, but father had to keep going. “I’m so sorry, sweetie, but I have to do this!” He does this three or four more times. Nyx is holding me on her lap and I feel bad for staining her beautiful dress. When father is eventually done, he’s covered in my blood, staining his handsome suit.

“Your blood is clean now, but you’re probably going to go through the same as Mina. This has to stop! Nyx you take her to the infirmary, and find Mina! I need to round up the council members right now!” Father runs away in an angry huff while Nyx stays with me.

“Can you get up?” Nyx asks me barely above a whisper.

“I think… I can try to…” I try to get up, but my legs are too shaky, luckily Nyx catches me.

“I didn’t think so, come on, let’s go.” She carefully puts my arm on her shoulder. The walk to the infirmary feels like an eternity, but we finally made it. Nyx lays me gently on the bed, tucks me in and talks to the nurse about what happened. I hear bits and pieces, but I feel myself falling asleep.

Mina

Nyx and I run as best as we can in our heels with Victor behind us. We get to the infirmary and I’m just shocked that this happened again!

“Oh, Willow… I’m so sorry! I should’ve protected you!” I cried, feeling guilty about the whole thing. Victor comforts me by rubbing my back and just having him around makes me feel better. Nyx smirks at us and nudges my shoulder.

“So… is this who I think it is?” She giggles at us teasingly and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Nyx, this is Victor Lycadis, my mate.” Nyx squeals in excitement and hugs me.

“I’m so happy for you! After everything that’s happened to you, you deserve some happiness.” Nyx hugs me and Victor. “Take care of my sister or you’ll hear from me.” Victor laughs, but kisses Nyx’s cheek.

“I’ll take good care of her.” I couldn’t help but let my heart melt a little. I go back to focusing on Willow and I remember it being me just months ago.

“I want to help find this monster! It’s one thing to go after me, but going after you and Willow! I’m not going to stand by anymore! I want to help!” Nyx smirks but hugs me. She lets me know what happened after she and father got there, but the monster was already gone.

“He got away again!? He just slips through our fingers… father informing the council about this?”

“Yes he is, that’s why mother and father aren’t here.” The door opens and Nyx runs to the man. I look at Victor feeling so confused.

“Oh right, you two haven’t officially met yet. Mina, this is Edward, my mate.” Nyx beams in happiness and I squeal in delight for her.

“Nyx! Why didn’t you tell me!?” I hold both her hands in mine and we gossip like schoolgirls.

“I was going to, but… then you got hurt…” Ooh… awkward…

“Is this going to be our trend now? Getting attacked at our own balls? If you get hurt at the summer ball I’m going to get angry… Edward, promise me you’ll protect her! I don’t want this monster finishing us!” I look at the young man right in his amber eyes.

“Don’t worry Mina, I’ll take care of Nyx.” He kisses her cheek, and she giggles again.

“Good, otherwise you’ll deal with me.” I let out an angry huff and went back to Willow. Hours passed and I must’ve fallen asleep next to Willow, it’s nighttime again and Victor is sitting in a corner in a comfortable chair. Father, mother and Nyx all come back to the room, busting down the door.

“Mina! Oh thank goodness you’re alright!” Mother hugs me tightly and then father does.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I can’t say that for Willow…” Mother looks at Willow on the bed and just cries. She hugs her as best she could without staining her clothes even more.

“My sweet girl… thank goodness you two got to her so quickly.” She looks toward Nyx and father with a sad smile.

“We weren’t fast enough to see the jerk who keeps hurting my sisters… and I’m worried I’m the next target at the summer ball!” Ooh… I hadn’t thought of that, but the trend would make sense. Edward growls at the thought and I turn to him.

“Edward?” I asked him worriedly, but Nyx gave him a hug and he seemed to calm down a little.

“NOBODY IS GOING TO HURT MY NYX!” He growls at us but I can see his eyes go from icy blue to a dark red as if he’s hungry.

“Nobody is going to get to me! Maybe we’ll have to fix that before the next ball.” She flutters her lashes at him and he just kisses her cheek. Keeping it semi-decent in front of the family.

“Save that for later you two.” I giggle at them, and Nyx just sticks her tongue out at me.

“It’ll be your turn someday and I’ll giggle at you when it’s your turn.” I stick my tongue out at her and blush at the thought. Me and Victor, biting each other out of love instead of in pain… I smirk at him hiding in the corner and he makes his way towards me.

“Oh right, introductions. Victor, this is family. Family this is Victor Lycadis.”

“Jasper’s latest fledgling?” Father asks him out of curiosity.

“Yup that’s me. I was also attacked on my way home from the winter ball, but I didn’t get a good look at him. He had a cloak on, but I could at least tell from his stature it was a man.”

“Why are more and more people getting hurt by this serial biter!?” Father growls more at himself than us.

“I’m not sure dear, but we will find him and he will be brought to justice.” Mother tries to console father and I just admire her strength. As I’m holding Willow’s hand I notice she’s holding something.

“Father, this was in Willow’s hand, maybe she harmed the attacker somehow!” I give the scrap to my father and he just smirks.

“Well, at least we have something all we have to do is look for someone with a hole in their cloak or realize they’re wearing a new one and we’ve got him! I need to keep this evidence safe in my study. I’ll be right back.” He runs off again to keep it safe.

“Has Willow found her mate yet?” I ask the room out of curiosity.

“Unfortunately, no. Whoever it is, is going after young ladies who don’t have mates yet.” Mother tells me sadly.

“Well, that’s a trend, and that’s a start. Maybe this person won’t go after Nyx since you already found your mate.” Nyx smiles at him lovingly and it just makes me smile.

“Well, I think we’ve visited long enough, let’s let Willow get some sleep.” Mother tries to gently shove us out the door, but I don’t dare move.

“I want to stay with her. She should have someone with her.” I guard over her as if it’s my mission. Mother just simply nods and she and Nyx leave.