veins of fate

drenched in consequence

Vixen's legs feel like lead.

Its my fault.

Every thought circles thorugh her mind.The wailing sirens cut through her spinning mind. An ambulance bursts through the crowd, lights flashing, weaving past the onlookers.

They lift Vance carefully, placing him onto a stretcher. Talia pushes through, sobbing, desperate, trying to grab his hand.

"I'm coming with him!" she cries.

Vixen instinctively steps forward. She can't just watch. She needs to be there. She needs to make sure he's okay.

A nurse stops her, shaking her head."Only one guardian allowed with the patient."

Talia's tears turn into a pleading glare. " It has to be me! Ive known him longer-"

With that Talia pushes Vixen and she stumbles, hitting the ground with a thud.

The ambulance doors slam shut before Vixen can even think. The sirens wails again as it speeds off.

Rain begins to fall, first in light drops then heavier, drenching her. Her make up smears across her cheeks, streaks running like tears. She wipes it, but the water and mascara mix into a mess.

Maybe i shouldn't have called earlier on...maybe i should have just went through with the wedding...

Her thoughts drown her. Guilt pressing deep like weight. She hears a voice behind her cut through the rain, calm, deliberate.

"You haven't paid me yet."

Vixen spins. The street is blurry with the rain, but there he is - the cab driver. suit still sharp, hair dump at the edges, calm as ever.

Vixen scoffs. He steps closer, hands tucked neatly into his pockets.

"Get in," he says quietly, voice steady. "I'll take you to the hospital."

She hesitates, but the guilt, the fear, the rain...it all pushes her forward. She climbs into the cab, shivering, heart hammering.The engine roars, the city blurs.

She buries her face in her hands.

The driver glances at her in the rearview mirror, expression calm, unreadable, but there's a weight in his eyes-as if he knows everything.

And that silence, the rain, the speeding car,and the tension, Vixen realises something chilling:

She might be too late.

Hospital..............8:38pm

Vixen bursts through the sliding doors of the hospital, her drenched clothes cling to her, make up smeared, hair messed up..plastered to her forehead.

She rushes to the receptionist desk, nearly knocking over a clipboard.

"Where...where is-uh, .. a patient named Vance Lacost?" she pants.

The receptionist glances at the computer,calm and practiced.

"Room 402.Fourth floor, east wing. Please hurry, elavators are crowded,"she says.

Vixen barely thanks her. She darts towards the stairs, clattering up four flights like she's chasing her own heart.

She rouns the corner to the corridor and stops.

Nurses are gathered outside the room, whispering, hands clasped, comforting someone.

Her stomach twists violently.

The moment hits her- her chest tightens. She cant breathe. Her mind flashes: Vance....

She steps forward, pushing through the last bit of hesitation-and then she sees him.

He's lying still in the bed, sheet pulled high over him. Monitors beep faintly, but for a second, it looks like he's gone.

Vixen freezes. Her legs give away. Tears burn her eyes as she collapses to her knees.

"Vance!" she cries, shaking, heart hammering, grief flooding every nerve.

Talia stand, wiping her own tears, walks towards Vixen. The moment Talia reaches her, vixen looks up.

And everything changes.

"You?!" Talia snaps, eyes blazing. " You're the reason this happened. You made him run, made him reckless, homewrecker. Talia slaps vixen across her face and spits, stepping closer.

Vixen opens her mouth but no words come out.

Talia pins Vixen to the wall by her neck, tightening the grip in seconds.

Vixen struggles to breathe as tears drop uncontrollablly from her eyes.

"Its all your fault. Your a home wrecker. Always has been. And now? You almost killed him!"Do you have any idea what you've done?" her voice shakes with rage.

VIxen sgakes her head, disbelief and guilt warping her chest.

"I-I didnt...I just-"She chokes

"Dont act innocent- save it!" Talia yells, voice echoing in the corridor." You dont get to stay here.I dont want to do anything I'll regret. Get out, now!" Talia gestures shaply towards the door as she throws Vixen of the hook.

Vixen grasps for air,eyes red,hands on her neck, choking on air.

Before Vixen can protest, Talia punches her across her face. Tiny droplets of blood ooze from Vixen's nose as she stumbles back,chewing on her bruised lower lip.

Talia drags Vixen out of the hospital like a stray dog with no owner. Rain still pilling, Vixen gets on her feet, each step heavy, her chest aching, the doors behind her closing.

She doesnt argue. She cant. The sting of Talia's words, the weight of her guilt, and the image of Vance lying motionless on the bed push her backward.

OUTSIDE.....

VIxen stands outside the hospital,soaked,mascara streaking down ger cheeks, dress clinging to her like guilt she cant wash away.

Maybe if i hadn't called...

Maybe if I hadn't run....

An umbrella opens up over her head. She turns. The driver stands there, rain avoiding him, like it knows better. His suit is dark, perfectly pressed, hair untouched by the storm.

Warmth replaces the cold.

"Why are you still here?" she asks hoarsely.

He studies her face - the red eyes, the trembling lips, the bruise she hasn't realised is visible yet.

"Because leaving you like this wound be cruel," he says quietly.

She lets out a hallow laugh."Cruel is what I deserve."

"You have two choices," he says calmly. "Stay here and drown in guilt...or come with me and forget the word for one night."

Her shoulders sag.

"Anywhere," she whispers." just not here."

The club pauses with light sound.

Music thrums throuh the floor. Shadows move. Lauhter blends into chaos. Its everything loud enough to drown out thoughts.

Vixen heads straight for the bar.

One drink.

Then another.

Then another.

On and on.

She doesn't taste them. She doesn't care.

Her words loosen, spilling without order.

"I ruined everything," she laughs bitterly to no one. " I ruin people. Thats my talent, hurting the ones I care about - Even when am not trying."

Across the room, he watches her.

Silent. Still. Intimate in a way his eyes never leave her.

The groom watches his bride unravel.

She sways slightly.Someone brushes past her.

Thats when he sees it.

The bruise on her cheek.

The split lip.

His jaw tightens.

He's beside her in seconds, grippingnher wrist gently but firmly.

"Thats enough."

She laughs, unfocused. " You dont get to tell me whats enough."

His voice drops. Dangerous. "Who did that to you?"

She blinks at him, confused . "Did what?"

He tilts her face towards the light.

The furry in his eyes is unmistakable now.

"Who. Touched. You."

She doesnt answer- not because she doesnt want to, but because her guilt is louder than his words.

"I shouldnt have gone there...," her voice drops.

"princess answer me...," he begs.

"I shouldnt have loved him," she blinks at him.

"Shawty?" his grip tightens sligtly.

"I shouldn't have loved him" She whines.

"Princess?" his patience slowly burning up.

"I shouldn't have- "

"Answer me." he roars.

She flinches.

"Talia," she blurts. " she hit me. "Said it was my fault. That am a home wrecker."

Something dark crosses his face.

Possessive. Violent in restraint.

"She put her hands on you," he says softly- too softly.

"Your lips look kissable right now," she blurts seductively biting her lower lips.

"Ugh- "his still face softens. "What do you have in mind?" he says leaning in on her, hands drapt onto her waist.

She suddenly looks exhausted . "Take me home."

Then she shakes her head frantically.

"No- I cant go home. My parents will kill me. Just....take me anywhere. I dont care where."

He doesn't hesitate.

"I know exactly where to take you,"

He pulls her close, carries her,one arm steadying her, shielding her from the club as he leads her out .

A thought burns through him:

No one gets to hurt what's mine!

End of chapter °°°°°°