Blackheart

.XV.

Night quickly drew in with our enjoyment of my brother's company. We walked down the stairs, giddy from laughter at Cato's stories and thrilling adventures at our grandparents’ castle.

“Okay, hold up, let me get this straight,” Wyatt said, “you thought it a good idea to ride a wild what?"

"Hippocampus," he laughed, nodding his head. As we rounded the corner of the kitchen, the triplets came into view, and the room went silent, leaving a chill in the air.

Cato, once smiling and laughing, was now stone-faced. I, myself, shifted expressions as our party watched the interaction between me, Cato, and the triplets.

“Cato?” Phoenix asked, squinting his eyes. Add did and double take, and Ares just stood there. A vengeful growl sounded from beside me, but before I could stop him, Cato lunged at Ares. Cato snatched Ares by his neck, throwing him against the eastern wall just beside us. He punched Ares in his jaw, and a satisfying crunch echoed throughout the ground floor.

“How could you abuse your baby sister you son of a b***h! You were meant to protect her!” Cato yelled, slamming Ares into the floor, fracturing his spine and cracking the tile, “You’re the worst possible oldest brother! She suffered because of you.”. He then turned to Add and Phoenix, “All any of you had to do was say something, and her pain would have ended! Her suffering could have stopped!” he lunged at them.

“Midnight! Wyatt!” I yelled, and Midnight lunged, shifting mid-air, landing on top of him, and Wyatt shifted but stood in front of the last two of the triplets. Atto attempted to help me to Cato’s side, but I swatted him away and signaled for Ilta and Calypso instead. I struggled just a bit as my stomach had gotten larger, and Midnight was standing on his arms and legs, immobilizing him. They helped me down to the floor, the best they could as their stomachs had also grown..

“Cato. I know that you’re angry.” I said, “But killing or harming them isn’t going to change the past. Accept the things you cannot change, have the courage to change the things you can, and have the wisdom to know the difference. It’s like Grangran said, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Cato looked up at me, his scowl dissipating, but his frown still there. Atto attempted to help me up, and again I swatted him away. I patted Midnight’s shoulder, and he got off Cato. He shot a glare at the triplets, helped me off the floor, and we proceeded to the table. We took our seats around the table, with Atto at the head, Cato in 'my' seat to his right, followed by myself, Calypso, and Ilta. To his left, Wyatt and Midnight. His parents sat at the other end of the table.

“So, the vampire is your children’s brother, right?” Atto’s father asked. Atto looked up from his plate, glaring at his father.

“Aaro, we do not discuss such things at the table. Ororo is Atto’s mate, and her family is welcome here at any time.” Solaria said.

“It’s just a simple question,” he replied. “Is he Ororo?”

“Yes,” I replied through gritted teeth. I held my knife in a vice-grip, my knuckles whitening the tighter it got.

“So, you’re a vampire,” he then said, more like accusing. I got up from the table and walked upstairs. Calypso, Ilta, and Cato all followed behind.

“Good riddance,” Ares said. I meekly heard Atto argue with his father, and then he, Wyatt, and Midnight came up to the room after.

“Ororo, I’m so sorry about my father-” he began

“It’s okay,” I whispered. I sat on the bed, rubbing my stomach and quietly singing Moonflower's Whisper. They looked at me, enchanted almost, when Cato began vocalizing the tune to my quiet as he recognized the song.

“Mama’s lullaby...” he said sadly. I nodded.

“Any news of when Grangran will arrive?” I asked him

“I’m not sure. Grandpa just said they’d be here after me.” Cato replied. I leaned my head to the side and closed my eyes, listening to everything around me.

“Atto, an angry father, and Ares are approaching the door,” I said. He looked at me, brows raised but obliged and opened the door.

“You’re not welcome in here. What do you want?” Atto spoke in a cold tone.

“I want to see my sister,” Ares demanded.

“No!” everyone shouted at once. He still called to me, but I ignored him. He stormed off, and Solaria came and took Aaro away. Atto closed the door and came back to the bed where I sat formulating a plan with Cato and the others.

"The border's vantage points are located in the east, north-east, and west, from our position here, in the pack house," I said as I pointed to a map I had drawn out. "Cato, I'm going to need some aerial assistance."

"Consider it done, queenie," he said as his eyes, now back to the beep chocolate brown I remembered, glazed over briefly. I looked at Calypso and Ilta, then quietly nodded at Cato. I was going to use the battle as my escape from Atto and the dreadful pack. I had sent Cato into the labyrinth to form a layout for me based off the wisp of breeze I had gotten from the last time. I lay back against the headboard, eyes closed and thinking about my plans, when the howling of our border guards pierced the air. My eyes snapped open, and I looked around at the silent panic dawning on us.

“We have to go!” Cato grabbed me from the bed and ran out of the room, following Atto to his office.

“Grandpa said they’re almost here!” Cato yelled over all the screams of panicking and crying children.

“All pups follow the alpha and luna!” Rebecca yelled as she caught sight of us coming down the stairs. We burst through the office door and went straight for the labyrinth, not stopping for anything. It was Midnight, this time, who had hidden the pups after being told where to put them by Wyatt. He met us at the center afterward.

“Will they be safe here?” Cato asked, coming through the door.

“Yes, this labyrinth is protected by a Minotaur named Minos,” said Atto.

“This room is also sealed with blood magic,” Wyatt said. Cato nodded his head. After settling us in, they left, but Cato stayed behind. I walked over to him, putting my hand on his shoulder, and I told him to leave.

“B-but what if-” he began, but I shook my head.

“Go, we’ll be fine. I want you to watch the boys’ backs. I trust you to bring their mates back.”. He looked down sadly first, then, sighing, he pecked my cheek and ran off to catch up with Atto and the others. I walked over to the monitor, and bringing up the multi-screen, I saw everything. From the onslaught ensuing in the back yard to the banished Zion sneaking her way through the packhouse in search of me.

"Okay, time for us to disappear," I said. They got up, smiled, and followed me as I ran through the maze of walls. Each one looking like the last. I stuck my nose up in the air, sniffing for that familiar scent within the moving maze. As we came to a dead end, I placed my hands against the wall, feeling for the little triangle that should be there. The tips of my fingers had found it, and I smiled, pressing it as the wall groaned and cried from moving for the first time in centuries. Cold breeze lashed our bodies as it blew into the labyrinth from the forest, familiar faces looking down at us as we stood there, smiling. Their fangs out but shortened.

“Hello, little Tempest,” he greeted. My lips widened in a smile.

“Grangran! Grandpa!” They embraced me in a hug.