Where The River Flows Red

Twenty-Three

Excision ft. Akylla- Die For You

    I can breathe. I feel like I've woken up from a twenty-year nap. Everything is clear, my mind no longer feels like it's being torn apart. That was insane. To have awakened this way. To know everything I do. To have what I do. To have made it out of my transition alive. It was an overwhelming and frightening experience. 

    "Mila?" I glanced in the direction my brother is without actually looking over at him. This feeling is surreal. I feel so alive and yet, gone. 

    "Brother," I bowed my head acknowledging his presence. I put my index finger to my lips so he won't wake my sleeping mate on the bed. He came over to me and sat down on the floor where I am.  

    "How are you feeling?"

    "What you did was foolish, Godrick. You have to know that. What you did is link the four of us together,"

    "The four of us?" he asked. 

    "Yes, the four of us. Analyse, Elijah, you, and me. Four," I smiled at him as he processed what I just said. 

    "f**k," he sighed heavily. 

    "Mhm," I nodded. "I thank you for the extra help. I would have died," 

    "Are you- Do you remember more?" he asked. 

    "Yes, I remember everything now. It's all in place," I looked over all of the pages we had printed out earlier. I put everything in order for them. 

    "How long have you been awake?"

    "Long enough to clear the room of his scent, clean up my mess, organize my notes, and ask for dinner. I am famished," I shrugged. He smiled. 

    "Your speech is different now," 

    "Probably due to father's formalities. Oddly, my mind lingers on his teachings more than what I learned on the hunters' side. Maybe it's because it's more important. A bit more pressing and painful to think of," 

    "Painful?" he asked. 

    "Yes, brother. I watched father lose everything he stood for, piece by piece until all there was left was me," I stood up with ease. The only way I can describe how it feels when I move is, the world moves around my movements. Adjusting itself to what I want it to do. It's a scary feeling. "I have to go, Godrick. The covens are coming. My awakening was as violent as yours and it didn't go unnoticed,"

    "I don't want to lose you again," he stood up, towering over me despite the small stretch my awakening gave my body. 

    "You won't. We can communicate at all times. I need you to stay here. When I have located them, I will come to find you," 

    "Them?" he asked looking at the pages on the floor. I filled in the blanks when I started piecing everything together.

    "Mom and dad," his eyes shot back to me. I quietly laughed at his reaction. 

    "Are you serious?" he asked.

    "Yes, I will need you to help me with the resurrection. Unfortunately, father didn't show me the brand on your memories. Mother was the one that locked them. I will try to find it, I'd appreciate the help," 

    "What do you think we should look for?" 

    "Something old. Forgotten. Another reason why I need you here. Samantha has access to hunter archives. Have her and Silas look for something out of place. A sigil no one knows anything about. The memory sigils come from hunter origin. Especially the one's mother used on us," 

    "Alright, when will you leave?" 

    "Tonight. I want to enjoy the quiet in my head," I glanced over at the bed where Elijah is sleeping and chuckled. If I were still human my face would be bright red. 

    "I always wondered why I hated that guy so much. This explains everything. He was born to frustrate the hell out of me specifically," we both laughed. 

    "He'll grow on you eventually," I shrugged. 

    "Hmm," he smirked. He pressed a kiss on the side of my head. "I'm glad it's him. I can't think of anyone better to keep you alive," 

    "The goal is to keep you alive long enough for you to ascend the throne," 

    "And bring mom and dad back," 

    "No, that's just a bonus," I smiled. He nodded and made his way out of the room. 

    Elijah is sitting up now. His sleepy eyes are looking around the room a little bewildered. His body is a bit thicker than it had been. My blood is giving him a big strength boost, just like his is doing to mine. His eyes are glowing red his fangs are out. How can he look this good when he's completely out of it? 

    "That wasn't a dream," he murmured. I laughed feeling my fangs elongate. 

    "Nope," I answered walking over to the bed. "I wouldn't have called that a dream. It was nightmare-ish," 

    "Nightmare-ish? That wounds my ego," he lifted the blanket to look down at his naked body. "Oh, I am heavily bruised,"

    "Yeah, I apologize. I completely gave in. I couldn't hold it back," I cleared my throat. "Sorry,"

    "Don't be sorry," he waved me over to him. "Never ever be sorry for taking what you need from me," 

    As soon as I lied down next to him, I became excruciatingly drowsy. Elijah pulled me into his arms and I fell asleep almost instantly. It's strange to be completely aware of everything while my body is resting. I can feel the relief in my eyes and my body, but my mind is wide awake. Will it always be this way? Will I find a way to shut it off? 

    "She's different. You should hear the way she speaks. Her movement is completely predatory. Whatever my dad told her, whatever he did to her. She remembers it now and it's taken over her consciousness completely. She's in full vampire mode," Godrick's voice is the first to pop into my head. 

    "G, you've known for a while that she was going to change during this time," that's Ana. 

    "I know. I just-" he paused for a bit. "I don't want her to live this way. I don't want her to think that her only purpose is to protect me. She's a kid and the responsibility my dad put on her shoulders is kind of f****d up. She should be having fun. Getting ready for spring break with the other kids her age. We got that. It seems fair that she would too," 

    "Have you asked her what she wants?" that's Raven. 

    "The way she talks, how she moves, I don't think it's caught on yet. She's so preoccupied with taking care of what dad left for her to do that, she hasn't stopped to think about it," 

    "Maybe getting it out of the way is her priority for that same reason," Ana suggested. 

    "I don't know. I don't want this to be all she has," 

    "Are you kidding me? She's the first female in your clan that awakens to the blood of her mate. I may not have wanted Elijah but it doesn't mean he's not worthy of her. He's a handsome, smart, and diligent guy. She'd be crazy not to find herself in that. Not to mention once the thrill of her former memories goes away, she's going to want to keep working on what he left behind with Silas. Right now she probably feels betrayed by her ideals as a mortal and she's prioritizing those lost memories so she can reconnect with you and everything she never had with her real parents," 

    "I hope so," Godrick sighed. 

    "I have to meet with Samantha," Raven interjected. "I have a couple of ideas for the sigils we might be looking for. Get rid of the papers she wrote for us. I know you don't want to hear this, but I feel like we're not getting the entire story regarding your parents. Why? Why did everyone even their own people turn on them the way they did? What happened?" 

    "We'll have to ask them," Godrick answered her. 

    "What if-" she paused. "What if we think we're doing the right thing but we're not?"

    "Don't think that way," Ana waved it off. "There are enough blank spots already. Let's not add that to this," 

    "You're right," Raven agreed. "I'll see you guys later. Try and be a little more understanding of Amelia. I'm sure she's just as confused as the rest of us," 

    "I know we said we were all on the same team here but they are hunters, Rae. Be extra careful. Maybe take Zach with you," Godrick suggested. There's a knock. 

    "Great minds, as the mortals like to say," Rae laughed. "Cass is staying here with you guys. It was his only condition,"

    "I really don't need to be here," Cass chuckled. 

    "Hey, Cass," my brother greeted her. 

    "Stay here. We don't want a repeat of what happened yesterday to happen again. I know the Stark b***h is Amelia's friend, but I'll rip her f*****g throat out if she ever lays hands on Cass again," 

    My eyes opened. I stood up and without thinking I was standing behind my brother in an instant. They all turned to look at me. My body is catching up with the rest of me. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and stretched a little feeling a bit dizzy. 

    "What did you just say? Ebony hurt you?" I asked Cass. She smiled. 

    "Wow," she beamed. 

    "Yeah," Zach added. 

    "What?" I asked. 

    "All you're wearing is a t-shirt," Raven laughed. "We can see through it," 

    "Godrick," Ana laughed. 

    "I'm going to kill him," Godrick growled. 

    "Okay, someone answer me. Now," I demanded. 

    "Ebony was looking for you and when I brushed her off she put a knife to my throat. My mom caught us before anyone else did," 

    "I'm going to get dressed," 

    "Where are you going?" Godrick asked. 

    "To see what she wants. I want to know why the f**k she's still here," I walked back to the room to see Elijah standing in the restroom doorway with a toothbrush in his mouth. "Hey," 

    "You slept fifteen minutes," he mumbled. 

    "We're going to have to get used to that,"

    "What's going on?" he asked coming over to me. He finally caught on to what I'm wearing. "You did not go out there like that with my brother and Rae here," 

    "I...did," I chuckled. He growled pulling me to him. 

    "Don't do that again," 

    "Okay," I nodded. 

    "What do you mean we're going to have to get used to that?" 

    "I don't know how to shut my powers down. I never did," I answered. "I think my dad realized that before I did," 

    "Get dressed," he kissed my forehead. "I'll teach you something before we head out," 

    "Okay," I nodded. 

    "Shower. I don't need your brother to kill me today," he smirked. I laughed. 

    He watched me get ready. The clothes I'm wearing are a little rough on my skin. Itchy even. These were my favorite jeans. This is what I always wear. What I've always felt comfortable in. Elijah came over to me and help up a casual blue sundress. The material looks shiny, silk maybe?

    "What is that?" I asked.

    "Your skin isn't going to like being in that all day. You're a vampire. We wear what we do because the cheap s**t irritates us," 

    "Genetically engineered to be snobs by nature," I shook my head. 

    "You more than the rest of us," he smirked. "Put underwear on underneath. I don't want to kill anyone today," 

    With that said, he walked out of the room. Was he always that cool or is this a different level of confidence now that I've full acknowledged what we are to one another? Either way, his confidence is excruciatingly sexy. 

    He's not wrong. This material is a lot better than what I was wearing. I laughed when I walked out into the room to find shoes and a cardigan. I did as he asked not because he asked but because I wouldn't be able to walk around with the breeze sweeping my unders all day. Not to mention that I am a newly mated female and I doubt it would be safe for me to not wear underwear around Elijah for any amount of time without constantly thinking about him touching me. 

    "You look so cute," Cass jumped up excitedly, coming over to me. 

    "Thank you. It was Elijah's idea. I couldn't find anything I was comfortable in," 

    "It's weird, right? One day jeans and hoodies are life and the next I couldn't stand them," 

    "Right, my favorite jeans kind of rubbed me the wrong way," I agreed. "Are you okay? I haven't seen you in a while?"

    "I'm perfect," she turned her attention to Zach who is arguing with Raven and Ana. 

    "Good," I nodded. 

    "Are you ready?" Elijah asked. 

    "Mhm," 

    "This is weird right?" Zach asked. I looked between him and Elijah. 

    "It was for me the first time I saw them together," Cass agreed. She went over to him and took his hand. 

    "Not in the slightest. You look alike but you have a dim aura around you, Zach," I shook my head. 

    "What does he have a halo?" Zach laughed, squinting his eyes at Elijah. 

    "No, his is sinister. Like there's something really dark inside of him being suppressed. You wouldn't understand. It's a king thing. My brother has one too," 

    "Ouch," Raven laughed. "That's a full-on third-degree burn, brother. I'm sure Cass would love to freeze it over for you," 

    "f**k you," he growled at her. 

    "I didn't hurt you. The princess did. Don't get snippy with me you basic b***h," she dodged his hand when he took a swipe at her. She laughed and rushed out of the front door. 

    "I didn't mean to offend," I smiled at him. 

    "You did," he rolled his eyes. "It's cool. I owe you one for the arm thing. We're even," 

    "Far from even. Even will be when I say it is," I scoffed. Cass and Elijah laughed. 

    "I hate you," he shook his head. 

    "Okay," I nodded. 

    "I'm leaving. I have somewhere to be," he rolled his eyes. Kissed Cass and walked out probably going after Raven. 

    "This is going to be fun," Cass smiled. "Just the four of us for fangs know how long," 

    "They're coming with us?" I asked. 

    "Yes, I need Zach with me and I figured you'd want someone else's company when I tell you no," he smiled. 

    "Maybe you two being mated isn't so bad," my brother sighed. "Call me when you guys hit the road," 

    "We're staying an extra day. I want all the attention me. Elijah and I are going to start s**t with the Starks in front of the whole school and I'll head over to the Hunter headquarters after," 

    "Okay, I need to prepare a little more," Cass laughed. "I'll see you guys when you get back," 

    "Laters," Elijah took my hand. 

    "Nothing better happen to my sister," Godrick called after us. 

    "Likewise," Elijah shot back. We got to the elevator, and he spun me around to look at him. "I want you to close your eyes," 

    "You're not going to do something mean to me are you?" I asked. He smiled. 

    "No, I promise," 

    "Okay," I shut my eyes. 

    "Can you hear me?" he asked. 

    "Yes," I answered. He placed his hands on the sides of my face and kissed me. My body instantly responded. 

    "Did you hear me that time?" he asked. 

    "What time?" I asked looking up at him. 

    "When you can't sleep. I want you to come closer to me. Only concentrate on us touching and you should be able to shut it off. I'll see what I can find so when I'm not around," he promised. 

    "Did you speak inside my head? I can read minds?" 

    "Maybe with practice but you can hear me because I can read minds. I can also enter minds. Yours is easy to access because you're not keeping me out since we mated," 

    "I didn't know that. Were you always able to?" 

    "Yes," he smiled. 

    "I hate you right now. Why didn't you tell me?"

    "I was always able to but I wasn't always listening. I know how to turn it off. Besides, when you were skeptical of me, you were easily able to kick me out or keep me out. It's all in your emotions. We can practice so that you can get your own powers under control. It took me some time too," 

    "Thanks," I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The elevator opened up for us. 

    "You're not alone anymore, Princess. You have all of us. Remember that when you feel like your father's instructions get a little heavy for you,"