The Bond

The Bond Chapter 2

It's been two days since they arrived back at the old school that was Nria's temporary home. This is where her and her crew lived. With them all being Vinculum, they stay here, protected. They are considered blessed with their powers and their bonds, even though Nria never felt that way. It was a curse to her. All the other girls loved being what they were, but she always found excuses for not using powers and acknowledging The Bond.

Since she arrived back ,there have been so many questions as she recovered in the hospital wing. She told everyone that she was fine and answered their questions to the best of her ability, and that she didn't need to stay here but it was just a precaution. She understood but damn was it annoying. All she could think about was how Maddox was doing. She asked Braxton yesterday when he came to check on her. All she got was a huff as he looked her over and walked out. Figures, she thought.

The doctor finally released her later that evening. Gave her some medicine to keep taking for the headaches, and told her to rest. Yeah right she thought but nodded in agreement. She immediately headed to the main hall where she knew Maddox would be being kept as long as he hadn't died yet. She found him, his hands bound by rope, lying on the floor, one leg swung over his other knee next to the wall. As if he could sense her, he looked over right at her. Good, he was unharmed in the explosion.

She walked over to him and sat down next to him. "Hi," she said quietly. He stared at her. "So you're a Vinculum?" he asked. "Yes," she answered. "Hm thought so. I noticed the birth mark on your arm right before I handed you that knife". "oh" she replied. Of course, because all Vinculum are trained to fight and we all have a unique birthmark called a Nota on their wrist, like three swirls overlapping each other. "Did the others know what I am?" she asked, praying he would say no. "I don't think so," he answered. Nria sighed, that will have to do. He looked up at the ceiling. "So what are they going to do to me?", he asked without looking at her. Daisy thought about it for a moment. Would they let him go? Not likely. Kill him? No, she wouldn't let that happen. "I'm not sure," she finally said. He closed his eyes and sighed.

The room started to get quieter, and less busy. It looked like it was dark outside. Daisy had no idea of the actual time though. He startled her by saying "I've never met one of you in person before". He rolled over to face her. Some lights had started turning off now. Must be time for bed. Nria looked around, Just a few guards standing nearby and a few more people finishing up to head to their rooms. She smiled and lay on the floor next to him. Resting her head on her hands. "My name is Nria". "Maddox," He replied. They laid there for a moment. Unsure of what to say next.

"So have you bonded yet?" He asked. That was a very personal question for most people within her group, but for some reason she felt like she could tell him. "No," she answered quickly, then said "well sort of". "What do you mean, sort of?" he asked, "I thought you knew instantly". She thought for a moment deciding on how to explain it. It wasn’t every day that she got to explain this to people. Everyone here already understands The Bond, maybe even better than she did.

Every Vinculum is a female destined to bond with two males. One as a protector, one as a lover. It's what they called The Bond. It also is the source of their powers that they wield. "So who is it?" Maddox asked, looking around as if he could pick him out. "Braxton, the one who brought you with us", she told him. "Also the one drilling holes in the back of your head right now", He said looking over her. " she turned to see Braxton standing in the doorway on the opposite side of the room, arms and legs crossed just staring at them. "Yeah he tends to do that often," she said. He raised his eyebrow. "I know part of my bond but not the other" she finally answered. "Ah, so which one? Protector? Or Lover?" he asked. She thought about Braxton for a moment. How he always looked repulsed by her. Ignoring her until he absolutely had to interact with her." Well I don't know exactly yet. I can't see him as a lover. He practically hates me." Maddox looked between her and him. "How did you get bonded to Mr.Broody anyways?" She turned back to look at Braxton. Braxton is a tall, very bulky man, lots of tattoos covering his arms. His chestnut hair was always neat and pulled away from his face. She had known him since she was nineteen, but only discovered the bond last year. "It's a long story," she said, turning back to look at Maddox. "I'm not going anywhere," he shrugged, giving her a grin.

She didn't even know him. It's not like she was spilling any big secrets though by telling him. "Um, well", she started. "He was best friends with my ex" she blurted out so fast she almost couldn't even understand her own words. He laughed a little. "I could definitely see how bonded with the best friend and not the boyfriend could end a relationship". He stared at her, but she was frozen, looking down towards the floor. She has never talked about this out loud with anyone even though most everyone already knew about the dramatic relationship. "I'm sorry," he said. She could tell he was. It wasn't his fault. He didn't know. Daisy shook her head. " It's not what you think. He was not a very good man, my ex." She looked down. "When things ended badly between us, he didn't take it very well, and I ended up in the hospital for a week." She looked up at Maddox. He looked stunned. She could tell he wasn't expecting that. "Braxton is the one that sat with me at the hospital. One morning he told me that he could feel the bond and left. I think he blames me for ruining his relationship with his best friend." she explained. Men are typically the ones to notice the bond first. Normally some kind of event would trigger the feeling and bond would just snap into place. Maddox still just stared at her. "I can't find out what he is to me without some kind of intimacy between us, which can't happen when he hates me, or me finding my other bonded." she sighed. Braxton could never hurt her. No matter how much he may want to. It was life's cruel fate, Nria thought. She felt like Braxton must be at a constant war with himself having to choose her over his best friend.

Maddox started to open his mouth but then closed it again. Then Braxton was there pulling Nria up off of the floor, face filled with rage. "Time to go," Braxton said as roughly as he could. Nria didn't object and just smiled at Maddox. "Good night", she told him as she followed Braxton out of the main hall.