Chapter 70: Finding Silas

Sera's POV

My heart dropped into my stomach as the phone line went dead. I clutched it tight in my fingers as I steered it back to my eyes, staring blankly at the dark screen. He was in the middle of a sentence—in the middle of telling me something—when the phone line went dead. He couldn't have switched off the phone—something had happened to him.

I couldn't shake off the feeling, shake off the heat claiming my veins, or the twists as my insides curled in knots—this was something bad—anything that could have gotten a vampire like him off his phone was certainly bad.

I had to fucking find him. I dashed fast for the floor, even before I did, my legs moving as much as my heart was doing beneath my chest. Cassian caught up to me. His large hand grabbed my shoulder, whirling me to him.

“What is wrong, Serayln?” He grabbed my hand and took the phone from my fingers. He glanced at the screen and returned his eyes to me after, narrowed, shifting, trying to map out what could possibly be making me shiver before him, like I was doing.

“Who just called you?”

My lips quivered as I spoke, just like my hands. “My brother,” I answered.

His brow jumped up to his forehead, and he frowned. “You have a brother.”

I fought off a little of the tremors running through me, shaking off the dizziness claiming me—not from sleep, but a raw primal fear that was about to split me open from the inside. “Yes, I have a brother, and I think he is in danger.” I answered. My voice was as thin as a whisper.

The dark, nagging feeling squeezed up my gut harder, warning me that Silas was in serious danger.

“I will see you later, Cassian,” I said, spinning for the door once again. His fingers latched on my wrist again, tighter this time. He spun me back to him, my shoes scratching the floor with a low, screechy noise.

I struggled, fighting off his grip. “Let me go,” I yelled. “I need to get to my brother.” I twisted and turned, trying to get away from his powerful fingers.

I stopped struggling when his fingers touched the skin below my eyes, and they ended up wet. It was then I knew I was crying. I raised my eyes to him, staring through the watery veil covering my eyes at the concern etched tight on his face.

“Tell me where he is so I can trace you to him.” He offered.

Then it hit me like a blow to the gut, and I gasped. I had no idea where Silas was. He didn't sound like he was in Adrian's Palace on the call.

I snapped out of my shock when Cassian shook me. He seemed to have read my shock and knew what was wrong because he asked. “When last did you see him?” he asked.

My voice was tight, croaky, and quivering as I answered. “A week ago, in Adrian’s castle.”

Ever since that bloody night when Mom, Dad, and Harriet died, I had sworn not to cry again. Sworn not to be strong, sworn to be an independent woman in control of everything, even her feelings. What is happening right now? Because I felt like the woman I had built myself to be was gone. Right now, I felt distraught, confused, and scared.

Hot tears stung my eyes, a blanket of moisture blurring my vision. I had no idea Cassian had traced me to Adrian's Castle until I heard a chair squeal, and Adrian's soft, careful voice rose behind me.

“What happened to her, Cassian? Why is she crying? Did you fucking hurt her?” I had a vague idea of being pulled, and I was crashing against Adrian’s arms, his warmth engulfing me.

“Of course not,” Cassian growled. “She says her brother is missing, and you can track him down. That's the only fucking reason why we are here.”

Cassian's strong arm latched on to my waist, and he pulled me from Adrian.

I shook off his grip now. I had more to deal with than their jealousy. I had to find my brother. I stared up at Adrian. “Do you know where Silas is? When did you last see him?” I demanded eagerly, quelling the furious pumping of my heart as best as I could.

His face tightened.

“I think I saw him three or four hours ago. He says he is going to check on something.” Adrian answered. His Adam's apple bobbled a bit.

He looked just as disturbed as he was concerned about me, his eyes fastened on my face, trying to make sure I was fine. But how could I be? My brother was probably fighting for his life right now.

I had no idea what he was doing. I stopped pacing, and I watched him. So did Cassian, as he suddenly went stiff on the spot for a moment, shutting his eyes. He sucked in a deep, long breath and exhaled it after.

He opened his eyes. “I have his scent. I should be able to find him.” He said.

He slipped me a warm smile, assuring me all was well, as he snatched my hand and prepared to trace.

I hoped this all ended well. If this all turned out to be false, I wouldn't hesitate to wring Silas's neck myself for making me so scared and distraught. I just hoped he was fucking safe. He is the only family I have now. I can't lose him.

I felt Cassian’s thick fingers lace my wrist too, and Adrain traced us from his castle. Our feet scratched the asphalt as we landed.

I swiped away a paper flying in the air before my face. The cold wind lashing about caused the contents of a nearby dumpster to swirl in the air, floating like leaves falling from a tree.

I was staring through everything, searching for Silas in what seemed like a lonely alleyway, when Adrian suddenly pulled me into his arms. He covered my face with his chest, blocking off my view of the rest of the alleyway with his body.

“Don't look, Seraphina. You don't want to see this.” He said, his voice low and careful. He sounded like he was trying to protect me from something. That only made me want to see it more. My heart raced so hard it consumed my breath, and the chilly, windy air stilled from my nose.

I fought hard to get out of his grip, and quickly I looked down the road. I froze instantly, my body vibrating like a running machine. I staggered, grabbing my chest as intense pain claimed every inch of it. Lying down on the cold asphalt ahead was Silas, unmoving, still, dead. His neck twisted at an odd angle.