Chapter 52 CHAPTER 52
SERA'S POV
The three days pass by in a dark haze.
Nothing makes sense to me, food tastes like ash even though I force it in so I can hear my own thoughts rather than a grumbling stomach and every time, I find myself opening that accursed file.
Looking through the details and trying to get myself familiar with the idea of killing.
I remember Cara bragging the day she was taunting me to leave my mate for her.
How is someone so young excited at the prospect of... Murder?
Why's she so happy about it?
Proud?
The only good part of my day is when Fabian texts me.
Apparently, he runs a large company and is always busy but he sends these cute selfies from horrible angles that make me laugh for a bit.
And then he has to go and I get back to my world of doom.
Tori knocked on my door and I sat up as she opened the door.
"Hey sis," she waved
"Please I'm not in the mood for that fake crap," I hissed,
"Come on now, don't be like that. I don't hate you, you know that."
"No you don't hate me but you let other people rule your thoughts. The last one didn't even last a day because you realised they won't accept me even though I do have a strong wolf. After all, I'm a halfling."
"That's the thing, you can change that status. It's just one kill, the other two are just an overkill if you ask me. Most people get two at most but I know you're powerful, that's why."
"Is that why you're here? To pressure me just as everyone is?"
"I.. Maybe I'm not really a good person but I don't want anything to happen to you. It's either you or these horrible monsters. The answer is very easy if you ask me."
"Please go Tori, I don't want to talk to anyone."
She nodded and left, softly closing the door behind her.
I heard multiple feet shuffling at the base of the stairs so I figured Aunt Kelly must have sent her.
Of course.
It seemed she thought I would actually condemn them to death and now doing anything to push me.
Problem is, they're not even the issue here, my wolf is.
Every other external pressure, as intense as it is, isn't as painful as my wolf choosing their side over me.
It was an exciting feeling having a best friend in my head that knows everything about me down to the details but she's turned against me.
We don't talk to each other, and although I thought I'd miss the quiet in my own head, I hate it.
I've gotten used to her nonverbal opinions and contributions to things.
But all she ever talks about is how we can kill the targets and the last time she did, I screamed so loud I mistakenly raised a barrier between us.
They say it's normal but I hate that I have to do it.
Footsteps began hitting the stairs and I groaned internally as Aunt Kelly's scent got heavier.
What does she want again?
I already feel like shit enough after being told I am the reason she lost her brother.
She opens the door but I'm shocked to see her carrying a box that is tall enough to get to her midsection.
"What is that?" I asked, getting to the edge of my bed.
"I'm giving you a choice," she replied, logging the heavy metal box towards me with ease.
"I'm confused."
"I understand that. All of this is confusing, I have never had to be in your position and everyone telling you what to do hasn't been there either. You have a vampire as a soul mate even though he wants to kill you. You've seen them as human, experienced them outside their natural state and you think it's wrong to be the one who keeps them in line. But I need you to understand that you're not human anymore. This war is centuries old. You're the reason why we're not wiped out as a species."
"Me?"
"There's so much you don't know. But this is your father's work. The day he found out what exactly your mom is, that's when he went into hiding. I'm sure they tried not having babies but you came along anyway."
"Why are you telling me all of this?"
"You can go through the files and understand our stance as werewolves or you can find the formula he used in making the pills you swallowed without knowing all those years. Like I said, I'm giving you a choice. You can run, forget about us, we'll find a way around it. And I want to apologise for my cruel words yesterday, you didn't deserve that. It's not your burden to bear. Oren made those choices knowing the consequences and I was heartless and wrong saying that to you."
A lone tear trailed down my left cheek.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you endangering yourself for me?"
"Because I put you in this situation in the first place. If I'd known what Oren was protecting you from, I wouldn't have. I would have kept you hidden way more. This whole Council business is a can of worms Sera. There's no happy ending. This vampire business is not pretty and you will not stop at one or three. You're more important than the rest of us. Worse, it's not only the Council that is gunning for you. So I want you to run if that's what you choose. If we die, it's my fault not yours."
Oh God
I got up and headed to the box.
It's black and there's a security lock on top.
She hands me a paper before I ask and it's the combination for it.
Three different layers.
"I'll leave you to it," she said, squeezed my shoulder and then left.
Letting out a harrowed breath, I crumbled to the ground next to the only thing left of my father's life.
His decisions.
The things that informed them.
Proof that he loved me so much and did everything to protect me.
But I don't open it.
I couldn't, I don't know what is inside but I'm not letting the family that took me in after the last five years of pain and suffering die on my account.
It's either the vampires that I see in my dream tearing me to shreds or my family.
The choice isn't so hard now.