The girl that stood in front of Winter had long, straight, black hair that blew in the gentle breeze, her familiar grey eyes rounding when she took in her twin sister.
“Winter?” she whispered in disbelief.
They both just stood there, watching the other’s stance as the wind sent chills through their bodies.
The girl next to Amelia just stood there awkwardly while Cameron held his place in front of Winter, staring down her twin menacingly... though she didn’t seem to notice.
It was only seconds when Amelia shot from her place, holding out her arms to her sister who started toward her...
But Cameron stepped in between them, blocking each other’s views...
Winter could practically hear him growling... like a feral dog...
“Cameron...” she whispered, touching his shoulder while her hands shook with the shock consuming her, “it’s okay....”
He looked to her then, a question in his eyes.
She nodded, letting him know that she’d watch out if this was a trap.
He then stepped aside, watching Winter as she darted over to her sister, tears burning her eyes as she questioned her sanity.
Amelia hugged her back, burying her face into Winter’s shoulder. “Oh, God... oh, God...” she murmured, voice shaking as she squeezed Winter in her embrace. “I can’t believe it’s you....”
Winter only hugged her back, unsure if she were dreaming...
If this wasn’t real... she’d kill herself when she’d wake... because it felt so real... And this was cruel... painful almost...
She let go of Amelia then, feeling a sudden anger burn her inside, along with cold fear. “How are you alive?” she questioned, on the verge of tears. “I thought you were dead! I saw it! I saw you die!”
Amelia looked to the girl who stood awkwardly next to them, watching the encounter with less suspicion than Cameron.
“I did die...” she responded softly, smiling at the girl gently and looked back to Winter when the mysterious woman smiled back. “But Sophia here brought me to life again.”
Winter’s gaze shot to the girl next to them whose blonde hair blew gently in the breeze.
A sudden cold consumed her when Amelia left her side, lacing her fingers through Sophia’s.
It was only seconds of both of them making their way back to Winter when Cameron took a protective step next to her, watching Amelia and Sophia suspiciously.
“I thought you were dead!” Winter almost screamed, voice breaking as her eyes blurred from tears. “Did you even THINK to find me?”
She couldn’t tell if her heart was piecing back together from relief... or if it was shattering with betrayal... all she knew was that her body felt cold... and her heart pounded so hard against her ribcage, her head felt heavy.
She’d faint any minute...
“Winter...” Amelia whispered at her tone, using the calm voice she always utilized when Winter had her panic attacks...
But right now... it only added to the pain...
“Why didn’t you find me?” Winter questioned then, sobs catching in her throat. “I’ve been dying all these years thinking you were gone! You were my best friend! My sister! How could you do this?”
Amelia let out a long sigh, looking softly into her eyes. “I was looking for you,” she explained. “All over the place... these past two years I’ve been from state-to-state, houses-to-houses, but mom hid you so well that I couldn’t find you... But when I finally did... the house was broken into... and you and her were gone... I thought Dante took you....” She looked to Cameron then, something dark passing over her expression. “It was him then, huh?”
“We’re not so different,” Sophia spoke for the first time, her voice quiet and soft like a cool breeze.
“How do we know we can trust you?” Cameron demanded then, voice so low and deep, it rattled Winter’s eardrums.
Was this what he meant when he said... “my voice will scare you”...? Because it always deepened when he was angry?
Amelia looked to him then, her grey eyes dark and stormy...
She always had that expression when she was angry.
But she drew up her shirt, taking Winter off guard, but before she could look away, something caught her eye.
It was a symbol carved into the skin of her stomach... the main part shaped like a rhombus, but it had some kind of halo circling the top’s corner, and a dot on the other three.
Sophia shuffled up her pant-leg, the symbol darkening her right calf, as well.
What was that...? What were they showing him...?
“What about you?” Amelia questioned suspiciously, tipping her chin up. “How can I trust you with my sister?”
Winter shot her gaze to Cameron to see what he would do...
He drew up his short-sleeve, showing the symbol burned into his left shoulder...
How did Winter not see that? His whole body was pale.
She probably thought it was another scar...
But... there was something different about his...
Amelia’s and Sophia’s were black... like someone drew on them with a permanent marker, whereas Cameron’s was glowing a dark red...
Like a lamp...
Winter looked back to the other girls to see their eyes widened, breathing shallowly as if their lungs were seizing.
“You’re him...” Sophia whispered. “The hybrid.”
Why was everyone so surprised about that?
“You... chose my sister...” Amelia said then, swallowing down something hard. “Did you tell her who you are?”
“Most of it,” he explained, pulling the fabric of his sleeve down.
“Are you actually... planning on....” Amelia’s voice trailed off at Winter’s concerned expression. “Oh... you’re worried she isn’t ready to know... aren’t you...?”
“What...?” Winter questioned.
“Cameron...” Amelia said then, looking deeply into his eyes, all anger gone, “promise me you won’t let anything happen to her.”
“I won’t.”
Winter’s stomach stirred.
What were they talking about?
Amelia’s eyes shifted to Winter’s then, and the Winter’s breathing became strained at her sister’s hardened gaze.
“They say that you can only truly love someone once,” Amelia said, making her sister’s heart sink into her chest. “He’s chosen you, Winter. And he’s the most powerful being that lives. That’s something captivating.” She looked to Cameron. “Especially for someone like you....”
The look in his icy-blue eyes didn’t waver.
“He’s special, Winter...” she said, still looking to him. “And so are you... You guys are very powerful together....”
Winter looked to Cameron, trying to see what Amelia was seeing.
“What are you planning on doing, Cameron...?” Amelia questioned then. “Is she your Luna or is she your bride?”
What...?
He only smiled. “Why not both?”
Hold on... what the hell was a Luna?
And wait... bride? Why were they talking about marriage this early?
Something in Sophia’s hand started beating like a heart, and she shot her gaze to the light, then looked back to Amelia seconds later.
“Amil,” she said, nudging her shoulder. “Attack a couple blocks down.”
Amelia watched Cameron for a moment before looking down to Winter, whose eyes were wide, staring at her with unshed tears.
“He’s a good one,” she told Winter. “A really good one. You’re in safe hands, Sister.”
She only blinked.
Was this her saying goodbye?
No! No! She had so many questions!
All these years she thought she was dead and now she finally figured out that she wasn’t?
No! She could’ve leave!
But they already darted toward the mouth of the alley, Winter breaking into a sprint toward them, screaming, “Wait! Wait! Please don’t leave me again! Please!”
But they were gone, and she ran to the sidewalk, shooting her gaze up and down the street, gasping.
There was no sign of them...
“No!” she yelled, blood rushing through her veins. “No!”
She almost ran down the street when Cameron caught her arm, making her shriek when he pulled her against him.
“Come on...” he said softly. “We have to go. More will come.”
“No!” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks when she tried to launch out of Cameron’s grip. “No! She can’t leave me again! It’s cruel!”
He only held her tighter as she kept on jumping, Winter trying to use friction to get out of his hold but his arms only tightened around her.
“Don’t fight me, Snowflake,” he murmured when she pushed against his arms, trying to get out. “Please....”
Seconds later, he lifted her in his arms, hearing her cries as she struggled against him... but he broke into a sprint, launching by thousands of stores and pedestrians at light speed as she kept on fighting, screaming, “No! No! NO!”
But they were in the hallway of their hotel, Winter still squirming and crying while he pushed his keycard to the lock, shoving open the door and slamming it shut behind them...
Finally letting her go, he blocked her escape when she ran straight to the door, reaching for the knob but he stepped in front of it, looking at her sternly but cautiously.
She tried to shove him out of the way, screaming for her sister but he didn’t budge...
Standing there like a brick wall...
“Cameron!” she sobbed, trying to shove him again but he didn’t even sway. “Cameron, please! I need to see her! Don’t do this!”
He stayed silent and kept his place.
“Cameron!” she yelled again. “Please!”
No response.
“You’re an ASSHOLE!” she screamed, rage bursting inside her like a firework and she launched toward him, pounding against his chest with her fists but he caught one of her arms...
So she struck him across the face with the other, making him exhale a grunt.
“LET ME GO!” she shrieked, attacking him with punches and kicks but he still held his place even though every part of him ached. “LET ME GO! LET ME GO!”
She was panting now, lungs seizing as her entire body felt heavy from lack of air...
“CAMERON!” she yelled, striking him across the face again before he could block her. “MOVE! GET AWAY!”
He caught her other arm, making her scream when he held her in place, skin burning from where she punched him, but he didn’t care...
She was having a panic attack... a bad one...
He only did what he could think of, shoving her downwards until she met the floor, collapsing back first and knocking the breath out of herself.
While she was stunned, he got down on top of her, trying to catch her wrists while she fought him but she kept on moving, shoving against his chest, arms, pounding his skin... He knew she wanted to be let loose...
But he couldn’t do that...
He finally got both of her wrists, pinning them above her head with a single hand as she squirmed from under him, screaming like he was about to kill her.
But he managed to press his free hand to her forehead, holding her down with his weight and hoping he wasn’t hurting her.
The cold deepened into her skin of her head, and she knew he was using magic from his hand to make her sleep...
She didn’t want to, though...
“No!” she cried, shivering from under him from fighting the magic. “Cameron, no!”
“Please,” he murmured, voice breaking, “don’t fight... Don’t fight me, Snowflake....”
She clearly didn’t hear him or didn’t care, kicking out her legs as he kept her in place.
But he pushed the magic further, making her cry out at the sudden chills from his hand, but she started easing... her screams turning into sobs.
“Cameron, please...” she begged.
“Stop fighting,” he pleaded. “Give in... Come on....”
He pushed further, making her still from under him as she continued to fight back, forcing her weighed eyes to open.
“Cameron...” she sobbed, “I’m calm now, I swear....”
He knew she was lying... she was just afraid...
Why wouldn’t she be?
He didn’t like doing this… but he had to… To keep the poor girl calm…
He knew how bad her panic attacks got, and he wasn’t going to let it get that far.
“You’re safe with me...” he promised. “Even when you’re sleeping... I swear... So please stop fighting, Snowflake... I’m begging you....”
She shook her head, struggling from under him still.
He only sighed, shoving the magic hard enough into her forehead to break her skull, but her eyes rolled to the top of her head...
And they shut... Winter weakening under him until she was limp like a rag-doll...
He loosened his grip, kneeling down so his forehead rested against hers. “I know...” he whispered. “I know you’re scared... I’ll protect you, my love... For the rest of our lives... You’re safe now....”
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpjNq4lOme
*****
It was late in the evening and the sun had already set behind the ocean, the darkness of the night clouding the sky with a black haze.
Winter currently rested her head on the left side of Cameron’s lap, breathing softly while he sat on the couch, holding a hand on top of her head to let her know he was there, all while using the right one to research on his laptop...
He attempted to find data on anything... That girl, Layla... Dante, Kit, Amelia... or that girl Sophia... but he couldn’t find squat other than a couple news sights stating that Kit and Dante might’ve been involved in a couple murders... though nothing else...
It would’ve been nice if the leader of the angel race created a website or internet browser for magical beings... but no they had to be discrete.
His thoughts trailed off when Winter started whining softly, shifting into his lap as her fingers caught on his pants...
It was as if she needed to hold something...
She should’ve been asleep still... The amount of magic he forced on her should’ve kept her asleep for a couple hours at least...
“Cameron...” she murmured into his jeans, grabbing a fistful of fabric. “Help... He’s coming... I see him....”
He leaned down then, brushing some hair away from her face to see her expression...
Her eyes were squeezed shut, tears welling up in her black lashes...
Nightmare... he thought.
He shoved his computer off his lap, not caring if it would’ve fallen and shattered, he just picked her up and set her sideways as a replacement, holding her face into his chest.
“Shhh...” he cooed, hoping she could hear him in her dreams. “I got you. Don’t worry....”
She shifted further into him at the sound of his voice, her body rattling with soft tremors. “Where are you? I can’t see you....”
“I’m here...” he said back, lightly kissing her temple and feeling her relax afterwards. “It’s just a nightmare, I promise, my love. Imagine him riding a pony with rainbows shooting out of its butt or something.”
She giggled, the sound making him smile.
But she was silent after his words, relaxed into him and breathing softly like an angel...
His angel...
A sudden knock broke from the silence, and Cameron’s gaze shot to the front door.
“Police,” one of them said. “Open this door.”
Cameron squinted his eyes, staring at the wood suspiciously.
God... he heard one of them think, I hope this isn’t another rape situation... or worse... a homicide...
I don’t know what’s worse, the other one thought, coming here and seeing a dead body, or telling the family that we found their child dead.
Cameron stood then, holding Winter in his arms as she slept, shifting further into him to get comfortable.
But he made his way over to the front door, pulling his jacket over his gun holster to keep it concealed.
He had to make sure they didn’t freak out, and make sure that he could protect them both if this was an ambush.
He pried open the door, peaking out to see two police officers standing outside, watching him suspiciously when he opened it further, letting them see that Winter was alright.
They probably came because one of the neighbors heard her screaming and called them...
That would explain the “rapey” and “homicide” thoughts.
“Hey,” Cameron said, smiling gently to both officers, “what did you need?”
They looked to Winter who was sound asleep on his shoulder, then at each other, slightly confused. He could tell they were wondering if they’d hit the wrong room.
“Are you... Jude Lawson...?” one of them said.
“Yes,” Cam answered.
On his fake identity.
“Who is this?” the shorter one said, nodding to Winter.
“Oh...” Cam looked to her, trying to come up with a name on the spot, “this is Chloe... my girlfriend....”
They looked to each other again. “Does this... Chloe have a last name?”
“Carter,” he said on the spot.
One of them narrowed his eyes.
Cameron pretended to look oblivious. “Can... I help you...?”
“We had a noise complaint,” was all he said.
“I wasn’t playing music,” he stated.
“Not that kind,” the same one corrected.
Cameron pretended to look confused.
“Do you mind...” the shorter one said, “telling us why your neighbors told our dispatch that they heard feminine screaming coming from your room?”
Cam looked to Winter, and pretended to have a look of recognition pass over his face. “Ohhh...” he said, making them gaze at him quizzically, “that’s why.” He looked down to Winter, brushing some hair out of her face with a look of sadness...
This expression... he did not feign...
“She has anxiety attacks...” he responded, holding her closer to him. “Her family’s been killed... and she’s had a lot of problems with coping from their deaths... The recent murders has kind of set her off....”
It was partly true.
The officers looked taken aback for a moment, unsure of if he was telling the truth or not.
“Do you mind... letting us in...?”
“No, no, of course not,” Cam said, stepping out of the way, “just keep your voices low. She’s still asleep... I finally got her to sleep....”
He had to let them in... or they’d get suspicious...
So he wandered into his and Winter’s hotel room, settling on the couch as the officers settled on the seats across from them, watching Cameron gently lay her down so her head rested on his lap again.
The looked to each other then, clearly questioning whether or not Cam was hurting her.
And he saw in the corner of his eye that they seemed partly stunned when he drew a blanket over her, pulling it down over her feet and to her shoulders, and how she turned her face into his pants, getting comfy.
“So...” one spoke again, “we have some questions we want to ask... It’s protocol....”
“Go for it.”
“How long have you been together?”
“A couple years.”
It was a lie, but they didn’t know that.
“How long have you known each other for?”
“Since elementary school.”
It was partly true... though Winter didn’t know him then...
Also, these were pretty sucky protocol questions, it was clear these guys were rookies.
“Have you guys had any problems?” an officer said. “Fighting? Yelling?”
Cam looked to them quizzically then. “Don’t all couples fight?”
“Well, yes, but please answer the question, Mr. Lawson.”
“Yes.”
“When was the most recent fight?”
“I guess... a couple hours ago?” Cam faked a questioning tone. “But... it wasn’t really a fight.”
“Did it get physical?”
Cam looked to them suspiciously, faking an accusatory tone he knew they’d seen often. “Are you saying I hurt her?”
“It’s just a question, Mr. Lawson.”
“No... well...” he caught himself, realizing that he sounded defensive, “yes... She did get a little physical.”
“She?” one echoed.
A small nod. “Anxiety attack... I mentioned that, right?”
They looked to the other again.
These guys are brand new, Cam thought. Clearly their department doesn’t know how to handle newbies, or they wouldn’t have sent TWO. They’d send ONE with a trained cop supporting him.
They aimed their gazes back to Winter. “Do you mind if we check her for bruises?”
Cam lightly caught her arm and stiffened when they stood, eyes hardening a little when his protective side showed itself. “Don’t touch her,” he growled, narrowing his eyes. “I won’t let anyone hurt her again.”
Confusion passed over their expressions, and Cameron was screaming curses at himself internally when he realized what he just said...
Goddamn you, wolf... he thought. Can you just calm down like a normal person, please? So I don’t sound like a psychotic ass?
He didn’t want it to calm, though... because he needed to be protective over her...
To keep her safe...
“Sir...” one said, “what do you mean by... ‘again?’”
Cam looked at them for a moment, taking a deep breath to center himself but kept his hand on her shoulder...
Just in case...
“It’s hard to explain...” he uttered, attempting to relax when he saw them reach for their guns, “I’m sorry... She just had an abusive relationship at home... and... I was the only one that supported her... She struggles through these problems... and the person who’s hurt her keeps on coming back... I just want her at peace, you know?”
Once again, partly true.
Their hands moved away from their holsters again, and they looked at him quizzically.
“Do you think I’m a bad boyfriend...?” he whispered, actually wondering.
He could tell they were questioning this sudden insecure self... but he had a reason to show it...
He needed them to look at him, both of them... just for a minute.
He smiled slightly when both of their gazes aimed to him, and before this sudden smirk took them off guard, his eyes glowed a dark red, making them freeze.
They looked like blocks of ice... like a mirror... waiting to reflect his orders.
He only resulted to this when he desperately needed to...
And he did now... because they knew too much.
But this also would’ve come in useful.
“First, you are to tell all neighbors that everything is fine. That the screams was just a boy and a girl playing around in the bedroom. Nothing came from this room. Then, you are to walk to an alley exactly two miles from here,” he instructed, covering Winter’s exposed ear while he kept his glowing eyes on them. “Throw trash all over the place and fire gunshots, make sure it looks like a crime scene.”
He stood then, holding Winter in his arms as he continued. “My God...” he said, reframing their memories with fake ones, “some weird person fired shots at you! And you had to run into the alley after them with your partner, firing at them, too! Afterwards, you had no choice but to call fellow officers, telling them to come running. You were never here. This was just a dream you had when you wake up on the alley floor, alive while all other officers come to your aid. You forget our names and everything about us.” He narrowed his eyes. “Now go.”
They spun around then, stepping out of the hotel room and wandered down the hall when Cameron shut the door behind them, chuckling. “It works every time.”
Winter stirred in his arms then, making him gaze down at her with a titled smile when she turned further into him, trying to get warm as she let out cute little annoyed moans...
She was awake now... he could tell...
And it had been a while, and with the commotion, she should’ve been.
“Here...” he whispered, lightly stepping over to the couch and settling down, wrapping the blanket over her shoulders again. It probably fell when he stood up. “Warm?”
She nodded lazily, nestling into his grasp.
“Good...” he murmured. “Sleepy?”
Another nod.
“I can tell,” he stated, chuckling softly.
“How did I fall asleep...?” she whispered, glancing up at him. “I remember seeing my sister... then....”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, my God... my sister! She’s alive!”
“Shhh...” he soothed, trying to calm her also while attempting not to gain attention to themselves again.
They needed to move hotels again anyway, but for now... he needed her calm so she wouldn’t have another psychotic break.
“I saw her...” Winter said then, breathing a little harshly. “And then she left me....”
“She didn’t leave you,” Cam responded. “She knows what’s best for you right now.”
“What?” Winter questioned. “What’s better than how I feel right now?”
He knew what she meant... betrayal...
“Snowflake,” he responded, trying to get her to listen when all she wanted was to cuss him out, “I know how you feel, alright? But you have to think of it this way.”
“What way?” she said sharply.
“Do you want her dead again?” he said, making her eyes round.
“No! Why on Earth would you say that?”
“Because the reason why she left you with me is because she wanted you both safe. She didn’t like me at first, but when she realized what I am, she knew it was the best for you to stay with me. You guys aren’t safe together yet, and she knows that. For Dante, you both are an easier target when you’re together, alright?”
He saw tears build in her eyes, though he could tell she knew he was right...
It didn’t stop the pain, though...
“I know how much this hurts...” he responded, rubbing her shoulder gently. “But I promise you’ll be together soon.…”
A small nod.
“She’s safe, too,” Cam responded. “With her girlfriend, okay?”
Another nod.
“I’m glad you understand, my love,” he whispered. “But this separation won’t last forever.”
She didn’t respond.
“How about we get you something to eat?” he suggested. “What are you in the mood for?”
She looked to him then, but her eyes still dulled in depression. “Pancakes?”
“Breakfast for dinner?” he wondered, smirking now.
A nod and a small smile.
He knew she didn’t remember the anxiety attack, or that he forced her asleep.
Mainly because when he used his magic to knock her out, he let a tiny mind-erasing gem slip in there, hoping it would keep her from freaking out.
The last thing they both needed was the police knocking at their door.
Again.
“Alright,” he said gently, pulling her up from the couch, “let’s go.”
ns 15.158.61.17da2
