Blood Legacy Chapter 136: 134. Run!

"No. Absolutely not," his tone was firm and decisive, leaving no room for arguments.

"I will not let you go through that,"

I quickly sat up at the sound of that, tucking my legs underneath my bum as I faced him.

"But we have to, Darius!" I looked into his beautiful eyes, letting that hint of desperation show in mine as I continued to plead my case.

"I'm sick of being afraid!" 

I was. I really was. Ever since he'd told me that we would have to face those creepy assholes who called themselves a council and possibly receive some form of punishment I'd been living with this constant fear, of not knowing what was going to happen to us. I was tired of it. I wanted to do something about it.

"At least like this, we could finally stop them! All of them!" I added, watching him raise himself into a sitting position and I pushed myself closer, my voice lowering into a whisper as I placed a hand over his chest and peered into his eyes, quietly uttering,

"We can finally put an end to this,"

We could've stopped both clans from ever forcing another innocent couple to go through such barbaric acts for their sick pleasure and greed for power. We only needed to dissolve that stupid council first, and then we would've worked our way through the werewolf clan, the latter being so much easier to deal with since we would've become their rulers anyway. We could've found a solution in time. I knew that we could.

"Carina, no. I will not put you through that. I'm sorry but no," he swiftly refused and my anger suddenly rose, remembering what he'd told his father earlier in the tea room. What he'd told me that night back at my house.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, you'd rather die trying, right? You'd rather fight them by yourself and have yourself killed instead of giving us a real chance by increasing our numbers!" I choked down a sob, feeling those hot tears rapidly gather in my eyes.

God. Why was he so fucking desperate to have himself sacrificed?

"Kitten, there are so many things you don't understand," his features softened upon noticing those tears pooling in my eyes, his gaze so sad and dejected as he reached out to caress my cheek.

"Then tell me, help me understand them, Darius!" I wrapped a hand around his wrist, blinking away those goddamned tears.

"I'm sick of sitting around like this, waiting for something bad to happen! Waiting to just fucking lose you before we even got the chance to be together! I'm tired of feeling so helpless, so damn fucking useless!" I choked back another sob, forcing myself to continue.

"I'm the one always being kept in the dark, whether is your brother and my dad lying to me or you who keeps insisting that this martyr behavior of yours is for the better and that you're only trying to protect me! I'm not a fucking porcelain doll, Darius! Goddamnit!"

*Fuck.* I blinked, staring back at his handsome face. Noticing that deep hurt and sorrow glinting in his eyes. And before I could even register what I was doing my legs were already carrying me straight towards the door.

"Carina, wait!"

"Carina!"

The door closed behind me with a loud slam, not even giving him the chance to utter another word. And with those tears still blurring my vision I broke into a sprint down the hallway, so eager to get as far as possible away from that room.

I didn't want him to hear my furiously spinning thoughts. That angst eating at me. That sickening desperation. I wanted to break something. And scream. And cry.

Why was he so fucking stubborn? Did he really wanted to die that badly? Why couldn't he understand that I was just trying to save him, save us all for crying out loud! It was the only way! I knew that those council bastards were very powerful indeed, otherwise my father and the rest of the werewolf clan wouldn't have feared them like they did. It was pretty obvious that Darius didn't stand a chance against them, magical powers or not. And I...I had no idea how to use mine. And I seriously doubted that I could've made a difference anyway. There were seven of them -from what I'd gathered so far- whereas there were only two of us. Darius and I. To go against them was obviously pure suicide. Which was exactly what Darius was intending to do, by himself, as it turned out.

And I was so....God, I couldn't help but feel so angry at him. Why was he in such a fucking rush to die? To leave me behind?

I broke into another sob, mindlessly running down a flight of stairs as those tears kept falling down my cheeks. God! Why were there so many fucking stairs? My breaths came out in harsh pants as I pushed myself and went further down, step after step until I lastly reached the bottom, my blurry gaze landing on a small and arched entryway. And drawn by those several types of pink flowers decorating the entire frame, I rushed straight towards it and entered the small room, my tears momentarily forgotten as I paused to admire my surroundings.

There were so many flowers in bloom. Such pretty pastel colours, highlighted by the glaring sun that passed through the floor-length windows. It kinda appeared to be another tea room but not really. It was too small and cramped up. There were too many vases and pots of decorative flowers scattered all over the place. And there was a much-too-small round table painted with a nice shade of turquoise, with only two chairs to sit on. Still, it did look very nice. And way too girly for the castle's imposing and generally-somber style.

I made my way to have a seat on the plushy, cotton-candy pink chaise longue and with a hitching sigh, I tiredly plopped my butt on it.

At least the view was nice. I let my gaze trail back to the windows, noticing the beautiful garden that seemed to spread out for miles. With trimmed shrubs, rose bushes and several different statues visible from a distance.

Footsteps sounding in the background reached my ears and my heartbeat jumped to a crescendo as I obviously expected it to be Darius. It wasn't.

"Oh," my brows furrowed a little with evident curiosity.

"Hi...Soraya," I lightly shook my head after remembering her name, watching as she quickly approached, her strides hasty and almost anxious.

"Is something the-" I gasped as she suddenly gripped my arm, forcing me to stand.

"What's-" my breath hitched as I noticed that evident distress and fear glinting in her eyes as she took a quick glance around. And once her eyes met my own again she rose her palm between us, opening it to reveal a tiny mound of shimmering dust.

"Girl, is it just me or are you actually inviting me to do some crack with-" I didn't get to finish that sentence as she suddenly blew into it, sending it all straight in my face. I coughed a little as it inevitably entered my lungs. And within the following moment, everything suddenly went dark.

**

*"Carina..."*

I moaned a little, that familiar voice faintly registering in my brain. It was so dark. But I felt warm. And cozy.

*"Carina, wake up,"*

Go away, Dre. Leave me alone... I weakly mumbled and snuggled myself even deeper in the warm embrace of my cozy bed, inhaling that amazing scent that clung to my pillow. Coconuts and leather. Weird combo, I know. But it smelt so fucking good. Sweet and delicious, exactly like...

"Kitten, please wake up,"

My eyelids suddenly fluttered open as Darius' unmistakable voice caressed my ears, finding myself staring at his white shirt.

"Thank the Goddess. You had me so worried," he softly kissed my temple and gathered me closer to his chest, making me realize that I was lying in his arms.

How the...When did we end up like this?

"Do you remember what happened?" He asked in sync with my current train of thoughts, my head turning to peer up at him, brows furrowed.

"I..." Nothing. Nada.

"You were lying on the floor unconscious when I found you," he informed with a hint of concern, peering between my eyes as I stared up at him, thoroughly lost.

What?

"I...don't..." I blinked and he blew out a long sigh through his nose, a small hint of sadness and remorse lacing his tone as he uttered out,

"I'm so sorry, kitten. I didn't mean to upset you like that..."

What? Oh...yeah. We had a fight. And I ran away. But...why couldn't I remember what happened after? How did I end up like this, sprawled on the floor as he'd said that he found me?

"Come on, let's get you somewhere more comfortable," he wrapped his arm under my knees as his other one was already wrapped around my back and with one quick move I was already dangling in his embrace, taking a single step before he placed me on the chaise longue lying close-by.

"Wait here, I'll be right back. I will ask someone to make you some tea," he quickly said and after another quick kiss over my temple, he disappeared past the flower-decorated archway.

I yawned and groggily sat up, that certain movement making me feel a small sting of pain in my wrist as I used my hands to push my body upwards. And with a frown I dragged the sleeve down and took a quick look at the inside of my wrist where I'd felt the pain, noticing a small puncture wound. It was so small, the size of a needle, actually.

What the... Holy shit. Had I been fucking drugged?!? But how? When? Why? By whom?

"Oh my god," I squeaked out, rapidly falling into a pit of bottomless panic. I needed to tell Darius. And Nathan.

So I darted upwards and bolted straight out of that room, aimlessly running through the spacious foyer. Come on! Where the fuck was everybody?

I ran around like a mad woman, checking doors and hallways, chaotically twisting and turning through that maze-like castle. Come on! I needed to find someone, anyone! What if I fainted again? Holy shit what if I was about to actually fucking die?!?

My breaths started to turn into audible wheezes, edging so dangerously close to a panic attack as I ran and ran.

Fuck! Oh God please no, please no!

I panted and pushed myself even harder, struggling to hold on with all I had as I continued to desperately search for another soul... until my gaze lastly landed on Darius standing in the middle of another spacious foyer as he talked with a random old lady.

He offered her a nice smile and she smiled back, doing a small curtsying gesture before leaving.

I continued to run towards him and the moment he saw me, his features morphed with growing concern, his long legs immediately carrying him straight towards me.

"Carina, what's-" he didn't get to finish his sentence as I threw myself straight in between his arms, wheezing like a damn dying horse.

"Kitten, what's the matter? Please talk to me," he held me and tilted my chin upwards to peer at me, his dark eyes brimming with growing angst.

But I couldn't say anything. I was too out of breath. And trembling from the paralyzing fear.

*"Kitten...please listen to my voice..."* he softly uttered in my head and I tightly clutched at his shirt with shaky hands, struggling to hold onto him with all I had. Fighting not to lose consciousness again. I failed.

**

I felt myself softly stirring, nudged awake from a dreamless slumber. I lazily stretched my limbs with a small groan, casually feeling the dull and uneven surface beneath me.

Smoke. There was the faint aroma of burning wood taunting my nostrils, and my eyelids slowly fluttered open, finding myself staring at a dark and starlit sky peeking from between a dense canopy of trees.

*"Carina..."*

Nate?

I quickly sat up straighter, regretting my decision as a wave of dizziness and pain hit my head. Fuck.

*"Love, please listen to me,"*

*Nate!*

I groggily looked around me, noticing there were so many burning torches surrounding this clearing I was in, brightly illuminating it.

"Holy shit! Nate!" My eyes widened as I noticed him sitting a few feet away from me, looking pretty bad himself. His clothes were dirty and his hair pretty messy, fortunately not showing any hint of being physically hurt though. At least from where I sat.

*"No! Stop! Please don't scream!"* His eyes were equally wide as he stared right back at me, his lips firmly sealed as he kept talking in my head.

"What? Why?" I scrambled up to my feet and ran towards him, surprised to notice that his hands were actually tied behind his back. To a very thick and sturdy-looking log of wood.

"Oh my god! What happened? Who did this to you?" I cried out and rushed to untie him, his panic-filled voice immediately filling my head.

*"Please! Stop talking! You're going to wake him!"*

"What? Who?" My brows furrowed as I peered at the side of his face before my gaze casually darted around the clearing for a quick scan.

I let out a choked gasp as my gaze landed on a very unconscious Darius, lying on his back just a few feet away from us.

*"No! CARINA! STOP!"* Too late. I was already crawling straight towards him, panic and fear gripping at my insides as I approached him. I quickly gripped his shirt and lowered my ear against his chest, desperate to hear his pulse and breathing, which were both present. Strong and steady even.

*Thank God.* I blew out a long exhale and sat back, worriedly looking upon his peaceful features when Nate's desperate voice echoed in my head again.

*"Carina! Please listen to me! You have to get away from him now! Our father did this to us! He did something to him, there's something in his blood, I can feel it from all the way here! Please!"*

My head turned to peer in his direction, shock and disbelief marring my features as I widely stared back at him.

"W-what?" My voice trembled.

*"Please! You have to get away now!"*

A warm hand suddenly wrapped around my wrist, squeezing to the point where it actually started to hurt and my head snapped back to Darius, a tiny and frightened mewl escaping me as soon as I noticed that look in his golden-glowing eyes. Cold. Lethal.

I tried to yank myself away from his grip, to no avail as he held me so tightly, those golden eyes watching me like a hawk observing its prey.

"Darius, please...you're hurting me..." my pleas fell on deaf ears as his hand remained wrapped exactly where it was, keeping me shackled to him as he swiftly rose himself into a kneeling position.

He leaned over me and I softly whimpered, hearing him deeply inhale. Like a hungry, feral animal.

What was happening? What did they do to him? Why was he acting like this?

He roughly slammed me against the unforgiving ground and I let out a terrified cry, not having the time to feel that pain in my bones as he took my wrists and pinned them above my head, climbing on top of me.

"No! Please! Darius! What are you doing?" I squealed as he let out an animalistic snarl, tears starting to trail down my cheeks as I violently shook underneath him.

Until he suddenly disappeared and my head snapped to the side, shocked to notice that Nathan had tackled him to the ground, punching him square in the face. He didn't even react. Like that punch had never even touched him.

"Carina! I need you to get up and run!" Nathan desperately urged me as his head turned to face me, milliseconds before Darius sent him flying off of him with a mere push.

I whimpered and scrambled up to my feet, standing on shaky legs and too frozen by fear to even react as I watched Darius rise up to his feet like a skilled ninja, stalking his way straight towards me. With a murderous intent written all over his face.

"Darius, please! This isn't you! Please! You have to stop!" I let out a blood-curdling scream as I watched that hand reach out to grab me, mere seconds before Nathan slammed into his side, tackling him to the ground once again.

"Carina, you have to run! NOW!"

I didn't wait for him to tell me a third time. And with a last glance at that horrifying image of them roughly fighting, I let out a choked sob and broke into a sprint, running like my life depended on it. Because it actually did.