Page 47 of Little Wing
“That was the local human newspaper—here, hold on.” He clicked around more, hit a few more keys and then forcefully blew out air. “Okay… now I see what they’re talking about.”
“What?”
Not wanting to wait another minute, I forcibly yanked the screen in my direction where I found the headline that left my brother rubbing the side of his face. There were no pictures, but the publication appeared to be from some vampiric paper I wasn’t familiar with. Luca Everett was written about in detail. His description, his true age, origin, and the fact that he had a sister. I shook my head, the dread settling in the pit of my stomach as I read Lotus’ name on the screen. But as I continued reading, the rage inside me only continued to bubble up and boil over. Lotus was never around the victims; she couldn’t have been. Only because she was related to Luca, the enraged vampires also put a huge target on her. Of course—if they found her, then they would also find Luca.
“Basically,guilty by association. Can you believe this shit?” Mateo scoffed and got up from his chair. “Sounds to me like vampires were pissed about this incident and wanted to take it into their own hands so the treaties wouldn’t be threatened by one vamp’s crime.”
With an event this big in the vampiric community, I was shocked that I didn't know anything about it. Mateo and I were still overseas while the treaties were being discussed. We were still living with Elias and news of the outside communities rarely sounded through the halls of our home. We set up Little Wing to combat so much of this and still felt so blindsided by something that swept the US community into a frenzy that stretched past state lines.
“You need to find her, Silas,” my brother confirmed the thoughts running through my head. “If some guy can just step in like that and grab her—”
“I know.”
I didn’t want to think about what could have happened. Still feeling frustrated with how I reacted, I pulled my phone out again and dialed Lotus’ number. When there was no answer, I sent her a few more texts.
Lotus, can we please talk?
Can you let me know you're safe?
Lotus?
When no responses came through, I began dialing the only other numbers I could think of. Kait and Reina.
“Reina—” I growled when the automated message played, cutting me off. After waiting to speak, I exhaled slowly. “Reina, it’s Silas. Ifyou’ve heard from Lotus, please let me know. Or ask her to get back to me please. This is important.”
The entire situation was a clusterfuck. I was blindsided by information that apparently everyone else knew, I was sleeping with the woman that other vampires would happily tear apart if they were given the chance. Despite the cruel words that were printed about her, all that I wanted was to find her and protect her from anyone threatening to harm her. But the only way I could even consider that was if I knew where I could find her. Until then, I had no clue what else to do other than to keep Little Wing running. With today’s events having occurred during one of our busiest times, I needed to remain collected enough to assure our guests that Little Wing had things under control and that they were in fact not in any danger at all.
How I wanted to believe those words myself.
Iwatched Kait out of the corner of my eye standing in her kitchen with a cup of tea pressed against her chest. Earl Grey with a splash of cream. Kait’s comfort drink. The look of uncertainty painted across her face was hard to miss as was the palpable silence that spoke volumes.
After the fiasco at Little Wing, I could not bear to return home or anywhere I knew Silas could find me. I kept replaying the memory of Silas pacing back and forth before Mateo downed my attacker. I could hear the growls echoing in my head.
“Get your fucking hands off her!”
Would he have said the same thing if he knew why that man threatened to explode at the sight of me?
I ended up at Kait’s where she offered to let me crash on her couch for as long as I needed. I wanted so badly to believe that the offering would remain, but I knew that this was my dead-end. No more running. If one person recognized me, then the rest would follow soon. Fairhaven wasn’t a large metropolis—word would travel fast that Lotus Evans was indeed Lotus Everett, the sister of Luca Everett who murdered two human women in cold blood.
The minimal change of my name was laughable, even to me. Did I truly think that no one would catch on eventually?
“Lo,” Kait started as she moved from the kitchen to the living room. She set the mug on the coffee table and sat beside me. “I’m sorry, I made tea, but I know you don’t drink that.”
I nodded. “I appreciate the thought, Kait. Thank you for letting me stay here.”
“Of course.” She paused, opening her mouth and closing it a few times before leaning forward. “Do you want to talk about what happened? Silas has been blowing up my phone as well as Reina’s. She’s going to be here tonight so we can support you as best as we can.”
“Oh.”
“Were you hurt?” she asked cautiously.
“No.”
I wasn’t going to bring attention to any of the bruises I could feel forming. They’d heal quickly regardless.
“Silas said—”
“Kait, I must be honest with you. I am trying to find the words but every attempt at piecing this together in my head ends in you despising me, so please…” I finally looked at her before my voice broke. “I just want a few minutes longer with you not looking at me like I’m a monster…”
