Page 39 of Our Little Monster
“Nox and I were both twenty-six, while Bastian was thirty.”
“And how old are you all now?” I pressed, not sure I wanted the answer.
“Nox will tell you he quit counting after a century, but it’s been a hundred and eighty-seven years since we were turned, and it’s been two hundred and fifty-nine for Bastian,” he said, and I stilled.
The thought of outliving all of your loved ones crossed my mind, and Thorne glanced at me as if he’d read my thoughts.
“It’s not as bad when you have someone who you know won’t leave, or maybe it’s because you’re both damned together so it doesn’t hurt as bad, but it still sucks.” He grimaced, shaking off the pain as if it were never there.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. Over the time since my dad died, I’ve been drowning. But as long as I kept moving, I knew everything would be okay. I wouldn’t break as long as I kept going.
I couldn’t imagine everyone you know leaving you and being forced to continue alone. It made me want to be sure I cherished my visit with Sam tomorrow. She was really all I had left other than Brielle, but since my dad died, I distanced myself.
They’ve only talked to me on the phone about leads, or to ask me how I was doing to which I gave them vague answers to get off the phone.
I missed them, and I made a mental note to be better about keeping them closer. Though I wouldn’t let anything get in the way of my revenge, I hoped they would understand when the time came, or would it be too late for me?
Something about Thorne seemed to soften all my sharp edges, and it was comforting but also terrifying.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Get some more rest; you need it,” he said, walking out of the bedroom.
The door clicked closed behind him.
I tossed and turned for what felt like hours, unable to fully rest no matter how hard I tried. I was in between sleep and consciousness when my nightmares began blending with the present.
Suddenly, they were here, the Vampires, the ones from that night, their empty eyes and razor-sharp fangs ripping my father limb from limb as I watched bleeding and broken a few yards away.
I tried to scream, but it never came. Tried to stop them, but I couldn’t move. So lost and stunned by pain and blood loss.
I jerked up from the bed, sweat coating my forehead and back. I moved my head around the space quickly and couldn’t calm down even though I knew the room was empty. Rain pattered loudly against the windowpane. Thunder and lightning cracked across the sky outside.
I could see their faces, their shadows from the lightning outside my window. The Vampires from that night, their eyes wild. I tried to take steadying breaths, but my heartrate wouldn’t slow.
It’s a nightmare. It’s not real.
I wanted to feel safe. I needed to feel safe.
I glanced over at the dresser and decided I’d move it in front of the door. In the dark, it looked like the Vampires were standing just outside. The monsters were waiting to strike, no matter how many times I told myself they weren't. Were they? My tired mind was playing tricks.
I moved to the dresser quickly in my sleepy daze and put my back against it, pushing as hard as I could. I could tell the dresser was old and built well because it took all the strength I had to move it. Its legs scraped against the wooden floor as it slowly shifted in front of the door.
My breathing labored, I leaned against the wall next to the door and slid down until my ass hit the wooden slats. The door rattled from someone trying to open it from the other side.
“Serina?” Bastian called, and I could hear the shuffle of more than just his footsteps on the other side of the wall. “Serina, open the door.”
“I can’t,” I whimpered.
Shit, I heard one of them curse under their breath.
“Serina, is someone in there?” Thorne asked, and the door rattled against the dresser again until it began scraping against the wood away from the door.
I pushed myself further into the wall as the window opened and the sound of pouring rain filled the room. Nox was in front of me a moment later, drenched from the rain. He held his hands up, a pained expression taking over his features.
Why hadn’t they just pushed the door open?
I was sure they could with their strength.
“Serina,” he murmured, and I shook my head. Tears began burning behind my eyes.
