Athena
Within a few minutes, we had already crossed a distance of ten miles.
This was what I wanted, wasn't it? Disappear from Sebastian's life forever and never look back—I considered it my ultimate destination. But now as I was seeing it come true before my eyes, as we crossed each mile in a matter of less than a minute, everything felt fucking wrong.
I was restless, concerned, and oblivious of where these two people who were complete strangers to me in a way, were taking me. But at the same time, too consumed in my thoughts to ask them what was the place that we were actually heading to.
The concern of Sebastian Beta and the driver whom I left there trapped in the midst of the rogues, bugged me. I did not want anyone to die because of me— I had seen enough deaths, starting from the death of my own soul, my happiness and my hopes.
And whilst I suffered in my silence, it made me question my decision that I hadn't gotten to consider twice before the circumstances forced me to walk into it. There were no doors left.
If I hadn't left with Julia and this guy, the rogues could have fucking killed Aaron and the driver and perhaps, eventually me— It was that obvious, no matter how much these two individuals now leading the way had told me that time.
The energy and the situation said what they had to, so how could I trust what I heard with my ears? Words had always lied.
There was a feeling inside me that told me that though it might seem safe, I wasn't really safe. The ominous gut feeling, made my mind revolve around doubts as if I was heading to not the destination I wished to find but a bigger danger.
Was it a mistake to trust Julia? The woman who now seemed a totally different person compared to the one who came to me that night only to ask help from me for my own mate?
All three of us were silent. The two individuals sitting in the front seat had not uttered a word till now, nor did they have any reasons to do so.
But I had. I had many questions to ask, many doubts to clear and.....most importantly figure out her true intentions that seemed deeper than what she put on the surface for me to see.
Helping me couldn't be the only purpose after what I had witnessed half an hour ago. Her eyes did not say what her mouth did.
A secret agenda was what my instincts told me the reason was.
But the rest was still not confirmed.
"Julia."
"Yes, dear?" She instantly turned back to look at me.
"Tell the truth, please," I said, unable to hide my dismay at a negative response my instincts told me to prepare for, "Is Aaron and the driver going to be safe?"
"Tell me something, why do you care so much for them in the first place?" Instead of a response, a question came not from Julia but from the strange male whose demeanour was actually one of the main reasons that contributed to the suspicions in my mind.
"Sorry, but my question was to Julia, not you."
A low chuckle slipped past his lips and it was a debate whether it was a hallucination or it actually had malice lying beneath it.
Strange feeling twisted in my gut. For some reason, I did not feel safe at all— I felt threatened in a way words would fail to describe
"Athena..." Julia began with a sigh, "I am afraid that my answer would not please you."
"What?" All the colours flew away from my face.
Julia and that man exchanged a glance, and this time it was her who laughed. The sound of it was malevolent.
"You know what mother? She's truly naive. That's why the goddess made her the mate of that monster because, perhaps, she wanted to help us get to our goal." I found a smirk curving at the corner of the lips of the man, and something similar to the bile beneath his smirk flicked in Julia's eyes that shifted at me.
He was her son?
"What...what goal are you talking about?" I stammered.
"You still haven't understood, sweetheart?" Julia asked with her utterly soft tone that now appeared fake to me, or perhaps it always was, and I was the only one to be blamed.
I was left speechless, my hands clutched onto the sides of my dress whilst my pulse rate rose high.
I was not oblivious that this conversation was not heading to something good as my assumptions were slowly being proven right. But there was a part of me that feared what was about to come— A dark truth.
"Who do you think I am? Just a nanny of your mate who wanted the oh-so best and happy ever after for him?" Her voice was nothing but a mock falsetto, terror crawled up my skin, the dark intentions speaking loud through her voice made me want to slink back somewhere away from them and shield myself and my baby, "You know what's your biggest weakness, Athena?"
I stared at her, doe-eyed, afraid and deep down wishing that it all would turn out to be a nightmare and the situation would stand in my favour.
"You think everyone has a heart like you." She let out, chuckling, "It's not even your fault. You are too pure for this world and today we are going to free you from this burden, hopefully, your mate would be the next one though his soul is mere ash compared to yours."
"What are you saying?" I stuttered in disbelief.
"She's saying that she's going to gift something to you and your mate, Athena," That man interrupted, "Mom, why don't you tell her what we have been planning to give to them for so long? I'm sure she'd be surprised."
"Of course, she would," Julia laughed along with her son. Their behaviour was seemingly profoundly immoral.
"Have heard of the death, Athena? It's a beautiful gift to give to your enemies," Julia looked at me, the smile on her face faded and her eyes darkened like jet-black spheres.
With her hair flying with the winds and depravity dancing in her orbs, she looked terrifying. More than the demons in my head.
"And I think you and your mate would be the perfect ones to receive this gift from us cause there's a lot of things left unpaid, and not to forget, now we have got Sebastian's child as well though it might not feel anything at all while you die still, it won't be less entertaining to get the life out of three of you. I just can't wait for it," She moved her gaze to her son, who gave away much stronger negative energy without having to say anything at all—That presence alone exposed the unknown and made the torment creep up my skin.
"What do you say, Vincent? It'd be so much fun. Wouldn't it?"
My heart stopped soon as the name fell off her lips. It was as if someone had thrown my entire world upside down
Vincent...
The realisation attacked me like a cyclone, tore me apart, and made the fear grow in the cracks.
Sebastian's biggest enemy— Vincent Thompson.
Julia is his mother...
The energy had not lied. Their motives were...dark. Everything was a plan to get me here and take revenge on Sebastian and I unknowingly fell for it by trusting the facade of Julia.
"What happened to your face, Athena? You look...pale," Vicent glanced back at me, an identical smirk, just like his mother stretching upon his lips; The grating breezes against the speeding vehicle made resounded raucous, over and over again.
I was left shocked at my place, finding myself tangled in a battle with my mixed emotions and incredulity that surrounded me in a bottomless haze, sinking me into despondency.
"Stop the car, right now!"
"Hallelujah, so you have grown a backbone," Vincent laughed, not making any move to stop, "It's interesting. Watching the woman who couldn't fight for herself for the entire time when she had so many opportunities in her hand, running her mouth in a situation, where the best choice would be to stay silent — You have got no power against us. Try to help yourself realise this truth."
"Rejoice the last few moments of your life, Sweetie. You won't get this chance again." Julia added.
"I said stop the fucking car, right now!" My voice changed on its own into one that I never heard, a power coursed through my body and burned under my skin— There was something that was triggered, and something that took control over my mind.
Their eyes snapped at me; A strange realisation crossed Julia's eyes, however, Vincent's only showed rage.
"Raise your voice one more time, and it won't take me two seconds to break your jaw into two." He warned, his tone dropping a few octaves, making it evident that he was absolutely serious about his words.
But, no fear sprouted. Something was stirring awake but alas! It was far beyond my understanding and the source of power broke every periphery I knew, like a globe of fire it burned down the fear and familiar weaknesses that thrived on doubts, to mere ashes.
"Try me." It left my mouth on its own.
I was no longer in charge of my body. Something else had already taken over. I caught a glimpse of my darkened eyes in the rearview mirror giving me a hint of the entity that awakened within me and the two wicked individuals sitting in the front seemed to notice it as well, and shock crossed their faces.
"What did you just say?" Nonetheless, unlike his mother, Vicent's anger was what took the best hold of him.
"Can't trust your ears, Vincent? Or having Sebastian beat the shit out of you multiple times has gotten your eardrums damaged?"
"You fucking bitch," He suddenly pulled the vehicle to a stop, and jumped out of the jeep.
Striding to my side, he jerked open the door and dragged me out as well.
"Should have chosen your words wisely, you stupid hoe," He twisted my wrist, causing a winch to leave my mouth but fear did not brush anyway near me, this pain felt like nothing at all, "Now see how I damage this pretty face of yours and kill this piece of flesh growing inside you."
He raised his hand to slap me, but at that very moment, sharp claws tore the skin on the tips of my fingers, extended to the full and without wasting a second I hit his face with them, making sure to dig them deep enough to draw blood.
He groaned in pain, stepping away as I had just ripped the skin on his face. The cut was huge— Starting from the right of the top of his forehead to the side of his left cheek.
I had never imagined that the sight of blood would please me so much, but today the unimaginable turned out to be true— The predatory instincts just kicked in all at once. The metallic smell of the blood was oddly relishing and the urge to see this man die was untamable.
He looked at me in shock before his eyes moved to look at the blood in the palm of his hand.
I slightly tilted my head to the side, inspecting his reaction and watching utter confusion dancing in his orbs, "You made a mistake, Vincent. You shouldn't have brought my child into this. None is allowed to hurt my baby, not my mate nor his bloody enemies." I advanced towards him, watching perplexity shading his face as if he couldn't fathom the reason behind the sudden change in my demeanour.
But, I could. I knew this source of power, she'd been with me my wolf but like a shadow....and today, she was there, vivid and standing on her ground to fight the devil in front of us.
"Anyone who'd try to hurt my child, will die....." I walked closer to him and he unconsciously took a step back, still unable to figure out his next move or get out of the perplexed haze to attack me, "And today you'll—"
Just the moment I was about to attack him, a sharp pain stabbed in my neck— The pain of a thin and pointed object piercing through my skin and flesh ending up attacking right at my veins responsible for my consciousness.
A hiss tore from my mouth, and I glanced at my side, finding Julia emptying the liquid in the injection underneath my skin before she pulled it out with a hasty yank.
I stumbled backwards, my head instantly getting dizzy, eyes falling heavy, and senses unsteady.
"I never underestimate the enemies, sweetheart," Her words made it to my ears, and I caught the hint of her smirk through my blurry vision, "Blame your luck, I am a mother myself and I know what extent they can cross to protect their child but unfortunately you don't know how far a widow burning for revenge can go. So, sleep well for a few hours, there's a long journey ahead and trust me more surprises are waiting for you."
A loud howl rang inside my head as if a signal was being sent to someone, keeping hidden from anyone's acknowledgement, And then.... pitch-black darkness engulfed my whole world.