Athena
I watched with wide eyes, and the world around me slowed down— From the bullet shooting out from the barrel to the sounds of the room. Everything slowed down, barely moving at all. A surreal hush draped the atmosphere.
But the bullet did not hit me. It did not even brush past me, nor did it reach anywhere near me or the precious soul in my womb.
For a moment, I sat there shocked, looking at the scene in horror as Sebastian stood before me, taking the hit.
His blood splattered on the side of my face, and the cold feeling of it sent chills of horror down my spine. My heart almost stopped, and a light trembling breath left my mouth as I saw the blood dripping down from the side of his chest where the bullet had secured its place.
He looked at me, his eyes slowly examining me for any wounds. I knew he had acknowledged that the bullet had hit him, but he didn't seem to care, even just the bare minimum, for it.
Another firing sound broke through; This time the bullet brushed right below the previous one.
"Sebastian, move away!" I shouted, vigorously trying to break out of the restraints.
"It's okay," He flashed me a reassuring smile, even though his voice did not support him as it failed to hide his pain.
He gazed at my womb, relief passing through his expression, "The baby's safe."
The knot in my chest tightened at his words. Unshed tears blurred my vision and guilt grasped me underneath its bruising hold.
He would have never hurt our baby......he'd have never.
Another firing sound broke out.
The scream was on the verge of leaving my mouth, when Sebastian dodged it off, pushing my chair aside.
"I promise, I won't let anything happen to you and our baby." With that, he turned around and before Vincent could shoot another time, he attacked him at full speed, like a beast.
Vincent, being the cunning animal, took advantage of Sebastian's fresh wounds by clawing and attacking at the same place over and over again.
"You won't be able to save your child, buddy," Vincent chuckled, as they both fought for the gun, "Try as much as you can."
I could see Sebastian was visibly struggling to overpower Vincent because of his constant attacks on his fresh wounds but he was not willing to give up. He was fighting with everything he had. There was desperation, an extreme urge to protect what was his and mostly love that contributed to his determination.
Soon, Sebastian snatched the gun away from Vincent but, Vincent being himself, did not have any love for his life. He didn't seem to care that now it was Sebastian holding the gun and it would take no effort for him to end his life with just one press at the trigger and he pounced at him once again.
I could barely see them. It was all a blur. They were throwing themselves at each other and grabbing any chance to reach to tear their limbs apart. I did not know who was overpowering the other one. I could only hope that Sebastian won't get it. But the chances. were narrow because he was already wounded enough.
Suddenly I heard a gunshot, and Vincent's pained groan. Seconds later I saw him flying away to the other side of the room at the impact of an intense force and as my gaze set on Sebastian, I knew exactly what had just happened.
For a second, I thought that he'd severely injured Vincent but as I saw the blood gushing out from his knee as his body slid down the wall and landed on the ground, I finally realised that Sebastian indeed did not have any intention to kill him.
"As I said before Vincent, I do not want to kill you. Get out of the world you have created in your mind. Get out of the want to revenge that is only hurting you. Enough is enough, we have been going through this our entire lives— Put an end to this." Sebastian spoke up.
It amazed me to see nothing but sympathy in my mate's eyes. He did not appear like that heartless and ruthless man I had met before— He was changed. Totally changed. From a man who wished to see nothing but death to a man who was willing to let go of his enemies alive.
The curse was gone, and so was the Sebastian I knew. Today, before my eyes, stood the man I'd always searched for in his eyes.
Why didn't he let go of his curse before? So much could have been avoided. We wouldn't have to stand here, trapped amid uncertainty, disfavored battles of life and death.
"Yes, I will put an end to this. I will put a fucking end to this today," Vincent shouted and stood up despite his wounded knee that rejected to support him, "And I'd do that with your and your mate's dead body," And he attacked him once again.
This time Vincent visibly lacked in strength yet he was reluctant to stop. At this point, he seemed blind to me. He didn't care about the outcomes, he didn't care if he would succeed or not, he only wanted to kill Sebastian even if it cost him his own life.
"Calm down, Vincent!" he avoided his hits, voluntarily leaving his chances for counterattacks which only infuriated Vincent even more.
I could see him trying to approach me, and every time Sebastian stopped him, his struggles increased even more. And by the time, I was to realise how all of this would end up, a familiar female voice interrupted.
"Sebastian."
My head snapped to look at Julia who now stood at the doorway, with Celine behind her, holding a sharp knife against her neck, both of them putting a perfect victim show in front of his eyes.
"Julia?" Bewilderment crossed Sebastian's face, he looked absolutely shocked and as he noticed Celine, I could see his confusion growing even more.
"How about we kill your dear nanny? Won't that be a good sight to the sore eyes?" A smirk curved at the corner of her lips, Julia perfectly pretended to tremble in fear.
God, I knew what they were up to. I had to alert Sebastian.
"Sebastian, she's not what--" Alas! I didn't get the chance to finish my sentence. Vincent very smartly got away from Sebastian's hold, and using his distraction as an advantage, he snatched the gun room in his hand and approached me, pressing it right at the side of my head.
"Dare to say one word, and empty all the remaining bullets in this gun in this pretty head of yours," It was his low threatening whisper that got me silent.
"Vincent, don't you fucking dare to touch my mate!" Sebastian tried to reach but my captor tilted my head and pressed the gun even harder, to the point where my skin burned.
"No love for nanny? Sebastian babe, I thought of you kinder." Celine made a sound of disappointment. I knew she was trying to put on her best act possible because I could actually see through her facade that covered her fear which was destroying her from within.
I saw no options left in front of me. Neither I could sit here with my mouth shut and watch my mate fall for their ploys, nor could I utter a word because I knew Vincent Thompson was capable was doing exactly what he'd said.
I couldn't just think for myself, I was pregnant—If I die, my baby would not survive too.
But if anything happens to him, I wouldn't be able to live anyway
"Celine, what the fuck do you think you are doing?" Sebastian raised his voice, "What's going on with you and why the fuck are you here, supporting this bloody animal?!"
She nearly flinched, however, she managed to collect herself together and spoke up, masking her words with confidence, "Perhaps you haven't understood it yet. Let me break it to you in short— It wasn't you who found me. You found me homeless, that one-night stand and from then to your house— All of it wasn't just a coincidence. It was all planned— It was me who chased you. I believe you remember Draco Thompson's kids. Don't you? Apart from Vincent, there was another girl he had."
The colour faded away from Sebastian's face. He turned pale, as if someone had poured ice-cold water all over him.
"It was me, Sebastian. I am Draco's second born— Celine Thompson," She finally let out, "Who has been planning your destruction since the very first day since stepping in your fucked up life and I guess today's the day. Congratulations to you and your mate— You two have made it to the end cause there's no way out from here."
He seemed to have a hard time believing his ears just like I had the moment when I first got to know about her real identity.
"Sebastian, what's going on?" Julia acted clueless, pretending to know nothing and playing the victim card.
"Why have you dragged her all the way here into this? She has nothing to do with any of this bullshit. She's innocent."
No, she is not! She is not innocent!
Vincent seemed to realise that I was on the verge of opening my mouth so he very cleverly shifted his gun to point at my belly, knowingly pressing at the weak point to keep me stuck.
"Yeah, Of course, she is," Celine laughed, "But, she also has a very special place in your life after your mother, doesn't she? You found your mother's embrace in her, you love her and you care for her; I am sure, you could never want this woman to get hurt. You want her safe and sound, as much as you want to protect your mate and child." She pressed the knife even closer, triggering Sebastian's apprehension.
"Let her go, Celine. This is between you and me, let her go." He attempted to walk close but Vincent interrupted.
"Hello buddy, take another step and your mate will go straight to heaven."
They were putting him in turmoil solely to get their intention to succeed.
"It's time for you to take a serious decision. You can only save one among these two precious people in your life full of tragedy. Either your dear nanny or your pregnant mate," Celine let out, "Time's running— Tick Tock! Tick Tock! Think quick or else you lose both!"
"Sebastian, just go save your mate. No need to worry about me." Julia put on her show.
"Seb—" My voice was cut off by the sound of a gunshot. He'd shot at the wall behind us.
"Didn't I just tell you to keep your damn mouth shut?!"
"Vincent, don't do anything that'd cost you your life. Lay your finger at my mate, one more time and you are dead meat." Finally, Sebastian's voice took a turn, it sounded like a beast— The beast that rested underneath his skin.
I had to get free to actually be able to do something.
"We'll see about that," He chuckled, "First, at least go and decide who you are gonna save— Your dear nanny or mate."
As Vincent kept uttering nonsense, I took the opportunity to untie my hands. At first, it nearly seemed impossible, but my hopes rose when I finally felt the tight hold of the ropes actually beginning to loosen.
"You should save your mate. Don't think, just go," Tears streamed down Julia's face.
Fuck this shit!
Suddenly I didn't need to struggle anymore. Claws shot out from my fingertips, the smell of my own blood hit my nose and a surreal power attacked me once again, similar to the start of this night, my eyesight became ten times stronger and my hearing matched the capability of a predator.
With a swift jerk, I tore the ropes and my hands were set free. Everything happened without giving me a chance to acknowledge it.
It was just a sudden instinct— One sudden urge and wave of power that shrouded my body and mind.
A growl— Yes it was a growl that left my mouth before I stood up and slapped the gun away from Vincent's hand.
Grabbing his throat, I pinned him to the wall.
I did not know what else went on behind me, but I knew that I needed to kill this man because at that point he was a threat.
And...the only thing predators do is kill the threat.