Chapter 15
"Now what?" Demetri asked, seeming both upset and proud that his friend had made it to his destination.
"Now, I'm going to go back and find him." I began slowly stepping backwards. From everything that I had learned about tears that had happened in the past and were later mended, I knew they repelled anything that didn’t belong. I was going to have to force my way through into the human realm now that I would be recognized as a non-human.
"Wait!" Axel came up beside me. "I picked up traces of something else that you need to be aware of." Axel exchanged glances with Demetri, and Demetri looked away.
"What? What are you two keeping from me?" I asked, exasperated.
One word left Demetri's lips, "Blood."
Followed by two words from Axel, "And Slashers."
"No, nonononono.” My stomach churned and I felt dizzy a second before I bent over and vomited lightning. Wiping my mouth, I stood up straight, squaring my shoulders and asked, "How bad?"
Axel spoke softly, "He's alive. He was when he went through anyway."
"Okay. Do either of you know where this tear leads to?" I hoped it was another part of the world where they hadn't experienced any loss, where Mason could receive the medical attention he needed.
Demetri shrugged. "I told Mason the uncertainty with tears is that we've never gone through them, only repaired them as needed." Axel nodded his agreement with Demetri's explanation. Demetri sighed, "Mason said it was worth the risk."
"Sounds like Mase." Impulsively I reached out and hugged Demetri who, after a moment, quit fighting and allowed me to continue. "Listen, I've got to go through there, but you don't. I know you feel responsible, but Mason made up his own mind to do this and probably would have figured out a way with or without you. I have no idea what time of day it is on the other side, and if it’s daytime, we may not have enough time to find a dark place for you." I released him from the hug, but kept my hand on his shoulders as I leaned down to peer into his face. I didn't have to lean down far because he was only a couple inches shorter than me.
His face held the same defiant expression as he spoke, "It doesn't work that way in the human realm. I can walk among humans, day or night."
His answer surprised me and I stood up, dropping my hand from his shoulders to glance up at Axel. He nodded. "He’s right. Some rogue vampires cut small slits between the realms to go feed on humans. There's probably a quite a few roaming around your old world as we speak." I was so appalled that my expression must have shown it. "Where do you think all those legends and horror stories derived from?"
"And everyone in this realm is okay with them feeding on humans as if they were cattle?" If it had been up to me, I would put a stop to it immediately.
Demetri went on the defense. "They’re not suppose to harm them; it’s against our law."
I snorted, "Like that's going to stop them. They'd have to be caught first and it doesn't seem like anyone here gives a rip." Whatever, this was so beside the point and I needed to find Mason. Freyja help the vampire that came across my path. Before either one of them could say another word I took a running leap and dove into the shinny slit.
I couldn't believe it when my body came to a sudden stop inside this Jello-like substance; I couldn't breathe. I fought like a wild cat, clawing to the surface and although it was only a few seconds, it felt more like an eternity. Gasping, I flopped onto the hard ground and began examining my surroundings. It was daylight here, the sun was shining brightly and the birds were singing loudly. It was a comforting sound.
As two more thuds hit on either side of me as I stood to my feet, Demetri and Axel began gasping for breath as I had a second ago. While they attempted to regain their composure, I gave my body a once over, surprised to find it wasn't coated with slime.
I heard the creaking of a chain, like something was pulling on it. No, that wasn't right. The sound brought back a not so distant memory and I knew exactly where I was. Oh, Mason. I started walking toward the sound, digging my way out of the thick, woodsy area, not caring as branches slashed my face and arms.
"I take it you recognize where we are?" Axel whispered right at my ear as he joined me and began clearing a path for me with his claws. I nodded as we made it into the clearing to hit up against the back of a chain link fence. Sticking my fingers through the links, I stared directly onto the playground of my old elementary school, the swings being swung by the wind.
"Yes, we're in my hometown and Mason is in major trouble. There isn't anywhere he can go for treatment. No one is here." I gave the fence a powerful nudge with my shoulder, taking the whole section down then turned to find Demetri had made his way to join us.
"Where would Mason go?" Demetri asked as he trotted across the playground. "Can you pick up his scent, Axel?"
"I'm trying. I know he was here, but this place is loaded with scents from a plethora of humans around his age.”
Shaking my head, I informed them, "It doesn't matter. I know exactly where he is."
As we rounded the school I took off at full speed toward the center of town, leaping over an old car and then taking Harris Street. Neither Axel nor Demetri had a difficult time keeping up with me and I was glad because I had no intention of stopping to wait for anyone.
I felt sick the closer I got to my house. What if I was wrong and Mason had gone somewhere else, like our grandparents’ house? No, he would go home. When Mase was sick or hurt, he always wanted Mom. He had to be there. As I took the steps two at a time, I spotted blood on the front door and I freaked.
"Mason!" I shouted as I hurried up the stairs and down the hall to his room. Tears began flowing down my cheeks as I entered his bedroom.
He was lying on top of the blankets, clutching a framed print of our family. Hurrying to his side, I quickly noticed that his shirt was soaked in blood. I tore it down the front to get a look at his wound, nearly throwing up when I saw that giant gash across his midsection.
I dropped to my knees. "It's going to be okay, Mase. I'm here now." I smoothed his hair off his forehead and his eyes fluttered.
"Kylie," he mumbled weakly, his mouth turning up a little as he attempted to smile.
Axel peered at the wound over my shoulder, his eyes saddened, then shook his head at me.
"NO," I breathed. I couldn't lose my brother, not this way.
Mason's eyes opened to look at me. His face was unbelievably pale from the blood loss. I was surprised he had made it all this way in his condition. I suppose it was the adrenaline that had allowed him to keep going. "It's okay. I'm home now. I'm going to be with Mom and Dad." A tear leaked from his left eye and trickled down his cheek. "You have a new family now; you're going to be fine." He took a ragged breath. "This is how it should be. I love you, Kylie. You're the best sister any guy could ever have."
Laying my head on his shoulder, I balled like a baby. No, this can't happen! Something I'd read in the book Rune had given me was that the legend that vampire's could turn humans was accurate.
"Demetri!" I called out. He was at my side before I finished saying his name. My eyes met his. "If you change him, will he stay frozen at this age forever?"
"No, that only happens if he remains in the human realm, if he comes back with us, he'll grow and age like any other vampire," he answered me, but his eyes looked leery.
"Do it!" I commanded.
"No. Don't do it, D," Mason managed to croak out then lost consciousness.
"He doesn't want that, Kylie," Demetri warned.
I stood with my hands fisted by my side as I considered what Demetri had said and what Mason obviously didn't want. Axel placed his arm around me. "If you do this, he may hate you forever. And forever is a long time for us supes."
Mason stopped breathing. I screeched and made the decision. "Do it now! Or your hide is mine!" I glared at Demetri, letting him know I wasn't joking.
"Fine, but this is on you, Kylie." It was the first time Demetri looked at
me with a hateful expression. His fangs elongated and he bit his wrist then put it to Mason's lips, forcing the blood down his throat. He then removed his wrist a moment later and stepped back.
"Now what?" I asked through blurry vision.
"We wait." He slumped against the closet door.
I went back to Mase's side, taking his hand in mine and kissing it. Yes, he would probably be pissed at first, but he'd get over it eventually. Plus, he'd be alive to be pissed. I'd rather have a live brother that hated me than a dead one that loved me.