When I finally regained consciousness I knew exactly where I was. This was home, and my body knew it. The moment I smelled the air, felt the texture of the stone floor, heard the low and slow heartbeats of my vampire family, I also understood what it meant.
It was time for my punishment.
I wondered what one day of freedom cost in Colin’s warped mind. To him, probably my life.
Will was in the room too, though I didn’t lift my head to look at him. His heart was beating. There was no blood spilled. He was breathing heavily which told me he was conscious.
He was okay, for now.
Annabelle and Lennox were also there. I could see them from where I laid on the floor without having to make any movements. But I took little comfort in their presence. They wouldn’t stop what was coming. Maybe not to the extent of Colin, but they played by the rules too.
I studied Lennox first, trying to picture what he would have looked like as a human. I should have been worried about what was going to happen to me, and to Will, but it felt like so long since I’d seen Lennox, I couldn’t help but take a moment to appreciate him.
Even with what Annabelle told me, I couldn’t imagine him looking any different. He was like family, so I hadn’t given his appearance much thought before, but now I saw him better than ever. Unlike the grisly way Henry and Mary had looked to me, Lennox was as handsome as I remembered, which made me happy, if only for a second.
His soft blonde, wavy hair was slicked back, but hung to his shoulders. His blue eyes were deep, nothing like the coldness in Henry’s.
Though his eyes were looking away, I knew Lennox’s attention was on me. I could see the sympathy on his face, and the conflict. It made me feel good that he still cared for me. He was sweet, if any vampire could be considered sweet.
Annabelle stood by his side, and also looked away from me. It was good. Everyone’s attention would be on me soon enough. It was better that I have a minute to get used to being conscious—before they hurt me again.
“Stand, you pathetic child,” Colin spat. He was across the room where his chair sat at the apex of the Main Hall.
Not looking up, I put my hands to the stone floor and pushed my torso off the ground. My hands were completely healed. There were no more pieces of glass and wood. All my discomfort was gone.
Momentarily. The thought crept in like fog. It wasn’t like I didn’t know Colin’s form of punishment would be pain. I didn’t know why I felt somewhat surprised.
I saw Viola, but didn’t study her like I did with the others. There wasn’t time. I registered Viola’s glare instantly, and it forced me to finally look at Colin.
He disgusted me. He may as well have been foaming at the mouth and snapping his chops. His eyes were characteristically cold and dead, only now I was able to register a sadistic gleam within them.
One day of freedom. And I enjoyed it too. Thanks to the kindness of humans and the understanding and acceptance in Will Shepherd. He’d given me so much, and he would probably never know. There might be nothing after today.
Immediately, I shot up from the floor. Not one member of my family made a move to stop me. I wasn’t even sure they turned their heads to watch what I was doing. I knew as well as they did there was no way out of this hall. Even if there were, they would be able to stop me.
I didn’t know what I was going to say to him as I ran, but I knew what was coming. I knew what the look in Viola’s eyes meant. The matching, malicious stare in Colin’s eyes were mixed with a touch of joy. He wanted to do this for years. Finally, I would be put in my place.
The cruel, evil monster.
There was only one thing I could offer Will, the chance to hold on to his human innocence, if only for a little while longer.