As Sira screamed, attempting to wriggle out of the Vampire's grasp, her efforts proved futile. The Vampire turned to me, questioning, "She with you?" Confusion clouded my face, but I nodded. Sira's sudden outburst perplexed me.
"Wait, wait, wait," she exclaimed again. What in the world was she doing? "At least let us know your name if we are going to die anyway. Who will we tell?" The Vampire's retort was cut short by Aiden.
"No one is dying, Sira," he asserted.
"At least I am not. I will gladly use you as an escape to go back to my wife and daughter," Diana declared. Sira gasped, "I am hurt, Diana. I am your family too."
"No, you are not," Diana rebutted.
"Both of you, stop it," Noah hissed at their childish behavior.
"Shut up!" the Vampire screamed.
"I just want to know one thing," Diana interjected, making him groan in frustration again.
"What the hell are they doing?" Liv whispered beside me. "I don't know," I muttered.
I checked my surroundings, searching for something, anything, that could help. I looked ahead to see Theo staring at me, his eyes shifting towards Sira.
"I want to ask why you are doing this," Sira asked.
"Aren't you scared of me?" he retorted.
"Can you answer the damn question?" Sira exclaimed, seemingly irritating him, as he swiftly moved to stand in front of her, choking her. I attempted to run towards her, but Liv's hand stopped me. I glanced back to see her eyes pleading with me not to go.
"Liv," I whispered, torn. "Please, I know I am selfish, but please don't go."
"Hey, leave her the hell alone!" Aiden shouted, but his protest was met with a punch from the man holding him.
"If anything happens to her, I swear to God, I will kill you!" Jacob screamed.
"Ava, why the hell aren't you doing anything?" Diana cried out. "Help her!" I looked at Sira; her face was starting to turn red. I freed myself from Liv's grasp and ran towards her, pushing the man aside to release Sira from his grip. Kneeling beside her, I urged, "Deep breaths, Sira, deep breaths."
"You coward! It took you this long to help me when I was on the brink of meeting the devil downstairs," she gasped. "I am sorry, I am so sorry," I pleaded, embracing her tightly. "I have the gun ready in my pocket," she whispered in my ear.
"You bitch!" The man yelled, charging towards us. Within seconds, I retrieved the gun and shot him, as well as the others on their knees. I then seized the man by his neck.
"Guess who got the upper hand," I whispered with venom.
"All done, snapped everyone's necks painfully," Theo said, joining me.
"Now, I think it's time to say goodbye, isn't it?"
"Wait," I groaned. "Yes."
"At least tell us why the hell you were kidnapping and murdering innocent girls," Jacob demanded. "Oh, right," Theo replied, mischief gleaming in his eyes. Before I could question him further, he launched himself at me, but before I could react, Liv came in front of me. My mind went blank; one second she was beside me, and the next, she was in front of me, with a wooden stake in her stomache. She fell back, but I caught her, kneeling to hold her.
"Liv, Liv," I murmured, averting my gaze to her stomach, where blood was oozing out. My heart pounded in my chest as I held Liv in my arms, my mind racing with fear and desperation. Blood stained Liv's clothes, her face pale and fragile against my frantic touch.
"Liv, stay with me," I pleaded, my voice trembling with emotion. Around us, chaos ensued as the aftermath of the confrontation unfolded. Bodies lay still, the air thick with tension and the metallic scent of blood. But all I could focus on was Liv, the person I cared for more than anything in the world.
"Avaâ" I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. "No, Liv, don't talk like that. You're going to be okay. You have to be okay." As Liv's body grew limp in my arms, a surge of panic and anguish flooded through me. The wooden stake protruding from her stomach was a cruel reminder of the danger that surrounded us, threatening to tear apart everything we held dear.
"Liv, please, stay with me," I pleaded, my voice trembling with desperation as I pressed my hands against the wound, trying to stem the flow of blood. But Liv's breathing was shallow, her eyes fluttering weakly as she struggled to hold on. Around us, the chaos of the confrontation began to fade into the background as a new urgency took hold.
With every passing second, Liv's life slipped further away, and I knew that we had to act fast if we were to have any hope of saving her. Gathering all the strength I had left, I lifted Liv gently into my arms, cradling her close to my chest as I rose to my feet. Her weight felt heavy against me, a tangible reminder of the gravity of the situation we found ourselves in.
"We have to get her out of here," I said, my voice hoarse with emotion as I turned to face the others. Their expressions were a mixture of fear and determination, mirroring my own tumultuous thoughts.
"Theo, take these guys and go with Ava right now. I will burn this place and come back. The rest of you, take the girls with you. And Ava, when I come back, I want my sister alive. Now leave." Liam said going in further the cave to fire the vampire bodies.
Holding Liv close to me, I used my speed to get to the house. My heart beat rapidly, hearing Liv's slow heartbeat decreasing every second. I ran as fast as I could, dashing through the door, and screamed for Dad. Andrea and Jerry stood up quickly from the couch, and I ran to them, laying Liv's body down. Dad and Mom came running down the stairs.
"Ava, what happened to her?" Andrea questioned. "IâI don't know. It happened so suddenly... I was there, but itâ" I stopped, swallowing a sob. "It should have been me, but sheâshe took it." Theo entered with the man, followed by the others.
"Ava, what happened to her?" Mrs Miller questioned. "I stabbed her in the heart, although it was meant for that girl over there," the rougue said, pointing at me. Mr. and Mrs. Miller glared at him, then towards the couch, checking up on Liv.
"Theo, give him to me. I will take him to the basement," Aiden said, walking to him and taking hold of him. He walked towards the basement with Noah, Jack, and Steve. Before they could go any further, the man stopped and turned to me.
"I can hear her heartbeat slowing down by seconds. Take care of her. I aimed for the heart." he said smirking, I used my speed and slammed him against the wall.
"Shut your mouth, or I can take your life away in seconds by just snapping your neck," I said, choking him. He tried to move, but I pressed harder. Aiden came up to me. "Ava, leave him." I turned to him, showing my fangs and hissing. He stepped back, astonished by my behavior.
"Ava, now is not the time for anger. Calm down. Let Aiden take him downstairs." Mom said, I released my grip on him, and Aiden and the others followed him to the basement. I turned around to see Mr. Miller picking up Liv.
"What are you doing?" I asked, panicked.
"Taking my daughter to the hospital."
"No, the doctor is coming here, he is on the way."
"No, she needs to go to the hospital so she can recover." I walked towards him.
"No, she is safe here. It'sâ" "Stop it, Ava. She isn't safe here or anywhere. She wasn't supposed to be stabbed, but she came in between to protect you. She could have been okay and not hurt, but she is. And whose fault is that? Yours." Mr Miller said.
"James, I think that's enough," Mrs. Miller said. "No, I care for my daughter. She is hurt because of you, Ava. I am her dad. You don't get to tell me what I should do regarding my daughter."
"Okay, then I will come with you. If you think I will let you go, I won't. I will come with you too."
"No, you will not. She is safer being far from you. I should have never allowed her to be with you. I knew it wasn't safe for her." He walked out with Mrs. Miller and Liam following them.
"At least let me come. I will stayâ" They left without hearing me out, taking Liv with them. I need to breathe.
"Ava, I will keep you updated on Liv's condition, but I have to go to the hospital," Andrea said and walked out. She got injured because of me.
"Ava," Dad whispered, walking to me. "She is hurt because of me," I said, walking backwards. "It should have been me. She took it for me. I was supposed to protect her."
"Princess, it's not your fault. James just got emotional seeing his daughter."
"No, but it is my fault, Dad."
"Ava, it isn't." Lydia stepped up. I shook my head and ran upstairs. It was my fault, and now Liv's not with me.