chapter 72

“What no sisterly hug” She taunts while I try to bear the pain. Coughing and sputtering, my

blood spatters on the floor. I clutch the bangle from my wrist before tossing it in the fire with the

last bit of strength I have left before collapsing. I look up at her, a devilish grin on her face.

“Now why would you do that? I was hoping to enjoy myself now I have to make things quick.”

“What do you mean?” I choke out, coughing on more of my blood. I try to turn my head and let

the blood drain out of my mouth.

“Well, since you are dying, such a shame. I figured the baby will need a mother, and since that

can't be you, why not Aunt Bianca? Though mum I feel has a better ring to it,” she said her

manicured finger, tapping her chin in thought.

My blood runs cold at her words. She wants my baby. And I knew there was nothing I could do

to stop her. I couldn't even stand, let alone fight her.

“You're not taking my baby,” I snap back at her trying to crawl to my feet.

“See, that's where you're wrong. You're dying, Imogen. I can do what I want,” she said, shoving

me back onto my back with her foot. My body rolling onto the cold floor.

“Why are you doing this? Help me please,” I beg her, trying to reach any part of her humanity,

she can’t be this evil. Something human must remain surely.

“Help you, your mother killed mine, when she found out she was up the duff with you. My

father left mine in the wind, completely forgetting the family he started and deciding to start a new

one. I am the last person who is going to help you, Imogen. You destroyed my family, forcing my

mother to kill herself, you have a Hyde asking for my help. Don't you think?”

I shook my head, hoping she would understand I had nothing to do with her mother’s death.

How could I? I never even met her mother so why put the blame on me? But she just kept rambling,

and I let her. Hoping it would distract her from what she is here to do, hoping it will distract her

enough for them to get to me in time. Please get here in time. I wished with everything in me.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to kill yourself when your Immortal? She tried everything

only to keep coming back or for me to stop her just in time. Only to do it all over again. The whole

staking thing is bullshit. You not only have to stake yourself, but you also have to remove the head,”

She giggled at her own rambling.

She was out of her mind. Sounded like the ramblings of a madwoman. Pain had me scream as I

felt my insides being torn, like my organs being cut to pieces as I felt the baby shift within me, my

belly feeling like It was doing backflips as it moved.

“So, in the end. I couldn't say no, I couldn't keep watching her try anymore so I ended her

suffering then, I hunted down our father ending him too, your mother didn't like that, became a

pathetic alcoholic assuming he left her. Yet it didn't kill her the way it killed my mother. She lived for

you and that pissed me off knowing I wasn't enough for my own to stick around.” I tried not move

hoping she would forget me laying at her feet. I coughed up more blood and I could feel myself

fading into the darkness. I watch as she kneels beside me, brushing my hair from my face. Grabbing

my chin forcing me to look at her evil eyes.

“Such a shame to think if we were born from the same mother, I may have actually liked you.

Well until you stole them from me too,” she whispered more to herself then to me. I felt her lift my

shirt up, I tried to swat her hands away. She clicked her tongue, annoyed.

“Now, now sis be a good girl and hold still. Don't want to cut your precious bundle now do

we?"

“This is going to hurt,” she snickered. Then I felt her hands rip me open. I vaguely heard the

sounds of crying and her voice.

“Aw, he is perfect, Imogen. A little boy.” I could feel myself fading. Then I lost myself to the

darkness. I felt like I was floating and falling at the same time. I felt weightless and surrounded by

darkness. Her voice echoing around me on repeat. A little boy, a little boy. I had a little Boy, I felt

tears run out of my eyes. I just wanted to see him, just once, see his little face. What I would have

done to see him, to hold him. Then I felt nothing at all but the agonising pain of my death. I slipped

from this earth into nothingness. Dead and cold.

Tobias POV

My father never should have done what he did, yet I know why he did it and I know he doesn't

regret it. He would do anything for my mother, just like I would do anything for Imogen or Theo. We

were driving to the council knowing we couldn't do much else. My father was to be punished for

Killing Alaric. Alaric taunted the wrong man, promising information when he had none. My father

lost it, ripping him to pieces before being detained. Theo was driving, and I was trying to rid my

mind of my toxic thoughts.

The phone bringing me back to reality as it rang. My hands shaking as I read the name that

popped on the screen. Mum. I answered.

“Where is she?” Not even trying to hide the anger I felt towards my mother.

“She is alright. I am trying to get to your father what happened?” I growled lowly before the

phone was snatched from my hand by Theo. I growled, ready to attack him. When I heard my

mother’s, voice come through the phone.

“They are both fine, but your father is not. Imogen is protected. Now tell me what happened” I

relaxed hearing that she had a plan, and that Imogen was okay for now. Relaxing in my chair as

Theo told her of the events that took place. We had been driving for about two hours. We would be

there by now if Theo let us run. But he thought it best to drive instead of letting instinct take over,

worried we might tear apart the entire council in a rage and we didn't need that. In the third hour, I

felt it. I felt the bond stir to life, only we were driving away from her. Theo slammed on the brakes as

fear ran through both of us like a freight train. Knocking the air from my lungs. Something was

wrong. I opened the door only to be flooded with every emotion she felt, then searing pain. Forcing

me to double over, Theo too was clutching the side of the car.

I looked over at him. He needed to go. He was faster. That killed me knowing he would get to

her before me, but he had to try.

“Find her” I growled in pain and he took off. I dropped to the ground, giving into the warm

feeling rushing over me, feeling my bones snap as I shifted. Letting instinct take over as I took off

toward her. Using the bond to know what direction to run in. Getting distracted by her emotions as

they shifted between fear and pain. I howled agonised at what she was going through. My paws

hitting the ground at extreme speeds, pushing me faster and faster to get to her.

When I felt it. My teether snapping, I felt my soul drop somewhere dark. Somewhere cold and

unrelenting. I howled before feeling Theo scream through the link. His feelings rushing over me,

making the unbearable pain I felt, worse. It was hard to breathe my lungs felt like they were

constricting. I followed Theo's link until coming across a small cottage. We had been past this place

many times yet never noticed it, never even picked up her scent. I shifted back, enjoying the pain of

my bones breaking in place, anything to stop the pain in my chest. But that all changed when I

walked in the door.

No sounds coming from the house, but the noises Theo made. No heartbeat, no breathing just

dead silence.

My heart breaking, Theo's agonised scream could not only be heard but felt, as he clutched her

lifeless body against his chest. Her small frame completely limp in his arms drenched in her own

blood. Her hair spilling over Theo's arm and onto the floor, as her head just lolled in his arms. I

dropped to the floor at the sight, my legs losing function. She was dead, gone. We weren't fast

enough. I felt like we cried and screamed in agony for hours, our souls being ripped from both of us

repeatedly every time we looked at her.

“I can't hear crying, can you?” I whispered. My voice breaking. Theo stood up, Imogen in his

arms, Theo not willing to let her go. I turned away from her, not being able to bear the sight of her

dead. My soul being crushed into dust, my heart broken beyond repair, this was my fault. I let this

happen by not supporting her. We should have been here this never would have happened if we

were with her.

“Where's our baby Theo” I said, shoving everything out of my mind. Forcing myself to focus on

anything but her.

Theo placed Imogen in my arms, forcing me to take her lifeless body. I cradled her and

breathed in her smell that was faint, nearly gone. Her body cold in my arms as her head lolled

against me. I brushed her hair out of her face. Theo disappeared inside somewhere, and I couldnt

tear my eyes away from her face. I kissed her cold lips, tears running down my face onto her

porcelain skin.

“There is no baby Tobias, where is our baby?" he asked panicked. He looked down at Imogen’s

angelic face before collapsing beside me.

“I need her back, I want her back, please. I will do anything,” he whispered and begged. I don't

know who he was praying to, but hearing his broken voice broke me even more.

“We need to find our child, if not for us for her” I whispered. I said looking down at her face

against my chest. We owe her that much.