Page 11 of When Day Breaks

She asked for protection for her kids in whatever agreement she had with my father, likely a promise he made in order for her return. And whoever she was talking about before couldn't have been Troian.

But something else sits deep in my gut even more than that . . .Iam not one ofherkids. Meaning, she didn't care what was going to happen to me, what has already happened to me.

My step-mother: defiant, argumentative, and only looking out for herself. I can't even say she cares about her own kids either though despite her fight to make sure this deal is kept, because she left them here once before withhim. But they didn't get the same attention from my father that I did. So obviously, their deal meant something to him.

But my motherwantedto be here. She did everything my father asked and more. She was kind, beautiful, loving, sincere and she wanted this life. She pledged her vows, raised me to crave love like hers and in the moments that Ameliana walked through the door, all of that changed.

But as I race back over to the blood room, I accidently knock into someone as I rush to turn a corner.

"Ouch," a girl's voice cries and I roll my eyes as I rub my head.

"Birdania, I told you to back off."

"Who the hell is Birdania?" I look up in the darkness, seeing my little sister on the ground, also rubbing her head.

"Shit," I lean down to help her back up. "Sorry, Troy." I make sure she's not hurt before kissing her on her forehead. "And watch your mouth. You're too young for curse words."

She giggles. "But Trav curses all the time and we're the same age!" she protests, and I roll my eyes again, grabbing her hand to walk her down the hallway.

"Travois is a punk who doesn't know right from wrong," I tell her.

"That's not very nice, Rivian. Just because you're about to be eighteen doesn't mean you're the boss over us." I know she's teasing me, but I can tell my twelve-year old sister craves freedom just as much as I do. I'm grateful she hasn't had to endure the pain I've suffered.

There was one time where I thought my father might take a different route and take his wrath out on one of the twins, but I volunteered myself for trouble that day just to make sure his eyes were on me.

"Where are we going? And who's Birdania?" she asks again as she trails along behind me.

"Youare going back to bed, little sis." I pin her with mybig brothereyes, "And Birdania is my supposed fiancé," I tell her truthfully because there is no point in lying to my little sister.

"Ooooo. Do you love her?" We reach the end of the hallway where she needs to break off to go back to her room, the blood room is just down the opposite side.

I turn Troian to me and bring her chin up to look at me. Her cute smile disappears into a serious, focused frown.

"Love does not exist in this world. Not in this world or the next. Do you understand me?" I hold my gaze into her pretty blue eyes. My little sister is the most innocent being in the confines of this castle; I hate that she's a part of this world. I want nothing more than to protect her and make sure she's nottainted by the way these monsters live. Monsters like what I am about to become.

"So…" her lips quiver and her eyes well with tears, "so, you don't love me?" I hate the pain laced in her tone. I shouldn't have said that to her, but I don't want for her what my father had done to my mother. Or what her mother has done to her and will likely do to us again.

Leave. Love always leaves you hollow and broken.

"Iam the only one who loves you. I will always protect you and keep you safe. But if anyone else tells you they love you, they're lying." I let go of her chin and wipe the tears from her soft cheeks.

I know I'll disappoint her someday. It's in my blood. But I have to prepare her for the worst. This life is cold.

"Now go back to bed. And don't tell anyone you saw me out here." I turn her around and face her down the right direction.

A grandfather clock rings in the vast emptiness of the night, the castle lighting up with the gentle sounds of midnight striking.

Troy dips her head before whispering, "Happy Birthday, Rivian." And then she walks away.

I sigh, disappointed in myself for reasons I can't even decide are true. But I can't sulk in them right now, I have to get to the blood room if I have any chance at surviving this. Or at least getting ahead of it.

But it's too late. As soon as I reach the doors to the room, my father and step-mother are already in there, grabbing the vial of blood intended for me.

"Oh, son. Eager to get things started, are we?" My father looks at me with death in his eyes, hunger, like his whole life was made to witness this exact moment.

Sure, your first born turning should be an exciting thing, and maybe I might have been anticipating this moment as well, had Inot been exposed to the kind of villain that lives inside vampires. Maybe if I was born to a different man…

He's been around long enough to witness a lot of disturbing things, but I'm sure getting to watch his most hated son die just to turn into the monster he is himself is something he's been looking forward to for a while. And now, it's time.

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