Dark Hunger

Elize was feeling extremely nervous the moment she had heard that Owen was shot at. Once they had entered the side alley through a portal, she was impatient to go and meet Nessa and ask her where Owen was or tell her that she was there to help in whatever way needed. On her way here, Caleb and Daryn had both given their debit cards to her saying that she could withdraw as much as she wanted and help her brother. 

"If you like I can arrange for a green corridor between Yorkshire and Bainsburgh or to whichever hospital you want for Owen to be transported to," Daryn offered. "Or if you get him back home, I will create a portal for him to take him to the US." 

Elize was moved by the way the brothers were helping her even though her brother had been extremely nasty. She considered herself to be a lucky woman for being married in this family. "Thanks, Daryn," she said with a shaky breath. Let me see the situation. I am sure the doctors here must be doing a great job." Saying that Elize started jogging in order to reach her home and meet Nessa as soon as possible. The unease in her heart weighed heavy with each step. It was a marvel that she was restraining herself from using her magic to reach her home. Caleb had warned her not to use it, else if any Lorean in the vicinity noted and reported it to the council, they would be barred from entering the human realm. 

Elize stopped right in front of the porch to catch her breath. She wasn't tired, but she was too nervous and so she was breathless. This was the place where she had spent so much time when she was a baby till her college, and this was the place where she had come out that night at her father's funeral with her blood dripping all the way. She shuddered thinking about it. Too many memories were attached to this place. Too many painful memories that overrode everything lovely. She clenched her fists and stepped on the porch with Caleb and Daryn on the heels. She was about to knock on the door when it opened on its own and the first thing she saw was her brother standing inside saying, "Call me as soon as he leaves." 

Her heart started to thud heavily against her chest. Owen was standing, flesh and blood, hale and hearty, right in front of her. Her eyes narrowed at first, as shock blasted her senses. Her mind became numb and everything around her became silent. She took a step inside the house as Owen moved back. Her knees became wobbly. Was she dreaming? Or was this some kind of a trick again? Her gaze flitted to Nessa who watched the three of them entering the house. The blood from her face had drained and she looked like she had seen ghosts.

Elize could see the shock splashed all over her brother's face. He swayed a little, gripping the edge of the sofa he was standing against until the tendons popped and his veins throbbed. 

"E— Elize?" he said with tenderness mixed with fear. 

Surprise flickered through her when she saw him. Her eyes scanned for the signs of injury on his body, but there were none. Tiny goosebumps prickled her skin. And when she realized that there was nothing, shock washed over her like a bucket of cold water on the tender emotions she was harboring for Owen despite all that he did to her. 

"You— I— How are you?" Owen said in a hoarse voice after clearing his throat. 

"How…?" Her face contorted when her surprise slipped away and gave way to rage. 

Owen's gaze darted from her to Caleb and Daryn and back to her. The two men behind appeared ferocious and deadly. His throat bobbed. "Elize, I— I wanted to meet you, sister!" 

Elize's surprise gave way to rage. Rage etched her features. Her hatred was like a tangible entity. His words didn't matter. So much betrayal that it pierced her chest. Such terrible lies that it hurt her beyond words. She could feel his pulse pounding. 

"Shit," he whispered as he moved further back. 

All at once, Daryn's phone vibrated. "Yes?" he answered on the first ring. "Neal has something to tell you," he said in a low voice and passed the phone to Elize. 

When she pressed the phone to her ears, without speaking a word, she knew that Neal knew that he was talking to her. He said, "I am going to see your brother. He is on the third floor. I just called your sister-in-law and she told me his location. I am sorry but since I have already come to the hospital to give the money, I thought of seeing him well…" 

"Don't go there," Elize replied. 

"Why?" Neal sounded… offended. 

"Stay where you are. Don't leave the hospital premises but go to the lobby and wait for my instructions." 

There was no answer for a long time, but Neal didn't ask any further questions. Though he was slightly confused, he added, "Nessa asked me to go to her house to give money." 

"I will handle it," said Elize and then disconnected the call. She gave the phone back to Daryn. When she looked back at her brother, she didn't know where to start from, so she said, "Tell me everything Owen. From the start." 

"What is he going to say?" Nessa said, coming in front of him. "Huh?" 

Elize narrowed her eyes at Nessa. "Don't you come in between him and me." 

Nessa was already shaking now. Their plan was about to take off in an hour but this vampire had to come now. Once again because of her all her plans would flush down in the toilet. She couldn't help feeling dejected and helpless as fury surged in her body. She lunged at Elize to grab her neck and choke her to death, but was utterly shocked when Elize stopped her from coming to her by keeping her hand on her chest. She was so strong now? On the next thought, Nessa raised her leg to kick her in the knees, and it hit Elize. She stumbled a little. But she wasn't prepared for what came next. Elize backhanded her so hard that Nessa was tossed some ten feet away on the ground. Nessa was horrified. Her eyes flew wide, she stumbled to get up.

Elize peeled her lips back as she traced to Nessa and grabbed her neck with her left hand. "Ah!" Nessa held her wrist as her face became red for the want of air. She held Elize's wrist to remove it. Her glasses had skittered somewhere on the floor and cracked. 

"Leave her!" Owen rushed to Elize. However, he couldn't take another step. He felt as if chains had tied him to his place. He couldn't lift his legs or move his hands. It was bizarre. 

"Don't you dare touch my wife," Caleb growled. 

Owen's eyes became wide when he saw blue magic that had dropped from Caleb's hands. "Wh— what is that?" he asked in a shaky voice, scared as hell. 

"Leave me, bitch," Nessa choked trying to remove Elize's hand. "I wish I had killed you that day!" 

Elize squeezed her neck a little more. Her claws jutted out and pierced in Nessa's flesh. There was so much rage in her chest that her magic wanted to blast Nessa. She was having a hard time controlling the pool. She removed her hand from Nessa's neck and slapped her tightly across her face. 

"Ahhhh!" Nessa shrieked. She held her cheek that was stinging with pain. "You—" 

Another slap. 

Nessa held both her cheeks and gazed with horror in Elize's red eyes. "How dare—"

"Don't you fucking move from here, Nessa. Else I will simply kill you next. Don't test my patience!" Elize warned her and bared her fangs. 

When Nessa looked at those fangs, she almost pissed in her pants. 

Elize got up from her place and walked to Owen. Caleb eased his magic on him. "Your wife called Daryn to inform you that you were shot at and that you were at the hospital." 

Owen gulped. He gave a side glance to Nessa. He gathered some courage and said, "There's a misunderstanding. We didn't call." He was shaking like a dry leaf in a storm. Sweat beads lined his brow. "We never called." 

Elize took a step closer to him. "Then who called?" she asked. 

"I don't know," Owen croaked. He moved his hands up and down. "See I am absolutely fine. I wasn't shot in my arm." He hated his sister so much that he wanted to stab her in her heart, but he didn't know that she had become so strong. Her transition was unbelievable. She looked every bit of a vampire with her red eyes, but she seemed healthier. Her skin was a beautiful shape of pink and her lips were rosy red. When he saw her last, she was pale like a ghost and was scrawny. But now— now she could challenge any fashion model in the world with her killer looks and body. And she appeared lethal. 

"Arm? I never said that you were shot in your arm," Elize said, narrowing her eyes. "Have you gone so insane in your greed to cheat me that you faked this? You wanted to rob us in such a petty way?" 

"Rob you?" Owen retorted to cover his foolishness. "How is it robbing you when I am the one who has been robbed out of my life?"