And Then There Were Four

Cassie.

Staring at Silas's blush green eyes tinged with streaks of red and gold, I couldn't help but wonder what was running through his mind. He had obviously seen something back then that bothered him and while I wanted to listen to what he was saying, I didn't know how to follow his words. I had a goal to achieve, and though Anna's life ended that way didn't mean mine would.

"I'm not Anna, Silas," I said softly as I watched him. His concerned emotional state quickly vanished as he formed a blank expression. It was clear he wasn't pleased with how quickly I was brushing off what he said.

"I know you're not. Trust me."

Turning from me, he continued walking and left me feeling slightly clueless as to what I did to upset him. All we had been doing was having a normal conversation, and suddenly he flipped his mood and stormed off. Something completely out of character from how he normally acted.

Left in the darkness of the night, I stood feeling foolish and void of answers. Not only did I have Lucas upset with me, but now Silas was upset at me as well.

With a heavy sigh of frustration, I pushed forward down the gravel and dirt road back toward the main lights of the town. There was no point in staying at the ruins when Silas wasn't with me. Sure I could have investigated further on my own, but the place was creepy in a dark and mysterious kind of way and even if I considered myself a badass... even I had limits.

As the moon lit the path for me, I relished the feel of the cool breeze against my skin and the way the leaves rustled in the distance. It was beautiful outside, and with the silence of nature around me, it gave me time to think about everything I had gone through over the past few weeks.

I'd made a mess of things, and a lot of what happened was my fault. First, the arguing with my mom, and the fact that she was probably terrified of me after what I did on my birthday, and then losing Melissa. The thought of my friend made my eyes water, and as I quickly blinked them away and let my mind drift to Lucas.

The way he looked at me the night of my birthday, the way he kissed me, and then filled me with so much passion was something I would never forget. So when the rustling of movement from within the treelines and the sound of distant voices caught my attention, the last thing I expected to hear was Lucas talking to someone.

"I'm taking care of it..."

The sound of his frustrated voice was not what I expected, and stopping in my tracks, I turned towards the treeline and carefully moved closer to see who it was that he was talking to. I was curious to know if it was Zia or maybe even Inanna, but as I stepped over fallen branches and moved by brush as quietly as possible, I peered through the darkness, letting my eyes peer into the clearing ahead.

Lucas stood there alone, talking out loud, but with no one I could see around. Furrowing my brows, I glanced around again trying to understand, and the more I listened, the more concerned I became.

"I can't...she doesn't deserve that..."

The way he stood with his fist

clenched at his sides and his dark hair swept in front of his eyes, it was captivating but also concerning. Lucas looked like a madman talking to himself, and the more I watched, the more I knew I had to do something.

Glancing around behind me, I bit my bottom lip and let out a heavy breath before stepping forward. I wasn't afraid of him or anything like that, but I couldn't help but feel awkward talking to him after everything that happened at the school.

"Lucas?" I said as I stepped forward from where I had been hiding. His dark eyes quickly darted to me as his claws lengthened and he bared his fangs at me. "What are you doing here, Cassie? Are you spying on me?"

The growl that emitted from him made me halt in my tracks. "No," I said slowly, shaking my head. "I was walking by, and I heard you... are you okay?" Scoffing, he shook his head, retracting his claws. "I'm fine. Why are you out here?"

He was far from fine, and anyone with eyes could see that. "Just heading back to my room. It's getting late."

"That doesn't answer my question,

Cassie," he growled as he stepped closer to me. The moonlight slipped through the tops of the trees,

illuminating the spikes of his

obsidian hair and the ripples of

muscle beneath his skin tight black

shirt.

"It doesn't matter why I'm out here," I replied firmly as I pulled the strap of my bag tighter to me as I broke eye contact with him. "If you're okay, I'll just go." "What the fuck is your problem?" he snapped, grabbing my arm as I turned to leave.

Shrugging him off, I narrowed my gaze, "I don't have one, but you obviously do. You're not okay no matter how much you try to tell people you are."

With a sneer of disgust, he stepped back in anger. "You have no fucking clue what you're talking about. I'm not the one with a problem... you are."

"Look, if this is how you're going to act I'm just going to go. I don't have time to deal with you being a dick." Reaching out, he grabbed my jaw, halting me in my next words.

Never had he grabbed me like this, but when he did pull me close to his chest, my heart began to beat rapidly. Lucas was much bigger than I was, and though he had me in physical size and strength, my magic was far stronger.