His words hit home, and again, I was reminded about that tiny part inside me that wanted more than just 'this.'
Whatever 'this' is.
There were moments with Otis that felt different than the rest. Times when I got lost in his purple eyes that sometimes turned red the longer I looked into them. The way his presence seemed to wrap around me, and how I'd quietly wish we were more.
That we could put aside our personalities and...love.
I'd experienced those moments with the others, too. We'd get lost in each other's eyes and wish that one of us would let go and break whatever internal promises we'd made to ourselves.
I didn't want to be the one to break this. To risk a friendship that had blossomed into a nearly unbreakable bond.
But what can I do about this? Why does this...hurt so much?
This felt like more than just a betrayal. It felt like all the years of trust meant nothing. All because I couldn't be like them.
Be special like them.
"If I was important, you would validate my worth with your actions and not your empty words."
A tear fell then, followed by another, and by the way his guard fell completely, I knew it hurt Otis. I knew if I didn't leave his space, he'd never let me go. He'd wrap me in his arms like he and the others always did when I cried.
It was always protective, or a way to apologize for what had been done, but this wasn't something that could easily be fixed. They would leave in the morning, and who knew if six months would actually end up being a year, or two.
Or a few decades until I aged and faded away.
That was the most sensitive topic of them all. Death itself. In less than eighty years, if I was even granted that long, I would die, and they would live on for many centuries — together.
They would mourn me, and then they would move on. They could find someone to replace me. Someone like them. Someone they could proudly have at their side and take to their public events.
She'd be beautiful, powerful, and the talk of the town. She'd be able to take down the walls I'd put up and love one of them.
Maybe all of them.
I could be replaced, and that was what hurt me the most.
"Cassandra." Otis's voice was pleading with me, and I was sure he sensed where my mind was taking me. Vampires could feel others' emotions if they had a close connection with them, but he wouldn't know exactly how I felt unless he drank my blood.
Something he promised he'd never do.
I moved away from the wall, walking past him and toward the table where the others were in deep conversation. My arrival got their attention, only for the four of them to see the tears that rolled down my face as I grabbed my purse and stormed to the door.
"What the—" Tristan called out.
"Cass!" Dominick yelled.
"You told her here?" Adonis snapped, but I was out the door of the restaurant before I could hear the rest.
I had to think fast, knowing Otis could be here any second. My eyes scanned the streets, landing on the Uber that had just let someone out. Rushing over to the car, I hopped right in and closed the door.
"Hi. Uh...can you take me to Evander Manor on 5th Street? I can pay cash, but I'm in a tight situation. Do you also have one of those fancy buttons that block supernaturals from getting in the car?"
It was a new function that was being transitioned to all rideshare cars so that those who could teleport or had super speed couldn't get free transportation.
The man wearing all black looked over his shoulder to peer at me.
"Sure."
He reached out and pressed a button before he entered the coordinates to my address.
"It'll be extra since I was on my way to pick another client."
"Sure," I agreed, and relaxed against the seat. With a sigh, I looked at my sparkling red dress and the mini purse in my hand.
My tears fell then, and I held back the sob that threatened to escape. I missed those assholes already and I'd just left.
How am I going to survive six months without my sexy crew? I can...I know I can, but what if they truly don't come back?
"Ma'am. Would you like some music?" the driver inquired.
"Sure." I didn't care what I listened to now. My mind was a mess and I seriously wished to zone out and not think about the inevitable.
The soft melody began to flow through the speakers of the black car. I noticed the clean leather seats and the odd scent of cologne. The music was doing its job, my body beginning to relax as I settled back into the seat.
My head throbbed like I was getting a migraine, something I rarely got but when I did, life sucked. It must have been due to the overwhelming emotions from what had happened, but it grew worse and worse.
"Why does my head hurt so bad?" I whispered weakly, feeling sick to my stomach.
"Are you alright, ma'am? Rest. I will let you know when we're at your destination."
I was sure we should have already reached the street by now. The restaurant we picked was five minutes away from the private gate that led to the neighborhood where wealthy supernaturals owned mansions with acres of land.
"We...should be there..." I trailed off, the world spinning like I was on a twirling ride. The music volume increased, making the pounding intolerable as my eyes rolled back.
I slouched over to the side, my body hitting the leather surface before I let out a weak groan.
"Don't worry, ma'am." The driver's voice seemed far away now. "We'll make you feel right at home."
My last thought was of Otis's eyes and I wondered if I could get over this betrayal.
Psycho Kidnappers And Unknown Captivity
"She's just a human?"
"That's impossible. She responded to the music."
"She could have drunk a tonic or something and it finally kicked in?"
"At that exact timing? I doubt it."
"Maybe she has a glamour on?"
"Nope. Not a hint of magic on her. No aura. No shifter scents. She's human to her very bones."
"What now? We kidnapped an ordinary human. She won't sell in the black market. Even if she has a cute face."
"Got curves. Some old douche would spend big dollars for a little sex slave."
"We don't want a few thousand bucks! We could have gotten millions if we'd caught a supernatural. She's just like us. Such a waste of time and effort."
"We can't kidnap someone else?"
"The tape only plays once. That damn leprechaun screwed us!"
"You said for sure she was a supernatural when you saw her enter the restaurant earlier."
"Obviously! She was with that elite group. The supernatural bros or something."
"I heard she was human."
"Why would a group like that hang with a human girl? If they ain't getting laid every night, then there's clearly no point in having her around."
"One of them is an incubus, isn't he? If they were just after sex, they could get anyone they wanted."
"So you think the rumors are true. That they hang with a human girl for shits and giggles? I can't believe this!"
"Well, I can, and we better think of something fast before they find her and kill us."
"They won't be able to reach this place. The ocean scent is strong. Tracking her will be too difficult. Plus, she's a human. No aura or magic to trace. We did ourselves one favor by fucking up. If she wasn't a human, those guys would have been here by now."