Bitten Wings 23

Alright, alright, so what? I'm insanely slow..i know...kinda busy..anyways, i guess its kinda short. but i like the end. tell me what ya think!
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Before I knew it, I was running towards her. She was shaking, her hair matted with dirt, hanging in front of her eyes. I embraced her and she winced.

"Chloe!" I cried, pulling away and looking at her lovingly. She coughed and smiled up at me, "Angel," she said in a hoarse voice. That's when I noticed the scars. They were across her shoulders, clawed down her arms, and curved across her back.

"What did they..?" I breathed.

Chloe glanced at Addere, then back at me. I got to my feet, glaring at him.

"What the hell did you do to her!?"

Addere grinned, his teeth flashing. A cold finger ran down my spine and I looked away, helping my sister to her feet. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, holding her tightly.

"Lead the way," I said bitterly to Addere. He walked up and wrapped his arm around my waist. I glared at him dangerously, but he ignored me.

"Angel," my sister's hoarse voice came next to me. I detached my eyes from Addere and focused them on her, "Yes, Chloe?"

"Why are you here?"

I paused, looking down. She lifted my chin up, a weak smile on her face, "I won't be angry."

Addere held me tighter, "We're getting married." he said, a smile clearly in his voice. I took deep breaths, trying not to strangle him. Chloe paused, her grip around my chin diminishing.

"Wha..?" she breathed, looking at me wide-eyed.

"Tell her, Angel, darling."

I winced, looking down. "I tell you..later..." I mumbled, keeping my eyes down. Chloe sighed, then leaned on me for support. Addere chuckled, "Can't keep secrets from family, sweetheart."

"Stop calling me that!" I growled, my eyes shifting up to him darkly. He laughed, "But..darling-"

"I'm not kidding when I say you're making me want to strangle you. Cut it out."

Addere grinned, "Anything for you, love."

I bit my lip angrily, looking away. My heart was pounding hard against my chest, my face twisted with distaste, and I tried hard to ignore all that he was saying to me. It worked pretty well, and soon, I could only hear my own breathing. I watched as the hall walls swerved around us, watched as my feet quickened and slowed, and watched as the guards around us kept glancing at me and whispering. I ignored them as well, unfolding my wings and stretching them. Someone laughed behind me, and I stopped and turned. There was another vampire, slightly taller than I, smiling at me and holding my wings away from his face. I glared at him and whipped them out of his hands. Addere let go of me and turned around. Chloe sighed, leaning on me, "You and fights," she whispered in my ear.

"What?" I growled at the man. He shook his head and bowed, "My apologizes, Queen. I was worried you would hit me with your wings, that's all."

"Well maybe don't walk so close, stalker."

He smiled at me, but not a toothy grin. I cocked my head and he stated, "I heard you don't like seeing our teeth.."

I laughed, smiling back at him, "Thank you."

He nodded and bowed again, causing me to laugh again, "Please, you don't need to do that."

Addere growled, "Yes, he does. What do you want, peasant!?"

"Nothing, dear King. I was simply walking through our halls like everyone else."

Adder turned his back to him, grabbing me tightly, almost protectively, saying over his shoulder, "Well go on your way. Come, Angel."

I sighed, smiling at the man and following Addere down the halls.

"I hope we meet again, dear Queen," the man said behind me. I laughed, shaking my head.

"I forbid you to see that man ever again," Addere hissed.

"Hmm....Huh? How come?" I asked, distracted.

"Because.." He growled, pulling me into a large room roughly, violently. I stumbled forward, gripping my sister tightly. I sighed, glaring at him, then looked around the room. Four large tables filled the enormous room, the first few tables small, the other two larger.

"This table," Addere growled, pointing to the smallest. I sat in a chair, helping my sister sit down next to me.

"She's a prisoner, she can't be at this-"

"She's my sister! Don't you dare try to take her away from me," I growled, my voice dangerous, and cool. He froze then sat down. I shook my head, then smiled at Chloe. She groaned, leaning her head against my shoulder. I held her tightly, "It's going to be alright, I'll get us out of this," I whispered to her, kissing the top of her head. I flinched as I suddenly became blood-thirsty. I took a shaky breath, Chloe speaking up, "I don't drink blood."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I know that's a lot of what they'll be serving."

I winced. "R-really?" I should've guessed. I'm not at some friend's-I stop myself. I shook my head realizing I only have my sister. I sighed, fighting away tears.

"Chloe?"

"Yeah?"

"No matter what happens, know I love you."

Chloe sat up, looking at my eyes intently, "Angel.."

"I'm not sure what will happen surrounded by..."

Chloe nodded slowly, "I-I think you can fight it, Angel..you're-"

"Strong!? No.." tears began to cloud my eyes, "I killed someone.."

Chloe pulled away, looking at me in shock, "You..what!?"

I swallowed hard, nodding slowly, not meeting her eyes. "She always taunted me. She was never nice to me, even though I saved her....after bringing her into it...I-I couldn't stop myself..I just..." I shook my head, "I keep losing control.."

Chloe just stared at me. She didn't say anything for a long while. Then she spoke up, "Was she a human?"

"Yes."

"Angel! We're supposed to-"

"Help the humans!? After cloning themselves and making the vampires!?" My voice rose. The few vampires that had made their way into the room stopped and stared.

Chloe fell pale, "He...he told you?"

"Yes, Chloe! What were we doing!? We never did our job! While we sat around, trying to live out our lives and keep the humans from expanding, we never cared to think about what they were doing inside the city! They created the vampires! They banished them into the wilderness! That night you went out, I never knew what would happen. I thought you'd be back that night. I warned you. I warned you! I had heard rumors from the humans about these vampires, and they took you! They took you when you were young, and I had stayed inside alone. I remember how afraid I was...I was so young! You were so young! From then on I forced myself never to remember. To turn my back to what family I had had. That night when I came, I had finally decide to search the forest. I found this place.." I waved my arms around, then focused back on her. I wasn't aware at the circle forming around me. I wasn't aware of the eyes peering at me. I took another breath and continued, "We were just in our teens..I had stained my hands with your 'parents'' blood. I swore never to kill after that night. When I had headed out, you had woken. You came out and stared at me. You started crying as I spoke to you." I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "Everything we've fought for, everything we've done. Is it even right!? Chloe, the humans made the vampires. They created them. How can we help a race like that!?"

"And...the vampires?" Said a voice from the crowd. That was the first time I realized how suffocatingly close the crowd was around us. How many eyes were on me. I flushed and took another breath.

"I'm not sure," I said honestly. There were a few glances in the crowd. I continued, growing more bitter and angry with every word, "You're all blood-thirsty! You attack the humans and make more and more of them become like you. Ever think of a treaty!? No wonder the humans banished you!!"

A hand on my shoulder, harsh and slightly violent, made me close my mouth. I wasn't sure why. I was so angry, so confused, nothing had never knocked me into fear so quickly. I glanced up angrily at Addere, and saw that there was blood on his lips. He looked down at me cooly, then focused his view on the crowd, his grip digging into my shoulder. I winced and sunk into my chair.

"You have all had enough entertainment. Sit down." He said, the crowd moving slowly to their seats. Conversations roared up everywhere. Some pointed back at me. I gasped as Addere began to draw blood from my shoulder, dragging me to my feet.

"Please, Addere-"

"Shut up!" he growled, almost literally dragging me out of the room. When the door closed behind us, he slammed me against the wall.

"Don't you ever do that again!"

I cringed, "Addere, I-"

"SHUT UP!" He gripped me and slammed me against the opposite wall. I screamed in unison with the sickening snap. I collapsed to the ground, gasping hard. He pulled his hands away from my ribs, "Get up." he growled. How the hell was I supposed to do that!? I held my rib in agony, gasping hard.

"I said get up!"

Slowly I got to my feet, staggering, and using the wall as a crutch. I glared at him darkly.

"Get used to it, Angel. Vampires heal quickly." He turned and headed into the room, gripping me by the back of my neck and pulling me in. He smiled as he entered, leaning close to my ear as he looked at my sister, "Everything you see is a lie."