Matthias

  Chapter 15 Pulling Together

  We arrived back at the loft after sunset to find Cam and Cassie less than impressed. Cassie at least was pleased to see me. She pulled herself in close to me as soon as I was in reaching distance though I knew she didn't take her eyes off Violet.

  "You can relax little sister. You don't wear jealousy well..." Violet stated flatly.

  Cam stepped towards her as Elias came into the room. "Violet, I don't understand why you are encouraging him like this. We survived so long by keeping a low profile. Not sneaking about tracking rogue vampires down." Violet maintained an icy exterior, but responded in kind.

  "Why after all this time do I feel I can't turn to you for help in something like this Cam. Matt has been with us for a fraction of the time you and I have shared our family ties, but I can trust him to follow through on this with me, while you have become complacent, cautious, scared to act outside the safe zone." Violet meant it as an observation, but it was clearly taken as an accusation. Cam strode forward and on instinct Elias jumped in front of Violet.

  "Back off!" he snarled. A standoff thickened the air with tension.

  Cassie spoke up but kept her grip on me "Violet, that isn't right. You know we would follow you into hell and back if you needed us to. We practically have already. Besides, Matt has his own agenda here. The two of you have mutual ends as long as Michael and the Old Ones can be found in the same place."

  Violet placed a hand on Elias' shoulder and he eased. "That may be the case, but Cam here has something to lose just the same."

  "What might that be?" Cam queried raising an eyebrow.

  "Myria." a deep voice sounded from the window of the loft to our left. Russell had arrived. His presence was powerful and I found myself surprised. I could hear his heart beating clearly, but he moved with the type of stealth of one of our kind.

  Cam launched into a hyper panic. Her fangs lengthened, her body taught and ready for a fight. She yelled more than asked: "What, what is it. Where is Myria!?"

  "She's fine. She sent me." Russell placed a comforting hand on her arms and Cam relaxed. I had never seen Cam accept a touch from anyone other than Cassie and Violet before.

  "What happened Russell?" demanded Cam, more direct and less hysterical now.

  "Michael sent one of his minions and a bodyguard to get her. He didn't mean to take her alive either, but she saw them coming while she was casting the runes. She saw them, but only just. I came ahead here to make sure it was safe. And I knew you would want to know Camille."

  "Bring her here Russell, and we can keep her safe." Cam sighed looking at Violet.

  "Like I said," Violet responded "We all have a stake in this."

  Cassie detached herself from me to support Violet "I know I hoped we could just disappear, not have to worry about any of this anymore, but it's clear, Michael and the Old Ones will come to us if we don't master our own fate. If he thinks he can have us, or make us cower in the shadows he has another thing coming, but while you react to the fear of losing someone you love, he has the upper hand." She looked at me before back at Camille. "Don't think you've been unfairly treated. Consider this Cam. If we hadn't forced Matt in to helping us defeat Belil, to free Violet.... Exactly what we wanted, Michael would be working at some trade store somewhere, studying for exams, and the Old Ones would still be underground. I don't know how they got out exactly, but I know it was because of us. We brought this on ourselves."

  Cam looked at the floor. Cassie walked over to her, put her arm around her, and Cam looked at her in defeat, and acknowledgement. Russell spoke next. "Myria is at the Church, but she says she needs some things from home. I think we split into two groups, one to pick up supplies, one to escort Myria. Then we come back here, to decide what to do next."

  "I don't think it really matters where we are Russell. But I know the Church has advantages... I think we should go there to decide the next move." Cam approved.

  "Agreed." voiced Violet.

  "What Church?" asked Elias.