Chapter 14.

Hood up and hiding my face, I was three blocks away from James' place when I saw it.

Police vehicle.

My pace slowed slightly as I took in everything that I could see. There was another odd shape parked close to the main entry.

Black van. Dark, tinted windows. Hostage transport.

Or worse.

SHIT.

Ducking around the back streets, I entered through one of the windows in James' main bedrooms. Without teleporting, it proved to be difficult.

No James. Trap?

Leave them young one, they are not worth it. You are too valuable and are not invulnerable.

Pulling a gun out of one of my chest holsters, I checked it and kept low as I began to move throughout the apartment. Double checking every 'nook' and 'cranny'.

And then I heard them.

"And who leaves a goddamn note to keep quiet!"

Anastasia. Not alone.

"She's got a good reason to do it. She's done this before Ana." My steps faltered as I hesitated, an odd feeling churning in my stomach.

Ana?

Keeping low, I entered the main room... And was greeted accordingly.

"You! You fucking crazy person!" She threw a sticky note at me, it fluttered and landed not even a step away from her feet.

"Keep low." I hissed under my breath. James perked up slightly at seeing me, his eyes beginning to search for his own gun as he continued to watch me out of the corner of his eye. "We need to leave. NOW."

"Leave? Why the hell would we leave?" Anastasia started to shake, her face turning a bruising red as I continued to stay ducked low. "And why the hell is there a sticky note on the fucking drapes telling us not to move them!" She moved to pull it off of the curtains and my body reacted before my mind followed.

I teleported instantly to her side and snatched her hand away, unfortunately the sticky note followed.

And there was a distinct beep as an electronic system rebooted after electromagnetic interference.

My electromagnetic interference.

Oh no.

"GET DOWN!" I tackled Anastasia to the ground as the first bullet pierced the wall.

My ears were assaulted by screaming as more bullets began to demolish James' south-facing lounge room wall.

Time began to slow.

Bullets whizzed past my ears, one clipping the side of my ear.

Leave her here to die.

I should. This is the last time I risk my life for her rich meat suit.

My head turned as my right hand kept her head firmly onto the hardwood floor.

"JAMES!"

Even though I screamed it, it came out as slow as I watched shining bullets pierce the furniture in half-time.

Craning my head further I could see James' body lying just out of my reach.

With a loud Russian string of curses, I moved myself away from Anastasia, keeping her screaming head still down as the tips of my fingers dug into his skin. Breaking the flesh I got a hard grip on him as I also tightened my fingers around Anastasia's hair.

Closing my eyes I could faintly hear beeping and whirring as I focused my energy. My eyes began to burn as I knew my eyes had begun to glow red.

My disgruntled growl turned into a scream as my energy flowed through me, burning me and focusing in my chest and hands.

And we disappeared.

Air left my lungs as my chest hit hard, solid ground.

Pulling my fingers out of Anastasia's hair, I went to James' still form.

"JAMES!" Anastasia quickly got up, looking around through the dust as I reached James' body and rolled him over until he was looking up at me with unfocused eyes.

"James?" Anastasia's voice was confused as shock began to take over her.

I could feel blood running down my cheek and my ear as I noticed the blood leaving him. With a gasp I ripped the middle of his shirt, pushing it away and to the sides.

"No no no no no no no." Quickly swearing in Russian, I examined the two bullet holes, turning James to the side a little.

One clean through. One stuck.

A groan came out of his chest as I ran my hand over the filled bullet hole.

Shallow. Hands shaking and nails not long enough.

With an equal groan I lowered myself, my mouth resting itself around the bullet hole. He let out a gasp as my tongue found the hole. My hands stretched his skin, enlarging the wound as my teeth moved in.

My mouth filled with his blood as I almost choked on the bullet. I could hear his nails dig into the hard ground before I lifted my head.

Anastasia watched in horror and James, with glassy eyes, as I spat out the bullet. Standing up over James I shrugged off my jacket, holsters, and pulled off my shirt.

Teleporting to Anastasia I dug my fingernails into her skin causing a shriek as I pulled her over to his body. I threw her at his body and held her hand down over both of his wounds. "KEEP PRESSURE!" I roared as I teleported into the warehouse's upstairs main bathroom, searching for my main medical kit.

Once found, I checked the bathroom cupboard grabbing medication off of the shelves at random before returning to the two of them. "MOVE." I shoved a shaking Anastasia off of James and sat next to him. "It will all be okay, James."

My hands moved as vodka fell into my hands, dousing most of his chest with it and the back of the clean-through wound. He groaned again, and it formed a chest-constricting word.

"Scarlett."

"I am here," I spoke with a needle in between my teeth as I prepared the string.

His breaths began to become harsh and I quickly dropped both back into the medical kit. "I am going to make things better." I soothed as I pushed a syringe into a prominent vein in his forearm. "Just close your eyes for me, James."

"Oh my god. What are you doing?!" Anastasia moaned, disgusted.

I ignored her, as I began stitching James up. His breathing began evening out as I finished.

After applying more vodka and dressing, I finished.

All my breath left me as I slouched with my head on his upper, undamaged chest.

"Scarlet?" Anastasia's voice rang a little. In the space.

My eyes glowed a dark, deep red as my head and body rose slowly.

I could see her bright red outline watching me, I could almost feel her heartbeat underneath my fingers.

"This is all your fault." The words came out as a deep growl, causing her to shiver.

"I didn't know that-"

"I WARNED YOU." I got up, stepping over James as I rushed at her. "BUT YOU NEVER FUCKING LISTEN TO ME." I pushed her and she fell, eyes and mouth open wide. She was still in shock.

"I-"

"YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT YOUR FUCKING SELF. I AM TRYING TO KEEP YOU ALL ALIVE. DO YOU NOT FUCKING GET THAT?!" My hand wrapped itself around her throat, nails digging into the skin there.

That's it, young one. Move your thumb to the left a little more to push down on that vein. Yes, good girl.

"I-I don't-"

"YOU DO NOT GET THAT THIS IS LIFE OR DEATH, DO YOU?!" I could now actually feel her heartbeat heavy and fast under my fingers as one of my nails pierced her flesh.

That's it. Squeeze harder.

In that moment, I really wanted to.

It would be so much easier to add another to the list.

The Rage brushed the tips of my fingers, it's harsh warmth encouraging.

With a moan of disgust I threw her away, her head bashing off of the hard concrete floor. "Next time. I'm leaving you to die."

I took a steady step back from her, towards James' unconscious form before the cruel words tore from my mouth. "And I'll be smiling."

My whole body was shaking as my eyes continued to blaze.

"Tem luchshe."

All the better indeed, young one.