Ch 4

I ran straight for the bed with fury surging up inside me. I yanked the covers from the bed and found nothing. Bianca was gone.

I balled the sheets up in my fists and dropped down on my knees. My body was numb, I couldn't feel anything.

Just then Raquel came in and asked frantically, "Lucas, what's going-"

She walked to my side and fell wrapping her arms around me. "She's gone" I whispered over and over again.

Suddenly, anger surged through me and I jumped to my feet.

"Tell everyone. We're going to find her, even if it kills every single one of us!"

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A gust of wind made me shiver violently and Lucas wrapped his arms around me tighter.

Wait, wind? Weren't we inside?

My eyes fluttered open to see his face. The thing was it wasn't Lucas's face, it was...was...

He looked down at me and our eyes met. Those same eyes that looked at me months ago filled with love, joy, laughter and...life. These eyes were now showing sadness and misery.

Balthazar's eyes.

"Balthazar," I whispered numbly. My hands started shaking violently as he opened his mouth to say something.

He took a deep breath and spoke. "Bianca I-"

"What are you doing?!" I shrieked. My legs and arms were flailing and tears were flowing uncontrollably down my cheeks.

"Stop it, Bianca!" Balthazar snapped. I flinched at his menacing tone and turned away from him. This wasn't the same Balthazar I knew and cared for. He was different. Changed. But he wasn't a monster. I willed myself to think he wasn't.

"How'd you find where I was?" I murmured.

"Lucas."

My breath caught as I remembered. "I asked him about his trip..." I whispered. "You ran into him, didn't you?"

"Yes." He sighed heavily and dodged a spruce tree. "Look Bianca, we're protecting you now. Black Cross is a threat to you and us. Your parents want you back, they miss you."

"And you?" I asked him flatly.

"I've missed you too."

I didn't miss the part where he avoided my question completely. He didn't want me here but he missed me. Balthazar kept his arms around me as her ran gracefully making no sound. I closed my eyes and willed for sleep to come. It never would.

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I was arming myself with stakes and daggers when there was a knock on my door. I turned the knob and opened it. Raquel was looking down at her intertwined hands.

"Hi." She mumbled.

"Hey." I could see that her eyes were red and puffy. "You must be really close with Bianca?" I asked, my throat hurting at the mention of her name.

"Yeah." She managed to say between a mix of chuckles and sobs. She started kicking the ground with her foot and took shaky breaths.

"Are you coming on the search?" I asked.

Raquel nodded saying, "I want to help you Lucas."

I gave her a stiff nod and told her to suit up.

***

"We have to find her!" I yelled at my mom.

"I know that!" She retorted. "What if there's too many Lucas?!" She demanded.

I wasn't in the mood for figuring things out. I need to find Bianca.

"You would know, you led Black Cross for the massacre at Evernight." I said flatly. She flinched like I slapped her.

"That's enough, Lucas." Eduardo snapped. "I'll set up a group to go with you tonight."

"I'll only appreciate it if they're actually willing."

It was the last thing I said before I went to my room to get ready. I shut the door after Raquel left and rested my head against it.

"I'll find you Bianca," I whispered. "I promise, I'll find you."

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We reached a mansion that looked like it had been through the War of 1812. Its windows were broken and Ivy was growing along the sides. We walked through the double doors and I looked around. In front of me was a grand staircase with intricate carvings on the rails with steps that were made from Maple wood and were polished nicely. A beautiful crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling with painted cherubs.

"Wait here," Balthazar told me. He hesitated before wrapping his arms around me once again meant as an embrace. He let go noticing I wouldn't react and left.

I walked slowly to the staircase and let my fingers trail the carvings. I turned my head to see that the walls were decorated with a pattern of mirrors places sided by side. I heard a loud gasp and whipped my head around.

"Adrian look, our little girl, she's come home."