Just a reminder I don't own any of the original VHD's original character(s). All other characters are my original creation and are own by me :-)
This is a revised version of Chapter 12 so I encouraged for you to re-read the chapter and let me know if the 2nd turn-about was better than the first.
Chapter 12
ROAMER PRIDE
It had been nearly a week since D had left Haven hastily after Jazmine. When D left he did not give anytime for anyone to ask him questions. Most of the family at the time was a sleep. Matt was the only one awake when he had left. This of course didn't make any of the sleeping siblings happy when they realized what had happened.
Matt sat in his father's private study away from everything and everyone. His peace was suddenly broken as Marie and his rest of his siblings came in demanding their questions answered.
Without leaving any doubt of her displeasure Marie was the first to speak. "Matt, I want some answers. You've avoided us all for the last week. Only telling us to wait patiently until D brings her back."
The frustrated Matt attempted to respond. "Yes and tha…"
Unable to hold her feelings any longer Nadia said, "NO! That isn't enough for any of us. Jazmine is our sister. NOT HIS!" Yelled Nadia leaving Matt surprised of the usual calm collectively Nadia. "How dare you leave this up to this mercenary? A killer of our kind. He is nothing but a worthless bastard to have allowed our sister to leave unattended." She said angrily.
Trying to keep his calm Matt interrupted her, "Careful sister. I know you may not know of his history but his is much nobler lineage than ourselves. Dare not insult him, unless you seek eminently with me." He retorted.
"Ha! Even more reason to hate him and what he stands for. He cares not for any of us." Nadia responded furiously.
Suppressing his angry to a low growl Matt said firmly. "You also have to understand those he killed are vampires that have hurt humans. D would have never killed vampires like father." He sighed as he continued. "Father had never hurt a human. So why hate a man that is trying to eliminate all those that disobey our laws." As he stared off.
Stepping back into the discussion Marie snarled with a low growl, "I don't give a fuck what he does really. If he wants to kill all the vampires for his self gratification I don't care." Everyone in the room was shocked at their sister's words leaving everyone in shock. "So long he doesn't touch anyone of my family. He is the idiot that doesn't know how to live with himself. Regardless, it's pointless to argue about this now. What I care is to know if you have any plans on going yourself and bringing our sister back home?" Marie stopped waiting for Matt to respond.
Matt did not answer. His mind was in a frenzy. Should he wait on his friend to return with his sister or go after her himself? He knew this would happen. They weren't just going to sit around and wait for someone else to do it for them. Their father taught them to always protect each other.
Sternly in his ever calm voice Aaron added. "Well answer, brother. If you can not make up your mind we will do it for ourselves." As he gazed directly into his brother's eyes.
Surprised at his brother words Matt lost focus and stared back at his brother. He also was a person of soft demeanor who rarely spoke. Aaron was always known for his ability to lose complete track of his time. He would become so involved in his experiments that if not reminded would go for days not eating.
The shock in Matt's face was clear as he asked, "Aaron, you? Why?" With a grim look on his face.
With full of confidence and speaking in a tone that you would expect the two were only having a conversation Aaron said, "How could you ask brother? She is my sister as well. Although, I may seem a mindless soul and never bother with anything outside my experiments; I do care for my brothers and sisters dearly. I don't like our balance to be broken once again. After Father's death it was hard for all of us. I may be correct when I say we still have not recovered in our own way from his death. The fear that something might happen to Jazmine is incomprehensible to me and probably for all us." His sincerity was all in voice and demeanor.
Calmly he continued, "Brother we need you to do as father did. Be our leader our decision maker. He selected you as the head of the Roamer family it up to you to make the decision and for us to follow. We can on our own do this. However in order to keep the balance and peace we need for one of us to lead us all. If not, it will be utter chaos. We believe in you. But something tells me that you do not trust us in revealing the details. So, we have to resort to believe the worse. Will you not give us the opportunity to understand the situation? My big brother?" A crooked smile slowly appeared on his face.
Shaking his head in disbelief of how Aaron managed with his simple words to finally make him to open up to his family Matt responded softly. "Brother?" Touched by Aaron's sincere calculated words Matt took a deep breath and began to explain what had happen in full details.
Afterwards everyone was even more set on leaving to go after her as the arguments continued…
Marie was even more certain that had to do something more. Although she had to admit she liked D. His presence did always command respect even though he never intentionally made anyone give him any. It was simple… She just couldn't let her brother leave this up to someone who she barely knew. Besides it was "their" responsibility to take care of each other. Wasn't it? That was what their father always told them. "But brother, how can believe that D will be able to handle her? If she is as powerful as you claim she is then….D might not be able to stop her on his own." Marie said desperately.
Recalling memories of the night she was rescued she added. "Besides, I saw her that night when that witch did that to her." Marie felt her body shudder suddenly. "It was terrible, brother. She barely recognized us. She was enjoying that power she felt. I really still don't know if it was the best thing to have left her live." Her voice started to crack but she quickly recovered. "I just could condemn her there… she came to rescue me her sister. Maybe we wouldn't have to be dealing with all this if I would have never been caught." Her throat tighten she knew that she had reached her limit before losing her composure. Her eyes were filed with sadness. Marie lowered her head and stared at the floor.
Thoughtfully, Nadia added, "We need to go after them. I can't leave my sister who's pregnant by that man who may end up killing her and the baby. We must go and try to restrain her until she is able to deliver. I will not stand by and wait." She stammered.
This time when Matt spoke, he spoke not timidly but with his full confidence. "That's enough, Nadia! I have finally disclosed everything that was entrusted to me. I have made my decision to wait for D. Let's give the man a month. If within a month we do not hear from them then we will send two of you to find out what happen. For now that's my final decision."
"How cou…" Tried Nadia to speak but was cut off my Aaron. "Look sister. Accept what our older brother has finally decided. A month isn't that long. Our sister is strong and so is D. Although he is known as the killer of nobles he is also known for rescuing people. Let's give him a chance. Thinking logically he may have a better chance in bringing her home than any of us. She loves him and is bearing his child which gives him the upper hand." His words made complete sense.
Nadia looked at her siblings in disbelief sensing that they were not support her on this. "I can't believe any of you. You will resign yourself to Matt who up until now could not even face us with the truth. How could you all call yourselves Jazmine's family?" She stared at all of them not backing down just yet. Her confidence as least not visible to all of them was slowly breaking down.
It was Matt that spoke this time. "My beloved sister Nadia, you misunderstand my neglect of informing you all from the full details as being insecure or indecisive. Contrary to that, it's more me wanting to carry the family burden on my own. I didn't want for any of you to suffer what I do everyday since her awakening." His words were kind and sincere.
Nadia was about to interrupt Matt but he raised his hand telling her to wait. "It's been a week. Let's give them three more weeks which will complete the month. I have faith in D and so should you and the rest of you. He, believe it or not carries a burden that none you would want to carry. Now that he is going to be a father his situation has only become much more precarious. His child. Have anyone thought of the implications?" He sighed. "So I ask not just you Nadia but all of you for time. Time for D to rescue our sister. He will bring her back… one way or another." He breathed.
Matt slowly walked toward his beautiful sister Nadia and hugged her as he gave her a kiss on her soft milky porcelain cheek. He played with beautiful long black silky hair as he smirked. She noticed as she some how knew what he was remembering and pull her hair from his grasp. "Don't even think about it! I still haven't forgiven you about that." Matt's face was filled with innocent guilt. "Mother had to cut most of my hair off because that." Matt didn't respond. He only smiled kindly as it broke down the last bit of confidence for her to continue fighting.
Nadia sighed as she said slowly, "Ok, I will…wait." She turned away to leave the study when as she reached the door she turned towards them with a grave look in her face. "Three weeks and that's all I'll wait." She left the study.
"Well that ended well." Isabella said with a smile speaking for the first time since they all arrived to speak with Matt. She knew it wasn't her place to speak this entire time.
"Yeah sure keep believing that. Don't be surprise if she is going to laboratory to make some sort of poison to kill us all for turning on her." Marie retorted. She wasn't happy but accepted the decision to wait. Her thoughts were now on going to the training ground and pound on some of the men there to release some of her anger. "Poor guys they don't know what's coming to them." She thought to herself.
Speaking for the first time Nicholas said, "Marie, stop your nonsense." He was annoyed. The whole situation annoyed him.
Nicholas was the most withdrawn out all of them. He was certainly not a leader nor did he care for it. He followed the rules and that's it. Brut strength and fighting was his thing. It was a rare moment when anything really worried him. Even though he felt a bit concerned about Jasmine it annoyed him for feeling that way. He thought Marie was a hot head who never thought things thoroughly. Nadia was bossy or maybe she wanted to be the leader and the others were just like him just doing their part in keeping the family together. Whatever the case was he just didn't want to feel annoyed and the moment Marie just tipped him off.
"Whatever! I see you finally had the nerve to speak. You didn't bother to say anything but follow us to her like a puppy on a leash. Don't tell me you were afraid to say what's your mind, brother?" Marie said coldly.
Nicholas was always known as being cautious and calculative which made him a fierce adversary on the battle fields. Marie always tried to poke him with insults resulting always her being the one angry or being reprimanded.
He responded sarcastically. "Well sister unlike you I didn't come here to corner our brother and demand for D's head. Instead I came to listen and finally understand the secret our brother had to live with.. Bes…"
Cutting her brother off, "Oh shut-up, for the ancient's sake! You really get on my nerves sometimes." Marie started to leave the study. However she too had something to say before leaving, "Matt, don't worry I won't do anything rash. I will wait the three weeks but when the time expires don't expect me to come back to you for guidance. I'm going to act on my own," she left not giving anyone a chance to speak.
Now in the study remained Matt, Isabella, Aaron and Nicholas. For a moment everyone remained quiet. It was Aaron that disrupted the silence.
"Matt, I have faith." Looking at his younger brother as he said. "I also believe that Nicholas has faith as well. I have a good feeling about this. Somehow Jazmine will be returned to us." Aaron patted Matt's back in support as he and Nicholas left the room.
Now being the only two left in the room Isabella went and hugged her husband tightly as she began to kiss him passionately. "My love, don't worry. They will wait," she said reassuringly. It was what he needed at the moment to know that she loved and supported him in his decision.
Hesitantly Isabella said, "there, there is something I need to tell you. Do you think you have a moment for me now?"
"Huh?" Matt responded with a confused look on his face as he looked as Isabella with wonder.
a/n REVISED 2/19 Interesting I hope and even more now that I have revised mostly all of it. Why? Well thanks to some friends who sent me some editorial advice I made some changes. All and in all it's the same thing as before but said a little different. Seriously by the end of the week I will have another chapter up. It's in the works and its just morphing at the moment. By the way the end is near… sad to say but it is coming very soon.
As always thank you all that had posted your comments thus far... Others that haven't yet, please, please say something… I need to hear from people it helps me write more. Seriously! ;-)
