28. Betrayed
Jason's face was still smiling when she said the words, but as they sunk in, his golden beam slowly faded into a dark shade of gray. His eyes, which glowed with happiness, were now hidden in a deep pool of anguish and pain. Jason no longer stood tall and firm-his shoulders slouched and his back stiffened. He had no idea how to react. He had no clue what she was saying, what she even meant.
Not that anyone did. We all stood there, not comprehending what was really going on. She said no? Claire, the very embodiment of love for Jason, said no? The girl who fought so hard for him and came back to life for him, said no? I pinched my arm, making sure I was still awake. I checked my pulse, confirming that I was still alive. I wanted to slap Claire and make sure she was thinking straight. Of course she couldn't be. She loved Jason. This was just a joke.
But it wasn't.
And still Claire smiled like nothing was wrong. In fact she looked relieved at what she said, like it let out a huge burden she had been carrying on her shoulders. But why was there a burden to begin with? Since when did she stop loving Jason? She looked so hurt when he said those things to her…
Confusion wasn't even close to enough to describe what I was feeling at that point.
"No?" Jason finally was able to get out. He half smiled, trying to play it off, but his eyes always revealed what he was feeling. And his eyes looked like he was burning at the stake.
She nodded. "Nope. Take it in, pretty boy. I. Do. Not. Love. You." She smiled like the words she said would somehow make him feel better or as she had just given him a compliment.
Silence followed. No one knew what to say or even do. Everything had been so right for just a moment, and now everything was spinning out of control. Jason had finally owned up to everything he had done, and she just rejected him as quickly as if she never loved him.
"I don't understand." Jason whispered. He looked like he was fighting hard to keep the pain from showing, but I could easily see his eyes were turning red and his body was trembling. He was probably in more pain than I realized, but I knew he was suffering.
Cody grabbed Claire's arm and pulled her close to him. She didn't resist; she actually seemed like she wanted to be close to him. "Get it through your head, Jason. She chose the better man. You lose." He leaned his head in close to Claire's and kissed her. She kissed him back.
I thought I was going to barf.
I thought Jason was going to rip Cody's head off.
Claire broke away and laughed. "Oh how I've missed this."
"All this time, it was a lie? Everything we've ever shared?" Jason's voice trembled as he spoke. I was worried that he would start to cry right then and there. He had no control over his emotions, and he looked like he was on the edge.
"I was just waiting for the right moment. I didn't want to hurt your feelings." She shrugged her shoulders. "But now I simply don't care. You all annoy the crap out of me. I can't wait to get rid of you."
"Get rid of us?" Skylar questioned.
"Of course. You don't think I'd let you live, do you? I've waited a long time to finally destroy you. All of this," she waved her hands in the air and around herself "All that I've done-my death and coming back, was all part of a plan to destroy you. You all are worthless creatures that always whine about the tiniest things. I couldn't take it much longer. You're weak and powerless. I plan on wiping all of you off the face of this planet."
My mouth fell open. It took me a few moments to process all of what she was saying. Claire wanted to destroy us? She hated us like that? None of it made sense. Claire loved her family more than anything. She sacrificed everything for her family, she did all she could to protect us. She risked everything to save Jason countless times. Since when did she want us to die? When did her emotions flip? I thought back to when I first saw her. Claire had golden eyes, a warm smile, and a tender heart. She expressed so much love for me then. She displayed so much hurt over what had happened and what was going to happen until she could come back. How could she just change so suddenly? The last thing I wanted to do was believe what she was saying, but how could I deny what was right in front of me? I couldn't find a hint of lies in her eyes. She was serious. Which left me to one question.
What the hell was going on?
"And how do you plan on getting rid of us? We out number both of you. I could take you myself." Taylor, her former best friend, said sharply. I knew how hard it must have been for her to say that, but she sounded strong and sure. She grabbed Skylar's hand. Her face was fierce.
Claire snorted and Cody just snickered. "Please." He said. "The two most powerful Vampires in the world, the Volturi, and a witch against a small coven of Vampires who barely have any powers? You have no chance."
I felt Amber stiffen behind me.
"A witch?" I scoffed. "Where are you going to find a witch?"
"She's standing behind you." Claire replied smoothly, as if giving the end of a punch line and is waiting for the joke to sink in.
My blood turned cold as I turned to face Amber, who refused to look into my eyes. She was playing with her fingers and kept her eyes on the floor. "Amber?" I asked quietly, not quite getting what was going on. How had everything gotten so out of control?
"Looks like Amber's lied to you more than you know." Cody said right behind me, which made me jump. "I told you she had more in mind than you."
"Amber?" I repeated, my voice getting slightly higher. I wanted desperately to tell me that she had no idea what they were talking about. But the way she wouldn't look at me told me that I was only lying to myself, as she had been lying to me.
"Amber, come." Claire ordered.
Amber started to walk towards her.
I grabbed her arm and yanked her to me. I brought her chin up and forced her to look me in the eye. She was almost in tears. "Amber, what are you doing? Tell me this is all a joke. Please don't leave me again." I begged her. Tears started to spill over the rims of her eyes. "Don't do this."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry." Then she walked around me and over to Claire's side. I felt my entire world fall apart when she walked away. Not only had she left me once, but she did it again. The love of my life left me. Again.
I turned to face the three of them, two of them who betrayed me. Claire grabbed Amber's hand. Amber looked at her, as if she was asking her a question. Claire simply nodded, giving her a serious look. Amber took a deep breath and smiled.
My entire world crashed. I never wanted to die more than now.
"Claire will take care of that later, Jon." He smiled menacingly.
I lunged for him, but Jason took hold of my shoulder and pulled me back.
Claire clapped her hands and squealed. "Everything's turning out perfectly."
Cody pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "Just as I told you, love."
"I hope you both burn in Hell." Jason spat.
There. I saw it. When Jason said that to them, something flashed in Claire's eyes. His words struck a chord in her. I couldn't tell what emotion she let out, it disappeared too quickly to determine, but she definitely reacted to what he said.
"You keep it cozy and warm for us until we get there. If we do." Cody retorted and Claire laughed.
I couldn't believe what was happening right now. Claire was plotting to kill us, apparently she had been from the beginning; Amber was on their side, for who knows how long; everything I knew was falling apart. Nothing made sense. My head was spinning.
"I'll give you a week to prepare yourselves. Tell others your goodbyes or you can spend it training to attempt to defeat us. Good luck." Claire said coldly.
"Amber, please." I rushed to her and grabbed her shoulders. "Why are you doing this? I love you. I love you. Stay with me. I know I screw up, but I'm getting better."
"Goodbye, Jonathan." She said just as coldly as Claire. And then they were gone.
I fell to my knees and cried, begging for death to come faster.
