CHAPTER TWO

CHLOE'S POV

We pulled up in front of my house in Amy's car- little red convertible buggy, and parked. I sat there starring out the window shield. My mind kept replaying Brian's death over and over again.

"Chloe?" Amy said beside me in the driver's seat while Paul sat in the back behind us, "Are you gonna be okay?" She asked touching my hand. I sighed, then turned my head toward her.

"I don't know." I answered honestly, shaking my head, "I don't know what was worse: Me dying again or Brian dying because of me."

"Chloe, I already told you that wasn't your fault." Amy replied calmly.

"Yea," Paul agreed, "and you don't know that Brian's actually dead. I mean he could be paralyzed or something." I turned my head around giving Paul a glare in the back.

"Paul. Not. Helping." Amy said, looking back at him before turning her attention to me as I unbuckled my seat belt, "Chloe-."

"I should have never got into his car tonight." I whispered cutting Amy off, "Alek was right. I made a huge mistake." I sighed out. Amy and Paul stared at me for couple of minutes before I said turning my head, "I should go." I stuttered, sniffling.

"We'll come see you in the morning." Amy announced, and I nodded before zipping up my sweater. I opened the car door and stepped out closing the door behind me. I watched as they drove off, and then headed inside.

The front door slammed behind me as I walked into the kitchen, then turned to go upstairs when I heard a voice say.

"Don't even think about it, Kiddo." I heard my mom say in a firm voice. I sighed closing my eyes for a moment, then turned around seeing her standing at the kitchen counter, still in her black dress from the evening, "Come sit down." She ordered, gesturing toward the chair next to her.

"Mom, it's been a long night. Can we do this in the morning?" I asked. She stared at me with a serious face as she took her head no, "Of course not." I mumbled, then walked over and plumped myself down on chair, looking up at her.

"Chloe, I don't even know where to begin." She sighed, then flickered her eyes at me as she said, "I thought we were done with the lies. You said you were staying in tonight?" She questioned.

"I- I was." I stuttered, "but- I- "

I didn't know what to say to her. I couldn't tell her that I went to meet dad, but it ended up being a set up because I'm not human.

"Chloe," My mom sighed sitting down in front of me, "What is going on with you? You've been lying to me, dishing your friends, and come home late?" She questioned, "That's not the Chloe I know." She added shaking her head at me. I stared at her as she said once again, "What is going on Chloe?"

"Nothing is going on." I told her as I shrugged my shoulders, "I'm fine."

"No, you're not." She argued, "Don't you dare lie to me right now." My eyes flickered up to her and opened my mouth but no words came out. I didn't know what to say. I wanted so desperately to tell her the truth, but I knew I couldn't.

"I'm done playing this game." She said when she realized I wasn't going to tell her anything, "From this point on, you're ground until you tell me what the hell going on with you!" She yelled, "You go to school, go to work and then you get your butt back to this house. No more going out or late nights until I can trust you again."

"But-" I began but she cut me off.

"No buts, Chloe. I've had enough of this." I sat there in shock as she stared at me, her eyes narrow. I sighed angrily as I turned and stormed upstairs.

As I walked toward my bedroom, I unzipped my jacket before swinging the door open, but stopped in my tracks when I saw-

"Alek."

I stood in the doorway staring at Alek as he stood by my window. I did not know if I should be happy or angry he was here.

"Chloe," He spoke, but I quickly cut him off.

"Where have you been, Protector?" I asked, grinding my teeth as I stormed over to him. He glanced down at my shirt with a huge bloodstain on it.

"You're bleeding." He gasped as his eyes widen. His eyes quickly flickered up to me as he asked, "What happened?"I chuckled uncomfortably, shaking my head at him.

"What do you think happened?" I asked sarcastically, shrugging my shoulders, "I died tonight. You left me alone with none protecting me!" I said, this time shouting.

"Chloe-"

"And now Brian's dead!" I cried, interrupting him again. He was a little taken by what I just said.

"You- you kissed him?" Alek asked, looking at me with a mix of confusion and heartbreak.

"He kissed me." I corrected him, "I couldn't stop him. I was a little be occupied coming back from the dead!" I explained, shouting the last thing.

"Chloe, I-" Alek began, but I didn't want to hear it right now.

"Just get out of here!" I snapped at him, not wanting him around me, "I would rather have Jasmine can watch over me." I mumbled, dropping my eyes down to the floor as Alek sighed.

"Unfortunately that can't happen." He retorted, "Jasmine's in the hospital." Immediately my eyes shot up staring at Alek as he continued, "Zane tried to kill her. After he poisoned and killed Valentina. When I got there... He tried to kill me too." He finished. I stood there speechless. Zane was Mai just like us. Why the hell would he kill his own kind?

"Alek I'm sorry." I finally said after a couple of minutes of complete silence, "I- I didn't know."

"Obviously." He replied, then sighed looking away for a moment, "Look it's been a rough night for the both of us, I suggest we get some rest." He suggested. I hesitated, then nodded agreeing with him, "Okay."

"Whoa what are you doing?" I asked seeing him taking off this black jacket.

"I'm staying here tonight." He announced, then said rhetorically raising his own eyebrow at me, " You really think I'm gonna leave you alone while Zane and the order are still out there?"

"Fine." I sighed, "Wait." I said as Alek as about to go into the bathroom. He sighed and shifted his eyes over, "What if my mom catches you in here again?" I questioned.

"Chloe, your mom catching me in here is the least of your worries." He told me shaking his head, "And don't worry, I'll sleep on the floor." He added, gesturing to the floor.

"I'm not gonna make you sleep on the floor." I replied, shrugging my shoulders as I shook my head. His eyes flickered over, "You can sleep on the bed. I mean it's a little small, but we can both fit." I offered, making him chuckle and smile at me.

"It's only for one night, Alek! Don't get to excited!" I remarked. He shrugged at me, then went into my bathroom, closing the door behind him. I sighed, rolling my eyes and walked toward my closet, quickly taking off my jacket and bloodily shirt. I threw them onto the closet floor and threw on a long t-shirt before slipping off my jeans, dropping them in the same pile. I sighed turning around and climbed into bed, pulling the covers over me.

I laid there staring across my room until fell asleep.