The Ocean’s City
Chapter 67

I wanted to be so thankful to hear that voice, but I was worried about what it meant. Hutson’s father and I turned simultaneously to see Dalton standing behind us, hands clutched into fists. I looked around to see that Dannie was not with him and hoped that was a good sign.

“Son! You finally showed up!” Andrewka sang. “I’m surprised you would leave your companion alone… unless…” He turned to me, curiously studying my face.

The man’s expression lit up like he was on to something. “Do you love my son Dalton?”

For once, it was like I could recognize the seconds between his question and my response; I felt a sudden panic, but it did nothing to stop my body from obeying him.

“No, I don’t,” I answered before my brain even tried to say something against the truth. Relief fled me when I heard my answer, but it made my heart prick with pain. Was that how I really felt? I guiltily turned to look at Dalton.

Dalton kept a poker face. Only his eyes darted to me briefly before returning to his father. “Enough of your games, father! It is time Hutson had a companion. I will not let you take that away from him!”

Now, Hutson’s sudden affections for me seemed clear. The boys had planned a divergence, and I was a pawn. With my hand still in Andrewka’s hand, I suddenly feared that he may ask me that next, but he dropped my hand at Dalton’s declaration and marched towards him.

Andrewka acted like Dalton would tower in his father’s presence. Still, Dalton stood his ground and looked his father in the eyes, not daring to blink.

“Yoooouuuu,” Andrewka slurred the word like it possessed poison when said. “You think you are stronger than me just because you found your companion, right?”

Companion?

My mind rushed to make sense of what Andreka was saying. Sure, I’ve read Twilight about supernatural wolves imprinting and all, but… I mean, Dalton is supernatural… He is a creator, and after seeing what Hutson could do when running from danger, I couldn’t deny their superhuman abilities, but did that entail they also had a soulmate for life?

A soulmate! I almost laughed, returning to the present and reminding myself to remain quiet. I needed to keep my head down, not for me, but for Dannie.

“I don’t have the slightest clue what you are talking about,” Dalton snarled.

My mind fell back to its thought process. It could be possible that I was Dalton’s soulmate, but that didn’t mean the same rules from some fantasy romance novel applied to my situation. The man who shot Dannie had said I was nothing but a tool to Dalton and I shouldn’t be so naïve to fall in love with him.

How could a soulmate be a tool?

“Now, son, step down and bring your little plaything to me so we can end this without too much drama. You know how your mother gets.”

Dalton laughed. It started off as a chuckle and grew to a full-on bellow. The rare emotion escaping from his breaths caused my stomach to turn. This would not be a peaceful appeasement.

“I could… except for one problem.”

“What is that?”

“I. am. Not. Your. Son. Uncle!”

Andrewka was slow to register Dalton’s statement. He was already mid-way in the nonexistent air when his eyes grew more comprehensive, and his mouth formed in bafflement. I thought momentarily that he would continue to fly away from us for eternity.

Andrewka wasn’t his father?

Dalton gave a flick of his wrist, and his uncle fell to the floor. Dalton stalked towards him, looking the most deadly I have seen him. This man has eyes for me and can do shit like this? It felt real. I always thought that having a strong man would give me some sense of security, but not understanding what was happening around me and seeing as he contorted his uncle’s body had me wanting to run. I would have run off if we weren’t stuck in some limitless realm.

Dalton’s uncle thrashed around on the floor, losing his hold on Hutson, who now was running towards me. Dalton screamed, increasing his hold on his uncle, who was now laughing. The wind chimes sang through the airless environment.

“It’s time to go, Silvestia,” Hutson comforted, but I dodged his grasp with my eyes glued to the scene before me.

A deep crimson color flowed through the irises of Andrewka’s eyes. Then blood dripped from his nose, and bloody tears collected at the corners of his lids.

“Silvestia! Now!” Hutson cursed, dodging towards me.

I leaped away again. I needed to see what was happening. I needed to finally understand.

Lifeless breath came out of Andrewka like he was a man with no lungs. Pain swirled in his expression, but there was still an element of laughter in the man’s demeanor.

“Silvestia!” Dalton shouted over his shoulder.

He didn’t want me to be here. Worried I would somehow jeopardize saving Dannie, I quickly grabbed Hutson’s hand.

He took me from the place in the blink of an eye, but not before I saw the horrid images of Dalton standing over his uncle and blood freely flowing from his mouth, an agonizing groan overpowering the nothingness.

It is so agonizing that it will be forever etched into my brain.