Page 13 of Anaki

They dart their own kind?

Whatever Anaki was, whatever everyone else in the room was, they were insane.

This was when we needed Emm. Not when she was out gallivanting all over the states while she tried to catch bounties on this Locke guy. We needed her here to keep us safe from these crazies... whatever they are.

Because we all knew I was too weak.

I swallowed the bitterness that built in my throat.

I checked on Luis, tucked under Abuela's arm. Everything was in slow motion as I watched Nadia reach into her bag for a dart and a gun.

I’m nothing like my sister, as much as I try. I might have a mouth like a Latina, but that was all I possessed. I never stood up for myself, but like hell, I stood up for others who couldn’t stand up for themselves.

While I didn’t know Anaki, the thought of him being shot didn’t sit well with me. He helped me stand, kept me calm. He had a gentle hand.

He was part of the kidnapping team here, but that didn’t matter.

I didn’t have time to think; I stepped forward and shouted a resoundingNoas soon as Anaki’s knees hit the floor. I blocked the dart’s path, my hands instinctively reaching for his hair.

Anaki's forehead gently pressed against my stomach, his hands instinctively reaching for the back of my legs, tightly gripping them as if the weight of the world threatened to snatch him away. The room was filled with a hushed silence, broken only by the sound of our steady breaths.

The air carried a faint scent of sweat and anticipation, mingling with the warmth of our intertwined bodies. In that moment, I could feel the intensity of Anaki's emotions, his grip conveying a mixture of fear, longing, and a desperate need for… I couldn’t put my finger on it. Despite the carefree attitude he had earlier, this was different.

“Do not shoot him,” I nearly begged. I turned to look at the shocked faces in the room. Nadia hadn’t even placed the dart in the gun.

“What just happened?” Bear said as he stepped forward. “What the fu—”

Anaki cleared his throat, let go of my legs and stood. “I’m alright. I apologize.” He rubbed his throat with his hand. “I got out of control there for a second. Please forgive me if I startled you.”

I eyed him up and down and shook my head. “It’s fine.” I mentally shook off the effect his touch had on me, the growls and the odd behavior. Rather, I concentrated on the fact that there was, in fact, a vampire in our living room, who was cleaning underneath his sharp nails with a dagger in the corner.

And he touched my son.

“¡Dios Mio!” I rubbed my forehead with my finger. What would Emm say about all of this? She was the tough one. I tried to toughen up over the years, to be the head of this family since Abuela’s mind had gone, but I could only do so much.

Always too soft, wishing to see the best in people.

Damnit, I saved my kidnapper.

“As lovely as this all is—” while talking, the vampire stashed the dagger in his suit pocket. He didn't look like a kidnapper, more like a businessman who never sees the sun. Could he even go out in the sun?

“Isn’t he just swoon-worthy,” Abuela said as she took another sip of her tea. “Just how I imagined they would be. I’m so glad I got to see one before I died. Think he will let me make him some of my tamales once we arrive where we are going? I assume you are not allergic to garlic.”

The vampire smiled.

Emm is going to shit herself.

The vampire gave a fanged smile. “We should head to the plane. I’ve got an angry sorceress, with an equally angry panther, ready to fly while you all play tea party.”

I sat down in the chair, suddenly feeling dizzy.

Luis bounded toward me and gave me a hug. “Please, can we go with them?”

My eyes widened. “You realize they are taking us without consent. We don’t have a choice. This isn’t a vacation, Luis. They have guns, there is a vampire, and who knows what else these people are?”

Nadia and Bear gave each other a look.

Luis shrugged his shoulders. “They haven’t hurt us. They didn’t shoot Lizard-eyes over there when you said not to. Don’t think they are very good kidnappers.”