Chapter 51

Hannah’s POV

The ground in the living quarters felt cold; blood dripped from my shoulder blade and soaked my clothing. I touched the area where Sebastian had bit into me with my trembling fingers and allowed the tears to soak my features as I watched him walk away. He left me there alone and I had never felt emptier.

I heard the front doors of the palace slamming shut as he left; I flinched at the loud sound. The mark on my neck was healing quickly, but the ghost of his teeth sinking into me remained on my flesh. His scarlet gazes once poured into me, and I can still see them whenever I close my eyes.

“Oh, my moon goddess!” Caroline said from the doorway. She rushed over to me, grabbing my arm to help me to my feet. “What happened, your majesty?”

“I have to leave, Caroline,” I told her, nearly hyperventilating. “I need to get out of here.”

“Okay…” she breathed, but I could sense the confusion behind her voice. “I’ll get Lewis to…”

“No!” I said quickly, interrupting her words. “No Lewis. I need to get out of here myself. Can you call me a cab?”

“A cab?” Caroline asked, eyeing me carefully.

“Yes, a cab,” I confirmed. “I… I need to pack my things…”

I went upstairs without saying anything more; I grabbed the suitcase I stored under the bed and began packing the clothes I initially came to the palace with. I wasn’t going to take anything that was bought for me after I arrived. I didn’t want anything more from him; I just needed to get out of here. Tears fell from my eyes as I continued packing my things; my hands trembled with each clothing item I grabbed.

I finished packing my suitcase and zipped it shut. Caroline stood in the doorway, staring at me with a timid frown on her face.

“The cab is outside,” she told me.

I lost track of time while I was packing. I gave her a small smile that didn’t reach my eyes and thanked her as I brushed passed her. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to see her again, but I knew I wasn’t planning on coming back to this palace.

My conversation with Emily played again in my mind when she told me she was pregnant. A jab of pain coursed through my chest, and I had to stop walking to deal with the pain. I could feel Nora’s agony from within me; the betrayal and heartache she felt nearly paralyzed me.

I had to push past the pain and continue to make my way to the cab.

I didn’t give Lewis a look when I got outside; I ignored him and got into the cab that was parked behind him. I knew he was staring at me confused, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him what was going on or to tell him goodbye.

I wiped my swollen and red eyes with the back of my sleeve and turned away from the palace, looking out the opposite window towards the town.

“Take me to the hospital,” I told the cab driver, with limited emotions in my voice.

“Yes, your majesty,” he said as he pulled away from the palace.

…

I was surprised when I got to the hospital, and I didn’t sense Sebastian. I figured he would have been here with Emily by now; telling her the good news that I was leaving, and they can finally be together. But from the scent of the hospital, it doesn’t seem like he was there at all today.

It didn’t matter though; I wasn’t there to see Sebastian. I needed to see Liam. I didn’t want him to think I was abandoning him and if my father did what he promised, I was back on the visitor list.

“You can’t go in there!” Nancy barked as I reached Liam’s door.

I turned to her; I knew I must have looked like a mess because of all the crying and the blood stains on my clothing. She was rushing toward me but as I turned to face her, she paused and stared around my face with disgust.

“You aren’t on his visitor list,” she said, lowering her tone.

“Check again,” I told her; my voice feeling and sounding raw. “My father was supposed to re-add me to the list.”

“It’s not up to your father, it’s up to Liam. He doesn’t want you in there. You know we must go by what the patients want,” she reminded me, folding her arms across her chest.

“He’s my brother, Nancy,” I shot back to her, trying not to get too worked up.

“That doesn’t matter…”

“I need to say goodbye,” I told her, cutting off her words. That silenced her and she stared at me with wide and confused eyes. “I’m leaving,” I explained.

“Leaving?” She repeated, dumbfounded.

“I’m leaving the hospital. I’m leaving the pack. I’m going away and I don’t know when I’m returning. I just need to say goodbye,” I told her, allowing a stray tear to escape my eye.

She stared at me for a long while, trying to figure out if I was serious or not.

“You just need to say goodbye? Then, you’re leaving? For good?” She asked, eyeing me carefully.

I nodded once.

“Yes,” I told her.

She sighed and turned away.

“Make it quick.”

I sighed relieved as I opened Liam’s door and slipped inside. His room was dimly lit because he was getting some rest, but thankfully he was awake once I got there. He turned his head to face me, and his eyes widened with surprise.

I let a sob escape through my lips without meaning to and I pressed my back against the door, trying to keep myself on my feet. My body trembled as I stared at my paling and thinning brother. He looked a lot sicker than he had a few days ago and my heart was tugging painfully for him. More painful than when my heart tugged for Sebastian.

Liam was my brother; he was all I had. I couldn’t lose my brother.

“Hannah?” He asked.

I sniffled and wiped the tears from my eyes as I approached his bedside.

“Hey, Liam,” I said, trying to keep my voice strong for him.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, looking towards the door.

“It’s okay…” I assured him, grabbing onto his hands gently and squeezing them. “I won’t be here long…”

“If dad…” he tried to say, but I shushed him, closing my eyes before more tears spilled from them.

“He’s not going to know I’m here,” I promised.

“He told me if you stayed away, I could see mom again,” Liam said, keeping his tone low.

I felt my heart stopping in my chest at his words.

“What?” I gasped.

“He told me that you wouldn’t let it happen and that he can make it happen. But you must stay away,” Liam continued to explain.

His eyes were large and growing misty as he continued to stare at me. It was clear that he truly believed that our father was going to take him to see our mother. She was dead; it wasn’t possible…

Unless…

“Liam…” I said, leaning closer to him. “I need you to listen to me very carefully. Dad is dangerous. He isn’t out for your best interest. He’s…”

“He told me you’d say that,” Liam interrupted.

“I’m telling you the truth, Liam,” I told him, firmly. “As your sister, I need you to trust me. You can’t let dad in here anymore. You need to take him off the visitor list.”

“But what about mom?” Liam asked, tears welling in his eyes.

“Liam, mom is gone,” I told him; my voice started quivering as I processed my own words. “She’s not coming back. There is no seeing her…”

“But dad said…”

“I know what he said!” I shouted; I didn’t mean to yell as loudly as I did, but he flinched at my harsh tone. I sighed and stared down at my hands. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell…”

“Why are you angry?” Liam asked, staring around my face. “Don’t you want to see mom?”

“Of course, I do,” I whispered, meeting his eyes. “But we can’t. I need you to trust me. For right now, just stay away from dad. Stay away until I come back…”

“Where are you going?” He asked.

I stayed silent for a little longer as I processed my thoughts. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close to me. I kissed the top of his head before releasing him and standing from his bed.

“I love you, Liam,” I told him, trying to give him a brave smile. “I promise; I will be back for you.”