Book 2

Betrayal

The early hour hid Neve’s manic approach towards the apartment he shared with his older cousins Seth and Dale. He’d been absent for days, too afraid to return after the events over the last few days. The sight of Cory, frantic and sickly, crushed him. His body stooped and thin, Cory looked frail and alone and it took all of Neve’s strength not to go to him. The beautiful blond-haired boy he’d fallen in love with was ruined. And it was all Neve’s doing. Not only that, but his final visit to Cory had been witnessed.

Neve messed up. Although careful to keep his location hidden, Seth had followed him. Fear forced Neve to flee; his feverish flight from Melbourne to Sydney done in desperation. The struggle to enter the apartment with trembling hands and his guilt driven thoughts told him he had to leave.

But where to go?

By the time he reached his bedroom Neve understood how hopeless his situation had become. There was nowhere for him to escape to. Within the next twenty-four he and Cory would be dead. Without turning his light on, Neve crashed on top of the covers, curled into a ball and cried. He hated his life and what he was.

From the first moment they’d found Cory in the Blue Mountains late January, Neve had been taken by him. The torment he’d endured in those first weeks brought nothing but despair. He desperately wanted to help Cory but if he did, it would mean both their deaths and Neve wasn’t ready to die. But he didn't want Cory to die either. His hands were tied - it was either Cory or both of them, and Neve was a coward.

Hidden in his room, once Seth returned from Melbourne he’d have words with Neve. He didn't fear Seth’s temper, Neve had witnessed it many times before and knew Seth meant no harm but the thought Seth would once more be covering for Neve reflected how useless Neve was to the family.

Better they kill me, Neve dwelled with misery.

If only Cory were human. How much time had Neve wasted wishing for the impossible? If he were, Neve would have pursued a relationship with Cory without his family knowing. However, Cory wasn’t gay and Neve forcibly used his power to take Cory. It became another cowardly admittance Neve tormented himself with. Why did it have to be Cory? Why couldn’t Neve have stayed away?

As the afternoon drew on Neve remained secluded in his room. There was no point leaving and making it difficult to be found. Once they found Cory, it would become clear what Neve had done and it would be over. His attempts to contact Nikali were left too late and perhaps he too would be in danger. Neve’s only opportunity to be free were now gone. Months of planning to contact Nikali for his own selfish needs vanished and any hope to leave were diminished. Neve didn’t possess the intelligence the family sort as protectors of their kind, instead considered the lowest of their species and next to worthless.

From outside his bedroom, Neve heard the sounds of his cousin’s return. Both argued in anger not surprising Neve but as he rose to meet Seth, his door flew open. Caught unaware, Seth flew into the room in a rage; grabbing Neve around the throat with both hands forcing him back onto the bed.

Neve clutched at Seth’s hands, trying to pry them from his neck as he fought to breathe, as Dale pleaded in the background to stop. Neve forced his legs between them, forming a wedge before using the last of his strength to force Seth from his body. But Seth was a fury he could not stop and almost at the point of passing out, he glanced at Seth, his eyes pleading as he stopped struggling. Seth sensed the change immediately as he let go, taking Neve by the collar of his shirt, he pulled him up to his face and said, “What the hell have you done?”

“Come on Seth, calm down. Tell us what’s happened?” Dale continued to plead with Seth, his hands firmly clenched to Seth’s shoulder attempting to draw his older brother back.

Seth pushed Neve back on the bed and standing, turned to Dale and said, “I found that boy we’ve been looking for but looks like our boy Neve here found him first.”

Dale glanced at Neve surprised. Neve rubbed his neck almost wishing Seth hadn’t stopped.

“What’s going on?” Dale asked sounding confused.

“Didn’t you think it strange we didn’t find that boy straight away? I suspected a few months ago, but I gave Neve the benefit of the doubt but seems our Neve screwed up.” Seth snarled at them.

Neve sat up, avoiding eye contact with his cousins. This was it, the council would call a special meeting and Neve would be put to death. It seemed a fitting ending.

“What happened Neve?” Dale asked, as he sat beside Neve on the bed.

“I found him but I couldn’t bring myself to tell Tom.”

“Why?” Dale asked.

“Why the hell do you think Dale? He couldn’t bloody keep it in his pants.”

Neve flinched and looking up at Seth said, “It wasn’t like that.”

“Really then tell me what the hell it was that I sensed.”

Neve stared at Seth in horror as tears began to fall.

“He never felt the same way.” Neve barely spoke, and he turned away from Seth and stared at his hands.

The room sat in silence for a moment, before Dale took control once more and asked, “What do we do now? He has to be killed Neve.”

Seth snorted, “It’s too late for that.”

Both Neve and Dale stared up at Seth.

“I told Tom two days ago but turns out he flew out of the country this morning.”

“What!” Neve said surprised to hear this.

“What, you didn’t know he would to try to flee. Surely you must have picked up what was going on with him.”

Neve shook his head, “He blocked his emotions from me.”

“And the only reason he was able to do that was because he had eight bloody months to work out how to use his abilities didn’t he Neve. So help me if I found out you so much as talked to him about us I’ll kill you myself.”

“Settle down Seth. Neve would never put us in danger.”

“Yeah well Donovan wants to see him now. Seems the kid wasn’t the only one to leave the country.”

Dale glanced from Seth to Neve, his concern evident in his expression and voice, “Donovan, that’s not good.”

“No shit.” Seth replied, as his tense posture collapsed and he sank to the floor.

“Haven’t we tried to protect you Neve? Don’t we look after you? Why would you do this?” Seth asked, his head shaking in disappointment.

Neve didn’t reply as his thoughts turned to Donovan. The head of the family, when Donavan wanted to see one them personally, nothing good would come from it.

“Nikali left the country at the same time and Donovan wants answers. So you better hope Neve you are not involved in this in any way.”

With that, Seth rose and left the room.

A shudder of fear ran though Neve.

“Bloody hell Neve, I know this isn’t easy for you but why that boy.”

Neve wiped the tears from his face. “I never meant for it to happen.”

“You didn’t say anything to him did you?”

Neve shook his head and lied, “No I never told him about us.”

“But you did talk to him.”

“He… he caught me watching him. I only showed him how I felt about him but he’s not like me Dale. I… I forced myself on him using my mind. It didn’t leave a good impression I’m afraid.”

“You idiot. How many times have I told you to be careful?”

“We don’t choose who we fall in love with.”

“Do you love him?”

In a whisper, Neve replied, “Yes.”

The room went quiet for a moment and then Dale said, “I can’t always be watching your back Neve. If they find out about you; you know what will happen?”

“Yeah, I know.”

After almost a minute, Neve asked, “Why are you always looking out for me?”

Dale wrapped his arm around Neve’s shoulder, and said, “You’re like our baby brother and someone has too.”

“Thanks.”

Dale gave Neve a gentle shake, then standing said, “I better go calm down my brother. You might want to clean yourself up and head to Donovan’s before he comes looking for you.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

Dale left the room and Neve lay back down on his bed; his throat hurt like hell and there would have bruises in a few hours. Never had Neve seen Seth as angry as he was but it was justified. They both knew of Neve’s sexuality and did everything to protect him.

Neve attempted to swallow but the pain to do so made him clench and he recalled the way Seth had looked at him. If only Cory had been human and not one of their kind, then Seth would not have been concerned. He’s have keep Neve’s secret and even helped him but now; now Seth would never trust him again.

But it didn’t matter anymore because Cory was alive. The overwhelming sensation of relief flooded Neve’s senses when Seth told him Cory fled the country. He gained a chance to live and although it might not be a good one, it was better than the one he would not have had if he remained in Australia.

There was no doubt in Neve’s mind what Cory knew about the family would be what ultimately saves him. He didn’t regret telling Cory the truth. It might mean the end of Neve’s family, as they had long since kept their identity a secret from the rest of the world. But it was still too early to know if Cory was safe. His family would use their power to seek him out and kill him. All Neve could do was continue to lie and hope he lived through the next twenty-four hours.