Fan Fiction ❯ Kiss Me Hard ❯ The Escape ( Chapter 12 )

Cassia turned around at the sound of Joseph's voice.
Vincent, too, stopped and turned, smiling sinisterly as his narrowed gaze came to rest on Joseph.
"I believe the woman wants to come with me, Joseph." He called out, walking up to Cassia and placing a hand gently on the small of her back.
She knew what he was trying to do.
He was trying to make Joseph jealous.
She frowned and shifted slightly as she noticed Joseph's glare at Vincent once he saw his hand slide from the low of her back, up to one of her shoulders slowly, then squeezing it gently.
Vincent looked at Cassia with a small grin.
"Don't you, love?"
Cassia bit her lip, and pulled away from Vincent.
"I-I..." She stuttered, looking from Joseph to Vincent, then back to Joseph.
She stood up straight, kept her hands at her sides, and took a deep breath, before speaking her daring words.
"I can go where ever I want, Joseph."
"So your willing to put your life at stake to go with this...this creature?"
"Creature?" Vincent's voice sounded from the background. You could just tell he was finding this amusing.
"I am not a creature, Joseph. But merely an advanced human being--But hey, whatever helps you sleep at night."
He grinned, his gaze narrowing on Joseph, whom was obviously struggling to keep his cool.
"Just keep in mind, Joseph--I'm just like you."
Cassia casted her gaze to Vincent, whom was now looking at her. As if waiting for her to make her decision.
As if expecting her to go back to Joseph.
As...As if she was predictable.
She set her jaw in place, and turned to look back at Joseph.
No. She wasn't predictable. She won't be predictable. She'll take the chances.
"I'm going with him." She finally answered.
Joseph let out a sigh as his gaze shifted heavily from Vincent to Cassia, whom stood with her hands clenching her dress at her side. Her face was set. He smiled weakly. But sadly.
"Then I have no choice. You...You are the enemy." With that, he raised his hand.
In his hand, was a firearm. A pistol of sorts that was capable of doing quite some damage.
Vincent growled, and right when Joseph pulled the trigger, he jumped and yanked Cassia to the ground with him.
He got up quickly when they missed the bullet, and stepped in front of Cassia.
His gaze now narrowed to mere slits. His elongated fangs bared ever so slightly to give him the air of being none other then pissed off.
"You cowardly bastard." He hissed.
"You would rather shoot at someone whose weak then at someone who can easily over power you. How the hell did you gain your rank, you good for nothing son of a bitch."
Joseph merely grinned, and footsteps could be heard from behind him.
There were more. More slayers. Easily outnumbered them.
Luckily. It wasn't all of them.
Vincent held a hand out for Cassia, and she took it. He wrenched her to her feet, and turned to look at her.
He leaned down close to her, and whispered into her ear.
"Run."
"I...What?" She whispered.
"I'm not weak, Vincent--"
"Your human." He whispered back harshly.
She frowned, and looked at him.
"Whats that supposed to mean?"
"You take a bullet, you die."
"And you--"
"I live. Run."
Cassia watched him for a moment. His gaze held no humor. No reassurance. They were emotionless. His lips were pursed. His figure drawn. His hands were steady. One resting on her shoulder.
With that hand on her shoulder, he turned her around, and gave her a shove.
"Run."
Without hesitation, Cassia ran. She would not stop. She could not stop. He'll be right behind her, right?
"Don't you dare run from me, Cassia!" Joseph yelled out to her, then turned to his Slayers.
"Kill the man. Leave the woman to me."
With that, Joseph started to run the second Slayers lifted their firearms and aimed them at Vincent.
Vincent stood calmly, but right when Joseph passed him, he lifted his arm, and thrusted all his weight forwards, close lining Joseph, and taking him out to the ground, right when the shots fired off.
Joseph hit the ground with a gasp, the air being literally struck out of him.
He couldn't move. Vincent held him to the ground by the throat while the shots fired off.
Cassia stopped and turned right when the shots fired off.
She was still far off, but she was able to see Vincent kneeling on the ground with his hand at Joseph's throat, holding him to the ground.
When the shots were fired off...Her heart skipped a beat.
The impact of the bullets were obvious as they hit him. Shreds of clothing were blown to the wind, leaving gouging wounds in his bare skin.
He winced, but he would not let go. If he died, he'll take the leader with him.
He will end this. Tonight.
"Vincent!" Cassia cried, and started forwards, but suddenly strong arms wrapped themselves around her, and held her back.
"No, Cassia." The voice was strangely, and painfully familiar.
She turned in those arms to look up at Darius, who's gaze was locked on his father's figure, being riddled with holes.
"Theres nothing we can do." He whispered, as if answering her unasked question.
"Darius, you can't possibly just stand there and watch your father get killed." Cassia whispered, her hands clenching the clothing over Darius' chests.
He looked down at her. His expression was unreadable. It was like he was fighting with some inner turmoil.
He wanted to help. But he couldn't. He shouldn't...He wouldn't.
He stood in place, holding a woman from his past from throwing her own life out there with his father's.

"Darius."

Darius turned around with Cassia still in his arms. He looked at his uncle, whom had called his name.
"You can't let your father die. No matter how bad it was."
Cerebus stood there with Scott, Nicole, Sarah, Lucious, and the two men he supposed came with his father.
There was a SUV running in the background, with a truck they came in.
Everyone was there.
Darius looked at them. He didn't recognize the woman and the other man, but he wouldn't question it right now.
Right now. He had to come up with something.
His uncle was right. He couldn't let his father die.
Darius picked up Cassia with one arm and walked towards Scott, before shoving her at him.
"Take her."
Scott blinked, and grabbed Cassia by the elbow and held her in place, looking at Darius with a quirked eyebrow.
"Darius...What do you plan on doing?"
"Saving my dad. Just stay out of my way." He muttered, walking past the group, and yanking open the door of the SUV.
He hesitated for a moment when he felt a gentle hand touch his back.
He turned around, and Nicole stood there, looking up at him.
"Darius...We can help you." She said softly.
Darius stood still, a foot up on the ledge of the SUV, his other planted firmly to the ground.
He watched her silently, before sighing, and looking in the direction of his father.
"Nicole." He began, but she cut him off.
"You have no excuse." She whispered calmly.
He looked back at her, raising both eyebrows.
Finally, he nodded.
"Alright. Get in." He looked up at the others.
"I have a plan."

Nicole sat in the back seat of the SUV, biting her lip as she looked at Darius, then at Scott who sat in front of her in the passenger seat.
“Uhm, guy's?” She called.
Scott looked back at her. They weren't moving yet. Right now, they were discussing the plan.
“Mm?”
“Is this plan going to work?”
“Of course. You don't even have to do anything. Just roll down the window, and shoot.”
Nicole looked down at the small, wallet-sized firearm they gave her.
She sighed.
The thing probably couldn't even kill anyone.
She looked back at them. Scott had a more formidable weapon that was capable of doing quite a little bit of damage.
“Okay, so what I'm going to do, is drive between father and the slayers. We have maybe...3 minutes before the SUV just..well...explodes.”
“Does Lucious know your doing this to his SUV?”“He'll figure it out in the end.” Darius said with a grin, and Scott sighed.
“Alright, so...we jump out, grab dad, and they'll pull up with the truck, we get in, and go?”
“Right.”
“Guys?”Scott looked back at Nicole again.
“What now?”
“Vincent is down.”

Vincent's grip tightened around Joseph's neck mercilessly.
Yes. If he was going to die. He will take the bloody bastard with him.
The bullets sent scorching hot pain through his body, but for the love of god, he couldn't let go.
Joseph struggled at first, but now his hands were merely wrapped around Vincent's wrist, trying to claw their way out.
“Kill him!” He managed to gasp out, his nails digging into Vincent's skin, leaving gouges in the skin it tore at.
But his grip never faltered or lessen, and Joseph felt the life being squeezed from him.
How the hell could he screw up so badly? The woman wasn't worth this. She's a betrayer—so why did he run after her?
Was he scared she would get hurt?
No.
He wanted to hit her. Kill her for back stabbing him.
He loved her. She knew that. How could he do this to him?!
He struggled for breath; darkness crept around the corner of his vision.
Why wasn't the bastard dieing?
Suddenly, he could feel Vincent fall onto the ground. But he still held on. Why? Did he intend on killing them both?
Finally, he could heard a vehicle skid to a halt, and the definite sound of bullets penetrating metal.
He felt Vincent's grip be wrenched from his throat, and heard shouting. What was happening?
Why couldn't he focus? His head was spinning as blood rushed to correct the disrupted flow. A headache-like pain made it hard to focus on anything.
His gaze looked around. He couldn't see anything.
Then darkness.
He was out.

Vincent felt an arm wrap around him, then he felt his body being dragged.
Who was it? He didn't know. Blood distorted his vision, and the immense pain of bullets made him delirious. He'd be damed if he knew which was up and which way was down.
He then heard another vehicle, more shouting, then another set up hands picked him up and heaved him into the back of something...a truck?
He tried to blink away the stinging sensation in his eyes, but it was impossible.
So he closed them. Obviously, he was being rescued.
He just hoped it was by the right people.
He let out a sigh as he gave in to the warm blanket of sleep.

Darious hit the back of the truck with the flat of his hand after Nicole and Scott climbed into the bed of the truck with Vincent.
Scott yanked close the door, and shouted.
“We have to go!”
Without seconds hesitation, Sarah slammed her foot down on the pedal, and they peeled off in the opposite direction of the slayers.
Darius looked down at Vincent, frowning. Nicole held Vincent's head in her lap, and her hand diligently worked at yanking out whatever bullet she could find before the wounds started to heal themselves.
“It's useless.” She whispered after retrieving a small handful.
She looked at Darius.
“Theres so many...”
Darius reached over and grabbed one, looking at it.
They were fortunate. The bullets were of normal make. Simple metal. Nothing complex.
“He'll be fine.” Darius finally concluded, tossing the bullet over his shoulder, and looking at Nicole once again with a forced smile.
Nicole sighed.
They drove on, every eye on the SUV they left behind, all of them oblivious to Lucious' argument in the truck as he struggled to get them to turn around for his Vehicle.

Time passed, and they were well on the road. Nicole's headed rested on Darius' shoulder. Darius was looking at Vincent. They had covered him in a blanket to keep him warm.
Scott watched Darius, before looking down at Vincent.
“He knew what he was getting himself into--”“The bastard.” Darius muttered, looking at Scott.
“He knew what he was getting himself into—Why did he drag you, his son, into it?”
“Because it's dad--”
“Because he's too much of a coward to go at it on his own.”
Scott sighed, watching Darius for another moment, before looking into the truck through the back window next to him.
“I have no regrets for going with him.” He muttered.
Darius raised both eyebrows, and followed his gaze into the cab of the truck.
To the woman.
“Who is she?”
Scott looked back at Darius, and smiled weakly, “She's our sister, Darius. It's Sarah...”
Darius blinked, and looked back to Scott, “What? Sarah? What was she doing there?”
“Dad never turned her.”
“Eh?”“She got away from him. She joined the Slayers for her own safety...She's blind, though.”“...How?”
“Dad.”
“Of course.” Darius muttered with a slight hiss, looking into the cab again.
“And this Lucious fellow...?”
“Her boyfriend.”
“Ah.”
Scott smiled weakly, before looking at Nicole.
“I see you two have grown close.” He spoke as if stating a fact.
Darius laughed weakly.
“So it would seem...”
“You won't be able to stay with her. You know that.”
Darius sighed, looking down at Nicole. After a moment, he wrapped an arm around her.
“I'm sure I can--”
“Darius...She's human. She'll keep aging. You won't...You'll outlive her easily.”
Darius frowned, and looked down at her.
“Yes. I know that.”
“Then why put yourself through it? It's not like you two have any attachments. Darius. You just met.”
“I know.”“Then why?”
“...I'm not sure. Theres something about her. I just can't place it.”
Scott smirked, but shook his head, and left the subject be.
They both lapsed into silence once more, before Darius leaned back and looked up.
They were not on the road that would take them straight to the mansion. They had been driving for 25 minutes.
Darius closed his eyes, and played with Nicole's hair.
Nicole nuzzled herself closer to him, her hand resting absently on Vincent's shoulder.
Scott watched them silently, before yawning loudly and turning his head to look up the road.
The truck came to a stop outside of the mansion.
They were home.

Getting Vincent into the house was simple.
They set him up in one of the guest rooms upstairs, and everyone took turns checking on him.
His body would force the bullets out in time. For now they have to make sure his condition stays stable.
Cassia sat in the chair beside the bed.
It was her turn.
Sighing softly, she crossed one leg over the other, and placed her hands in her lap.
She watched Vincent. He hadn't waken up yet, and it's been quite a few hours.
They told her the body would force the bullets out on it's own time.She wondered how much it would hurt him.
She sighed heavily.
“If I didn't go with you...” She whispered, looking down at her hands.
“You might be awake already, and this never would've happened...”
“But he would've killed you.” Vincent whispered.
At the sound of his voice, Cassia jumped a little, and her gaze shot to him.
“Vincent--”
“I'm alright.”
Cassia was on her feet next to his bed. She looked down at him, frowning.
“I'm sorry.”
Vincent smirked and slowly pushed himself up. The blanket slipped, and that was when Cassia realized he had no shirt.
She blushed.
Was he wearing anything else? She wouldn't know. She was downstairs when they took him upstairs.
Vincent quirked an eyebrow when he noticed her blush.
“It's alright—Why're you blushing?”
“I-I...err..”
“No, I'm not wearing anything.”
“Geh!” Cassia jumped back a little when he swung his legs off the side of the bed, taking some of the blanket with him to cover himself from the waist down.
Cassia blushed more, and looked away. Vincent grinned.
“Whats wrong, Cass? Ever seen a man naked?”
“Y-Yes. I mean...Well, Of course, but--”
“Your mumbling.” He whispered, the grin still on his lips.
“I-I...Your hurt. How're you feeling?”
“Great.” He said simply with a shrug, looking down at his body.
“Of course, these bruises are gonna kill me later--”
“Kill you?!” She cried in surprise.
“No No. Jesus. I meant hurt. You know The expression 'Kill me later'. Jeeze. Whats up with you? Changed all in one night, Huh?”
Cassia blinked. He was teasing her. That son of a bitch. She worries about him—and he teases her!
“You jerk.”
Vincent laughed, and stood up, making Cassia let out a small yelp and turn around.
“Your naked, Vincent!” She squeaked.
Vincent looked down at himself and grinned.
“So I am.”
“C-C-Cover yourself up!”
“But it's a pain.”
“Do it!” She said aloud, flustered.
Vincent grinned, and yanked the sheet off the bed, wrapping it around his waist. He walked up to her slowly, and came up behind her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, and nestling his face into her neck.
“Aw...Your blushing hard.”
“N-No I'm not.”
He smirked, and she knew that lie was weak.
“Whatever you say.” He whispered roughly as he moved away from her, and stretched.
“The bruises...Why are they going to hurt?” Cassia asked as she turned around finally, her gaze plastered to his face, forcing it there. No. She would not wander. She would not wander.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
She jumped, “What?”
Vincent grinned, “I know I'm irresistible.”
Cassia blinked, “Your full of yourself.”
“Ouch, and she takes a shot at the groin.”
“And those bruises.”
“Each bruise is where a bullet is. It's gonna hurt. Cause they're gonna come out.”
Cassia grimaced at the thought, and Vincent nodded.
“Yep.” He said, as if reading her thoughts.
Silence fell between them, and Cassia finally met his gaze.
“I'm sorry.” She whispered again.
“Hey.” He said simply with a shrug.
“I'm still alive. It's all good--” He was cut off when Cassia suddenly lunged herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly, and resting her head on his shoulder.
“I seriously thought your were dead.” She whispered.
Vincent hesitated, before slowly wrapping his arms around her, and lowering his own head, resting his cheek against hers.“Want me to be honest?” He whispered.
She nodded slowly, and Vincent closed his eyes tightly.

“So did I.”