Free Guardian: Volume 5 by Ella Price

 
    I
sat waiting trying to gather the courage to push the stake through my chest. I
knew once I did, it would all be over. Every bit of pain would be gone. I took
a breath as I closed my eyes. I was suddenly knocked backward. The stake was
ripped from my grasp. I cussed as I was pinned to ground. Aubrey glared down at
me.
    “What
the hell are you doing?” I yelled annoyed.
    “I
won’t let you do this,” he said firmly.
    I
tried to squirm out of his grasp, but his grip on my wrists was too tight. I
was weak from not feeding. “You said you would help me,” I growled when I
realized fighting him was useless.
    “I
changed my mind. I realized how stupid and pointless it was for you to kill
yourself,” he countered.
    “Get
off of me!” I snapped as I attempted to struggle again.
    He
reluctantly moved off me, and I got to my feet. I was still focused on glaring
at him. I had gathered my courage and was about to end it all, and he had to
ruin it. My gaze shifted to the stake lying on the ground not far from me.
    He
raised his eyebrows almost like he was daring me to go for it. He was about as
far as I was from it. I lunged for it. I grabbed it and rolled away from
Aubrey. I was surprised he wasn’t on my by the time I got to my feet. My body
suddenly froze, I couldn’t move. I knew immediately Cornelius was taking
control of me.
    “Seriously,”
I growled angrily. It was irritating me that Cornelius had control over me like
this. I couldn’t move so I couldn’t even turn to look at him. Not only that,
but Aubrey was standing in front of me doing nothing. Obviously they were
working together.
    Cornelius
reached around me and took the stake out of my hand. As soon as he had the
stake he released his hold on me. “This is not the answer Lillian,” he said
softly.
    “I
don’t want to live like this!” I shouted angrily as I moved so I could see both
Aubrey and Cornelius. Suddenly they were friends now that they wanted me to do
what they wanted. Cornelius and Aubrey obviously didn’t understand. They were
used to being vampires. They didn’t mind being killers; I did.
    “You
will get past this. You cannot just give up, we will not let you,” Aubrey said
softly.
    I
scoffed. “Now you two are friends? I don’t want either of you to help me. I
want to die. You can’t make me live like this!”
    Cornelius’s
expression darkened. “From now on you will do as I say. If I have to constantly
control you until you can control yourself then I will,” he growled matching my
tone.
    I
scowled as I turned to face him. I was sure he had given up, and let me go when
he didn’t come after me. I even broke the bond between us and he never showed
up to stop me. “Why are you stopping me now?” I asked angrily.
    He
scowled like he wasn’t interested in answering my questions. “I do not have to
explain myself. Now come, we are going home. You need to feed.” He held his
hand out to me.
    I
looked at his hand for a minute then I met his gaze. I was going to be
difficult. He wasn’t currently controlling me so I had a choice. I looked at
Aubrey trying to determine my odds of escaping them both. I knew my chances
were basically zero, but I didn’t want to just surrender. “I don’t want to,” I
said quietly as I turned back toward him, and looked up at him.
    “Lillian
please don’t make this a fight,” Aubrey pleaded. I was angrier at him, then I
was Cornelius. Aubrey agreed to let me die, and he went back on his word. He
even went and teamed up with Cornelius. Aubrey I could fight; Cornelius I
didn’t stand a chance against because of the control he had over me.
    “I
will make you do as I say. It is your choice,” Cornelius said smoothly. I knew
there would be no arguing with him. He was going to get his way even if he had
to make me do what he wanted.
    “It
is not my choice,” I snapped relenting. I took his hand, and he pulled me
against his chest. I glared at Aubrey one last time. He looked both relieved
and