♡ chapter 7 - Rose ♡

            Confusion floods over me as I tried to absorb Harry's new baffling information about a brother. They looked exactly alike aside from their eye color, but Harry didn't seem the slightest fond of his brother's presence. His hands were clenching and unclenching down by his sides, his jaw tightened I fear his teeth may crack. The tension in the air only inclines the awkwardness of this predicament.

            Jessie offered me a small smile, sticking his hand out to help me up. Harry turned to glare at him, one of the sternest glares I've seen on him yet. But Jessie just rolled his eyes and said, "Relax, brother. I'm just helping the girl up."

            I took his hand cautiously, surprised he could even touch me at all. Harry seemed to grow angrier as Jessie pulled me up, his chest rising and falling heavier the longer our skin stayed connected. Once I was on my feet, I tore my hand from his and rubbed my thighs nervously.

            "W-well, I'm Rose," I said.

            Jessie smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Rose. Sorry you got stuck with the little brother over here," he teased and nudged Harry.

            Harry rolled his eyes, folding his muscular arms across his chest. "What the hell are you doing here, Jessie?" he snapped.

            Jessie nodded as if he remembered the reason for magically appearing in the woods to save me before my death (miraculous, much?). "Right," he said, "they're heading this way, Harry."

            Harry darted his attention to Jessie full on, eyes full of aggression. "Who?"

            "Members of Marcus' group. That's why Ria here tried to attack Rose," Jessie explained. "I've been chasing them down the past hour or two, clueless as to where they were headed, but it makes since now."

            I frowned, my eyebrows pinching together as Harry's did the same. "Get to the fucking point," Harry grumbled.

            Jessie nodded, swallowing as he gave me an apologetic look. "I think Marcus is after Rose."

            "What?" Harry shouted, but I stood still, completely baffled at this proclamation. My world seemed to be spinning as I absorbed his words, trying to orient them in my mind. It didn't make since.

            Jessie continued, "Look, Marcus has always wanted you on his side, Harry. But his recent queen escaped and well... didn't make it." Jessie suddenly looked away.

            "Whoa, back up," I finally found my voice. "A queen? I'm confused."

            Harry sucked in a sharp breath while heaving a hand through his hair. "Marcus never likes to rule without a female companion by his side. Of course he doesn't treat them equally, so many of them try to run away and well... he fixes that by killing them, basically."

            "And I think he's coming for you, Rose," Jessie said the words Harry refused to say. "That's why Ria was going to get you."

            "I'm still confused," I commented in a quiet voice.

            Before anyone could say anything, what sounded like war chants came from the left side of the woods. Harry and Jessie both snapped their gaze in the direction of the hollering, but I didn't have the chance to look as an arrow flew straight towards me, flying into my thigh. I yelped, stumbling back against the tree I was just leaning on. Harry snapped his stare to me, his lips parting before his face shifted with aggression. All too quickly to process, about fifteen people ran into the clearing, weapons raised high in pride as they charged.

            "We need to get out of here," Jessie said quickly, fighting off someone who tried to sneak attack him from behind.

            I watched in amazement as Harry jutted his palm out towards a group of four, sending them each flying backwards into the large oaks trees before they slumped to the ground. Another tried to attack him from behind, but he elbowed them in the nose before whipping around and landing his fist right on their cheekbone. I swear I heard a crack from his powerful punch.

            My eyes went down to my thigh now leaking blood and that's when the panic settled in. Like the pathetic damsel in distress I was, tears flowed from my cheeks from the pain and nauseous as I stupidly covered the arrowhead with my hand, but I wasn't courageous enough to pull it out.

            "Harry, we need to go!" Jessie shouted again, fending off one more person with a strong kick of his leg before more people filed from the trees.

            Harry rushed over to me. "Shh, it's okay," he said quickly as he went to pick me up, but the burning from my bracelet caused him to halt his motion with blistering hands. "Fuck," he cursed under his breath.

            "I-I can't take the b-bracelet off and—"

            "No." Harry shook his head furiously. "I don't want to risk that, Rose."

            As if he could sense it, he spun around and literally shot a fireball from his hand into the person nearing to attack him. My eyes bulged, my lips parting in shock at the incredible power he was capable of, but I couldn't question it due to my stinging leg making me holler out once more.

            "I can carry her," Jessie said quickly as he walked over.

            Harry flashed him a daring glare. "No, I don't want you touching her. We—"

            "Harry, she's losing enough blood as it is!" Jessie shouted, cutting his brother off as he gave him a look.

            Harry contemplated many moments, swallowing before nodding slowly. Jessie let out a sigh as he carefully slipped an arm under my knees, then one around my back. I yelped when he lifted my legs, sobbing harder as I gripped his t-shirt, as if that would subside the pain.

            "Go, go, go!" Harry said quickly as the brothers began running from the chaotic people, me in Jessie's grip.

            The speed both of them obtained was phenomenal and I realized Harry had been hiding his when I was running with him, most likely so he wouldn't leave me in the dust. The chants behind us grew fainter and fainter the farther and quicker we went, until finally the cries of evil were no longer audible to us. But they kept running.

            Harry led Jessie to the cabin where they practically busted through the door. The only one here was John and he rushed into the room, actually curiosity etching his features. Everyone else must still be out hunting. I didn't have time to ponder if they ran into anyone like we did, because Harry was shouting orders.

            "Put her on the couch, Jessie. John, go get whatever fucking potions you can find. Now," he demanded furiously, yet frantic all the same.

            Jessie gingerly set me on the couch, causing me to wince as I gripped my thigh outside the arrow still jammed into my flesh. Harry came over to me, staring down at me shamefully as he realized there was nothing he could do. He wouldn't let me take off my bracelet, therefore there was no way of him helping me.

            "This might hurt some," Jessie told me softly before he quickly snatched out the arrow, almost like a Band-Aid.

            I screamed, breathing heavily as more tears pooled my eyes. Harry looked away, almost like he couldn't bear to watch, but Jessie worked frantically as he took off his jacket, wrapping it tightly around my oozing leg. My eyes were getting droopy from the blood loss, but the main overpowered the exhaustion quite easily.

             Sweat mixed in with my tears as John entered the room once more, a tray of bottles in his hands as he approached. Jessie skimmed the labels quickly before coming upon a pinkish one he seemed satisfied with. Harry checked Jessie's choice almost protectively, then nodded in approval.

            "Here," Jessie said softly as he handed me the small bottle. "This should help minimize the pain until the Healer arrives."

            I didn't have the strength to question this Healer person, so all I did was nod and shakily take the bottle in my bloody hands from my wound. The acidic taste made me scowl, but almost instantly it kicked it and felt as if my leg was numbed. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I leaned back on the pillow, my eyes fluttering closed.

            A knock sounded off in the distance, and Jessie's voice was hardly audible as he said quietly, "I'll get it."

            Cool fingers brushed my hair off my forehead before gently weaving through. Then Harry's lips were close to my ear as he whispered, "I'm so sorry, Rose."

            That's the last I remember before falling asleep.

***

            "Are you insane?" a deep voice growled as I stirred in my sleep, but too weak to open my eyes. "Harry, this girl doesn't deserve this!"

            "You think I don't fucking know that, Jessie?" another voice whisper-yelled. "But I didn't know it was going to get this far."

            An exasperated groan had left who I assumed to be Jessie's lips. "Harry, you need to tell her."

            "I fucking will, Jessie! I just... I need some time," Harry murmured and I could picture him tugging at the roots of his hair.

            My heart pounded in my chest at whatever secret Harry was holding from me. I peeled my eyes open slowly when silence had filled the room, trying to make it seem as if I was just waking up, clueless to their previous hushed spat before me. As if Harry could sense me waking up, his head snapped over in my direction, his clenched jaw loosening as his features softened. I wanted to be comforted by that little change of emotion, but the previous conversation was still evident in my mind.

            I couldn't trust Harry.

            And even though I wanted to, I'd have to resist it. I can't let him fool me into something I may regret, whatever that may be.

            "Hey," he said softly, sitting down on the chair that was placed in front of me. "How are you feeling?"

            I groaned as I tried to sit up, Harry frowning at me as I did so. "Still tired," I murmured, not being able to meet his gaze.

            Jessie leaned against the doorway, his arms folded over his chest as he gave me a genuine smile. "The Healer said the only thing you'll have left is a nasty scar. She said you got lucky because the arrow didn't hit too deep."

            All I could do was nod.

            Harry was boring holes into the side of my head staring at me, and if I hadn't been so close, I wouldn't have heard him whisper, "Something's wrong."

            I resisted the urge to look over at him, fumbling with my hands in my lap. Harry looked over to Jessie, and it must be the brotherly connection of some sort because Jessie gave a curt nod before exiting the room and closing the door behind him. That's when I realized I wasn't on the couch anymore, but on the bed Harry and I were sleeping in. Jessie must've moved me for the Healer.

            "What's wrong, Rose?" Harry asked me, his eyebrows furrowed thoughtfully as he scanned my face.

            I merely shrugged, swallowing the lump in my throat as I continued to look straight ahead at the wall, and not at him.

            Harry let out a frustrated sigh as he ruffled his hair. "You overheard us talking, didn't you? Is that the problem?"

            This time I did look at him, surprised at how well he could read my expressions. I didn't know if it was one of his abilities, or if I was really that legible. Whatever the reason, I ignored it and gave out a little huff, leaning against the headboard. "I was actually starting to trust you, you know?" I murmured.

            As if I slapped him, Harry's lips parted as he stared at me, completely baffled. It didn't take long before he was shaking his head, standing from the chair. "Don't trust me, Rose. Don't trust anyone, but especially not me."

            "Why?" I challenged, feeling a bit of confidence sprouting inside me. "You haven't killed me yet, so why shouldn't I trust you?"

            Harry narrowed his eyes at me. "That's what gets you killed, Rose. Trusting people is basically telling them they can do whatever they want to manipulate you. Whether it's discretely planning something behind their back, or stabbing them straight on. You can't trust anyone without something negative in return."

            I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief as I heaved a hand through my hair. "You're so exhausting, Harry. I can't keep up with you."

            "You're not supposed to," Harry muttered through gritted teeth. "I'm not here to please you, Rose. I'm here for revenge."

      With that, he turned and exited the room, slamming the door behind him.

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A/N: Whoo, a bit of action for you all ^.^ And what do you think Harry's secret is, hmm? Please leave feedback you guys <3 Love you all xx

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