~YULIA
I could feel how loud my heart was hammering against my chest as I stepped into Lana’s house.
I did not rush in but walked cautiously and as quietly as I could. I hoped that Lana was alright and she had not been hurt too much.
The living room was empty as I passed through it. “I am here, alone like I promised,” I called out.
I heard a faint whimper. Lana’s whimper of pain. It came from the open kitchen that also housed the dining.
My heart skipped a beat and I raced toward the sound. That was when I saw poor Lana still tied to a wooden chair.
The sight I saw broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Whoever did this to her was a monster and I wanted to make them pay.
It brought tears to my eyes instantly.
Her nose was leaking with blood and I could clearly see that three of her fingers were broken. The middle finger and index finger of her right hand as well as her left hand had only a broken pinky.
Her eyes were filled with tears and pain. And it further broke my already shattered heart. My body started trembling with anger and pain and guilt.
They did this to her because they wanted to get to me.
Lana’s mouth was covered in a thick black tape. The bastard tortured her.
I felt movement from my left side and I froze. He was dressed in all black; a beanie covered his head. His hands were gloved. He looked like a typical burglar- except for his eyes. They were cold and devoid of any emotion.
“I am here…” I breathed heavily as I gritted my teeth and hoped the ceiling would cave in on him.
“I am a bit disappointed you came…” His voice had mockery in them. “I was looking forward to listening to the screams and pleas of your friend’s life. But that’s alright. You are here now, that is all that matters.”
“I did what you wanted, now you will let her go,” I stated firmly even if my finger had gone cold with fear.
“I make the rules, Yulia.” His tone was cold and I hated the way my name rolled off his lips.
“Who are you and what do you want from me?” I demanded.
“We will get to that,” He replied and threw a black plastic Zip tie handcuff at my feet.
I looked down at the plastic object before looking back up at him in confusion.
“You know what to do with that,” He said.
He wanted me to tie my wrists together. I looked at Lana.
“You said you will let her go,” I repeated.
“No, I said I would not kill her but I see that I will have to change my mind with how uncooperative you are.” His tone had grown more menacing.
“What do you want with me?” I asked again.
He rolled his eyes, as if he was annoyed. He brought out a dangerously designed knife and pressed the sharp gleaming edge to Lana’s throat.
The poor girl whimpered in response.
“Pick up the ziplock and secure your wrist, shut the fuck up or I will slowly slit her throat and we will both watch her choke to death with her blood,” He threatened and I could tell that he was serious. He nicked Lana lightly in the neck and she flinched.
The moment I saw blood ooze out, I bent over immediately to pick up the plastic cuff.
“Good girl,” He said and I shivered in disgust.
“Use your teeth to pull it tight in place,” He instructed and I could hear the sick and twisted excitement in his voice. His eyes glinted with a madness that could not be taken lightly.
“I was told not to hurt you because your blood is special, so on our way, I will have some fun with your friend here instead. You can watch. Who knows, you might even enjoy it,” he announced.
My eyes went wide with shock at his revelation. So he was not working alone. I used my teeth to pull the ziplock tight.
“See? That was not so hard.”
“Now what?” I asked.
He took the knife away from Lana’s throat. He seemed more relaxed now that my wrists were bound.
He walked towards me and it took all the will in my body not to step back.
“I need you to be brave,” Issa’s voice echoed in my head.
This brought me an assurance that Lana and I would get out of here. I was not alone. So I took a step forward to meet the man. He raised his eyebrows in a dark humorous way
“Well, someone is eager,” He whispered.
Before I could reply, the lights went off putting everyone in total darkness. A loud crash followed and I heard glass shatter loudly. My wolf sight illuminated the room so I could see clearly.
Everything was happening so fast yet so slow. The man had momentarily shaken when the lights went out and that was all the time Issa needed.
Lana’s back was to the sink and dishwasher. That was also where the window was. Issa had struck when the man had moved a few feet away from Lana.
Issa had jumped through the window, breaking the glass with his massive powerful frame. His face was a dark mask of fury. Death and rage filled his blood-red eyes. His teeth were canine and dripped with a primal hunger. The window did not stop his momentum as he crashed hard into the man’s back.
I moved with nothing but pure instincts out of the way as the man fell forward and landed hard on his face, his knife clattering away from his hand.
The light came back on as if on cue. I ran to Issa’s side as the man got up and swayed lightly before regaining his composure.
I could hear the low growl coming from Issa but this was not Issa, this was someone else… something else.
Iran.
Issa pushed me gently to Lana’s side. I picked up a kitchen knife and cut the plastic ziplock on my wrists then I turned to Lana and began to cut her loose.
Issa or whatever he was stood rooted to the spot watching the man with a hungry look as he recovered.
“It’s okay, Lana, you are safe now,” I said as I removed the duct tape from her trembling lips and wiped away her tears.
The man watched Issa’s face with fear but he tried to remain nonchalant.
“I don’t remember inviting you to the party,” The man said but I could hear the tremor of fear in his voice.
Issa did nothing but watch the man with red wild eyes. He produced the man’s knife and threw it to his feet
“Pick it up!”
An ugly, terrifying, and menacing growl escaped from Issa’s throat and I knew that Iran was fully in control.