Predator

Part Nineteen✔️

Grey was frozen, staring at Alexei who watched her with those lifeless eyes. She didn't know how to react, she was conflicted with wanting to hug Alexei and tell him she's sorry or run away. After a few moments of watching her, Alexei backed away and she frowned at him.

"I see the pity in your eyes." He almost snarled. "I don't need it."

"Ale-"

"No. I don't need your condolences or any form of sympathy from you or anyone. I am not weak."

With that his back is turned to her and he begins to leave the room, but not without one final demand:

"I've told you before this hall is forbidden. Do not let me catch you in here again."

Alexei was down the stairs and moving away from her tantalizing scent as quick as he could go. He couldn't handle it, that look she was giving him. He didn't want to feel the pain of losing his parents again; he didn't want to be weak. He was taught at a young age that weakness is even the most powerful man's downfall. He wanted to lose himself, his thoughts, his feelings to the familiar haze that only vodka could bring to him, and after he'd drank the cabinets dry, he'd let the beast out on the world.

Upon entering the kitchen, he found Maksim perched atop a bar stool with a glass of dark liquid; whiskey, his favorite. It was the brothers' tradition each year on the day of their mother's death to drink up all the liquor in the cabinet until the sky was dark and become the beasts they are to roam the night. Alexei had just missed part of the beginning.

With a bottle of vodka in his fingers, he sat beside his older brother and clicked the bottle to the glass before tossing it back and taking big gulps.

"Why are you not with her?" Maksim's eyes never left his drink.

"This is our time - tradition, brother."

"Not for long." The glass was emptied between Maksim's lips and he looked to his little brother. "She will become your new tradition and I'll be left here to drink myself to death."

"I won't abandon you; I owe you everything."

Maksim's voice grows quiet as he pours himself another glass. "I would've given up everything for Emilie."

"You loved her."

"And you'll soon learn to love Grey like I loved her." Maksim held up his glass. "Cheers brother. May mother's legacy never die."

As the brothers downed their drinks, Grey entered the kitchen and both their eyes were drawn to her. She stood there and stared at them, eyebrows knotted together in thought as she bit her bottom lip. The younger brother was restless at the sight of her so he stood sharply and was out of the home in an instant with a low growl.

Grey stared after him for a minute before turning to Maksim who had a brow perked up as he looked at her. "It's quite late, you should rest."

Maksim snorted. "Don't act like you care about our wellbeing, Grey. Our deaths would be the happiest moment of your life."

"I wouldn't wish that upon you. . . or even the beast."

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" He retorted and she shrugged. "After I finish the bottle I'll be stumbling to bed."

"What about Alexei?"

"He doesn't sleep much," he said. "Never has."

"Why?" Grey looked back where the beast had disappeared awhile ago as if he'd come storming back for her using his name.