Chapter 4 | Red Eyes

SIENNA

I thought we were leaving. I really did. Dax had his hand on the car door, and I was already inside, my fingers still shaking from everything that had happened. My mind was too full, too loud.

That dead Wolf. Blood…. And Cassian. His eyes wouldn’t leave me. Even when I tried not to look, I could still feel him. Like he was still there. Watching.

“Dax…” I whispered, pulling my shawl tighter around myself. “Can we just go?” He didn’t answer immediately. That made my stomach tighten. Something was wrong. I leaned slightly forward. “Dax?”

And that’s when I saw it, through the window. Cassian. Standing right in front of the car, more like blocking it. Like he had decided we weren’t leaving. My breath caught instantly. “No…” I whispered.

Dax opened the car door slowly and stepped out. “Stay here,” he said firmly without looking back at me. My heart dropped. “What? No- Dax, don’t-” But he already closed the door. And walked straight toward him.

I pressed my hands against the window and panic was rising again. “Please…” I whispered to myself. “Please don’t fight…” Cassian didn’t move. He just stood there. His eyes on Dax as he watched him approach. The air between them felt heavy.

Dangerous. Even from inside the car, I could feel it. Like the world itself was holding its breath. Dax stopped a few steps away from him and I immediately turned the window down. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Dax’s voice came sharp.

Cassian didn’t answer immediately. His eyes flicked once toward the car. Right towards me. My chest tightened. Then he looked back at Dax. “She leaves,” Cassian said coldly. My breath stopped. What? Dax’s jaw tightened. “You don’t get to decide that.”

“She shouldn’t be here,” Cassian repeated, his voice lower now. “Send her back.” I flinched.

Send me back? Why? What did I do? I was here for my brother’s freaking wedding so why was he making such an issue! Dax took a step closer. “She’s my sister,” he said firmly. “And she is going home. With me.”

Cassian’s eyes darkened. “She’s not safe here.” That made me freeze. Not safe? What did that even mean? Dax let out a sharp breath. “You think I don’t know that? But I’m not listening to you.”

Cassian’s expression tightened. For a second… I saw something flicker in his face. Frustration or maybe, it was something worse. “You’re bringing her into danger,” Cassian said.

Dax laughed once, humorless. “Funny coming from you.” My hands slowly lowered from the window as I watched them. What was happening? Why were they arguing over me like I wasn’t even here? Why were they even fighting- they were best friends-

Cassian took a slow step forward. “I’m not asking,” he said. Daxtor didn’t move. Neither did Cassian. They were staring at each other like one wrong word would break everything. Then Dax spoke again. “She’s going home. That’s final.”

Cassian’s jaw clenched hard. “And if I stop you?” My breath hitched. What…? Why was he going to stop me- Dax’s eyes darkened. “Try it,” he said quietly.

The air shifted instantly. I felt it. Like something invisible snapped. I pressed my back against the seat, fear crawling up my spine again. “No…” I whispered. “Stop… please stop…” But neither of them heard me. Or maybe they did. And didn’t care.

Cassian’s eyes flickered again. That same strange red glow I saw before. Just for a second and then- they were gone. “You don’t understand what she is,” Cassian said slowly.

Daxtor froze a little. So did I. What did he mean- What… I am? My breath caught painfully. Dax’s voice dropped. “Don’t talk about my sister like that. You’re my fucking best friend. We have already discussed- ” Cassian didn’t look away as Daxtor sighed. 

“I’m telling you to send her home,” he said again. “Now.”  Dax stepped closer. “You don’t order me.” Cassian finally moved. Just slightly. But enough for me to feel it.

The danger.

“I’m warning you,” Cassian said. Dax’s voice turned colder. “From what?” Cassian didn’t answer. And that silence- It scared me more than anything else.

Because he didn’t know how to explain it. Or didn’t want to. Dax turned slightly toward the car. “Get in,” he said firmly.

I didn’t hesitate this time. I quickly nodded, hands shaking as I pulled the door shut completely. But my eyes stayed on them. Cassian didn’t move, neither did Dax. They were like two forces refusing to break.

“I am giving you fucking last warning,” Dax said. Cassian’s voice dropped even lower. “She’s not just your sister.” That sentence made my stomach twist violently. What did that mean? Not just sister- 

Dax frowned slightly and walked back to the car before driving off, Just like that. The argument ended. My heart was still racing.“Everything okay?” I asked quickly. He didn’t look at me immediately. Then he nodded. “Yes.”

That was a lie. I could feel it. But I didn’t push. Because I was too scared to know the truth. The car started moving again. Leaving Cassian behind but I couldn’t stop looking through the window. He was still standing there.

The ride home was silent. Way Too silent. I kept glancing at Dax, but he stayed focused on the road, jaw tight, hands gripping the wheel harder than normal.

Something was wrong. Very wrong. But every time I tried to speak- I stopped myself. Because I didn’t want to hear answers I wasn’t ready for. Not yet. Eventually, exhaustion hit me. My mind was throbbing in pain because of everything that had happened.

Everything blurred. The fear, confusion and those ….. red eyes. It all mixed together until I couldn’t hold my eyes open anymore. And I fell asleep.

---

I don’t know how long I slept. But when I woke up- Something felt off. I opened my eyes slowly and realized …. I was in a familiar room. My room. It was supposed to feel safe but- something was wrong.

The air felt… heavier. Colder. I sat up slightly. “Dax?” I called softly. But there was no answer. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I frowned, rubbing my eyes. Maybe I was imagining it. Just stress. Just everything from what happened today.

I swung my legs off the bed slowly. And that’s when I felt it. The air shifted. Like something had just stepped inside the room. My breath slowed. “…who’s it?” I whispered.

Silence.

Suddenly, I heard a quick sound but it was so faint that I almost missed it. Like a breath. I felt it …. Behind me. My body froze instantly.

No.

No no no.

My heart pounded badly in my chest and my body trembled. My hands started to sweat as I curled them into a fist. Slowly… I turned my head. Empty. There was nothing there. Just darkness in my room.

I let out a shaky breath. “Get a grip, Sienna…” I whispered to myself. I must be hallucinating and this was all exhaustion that was making me lose my mind but then- my eyes fell …. In the mirror I saw it. 

Red.

Two glowing red eyes.

My heart stopped and my entire body went cold. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t even scream. Because I knew-  Even before I turned-  He was there. 

Cassian. 

And this time… my brother wasn’t here to save me from the monster I was running from.