Chapter 48

It's been a week since we killed Kyro, and Hell and I are walking through the bustling carnival, playing games, and spending the night together with everyone. With his arm around my shoulders, I slip my hand into his and tilt my head back. He glances down at me as I smile widely, and he grins ever so slightly before bringing his mouth to mine. "It's good to see you smiling, my pretty girl," he murmurs, his voice a low rumble.

He gives me a firm kiss and as we part, I lift my head, looking forward at the bustling crowd as we walk through, everyone moving out of our way. The vibrant lights and sounds of the carnival surround us, creating a surreal atmosphere that sets my soul alive.

Suddenly, I notice someone in the far distance, and I come to an abrupt stop, causing Hell to do the same. My wide eyes stay fixed on her, her back to me and I take in her dark hair cascading down her back. I feel Hell's hand slip under my blonde locks, gently grabbing the nape of my neck.

He lowers his mouth to my ear as he dips down from behind. "You're not as insane as I thought you were, Dolly," he whispers.

My eyes water, my pulse pounding, and when she turns around to face me fully, my breath hitches. Her blue eyes find mine instantly, and the world seems to stop.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing, Hell?" I ask, my voice trembling, wondering if I am losing my sanity again.

"I do," he finally answers. "I found her in one of his properties in another city." He turns his head, gazing at my side-profile. "Arabella isn't a figure of your imagination after all. I shouldn't have fucking doubted you."

A sob escapes my lips, and he releases me as I rush forward, eager to get to her. I become frantic, pushing people out of my way, and as soon as I am close enough, I crash into her, wrapping my arms around her neck. She hugs me back just as tightly as I weep. I stroke the back of her soft black hair, my voice breaking. "I'm so sorry, Ara," I whisper.

She pulls back, cupping my cheeks, her icy eyes searching mine, a reflection of my own. "Don't apologize. You've done nothing wrong."

I take in every feature of her face now that she is close, noticing how much she looks like me in certain ways. I place my hand on her cheek, my fingers trembling.

"What the fuck happened?" I sniffle, my voice choked with emotion.

Arabella's eyes soften, and she takes a deep breath. "It's a long story, but I'm here now. We're together, and that's all that matters."

I nod, tears falling down my cheeks. "I thought I lost you forever. I even started to think you weren't real and I was imagining things."

She smiles softly before wrapping her arm around my shoulders, guiding me to a bench nearby. I throw a glance at Hell, who is standing beside Soul and Wrath in the distance, and he gives me a wink before looking away.

When we sit down, we face one another. "When we fled, we split, but I was caught and taken somewhere else," she explains, and my eyes close, guilt gnawing at me.

"Don't worry, Harley." She assures me.

"I shouldn't have left you." I lower my head.

"Why? You deserved freedom. I had to listen every fucking day for a year to what those monsters were doing to you. I hated it and was determined to get you out of there."

"Did he hurt you?" I ask softly.

She shrugs her shoulders before lowering her eyes. "Nothing he wouldn't usually do. He roughed me up a bit, but it wasn't like what he was doing to you."

I give a small nod in response. "Did he ever…"

She shakes her head. "No. I don't understand why I was there, in all honesty. Maybe to give you some false hope? He was fucked in the head."

I inhale deeply. "Well, he's dead now."

She smiles gently before looking over at Hell in the distance, who is watching us both. "I know, your boyfriend told me."

"He's so much more than a boyfriend, he's my fucking everything" I admit in a daze as mine and Hell's gazes stay locked.

"It's good to see you so happy, Harley."

I break eye contact with Hell and look at her. "Why didn't I ever know about you? I didn't really know my dad before he died, but my mom never mentioned you."

"I was placed in foster care the moment I was born. Kyro found me living in a shelter when I was twenty-one and took me," she explains.

My brows pinch. "You're younger than me?"

"Don't you remember we had this conversation through the wall? I'm only eleven months younger," she says with her head tilted to the side.

I shake my head slowly. "I don't remember much in the last two years of me being there. Everything was becoming a blur."

She nods in understanding, and I ask her something that I have always wanted to know. "Who killed Kai?"

Her eyes fix on mine as she answers truthfully. "After I freed my chain, I came for you. I got you out of there, but you were extremely weak. He caught us trying to sneak out and he hit me. That's when you…" She trails off before continuing. " But I suppose we both went a bit too far with the mutilation."

I take a sharp breath, knowing my sister is somehow as messed up in the head as I am, and we have a lot to catch up on. She suddenly stands, and on instinct, I stand too, grabbing her wrist. She glances down at it before her gaze reaches mine.

"Please don't go," I plead, my voice desperate. "I can't lose you again. Stay here, with us."

She looks around the carnival. "Here?"

"I mean, it's a pretty fucked-up place once you live here, and it may not be normal to the outside world, but it's actually very comforting. The people here stick together and look after one another."

She swallows hard, appearing reluctant, but I continue to tempt her. "Even if it's just for a while, until I find you somewhere to settle if that's what you choose to do. I can't let my little sister go and live how she has her entire life again, can I? I now have responsibilities, and we're family. Actually, you're the only family I have left."

I raise a brow, and she grins. "Okay," she accepts quietly, and I feel my shoulders relax.

I link my arm around hers. "Let me introduce you to some people."

When we're standing by The Hollow's, who are playing a game at one of the amusement booths, they pause, looking back at us.

"This is my little sister, Arabella," I announce to Soul and Wrath.

Soul raises his chin to her in acknowledgment before continuing to play his game, but I notice her and Wrath locked in a silent staring battle, something dark and sinister sparking between them. My eyes flash to Hell, and he grins, sensing what I sense. Fuck