The Angel and Her Protector

Chapter 20

     "Now it's my turn to speak," Carter spoke. Angeline turned to look at Alex, so many emotions written all over her face. She wanted to be next to him, she could tell he was in so much pain but she didn't want to risk putting him in more danger. She wasn't sure what Carter was going to say or even do to them.

    Carter knew what Angeline wanted, but that could wait. He took a deep breath before he began, "Derek wasn't always a mess. He was actually a good kid. I suppose Mara is to blame for his behavior over the last 10 years."

    Carter looked between Angeline and Alex, he wanted to tell them everything but he wasn't sure they would believe him. Carter didn't have ill feelings toward Angeline, he knew that she was protecting herself. Derek had lost touch with reality a long time ago, and was getting more and more out of control. He had been trying for years to get Derek the help he needed. But Derek refused and even started to become hostile towards him. Carter never planned on things getting this bad.

    "I have known Derek all his life. He always had a special place in my heart. I have never harmed him, have never once touched him. I know what you might be thinking. I am not some pedophile, and neither is Derek," Carter looked out the window as he spoke. 

    Angeline looked at Alex, both confused at what Carter was saying. Angeline wanted him to continue, there was so many questions that needed answered. 

    Carter turned around and looked at them, he nodded his head, knowing what they wanted to ask, "Derek had his issues, this wasn't a secret. Mara however, has many skeletons in her closet." Carter took a few breaths before he continued, "To simply say she has a wild imagination would be putting it lightly. Mara has delusions of things that never happened. She would tell you that Derek was in love with her, and that they had a 'special relationship' and they were going to live happily ever after together. Along with you Angeline."

    "Are you saying that Mara lied about being in a relationship with her brother?" Alex managed to ask. He sat on the floor clutching to his side, the stitches were helping but not enough. No one was aware of how bad his condition was, and if help didn't come soon, he would be in serious trouble.

   Carter glanced at Alex before he spoke, "Mara is lying about many things. That relationship never happened."

   "YES IT DID!!! I loved Derek and he loved me!" Mara stormed into the room and charged right at Carter. He was trying to get her under control, Angeline took this opportunity to get to Alex. She touched his face and noticed he was burning up. She needed to get him out of there.

SLAM

   Angeline turned and saw Carter had Mara pinned to the wall. Mara was thrashing out, trying to break free from Carter's grip. "I loved him! You loved him! We all could've been happy together!" Mara screamed out. 

    "I loved Derek as a son, I wasn't in love with him. And he wasn't in love with you. You need help Mara, you are the reason why Derek is dead!" Mara broke down crying, Angeline was stunned. She didn't understand what was going on.

    "You got into Derek's head and made him think things that weren't true. Derek could've lived a normal life, he could've been happy. You made him think he needed Angeline, that she would be his everything," the anger slipped out with every word that Carter said. Mara didn't want her secret out, she tried to get out of Carter's grip. 

   Carter turned Mara away from the wall, she now faced Angeline, "Tell her! Tell her what you did!" Mara would never let that secret slip out. Carter continued to urge her to tell the truth, "If you don't then I will! I will tell her how you are the one that is in love with her. That you manipulated your own brother into thinking that they should be together." 

   "Noooo! That's not true! He loved her, and he loved me! We were going to be together and then she went and killed him. She killed our dream," Mara spat out at Angeline. 

   Things were finally making sense to Angeline, Mara wanted something to be true so much that she did whatever she could to make it happen. She used her brother to get her way. She brainwashed him into thinking there was something between Angeline and himself. 

    "I'm sorry Mara," was all Angeline said. She looked right into Mara's eyes, hoping that she would calm down enough to explain what was going on in her head. Carter felt her relax in his arms, his hold on her loosened. "I am so sorry for ruining the plans for us. I was scared, I didn't know what to do," Angeline was trying her best to keep Mara's focus on her. 

    Angeline stood and slowly made her way towards Mara, never breaking eye contact. Mara lowered her head and began crying, "I just wanted us to be happy together." Mara's voice just above a whisper, "When Derek told me about you, after the first time you met, I knew. I knew you were the one. You would bring us together. I tried to not show to much interest or else Derek would realize my plan. I knew if I wasn't careful he would eventually lose interest and I just couldn't let that happen. You are my angel, and I couldn't let you fly away." 

   The room was quiet after Mara's confession. She let her brother believe in something that wasn't real, she caused so much trouble for him. Angeline was trying to keep calm, she wanted to grab Mara and slam her into the wall. Mara not only ruined her brother's life but she ruined Angeline's. She caused the death of her brother and her cousin. 

   Before Angeline could think about what she was doing, she had Mara knocked down to the ground. She was laying on top of her, hands tightened around Mara's throat. She thought everything would get better with Derek gone. She was wrong, Mara was the real mastermind behind this all. 

    Mara was close to losing consciousness, then she felt the weight of Angeline being lifted off of her body. She glanced up and saw Carter holding Angeline. Mara saw the anger in her eyes, for once she didn't know how to fix the situation. She had always been good at turning things around, but this time she didn't think she could do that. She felt defeated.

    Carter still holding on to Angeline, he knew she would kill Mara and he just couldn't let that happen. 

    At least not yet anyway.