MAGIC|18+

Chapter 31

Charlotte's POV

My face feels like a beetroot as I stare at her in shock, "Lizzy",  my smile overtakes my features as I step closer to her. We wrap our arms around each other immediately, I feel the tight knot in my chest begin to soften, the relief flooding my body. Sixteen years old my subconscious tells me.

We release each other from the tight hold and I cup her cheek, "It's so good to see you", I tell her with my smile holding it's form. 

We sit at the island counter and I peer over to Magic standing at the doorway, "I'll leave you women alone, just let me know if you need anything", He steps over to me planting a kiss on my forehead. I watch as he leaves the kitchen along with everyone else, now we're completely alone. 

"I can't believe I'm sitting here, in front of you...", she looks down to her hands, a slight tremble in them, "Safe", she lets out a puff of air like she's in disbelief, her soft eyes meet mine. 

I reach over placing my hand on her trembling ones, "Are you hungry? Thirsty?", I ask as I take in her thin frame. I can tell by the bruises on her wrists, the slight bruising on her shoulder that she had such a terrible time, and I'm thankful that Magic got her out. Surely if he did those things the police said then he wouldn't have saved Lizzy. I should trust him more, but it's hard.

"Yes to both", she lets out an exhausted laugh. 

I stand from the stool and head to the refrigerator, "Water, Orange, Mango, Apple, Milk?", I peer back to her, she tucks her strawberry blonde hair behind her ear and smiles.

"Apple, please", her polite English accent replies. 

"Okay", I pull out the carton of Apple juice and head to the cupboard where the glasses are, I use my tiptoes to reach up and retrieve a glass. I hand her the glass after pouring a generous amount in and she smiles with a small thank you before taking three large gulps. "Okay so, name any food you would like and I'll make it and if I need help I'll ask Isabelle", I laugh. I can cook but I'm not that good. 

"Uhmm", she hums, "Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent"

"Spaghetti Bolognese? my mum use to make it every Friday, she would put grated cheese on the plate first before anything else, so you'd have melted cheese at the bottom", she laughs at the memory but the laugh disappears along with her smile. 

"Lucky I know how to do that", I smile and begin to take out the ingredients. Magic always has his cupboard and refrigerator fully stocked all the time and I'm really glad in this moment.  

"Magic seems nice", Lizzy says. 

I peer back at her as I fill the pot with water, "Yeah he is", I say. 

"Is he always nice?", she curiously says. 

"Uhm...", I take a moment to think, he can be nice but he hasn't physically done anything to me except throw me behind a cell for a week. Knowing the reason why she wants to know is heart breaking, I decide to answer honestly, "Yeah but he has his moody days like everyone, he isn't like the others, you're safe here"

She gulps, "Will he let me go home...to my mum?"

My head whips towards her, "Of course, you're not trapped here Lizzy. Once he knows it's safe he'll take you home", I hoped. 

She nods with reassurance, "But you're still here", she says quietly, "Are you trapped?"

"It's not safe for me yet but it looks like it's becoming safe"

"He kissed you on the forehead, was it friendly or?"

"Magic and I are... complicated, we aren't together...well, I don't think we are", I say slightly confused by my words. I don't know what we are, we just kissed but we haven't addressed anything and not to mention I was terrified of him like fifteen minutes ago, I don't know what to believe.