Fantasy Land

Chapter 27

Repercussions

Gabie

It takes not long to make our way back to Damon's castle. The cars we take are incredibly fast, navigating the winding roads much better than we did at the start of this adventure. Lest and I sit on either side of Damon in the back seat of one of the many cars, Jayna chatting away with Willow in another car behind us. I sleep most of the ride, finally able to rest now that we're back with Damon. I never want to feel that separation ever again.

Damon refuses to let Lest or I stray far from him even once we get back to the castle. The place looks perfect, as if there wasn't an all-out war here days ago. I notice the way Jayna looks devastated upon walking into the foyer of the castle, the way her fingers run along the bracelet from Callum.

"It's best to go get changed and take a long bath." I tell my friend as I hug her close to me. "There will be time to morn him later." I whisper for only her ears to hear. I give her a reassuring smile before allowing Damon to lead Lest and I away. He takes us to his room which looks like an absolute mess.

"Did a tornado come through here?" Lest teases, cheeky smile on his face. It quickly falls when he gets no response from Damon, and he turns to see the look on his face. He looks so sad, heartbroken. It breaks my heart to see him look so depressed.

"I was so scared." He says so softly I almost miss it.

"Oh Damon." I say, hands coming to cover my mouth. I walk towards him, wrapping my arms securely around him. His body starts to shake, and I hear a soft cry leave his mouth. He holds me tight, so tight I worry if my spine will still be aligned the way it's supposed to be.

"I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat. And my pack suffered the entire time because I couldn't protect you both." He weeps into my chest as I hold him tight, running my fingers through his hair and rubbing soothing circles into his scalp. Slowly, he starts to calm down and take deep breaths.

"We're here Damon, we're safe thanks to you." I cup his cheeks and force him to look at me. "I promise you; we will never leave you again." I press a gentle kiss to his lips to seal that promise. I didn't plan to ever leave him again.

I get into the shower first, cleansing my body of the disgusting horror from that cell. Of the blood that still sticks to my skin in heavy layers. My eyes fall to my wrists were there are markings that are just starting to scar. Lest doesn't even know about them. In the dead of night when the others were sleeping Lest's father would come for me. He'd take me from the cell and torment me. He'd always return me before Lest would wake, the only marks left on my body were from the torture Lest and I would sustain together. At least, the ones not covered by my dress.

I get out of the shower, drying off and getting dressed in my comfortable sweatpants and one of Lest's shirts. When I walk out of the bathroom the room is back in order, sheets, and blankets on the bed instead of the floor. I also notice that Damon and Lest are both showered. They must have used the bathhouse or a different shower. I walk over to them, wrapping my arms around my waist. Damon takes a deep breath and that's when my secrets out.

"Gabriella," Damon starts with barely contained anger, "why do you smell like Gregory?" I bite my lip, trying to figure out how to tell him, tell them both what they'd done to me in the cursed place.

"I." I choke on the one word, tears clogging my throat. Lest steps towards me, reaching for my arms but I flinch away from his touch. Lest looks shocked and sad from the unintentional action, face solidifying in anger. He grabs my arm, wrenching it out for him to see. He looks at the cuts across my wrists, the rope burns in my biceps, the cuff marks we share around my wrist.