Cherry Ann

Chapter 8.3 Pain

The next two days I didn't see Tack unless we were being watched. Tack didn't smile he didn't even look at me. He would just drink from my neck let me drink from his, then turn his back on me. My heart was breaking.



"Serena can I talk to you?" I asked as I walked into my parents' kitchen. She was making dinner so I started to help.



"I know things are tough right now Cherry, but Tack loves you so much, he is doing whatever he feels is best for your safety. Even if it hurts you both."



"I don't know if I can handle much more of this." I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes but I refused to let them fall I was going to be strong.



"Your parents will be home in a couple days things will be better soon. You'll see." We didn't say anything for a few minutes. "Tomorrow is the art show isn't it?"



"Yes I don't think I want to go." I didn't want to be next to Tack with him not even looking at me. He hadn't been to class the past few days.



"I think you should, you need to focus on things that are good. Your Art is good."



"No it's not, it's depressing, it's about a girl whose heart is broken. It's too real." I realized how true what I had just said, was.The girl was me and she was broken. "I have visions through paintings I see people who are coming I painted Dhampir and drew him several times before I knew who he was. I have been drawing a picture of a little girl I don't know who she is yet but we think she is my daughter. Jessica's vision was of her we believe. I'm scared and Tack is treating me like I was an annoying problem he has to deal with, it's breaking my heart."

I couldn't stop the tears. 

Serena pulled me into her arms and hugged me till I stopped crying. "Have you tried to tell Tack how you are feeling?”



"No he won't even look at me, I don't think he will listen."



"No, don't think that, he will listen, even if you don't think he is. Tell him anyway. He needs to hear it from you. Only you can break down the wall he had built to protect you. You just need to ask yourself if it is worth the danger right now. Tack is trying to protect you from the Killers and his self-control. If anything happened to you it would kill him."



"I know it's hard for him too, you're right. I have only been thinking of myself, and how much he is hurting me. But I guess I am hurting him too. I should be stronger and show him I can handle this."

Serena smiled. "It is not about strength Cherry, it’s about love and sacrificing things to keep you both safe."



I wiped my tears as I heard Henry and Jock walk into the kitchen. I ate dinner slowly I didn't even notice Jock was talking, until Henry taped my arm. 

"Cherry?" He said making me jump.



"What! Sorry."



"Jock said that the Killers are starting to look away but are still watching the house. 



"Oh." I looked back to my plate. 



"It is going to be hard to leave the house tonight to get you to Tack." Jock started to explain. 



"What does that mean?"



"We may not be able to leave."



"It doesn't matter."



"But you..."



"I'll be fine." I got up out of my chair. "I'm just going to go do my homework and go to bed." I started for the stairs.



"Cherry please come and get one of us if you need anything, we will do what we can."



"Thank you." I whispered as I turned to walk up the stairs. I could hear Serena talking quietly. I didn't want to hear what she might be saying. I walked into my room my clock said seven fifteen. I pulled my notebook out sat on my bed and started to work on my math homework. When I looked at the clock again it was almost ten I could feel the gnawing feeling in my stomach. I rolled over and curled up on my bed pulling my blanket over my head. 'How long could you handle this?' I asked myself  "As long as I need to." I answered out loud. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. The gnawing feeling got worse my stomach started to cramp like I had major stomach flu, but worse. I screamed from the pain, but turned my head into my pillow, I didn't want to lose the battle I was fighting with myself.