The Heirs

Ethan: Home

Chapter 9:

(Ethan POV) -Albuquerque-

I watched in disbelief, not sure if I heard her right. Mother? I was looking at Mira for some kind of indication of what was going on but, her face was bare. She showed no emotion, no resistance she had resigned herself to being there. Eliza began leading Mira away as the Cunningham's turned to face us, "Thank you for returning what was ours." They then guided Mira deeper into the cave until I could no longer see any of them. I don't know why I didn't go after her, try to stop her, hold onto her tighter. My mind was working too fast trying to catch up to everything I had just seen. "Ethan..." I looked down at Emma and Mia. They were shaking in my arms. Mia had bruises all along her face and wasn't talking and Emma wasn't looking much better.

"Ethan you are going to be the one who takes the girls if it looks like we are going to get caught. You bring them here and if I am not right behind you, you bring them home."

I looked over at Andrew, "Follow me." I hoisted up Emma onto my horse and Andrew did the same and rode back to Gabriel's cottage. We made our way there quickly and he seemed to be expecting us as I walked in the door. "She is a Cunningham," I said looking over at him. He looked up at me, "So they have her." He stood up and walked over to a cupboard, "Why didn't she tell me?" He looked over at me, "She doesn't talk about it. You can't choose your family and after what those people put her through..." he sighed, "She doesn't talk about it." He looked out the window and saw the girls with Andrew, "She got 'em back." He then looked back at me, "She asked me to explain everything to you if this happened, but my guess is that you want to get those girls back to your parents as quickly as possible." I nodded my head and he soon followed, "Well Damira told me to go with you, figuring bringing back the princesses would get me pardoned. If that is alright with you both, I will explain everything to anyone you want."

"Gabriel saved me from a fate worse than death and has continued to help me since then, so please don't judge him. Help him, like he helped me when this is over."

"Of course. Do you have a horse?" He nodded his head and opened a door that connected directly to a stable. He came out and joined us. Andrew clearly had question but knew that now wasn't the time to ask them. We rode and Emma snuggled tightly into my chest as we rode. "I'll get you home," I whispered. "I know the lady told me you would," she said. I swallowed a lump in my throat and we continued to ride.

(Damira POV)

They all walked directly behind me to make sure I didn't try running back. I knew that was useless. I had grown stronger than I was last here but, I never forgot how outnumbered I was. I didn't utter a word to anyone. We approached the house when Eliza stopped me. She turned me around to the crowd that was forming around us her fingernails pressing deeper into my skin, "My daughter has come back home." Home I wanted to laugh at the word but, I knew better. The crowd began to cheer and I looked at a fixed point in the distance. As the crowd dispersed and I was being jerked back into the house.

She began circling me again as she would always do looking for any flaw, any weakness, any issue in the great family line. I was the cultivation of every strategic marriage. The great uniter of the original bloodlines only missing the regal bloodlines. My blood was untainted and thus had to be perfect. "Your clothing is completely unacceptable, your hair is a mess, you are covered in filth..." she began rattling off a long list of my imperfections as I stared at a dresser just high enough so I would be looking up but, low enough that I wouldn't make eye contact. She sighed, "It is going to take a lot of work but you will be ready soon enough. Now go wait in your room. I will begin fixing you in a moment." I nodded my head and silently made my way up to my old room.

Four walls and a bed, that is what can be used to describe this place. I sat down on the bed and was trying to keep myself calm. Ethan was getting them out of here. They were going to be back with their family and they would all get their happily ever afters. That is what needed to happen. I didn't bother looking towards the window, there was nothing to see, I didn't bother listening for any noise, there was nothing to hear, I didn't bother looking around the room, there was nothing to do. That is what made it the perfect prison.