The Devil's Daughter

Chapter 21 ~ Chasing Truth

Chapter 21 ~ Abbegael

Dedicated to Anna Santos if you haven't already be sure to check out her work!

She is having a book release party on facebook on 25th October --> check out her page for more details it would be great to see you all there!! :D

The sound of voices draws me up from the depths, the fog of sleep slowly fading from my mind. The feel of my head resting almost at right angles against a hard surface brings the sharp twinge of pain in my neck to the forefront of my mind and the last vestiges of sleep finally fall from my body. 

A groan slips from my lips and the voice stops. Lifting my head from its uncomfortable pillow my eyes slip open and all I can see is Zak's face inches from my. Jolting back I glance around the room; what is going on? As I focus back on Zak, where he sits beside me stretching and shaking out his arms I realise I was using his shoulder as a pillow for however long I was asleep and an uncertain feeling of guilt flutters in my chest.

"Sorry," I murmur, jumping to my feet, uncertain how he will react to me using him for my own comfort and hoping I haven't upset the one person I still feel I can trust. He follows me up from the ground a broad grin spreading across his lips and he lifts his hand to my face, gently running his knuckles from my temple to my chin before tucking a few strands of loose hair behind my ear.

"Don't worry about it." Warmth spreads through my cheeks at his action and I find my gaze shifting away from his an unusual flutter sparking in the pit of my stomach.

"Stop touching her!" The voice sends a shudder down my spine and I find myself pressing closer to Zak, before realising the action and straightening my spine to face the monster before me with a confidence I do not feel. A jolt runs through me as Zak steps up beside me and places his hand on my lower back in support.

"Why are you here Chastir?" My voice comes out strong and powerful, nothing like the small, broken sound I expected.

"I'm here to help you Abby. I'm your friend, I've always been your friend. I've only ever done what was best for you. What happened in the cave was unfortunate but these people aren't good for you Abbs. You have to trust me." His voice is soft and gentle, caring just like it used to be. My control over the anger and hurt roiling deep within me starts to slip as he speaks and Zak's arm slips around my waist so he is almost restraining me against his side.

"I told you to stop touching her!" Chase's voice rings sharply through the stagnant air, the anger marring his face the polar opposite of the gentle care visible moments ago and I flinch back away from where he stands on the other side of the gate. "I'm sorry Abby, I didn't mean to yell. But he needs to stop touching you, he makes you do bad things when he touches you. He made you try to kill me before. We're friends, Abby, I know it wasn't you who wanted to hurt me. Please move away from him." The dangerous, burning rage that had me attacking him when he first appeared is quickly resurfacing.

"Trust me, Chastir, that was all me. I almost wish Zak had let me end you now. Who are you? You cannot honestly think that what you did is okay? Or that it helped e in any way. If you were my friend you wouldn't betray me to Lucifer! I wish I was as heartless as you so I could kill you. I know the world would be a lot better off without you in it."

Hey, you're okay Abby calm down, Zak's words in my mind jolt me from the red haze, Do you need me to calm you again? The question is hesitant and helps me to shake off the sharp grip of rage.

"I'm okay." I whisper, sucking in a deep breath and turning my head away from Chase to regain some of my self-control. As a result my forehead ends up resting on Zak's shoulder and the extra contact helps calm me even further even as a groan of displeasure sounds behind me. And then realisation hits me.