Diary of the Unbroken (BOOK #4)

New Beginnings

 Jane

           "I understand she wants to fight," Luke said. "But...she can't. Not in the state she's in. Not when we don't know what all this Daniel guy is capable. I don't want to see her get hurt."

I pressed my lips together. "Which is why you are such a good person. But think about it from her position. The man she cares about is still there, being held captive by a psychopath. A psychopath who is capable of magic not even found in the strongest of Hunters."

Luke sighed. His head falling into his hands. "It's just...when did everything go to complete hell?"

"I would say the second Ava walked into that party, but I have a feeling Daniel's plans began before. There is something rather curious about him--about his intent with Ava. Something I noticed when he held me captive. It's not just the look of a crazy, vampire overlord. It's a certain darkness I wouldn't dare trust."

His eyes narrowed into the distance, filled with the kind of inept fury I had thought for so long he couldn't possibly possess. "He killed her mother right in front of her. What kind of man does that? I know Celia was awful, but she wasn't always that way. I believe at one time in her life, she was a good mother. Maybe before her husband--Ava's dad--left. But she didn't lose everything like she claimed she did. At least she still had her daughters."

I swallowed. "I understand. Going through such an event changes a person. Seeing that the man you thought you loved willingly throw it all away. How he makes his promises only to go back and take back every word he ever whispered..."

Luke only glanced over at me, clearly detecting my words to steer from Celia and her relationship with her ex-husband. "Have you talked to Chris? He's doing better, you know. I think whatever the Hunters did is finally fading. Bernard said he's bound to be back to normal--or as normal as he could get after going through that--within a few days. Maybe you talking to him would help."

"I don't think so." I shook my head fervently. "The last time we spoke...well, you remember what happened. He hates me."

Luke reached out and grabbed my hand, squeezing it."He only hates you because he doesn't know you. He hates you because he thinks you chose to abandon him."

"I told him the truth, Luke," I reminded him. "And it only made things worse. He thinks he'll end up like him--like his father. What he doesn't know is that the man I see--Chris himself--is nothing like the man who broke his promises. He is nothing like his father."

"Then tell him that," Luke insisted. "Now that he's getting better, maybe that's exactly what he needs to hear."

I pressed my lips together at the thought of such a conversation. "He's been through so much, especially lately. With me, the Hunters, Val..."

"Even more reason to talk to your son."

I looked over at Luke, the boy too young to be so wise. But I guess a lifetime of disappointment and broken hearts truly made a person grow up faster. He had been through so much--we all had. But he continuously proved to have that light inside of him--that humanity I had first admired him.

"Luke, about what I said before...before I left..." I swallowed. "That we couldn't be together, that it was too complicated and would never work--"

He pressed his hand in mine. "Let's not talk about that right now. I don't care. Whatever you want, I'll make sure it happens. But right now, you need to go to your son. Talk to him. Let him know how you feel."

It sounded much easier said than done. But eventually, I had to stop running away from my problems. I thought when I had the cure, I could finally make things right. But maybe part of cure was solving my issues in the first place, before using such a drug.