Every Breath She Takes [CURRENTLY ON HOLD]

Chapter 26: The Past Always Catches Up

A couple of days after that talk, I stopped at Cam’s door, checking that he was doing his homework. “Cam?”

He looked up guiltily. “Yeah?”

I hid my smile, knowing what he was doing. “Are you doing your homework?”

A slight flush crept over his cheeks as he shook his head. “No,” he muttered.

I sighed, and came in, looking at what was in front of him. He was drawing again, and I picked up the sheaf of papers, looking through them. He made as if to take them back, but stopped himself. I paused, and looked at him.

“Are there some you don’t want me to see?”

He hesitated, and then shook his head. “No,” he muttered again, but the answer was clearly yes.

I snorted slightly, and gave them back. “They’re good, Cam, but I need you to do your homework first, alright?”

He nodded, and opened his mouth to answer, but he was interrupted.

“Ro?”

I went still, frowning. Something had to have happened to put that strange note in Jack’s voice. I walked out, barely noticing Cam following me, and found Jack at the front door. It was open, and when I looked at the opening, I felt myself go pale.

“Duchess?” I whispered, and the girl looked up, clearly startled. She looked to be a little younger than Cam, with ebony black hair that fell to her shoulders, and high cheekbones, slightly angling her sky blue eyes. She was struggling to hold the limp body of a woman.

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice trembling. “How –?” She broke off, not wanting to say anything else.

“What happened, sweetheart?” I asked gently, not wanting to frighten her any more than she had been already.

She darted a fearful glance behind her, telling me all I needed to know. “Mum…she said to come here,” she whispered. “Then she collapsed. I…I don’t…” She trailed off, gazing back at me with pleading eyes.

I blinked, and pulled myself together. “Yes, darling. Jack, can you bring her in? She can rest in our bed for the moment.”

He nodded, and picked Duchess – it was Duchess – up, relieving the girl of her burden. Carrying her like she weighed nothing – which I guessed she just about did – he made his way through the house to our room, where he laid her gently on the bed. Cam and the girl had followed, and were hovering in the doorway.

“Cameron.”

He jerked, startled. We rarely – if ever – used his full name, and he knew it meant this was serious.

“Yes?”

“Go get a couple of hot water bottles. She’s going to need them.” I was speaking somewhat absently, too busy trying to work out what was wrong. He nodded, and shot away, leaving the girl with us. I looked at her.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” I asked her, hoping that she wouldn’t run. Her eyes were filled with a fear that I recognised, as well as a very familiar pain. She was about to answer when Cam came back with one hot water bottle. I took it, grateful.

“What about the other?”

He shrugged. “I couldn’t find it,” he said. Behind me, I heard Jack sigh, and then he was walking past me, going with Cam to find the other hot water bottle. Smiling slightly to myself, I tucked the one I had in with Duchess and pulled the covers over her.

“Will…will she be alright?” The voice was close to my elbow, and I knew then that she was more afraid of Jack then she was of me.

“I think so,” I replied. “She’s cold, and she hasn’t been eating enough, but I think she’ll be fine. At the moment, she just needs sleep.”

She nodded, carefully smoothing the doona with one hand.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m so scared.”

“What of, darling?” I closed the door quietly, hoping that it would make her feel safer. It did, for she relaxed a little.

“Him,” she replied, jerking a shoulder.

“Jack?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t know about him yet. But I’m scared of him.”

I was afraid I knew all too well. “How old are you, honey?”

“Thirteen,” she replied.

I closed my eyes briefly in shock. So he’d let her keep one, finally. Sorrow for her lost childhood filled me. “What’s your name?”

She went pale, and backed away a little. I didn’t move, hoping to allay her fears slightly.

“I won’t hurt you, child,” I assured her. “You’re safe here, I promise.”

Still, she didn’t say anything, watching me narrowly. At that moment, the door opened a little, and I went to it. It was Cam, with a hot water bottle and a sheepish look.

“Found it,” he said, and handed it to me. He came in, closing the door behind him. I was thankful that Jack seemed to have realised that he frightened the girl, and so stayed away.

“Thank you, Cam,” I said, and put it with the other, hoping it would help. “Where’s your father?”

He looked at the girl curiously as he answered. “With the others,” he replied. “They’re having trouble with their homework.”

I nodded. “Good. What about yours?”

He went red, and his shoulders drooped. “Do I have to?” he whined, making me laugh. I didn’t answer, turning back to the girl.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” I asked again. “I didn’t catch it, sorry.”

She looked between us, and then her gaze settled on Duchess. She thought for a while, and then seemed to decide to trust us.

“Mum calls me Caliana.” She jerked a shoulder again. “He called me Ebony.”

I stared at her. I knew what the name was from. “Do you know where that is from?” I asked in a whisper. She stared at me, as did Cam.

“It’s from somewhere? I thought Mum made it up.”

I nodded. “It’s from Spain,” I told her gently. “It’s the name of a princess.”

Her eyes went wide, just as Duchess stirred. “Cali?” The name was barely audible, but the girl jumped forward.

“I’m here,” she whispered, and Duchess opened her eyes briefly. I froze at the pain in them, quickly hidden, and knew that there was something else. Something she didn’t want her daughter to know about.

I moved beside the girl, and rested the back of my hand against Duchess’ forehead. “She’s not fevered,” I murmured, almost to myself. “It might just be exhaustion, and lack of food.” I looked at Caliana. “What else happened?”

She stepped back, and I could see that she was a little frightened. “W–wh–what do you mean?” she stammered. Behind her, I could see Cam looking at us both curiously.

“What else happened, sweetheart?” I repeated, gentler now. I went into the bathroom, coming back out with a warm cloth, which I put on the back of Duchess’ neck. “Or do I need to ask your mother?”

She shook her head violently. “No! Please,” she begged. “Don’t ask her.” She stopped, looking even more frightened, but then she continued. “It will hurt her too much.”

I stopped, gazing at her. “Sweetheart, we won’t hurt you,” I said gently. “Can you tell me what happened?”