Searching for the Monster's Child :.Book 3 in the Delfunie Trilogy.:

Chapter 13

I tried to get comfortable as Jefferson's driver drove down the road, not even trying to be careful. Ragnar tried to help but nothing worked, there was nothing to help with the pain. I was hurting and in turn that hurt him.

"Just try to breathe. This will all be over soon." He said, kissing my forehead. This was unbearable. There was no way for me to get comfortable or at least easing the pain. I had nothing for it and I felt like I was dying.

I remembered being shot six months ago but that pain was managed with aspirin and a proper bed. I had none of that here. I had nothing that would help me. I tried to sleep but the way the guy was driving, it was impossible. We were being jostled so much that every more hurt.

"I'm scared." I whispered. I knew that Jefferson couldn't hear me so I wasn't worried about giving him the satisfaction.

"I know, baby. I am too." He whispered back. Our hands were tied but he still managed to hold my hands. I held on as tight as I could and looked up at Alex. He hasn't said a word since we were placed in the van and he had a blank stare that even I couldn't break. He didn't even realize that I was staring at him.

"I'm so sorry." I said, hoping he'd react. He didn't.

"Mavis, we've been through this. We don't..."

"Blame me, I know. But I do." Ragnar looked shocked as he realized that I've been thinking that this whole time. He tried to move so he could look me in the eye but when he did suddenly, I let out a hiss of pain. I was leaning on him for support and when he moved, it hurt.

"I'm sorry but Mavis you shouldn't blame yourself. We all came willingly knowing the stakes. Hell, Richard came to our door and offered to take us himself. Sweetie, none of this is your fault. You need to believe that." I shook my head. He is my son, I insisted on finding him. This is my fault.

"Ragnar..."

"No, Mavis. This is not your fault. This is Lucian's fault. This is Ross' fault. Hell you can even blame Richard it damn well pleases you but don't for a second blame yourself. This isn't on you." This time Richard didn't have a snappy comeback. He stayed quiet. Ragnar seemed to have a point but I still don't see how he's completely right. Part of this is on me. I couldn't protect my son. I walked away from him and because of that, he was taken from me.

"I'm not...strong enough. I can't protect him from them. I tried and look at what happened. I..."

"Mavis, you are. You just don't know it yet. That's why I love you. Its one of the first things that made me fall in love with  you. The way you stood up to Lucian when no one else would. When you snuck around pretending you weren't breaking rules and planning on running away and taking the baby with you. You're strong, you just have to believe it yourself." Ragnar smiled down at me with nothing but love and truth. I smiled back and leaned in to kiss him.

"How cute. A couple on the edge of death and they profess their love for each other." We both turned to glare at Jefferson. Ragnar chose to ignore the comment and bring his attention back to me. I hesitated as he looked me in the eye, he scared me. Jefferson has proved time and time again just as he is now that he is extremely dangerous.

I had fallen asleep at some point during the ride and when I woke up, Ragnar was also asleep. I tried to sit up but with my hip, it was next to impossible. Suddenly, I felt someone pull me into a seated position and when I looked up, I saw Richard looking back at me. I smiled and leaned back against the door.

"Thanks." I said, relaxing. He smiled a sad smile and leaned back himself.

"Mavis, I never meant for this to happen. I'm so sorry." I looked up. I tried to understand what he meant but I couldn't figure it out. What was he sorry for?

"Richard, I know that you're sorry. That's why you came to us. That was why you were helping us."

"I never should have brought you with me, Mavis. I knew that it was dangerous and I did it anyway. I should have just grabbed him when I had a chance and brought him to you. This is all my fault." I just shook my head and thought about what he just told me. I was a little surprised when I realized that he was right. Maybe he should have thought this through a little better but it was too late now.

"Richard, we just need to worry about what is happening now and not what has happened in the past. We can't change that so we just need to focus on what's happening. Let's just hope we can get out of this." He just smiled and nodded once before leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

When I first met Richard, he was crass and mean but it wasn't completely his fault. His entire family was murdered by these monsters. I'm sure that he thought that because he helped Ross that they were all safe but that was never the case. Ross had to make sure that Richard was going to stay so he had his wife and children killed.
Now when I look at him, he's different from the man that I knew six months ago. He seemed kinder and his face wasn't so stern. He was starting to move on from his grief and begin to live again, even if it is on the world we live in now, at least he's moving on.

I most have fallen asleep again because the next thing I remembered was Ragnar yelling. I was being yanked up which caused more pain and I couldn't stop the cry of pain. I was doubled over on my knees outside of the car as tears rolled down my cheeks. I couldn't believe how much this hurt.

"Get up. We have to be somewhere." I heard Jefferson yell but I couldn't move. "I said get up." He yelled again. He went to kick me but Ragnar stopped him.

"Don't you touch her, Jefferson. I swear to god if you touch her I'll kill you myself." He said through his teeth. I looked up and saw Ragnar kneeling in front of me, holding on to my upper arm, gently trying to pull me up. He had me standing when out of nowhere Jefferson decked him. He yelled out in surprise and quickly conformed himself, being grabbed by two men causing him to start to struggle

"I've had about enough of you, brother." He said. Ragnar stopped struggling and looked Jefferson in the eye.

"Don't call me brother. I am not your brother. I don't have brothers, brothers don't do this to one another." Jefferson smirked as he held his hands behind his back and walked away from me to stand nose-to-nose with Ragnar, smirk turning to a death glare.

"You're right. You killed my brother."

"You killed my wife." That earned Ragnar a punch to the face.

"Two wrongs don't make a right." Ragnar smiled, blood on his lips and teeth.

"But two rights make a left and that's almost the same thing." That earned him another hit, blood now streaming from his face.

"Are you done?"

"No." So Jefferson just kept going. I wasn't sure what this would get Ragnar, I knew he hated Jefferson but just letting him hit him seemed like Jefferson won.

"Ragnar," He said, out of breath. "I can do this all day." He had an evil smile that almost matched Lucian's and it scared me just as much.

"So can I." Ragnar answered and that was when it dawned on me, he was defying him. Ragnar was not going to break and he wasn't giving Jefferson what he wanted.
As Jefferson continued punching him, I wondered how much more he could take. I know Ragnar's strong but even the strongest has to fall and how long before he goes down.