Every Breath She Takes [CURRENTLY ON HOLD]

Chapter 28: Fear of the Future

That night, Jack joined me in the Reading Room, where I was staring blindly at the book in my lap. I couldn’t read, not with the day’s events chasing themselves around my head.

“Ro, are you alright?”

His question was guarded, something I’d never thought I hear from him again, and I looked up, startled. He sat on the arm of the chair beside me.

“I’ve been better,” I muttered, closing the book. There was no point in pretending now.

“Do you want to talk?”

I shook my head, refusing to meet his eyes. I never wanted to talk about what I’d been through, what Caliana must have been through. I rose, walking to the window, placing my hands on the window frame.

“We’ll protect them, Ro.”

I shook my head. “He’ll find us.” I turned, meeting his gaze. Whatever he saw in my eyes made him flinch back, and I bit my lip. “He’ll find us,” I repeated. “And take us both back.”

“Ro, it’s been fifteen years. Surely he’ll have forgotten you by now.”

I shook my head again, closing my eyes to try and stop the tears. “No,” I whispered. “I was his most valuable girl, Jack. The only reason you got me was because he thought I was dying. It was cheaper and safer for him to get rid of me before I died.”

He sighed, and came over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “We’ll protect them, Ro,” he repeated softly, kissing the top of my head. “I promise.”

“You told them, didn’t you? When you went back.”

His silence told me the answer, and I looked up at him.

“Why, Jack?”

He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I had to,” he answered. “None of you belong there.”

I buried my head in his shoulder. “Thank you,” I whispered. His arms tightened around me.

“Is there anything else we can do for them right now?”

I lifted a shoulder. “I’ve put Caliana in the spare room,” I relied, drawing away. “I told her that Sarah would join her there.” Unconsciously, I used Duchess’ true name, but Jack frowned.

“Sarah?” he repeated.

I nodded, looking at him curiously. “What’s wrong?”

“Why Sarah?” he asked gently.

Realisation dawned. “Oh. No.” I laughed quietly. “Caliana’s mother’s name is Sarah.”

He nodded slowly. “Where did Duchess come from then?”

I swallowed, looking down. “He named us, Jack. We couldn’t have our own names, and if we didn’t respond to his…”

He kissed me, stopping my words. “Hush, my love,” he murmured, locking his gaze on mine. “Don’t worry about it.”

I laid my hand on his cheek, feeling a slight rasp of bristles. “I can’t help it,” I replied just as softly. “It’s not something that I can forget.”

“I know.” A twinkle in his dark eyes alerted me to his mischief, but I didn’t prevent it. He swept me off my feet, carrying me to our bedroom. I wriggled free before we got to the door, though, and he looked at me. “What is it?”

“Sarah’s in there, Jack,” I said quietly. “As much as I want to, we can’t.”

He muttered under his breath, but I only kissed his cheek, and opened the door. Duchess still had her eyes closed, but she seemed to be breathing a little easier.

“Jack?” I asked softly. He came in, coming to stand beside me.

“Yes?”

“Can you carry her?”

He nodded, carefully lifting her. “To the spare room?”

I nodded. “If that’s alright.”

He snorted, amused. “She weighs nothing, honey.”

I followed him through the house, glad that the spare room was on the same level as our room. I knocked on the door, and heard a scramble in the room beyond before it opened, revealing Caliana’s scared face.

When she saw that it was only me, she relaxed a little, and opened the door wider. “Sorry,” she whispered.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about, darling,” I told her gently. “Are you alright here?”

She nodded, scurrying backwards as Jack placed her mother on the bed. The poor girl was still scared of him. I kissed his cheek.

“Thank you.”

He kissed me in return, and left the room. Caliana looked at me, the fear slowly leaving her eyes.

“How can you trust him?” she asked. “He’s a man.”

I sat on the edge of her bed. “I love him, my dear.”

“But…men hurt.”

I held out a hand to her, giving her the option of coming closer. She took it after a moment, gripping my hand and scooting closer. I let her curl up beside me, and put my arm around her shoulders, comforting her.

“He hasn’t hurt me, Caliana.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off her mother. “Is…is she alright?’

I nodded, rising. “She’s just tired, sweetheart. Once she has something to eat, and some sleep, she’ll be feeling better. What about you?”

She shook her head. “I can’t sleep.”

I didn’t press her, knowing that she would be awake as long as her mother slept. Covering Duchess with the blankets, not wanting her to get cold, I left the room, closing the door softly behind me.

I returned to our room, where Jack was waiting. He turned, his shirt in his hand, and I found myself distracted momentarily. From the smirk on his face, he knew exactly what was going through my mind. Neither of us acted on the thoughts, though.

“How is she?”

“They’re both fine,” I answered, coming in. “Sarah just needs food and rest, for now.”

“And the girl?”

I sighed, picking up my brush. “I don’t know,” I murmured. “She’s been hurt badly.”

He took my brush off me, and began to brush my hair. I started to relax, letting the tension drain out of me. I was terrified that he would come after us.