Caged

Chapter 40.

Once I'd gotten cleaned up and dressed, I decided it was time to go let Avery know about Cage. I'd only seen her twice since we'd been brought back to the healers, since neither of us were able to move around freely. I left Rhett to clean himself up and walked a few doors down. I stopped just in front of the door, raising my fist to knock when the door swung open. I yelped in surprise when I nearly collided with Weston as he walked out the door.

"Oh! I'm sorry Lili. I didn't see you there." He said, reaching out to steady me as he took a step out onto the steps. "Are you ok?"

I nodded quickly with a tight laugh. "What're you doing here?"

He smirked and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. "I was just checking on Avery. I've been trading off between Asher and Ivy so I thought I'd check up on her. She's just inside if you want to see her."

I gave him a wary smile as he walked away. I finally made my way through the door and shut it behind me before looking in the living room behind me. A familiar set of deep blue eyes with specs of brown in them snapped up in surprise as I walked over.

"Oh my God Thalia. I'm so glad you're here!" She jumped from the couch and dropped the blanket to the floor as she flung her arms around my neck.

I wrapped my own arms around her in a tight hug, noticing how much thinner she was before we sat down on the couch. "So...Weston huh?" I asked with a smirk.

She smiled as a blush crept up her cheeks. "Stop. It's nothing. He's just being kind."

"Uh huh. I'll believe you..for now." I said with a wink. "tell me though, how are you feeling Avery?"

She sighed and looked over at me, her blonde hair pulled back in a messy bun on top of her head. "Me? I should be asking you that. Thalia, you were hurt so badly. Are you ok?" She leaned forward, resting her hand in mine.

I nodded and gave her a smile. "I am. My ribs are still a little sore but mostly I'm completely healed. Seriously Avery, what happened? Are you ok?"

Her expression turned serious and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. I squeezed her hand gently and gave her a small nod. "It's ok Avery. I know him. I know how he was. You can tell me anything you feel up to."

She let out a shaky breath and looked down at her lap. "He took me three months ago. He surprised me one night at the bar. I hadn't seen him in years since he'd come in looking for you."

I straightened as she spoke. "He came looking for me?" I wasn't surprised, but I hated that he'd hassled the girls I worked with for nothing. They'd never have known anything anyway. I made sure not to bring anyone into it after he killed the poor human giving me a ride. My heart panged at the memory, but she continued speaking.

"Yeah. He was completely crazed. He said you'd stabbed him and run for it and he wanted to find you before you hurt someone else. He said you'd gone insane." She said, chancing a glance up at me. "We all knew he was lying of course. We'd seen how he was at the end with you, before we quit seeing you completely. I was just glad you'd gotten away."

I chuckled darkly as she looked up at me in surprise. "Well, he was right about one thing. I did stab him and run."

Avery's eyes widened before a slow smile crept up her lips. "Good." She said

"After that, he didn't come in again unless it was with his pack. I think he was hoping you'd come back and he'd find you there. But about three months ago, he'd waited outside after the late shift one night. He must have known I was closing because he called out to me as soon as I came outside. When I didn't want to accept his ride home, he decided not to try anymore. He rushed me and hit me over the head as I was running back inside. He shot me with something and when I woke up, I was in chains in his cabin."

She went rigid and her eyes stared intently at her lap, pulling her hand away as she began to ring her hands nervously. I knew what was probably going through her mind. I'd lived it for years. I reached over and timidly squeezed her shoulder. Her eyes pulled up to mine reluctantly, glassed over with unshed tears.

"It's ok Avery. I understand. Really." I said quietly, my voice breaking with memory.

She threw her arms around me as the tears fell, sobs wracking her body as she cried into my shoulder. "It was awful Thalia. I'm so sorry."

I pulled back and pushed her hair from her face. "Sorry? For what?" I asked in surprise.

She shook her head and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "That you had to go through that for so long. I don't know how you could have endured something like that for as long as you did. Thalia, you're so much stronger than I could ever be."

I shook my head and reached for her hand. "No Avery. I'm sorry. This only happened to you because of me. It's my fault those awful things happened to you. Can you ever forgive me?" I said as my own tears dropped down my cheeks.

She froze as she blinked at me. "Thalia this is not your fault. It's his. Just his. Do you understand?"

I shrugged and shifted away but she tugged me back to face her. "I mean it Thalia. This is not on you. Tell me you understand." She demanded and I finally nodded.

I didn't fully believe it, but I hoped what I was about to tell her would ease my guilt even if it was only slightly. "Avery, I have to tell you something." She paused and waited patiently for me to continue. "Cage...is dead."

She gulped hard and her eyes widened. "What? When did this happen?... How did it happen?"

I took in a shaky breath and it was my turn to look down at my nervous hands restlessly moving in my lap.

"Rhett and I...killed him." I said quietly.

Avery gasped and leaned forward, tucking her feet underneath her as she gripped my shoulder. "What happened Thalia?" She said firmly.

"Dominic had him sent to the cellars to await his punishment. He gave me the opportunity to speak with him." My eyes floated up to meet her wide ones as a stray tear fell down my cheek. "He was awful Avery. He said so many terrible things and I just...saw red. Dominic decided he didn't deserve mercy, so he let me carry out his sentence. Me and Rhett." I realized my hands were shaking and I clenched them tightly to stop it.

"Good. I hope that bastard suffered after the hell he caused." She said lowly, her voice nearly a sneer.

I let out a tight laugh and jumped to my feet. I was feeling anxious. I couldn't sit still any longer and I let myself pace for a moment to walk off the nervous energy. "I'd say he definitely did."

Avery slowly turned her face to watch me, her eyes following my every move before she spoke. "How did he die?"

I ran my hand down my face, letting out a long breath before telling her every detail she wanted. Her jaw dropped slightly but she quickly picked it back up before smirking over at me. "Good girl."