Ballad of the Bruised [ j.v ]

04

>Screams and Storms<

IT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

Jane had been sulking in her bed chamber, clearly distraught over how much her mate despised her company, when a shrill scream rang through the Volturi castle. At first, Jane was confused. Who could it be?

"MAMA NO!"

Jane sprung to her feet. That was Agnes! In the blink of an eye, she was out of her room and sprinting towards the tower where Agnes resided. All the while during her short journey thinking about what could be wrong.

Did Agnes's mother show up somehow? Was she hurting her? Was she trying to take her away? But how did she get past the guards, along with a castle full of blood thirsty vampires? Jane didn't have time to think of much else before she was bursting into Agnes's chamber.

But she was not prepared for what she saw.

Instead of a woman trying to harm Agnes, or take her away, Agnes was the sole occupant of the room. She was laying in the bed, thrashing about in her sleep, sweat and screams filling the air.

Agnes McIver was having a nightmare.

Jane rushed forward, desperate to calm the redhead. She brought the thrashing girl into her arms, not knowing what else to do. But, Agnes was still screaming and restless, eyes practically glued shut. And then, almost instinctively, Jane pulled Agnes into her lap, and rocked her back and forth. It was almost as if her mate was an overgrown baby.

Jane pushed the hair from Agnes's sweat beaded face, and tried to soothe her. Though Agnes was no longer screaming, she was still thrashing a little, and muttering things under her breath. Finally, in an attempt to rid Agnes of the nightmare once and for all, she began to sing a lullaby her mother had once sung to herself.

I know you are scared
I know you are hurt
But do not let the demons
Tell you your worth

So stand in the rain
Let it wash away your sorrow
And always remember
There is a tomorrow

Jane sang quietly at first, not trusting that her idea would work. But as Agnes began to stop her fidgeting, and her whines and muttering began to grow more faint, Jane sang more confidently.

Watch the sweet birds
Carry on with their song
And by the end of the night
We'll all sing along

About a place we can go
Just for you and me
Where we're all accepted
Us few, and far between

I know you are scared
But you're not alone
Just take my hand
And I'll take you home

Where the mockingbirds sing
And where angel's don't cry
Please listen to me now
And this sweet lullaby