unheavenly creatures

Hidden Bodies

SABRINA

The drive back to Pembrooke is long and quiet. I decide to drive since V is still shaken from what happened, and I'll admit I'm a bit shaken myself. I didn't know she had that much power. That she could not control it. That it almost killed someone we knew. I carefully help V into the passenger's side before I take the keys and sit behind the wheel. I move with ease, the geography of town still foregin, especially at night. V gasps and sniffles next to me, she glances out the window the entire time. I feel helpless. I want to help her, I want to keep her safe. I don't know how she lost control, and I don't know what I can do to help prevent that again. I just hope Salem isn't the reason for that. And I hope he isn't out there causing any more trouble with Chuck...

We return to the parking garage by Pembrooke, back in her parking spot. I lift V out of the car and allow her to cling to me as we make our way to the complex, through the back, up the stairs, down the hallway, inside her home. It's dead silent when we walk through the door. Is Mister Lodge not back yet from his meeting? I use some magic to turn on the lights as I guide V near her room. The closer we get, the less she clings to me. We stop outside her room and she lets go of me.

"I'm gonna try to take a shower." she mumbles, running her fingers through her hair. "If you want, we can ring Andre and have the staff make something for us to eat." The last sentence makes my stomach growl. I remember I haven't consumed anything since I stopped by the library. But I don't know if I want any food in my stomach after what happened. And I'm too scared to leave V alone.

"Okay." I wind up saying. I follow her into the bedroom and she hands me the number to call for dining services. I never had a personal waitstaff to bring a meal before, it just seems a bit unconventional that I'm experiencing this after a revenge-plan gone wrong. V waits to place her order with mine before she wanders off towards her bathroom, leaving me alone on the bed. She's acting strong, but deep down it's bugging her. She's disturbed by what happened. I can see it on her face under the faked confidence. I can hear the shower running from the bathroom, V's cries echo into the bedroom. And I can't do anything at the moment to take away her grief. It upsets me. I reread the plan that we sketched out, nowhere does it indicate Salem attacking Chuck or V using more dark power. Something must have derailed along the way, or maybe....maybe Salem stayed behind for another reason.

V is still in the bathroom by the time our very late dinner arrives. I get the chance to meet Andre, he seems loyal and trustworthy to the Lodges, and I attempt to reassure that nothing's wrong with V. I thank him after our small talk and send him on his way. I remove the lids from the plates of food, the aroma hitting me instantly. By this time, V emerges from the bathroom, covered in a silk robe and with her hair in a towel. I tell her that the food was just delivered and ready, cuing her to come over and grab her plate. I start to dig into my Monte Cristo sandwich, and it melts in my mouth. I'm caught up in my ravenous hunger that I almost don't realize V is barely making a dent. She shuffles her potatoes around with her fork in silence. I set what I have left of this first half of my sandwich. I go to open my mouth.

"I don't know why I lost control, 'Brina." V jumps in, setting her fork down. With her plate in her hands, she inches closer to me on the bed. She sighed, "I've had formal training to handle my witchcraft, but....it's like every time I let my emotions get to the worst of me......I.....I can't explain it. I just know that I've always struggled to keep my emotions under check." I set my plate to the side and allow my hands to fall into my lap. I have so many questions to ask, but I don't want to bombard V with anything sensitive, even right in this moment.

So I take it slow, "Has something.....like tonight.....has that happened before, V?" She breaks her eye contact with me, her gazing going off into the distance. She's quiet for a while, then she removes the towel from her head. She clings onto it as her wet hair rests on her shoulders. Her lips tighten together.