Broken Chains

Part 20

Chapter 20

I moaned in a sort of contentment trying to pull myself from sleep as I felt Carl's fingers tangle into my hair.

"Honey." He said gently, "how are you feeling now?" he asked sounding as tentative as his gentle fingers. I sighed gently,

"Better." I said gently forcing my eyes open and giving him a half hearted attempt at a smile.

"And Derek?" he asked true concern under his bruised features, I pushed myself up to sitting,

"I don't know." I said tentatively I hated confessing this. "I... he's alive."

"Are you sure?" I shrugged,

"Surely I would know that." I said though I knew it was a plea. Carl gave me a tiny smile and nodded he didn't know that he was simply trying to make me feel better but it didn't work. I lifted my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs holding them in tight to me. I rested my forehead on my knees with a sigh.

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Carl said rubbing my hair gently I wished he wasn't as I found myself unable to hold back my tears any longer and I felt tears slipping down my cheeks and landing softly on the thick Duvet which Carl had wrapped me up under,

"You didn't feel how much he hurt." I muttered "and it's all my fault anyway. I thought he could stride away from them like this, idiot. I'm an idiot."

"Jess." He said softly, I lifted my eyes and he stroked my cheek gently, "it's not your fault."

"Yeah it is." I whispered, he shook his head,

"He's leaving them because he loves you and it's not your fault." he said keeping his eyes locked on me an intense burning gold.

"Then why do I feel like it is?" I whispered trying to look away from those eyes but Carl tightened his grip on my cheeks just a little forcing me to look at him, a firm grip and yet it was still gentle. He leaned across the space between us and gently oh so gently he pressed his lips to mine, I froze in pure shock. A sharp knock at the door made me jump and shuffle back from Carl urgently as he frowned at the closed door with a puzzled sort of expression as if expecting the door to give him answers. When it didn't and instead was pounded by another set of hard blows Carl pushed himself up and strode across the room. He frowned as he looked at the door as if again expecting the door to answer him in some way. Eventually when the door failed to be as chatty as he would have liked Carl just sighed and putting the chain on,

"Who is it?" I called out loudly, Carl turned to glower at me but I just shrugged it seemed the best way to find out who was out there.

"Jessica open the fucking door." A loud voice snapped, I frowned I had only heard that voice once before but I instantly recognized it, or at least I thought I did.

"Daniel?" I said completely baffled, which was understandable the only time I had met my half brother had been when I was kidnapped by Bethany he was one of those who kept me subdued even though he was nicest about this. Carl bared his teeth and growled at this he clearly wasn't so curious about my brother's arrival he was just regarding it as a threat no matter what I would have said. I sighed at Carl's blokish response and began detangling myself swiftly from the duvet which had somehow become wrapped around my legs.

"Will you just open the damn door already." A second voice growled, I stumbled and in my shock I tumbled to the floor with a thud that was far louder than I would have liked.

"Am I hallucinating?" I asked nobody in particular.

"No your majesty but if you don't open the door soon I have absolutely no qualms in breaking it down." He said placidly.