Half A Heart Without You

Chapter VII

"'Lijah!" Charley gasped through the horrible pain in her head, watching the stake being shoved through Elijah's chest.

"Oh, sweet Charlotte. You know, I remember when you were just a sweet innocent little girl who needed a family after your parents died. I never forgave Elijah for turning you into a monster before I could help you. I tried to send you away from him but as you can see that didn't work for very long, we'll have to try again," Esther kneeled down in front of her , reaching out to place her hand on the side of the girl's face.

"Mother, no! Don't hurt her! Please, leave her alone!" Elijah wheezed, a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

"Finn, take her away I've got Elijah," She waved her hand dismissively, the pain in Charley's head returning.

"'Lijah!" She tried to scream but it was the last thing she remembered before everything went black.

Charley groaned her whole body feeling uncomfortable as she tried to wake up. My eyes fluttered open, the dim space was lit but a small stream of sunlight and torches on the wall. She realized her wrists were chained and she could feel the vervain burning her skin. The little herb didn't hurt her much after all these years but it still kept her weak especially paired with any spell Esther used to weaken her. She hissed angrily when she tried to move realizing the chains weren't the only vervain, there was a rope of it around my neck and all over the ground under her. Great.

"Charlotte, you're awake," Charley looked up seeing the dark skinned body Esther possessed walking in through the only opening of the cave.

"Where's Elijah?" She growled yanking at the chain, not caring that it burned her wrist.

"He's safe, alive. You should worry more about yourself, dear," She goaded looking me over.

"I don't care about anyone but him," Charley sneered, she never cared much for this woman, at least not after all she's done to her own children.

"That I have no doubt about. Your love for my son is quite powerful, it's why I had to force you to leave all those years ago," Charley stopped pulling at the chain to look up at her, her words from earlier coming back to me, she tried to send her away once.

"You?" She asked, feeling the anger bubble up.

"What did you make me do?" Charley shouted enraged, though Esther didn't seem phased.

"All of your questions will be answered in due time, dear. Now, because I know of your love for Elijah and I've always considered you family I would like to make you the same offer I'm giving to my children the one I offered to Hayley, but in order for that to happen each of you must be purified from all of the savage things you've done," She answered lighting a candle and walking over to me.

"What do you mean purified-"

"Charlotte, why do you run away from me?" Elijah laughed as Charley skipped through the forest.

"Perhaps, I wish for you to catch me, Elijah," She called over her shoulder, hearing his feet move quickly behind her.

"Oh, do you know?" He questioned, voice filled with amusement suddenly sounding much closer causing her to squeal happily.

His arm circled around her waist, making her shriek from surprise only to turn into a fit of laughter as he turned her into his chest.

"What do I do now that I've caught you?" He asked smiling, raising a hand to her cheek and running his thumb along her jawline.

"Hm, I do believe a kiss would be fitting right about now," She looked up at him, his brown eyes filled with so much love.

He leaned down pressing his lips to her, softly at first before the kiss turned passionate. Her hands found their way to his biceps holding on to him and not wanting to let go.