Fading Scars

Chapter 31

Emmie

When I wake Sully has his arms around me a couple of days later. The kids are with Damon for the weekend at our old house. The house feels empty without them here. I have said that Alex can not be there when my kids are and Damon promised me she wouldn't be. I don't want her playing mother to my kids and in my eyes, they will only ever want or need one mother. Since I got my act together they haven't wanted for anything.
Sully's phone starts ringing and I groan. He removes his arm from my body and he retrieves his phone from the bedside cabinet. "Hello," he mumbles. Sully's so cute when he's still sleepy. "What?" Sully sits up and he sounds in shock. I turn over and I put my hand on his cheek and he grabs my hand in comfort, I think. "When did this happen?" What happened? Sully looks at me and his eyes are in pain. "I'm on my way."
Sully ends the call and jumps out of bed. "Sully, what is it?" I get out of bed but he doesn't reply to me. What the hell is going on? I close the distance between us and I wrap my arms around his waist. He slides his hand across my cheek and looks into my eyes. Pain is written all over his face but he is shutting down. He places his forehead on mine and takes a deep breath. He sighs and moves away from me. He starts getting changed and I do the same. Where ever he is going I am. I don't want him to get hurt.
I grab my phone and slide it into my back pocket of my jeans and I follow Sully down the stairs. He's almost running which means I have to run as my legs are shorter and clumsier. I don't know if Sully realises I'm coming or not but I won't give him a choice. Hero is by my side and I hold his harness so I don't fall. I need to be the strong one today, if I fall, I may get left behind.
I grab my house keys and Hero's emergency bag as I leave the house. I'm not too fussed about myself but I always must take care of my loyal dog. Whatever this is I don't know how long we will be gone. I run towards the car and get in the passenger seat. I make sure Hero is in the footwell before I shut the door. Sully looks at me, I think he is contemplating whether to let me come. He screws his face up and drives away.
"Emmie, you shouldn't come. I should have made you stay; Damon will kill me. I guess I'm being selfish." I look at his face whilst he is concentrating on the road.
"Sully, you know me. Nothing could make me stay when you are hurting. What is going on?" He glances at me briefly and sighs before looking back at the road.
"Yes, I know. Emmie, my sister is missing." Sister? I didn't know he had a sister, I've never heard him speak about his family before. In fact, I don't know that he's seen his family since we met.
"You have a sister? Why have I never met your sister Sully? You are my best friend." It hurts a little to know Sully has a sister and he's never introduced her to me. If she's anything like Sully I'm sure I'd love her.
"I haven't seen my sister in many years, Emmie. I disowned my family when I joined the gang. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do leaving my sister. I had to keep her safe but there is no hardship leaving my parents. You may think Damon's parents are bad, mine are worse." Worse than Damon's parents? That doesn't seem possible. What did they do to Sully to warrant him disowning them?
"I'm sorry, your sister is missing Sully." I grab his hand and he manages a smile just for me. We drive in silence for half an hour. He pulls up into a posh driveway, looks like his parents have money. Sully gets out and I do the same. Sully seems too preoccupied to get my door as usual but I never needed him to get my door in the first place.
He waits for me to join him and he holds his hand out to me. I guess I am his comfort today, it makes a change for me to comfort him rather than the other way around although I feel safe with him even now. I slide my hand into his and he leads me to the front door. He presses the doorbell and moments later the door opens. "Lucifer," A woman in her late 50's opens the door. Lucifer? She has short light brown hair with brown eyes.
"Mother," Sully hisses. I've never seen Sully so cold. I look up at Sully in question to the name Lucifer. His mother moves out the way for us to come in. She doesn't question me or my dog which surprises me because Damon's mom and Dad did. Sully leads us into the living room where a man is sat in an armchair. "Son," he stands and holds his hand out to Sully and it seems Sully grudgingly takes it.
Sully keeps hold of my hand which I am grateful for, "This is Emmie, Emmie my parents, Peter and Faith." I smile at them to be nice and they both stare at me. "What happened to Nim?" Nim is a unique name.
"Nimue was taken." I look at his mother and she's hiding something. She looks somewhat guilty, "There are no leads."
"Maybe Nim finally had enough of you," Sully snaps. No, I don't think that's the case here. They are hiding something.
"I see the years haven't made you miss us. Look maybe this is a good thing, maybe it happened for a reason. Bring us all together." His mother says. Does she care at all?
"A good thing? Are you fucking serious? I don't care if you've changed, you put me through hell, there is no forgiving that. I'm here to find my sister, that's it."
"Son, listen. I'm sorry you feel that way. We do love you, we've missed you." I hate them already if they made my best friends life hell then there is no forgiving that.
"Why the change of heart mother dearest? Shame you didn't feel that way from the beginning. Lucifer and Nimue? Satan's in your eyes. The devil's," Satan's? I grip his hand tighter he's all good there is nothing bad about him. Damon, yes but Sully no frickin way.
"You were the son and daughter of the devil. I'm willing to put that behind us. I've missed you." Son of the devil? No, how could anyone believe that?
"Sully?" I look at him and he looks down at me, his face softens slightly. "You trust me, right?" he looks disgusted.
"Are you serious? I trust you most in this world." Huh, I thought that would be Damon but I'll take it. How do I say this?
"I want you to find your sister. Your parents aren't telling you the whole truth." He raises his eyebrow at me.
"Who do you think you are? How would you know? You haven't met us before." I shrug, I don't need to explain myself. I'm only here for Sully and I'm strong enough now that I don't need them to like me.
"Don't speak to her like that. Let's just say Emmie knows when people are lying. She can see things other people can't, if she says you aren't telling me the truth then I want to know what it is. Don't you want to find her?"
"Of course, we want to find her." She glares at me and she sighs, "Look, your father and I got into a bit of trouble. The only way out was to offer something." Oh dear god, you can't be serious.
"Are you kidding me! You are worse than I thought, worse than my mother." Well, kind of debatable but deep down she tried looking out for me.
"Emmie, what?" I look at his mother and I glare at her. Why hasn't Sully put the pieces together yet?
"How do you know these things? Are you a spy for them?" I laugh. That's funny, whoever these people are sound dangerous.
"I'm not stupid, Sully they offered up Nim. Let me guess? A marriage proposal gone wrong? How could you do that?"
"Is this true? My sister! I don't believe this." Sully releases my hand and marches across the room in anger.
"It was the only way son. What other choice did we have?" Sully looks like he is going to explode. I haven't seen him so angry before. Sully marches to the wall and punches a hole in the wall. They both gasp. "Lucifer, please calm down."
"Calm down? I can't believe this!" His father goes to comfort Sully and places his hand on his shoulder and Sully shrugs him off and pushes him away. I can't let Sully feel so out of control anymore. I've felt this pain and I have to help him as he has helped me. I close the distance between us and I hug his waist. He's shaking in my arms and I hold him tighter.
"Emmie, be careful Lucifer lashes out when he's angry." Sully doesn't push me away but he doesn't return the hug like he normally does. I wait until he comes back to me.
"Stop calling him Lucifer, his name is Sully! He is the kindest person I've ever met. He wouldn't hurt me, he never has! Stop doubting his gentle heart." I am livid. My poor best friend has been doubted his whole childhood. I reach up and I stroke his face and he looks down at me. "I'm here," I promise. "We will find her together."
He wraps his arms around me finally and he kisses my head before he rests his cheek on my head. Did Sully have anger issues before? I can't see it but it sounded like it. "I love you," I sigh in relief that he's come back to me.
"I know, I love you too." We love each other in different ways but he knows that. We stay holding each other for a long time.
"Is this your girlfriend? I haven't seen you like this before, she's good for you." I giggle quietly, I'd rather it be Sully asked if I was his girlfriend. I've always been disgusted with the comparison with everyone else.
"No, not that it's any of your business. You don't know me." I turn around and Sully hugs me from behind. He's stopped shaking at least. "You need to tell me everything you know for me to help."
"We didn't call you to help, Luc...Sully." I swear to god if she calls him Lucifer again I'll punch her in the face. "The police are handling it."
"I have my connections; I'll be able to find her better than the police can. Tell me everything." Police are useless when it comes to kidnap. They never helped me. Sully pulls me over to a chair and he pulls me onto his lap. I bury my head into his neck, he knows I tire quickly. I'm glad to be sitting. They discuss everything for a long time and I try to listen but I end up dozing.
"Is she okay? Are you sure she's not your girlfriend? You love her though." I shiver, I slide my hands up his top and he tenses but doesn't say anything.
"Do you have a blanket for her? She's cold." I wish I wasn't so ill. I should be helping Sully with his pain. Instead, he's looking after me again. I feel something cover my body and I snuggle up to Sully even more. "She's poorly, really poorly. That's all I'll say." He knows I don't like my life shared with strangers.
"Is that why you aren't together? I really do want to get to know you, son." She doesn't deserve to, who calls their kids after satans? What sort of upbringing is that? At least I know I was loved.
"No Mother. Just drop it, I'll need to make some calls to find out about this guy." I really do put Sully in a bad position.
"You'll stay here until we find her. You can have your old room, Emmie can have Nimue's room." I tense in Sully's arms.
"It's fine, Emmie can share my room." I relax in his arms and he strokes my hair. I wouldn't feel safe on my own.
"Son, if she's not your wife it's not very ethical." Oh god she's not a Christian with beliefs is she? That's not Sully.
"Mother, she's my best friend. Nothing is going to happen; she wouldn't feel comfortable on her own. Not in a stranger's house. You want me here this will be the way it is."
"What does she think will happen? She's safe here." Safe isn't a word I would use not the way they treated my best friend.
"I don't want to be here any longer than I need to be. I shouldn't have let her come but we both need each other at the moment." I always need Sully.
"Can we go out for a meal? I'd like to get to know you both." Seems like she's trying but she again doesn't deserve it.
"I guess but like I said I need to make some calls and Emmie needs to rest for a while. Stress and travelling isn't good for her."
"Sure, why don't you do it in your room? Let her sleep in a bed, just make sure the dog doesn't mess up my house."
"Sure, I'll let him out in the garden first." Sully stands and places me in the chair and his warmth has gone. I cling to his top "Shh, I'm just taking care of Hero and I'll be back. Sleep," how can I sleep without him in his parent's house but I continue to rest my eyes. "Hero, come on boy." He starts whining. "Hero, it's okay. She's fine."
"Why won't the dog go?" because he's mine. "Shall I help?" Hero starts growling and I know she's come too close.
"No, don't. Hero is her support dog, he protects her. He doesn't willingly leave her, I'm the only one he won't attack if I get too close to her."
I can't hear Hero cry anymore, so I pull myself up from the chair, "Hero, it's okay." He stops whining and I make my way to the back door. I trip after I make a few steps. God damn it that's embarrassing. "Ow," I try pushing myself up but I'm not strong enough.
"Are you okay dear?" his mother asks. Sully picks me up from the floor and carries me outside. I tell Hero to do his business.
"Are you okay?" he says to me his nose inches from mine. I smile, will take more than a fall to get me down.
"Same old Sully. How are you?" I rest my forehead on his and he sighs. I know he's not okay but he's staying strong for me.
"I'm a bit shaken but I'm glad you're here." I rest my head on his shoulder, "Sleep, Emmie. I can't wait until you have your op. I hate seeing you like this."
"I need to feed Hero," I shut my eyes and I feel Sully's warmth. It's Spain and I'm still cold. Sully starts walking and he heads inside.
"Are you okay dear?" She's already asked me this. What does she want from me? Although she does seem to care.
"I'm fine, I just need to rest. I'll be okay later." I open my eyes and she's looking at me. "I'm dying okay. I have cancer," Why did I say that?
"Emmie, you aren't dying. We've been through this." We discussed this before we had sex. I thought he understood which is why we did have sex.
"Yes we did and I said I don't know if I can fight this time." I mean I'm going to try but we don't know what will happen.
"You've had cancer before dear?" I nod and then shut my eyes. "Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry. You are so young."
"Don't worry, I got this." I muster up a smile, "Sully." I bury my face in his neck and he kisses my head.
"I know, Emmie." I love how he knows me so well that I don't need to say anything. "She needs to rest Mother. We will be down later once she's rested."
"You know her so well. You move, she moves. Why aren't you together again?" She is persistent and I'm not sure why I keep giving her details of my life. I lift my hand and show her my ring.
"You're married? So why are you here with my son?" I shouldn't have said anything, I just want to sleep.
"Mother it's complicated okay. As I said, Emmie needs rest." Sully starts walking but I can hear her shoes clattering on the floor.
"I'm currently separated from my husband. Sully is my best friend, I need him like I need air. I've had a bad past, I was abused in more ways than one. I can only handle the touch of my husband or ex I'm not sure what we are, for me it will only be him. But that doesn't change how I feel about Sully. I wish he could be more because he is the kindest person I've ever met. I wish I could be normal for him."
"Mother, can we talk about this later? I need to take care of Emmie." I don't hear an answer but Sully enters a room upstairs and shuts the door and we are alone. He sets me on his bed and I cling to him. "I need to make some calls and feed Hero. I'll sit with you in a minute." I release him and I try to relax. I listen to what he is doing. I hear him tip Hero's breakfast in his bowl.
Moments later Sully sits on the bed and I rest my head on his lap. Sully pulls the covers over me and I relax. "Dyno I need you to run a background check on Rio Fernando."
"I don't care if he wants me in. I have to take some personal time. Are you going to do this for me or not?"
"I need it by this evening. I don't know how long I'll be gone. I'll need a location too." I focus on his voice until I fall asleep.
"Christ is she okay?" I groan and I hear Hero whining. I pat the bed until I feel Hero's head and he stops crying.
"You're safe Emmie. Calm down, she gets nightmare, flashbacks so to speak. They've been bad for nearly a month. Damon keeps the nightmares away, she's safe enough to sleep with me around but I can't keep them at bay as he can."
"Damon, as in Damon Rider? As in your best friend from school?" I feel around for Sully and he puts his hand on mine and I bring it to my chest.
"Yes, he's still my best friend, well Emmie is too. Damon is her husband, it's complicated. If Damon wasn't her husband, I would have tried a lot harder."
"She seems like a lovely girl son. I don't blame you, I can't believe you're still friends with Damon."
"Mom, don't... She doesn't like to be touched." I tense and he strokes my hair with his free hand. "There's lots you don't know about me."
"How would she know if I touched her? She looks so vulnerable like this. Her family must be so upset."
"Like I say she will only let me touch her and Damon. I don't know how but she knows. Her Dad is dead, he shot himself after he shot Emmie. Luckily she survived and well her Mother is rotting in jail. She has her brothers and Damon and her kids."
"And she has you. I can tell she loves you, it may not be the same as you but she does." He knows I love him but there's nothing I can do to be anything more.
My phone starts vibrating and I jump. I groan and move so I can get out my phone. "Hello," I say sleepily.
"Emmie, where are you?" What is it to him? Why would he know I'm not at home?
"Damon, you left me remember? You don't have the right to keep tabs on me anymore."
"Actually you kicked me out. I still love you, Emmie, that will never change. I hate not being with you especially when you have cancer."
"Damon, you had an affair, not me. I told you I refuse to share you; I can't do that. I'm here when or if you return. I'm safe that's all you need to know."
"Emmie, she's dying. I can't let her go through this alone. She needs me."
"I need you, Damon! It shouldn't matter the excuse, you said you'd never want her or anyone else. I'm not the one being unreasonable! I'm tired of having this same conversation. I don't have the energy, Damon. I was sleeping, Damon."
"You were still asleep? If you aren't home then where are you sleeping? Were you.."
"Don't you dare finish that sentence. Whether I am or I am not, it's none of your business. And if you know me you wouldn't need to ask that insulting question. Bye Damon." I hang up before he can say anymore.
"Emmie, what did Damon want?"
"Oh the usual, accuse of me of sleeping with someone. Then act like it's normal to have an affair with Alex and think it's okay to want me too."
"Damon is having an affair? Why would he do that to you? He couldn't get any better than you."
"You don't know me. There are lots of flaws about me. I don't blame him but I won't let him walk all over me."
"But you'll have him back? Why?"
"Because it's him or no one. He's the one for me, I know that. He knows that he just gets jealous. If I could change the way I feel then it would be Sully." I look up at him and he smiles. "What time is it?"
"Midday, have you slept enough? You should eat, Stefan will murder me if I don't get you to eat."
"Not before he kills me first." I giggle, "You need to eat more than I do. You'll waste away." I laugh and he laughs too.
"Maybe, bathroom is through that door if you need it." I glance at his mother and blush. Sully strokes my cheek and I get lost in his eyes. I swallow and hastily make my way to his bathroom. I lock the door behind me. Hero follows me without hesitation. I do forget he's with me sometimes and for me, it's not a bad thing. I always feel uncomfortable or even just aware of someone's presence so for me to feel that relaxed with Hero makes me feel safe.