Love and War

The man in the night. (Ch.7)

It stayed silent as the staff finished clearing and brought tea and scones. Aurora was stuffed but these looked too delicious to give up. Sipping her tea and slowly eating she felt a calm for the first time since the bath. Maybe it won't be too bad, so far it had been better than a day with Jayme.

"Aurora" Eliza's voice broke her thoughts "Did you understand anything over dinner regarding your future?" the question hit Aurora hard, she knew it had something to do with her.

Shaking her head, she quietly made out a cracked "no"

"Truth of the matter" Kurt finally speaking up. "I only bought a week" his confession brought both pair of eyes to flash to him.

"what does that mean Kurt?" Eliza's tone harsher than she may have meant it.

"Russell gave me a week to find a suitable arrangement he signs off on, if not" he paused, to think, for drama, to kill their hearts who knows.

"Kurt!" Eliza's voice aggravated.

"Sorry, lost in thought" his face was dead serious "he said a week or she's his" he spoke as if to just his wife like Aurora wasn't sitting right next to her. "He won't approve just any deal, not if he wants her that bad" the way he spoke curled Aurora's stomach. Weather it be the way or the words she paled, her face draining instantly. She did not want to go to Russell, she'd happily go back to Jayme's instead.

As if noticing the impact Eliza grabbed onto her unable to keep her earlier promise to Aurora was breaking her, she could not allow this. "I'm sorry Aurora, the Gala could work plus we can go shopping in the morning" she searched Aurora eyes.

She'd never been shopping before the thought was exciting. Getting out seeing the real world, she lit back up, a diamond in this cold world. All the new things she was learning and experiencing, she was hoping Eliza could still save her from Russell. What did a Gala have to do with it? She thought.

"I've never been, thank you" her soft voice threw punches. The two could not hold back their shock, how had she never been? Kurt's fist clenched under his anger, even Shawn looked visible thrown off. Looking around their reactions she shrugged adding "This is my first time ever being off my property". The looks change slightly, added emotions of sadness and realisation.

"Head to bed, let us worry the rest hun" Eliza's voice like a lullaby her eyes wet with tears.

"Thank you" Aurora stands bending at the knees "Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Malone". She was exhausted and had wanted out of there since dessert. Quickly she made her way out as she heard them return to talking.

Making it to her new room in record time she turns to face Shawn. "What can you tell me? I'm so confused?" her eyes pleading with him. She's putting that ounce of trust on the line; he looks down on her his eyes conflicted with emotions.

"Oh Aurora, you're so innocent my dear fawn" he looks deep into her, she shifts under his gaze unsure what to make of it. "Usually girls go for money or connections, a Gala is top VIP so more likely both" He pauses his face growing grim. "Usually if one of the Malone's stacks a claim the sale is void – that is what Russell tried to do" a dumbfounded look crosses his face followed by a smile. "Somehow Kurt trumped that without a full out war – he stayed for dinner however the stare he gave you worries me he won't accept even reasonable offers" Shawn looked down at her determined he would not allow this for her fate.

His words rattled through Aurora's brain, quickly it clicked and the realisation of what was happening rattled threw her and as if the ground gave out her legs crumbled and she fell to the ground. Silent tears slide down her face, covering her cheeks in a salty, sticky shimmer. Shawn sank down in front of her trying to meet her eyes.