Nico I’m like a coiled snake ready to strike, I do not trust this girl or anyone here, a very long life of betrayal and war has taught me never to let my guard down. It goes against every instinct inside of me to let Amelia out of my sight in this moment. Reluctantly I walk towards the dining room with Giovanna and our new ally’s, she thinks she is being subtle but I can see the looks she keeps throwing my way, watching for even the slightest sign that I will flip out. She needn’t worry I’m on alert but in control. At the end of a long hallway are double doors and I can hear noise and chatter beyond, the sound of happy people living normal lives, relaxed and oblivious to the constant turmoil swirling around them. How I wish for just one day, that could be me. I allow an image of a relaxed and smiling Amelia to flood my mind, sitting in the sunshine relaxing with a glass of wine in her hand, carefree, leaning into me on an outdoor sofa as we watch the glorious colours of the
Amelia Papa and I share a nervous look as we wait for Nico and the others to join us. I know he is not going to like my plan but there is no way in this world I am not going with them to get Erik, I could never forgive myself if anything went wrong and I wasn’t there. The baby somersaults inside of me again and I am certain it’s a sign of agreement with my thoughts. I gently rub my hand over my stomach in a soothing gesture “Don’t worry we’ll get your daddy back safely” I whisper. Looking up I catch Papa’s eyes fill with emotion. “That little one will be the greatest gift we could have imagined after everything you have endured” his lips give a wistful smile as he walks over and wraps me in his arms. “We’re going to bring him home I just feel it” he whispers before kissing my cheek. The door almost crashes open and I know before I look it’s Nico, he will be beyond anxious now it’s been a few hours that we have been apart. His face is tight, his beautiful features pulled tog
Amelia My entire body is coiled ready for Clara’s signal. We’re about a mile out from their compound in an unmarked van. If all goes to plan we should be in and out before they even realise we’ve been there but there’s always that little doubt inside of me. Damian. He has consistently been a step ahead of us, what if he is this time too? Seconds tick by like hours, there is absolutely silence in the air, everyone too caught up in their thoughts, too focused on what’s to come for conversation, making the silence drag out to what feels like eternity. I’m comforted by Giovanna’s reassuring arm around my shoulders, her touch feels like that of the mother I so miss. I can see the comfort that Miranda’s presence provides for Papa too, his brow a little less furrowed with her beside him. Glancing at Nico he sits alone, prone, ready, everything about him deadly. Part of me wants to reach over and give him some comfort too but I know he doesn’t need or want it, he is lethal, danger
Amelia Erik’s head slumps low his body heavy against the chains holding him tot he wall, it looks like he is unconscious, every inch of his body is covered in wounds and bruises, blood pools at his feet. I have to stifle a cry, knowing that I can’t fall apart just now we need to get him out of here. Desperately I look to Clara and she types in numbers on a keypad to release the door, it beeps and then stays red, locked, keeping me apart from Erik. Panic begins to rise in my throat, at the look of shock on Clara’s face that her code hasn’t worked. I’m about to start clawing at the door to let us in when Giovanna’s gentle touch makes me look a her. She nods to Nico who is barking orders into his comms, less than a second later he gives me a wink and the door releases. I have never felt relief like it when it opens enough that I can push through. I just need to get to Erik. Everything in me wants to touch him but his body is so damaged that I worry I will cause him more pain.
Erik I slowly regain consciousness and wonder what fresh torrent of hell awaits me today. Yet, my body does not scream in agony as I have become accustom to, the bite of chains around my wrists and ankles doesn’t grind against my very bones. My back feels cushioned on a soft comfortable material, my skin feels normal instead of open wounds grating on a rough stone wall. My mind doubts itself, what fresh torture have they conjured up to try and break me even further, honestly I am broken, they don’t need to do anything more to me, I welcome the final death rather than this existence of incessant pain and torture. Resisting the temptation to open my eyes and be exposed to their tricks I try to pretend I am still unconscious, perhaps they will leave me alone a little longer. “He should be awake by now Nico what if something is really wrong with him?” My heart sings at the sound of her sweet voice, my angel, my heart, my very soul, my Amelia. Then it hardens, this is a tric
Amelia The relief, the joy, the pure heart jumping moment of Erik opening his eyes was ruined and interrupted by that little traitor. I know I was cruel and shouldn’t have reacted like that before Erik is really recovered but her self righteous anger just tipped me over the edge. I have been holding it all together but only with the thinnest of threads and she snapped it. I wanted nothing more than to rip her head clean from her shoulders but I know that wouldn’t help Erik right now. At least she is gone from my fucking sight. If she has any brains she will stay that way. Turning quickly back to Erik I give him my full attention, I can see the damage in his eyes, he is not himself. He looks haunted. Sitting beside him and taking his hand once more I cup his face with my other “Erik talk to me please, are you okay?” Shit I curse myself, what a stupid question! Of course he’s not bloody okay. Yet I feel the slightest squeeze on my hand with his own and the attempt at a smile as
Amelia I pause inside the doorway to the room Nico and I have been sharing. He’s there shoving clothes into a bag, when he hears me he stops and turns to face me, his eyes heavy and sad. “Nico what is this?” It’s barely a whisper but he hears me. His head shakes ever so slightly as he rakes his hand through his hair. I walk over to him, placing my hands on his chest but his eyes refuse to meet mine. “Nico?” I press and eventually he looks at me. His voice is full of raw emotion when he eventually speaks. “Amelia there is no place for me here, you and Erik are going to be a family, I’m no fool I know he is your soulmate and I don’t plan on causing you problems, you’re both safe it’s time for me to make my own way. I knew this day would come” My heart stutters a little at his words, it had never crossed my mind that he would feel this way, that he could think there wasn’t a place for him with us. I reach up and touch his face, his eyes close as he leans into my touch and I
Amelia I sit bolt upright in bed as a blood curdling scream rips through the stillness of the night. It takes my confused mind too long to focus on where it is coming from I had been in the most peaceful sleep I could ever remember. My heart races as I try to focus. Suddenly a light flicks on and Nico is standing beside the bed coiled, ready to defend against the danger. Finally my senses hone in on the noise, Erik laying beside me, eyes tight in sleep, his body trembling and covered in a cold sweat, an unearthly scream of pain ripping from him over and over again. The room door slams open, a sleepy but alert looking Papa and Miranda stop just inside the room, I see the pain in their eyes as they take Erik in. “What should I do? Will I wake him?” I can hear the desperation and fear in my own voice. I had thought he was okay after our conversation but he must have been putting a face on how he was really feeling. What horrors did they truly inflict upon him? Miranda rushe