14. ~Sebastian~

Too much time was ticking on by.

They hadn't recovered Caleb.

He was in the wind.

It had been for nothing.

Me escaping had been for fucking nothing. I shouldn't have agreed to his plan to get me out of there so I could call in help. I should've fucking known it wouldn't work out so easily, that there would be complications, that a madman like Elijah Bane would react in a completely unpredictable way that none of us could see coming.

At least if I was still there I could share the burden with him, the torment he was being subjected to, the despicable suffering.

Now he was there all alone.

Pained.

Scared.

Being abused.

I'd briefly seen Caspian when he'd come back home yesterday to tell me and Sky what had happened, that they had found that awful mansion empty. There'd been a haunted look in his eyes that I'd never seen before which suggested he'd seen something else there too, something fucked-up. But when I'd asked, he'd refused to tell me. And then he'd just walked out.

I hadn't seen him since.

Sky had been in a lot to see me and feed me.

The doctor had also been in to check on me and she'd confirmed I was making good progress, strengthening, rehydrating and all that.

I'd fallen asleep for some time and found some more lime Jello with a note from Damien telling me he was here in the mansion if I needed anything from him at all.

Then Sky had come in again earlier this afternoon to spend some more time with me, then to give me a new phone that had been set up exactly like the one that had been taken from me during the kidnapping. She'd left when she'd gotten a text, which she'd been all secretive about.

And since then I'd been alone.

I couldn't stand it.

They were keeping me from what was going on with the search for Caleb because I was in this weakened state. They just wanted me to rest and relax so I could get better.

Enough of that.

I dislodged the IV and pushed out of bed.

The moment I stood up for the first time in too long, my legs shook and an intense wave of lightheadedness had me wavering.

Son of a bitch.

I was forced to sit back down on the bed.

I considered calling Sky in to help me, but she'd probably just insist I remained resting up here. And knowing the power of persuasion that she had over me, she'd be able to convince me to continue doing just that.

Sighing in a whole lot of frustration, I reached out a shaking hand to grab my phone.

With trembling fingers, I managed to fire off a text to somebody who I knew I could get to help me and see things my way.

I couldn't believe it had come to this, that I was calling on his help. Yet again, actually.

Sebastian: I need your help. Come alone.

I'd literally only just put my phone back down when I heard the slam of a door, then footsteps rushing down the corridor outside.

In the next second, the bedroom door flew open and he stood there, eyes wide with a whole lot of worry all over him.

As he came barreling in toward me, he shoved a hand through his dripping wet shaggy hair, shaking it out a little. He was wearing just a towel slung low on his hips.

"Little bro, what's wrong? What's happened?"

"Were you in the shower? Like a fraction of a second ago, Damien?"

"Yeah. I heard my phone buzz with the specific sound I'd set up for you, so I bolted out then saw your SOS text."

"It wasn't exactly a SOS. I could've waited a little while. Shit."

He lifted a shoulder. "Doesn't matter. You called, I'm here. Now what's—" He caught sight of the IV hanging free. "This pulled out? All right, let's fix it. Lay back down and I'll—"

"No," I said, grabbing his arm.

He cocked an eyebrow.

"I pulled it out. I need to get out of here, I need to know what's going on and be a part of the effort to bring Caleb back." I looked away, hating admitting it. "I just… I can't… stand on my own, all right? That's why I messaged you. I… I need help."

"Seb, I get it. I do. But I really think it's best if you just stay up here and rest for now, regain your strength."

"Damien—"

"Listen." He eased his arm from my weak grip and blew out a breath. "It's not just about you being like this right now. It's because they're all worried you're gonna put Caleb not being here now on yourself. That kind of heavy guilt and grief with what happened to you a couple of years back… it's not good for you. It's dangerous, in fact." He gestured at the other bedside table. "I told Skylar about the sorts of books you like to read—all that fantasy stuff—and she had a load brought in for you this morning. Why don't you immerse yourself in that, keep distracted, then rest as well? I can also have the staff set up your video games in here too if you want."

"I can't sit this out."

"You're not the only one. I'm on the sidelines too. Except for heading down to that mansion, I've been thrown off to the side. And it's okay, they've got a lot of people working on bringing Cal back. Even that hot piece, Asher, is here."

"Caleb's Asher?"

"Shit, don't let King hear you say that." He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "But, yes."

"Wow, that's… really something. Cas working with him? Shit."

"So, you see? They've got all the help they need." He sat down on the bed beside me. "Skylar's keeping me updated, so how about I pass all that along to you, so you're at least kept informed? She's gonna keep it from you to protect you."

I sighed and slumped back against the headboard, needing the support. "Okay. Putting up a fight about it all is just gonna slow them down with what needs to be done for Caleb anyway."

"Yeah, little bro, it probably will."

The next thing I knew, he was wrapping his arms around me and helping me back into the bed properly. And then he reattached the IV.

"You want me to get out of your space, sit on the chair?" he asked.

"No." I patted the space beside me.

He couldn't hide his surprise at the invitation.

And then he was hurrying over and settling beside me, leaning back against the headboard. "So, I'll tell you what I already know, about what happened at that mansion, all right?"

I settled in and listened as he informed me of them arriving at the place and finding it empty. I jolted as he mentioned the chains and a long table that had been covered in hair and fluids, and then the words in blood on the wall.

"It wasn't Caleb's blood," he told me quickly as he saw me about to freak out in a major fucking way.

"What? You're sure?"

"Yeah, King took some samples and had it tested. It wasn't his. They looked into it and it belonged to some recent missing persons." He grimaced. "They were found earlier this morning in a ditch. Six women, all dead."

"Jesus Christ."

"I know, that Elijah is another level of demented."

"And Caleb's still in his clutches."

"He won't be for much longer. Everyone is working together to locate him. Asher even has this program, code, algorithm, or some kind of script—not sure of the exact technical details—that's pulling all the pieces together from every lead, surveillance photos, every single thing and person involved to amalgamate everything into a full picture. King is pulling on his street-level connections, ex-military contacts and basically everyone he knows. They'll find him, Seb. I know it."

"Telling me this and also what you did for Sky… that's the big brother I've hoped for."

His eyes shone at me.

He was in disbelief for several moments.

And then he reached out and gave my shoulder a squeeze. "I'm just sorry it took so long for me to live up to that. Despite the distrust still there—especially from King—I am here for you now, Seb. I am. I won't ever fucking hurt you again. And I'm gonna keep doing whatever I can until you can believe that all the way."

A sudden knock on the open door pulled us from our rare brotherly moment, and we both looked to see Luke standing there.

He smiled as he took us in, then he told me, "There's a friend here to see you."

"A friend? I thought the manor was locked down?"

"King made an exception, per Miss Bennett's request. It's Ashley Morrison."

"Sure. Send her up."

Luke eyed Damien. "Might want to put some clothes on."

"You want to get them for me then, sure, because I'm not leaving my brother."

"I'm not housekeeping," Luke muttered, before walking off to retrieve Ashley.

Damien chuckled.

"Don't test Luke. He'll push back," I advised him.

"He knows I'm just ribbing him. He needs the levity with the way King is at the moment. Right on the fucking edge. Maybe even over it, actually."

"I know." I'd seen some of it for myself, and Sky had told me a whole lot more.

The problem was, there was no cutting into it or easing it for him. Not with Caleb gone and still in danger. He wouldn't be able to see reason through any of it.

"Hey, this friend of yours, her name sounds familiar."

"She's an up-and-coming model, a fashion influencer too."

"Ah, the model with the coke habit, right?"

"She's in recovery. I met her in my support group."

"Huh."

"You were only able to stalk me at Luxe, huh?"

"Yeah. King cut me off everything else."

"Well, maybe we can change that when all of this done."

"Really?" he asked, so much hope in his eyes.

Before I could answer, Ashley walked into the room, escorted by Luke.

He gave me a chin lift, then headed back down the corridor.

"Thank God," she said, as she took me in. "I needed to see for myself when the reports came in all over the news that you were finally back."

She shifted her weight in her pink bootcut pants and a glittering silver wrap top, a pink studded circular purse hanging off her wrist.

"Fuck me. She's incredible," Damien whispered.

It wasn't quiet enough, though. Ashley's eyes sparked and she flicked her long blonde hair. "That's the best greeting I've had in a long while," she told my brother.

He pushed off the bed and rounded it, then held his hand out to her. "How's this?"

She giggled and took his hand, and I saw him hold back a lot as he shook with her. Hmm.

"I've heard a lot about you," she told him, trying to be discreet as she raked her gaze all over him.

"Damn, I guess that's it for me then."

"No. Not at all."

"What?" Damien asked, surprised that she wasn't going to dismiss him from his bad rep.

"Yeah, I mean, talk and rumors rarely match who people actually are. The three of us know that all too well, after all."

"Damn, you're something," Damien said, drinking her in.

I rolled my eyes and redirected, telling her, "Thanks for coming, Ashley. I'm doing well, getting better."

"Shit, I'm glad. I was so worried. It was all over the news… God." She reached into her purse and held something out to me. "I got you this for while you're getting better to take away the boredom and stuff. It's one of those RPG games you like. This one is called Kingdom Come."

I reached out and took it. "Perfect. This is really thoughtful."

"What are friends for, right?" she said, smiling in that bright way of hers. "Besides, it's the least I could do after how you helped me out with Billy."

"Billy?" Damien asked, seeming far too curious.

"My ex."

"Fucker hurt you?"

"A little. It would've been worse if Sebastian hadn't shown up." She smiled. "And his ninja girlfriend."

"Ninja girlfriend," Damien chuckled. "She'll love that."

Yeah, she would.

I frowned. How did he know that?

"So, I have a fitting to get to, but I wanted to make sure I dropped by and saw for myself that you were okay," Ashley told me.

"Thank you," I said, smiling out at her. "I'll see you at group again soon."

"Good. It's not the same without you there."

"Of course it's not, Seb has a real presence about him," Damien said.

"Well, it must run in the family then," Ashley told him.

"Yeah?"

She looked him up and down. "Oh, definitely."

They grinned at each other.

Then an awkwardness descended, and she waved nervously, then turned to go.

Damien just stood there watching her walk away.

Jesus Christ. "Get her number," I whispered to him.

He bolted forward. "Ashley?"

She spun around and they almost collided. If it hadn't been for his quick reflexes, they likely would have. "What's up?"

"I just… I mean…"

Wow, I'd never seen him like this before. Unsure of himself. Nervous around anybody he had taken a liking to.

"He wants to ask for your number," I called over.

Her eyes lit up. "Sure. I—"

"Oh, fuck, I don't have my phone on me," he muttered. "Towel," he said, tugging at it in frustration.

She chuckled and pulled her phone out of her purse. "Give me yours and I'll give you a call sometime."

"You'll give me a call?" he asked, at a loss.

"Yeah, you have a problem with the girl taking the lead?" she teased.

"No… I mean… I'm not used to… it's… sounds good, princess."

"Princess? I like that. What does that make you?"

"Definitely not the prince, I can tell you that," I jested.

Damien tossed me a look. "Thank fuck," he said, before looking back at her. "He's already got that title. Not my scene. More like the big, bad wolf for me."

"Right up my alley."

"Interesting."

"I'd say so."

This was… something else.

Finally, he gave her his number. They eye-fucked each other one last time, then she headed on out, and I heard Luke talking to her further down the corridor and escorting her out.

"Holy fuck," Damien breathed, turning back around and coming to the bed.

He hopped up and sank against the headboard, looking all bright-eyed.

"Holy fuck indeed. I've never seen you like that before."

"Like what?"

"Thrown off."

"Well, she's… there's something about her. Something sweet and… innocent, I guess. I didn't want to scare her with my usual heavy handed approach. It's something I've been working on for a while now. Still a work in progress apparently, though."

"Nah, you did well with it." I eyed him curiously. "So your goal isn't to tarnish that innocence you felt from her then?"

"The opposite."

"What does that mean?"

"I guess… I could do with some of that in my life."

"Well, she's definitely a ball of sunshine. Just tread carefully, Damien. She's been hurt a lot by that ex of hers. She's also in recovery like me."

"And she's your friend."

"She is."

"I won't hurt her. I swear it, all right?"

"I'll hold you to it."

"I don't doubt it, little brother."

I shifted my weight. "Are you and Sky… what's going on there?"

His eyes shot wide. "I would never—I know she's yours. I wouldn't—"

"I wasn't even thinking that. But thanks for the nightmares."

He chuckled. "No, we're friends. Almost friends, maybe. King has been pushing her away and without you and Cal here, she was pretty much all alone. I was too. So we kind of came together, grew closer. When King interrogated me about it, I described it as a big brother-little sister dynamic."

"Huh."

"Does it bother you?"

I shook my head. "No. I was just worried about the Cas pulling away part. But you and her becoming friends, it's a good thing."

"Because her with me was a major obstacle for you and me to get back on track, right? After the fight club." He winced. "What I did that night… fuck, I'm sorry, Seb. It was beyond fucked-up. I've apologized to Skylar—a lot. But I realized I never really did to you."

"If she's accepted it, so will I."

"Yeah?"

"We've had enough bad blood to last a lifetime. I mean, it's going to be a work in progress with us trying to rebuild, Damien, but I'm willing to try now."

He smiled. "That's all I wanted. And I promise, I won't make you regret it."

"Come here," I said, holding out my arm.

Shocked, he hesitated.

"Really," I assured him.

He shifted closer to me and I wrapped my free arm around him.

And then he was throwing both of his around me, holding me tightly to him.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he uttered brokenly into my shoulder.

"I know. I know you are."