102. The Girl In The Cell

KIARA

The next day I awoke, feeling a little cold despite Alejandro's arms around me. After we left the caverns we went to get a quick wash out by the lake, something Alejandro only allowed me to do after the area was definitely clear of all life. We then had breakfast before I started on the Wendigos.

Many had been killed last night, but in total there were about thirty-two that I would be able to heal. The process didn't take much out of me to start with, but after thirteen, I needed a break.

Alejandro didn't leave me for even a second. He had contacted his men, who had been waiting at the outskirts of the forest to protect me, via mind link, and had told them about the turn of events.

"Come on, sweetheart, let"s get some food in you."

"I've eaten, I just need some rest." I said, rubbing my head.

From the ones I had healed, not all of them were mentally stable, and I knew they'd need therapy or some form of help. What broke my heart was the youngest Wendigo was a girl barely seventeen years old. Ever since I had changed her back, she had refused to let anyone near her. She seemed terrified and intimidated by all the men around too.

"Can you give us some space?" I said to Alejandro, looking towards the far corner of one of the cells, where the girl was huddled into a foetal position. Not even bothering with the clothes that had been given to her.

"Sure." He said, frowning deeply.

I knew he hated leaving me alone for even a second, but I was glad that he let me do what I wanted, even if he didn't like it.

"Thank you." I said, tiptoeing to kiss his cheek. He turned at the last moment, catching my lips with his own.

Then gave me an arrogant smirk before I walked off. Knowing his eyes were on me, I ruffled my hair with both my hands, letting my top rise up a little, giving him a good view of my ass. I smirked when I heard his heart race and almost skipped into the cell, feeling satisfied.

My amusement vanished when I pushed open the door to the cell, sensing her turmoil of emotions; fear, guilt, pain. I wondered if they remembered what they did in their Wendigo state? If that was the case, this was going to be a lot harder.

"Can I come over?" I asked softly.

She tensed, curling up tighter.

"S-stay away…" She whispered.

"I just want to make sure you're ok… I know, it won't be easy…"

I knew we were being watched. It had been the same since the morning. Many felt confused that we were helping them without a reason. I just hoped they understood we were on the same side.

"N-no, I'll hurt you!" She whispered.

"You won't." I said firmly.

I turned and looked at a few men who were watching, motioning to them that I wanted some food brought to me. One of them nodded and walked off quickly. I picked up the joggers and shirt that had been placed in the cell and walked closer. "Come on, even if you're scared to hurt me, I assure you I"m pretty strong."

"You don't know that." Came the quiet reply.

"Well then, I trust that you won't, because I see a girl who's been through hell and back in front of me, not a monster." I said, softly crouching down. "Come on, get dressed."

"I to-told y-you I'll hurt you!" She said, sitting up as she scurried away from me.

I looked at her sympathetically.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Joanna…" She replied hesitantly.

I flashed her a smile as I glanced around the gloomy cell, lit only by a few lanterns which had been placed in the halls and here for me.

"Nice name, can I call you Jo? I"m Kiara. You can call me Kia…" I sat down cross-legged, keeping a three-foot gap between us.

She nodded hesitantly, flinching when the doors opened and a woman stepped in holding a plate of food.

I motioned her to pass it to me, before she gave me a small smile and left. I had gotten a lot of hostility from them since this morning, but as the day progressed, they seemed to be less cold towards me.

"You know… you can share what"s scaring you?" I said, pushing the plate across towards her.

She flinched, slowly grabbing the pants and pulling them on clumsily. I looked away, giving her the privacy she needed until she settled down on the ground and looked at the plate.

"I… I"m scared to become that again…" She whispered. "I"m scared I'll kill someone again."

"What you became was not your fault, what you have done was not in your control. Jo… as long as your intentions are good, then you don't need to feel guilty. We have all done things we aren"t proud of. I sure have!" I said, giving her a small smile as I motioned to the food.

Hesitantly, she took it.

"But you know what, we're human-well kind off. We are bound to make mistakes. You know... I"m the one who turned you back, so as long as you are around me, you will be fine. I won"t mind you staying close." I said softly.

"R-really?" She asked, looking uncertain.

"Really." I replied firmly.

She nodded, giving me a weak smile before she began to eat.

Her hazel eyes looked dull and I hoped one day their spark returned.

I sat with her on that cell floor until she had eaten before I told her I wanted to go help the rest. She told me she'd just stay in the cell for a while. I just hoped she'd somehow heal…

I was just about to leave when she spoke.

"W-wait…"

I turned and looked at her.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I want to speak to Delsanra... can I?"

"Of course, do you want me to call her?"

"Yes please." She said, wrapping her arms around her legs.

I stepped out of the cell and the three men who were standing there, looked at me.

"Queen Luna, the girl she speaks of, has escaped."

"Oh…" I said, looking back at the girl who simply nodded in understanding and looked away. It took me a moment to realise what they had just called me, but as much as I wanted to deny the title, I was more curious about the girl. "Who was she?"

"A witch with magic darker than Endora..." Marcel's voice came.

I turned to look at him as Alejandro came over to me.

"Oh…" I said, glancing back at Jo. I wonder why she wanted to speak to her. "Don't you think you"re saying that simply because Endora blinded you?"

Marcel shook her head.

"No, Endora clearly turned to the dark… That child… She was born from darkness." He said, frowning deeply. "I just hope she's not caught, because Endora needed her…"

"Then it wasn't fucking smart to let her go then, was it?" Alejandro growled.

"To me… She was still a child, barely sixteen years old… I"m sorry, but I am not going to hold a child captive when I am acting of my own free will."

"Yeah, but we could have at least kept her the fuck away from Endora." Alejandro shot back.

"Ok boys…" I said, placing a hand on Alejandro's arm, before Marcel got fired up too. "Is something else bothering you?"

He sighed and looked down at me.

"I felt a pack link break. I wanted to step out, get a cell phone connection and find out if it was Fred… or someone else." He said, his eyes flashing red.

I nodded, my heart thudding at the thought. How was Aunty Indy going to take the news?

I knew Aunty would always question if there was any chance of redemption, would he have changed? I knew deep down that abusers like that never changed. I sighed deeply, hoping that Selene would grant my aunt the healing she would need to make it through this… Because it was surely going to devastate her…