Chapter 9

I’m crying when I wake up in Bernie's house. It was a horrible nightmare that I had. It seems too real but I refuse to believe that it has happened. I’m still too weak to move. Derek’s not in the room but I can hear him arguing with someone. It sounds like Bernie, and then it gets closer.

"She doesn't belong here. She needs to go back to 2013 where she belongs. Her Dad left explicit directions for us to send her back." My eyebrows shoot up!

"He didn't leave the message for you. He left it for your fathers."

"Yes, and they are no longer able to do so."

"You can't take her away from me! I won't let you."

"The decision is not yours to make, it's hers."

"She can't possibly go back yet, she's not ready!" Derek says with a hitch in his voice.

"I'm not saying that we are going to do it right now. We have to wait for Mr. Miller to get out anyway."

"That's not what you just said."

"I was only giving you a heads up. Have your fun with her but don't get too close. She doesn't belong here."

"I don't care if she doesn't belong here. I'll take care of her. I love her."

"You don't even know her name! You barely even know her."

"Does that matter? It doesn't to me. I don't care what happened in her past. She seems to want to know and that is why I am helping her."

"Oh boy, Derek, you have gotten yourself into a mess.” Bernie sounds sympathetic. “Come on, lets get us some drinks."

As I hear them leaving, I wipe the tears away. I don’t really know what I feel about the situation. I want to erase the bad things that have happened, and see my Dad, but I also want to be with Derek. Maybe we can compromise somehow. While I’m thinking about this, Derek and Bernie enter the room.

"How do you not know her name? Didn't her father put it in the letter?"

"No, he wrote it in sadness. Well, it could be Darling because that's all it kept saying was 'My Darling!'"

"Okay, we'll see if it works. Or if she likes it."

"She should be just about ready for another dose of pain killer. Do you want to see if we can wake her up?"

"Absolutely, I wouldn't mind seeing her hazel eyes again. Even for just a minute."

"Okay, let's try not to be too loud."

I hear the click of the door so I roll my head in that direction. Bernie is the first to enter the room but he’s pulling a syringe out of a tiny bottle so he doesn’t notice me. Derek walks over to grab my hand. He notices me crying.

"Hey, honey, it’ll be alright. In a few more days, you will be able to be conscious.” He pauses, with a scowl on his face. “I have stuff to tell you, too.” He sighs, running his hands through his hair. “I wish I could hold you but, I can't. I would hurt you."

I nod slightly and offer up my best smile. It’s weak but good enough to get one of his beautiful smiles in return. It’s a shame that I can’t ease his guilt by telling him about what I remember and how I feel. Looking at him, I know that I need to make it work somehow.

When I drift off to sleep, I find myself hoping to go back to my memories. I need to know what happened to my Dad. I don’t have to hope for long because, after a few moments, Dad and I are back in front of the priest.

He’s looking confident about something. I look towards my Dad and gasp at the sight of his face and body. His eyes are almost swollen shut, lips are bleeding, and he has deep gashes in his back and arms. He looks like he was a guard's sparring partner and Dad didn't fare too well.

"Have you learned anything yet? You are a disgrace to yourself. So much power, so much waste.” The priest taunts. “What to do to you? Hmm? Was it not enough proof, that you have no choice, when my men had their way with your daughter?"

I look down at myself and realize that I have scrapes all over my hands and knees, my lips are busted, my palms are bruised, and it hurts to breathe. Realization kicks in, this is where I was before I saw Derek. It definitely was not a dream. I don’t get much time to think about it though because the priest is continuing.

"You killed one of my men. They say you fight like a mad man and that your eyes were actually red."

"Touch my daughter again and you can find out."

"Oh, such a brave man! You should be a noble. We need such brave men”

The priest looks at him scornfully for a moment before adding, “But you are not. You are a Wizard, a Wizard not brave enough to help. Selfish enough to watch his daughter suffer."

"Leave her out of this!"

"Okay, okay, for now! Let's try the theory about the future. Prove to me that you tell the truth." the priest said with a cheery voice that seems more frightening.

"I can't. We broke the devices, or I should say your men broke them on our way to the castle."

"Then you lied. We will see in the morning, if you have changed your mind."

Then we’re hoisted up by the guards; the same two as before. The one known as Joseph carries me. His face is a mask of pure fury and it sends chills down my spine. I think I hear him say that he will punish the ones that harmed me but I have to be imagining it.

When the guard holding my Dad enter the cell, Joseph gives me a kiss on the cheek and says that he promises they will pay. I guess I didn’t imagine that. That’s when I notice the emblem on his shirt, under the chain mail, is not a raven.

Note from author: I'm sorry this chapter is so short. This seemed like the best place to break it up. I hope you're enjoying it so far.