Page 42 of Gift from the Source
It’ll all be different. Every path will change.
But she’ll never be harmed. She’ll never be hurt.
She’ll never be forced to do anything against her will.
Franklin won’t be able to collect any more of her blood.
She’ll be safe.
Picking up her box from beside me, I open the lid and move her envelope over so I can see her stone.
“CC! Oh my God. Oh fuck. Are you okay?”
As if my thoughts alone summoned her, my greatest blessing falls to her knees, dropping the box in her hand, shrieking beside me. With shaky fingers, she traces the markings of the beating I took.
“Wh-What happened?”
“Everything’s going to be okay,filia mea.”
“It sure doesn’t look that way, CC. What the hell?” she mutters frantically as she reaches into the pocket dimension and snatches out the bag.
Popping the cap off two healing vials, I don’t reject them as she lays them to my lips although I know they won’t help. They’re a little taste of home I could surely use.
“What do I do? What do you need? Fuck, this doesn’t look good.” She continues to fret over me, and I reach my hand up to grip hers gently from around my face.
“Listen to me,filia mea,” I mumble and her watering eyes shoot up to mine. “We don’t have much time, so let’s get the hard stuff out of the way, then we’ll spend our time together, okay?”
“Wh-Why don’t we have much time?”
“You know why, my sweet girl,” I say, tapping on her heart. “I know you feel it.”
“Please no. It’s just bad heartburn,” she cries, and I snort, causing her to glare at me.
“I wish that were true.”
My heart splits open when her narrowed eyes break right before me. Deep, chest-heaving sobs tear throughout her body, and all I can do is hold her close as she falls into my chest.
“I have this one opportunity to be completely honest with you about some things, Willow, and I need to do that now. I need to make my decision, but I won’t do that without you.”
“What do you mean?” she asks, popping up and attempting to wipe away the never-ending stream falling from her eyes.
I dive into those sad silver abysses and I lay it all out for her.
I’m honest to the point I physically feel her heart break with each word, but I can’t lie to her in this moment. She needs to know everything she could gain, give up, lose, and sacrifice.
I don’t start with the good that will come from Elementra, though. I fear that if I do, I’m dangling a carrot in front of her, only to rip it away with what she has to endure to get it.
So I start with the monster that will be entering her life rather soon with the first option. I tell her the dark trauma and truth of what he will put her through.
Only after that do I tell her about her family in Elementra.
Then I tell her option two and everything to expect from that.
When she falls into my arms once again in a fit of uncontrollable tears, I can’t help but think about the many times I’ve had to do this. I’ve been holding her little body as she’s broken down for twelve years now. It never gets easier watching your daughter’s heartbreak.
I’m so ready for my baby girl to get the peace she so desperately deserves.
“Why won’t you be here for any of this?” She hiccups.
