Reclaimed

“Well, that’s good to know.” She rubbed her eyebrows and leaned back in her chair. She dangled her head back against the top of the chair and stared at the ceiling. A yawn escaped her, and she blinked rapidly to clear her vision. Maybe she should take a nap.

“Yeah. How are things? Did you and Isaac kiss and make up?”

Sabrina winced, but didn’t bother to deny they’d fought this time. “Yes.”

“Good. Your puppy-dog sad faces haunted me the whole way home. It was awful.”

“Ha-ha,” Sabrina drawled.

“I’m serious. It was terrible to watch.”

“Sorry.”

Marie laughed. “It’s okay, I forgive you.”

“Gee, thanks. Now I’ll be able to sleep again.” She cringed as soon as the words were out of her mouth.

Here come the questions….

“Have you had any more nightmares?”

“No, I’m fine. How’s Samantha?” Hopefully the quick change of subject would confuse Marie. It worked, and Sabrina smiled as Marie launched off on her favorite topic: Sam.

They chatted for a few moments before hanging up. She shifted in her seat and tapped her fingers on her desk. All morning long she’d attempted not to think about the one thing on her mind even now, her dream. The clearing they had all died in taunted her mercilessly, and she yearned to compare it to its current state. She needed to see it again, but also knew Isaac wouldn’t want to take her.

Not only did he not like her going there, he didn’t enjoy going there either. That much had been clear when they had been there a few days ago. And she knew if she asked him to take her he’d feel compelled to do so, even though he didn’t want to. So while she didn’t want to make him go, it didn’t mean she couldn’t go check it out herself, did it? Screw it. The desire proved too strong; she needed to go.

The dream from last night tormented her endlessly, assaulting her with images she had no desire to see. She cringed as she remembered it once more.

“I love you, Elijah.” Amelia whispered.

“I love you, too, Amelia.” Love shone in his eyes as he leaned down and kissed her.

Then pain exploded in her face, and the world faded to black. When Amelia came to, Louisa hovered over her. What in the world happened? And where did Elijah go?

She groaned and rolled to her side, searching for signs of him. She didn’t see him anywhere. She sat up and tried to calm her rolling stomach.

She wet her dry lips and croaked out, “Where’s Elijah? What happened?”

“Hmm, maybe I can help. You are a harlot, and Elijah is a bastard who can’t keep his hands to himself. Caught up? Good, because off you go.”

Louisa grabbed her by the hair and threw her. She felt too stunned to even cry out from fear, or from the pain of her hair ripping out of her head. In an excruciating collision, she hit the ground and lay motionless as she attempted to catch her breath. A shadow fell over her, and she whimpered in fear.

She opened her eyes, sure she’d see Lady Harding, and instead saw Elijah.

Oh, thank God.

“Elijah, help me,” she whispered.

“There’s your whore, Elijah. Have any final words to say to her, before I kill her?”

She struggled to sit up, and Elijah shook his head at her.

“It need not be like this. We can leave together, just the two of us. Come to me, and we shall leave.”

Louisa sneered. “I have a much better plan, Elijah.”

Louisa stalked toward them, and Amelia sat up to search for an escape route. There had to be a way out.