The Strength of Love
Cara:
"Cara, can you please tell us where you came from? Or, at least, who you think is after you?"
"I only know him as 'Sir.'"
I glanced up to see Jess and Beck exchanging a look.
"'Sir?'" they said in unison.
"Yes," I hesitated before continuing. "My mother married him when I was twelve years old and then," I had to stop. I couldn't say it. The words caught in my throat making it feel as though I was burning and freezing at the same time.
"Hey, it's okay," Beck slowly reached for my hand. I looked down at it expecting to feel afraid, but his warm touch was comforting. "Take your time."
I raised my gaze to his face and his eyes caught mine. It felt as though I was drawing strength from him. Without breaking eye contact I said "He killed her and kept me for himself. He's the father of my baby."
Beck:
I didn't like killing. With each life I had taken, a little piece of my soul chipped away. I had only killed twice, and, to be honest, they both really did deserve to die, but did killing them really make me any better? I was a murderer.
"Are you okay?" The voice startled me.
I kept my eyes steady on the horizon, as I contemplated how to answer.
"I'd say I'm fine, but I know you see right through me. So there's no point in lying."
Jess was silent.
"Shit, Jess, what are we doing?" I turned to look at her. "We could die today, and we're making that girl promises to protect her and her baby?"
I looked deep into her eyes searching for answers to questions I didn't know how to ask.
"And killing," I turned away again and grabbed the rail of the boat so tightly that my knuckles blanched. "Are you really ready to kill for her?"
"You've killed for me before, and I'm grateful."
I felt the light pressure of her hand on my arm.
"I'm not asking you to kill for me again, or for her. But when she told us about that man," she paused for a moment and leaned her hip against the rail next to my hand. "That 'Sir,'" she grimaced.
"That could have been me, but you stopped it. I could be the one with some monster's baby, and frankly, I don't think I would feel the same way about it as Cara does."
I looked up and saw tears in her eyes. "Jess," I released my grip on the rail and reached for her, but she put up her hand to stop me.
"Look, I know you did what you did because you love me, and we've only just met this girl." She sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes with the palms of her hands.
"But she clearly didn't have a Beck to protect her when she needed it. It would be wrong for us to turn our backs on her now."
She looked up at me with stubborn conviction. "If it comes down to it, I'll gladly kill the bastard."
Katie_Story · Fantasy
