CHAPTER 8

"Miss Stokenholme, I advise you to take the medicine. It will relieve your pain." the doctor said

"Take the medicine, Claire. I am not going to lose you, losing mother and losing you is different." Raymond said, following the doctor and by adding his own personal touches.

Its been a week since the grand take down that failed but also ended up adding more problems too. As soon as Claire fainted, Raymond noticed that she was burning up so carried her upstairs to her room and asked Dani to call for a doctor as soon as possible. As he laid her down, he began to take care of her until the doctor arrived and said she had mild fever but he also found out that she had an irregular heart beat.

"Irregular heart beat? What do you mean?"

"It might also be because of the fever as I see nothing else that is wrong with the lady. I will come back and check in a few days.

It has been a week and Claire's fever has not completely gone yet and she was refusing to drink medicine, saying it is way too bitter for her liking. The doctor also found out that her heart beat had come back to normal.

"You are being dramatic. It's just a fever, Raymond."

"Drink the medicine, Claire. It's non-negotiable." he said firmly.

Reluctantly she drank the whole concoction in one breather. It left a very bitter taste on her tongue. Soon, the doctor left and Dani was dismissed so that the siblings could talk privately.

"Did you actually plan with Killian Salvatore to come and take away Sylvie?"

"I know that it was not best way to do that. I almost endangered the twins, Hannah and the helpers."

"Why would you do that? I would have wanted you to come to me directly if you had a problem with Sylvie? Why didn't you tell me that you had problems with Sylvie?"

"Because you were far away from here trying to be your best in the academy so that you could come back to us. Sylvie only had a problem with me and she never hurt the twins or Hannah and I promised on my own life that I would never do something to hurt them. When I went and saw Salvatore, he gave me his word that he would not hurt anyone innocent. I trusted him because I had no choice." she said with a sense of guilt enveloping her.

"If I came to you about Sylvie, you would have went and slaughtered her and I could not have that. She had to pay for everything she did but I just never expected her think two steps ahead and protect herself like that."

"And looked where that got us. You are to marry Killian Salvatore. That man is crazy and doesn't care for anybody but himself and now you got yourself binded together by marriage. With a man like that, death is the only escape out of the bond and nothing else will be able to save you."

"I don't want to be saved. I want and need for you guys to save your self first. You, Dave, Stephan and Hannah. That's who matter. That's whose safety matters, and I would sacrifice myself again and again if I am able to save you."

"Then what about you? Who will save and protect you?" 

Claire and Raymond turned their head towards the entrance to see the twins and Hannah standing there.

"You keep saying you will protect all of us but what about you Claire? Who will save and protect you? You have been there for all of us from the beginning yet it seems like all you do is protect other like you are their personal shield" Stephan said

"Oh.. Stephan, don't be silly. I am protecting myself like I protect you guys. Even if I get married I will come and see you everyday because I will always be there for you guys as a shield but also as someone you could come and talk and cry too. I love all of you equally and unconditionally. Never doubt that, okay?"

Hannah's eyes grew watery and moved herself away from the entrance and nearly flung herself at her sister. Sobs wrecked her body as she cried into her sister's shoulder.

Hannah always felt bad for her sister. Guilty towards her sister. Her sister that was beaten. Her sister that was starved. Her sister that was locked away. Her sister that always took punishment on behalf of her and the twins. She could never look Claire in the eyes scared that she will see disappointement and hatred filling her eyes.

Claire held her sister tightly as she cried into her shoulder, "Silly little children. Nothing is going to happen to me nor you. We will always be together no matter what."

Hannah pulled back from th hug and Claire wiped her sister's wet cheeks. It hurt her to see her sister crying and in pain. 

"Come here you two." Claire called out to her brothers, that still stood next to the entrance of the room.

They slowly moved towards Claire's bed and stood on each side as they hugged her. It had been ages since all three young sibling got their sister's warmth and safety instead of Sylvie's cold and calculating presence. 

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