Hold True

Chapter 12

Thank you for reading!  Please let me know if you spot anything that needs fixed.

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Niles strolled into the room acting like he owned the place carrying a small brown bucket of what I assumed to be holy water. He nodded his thanks to the two older men who just finished fixing my door. They did a little bow back and resumed picking up their tools.

Niles walked straight to Elliot who was lounging on my bed staring off in space and didn’t seem too affected by his wounds. “How’re you feeling?” Niles asked and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Tired,” Elliot said as a yawn escaped his lips.

Niles ran his hand across Elliot’s forehead, “Bites?” He asked next.

I got up out of my uncomfortable wooden chair and shuffled over to join their conversation. I decided about an hour ago that I was going to believe what they said about the damned. I didn’t want to believe in magic but I didn’t have much of a choice.  And after seeing it with my own eyes…I felt stupid trying to deny it.

“They quit bleeding about…fifteen minutes ago,” I told Niles for Elliot, because he still wasn’t paying much attention.

I really wanted to know why Elliot was so caught up in his thoughts… So I asked, “What’re you thinking about?”

Elliot glanced at me with a distant look on his face, “What?” He whispered.

Niles stood up and walked over to the side of the bed I was on so he could get a better look at Elliot. “You do seem lost… What’s on your mind little man?”

Elliot blinked a few times, cleared his throat, and looked Niles in the eye. “How did my parents die…? I know they were bitten, but that’s all I’ve ever been told… Did the damned kill them? Or…were they turned?”

I was surprised and shocked by his question but I could understand. I saw both my parent’s dead bodies so I’ve always known how they died. If I didn’t know how they were killed…I think it would have bothered me more.  Watching the emotions cross Elliot’s face made me glad in a messed up way that Sir was sick and wanted me to see what was left of my family… but then again I still see their lifeless bodies whenever I close my eyes… So in a way Elliot is lucky.

Niles cleared his throat uncomfortably, “Are you sure you want to talk about this in front of Harper?”

Something that almost equaled a smile grew on Elliot’s face, “Maybe if you know something personal about me…You’ll let me know something about you.” He challenged as he looked me in the eye.

I stood there giving Elliot a blank stare, “There are reasons why I haven’t told you about my past.” 

“What are they?” Elliot pleaded sliding to the edge of the over-stuffed bed.

“Personal?” I tried, looking to the ground and shuffling my feet.

“Please?” He begged then looked to Niles for help.

Niles cleared his throat again, “Umm…If I tell you how Elliot’s parents died…Will you tell us something…anything about your past?”

I thought about it for a second. There are some things I remember from before Sir captured me. But if they were going to tell me something as personal as the death of Elliot’s parents, I should give them the same courtesy, “Maybe.”

“Oh, come on!” Elliot whined bring his hands together, “I’ll get down on my knees and beg if I have to.”

I sighed, “Fine…I’ll tell you…something.”