Gabriel was the first witness called to testify. Behind him, a bigger-than life photograph showed him lying in a hospital bed, eyes glassy, bandages covering his arms and head. A funny jolt pierced through Lena's stomach when she recognized the hospital wallpaper; he must have been in the same hospital she had been in and she never even realized it.
In his halting voice, Gabriel told his story. He spoke of how he had actually witnessed Anastasia's death, and when he had tried to escape to alert the authorities, Robert had attacked him, knocking him out and taking him and Anastasia's body to his home, where, assisted by his mother, they had tied him up and kept him there for weeks until school got out.
"I couldn't move, couldn't speak." He said. "I was locked in a room for weeks with a rotting corpse by my side. Every few days Robert would come in and try to strangle me, but to protect myself I would use my pheromones to cause him to collapse; he couldn't touch me without fainting. But every day I could feel myself getting weaker. I tried to scream for help whenever I could hear the voice of his step-father or step-sister nearby, but my voice was so muffled I guess they couldn't hear me." He went on to explain how they had been moved to the recreational sports area at school after school had gotten out, how Robert planned to kill him from a distance with a gun, how Lena had showed up.
Both the offensive and defensive lawyers asked him many questions, and then, far too soon, it was Lena's turn to testify. She approached the outstretched bible with a trembling hand and, mimicking Gabriel's earlier action, repeated her oath of honesty.
She told the court everything that had happened to her, everything she had seen, everything Robert had said to her. The entire time, she could feel his clear-blue eyes boring into her back, but she simply straightened her posture and kept speaking. All of a sudden, a deep, blinding anger overtook her. So you think I'm a baby, do you? She snarled in her mind, recalling his earlier words. Let's see just how much of a 'baby' I am now. Her heart felt like it was turned to ice; nothing said could affect or harm her in any way. She coldly answered every question thrown her way, her chin held high.
Elliot's testimonial was much shorter, but when asked how he managed to find Lena, his answer was much vaguer. Glancing at the bible he had rested his hand on earlier, he bit his lip, hard. "My baby sister, Belinda…" he began, pausing, as if not sure how to proceed. "Belinda… she's always been able to "know" certain things about people." There was much whispering at his words. "I can't explain it," he continued. The lawyers grilled him for a very long time at this, but finally had to coincide with the answers he gave, looking very skeptical.
After his testimony, the judge stood to speak.
"I dismiss the witnesses from the rest of the court proceedings; they are free to leave, but we reserve the right to call them back at any time. Court is adjourned for a forty-minute break. Please be back in your seats by 3:30 pm today."
Most people stood to stretch, or wandered slowly from the room. Lena made her way to where her mother had proclaimed to be sitting.
"Lena, wait!" a voice called behind her, and, panting, Gabriel ran up to her.
"Lena," he said, avoiding eye contact. "I just wanted to tell you that even though I don't remember exactly what happened after you untied me, I'm so sorry. Whatever I did to you, I know it wasn't good."
Lena reached forward to take his hand, gripping it in a quick squeeze. She forced a smile. "It wasn't your fault. You were kidnapped and starved for weeks. Nothing that happened can be blamed on you."
He did not look convinced, but Lena turned and began to walk away just the same. The crowds parted for her, people whispering to one another, but she ignored them all, keeping her eyes peeled for the brown hair of her mom, who she eventually found.
"Let's go home, mom," she said. "You heard the lawyers; we don't have to stay anymore."
"Don't you want to know what happens with…" her mom began, trailing off before she said Robert's name.
"It's like you said earlier, Mom," Lena replied. "It's none of our concern. Whatever charges they slap him with, it won't be light. They are trying him as an adult, after all."
Her mother nodded and, gripping her daughter's uninjured elbow, she led Lena back to where they had parked the car. "I'll make a late lunch," her mother said. "Your father and I have something that we want to talk to you about."
They had started the car when a tapping at the window made Lena notice Elliot's presence; she unrolled the window and stuck her head out of it.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi," he replied. There was an awkward silence.
"Did you want to say anything?" Lena asked, feeling more uncomfortable by the second. She hadn't seen him since her rejection of him at the hospital, and these conflicting feelings certainly weren't helping anything.
"You look wonderful," he told her, and she offered him a tiny smile. "Thank you," she said. "You look nice, too." It was true, the olive green of his shirt paled in comparison to his eyes, but he looked nice just the same.
"I just wanted to say that it's nice to see you." He said. They were talking like characters out of a 1950's TV sitcom, polite and kind, but their words really didn't mean much, they felt so unnatural. Finally, he stepped back, waving goodbye as Lena's mom drove slowly out of the parking lot.
"He's an amazing boy," Lena's mother said, "if he sees so much in you. I'm so grateful he saved you, Lena."
It was the kind of thing a mother was supposed to say, but Lena could hear the sincerity behind her words.
"Yeah, he is amazing," she replied, and then the two drove in silence the rest of the way home.
Over sandwiches and soup at the kitchen table, her family made small-talk, with her father telling amusing jokes he had heard from the office. It was clear that he wanted to know more about the court case, but didn't want to bring it up in front of Lena; she knew her mom would tell him more about it when she wasn't around. Finally, the subject changed to what they both needed to tell Lena.
"Honey," her mother began, watching as Lena dipped her sandwich into her soup, letting the hot broth soak the bread and melt the cheese before she brought the corner to her mouth and nibbled at it. "You know we've been having money troubles for a long time now."
Lena looked up. "Yeah, I know," she replied, wanting to know what her mother was getting at. Did she want Lena to get a job? She supposed working at the grocery store with Vanessa wouldn't be too bad.
"And your father won't be able to return to a full-time work schedule for quite a while; even these half days wear him down quite a bit." Lena nodded.
"Our hospital expenses are way too much to cover, sweetheart. First your father, and now you… Hospitals are wonderful places that can save people's lives, but they do squeeze every cent you have right out of you."
Lena cringed with guilt. "I'm sorry!" she said. "I'll pay you back for all of my bills."
Her mother shook her head. "No, no! That's not what I'm saying at all. You're completely missing the boat. We don't mind paying for your hospital bills. We're your parents, and we love you. That's what we do. What I'm saying is that we just can't afford to live in the city anymore."
Lena blinked up at them. "What are you saying?"
"Well," her father said, his deep timbre of a voice calming her somewhat. "We've found a beautiful place in Virginia that we can rent. Almost a cottage, really. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, gorgeous everywhere you look."
Lena felt as if the floor had dropped out from underneath her. "Virginia?" she had never lived anywhere but in this very house, in the state of Pennsylvania, in the famous, history-filled city of Philadelphia, more widely known as Philly. The thought of moving to a different state, a rural part of a different state, was mind-blowing shocking.
"Is this for sure?" she asked, eyes wide. Her mother nodded.
"Yes, Lena; we've already made a down payment. We'll be living there by the end of next month, at the latest."
Lena blinked rapidly. "Next month?"
"Yes," he
r mother replied. "We had you enrolled at the school there, and everything is already taken care of. All we have left is to pack and leave."
"To be honest," her father added, "Money isn't the only reason we feel we need to leave. We think you've been through so much tragedy these past few months that it'd be good for you to get away from it all."
"What about Megan?" Lena said. What about Elliot? Lena thought.
"Megan's a wonderful girl, and you’ll still be friends," her father told her. "But we have no choice; there's no way we can afford to live in the city anymore. Do you understand?"
Slowly, Lena nodded. "Yes, I understand."
Chapter Nineteen
"Oh, Mom, I didn't know you were still up." Vanessa's voice was muffled through Lena's bedroom door, but the teenage girl could still hear pretty clearly.
"I couldn't sleep," came her mother's reply. Lena heard a jangle as Vanessa set her keys on the mantle, and the creak of sofa cushions as she sat by their mother.
All of a sudden, something jumped onto Lena's bed. Without her glasses, and in the dark of her bedroom, she had no idea what it was, and she let out a sharp gasp. The something let out a meow, and Lena breathed a sigh of relief.
"Jeez, Yamaha, give some warning," Lena whispered, stretching out a hand to stroke the cat's head. She strained her ears to eavesdrop on the conversation between her mother and sister.
"How did the trial go?" her sister asked. Their mother made a humming sound as she thought to think.
"It went well, I suppose. Lena did her part very well; I was a little taken aback by how grown up she seemed."
"But?" Vanessa prompted, sensing a hesitation in the woman's voice.
"But… I still think Lena's not over Robert. For just a moment there, the way she was looking at him… her eyes looked so broken. She covered it up after a moment, but I've never seen her like that. She looked just completely raw."
Vanessa gave a hollow laugh. "What, you think she'd be turning up roses right now? We're lucky she's not dead and hidden in his basement."
There was a loud sound as their mother stood, and a cursing as Lena assumed she banged her knee on the coffee table.
"Don't even say that, Ness!" The anger in her voice quickly faded to something sounding much younger and lost than her age. "I was so frightened when I got that phone call. And did you see her in the hospital like that? And then having to be the tough one, every day, while she's trying to pull herself back together… it's too much sometimes."
There was a long silence, and Lena heard the sound of liquid being poured into two glasses, as, she assumed, Vanessa made drinks for her and her mother. From around the corner of the hall, Lena could hear soft snores emanating from her parent's bedroom; her father was deeply asleep, as she knew she was supposed to be.
"So you told her about the move?" Vanessa asked, and there as another creak of the sofa as the two sat back down.
"Yeah," Mrs. Thresh sighed, and Lena could just picture her, rubbing the bridge of her nose as she always did when she used that tone. "She took it pretty well, though she seemed shocked at first."
"I'll bet!" Vanessa said. "She's never lived anywhere but this house, right?"
"Neither have you!" their mother countered with a snort. "This will be a big change for all of us."
"And," said Vanessa after a bit of a pause. "Did you tell her about me?"
"No," replied Mrs. Thresh, sounding guilty.
"Mom!" protested Lena's sister. "I thought you were going to say something today."
"I tried, I tried." Mrs. Thresh seemed uncomfortable with the topic. "But it seems the two of you have grown fonder of each other lately, and today was such a stressful day for her… I thought it could wait a day or so."
Tell me what? Lena thought, even as, purring like a rusty motor, Yamaha tucked his head underneath her chin. Her question was soon answered with her mother's comment.
"She'll miss you, Vanessa. Are you sure you don't want to move with us?"
Sitting up sharply, Yamaha falling into her lap with a meow of annoyance, Lena gasped. What?
"I can't move to Virginia, mom. You know why…"
Jumping out of bed with the cat under one arm, Lena hustled to the living room of her house. Both females turned their heads at her approach.
"Lena?" her mom questioned, paling. "I thought you were asleep." Lena ignored her.
"What do you mean you're not moving to Virginia with us?" she demanded.
Vanessa shook her head, sighing. "Well, guess now is as good a time as any to tell you."
Setting the cat on the floor, Lena refused to lose the harsh edge to her tone. "Then please do!" she insisted.
"Lena, I'm in my late twenties. I'm going to graduate college in a few months; why would I want to move to a different state? Most people my age are already not living at home, but I stayed for money reasons, and because I had no reason to leave. A lot of people want out of the house as soon as possible, but me? I love mom and dad, and I love you. I don't mind living at home."
Lena struggled to think of something to say, but before she could speak, her sister continued to do so.
"Having to have all my records transferred for the last few months of school just seems stupid, especially considering how well I'm doing. And I have a pretty steady job at the grocery store, but as soon as I graduate I'm going to try to get an actual career as an accountant."
"So?" Lena responded, tilting her head. "It's not like they don't have accountants in Virginia. I know! Why don't you finish school here, and as soon as school's over you come live in Virginia with us?"
Vanessa shook her head. "It's not that simple, sis. There are better job opportunities in the city, and it's not just all about the job."
"What else would it be about?" Lena demanded, searching for a proper argument besides 'I want you to stay with me.'
"I have a boyfriend, Lena. You've met Steve, haven't you?" Vanessa asked, sounding concerned. Lena struggled through her memory; Vanessa had had plenty of flings over the years; bringing one in particular to mind was tricky.
"That guy from somewhere in the west?" Lena sorted through her memories. "Utah, or was it Arizona?"
"Idaho," Vanessa countered. "It's getting pretty serious. We've been dating for a few months, and he asked me to move in with him. And I think I love him." Her face was so shiny and happy, her words bubbling out genuinely, but Lena felt a bitter hatred creeping into her at just the thought of this "Steve". Hurtful words entered her mind, and her lips twitched with the desire to say what she was thinking. You think you love him? Just like you loved all those other boyfriends you had that you dumped on their butts once things started getting inconvenient? Where are you going to go once he decides that he's done with you?
Biting her tongue, she struggled for breath. You don't mean it, the more rational voice in her mind spoke. Just keep quiet or you'll regret it; don't hurt her feelings. Struggling to keep her mouth closed, she turned back on her family, and then was jolted forward as she was grabbed from behind. Her sister's arms squeezed her tightly like a vice.
"Love you, sis," her sister said quietly. "Don't worry; Virginia isn't too far away. I'll try to visit every month or so; promise. And I'll still text you all the time; you won't even notice I'm there."
Not feeling so certain, Lena hugged back for a moment before returning to her room, gradually managing to sink into sleep.
…
"Here, toss me some of that newspaper," said Megan, slowly wrapping each knick-knack on Lena's dresser.
"Don't bother," Lena replied. "I've seen pictures of the new house; there won't be much room. I'm getting rid of a ton of stuff."
Shrugging, Megan set the ceramic unicorn back down. "So what are you going to do with all the extra stuff?"
"You and Vanessa can take what you want," Lena said, turning her head so as to see her friend. "The rest, I guess I'll have dad take to a charity." She was standing in her closet, pulling each item of clothing off its hanger,
folding it into a small square and tucking into one of her suitcases. She tossed Megan a filmy-looking pink scarf.
"Here, you like this, right? You can have it."
Megan took her time winding it around her neck. "Lena, I know you don't really have a choice, but I'm going to miss you a ton."
Lena sorted through her shoes, wincing when she found a pair she hadn't worn in over two years. She put them in the "give away" bag.
Lena sighed. "I know. I'll miss you so much. But," she said, recalling Vanessa's words of two weeks ago. "Virginia really isn't that far away; you can still visit me on holidays and stuff, and I can come stay with you, too, right?"
"Yeah," Megan said, trying to lighten the mood with adding, "If you don't mind Jared spitting up all over you."
"Have I ever?" Lena replied with a laugh. "I love you too much to complain."
A tap on Lena's bedroom door caused Lena to look up; her mother stood in the doorway with a tower of empty boxes balanced precariously in her arms.
"Lena!" her mother scolded. "We leave in three days; you really need to get moving!" she gestured around at Lena's mostly unpacked room.
"Yeah, yeah," Lean groused underneath her breath, speeding up her efforts as she heard her mother walk down the hall into her own bedroom.
Her closet was looking very bare when Lena heard a sniffle. Turning around, she saw Megan, kneeling on the floor with her arms around her legs, had her face buried in the pink scarf around her neck and was trembling, trying so hard to muffle her crying.
"Oh, Megan!" Lena exclaimed. Hurrying to her friend's side, she wrapped her arms around the petite girl's shoulders, holding her tightly. Megan turned her face so that she was resting her head on Lena's shoulder and let out a heaving sob.
"I've lost everything," she said, hiccupping, mascara running down her heart-shaped face. "I lost him. I'm losing you. And you two are what I've had since we were in Elementary School. How am I supposed to keep going?"
Bag of Blood - Vampire Mystery Romance Page 14