He set Serenity down on the tiled floor and Serenity took up her default position—sitting with her knees hunched up to her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs.
Sebastian leaned into the tub and turned on the faucet. Water thundered into the porcelain tub and Sebastian picked up a bottle sitting on the side and added a dash of floral-scented bubble bath.
He turned to their daughter, who hovered in the bathroom doorway. “Elizabeth, go and find your mommy some clean clothes.”
After she’d gone missing, James had helped Sebastian take all the personal things from Serenity’s small apartment. He’d kept a wardrobe of clothes for her the whole time.
I need to phone James, he thought. The other man had been Serenity’s best friend and he deserved to know that she’d been found. Her disappearance had affected them all, and even though James Bently didn’t live close by any more, he had a right to know about Serenity’s safe return. Still, it would be a difficult conversation. The two males had never completely seen eye-to-eye and explaining Serenity’s condition would be hard.
Later, he promised himself.
With the tub almost full, he turned to Serenity. “Are you ready? Do you need help?”
Serenity gave a brief nod and used the side of the bath to pull herself to her feet.
She stood beside the bath like a child; her arms huddled into her narrow chest, her shoulders curled.
“May I?” he offered and again she gave a nod.
With tenderness, he removed her clothes, tugging down the filthy jeans, pulling her crusty t-shirt over her head. Her skin was so pale it was almost blue, and bruises and scabs covered her body. Her once luscious, bouncy curls were knotted ropes that hung down, allowing her to hide behind the curtain.
When the tub was full, he lifted her in his arms again and settled her into the deep water. She moaned as the bubbles encased her skin, though Sebastian couldn’t tell if the sound came from pleasure or pain.
With one arm, he supported her back, in the same way he would a newborn baby. Steam filled the room, condensing in a fine mist on the tiled walls. The scent of flowers filled his nostrils, masking Jackson’s rotten odor.
He washed her hair with his free hand, his strong fingers massaging her scalp, creating a foaming lather. For the first time, he caught sight of the horrible scabs and scarring on her neck. Furious, he bit down on his emotions. He had no direction in which to vent them except at himself. Jackson was gone now and he was left to repair the damage the fiend had caused.
Sebastian forced himself to ask the question burning at his heart. He didn’t want to give voice to the words, but there were things Serenity would have to come to terms with, and if these things happened, he didn’t want her to keep them a secret from him. He wanted to support her every step of the way.
“Did he touch you, Serenity?”
She sniffed. “He bit me. Fed from me.”
“I know, but did he touch you in any other way?” He forced the words out. “Did he rape you?”
She shook her head and the hard stone of fear at his core melted with relief. The idea of Jackson subjecting her to such a thing over and over again for the past two years had torn him up inside. He didn’t want to admit it to himself, but the thought of Jackson touching her made his stomach turn. He wondered if her answer had been different, would he ever have been able to look at her again without seeing what Jackson had done.
He shouldn’t even be thinking like that. This wasn’t about him—none of this was. All of his focus needed to be on Serenity and what needed to happen to make her better again.
Elizabeth popped her head around the door. “I found some clothes,” she said.
“Clever girl,” said Sebastian. “Put them on the bed for me, okay?”
“Sure.”
Sebastian used the shower attachment on the faucet and rinsed Serenity’s hair out. He lifted her from the water and wrapped her in a thick, white fluffy towel.
A memory speared him; Serenity kissing him hard, wrapping her legs around his waist. Tumbling together in a passionate mess of limbs. Making love on the bathroom floor, the towels a cushion beneath them.
That passionate woman was nothing like the one he carried in his arms and he wanted her back. He’d missed her so desperately over the past couple of years. Two years ago he’d allowed himself to believe he had her back and when she’d been taken from him so abruptly, it felt as though someone had ripped out part of his heart.
Elizabeth stood by, patiently handing items of clothing to Sebastian as he needed them. She watched her mother with intense but wary eyes, offering Serenity small, shy smiles whenever her mother made eye contact.
Serenity’s old clothes hung from her reduced frame; her breasts mere nubs beneath her t-shirt, her sweatpants hanging from her hips.
The three of them sat on the bed and Sebastian took a comb to Serenity’s long hair—longer than he’d ever seen it—patiently working every knot from her mane.
“Everything will be all right,” he said, though he didn’t know who he was trying to comfort—himself, Serenity, Elizabeth, or perhaps all three. “Your memory will come back, I’m sure of it.”
“How long?” she asked. “How long till I remember who I am?”
“Soon,” he said, though his heart was troubled. He had no idea how long it would take—or if her memory would come back at all. The repetitive bloodletting Jackson had put her through had started to change her. That she didn’t want to eat worried Sebastian the most. If a vampire fed time and time again from the same victim and something tipped the victim over the edge, then they would turn. He was concerned Serenity was halfway there. The lack of appetite and memory might be because her change to an immortal was perilously close. He knew Serenity didn’t want to become like him because she wanted to be human for Elizabeth, but what worried him most was that she wouldn’t become like him...
She would become like Jackson.
He shook the thought from his head. He couldn’t imagine Serenity being anything like the monster Jackson had become, yet the possibility was very real. He only hoped nursing her back to health would reverse the damage—both mentally and physically—that Jackson had caused.
“Done,” he said, lifting his fingers through her restored curls, allowing the still-damp strands to fall back down her back.
“You look beautiful again, Mommy,” said Elizabeth. Serenity gave a small smile, looking down at the ground. The little girl took her hand. “Come and see.”
Sebastian almost went to stop her, worrying how Serenity would react to the sight of her reflection, but then he realized she might not even remember what she looked like. Perhaps seeing her own face would jog something in her memory?
He gave Elizabeth a slight nod of approval and she tugged her mother over to the large mahogany-framed mirror on the wall.
Serenity caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and stopped short. She stared at herself and lifted a hand to her face. She caught sight of the scabs and scars and winced.
“Is this who I am?” she asked.
Sebastian snatched up a photograph from the nightstand, one which showed Serenity and Elizabeth when Elizabeth was about three. Serenity had caught her daughter from behind, her arms wrapped around the little girl’s body, their faces pressed close, side-by-side. He crossed the room in three long strides and pushed the photo into Serenity’s hands.
“No,” he told her. “This is who you are.”
She studied the image for a long, hard minute and lifted her face. Tears trembled like liquid diamonds in the dark pools of her eyes.
“And this is you?” she asked, directing the question at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth gave a small smile and nodded.
Sebastian waited for Serenity to pull her into an embrace, but she didn’t move. He glanced at her face to see tears spilling down her cheeks.
“I don’t remember,” she said. “I don’t remember either of you.”
He reached out and rubbed
her back, feeling the nubs of her spine beneath the thin tee. “You will. It’ll just take some time.”
Elizabeth walked to Serenity’s side and wrapped her arms around her waist. They stood there together in that way until Serenity’s tears had subsided.
Beside them, Elizabeth yawned, wide and loud.
“Come on you,” Sebastian said, ruffling her hair. “Time for bed.”
Elizabeth nodded, hiding another yawn behind her hand.
“Where’s Mommy going to sleep?” she asked.
Sebastian hadn’t thought that far ahead. He’d not been sure they’d find her at all, never mind considered where she might sleep. Before she went missing, she’d slept with Elizabeth. While he didn’t want to admit that he worried about her harming her own child, the truth was he didn’t know anything about this new Serenity. Not putting Elizabeth in harm’s way was the most important thing right now. If Serenity freaked out; he didn’t want Elizabeth to be the person who’d have to deal with it.
Having her in the same room as him—the same bed as him—while she was like this was unthinkable.
“Your mommy can sleep in the guest room,” he said. “She’ll be right next door.” He looked between Elizabeth and her mother. “Okay?”
They both nodded and Elizabeth headed toward her bed, shedding clothes as she went. He wanted to tell her to pick up her things, but didn’t have the heart. What did it matter, tonight of all nights?
Elizabeth climbed onto her bed and slid beneath the sheets. Clearly exhausted, her eyes closed almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. Her usual demands for stories and songs didn’t materialize.
“Goodnight,” he whispered to her, before leading Serenity from the room and gently closing the door behind them.
Dawn was fast approaching. He felt the pull on his limbs like a current, the drag to a place of safety where the sun could not harm him.
The heavy clunk of the front door opening echoed up the stairs.
“Hello?” a voice called out.
Sebastian smiled. “Come on,” he said, taking Serenity by the hand and then wrapping his arm around her waist, offering her support. “There’s someone you need to meet. A new person. Someone you didn’t know before.”
“Someone I shouldn’t need to try to remember?”
He heard the relief in her voice. “That’s right,” he said. “She’s brand new.”
He walked down the stairs to find Bridget standing at the bottom. Her long, white hair hung down to her waist, the ends fine and wispy. As usual, her slightly chubby wrists and neck were garnished with an excess of turquoise bangles and beads.
She saw Sebastian descending the staircase, his arm around Serenity, and her blue eyes widened.
“Oh my,” she said, one hand clutched to her chest, making her beads jangle. “Is this who I think it is?”
“I thought we hadn’t met?” hissed Serenity.
Sebastian grinned. “You haven’t. She’s just heard a hell of a lot about you.”
Bridget bustled up to Serenity and placed a hand on each cheek. “You’re too thin, girl,” she said. “We need to fatten you up.”
Serenity reared back from the embrace and Sebastian stepped in.
“Serenity doesn’t remember anything, Bridget. She’s been through a lot and she’s going to need some time to recover.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, stepping back. “You mustn’t mind me. I’m just happy to see you home. That little girl of yours has missed you something terrible.” Her eyes flicked to Sebastian. “They both have.”
“Thank you,” Serenity mumbled. Sebastian sensed her awkwardness and shot Bridget a look.
“This must be very hard for you, dear,” said Bridget, patting the back of Serenity’s hand. “But you’re in the right place now. Everyone here will take care of you.”
Serenity gave her a tight smile, but remained silent.
“We need to sleep now, Bridget,” Sebastian said. “I’m going to put Serenity in the guest room. I suspect both she and Elizabeth will sleep until nightfall, but should they wake, I trust you’ll take care of them.”
“Of course I will,” Bridget smiled. “Don’t I always?”
“I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
“Hey, enough of that sweet talk. You get to bed and I’ll look after either Elizabeth or Serenity if they wake up.”
He leaned forward and kissed the older woman on the cheek, causing a flush of heat to race up her throat into her cheeks.
“Now look what you’ve done,” she said, fanning herself with her hand. “You’ve made an old lady blush.”
“You’re no old lady, Bridget,” Sebastian said with a smile.
He helped Serenity back up the stairs and into the guest bedroom. It was as luxurious as Elizabeth’s room—with a huge four-poster bed, thick velvet drapes and a soft wool carpet.
Sebastian tugged back the bedcovers, exposing the sheet-covered mattress; a small pocket for her to slip into.
“You’ll be safe here,” he told Serenity as he helped her out of her pants. She slid beneath the sheets in her tee and panties. He stroked her dark hair away from her face and she smiled, but it wasn’t a happy smile. It was a smile, he realized, she used to fill in the gaps—one that said, “I don’t know how else to react.”
He bent down and kissed her forehead. He had her back, finally, after so long. He wished he could feel happier about it.
The sun was close to rising and he needed to get to his own room and sleep. Each of the bedrooms were fitted with black-out blinds so he would come to no harm in one of his own bedrooms, but he didn’t want to impose himself on her. She didn’t know him and sharing her bed felt like doing no better than Jackson had done.
He didn’t ever want her to compare him to that monster again.
Chapter Six
Serenity didn’t think she would be able to sleep. How strange to think, after all those nights at the mercy of her master, his cold body pressed against her, his revolting mouth attached to her throat, that she would somehow miss him now that he was gone. It wasn’t that she wanted to be back with him—not at all—but at least then she understood her existence to a certain degree. She’d known the point in her being there—to allow him to feed, to dig his resting place. Now she had no clue as to her purpose; the reason she was in this big house or who the people were with her? They must want something from her, or why else would they have brought her here?
She wished she knew what she provided them with.
The man—or whatever he was—had shown her kindness and affection. He smiled and laughed with the older woman, but Serenity recognized his cold touch, the way he moved, his pale skin. So much of him reminded her of her master; she couldn’t shake the idea that he’d want something from her eventually.
Despite her concerns, something about him drew her. When he was close, she restrained herself from reaching out and tracing her fingertips along the lines of his full lips, the square of his jaw. When he’d held her against him, she’d wanted to meld herself to his body, press herself against him and not let go. Somehow, she thought, when he held her, she could imagine not needing to remember her identity any more. In his arms, she could forget everything else entirely.
The intensity of his green eyes, how he looked at her, made her uncomfortable. It was as though he expected more from her than she knew how to be.
As though he were looking for someone else.
The girl, however, was different. The little girl looked at her with nothing but acceptance. Elizabeth seemed happy just to have her around. That the child with the dark ringlets and the wide, brown eyes meant no more to her than any other child, didn’t seem to affect how the little girl viewed her.
Serenity’s limbs slid against the smooth sheets, her head sank into the feather pillow. A sense of distrust surrounded her like a halo. She didn’t understand the reason she’d been offered such comfort. That these people said they knew her meant little. If they’d spent time
with her before, it must have been for a reason. What had they taken from her back then?
She closed her eyes and tried to wipe all thoughts from her mind. Being brought here was a gift. She needed to stop questioning everything and put trust in the people now in her life. They’d shown her more care and affection than her master ever had. Perhaps questioning that luck would only be asking for it to end.
Her thoughts grew foggy, sleep blanketing her consciousness.
A flash of memory speared through her: her lying curled up on her side on a bed, crying so hard every part of her hurt. The man who’d brought her here filled her thoughts, encompassing her in such deep, unfulfilled longing, she wanted to reach inside herself and tear out her own heart. But it seemed her heart had shattered like glass and now every shard pierced her insides, causing her pain.
Sebastian.
Serenity’s eyes sprung open. A memory! A time from before. Yet the memory filled her with unease. Had he been the cause of so much pain?
The strong, compassionate man who’d carried her and the child through the night and had rid her of the horror of her master, conflicted with the recollection of such pain.
It didn’t matter, she decided. She had been someone else once upon a time. She’d not been born on this earth in the arms of her now dead master.
Elizabeth ran through the dark, her small legs pumping beneath her, her bare feet slapping on a cold, smooth floor. Someone was chasing her, but she didn’t know who. A small pinprick of light brightened up ahead, and it was to this she ran.
A man jumped out directly in her path. His long, dark hair swung down his back—almost as long as her mommy’s. She’d never seen a man with such long hair. His black eyes sparkled with a hint of ferocity and she recognized the pale glow to his skin.
“Boo!” he yelled, as though they were playing a game.
But no part of Elizabeth felt as though this were a game. She shrieked and spun on her heels, sprinting off in the opposite direction.
The Serenity Series: Box Set: Books 1-3 Page 48