Chapter 12
"You filthy little whore… Just like your mother…That's all anyone will ever want from you… Do you honestly think someone could care about you?"
Those words echoed in Dahlia's head. All safety she had felt was gone. Elijah was still holding her. What was she doing? She had jumped on him like some kind of harlot. Her father had been right about her.
"What's wrong?" Elijah asked.
He must have felt her body tensed. Dahlia moved away from him. She couldn't even look at him. She was dirty, disgusting, just like her father had said.
"I… I shouldn't have…I'm sorry."
Dahlia stood up and tried to leave but Elijah stopped her.
"Please let me go…"
"Dahlia", Elijah said calmly. "Look at me."
Dahlia shook her head. She was disgusted with herself. Elijah must saw her same way now than her father.
"The reward of sin is death… This is what happens to whores like you…"
Dahlia started to shake. She couldn't help it.
"Dahlia? Please tell me what's wrong."
Dahlia couldn't really hear his words.
"No, no, no… Filthy, worthless, disgusting…"
Elijah grabbed her shoulders firmly but gently and lifted her chin. Dahlia's mind told her to run. She knew what would happen next. She couldn't stop the panic anymore.
"Not the cellar, please not the cellar…"
Elijah tried his best to calm her down. He was trying to think what had triggered this. One minute she had been calm in his arms and then she was in some kind of shock. Maybe it was some kind of defense mechanism. She had experienced so much bad things that she couldn't react to anything else. She was too traumatized. She was just waiting for the next hit. What kind of sick bastard would do this to his own daughter? Maybe she wasn't Carl's biological daughter but still. Elijah really wanted to kill him. But first he had to do something to calm her down.
"Dahlia, listen to me, everything is fine. You are safe."
"Not the cellar, not the cellar…"
She didn't even seem to hear him. Elijah tried to think. He had to calm her down somehow without hurting her. Compulsion seemed like the best solution. He didn't want to use it but he couldn't think of anything else. Elijah looked into her eyes and spoke as calmingly as he could.
"Everything is alright. You are safe. There's no need to be afraid."
For a moment she was just staring at him but then something happened. She collapsed. Elijah caught her before she fell to the floor. He couldn't understand what had happened.
"Dahlia!"
Elijah carried her to the couch. She was unconscious but she was breathing and her pulse was normal. He had never seen anyone react to compulsion like this. Elijah tried to wake her up but he didn't get any reaction. He had to do something. Elijah took his phone and called Cole.
"Hi", he answered. "I'm just on my way there…"
"When are you here?" Elijah asked.
"It will take at least six hours, maybe seven. Why, has something happened?"
"Yes, I could really use your help."
Elijah explained the situation to Cole briefly.
"Ok, ok", he said. "And you don't know what exactly is she?"
"No. I was hoping you could help me to figure that out."
"Right. I'll be there as fast as I can. In the meantime it's probably best if you don't leave her alone. Her condition is steady now, right?"
"Yes, I suppose so, except that she's not waking up."
"Right. I'm afraid there's not much I can do before I get there but call me if there's any change."
"Ok. Please hurry."
"I will."
Elijah looked at Dahlia. He thought it would be best to move her to her room. He lifted her up gently and carried her upstairs. Elijah placed her carefully to her bed and tucked her in. He didn't know what to do. How could he help her? Elijah walked around in the room nervously until he noticed a book on her nightstand. Alice's adventures in Wonderland. Dahlia had said that it was her favorite book. Elijah picked it up and sat to the bed next to her. He touched her face gently and started to read the book out loud. Elijah didn't know if she could hear him but he had to do something. She has to wake up. He would help her to get over all that cruelty she has had to face. No matter how long it would take. He should also kill that bastard who had hurt her so badly. A man like that didn't deserve to live.
"It's ok, Dahlia", Elijah whispered. "I'm going to take care of you. I promise."
He lied down next to her and continued reading. Right now that was all he could do.
