Chapter 10

Mysteries

"Ray..." Cate's mother pleaded.

"Shut up, Shelly! I don't want that thing in my house anymore! Do you understand?!"

"Please, she's our daughter..."

"Your daughter. Not mine."

"Ray, please, you promised..."

"I know what I promised," he snapped. "I never promised to like that thing."

"I know and I'm not asking you to. Just please don't abandon me. I need you. Our son needs you."

"Why do you think I'm still here? For Simon."

"What about me?" Shelly sobbed. "Don't you love me?"

"Yeah," he murmured after a moment of silence. "But the girl..."

"Forget her," Shelly cut in quickly. "You can leave her to me, I promise."

"If she causes any more trouble..."

"She won't. I'll keep her in this house."

Little Cate was hiding behind the couch, she was too scared to move. She couldn't understand what she had done to upset her father so badly. She had been playing in the park yesterday and hurt herself after falling off the jungle gym. Her mother had yelled at her because she had bled. Their neighbor, Mrs. Sherman had just dropped by and told her parents that the park had been vandalized last night. The whole playground had been destroyed. Cate's father had said that it had been her fault. She couldn't understand why.

"I love you so much, Ray," Shelly hummed while leaning her head against his shoulder. "You're a good man. The best husband anyone could ever ask for."

"I love you too. But don't ask me to love that thing. I never will..."

Cate startled out of her sleep and shivered. The dream... She had forgotten the whole thing. What had that been? What...? Her eyes widened and she gasped as she suddenly realized that she wasn't alone. Klaus was standing beside her bed, his arms crossed, observing her.

"It's alright, love, I'm not here to hurt you," he stated. "I heard something and I wanted to make sure that you're alright."

"Oh..." she murmured, unsure of what to think. "Thank you. I'm fine."

"You were dreaming," he stated.

"Yeah."

"Was it a nightmare?"

"I... I'm not sure."

"Hmm. You're full of mysteries, aren't you?"

"I'm really not," she murmured.

"I think we both know that's not true," he replied smiling. "In case you've forgotten, I looked inside your mind."

Unfortunately, she hadn't forgotten that, the memory still made her shiver.

"Well, I'm fine," she stated as calmly as she could. "Thank you for your concern."

She was hoping that he would leave, but it seemed that he was in no hurry.

"I'm curious, how much does Elijah actually know about you?" he stated.

She swallowed; he was making her even more nervous than usually.

"With all due respect, that's between him and me," she replied.

Her answer seemed to amuse him.

"You're afraid of me, aren't you?"

"I think you want me to be afraid of you," she replied.

He grinned.

"Clever girl. And yes, you're right. I would consider you foolish if you wouldn't be afraid of me."

"What do you want from me?" she asked, hoping that he would stop playing with her.

"Well... I want to protect my family."

"From me?" she asked disbelievingly.

"I want to know what you're hiding."

"I'm not..."

She gasped when his face was suddenly only inches away from hers.

"Don't play games with me, little girl, you're not going to win."

She backed away as quickly as she could and reached for any weapon, she would be able to find.

"Leave me alone," she squeaked, trying to stop herself from panicking. All she could think about was her father and all those times he had beaten her up.

"You think you can give me orders?" he snorted and tried to grab her chin. She panicked and fell of the bed.

"Dad don't!" she pleaded, trying to cover her stomach with her arms.

"What?"

"Leave me alone," she murmured. "Leave me alone, leave me alone..."

"Cate!"

She flinched when someone touched her cheek.

"It's alright," Elijah's voice said. "What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything to her..."

"Get out! Cate? Cate, it's alright."

He lifted her up and placed her on the bed.

"It's alright, you're safe. Hey... What can I do? Is there anything you need?"

It took a while before she managed to reply.

"Maybe a cup of tea."

"Yes, of course. I'll be right back."

She had no idea how long he was gone before he returned with the tea.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"You're welcome. Careful, it's hot."

Neither of them said a word while she drank her tea.

"I'm sorry," she finally managed to say. "I don't know what came over me..."

"No, no, please don't apologize. I'm so sorry for my brother. Did he... did he hurt you?"

She shook her head.

"I... He wanted to...protect you."

Elijah's eyes widened.

"What?"

"There's something wrong with me," she murmured. "There always has been. That's why my dad hated me. I'm not...right."

"Sweetheart, what are you talking about?"

"I..."

She had no idea what she was trying to say. All those things she hadn't understood before...

"Your scent... What is it?"

"It's not safe for you out there. That wasn't the only one, there are more of them. Many more."

"Don't ask me to love that thing. I never will..."

This was too much. Tears were coursing down Cate's cheeks. Elijah looked distressed and helpless as he touched her shoulder.

"Hey... Please, talk to me."

She couldn't and she was grateful when Elijah wrapped his arms around her.

"Could you stay here," she finally managed to say.

"Of course," he assured, his hand stroking her back. "I'm not going anywhere."