*An incredibly long absence, I know! Short chapter here, but I wanted to have a go at getting back into this. I hope you enjoy!**
Chapter 3
She didn't know how long she knelt there. Watching him.
He looked different. There was a deep sadness, a furrowed brow on his face. She could see his mouth moving, but she couldn't hear what he was saying. Catching a lump in her throat Jenny decided she wasn't ready to address the emotions she was feeling. There were too many entwined in too many memories which would just bury her if she let them come to the surface right now.
"Summer" she whispered. The same image of a sleeping doll underneath a blue blanket returned to the screen. Jenny's nails gently scraped the glass screen. "I am so sorry" she murmured, her lips almost touching the screen, willing Summer to hear her. But Summer remained sleeping, unaware.
Pulling her hand back the screen remained on. Jenny stared, consumed by her thoughts. There were too many. She didn't know what she was going to do. Could she get Summer out of her tiny prison?
"Julian". Jenny's voice sounded oddly loud in comparison to the silence from the screen.
"Jenny" he responded. Jenny couldn't see him; keeping her eyes transfixed on Summer's sleeping form she decided to be as clear as possible. "Release her. Please Julian".
Julian didn't respond and instead quietly stood in front of her, blocking the tiny form of Summer from Jenny's gaze. Yet Jenny's eyes did not see his. "Jenny, I can't".
"Why?" her eyes meeting his finally.
Again, Julian left a long silence. Jenny repeated her question, frustrated at the choking she could feel in her throat, a tearful choking sensation unmistakable in the sound of her voice. She needed to be strong.
"Come. I'll explain it to you, but let's get you out of here."
"No, you can explain it to me right here. Look at her Julian. She didn't do anything wrong! Please, please let her go." With that, Jenny tried to turn Julian to look at the screen. Instead, he enveloped her and without meaning to she let him. She needed to be held. She was exhausted with the sadness and so frightened. She cried into Julian's chest.
Ever so gently he stroked her hair, saying nothing. Whilst Julian was loving being able to comfort Jenny he felt uneasy. He knew she would not let this go. She was far too stubborn for that. Unfortunately, his reasoning for Summer's captivity was going to show Jenny his true status in the Shadow World which would make her far too vulnerable for him to imagine.
He held for a long while. How long, she did not know. Pulling away she gasped for air and furiously wiped away her tears. Interrupting her as she went to repeat her question he pleaded "Please don't Jenny, please don't ask me again. Not now. Not with you like this". Surprisingly she saw tears forming in his eyes. The shock of this stemmed her tears. "I'd like to return to my room. I need a bit of space and time" she murmured.
Pacing up and down the carpeted dining room Julian felt sick to his stomach. He should not have shown her that. Irritated at his oversight he kicked the table. He had hoped the glass screen which pierced the curtain between the two worlds would offer her some comfort in seeing that he had humanity; he saved Summer and didn't expect her to just forget about everyone. She could watch over them. Feel connected. Idiot, he cursed himself. It was obvious how little he really knew about human emotions, about her. Although he couldn't deny enjoying comforting her. Perhaps he could conjure up an alternative truth. But he didn't like lying. Manipulating the truth, yes, but not lying. However, even his twisted version of the truth would not shroud the secrecy for long. Not from Jenny. He knew it was only a matter of time.