The Other Child
Chapter 5
A/N: I know it's been a long time since I update, but the semester is winding down and apparently all of my profs have decided that we need to write papers. They love to torture us, it's what they're paid for!
A special thanks to all my reviewers! You guys keep me writing even when all my school work is breathing down my neck! Much love for you all!
Stunned silence: that is exactly what followed Adora's confession, nothing but stunned silence. Jeb's immediate reaction was disbelief before his logical side kicked in. 'It's the trauma talking,' he rationalized. 'Everything she's suffered has finally caught up to her.'
"I'm not crazy," Adora whispered as if reading Jeb's very thoughts. "Wyatt Cain is Milenna's father."
"Mom," Jeb began trying to keep his voice soft and reassuring, "that's not possible. Dad was…gone…almost a year before Milenna was born. I can do the math and it doesn't add up."
She opened her mouth to speak but the sound of branches moving and what sounded like the clanging of metal outside caught their attention. It lasted only a few seconds but was enough to unnerve both occupants. "Before the Longcoats came, before they put him in that suit, you father and I…we wanted another child. I didn't find out until we were on the run."
Jeb digested this information for a moment. It still didn't make sense to him. "But if you were already pregnant then how…?"
"I went to a healer," Adora explained. "I couldn't bring a child into this world without a father, especially in the condition the O.Z. is in. We were fugitives for Ozma's sake! So I went to a healer. He stopped gestation until I could find a suitable home and father for her." Taking a small pause to let the new information sink in she continued. "I knew Michael would be a good father. He was a kind man and always looking out for you. I felt terrible using him, but there was no other option." She stopped looking to her son to gage his reaction. "I'll understand if you hate me for it. I'm not sure if I would feel any differently in your position."
"I don't hate you," Jeb as quick to respond, "I'm just having a hard time understanding all of this." It didn't seem right, he knew Healers had amazing powers—he'd seen them do incredible things—but never had he dreamed they would have the ability to prolong a pregnancy. "What about Milenna?" he asked, suddenly very worried for her health after such a procedure.
Adora looked at him quizzically before realizing what he was inferring. "The Healers said she would be fine. I took her to them after…after she was born and they assured me that everything was perfectly fine."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Jeb asked, feelings of betrayal leaking into his soul.
"You were so young," Adora recalled stroking her son's bruised face softly. He flinched only slightly when she came too close to a fresh cut. "I didn't want to burden you with this."
"Did Michael know?"
"No. He was so good to us I just couldn't tell him," she said, a silent tear running down her cheek for the man. She hated to burden Jeb with this secret but he needed to know. Her soul felt lighter as she spoke, a great weight lifted from it. "I'm sorry to burden you with this, but I need someone to know. You need to protect her now, Jeb. Promise me you'll protect her."
"I promise."
No more words were exchanged as the pair sat in the small, cold room huddled together, mother and child. Jeb continued to embrace his mother, barring her fragile body with his own. He was so confused as the new information rolled about in his mind. It didn't seem possible, like a legend passed down through generations hailing the powers of the Healers.
"What a touching moment," Zero sneered from the doorway. He took two steps into the room, smirking as Adora shrunk back instinctively.
Immediately Jeb moved to stand between his mother and this monster. "Leave," he warned, however empty of a threat it was.
"In due time," Zero answered locking eyes with the young man. "I've got a few things to take care of first." With a nod of his head, two of the Longcoats burst into the room, grabbing Jeb's arms before he could struggle and hauling him out of the room. Jeb looked over his shoulder in time to see Zero grab his mother to follow. He turned his attention back ahead as they exited the cabin. Once his eyes adjusted to the morning light the sight before him froze the blood in his veins.
Across a small clearing stood a tin suit identical to the one Wyatt had been locked in. Its dull metal shell showed annuals of rust and abuse. Vaguely Jeb began to wonder, how many people had been locked in this same suit? How many lives had been destroyed by such a simple design?
He heard Adora gasp as she too took in the sight. "You bastard," she cried breaking Zero's grip on her wrist and bringing both fists to his chest weakly.
Zero managed to recapture both of her wrists, spinning her quickly so her back was pressed against him. "I like to think of it as keeping with family tradition," he responded. Turning his icy gaze from mother to son, "Like father like son."
As so many times in the last few hours Jeb's blood began to boil and his muscles tensed.
As if sensing the boy's growing anger he snapped to the Longcoats holding Jeb, "Lock him in."
"No!" Adora shouted and struggled against Zero.
Jeb fought against the guards holding him but his body was weak from all the abuse. With the two men holding both of his arms and propelling him forward his weak body was easily overpowered. In all truth Jeb had given up hope; he had failed his father and now he had failed to protect his mother. Luckily Milenna was in good hands protected by people who would care for her.
"Please don't," Adora pleaded as Zero's grip around her waist tightened.
Jeb wanted to tell her it was okay, he was ready death; he'd made his peace with the Powers. In his mind he deserved this. "Zero," he said strongly but quietly. The two Longcoats at either side stopped and glared at their prisoner. "Zero I'll make you a deal," Jeb ventured.
Adrian Zero nodded waiting for the young man to continue.
"Do whatever you want with me," Jeb ventured with a sigh, "as long as you let my mother go." He could hear his mother's protests even before she had opened her mouth.
"Jeb, no!"
"Now that's an interesting offer. What is it with you Cain men and always being the noble kind?" Zero laughed darkly. "But why would I bargain with someone who has nothing more to offer me. I'll do whatever I like with both of you. Lock him in!"
With one final thrust the Longcoats tossed Jeb toward the suit successfully managing to get him inside with little fight. They slammed the door quickly, latching the bolts on the side hastily.
Jeb never considered himself to be claustrophobic, but the minute the front of the suit slammed shut and the sound of the latch echoed in the small space his skin began to crawl. Even with the ventilation system bringing clean air in, he was suddenly short of breath and his throat was closing like a vice.
'Calm down Jeb,' he chided himself. 'It's all in your head. You're doing this to yourself.' Talking a few deep breaths he fought back the panic inching forward in his mind. The putrid smell of sweat and something metallic entered his nostrils causing a coughing spell and reinstating the previous state of panic Jeb was feeling. Instinctively he slammed his fists against the metal knowing there was little he could do in this situation.
Zero laughed as the sounds of Jeb struggling echoed in the relative silence. He could feel Adora's body shake against his own as she fought back the tears. "No tears now," he whispered into her ear. "What would Cain say about you crying?" Immediately her body stiffened and he could hear her mumble something under her breath. "What was that?"
"I called you a coward," Adora said louder. She broke Zero's grip on her and turned to stare him down definitely. His face was one of shock and…hurt? "I'm sorry did I hurt your feelings?" she asked sarcastically. She felt a rush of adrenaline sear through her body as the sound of Jeb's banging resounded in her ears.
"You think that hurts me?" Zero asked taking a step toward her in animalistic style.
"Nothing hurts you," she said holding strong to her position, refusing to retreat from his approaching form. "You have no feelings. You're dead inside." Adora smiled as she watched him clench his fists to maintain control of his actions. "Did I strike a nerve?"
Losing control Zero backhanded Adora swiftly causing her to stumble back a few steps. Fighting the stinging pain in her cheek, she held her stance only a few feet from him. Adora knew her next move was risky, it would likely push him over the edge, but she really didn't care.
"No wonder she left you Adrian. You were useless to her. Still are."
And that was all it took. Zero's hand lashed out so quickly it was barely more than a blur before it latched onto Adora's throat. Her hands clawed at his grasp, fighting him with every last ounce of strength she had. His grip never wavered, even as her nails dug into his flesh drawing blood in some places, he continued to hold her throat squeezing tightly.
"You're nothing," he sneered as his other hand came up behind her head. There was a brief look of terror in her eyes before his muscles tightened, twisting her neck with a satisfying crack. Adora Cain's body went limp in Zero's arms before he dropped her lifelessly to the ground. He took pause for a moment simply staring at her body before turning to his companions. "Bury her," he commanded then quickly added with a quick gesture to the suit, "Make sure he can see the grave."
Inside the iron suit, Jeb allowed a sob to escape his lips as the Longcoats dragged his mother's body a few feet away. He watched as one disappeared around the cabin and returned moments later with two shovels. They dug a shallow grave and unceremoniously dropped her body into it, piling the displaced dirt back on top. All the while Zero stood watching with an emotionless face.
"I swear if it's the last thing I do," Jeb vowed, "you will pay for this Zero." His voice echoed around him almost as if taunting him.
'That means you'll have to get yourself out of this suit,' his mind shouted. 'Good luck with that.'
"Shut up!" he yelled. Jeb looked out the small window to find Zero staring at him wearing the same evil smirk he'd seen him with eight years ago. With a final chuckle he yelled something to the rest of the Longcoats who quickly reconvened near the entrance of the cabin. Jeb watched as Zero barked out a few orders and the party dismissed leaving him alone, locked in a tin suit, in the middle of nowhere, with no help in sight.
'What hope do we have now?' Jeb's conscience said. 'It's over.'
He sighed in defeat, dropping his eyes away from the window.
"You need to protect her now, Jeb. Promise me you'll protect her." His mother's words rang through his ears as if someone had spoken them into the silence. With renewed conviction Jeb began to push at the door with all his strength.
'I will find her. I will protect her,'
he silently swore. He had a job to do and come hell or high water he would make it to Finaqua and back to Milenna.
So my explanation of how Wyatt is Milenna's father may seem a little far-fetched but stay with me on this. It's going to lead to quite a few developments throughout the story.
As always review, review, review!!