Chapter Seven:
Knowledge is Power
With her mind in overdrive, Elizabeth needed something to do to occupy her thoughts and idle hands. Slowly walking out of the guest room, after not finding anything of use in there, Elizabeth makes her steps light, not wanting to bother Jason if he's back.
When she's certain that he's not there, she walks about the penthouse looking for something to do. She finds his workout room, which she's certain should be a maid's room if he had one, but thought better of it. With her body in the shapes she's in, exercising will do her more harm than good.
Walking over to the doors that lead to the balcony, Elizabeth opens the doors, walking out to look out at the city. She'd never admit this aloud, but the penthouse felt so familiar. Like her home in Paris, the penthouse felt warm and welcoming, a complete contradiction to the rest of the town, that's for sure.
She's about to walk in when the front door opens up, Jason standing in the threshold while she's standing in the threshold of the doors leading back into the penthouse. Jason's the first to walk inside, closing the door behind him, prompting her to do the same. Meeting in the middle, Elizabeth notices he has a couple bags in his hands.
"What's that?" Elizabeth gestures to the bags.
"Food." Jason holds up one bag then the other. "And this is for you."
Elizabeth eyes him intently before taking the bag he's holding out to her. A part of her wanted to throw it in the trash, not exactly one to trust him just yet, but she doesn't. Instead, she listens to the other part of her, the vulnerable part of her, and opens the bag to see what's in it. Sitting down on the couch, Elizabeth takes out one item at a time.
A sketch pad.
Charcoal pencil set.
And a gun.
"Why?" Elizabeth looks at him curiously as it sits down beside her.
"Robin told me you liked to sketch." Jason separates the art supplies from the gun. "And the gun is for protection. I noticed you didn't have one."
"I've never owned one." Elizabeth admits, softly running her fingers over the weapon. "I've always used my body to protect myself."
"There's a place in town that I use as my shooting range if you want to practice." Jason offers. "I can help you."
"Sure." Elizabeth puts the gun down. "I guess that's warranted."
"Are you okay?" Jason can see a strange look in her eyes. "If you don't want the gun, just say so, its okay."
"Anthony shot my mother, point blank, a long time ago." Elizabeth sighs, shaking her head to rid her mind of the memories. "I've hated guns ever since."
"I'm sorry." Jason realizes the look that's in her eyes is pain mixed with anger. "I didn't know."
"How could you have known?" Elizabeth counters. "You barely even know me."
"I'll take it back..."
"No." Elizabeth stops him from taking the gun by putting her hand over his. "I need one...I know that. I just need time to wrap my head around it."
"Okay." Jason turns his hand over, taking her hand in his. "How about we eat?"
"Sure." Elizabeth was suddenly nervous, being so close to him like that. "But can we eat outside? I'm kind of tired of being indoors."
"Whatever you want."
Jason walks to the kitchen to grab some drinks while Elizabeth walks towards the balcony with the food and the afghan he used on her before. As she sets up a spot for them to eat, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel like it was familiar. Memories of the past come rushing back to her as she sits down to set up the food.
Its a dark stormy day and that meant one thing. Anthony will be in one of his moods and they'd take the brunt of it. Knowing that he was an out of sight out of mind kind of guy, ten year old Elizabeth packs up a picnic for her and Johnny. She gathers his favorite foods and games before quietly making her way to his room.
"What are you doing?" Johnny asks her, looking at her curiously.
"Something." Elizabeth says with a smirk. "You coming?"
He glances around before taking her hand and following her up to the attic. Its the one place in the entire house that Anthony would never go. So she sets up the picnic blanket, laying out the food and games for him, happy to see that he's enjoying their little mini-adventure.
"Can we stay here all day?" Johnny looks at her curiously, a light shining in his eyes.
"If that's what you want." Elizabeth assures, not caring about anything outside that attic. "Its just you and me, Johnny."
"You promise?" Johnny blurts out.
"I promise." Elizabeth takes his hand in hers. "Twins stick together forever."
"Hey, you okay?" Jason asks as he sits down across from her. "You looked like you were somewhere else."
"I was just thinking about my past." Elizabeth admits, handing him a fork and accepting a drink. "Whenever there was a storm, I'd take Johnny to our attic for a picnic, away from my father and his tantrums. We'd pretend that we were in a world of our own. That no one could touch us."
"Must've been nice."
"It was." Elizabeth smiles slightly. "But then the storm would pass and we'd be right back in our own personal hell."
"What else did you do?" Jason asks, wondering how long he can keep her talking.
"One time I actually got us both out of the house for a whole weekend." Elizabeth laughs softly, remembering how great it was. "I took him to the fair and made sure we made it worth being found again."
"What about your sister?" Jason looks at her curiously. "You talk so much about Johnny, but not her...why?"
"Claudia...she hates that me and Johnny are so close." Elizabeth explains. "From the moment Johnny chose my side over hers...suffice to say that she hated it and it turn hated me."
"How is it your fault that he chose you?"
"Claudia came back under the radar when we were fourteen." Elizabeth remembers that day vividly. "She wanted to take Johnny away from the estate...to take him abroad with her. I really thought he'd leave."
Its the dead of the night when Claudia makes her way back into the Zacchara estate. She had pulled so many strings to get back in without Anthony catching wind of it. Being back there, it had the hair on the back of her neck standing, but she wouldn't back down. She makes her way to Johnny's room, slipping in before the routine guards walk through the hall.
"Claudia?" Johnny looks at her shocked. "Why are you here?"
"I came back for you." Claudia walks over to him, a slight smile on her face. "Just like I promised."
"What does that mean?" Johnny eyes her intently. "Are you back to stay?"
"No. I can't, you know that." Claudia says seriously. "I'm back to take you away from here."
"What?" Johnny backs away from her. "No! I'm not going with you."
"What are you talking about?" Claudia looks at him confusedly. "Of course you're coming with me. You have to!"
"What about Lizzie?" Johnny counters. "I can't leave her here."
"She can take care of herself." Claudia says firmly. "Johnny, please, we don't have much time."
"What's going on in here?" Elizabeth walks through the secret passage in Johnny's room. "I can hear you from my room upstairs."
"She wants to take me away." Johnny says seriously, standing in front of her. "Don't let her, Lizzie."
"Elizabeth, tell him he has to come with me." Claudia glances at the door before focusing on them. "The window is closing, we have to leave now."
"Johnny, maybe you should go." Elizabeth looks at him intently. "You can get out of here...you can be free."
"Not without you!" Johnny says angrily. "I'm not leaving!"
"John, please." Claudia pleads with him. "We're running out of time."
"Then you leave." Johnny takes Elizabeth's hand in his, standing against Claudia. "I'm not leaving here without Lizzie."
"Johnny, think about this." Elizabeth says seriously. "She can take you away from this hell."
"Twins stick together forever." Johnny counters, staring at her pleadingly. "You promised, Lizzie."
"I'm sorry, Claudia." Elizabeth looks at her sister. "You should go before Anthony finds you."
"I love you, Johnny." Claudia says with tears in her eyes. "I will come back for you...I promise. Please be safe."
"Things were bad between us before then, but it was hopeless after that." Elizabeth sighs, taking a gulp of her drink. "In her mind, I made him choose me. She'll never forgive me for him staying there."
"If things are so bad between the two of you, why are you letting her help you?"
"Because I'm desperate." Elizabeth says plainly. "Why else would I stoop that low?"
"So, you're willing to trust her just to save your brother?"
"I don't." Elizabeth shakes her head. "Trust Claudia, I mean. I just have no other choice."
"You can trust me." he suggests. "You can let me help you."
"I just told you about my past." Elizabeth points out. "That's trusting you."
"How so?"
"Knowledge is power." Elizabeth reminds him. "I just gave you knowledge that not many people possess...and I'm trusting you to keep it to yourself."
"Just so there's no misinterpretation, you just said you trust me, right?"
"Yes." Elizabeth chuckles. "I trust you...well, mostly."
"I'll take it for now." Jason smiles slightly. "Let's eat."
"Lets."
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