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Chapter 53

Ari P.O.V

It had been two days since I'd been shot, and two days since I'd lost the baby. It had also been two days since I had last eaten, and over that since I'd slept. I just lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I'd lost my baby. Victors baby.

A single tear escaped, but nothing else. I was trying to shut down my emotions, and it was starting to work. I was starting to go numb. If I was numb, then I couldn't feel the pain. It wouldn't hurt then, when Victor got mad at me. He would get mad. I knew he would. It was all my fault that I'd lost our child. If only I hadn't gone outside to fight with Edith.

I heard my bedroom door open, but I didn't look round. It was probably just mam, coming to try and get me to eat something. The bed dipped, and I was pulled into a hug. That was when Victors scent hit me. I turned round, and looked up at him.

"Kitten." He said softly.

That brought the flood gates crashing down. The walls that I had so carefully built, broke, and I was crying once again. "I'm sorry." I cried, over and over again.

Victor held me closer and tighter. "It wasn't your fault, Kitten. You didn't know you were pregnant, and you didn't know she would shoot you. It's her fault we've lost our cub. Not your's, you understand?"

I didn't do anything but cry. "Listen to me Kitten. It'. Not. Your. Fault. Get that into your head. I don't blame you. No one else blames you. So you shouldn't blame yourself. Understood?"

I nodded my head.

"Good." He said, and then he just held me as I cried. When I'd calmed down, he brought me into a sitting position. "Now, I think its time to get you something to eat."

I shook my head. "I'm not hungry." I said.

Victor growled. "You haven't eaten in two days, Kitten, I've been told. Now, we're going downstairs, and you're going to eat something, even if I have to force feed you." He pulled me off the bed, and stood me on the floor. I wavered slightly, and Victor supported me, and guided me out of the room, and down the stairs. He sat me down at the dinner table, and mam came out of the kitchen with a couple of sandwiches. She set it down in front of me.

"I'll make you more if you feel up to it, sweetie." She said, kissing the top of my head.

I picked up a sandwich, well aware of Victor's and Mam's eyes on me, making sure I ate. I took a bite, and then ended up devouring the sandwich, as my empty stomach kicked in. I ate ravenously, but I found myself full after the third sandwich. I pushed the rest away.

"I can't eat anymore." I said.

Mam nodded. "I'm just glad you finally ate something." she said, hugging me.

I looked up at Victor. "Can we go for a walk Victor?"

"Sure, Kitten. Go get dressed, and we'll go." He said, before he kissed me. When we pulled apart, I wandered back upstairs, and got dressed. I ran a brush through my hair, and cleaned my teeth, before throwing on a jacket and my shoes.

When I got back downstairs, Vic wrapped an arm round me, and held me close, as we left the house, and turned towards the edge of the small town, where there was a path up into the hills. We walked passed a couple of people, until we were out of the town, and hit the right path. The walk was quiet, and peaceful. We walked until we reached a series of natural pools that me and the guys usually go swimming in during the warmer weeks of spring and summer. I sat down on one of the larger rocks that overlooked the pools, which once must have been just a river. Victor sat down beside me and he held me close, shielding my body from the wind with his.

I spoke, after a while. "I would never have gone for a fight, had I known that I was pregnant Vic. I swear."

"I know you wouldn't have, kitten. I promise you, she'll pay for killing our cub. I'll make sure of it."

"She's been arrested." I said.

"That's not good enough." he growled. "First she sells you out, to become a lab rat, and then she shoots you, in an attempt to kill you, and ends up killing our cub. Ending up in prison isn't good enough. Tell me, did you get any good shots in?"

Broke her wrist and nose. I also punched her in the eye. She'll have a black eye, no doubt."

Victor chuckled. "Well, am I allowed the rest? Or do you want to hurt her a bit more yourself?"

"I never want to see her again. She's all yours."

"Alright Kitten. Leave it with me. I'll take care of it."

I nodded. I knew what he was going to do, but I just suppressed the little guilt I felt for Edith's impending death sentence, reminding myself of what she'd done, and becoming angry with her.

When we went back, Mam was talking with Zoe, James and Autumn, who'd just been discharged.

"Auntie Ari!" Autumn said, when she saw me. She ran to me, and I bent down, and picked her up.

"Hiya Autumn." I said. "Glad to be out of Hospital?"

She nodded. "I'm sorry, Auntie Ari." She said, sadly, as she placed a hand on my cheek. I sat down on the sofa, and Vic sat down beside me.

"What for?" I asked.

"Your baby. I'm sorry you lost the baby."

"So am I." I said, and I brought her to me in a hug. Autumn hugged me back. I stroked her head. "Autumn?" I asked.

"Yes, Auntie Ari?"

"How did you know I lost a baby?"

"Mammy and daddy were thinking it."

"You're starting to use your powers, then?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Well, if you're starting to use your powers, then you need to learn some boundaries." I said.

"Boundaries?" she asked.

"Yes." I said. "Now, you haven't had you're powers long, so you didn't know, but it's not polite to just listen to other peoples thoughts, ok? You have to have their permission, or have to have a good reason to believe they mean you or someone else harm, alright?"

"I understand, Auntie Ari." She said. "But I can't always help it."

"That, is where you need to practice, Autumn, and my limited mind reading ability means I can teach you what I learnt to shut out others thoughts. I can also help if you develop Telekinesis- when I move things with my mind." I explained at her confused look. Autumn nodded, smiling at me, and I was glad that I had something to occupy my mind with for a while.

That night, Victor and I lay in bed, just holding each other. We didn't do anything else. I wasn't feeling up to it, and Victor knew. We were both mourning for the loss of our unborn child, me crying, and Victor silently, but I could see it in his eyes. It was late in the night, when I finally cried myself to sleep. I'd be starting back at school in two days. Mam and Vic had tried to persuade me to stay home for a bit longer, but I put my foot down. I needed something to do, so I was going to school. I had also missed enough time as it was. I would start back, and no one would stop me. I couldn't stay at home all the time, could I?

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