Chapter Ninety Four

Maggie

It had been so long since anyone visited my house that when there was a knock at my door I would have been startled if I hadn't received the call from Marcus Volturi. He along with poor Darius were the only two people who ever called to check on Sara knowing full well the answer would be the same, no change. Over the years hope had slowly faded as nothing reached Sara.

I had held out hope that Darius might break through but she would only hold herself tight and rock if anyone visited. I spoke to her all the time, telling her all the news of the outside world. I bought her pretty clothes that she put on silently but she refused to look at herself in a mirror. True her face was badly scarred by bite marks but she was still pretty and her figure was one I would have loved to own myself.

I had been very unsure about allowing the visitors in to see her but Marcus had asked as a special favor to him and if he trusted them so would I. Standing on the doorstep were a couple.

"Captain Whitlock? Charlotte?

He stood back allowing his mate to do all the talking and she stepped forward holding out her hand,

"Hello Maggie, thank you for agreeing to allow us to see Sara."

I shook it briefly,

"I have to tell you that she won't speak to you, Sara lives in a world of her own. Marcus told me you know her story so you understand why."

"Yes we do, that's why I wanted to speak to her, you see I went through the same kind of experience myself."

"And you think that might give you an opening? Well I guess it can't hurt but please don't expect very much and I hope you haven't said anything to Darius and got his hopes up."

"No, Darius is our friend we wouldn't do anything to make matters worse for him. We really do want to help."

I stood back and invited them in then shut the door and led them through to Sara's room at the back of the house overlooking the lake. The sun was beginning to set but the room was still well lit and she was silhouetted as she sat in the window seat looking not out on the water but into the room. She showed no sign of the presence of visitors, her eyes were fixed on the wall opposite. Charlotte stepped inside but as we went to follow her she put a hand up to stop us.

"Please let me speak to her alone."

I looked at her mate who shrugged and backed out so I decided to join him in the garden.

Charlotte

I waited until they had left closing the door and then walked over to sit beside Sara on the window seat and introduced myself,

"Hello Sara I'm a friend of Darius and I'd like to talk to you if that's OK."

I waited but there was no response so I took her hand and she allowed it although she made no sign she felt my grasp.

I chatted on for an hour telling her about myself and my mate, how we met and escaped from Maria and our friendship with Darius. At the end of the hour I got up and squeezing her hand put it gently back into her lap.

"If it's OK with you I'd like to visit again tomorrow."

She didn't react but that was OK, as long as she didn't say no I would come back and continue talking.

We spent the night talking to Maggie and explaining exactly what I planned to do.

"Does she hunt?"

"No, Sara hasn't left that room since I brought her here. I steal blood from the hospitals in the vicinity and if I give it to her she'll drink but I really think if I didn't she wouldn't do it for herself."

"Surely she'd have no choice?"

Maggie shrugged,

"I don't know but I'm not about to find out by starving her."

"Do you think hearing my story might help?"

"I have no idea, only time will tell. How long do you expect to stay here?"

"Oh we don't have to stay here, we can soon find somewhere to stay nearby."

"I didn't mean that, you're welcome to stay as long as you like. It's nice to have company that talks back for a change. The only thing I ask is that you don't hunt too close to the house. Unfortunately I dare not go too far so I have to be careful."

"Sure thing, no problem but can I ask you one question?"

"Of course but I think I know what it will be, why do I stay here with Sara."

"Exactly, after all she's nothing to you is she?"

"No but Sulpicia is my closest friend and she knew I would look after Sara. You see I too was pursued by Caius but I was lucky enough to escape him without getting hurt like poor Sara. Ever since then I have helped other girls who were chased by that animal. I help them disappear, this country is large enough and Caius hates it here, he says it is beyond the Volturi grasp most of the time, out of his is what he means. When Sara came to me I expected her to leave after a while but until she's well enough she's my responsibility."

"Did you hear the good news?"

Yes Sulpicia rang to tell me, I'd dance on his grave if he had one and I know a lot of other women who would join me."

"Did you tell Sara?"

"Of course but it made no difference. Maybe you'll have better luck, I certainly hope so."

I spent the next three days just sitting with Sara telling her about my childhood including my abusive father. I was close to the story I had hidden for so long from everyone but this time I felt, like with Peter, it needed to come out into the open.

"Sara, I thought you might like to hear my story, it's similar to yours I'm afraid but maybe it will help to hear you aren't alone in your suffering."

I held her unresponsive hand stroking the back of it with my free one as I spoke, and I just hoped something might reach her but there was nothing and I decided I'd done just about all I could.

Maggie, Peter and I talked that night and decided that we would leave the following morning and hunt on our way back home.

Maggie could see how upset I was at not being able to help Sara and she gave me a hug,

"Charlotte you tried and for that I thank you. It can't have been easy telling her your story. I hope if nothing else it has helped you but then you have Peter at your side and despite his rough exterior he is a good man who loves you, that's something not all of us find. You look after each other."

Charlotte

I felt so down when we left, I guess I'd put too much faith in my ability to get through to her but Sara had been locked inside her head for so long now I wondered if anyone would ever get through to her and that was such a tragedy.

We got into the car and Peter started the engine pulling slowly away from the house. I turned back for one finally look and saw Maggie put a hand up in farewell.

"Right Char, you did your best. It's not your fault it didn't work. You have to stop beating yourself up over it."

"I know but that doesn't stop me feeling like a failure Peter. It's so sad to see her like that."

"Yeah, I expected her to look much worse from what I was told but the scars weren't that bad, she's still a beautiful woman."

I think she sees them as far worse than they really are, that's why she won't look in a mirror, compared to The Major they're nothing."

Yeah, I remember the first time I ever saw him, I nearly crapped myself. Now he is one scary motherfucker until you get to know him."