- Lena, she is not worth your tears and your nerves. Miss Taylor is a coward. Since she did not tell you who she is. If you had a normal conversation, you would have probably understood and forgiven her. But her behavior here... I think we will have dessert, - Robert grins bloodthirstily.
- No, don't touch her. It is my own fault, I went after her, ruined her holiday, and yours too. It is not her fault that I am drawn to save everyone, - I say calmly and stroke the cannibal's face. He leans towards my hand and bites it lightly. No threat, more like flirting.
Lena, you re mine, and insulting you is the same as insulting me. She needs to be punished. Yes, Miss Taylor fucks well and does wonders with her mouth, but her meat is probably tastier than her womb, Rob growls and signals Harvey to build a fire for Sophie s roasting. The redhead is shaking all over and crying. I look at Josh. The guy is clearly confused and doesn t know what to do. There s horror and panic in his eyes.
Robert, please, she s my friend. I won t be able to stand it if you eat her. I can t my feelings I like you, I call him by name for the first time, I tell him you for the first time
Are you stealing my prey, Lena? Robert grins, stroking my back. The part of it where the scars from his whip are.
I'm saving my friend, I'm light, I say calmly and cling to him. Again purring and a kiss on the top of his head.
Well, can I at least spank her? I hear Weinstein's voice and shudder. Just like me before the scars... I start to tremble, everything is swimming before my eyes. Sophie will get scars because of me. There is nothing to breathe, before my eyes I see a little tied up girl on the scaffold, who is beaten by the gloomy King of Darkness and laughs with pleasure.
- Lena, Lena... Breathe, breathe. Look at me, - I hear Robert's soothing voice. I look at him and feel the warmth of his hands.
- No time for scars, no way... - I cry and cuddle up to him. Immediately I hear the disgruntled murmur of the cannibals.
- And what the fuck are you staring at, fuck your mother? Yes, our Lord got a woman and he tortured her. Yes, a bright one. Someone doesn't like something - a fire at the edge of the clearing - Harvey immediately stands up for me.
I see Scorsese standing next to him and baring his dagger and fangs. They are ready to die for him, not for us... I am his, I belong to Robert. The first rescue has taken place...
- So what to do with Taylor? - I hear an unfamiliar voice. It belongs to a tall man with bright blue eyes and graying hair.
- Tie her to a tree, I will personally spank her, - Robert says in a cold voice and gently pushes me away. - Don't be afraid, Elena, I will spank her hard, but bearably. Only red stripes on her body, no scars. And you go home, get some sleep.
Sophie exhales and I read her lips:
- Sorry, El.
I answer her in a whisper:
- We'll talk at the hotel.
Then I teleport to the hotel, to my room, and collapse by the fireplace. Emotions, a storm of emotions. Fear, hope. Love, warmth... All this is difficult for me. I found myself in the epicenter of the storm and I don't want to get out of it. I hid from this for a long time, I hated feelings. But in some 15-20 minutes, Robert De Niro broke through my walls and blew them to hell. I feel renewed, clean, calm... I'm afraid for Sophie though and I want to tell Taylor everything about his daughter. But do I have the right to do that?
The ringing of the phone distracted Elena from her gloomy thoughts. The girl pressed the answer button.
- Elena, where is Sophie? She's not answering the phone, is she okay? - Taylor's worried voice increased Lincoln's panic.
- Jay, she's sleeping, everything's fine, - Lincoln tried to lie.
- Elena, I've known you since you were 8, when you lie you're worried. Now you're worried, so you're lying. Where is my daughter? - Taylor insisted.
- Can we meet? This is not a phone conversation, - Elena decided to tell Taylor the whole truth about Sophie.
- I'm already in the lobby of your hotel, come down, - Taylor said softly.
Lincoln quickly put the phone down, took a refreshing shower and, putting on a simple black dress with straps, went downstairs. She was tormented by fear. Was she doing the right thing? Would she deprive Sophie of her father? But Lincoln was taught to always tell the truth and now she had to help both her friend and her father.
Taylor stood by the stairs in a white T-shirt and jeans. His gaze was wary and worried.
"So what about Sophie?" the guard began without preamble.
"Sophie is dark, Jay. She serves De Niro. Today I tracked her to the place of their coven. We had a fight and decided to punish her," Lincoln kept silent about the antics of Miss Taylor and her group sex with Robert and Josh.
Jason sighed heavily and closed his eyes.
"Did you know?" Elena guessed.
"Yes, I knew. You see, as you probably remember, Gail was dying of cancer. The doctors threw up their hands, unable to help her. And then one day, she got better. Mysteriously, she began to recover, and then there was no trace of cancer left. I was overjoyed and Sophie was too. But then I started to notice strange behavior in Sophie, she would come in the morning, often drunk, snap and become secretive. At first I thought she had gotten into drugs. But then I tracked her down and found out she had become dark. But I didn't say a word. She saved her mother, sacrificing her soul for her. Yes, I hate what she does under De Niro's leadership, but she is still my daughter, I still love her, - Taylor sighed.
Elena was amazed. It turns out Jason knows everything about his daughter. And the most amazing thing is that he loves her.
- She is a monster, - Elena exclaimed.
No, she is my daughter. The Dark eat people because they are predators, it is their nature. If they refuse human flesh, they will die. I will not bear it if Sophie dies, and I think you will too. They are cruel, yes. But also merciful. I am sure it is thanks to you that Robert will simply spank Sophie, and not roast her alive and eat her. The Dark are proud, free and a little strange, but they have access to human feelings and emotions. You yourself know that this is so. Am I right? - Taylor asked.
Elena nodded silently. She still felt Robert's kiss on the top of her head and the warmth of his hands.
- But my scars, how to explain them. What did I do to Robert? Why did I get them? I was Jay's child, a child, and he mocked me and crippled me, - Lincoln felt herself crying.
- No one knows, El. Only the Dark Lord himself can give you the answers. But he's unlikely to tell me everything just like that, - Jason hugged her and kissed her forehead
Elena's POV.
The dawn is turning red outside, and I haven't even gone to bed. I'm sitting in a restaurant and drinking cola. My thoughts are all over the place. How is Sophie? Is she okay? God. What if Robert lied and my best friend is no longer alive? My head starts to hurt and I rub my temples, driving away bad thoughts.
- Lena? - I hear a familiar voice and raise my head. Robert is standing in front of me, looking at me attentively. I smile weakly at him and nod.
- You look tired. Did you even sleep today? - the Cannibal asks sternly.
- No, and I haven't eaten. I'm worried about Sophie, - I admit honestly.
Suddenly I hear Sophie and Taylor arguing behind me.
- Dad, well, I didn't invite her. She hit me, I defended myself, - says Miss Taylor and seeing me, waves her hand at me.
- I'll go buy you pizza and Coke, - Robert mutters.
I smile and put my head on my hands. Tiredness and peace fall upon me, and I fall asleep.
Robert's POV.
Returning with pizza to Elena's table, I see that she is sleeping, her head resting on her hands. In her sleep, she looks so sweet and satisfied. I carefully take her in my arms and go up to mine. I don't know what room Miss Lincoln lives in, so I brought her to mine. Carefully undressing her, I put the girl on my bed. I have never slept in the same bed with anyone. I wonder what it would be like to hug her, if she snores... I undress and lie down next to her. My gaze falls on her scars. Ah, if only I could tell her that it wasn't her fault, that it was stupid revenge for my ruined childhood... But for now it's impossible. I can only trust such secrets to my most devoted and loyal supporters, a small circle of people, which Lena is not yet a part of.
I hug her and feel peace. Hmm... hugs are new to me. Hugging her is very pleasant, and moreover - it makes me happy.
I feel tired and, closing my eyes, I think about the fact that tomorrow we will have our first breakfast together and perhaps... Our first date.