Chapter Fifteen
Confrontation
I'm dying. I can feel it. My body is shutting down. I've been strong for too long, but what energy I have left is dwindling. I managed to get myself to the couch, the fireplace crackling with a budding fire that is warming the room. I stare at the porridge and glass of water on the table, my appetite non-existent. I don't even try to eat, the food no longer staying down. It's been three days since I learned of Caleb's ultimate betrayal. It's been three days of him coming to the room, trying to get me to engage with him. I honestly don't give two shits about what he wants. He keeps apologising, and yet it means nothing. His words are empty. All he is achieving is making me mad. Feeding the anger and hatred I'm clinging to, the only feelings keeping me alive. Lucius have stopped the torture, even he can see that I'm dying. It's no fun to torture a broken soul.
I think he hopes that Caleb can get through to me. The door opens, the anger I'm feeling bubbling beneath the surface, wanting to be let free. I bottled it, hoping that it will keep me alive long enough for Blaise to come up with a plan for us to escape. Well, I hope that is what he is doing, as I've not seen him since he told me he considers me a friend. But trusting him, may prove futile. "Emily," Caleb says closing the door behind him. I ignore him. Like I've been doing the last few days. "Emily, please," he implores standing behind me. He has the audacity to expect me to acknowledge him, to give him any of my time? He comes to stand in front of me, his eyes pleading with me to talk to him. "I have nothing to say to you," I snap. I glare at him, the hatred burning inside my chest. "Let me explain," he pushes taking a step closer. I get to my feet, and mustering some strength, I hit him, hard. He stumbles back, taken aback by the force of the blow I dealt him. "You sold me out," I grit my teeth. "You sold my family out."
I'm shaking, that burning feeling in my chest expanding. "I'm sorry," he drops his gaze, taking a step back. I laugh, I can't help it. "It's a little too late for an apology." I shake my head, looking at the coward standing in front of me. All I feel is hatred. Hatred for this man in front of me. Hatred for what he did to my family. Hatred for what he cost me. Hatred for the suffering I've been through. Hatred for the number of tears I've shed for a man that didn't deserve them. I turn around no longer able to look at him, walking away from the couch. "Emily please let me explain," Caleb begs, and I can hear him walk towards me again. I spin around, pinning him with a glare that has him stop in his tracks. "If you say you did this all because you love me, I swear I am going to scream." You don't betray someone you claim to love. I'm living proof of the pain I would endure to keep Draco safe. I would never betray him, not even if it saved my own life. Caleb takes a step towards me, "I am so in love with you, and you don't even know."
"Caleb," I warn. He takes another step closer, "everything I've done is because I love you, because we belong together." He takes another step closer, "you were meant to build a future with me, in the Wiccan community. You were never meant to be stuck here." I laugh. Again, it can't be helped. My laugh is cold. "What was your plan, Caleb?" I question, holding his gaze. "Because from where I'm standing you let your lust make poor decisions, and now we're here," I look around at the cold room I'm in. Caleb follows my gaze, staring at the room that is void of any love, of any comfort. A room that has become nothing more than my prison. He says nothing and it infuriates me. "What was the bloody plan?" I demand, my anger getting the better of me. For a betrayal so cruel, you would hope he had a plan. "I don't know," he finally admits looking as foolish as he's been acting. "I thought if I can get you away from Draco, you'd learn to love me." He doesn't look at me, he's looking at the floor. I shake my head again.
"Well, how's that working out for you, Caleb? Because I can't see how we survive this?" I meet his gaze, pain behind those once familiar eyes. Now he is nothing more than a stranger. Because the Caleb I once loved, would never have done something so stupid. "I never meant for you to get hurt," he breathes, not meeting my gaze. I let out a bitter laugh, not believing the shit I'm hearing. Never wanted me to get hurt? What world is he living in, how far has he fallen to think that any of his actions won't cause me pain? "You have some bloody nerve," I shake my head, the anger I'm feeling all consuming. "All you've done is hurt me, over and over again!" I have no control over my voice, the increase in octave levels a result of the rage building inside. "You broke my freaking heart, Caleb. Tore me to shreds, and when I thought you couldn't possibly hurt me anymore, you proceeded to stomp on my already trampled heart!" Caleb flinch at my outburst, taking a step back. If it's not for these dreaded cuffs on my wrists, I would have blasted him with my powers, forcing him to his knees.
Yet, all my anger, all my powers are bottled up inside me, pressure building, like a pressure cooker, desperate to let out the built-up steam. "You better hope the Dark Lord kills you, because I swear on your grave, I am going to kill you when all this is over," I hiss, my heart thumping in my ears, my rage at boiling point. The pressure keeps building inside me, seeking a release, but coming up against an invisible shield. The bracelets digging into my skin are drawing blood, my need to use my powers overwhelming. Caleb takes a step closer to me, watching me, as I study the metal. Before he could open his mouth, I let out a blood curdling scream, the resemblance drawing me back to when Severus told me that the man in front of me had passed away. The sheer force of the power building inside me, demanded a release and with my scream, the bracelets shatter, my powers rushing from me like an explosion.
The explosion is more powerful than it was when Severus gave me the dreadful news, or when Draco and I lost ourselves in each other in the Room of Requirement. Caleb's loud grunt of pain pulls me from the power high, and I see him getting to his feet. The blast of the explosion threw him against the wall. Footsteps echo in the hallway, getting closer. Caleb stands up, meeting my gaze. "You need to leave, now," he says, moving towards the door. "Get out of the way," I bristle, directing my power towards the door, stopping anyone from opening it. The room is a mess, books scattered, the fire put out, the windows broken, the bed thrown against the wall. "Send me back," I say, looking around the room for what I'm not sure. There is no escape from here, unless I chance the window, and that is a decent drop to the ground. "It was a once off spell," Caleb explains looking anxious as footsteps are right outside the door. I can feel the push against the door, against my magic. I'm not strong enough to keep them out for much longer. "For a Protector, you're actually useless," I shake my head.
Draco, I call in my head, hoping that whatever magic we tapped into during my dream, can be tapped into now. Draco! I demand loudly in my head, trying to jolt a connection. Emily? His voice is unsure. I feel the moment the atmosphere change, the room getting warmer, my magic getting stronger. There is a pop and then Draco is standing in front of me. No, no, no! This is not what I wanted. I didn't want both of us to be trapped in this hell hole. All the suffering for nothing, if they find him here. "Emily," Draco takes me in, his eyes getting darker with every passing second. "I'm going to kill them," he breathes, clenching his fists. What a sight I must be. The door rattles, as they are trying to force it open, my magic waning. Fear grips me so tight, I sink to my knees as I try to keep the door closed, so I can think. "You can't be here," I say as I stare up at Draco. He meets my gaze, and sits down in front of me, close enough that our knees are touching. He reaches out, interlacing our fingers.
The connection is instant, and my magic flares to live, stronger. "If I can't be here, then we need to leave, now," Draco says, resting his forehead against mine. "I don't know how," I admit. This place is fortified, even with my magic back, I don't know how to get out of here. In all the commotion, I forgot about Caleb, and the power he possesses. I look past Draco at Caleb. "You can teleport us out of here," I say, meeting his gaze. Caleb shakes his head. He looks defeated. "I was only granted that Power because I was your Protector. I gave up that right the moment I betrayed you." There is shame behind his eyes, as he locks eyes with me. "I'm sorry," he says, dropping his gaze. Draco spins around, doing a double take at the man that he thought dead. "What the bloody hell," he breathes. After a moment, anger flashes across Draco's features. "You son of a bitch," Draco yells, lurching to his feet, storming towards Caleb. He lands a right hook, before Caleb even knows what is coming. Caleb stumbles back from the sheer force, the second time he's suffered a blow. I don't know which is better, being knocked on your ass by a burst of power or suffering a blow to the face from a fist.
"We don't have time for the macho bullshit," I hiss as the rattling on the door became louder, my telekinesis struggling to maintain the hold. Draco turns around, rubbing his left thumb over his right knuckles. They are bruised. Caleb sports a decent red mark on his chin from where Draco's fist connected. "It's okay, Emily," Draco says, walking towards me. He reaches down, place his hands under my arms and lifts me up to standing. "I don't want you near that monster," I whisper meeting his grey gaze. "It's going to be okay," he repeats, cupping my face, his eyes never leaving mine. I nod, resting my forehead against his chest.