Redemption (The Bet) (40 page)

 
"Soph!"

Sophie turned her head to the door and was overjoyed to see her mother running towards her bedside. "Mom!" she tried to rise and give her a hug, but her injuries prevented her from doing much.

"Oh God, Sophie!" Her mother's hug was everything warm, sweet and healing. It chased away the darkness from Sophie's mind and replaced it with everything good. Her wonderful scent bringing tears to the young girl's eyes. And if the embrace was just a little too tight and didn't permit her to breathe properly, Sophie didn't mind in the least. "God, Sophie, I'm so sorry, baby." Her mother wept all the while showering her with kisses, sweet touches. The hugs were the best though, only god knew how much Sophie had missed her mother's hugs.

"Mom, don't cry, I'm here and I'm Ok." Despite her own tears, Sophie tried to reassure her mother that she truly was all right.

"Yes," Ellie cupped her face and smiled. "Yes you are and this is where you're going to stay, Sophie. You, your brother and sister, nothing will ever happen to you again, nothing like this."

"I know, Mom." Sophie accepted another hug, before giving her attention to her brother and sister.

"Hey, you too."

"Sophie!"

"Sopie!"

They chorused and climbed on her bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now that you're all here, you guys were so brave."

Bella shook her head as she stared at her older sister in admiration. "Not like you."

Sophie smiled and tugged on Bella's curls. "I'd do anything for you two."

Ellie watched the interaction between her children. She would have the chance to speak with them later, but now, she was content in being around them. They appeared far closer than before, wiser and more aware of their surroundings now and it saddened her that they had to learn the harsh reality of the world so soon, in the worst way. Ellie sincerely hoped whatever happened to Tony, the man realized just how deeply he'd wounded these innocent lives. She wanted him to suffer for the lifelong scars he'd undoubtedly left on her children and agony he'd put them all through.

"Ellie?" Ellie jumped at the feel of Nicholas's hand on her shoulder.

"What did the doctor say?" on their way to the clinic, a Dr. Long had requested to speak to Nicholas and he'd reluctantly left them to hear what she had to report.

"She has a few broken bones, nothing that won't heal in a few months’ time. They've given her antibiotics to fight the infection that caused her fever. Aside from that, Dr. Long says she'll be just fine as long as she stays in bed and minds her wounds."

"Awesome no school!" Sophie cheered.

Her enthusiasm brought smile to both Ellie and Nicholas's faces. "Doesn't mean no homework."

"Aww Mom!"

Nicholas laughed and settled on the mattress by Sophie's side. "We’ve missed you."

Sophie glanced up, part of her attempted to find a hint of dishonesty in Nicholas's eyes. She searched, hard, and found none. Just as she knew she would. "I missed you both too, thanks for coming to get us."

Nicholas carefully gathered her in his arms and held her for a beat of eternity. The kiss at her temple lingered for just as long before he spoke. "I'll always come for you, Sophie."

Sophie squeezed back, her hold bruising as she chocked on a sob. "Let it out, baby, let it out." Nicholas whispered for her ears only and Sophie did. She buried her face on his shoulder and wept for all she was worth. She wept partially because she hated herself for having doubted something she'd been so sure of since she'd been a child. The agony of what she'd endured, the realization of what her bio
logical father had done to them, to her, poured free against Nicholas's shirt. Her heart ached, terribly, but Sophie knew she would be alright. This was her dad and despite what Tony had told her, Nicholas was the only father she knew. He loved her and that was all that mattered.

Unable stay away, Ellie approached them, her own heartache paled in comparison to the agony her children had gone through, but doing only what a parent could do in such a situation she gave her comfort and hoped it was good enough to see them through.

"We love you," said Nicholas to his three children. "We're a family and we're going to get through this together. No matter what happens from here on end, nothing will ever change the fact that your mother and I will always love you." He held Sophie by his side and looked to Bella and Dylan with a smile. Then he kissed the top of Sophie's head, the next words for her only. "Never doubt my or your mother's love for you, Sophie, because it is everlasting. How your mother and I feel about each other does not and will never affect how I feel about you. Understand?"

Sophie nodded. "Yeah, we're a family." She quietly echoed, liking the sound of it. She grabbed Nicholas's pale hand and settled it on top of her mother's smaller one. Then looked at them both with a smile. "Now
 we're a family."

~*
~*~*~

Throughout the rest of the day, the Akers and Holbrook brood arrived at the manor,
Maddie with them. Overjoyed to have their family around them, Sophie, Dylan and Bella recounted their harrowing ordeal and Nicholas's rescue. They ate lunch together in semblance of familial bliss, even Gabe, first member of the I-hate-Nicholas-club fan club, enjoyed the momentary peace they shared.

Late into the afternoon, he caught up to the silver eyed man on his way out the door. "Grayson!"

Nicholas spoke a few words to his bodyguard and once the man took his leave he turned around to give Gabe his undivided attention. "I don't have time for this, Gabe."

"It'll only be a minute."

Nicholas stuffed his hands in his dark grey slacks and waited.

"I…"he frowned, "I…
thanks."

Nicholas grinne
d dryly, understanding how much of an effort it'd taken the other man to utter that one word. It wasn't exactly a peace treaty, but it was a start. "Despite what you may think, Gabe, I'm not the boy I used to be."

"You don't deserve her."

"Believe me I know that more than anyone. But I'm going to spend every second of my life trying to be worthy of her."

"You're going to die trying."

Nicholas gave a halfhearted smile. "Then I guess I'll die a happy man. I'll see you later, Gabe." He walked away then and left Gabe in the foyer to contemplate his words.

~*
~*~*~

When Tony awoke it was with a wave of blood rushing to his head and the burning glare of lights blinding him. Suspended high above a basin of water, Tony struggled to get down, but found that he was only making himself sick.

"Hello up there, Tony."

"Who…who the fuck said that?" He squinted, trying to make out a face through the glare of the lights. "What the hell is going on?" the light clicked off and for a brief moment submerged him in complete darkness. He heard another click a minute later and the light, dimmer than before spotlighted his capturer and really Tony shouldn't have been as surprised at who it was.

"Nicholas!"

A cold terror washed over Tony as the wire holding him up suddenly whirred, bringing him crashing down to the basin below. He found himself submerged and in his panic he struggled for breath but only swallowed water. For what seemed like eternity he was kept inundated until finally the wire wrenched him back up. He coughed until his throat was sore all the while attempting the breath in between. His eyes and skin burned as he came to the realization that the water had been laced with chlorine.

He felt a towel on his face and opened his eyes to see Nicholas carefully dabbing the water away. "How'd you like your swim?"

"Fuck you, asshole!”

"You're welcome, Tony. Your comfort will be of the utmost importance during your stay here." Nicholas threw the towel on the floor. He put his hands into his pocket and withdrew a flat sterling case along with small matchbook. From the case, he took out a cigarette and set it between his lips.

He pocketed the case and struck the matchstick to life. Lighting his cigarette he took a long drag before blowing the smoke in Tony's face.

"
Welcome to my hell, Carlyle.”

There wasn't a source of light to indicate the hour of day nor was there anything that gave Tony hint of where he was or how long he'd been there. There wasn'
t much of anything except noise. So much noise. It deprived him the ability to close his eyes in momentary peace. From his tethered position above the chlorine-contaminated water, he'd been dropped to the cold concrete floor. With room bathed in darkness he'd listened after the rhythmic tap, tap of Nicholas's shoes as he receded into the darkness.

Tony had chased him the
n, ran around the darkness like a man ridden with madness, screamed so loudly that his vocal chords ached. But no one heeded his cries, no one but the deafening silence that followed. That had been millennia ago, now he only wished the silence would return and take with it the concealed source of cacophonous noise. It was inescapable; pressing his palms to the shell of his ears was moot.

Tony closed
his eyes, huddled in his corner he counted a hundred and twenty seconds. One hundred of twenty seconds in which to rest his mind, two minutes of reprieve, before the noise returned. For ten, long arduous minutes, all that ran through his mind was the constant grinding and blood curdling screams that reverberated throughout the cavernous warehouse. He couldn't form a coherent thought and when he did, in the given interval of silence, all he could hear was the grinding and the screams.

He counted, counted and waited longer than ten minutes now and still the noise did not come. He unfurled from his position, stared into the infinite darkness
and waited. The fine hairs on his arms stood on end, a feeling of foreboding overcame him.

"You fucking
coward!" he screamed. "Let me the fuck out of here! Pussy-ass-bitch! Let me out!" his shrieks echoed, bounced off the walls and disappeared in the darkness. He blindly walked around, hands reaching out before him. He searched for something...anything that would help him escape. When his searched proved futile, Tony finally encountered something. He touched the cool material and beneath his hands it almost felt like leather. Suddenly, the blinding light from before returned and spotlighted Tony where he stood. Forced to close his eyes, he waited for them to adjust before opening them again. When he was finally able to, he took in his surroundings and just as he'd expected, there was nothing but empty space all around. The only exception being the six wooden beams holding the flat metal roofing in place and of course, the conveniently placed leather chair that stood before him.

Why the fuck did he put a chair here?

"Have a seat, Tony." the voice wasn’t Nicholas's but all the same it evoked a great amount of unease in Tony's chest.

Tony took his hand from the chair and spun around, his eyes searching for the owner of that voice. "Show yourself!" at his command, laughter resonated, maddening laughter that had Tony screaming for him to shut up.

"You should really have a seat, Tone. We wouldn't want you exhausted before the show has even begun."

"What show? Where the fuck is Grayson? I want to speak to the coward!"

"All in due time...all in due time. Nicholas has a family he needs to tend to. But not to worry, he's asked that we refrain ourselves from starting the show until his arrival. Meanwhile, he's arranged for you to have a few pets to play with. Your host is nothing if not accommodating." The speaker laughed and the lights flickered before clicking off. "Play nice with the pets, Tone."

"
WAIT! COME BACK!" like a veil, darkness fell once more. "Don't fucking leave me here! GOD!" he spun around looking, waiting, eyes wide, his heart thundering painfully in his chest. Dread took shape in beads of sweat pooling against his forehead, trickling down his spine. "Fuck!" he whispered. The fear of the unknown triggered his panic.

There was silence
. Nothing but a muted endless silence. He could hear his heart. Taste the roaring beats against his tongue. His pulse spiked the very second he felt the smooth scales against his left foot. Tony drew his hands into fists at his sides as his breathing quickened. There were more than a few, slithering and gliding against his naked feet, their violent hisses harmonized with Tony's breathing. Staying calm was not something easily done.

"S
hit...shit...shit..." he hyperventilated. Tony took a step back but quickly halted his actions at the feel of scales beneath his foot. He shook in place, more than terrified his mind worked quickly. Anxious to flee but hindered by fear, he stared into darkness, knowing that the answer was not in the gloom.

Before he could convince himself otherwise, Tony reached out and found the chair, he stretched his legs and settled his left foot on it and then pulled the other along. Temporarily safe, he sat huddled on the leather seat. The horror of being touched by snakes left his skin crawling.

"Nicholas…"he stammered. "That's the best you can do?" he had to keep talking, hearing the sound of his voice was much better than the quiet hisses of the reptiles beneath him.