Page 78 of Midnight Sanctuary
He scoops her up again and carries her in before gently settling her on the side of the tub where I point. “Thank you. I’ll take it from here.” He glances at me and I can see the turmoil raging in his eyes. I slide my hand up and down his back. “It’s okay; I’ll take care of her. Pinky promise.”
With a solemn nod, he slips out quietly, leaving Polly with me.
I turn on the faucet, making sure it’s hot before I add bubbles and bath salts. Polly watches me wordlessly. Those eyes of hers never stop moving. Like she’s gotten so used to checking for demons in the shadows that she doesn’t know how to stop now.
Once the tub is filled, I turn to her. “Ready to get clean?”
I help her undress, dumping her ruined clothes right into the trash can. Then, with one hand on her back and another holding hers, I lower her into the bathtub. A trembling breath passes her lips as she sinks below the surface of the suds.
She closes her eyes and sighs deeply. She doesn’t say a thing and I decide not to break the silence until she’s ready.
After about thirty minutes or so have passed, the water’s started to go cold. “Are you ready to come out?” I ask.
She shakes her head immediately. “No. Not yet.”
I run the tap again to refresh the warm water. When I cut it back off, the silence seems denser than ever. She shudders against the comforting swirls of steam that rise out of the tub.
“Who knew heaven was a tub of hot water?” she croaks.
I sit by the side of the tub and trail my fingers through the water, making ripples in the soapy crests and valleys.
“Alyssa…” I raise my head when she says my name. “Why aren’t we home?”
I consider telling her the truth, but I don’t want her to worry about Sobakin. She’s had enough worry for a lifetime already. “It’s just an extra safety measure that your brother decided to take. We’ll be back at the estate in no time, I’m sure.” She’s still wary, so I clear my throat and add, “Uri said you used to come here when you were very little.”
She nods. “I remember it from pictures. Feels like another lifetime ago. Everything does.”
I grab her hand, intertwining her pruney fingers with mine. “If you want to talk about it, you know I’m here for you.”
“I know. I just… I don’t think I can just yet.” Her bottom lip trembles. “I was so scared that I’d never see any of you again.”
“Me, too,” I admit. “The last few weeks without you were torture. I’m so glad you’re back, Pol. I’m so glad you’re safe.”
We fall quiet again. The only sound is her breathing and mine and the plinking of water against the sides of the tub. Then her stomach rumbles.
I smile. “Can I get you anything to eat?”
“Chocolate,” she mumbles. “I kept dreaming about chocolate.”
I get to my feet, grateful for something to do. “You got it. I’ll be right back, okay?”
Uri is the only one in the kitchen when I get there. He looks up at me in alarm, more scared than I’ve ever seen him before. “Is she… Did he…?”
I shake my head. “She’s hurting, but I think… I think she’ll be okay.” I step closer to him and cup his face. “You’re an amazing brother, Uri. You brought her back home.”
“But is it too late?” he wonders.
I shake my head again. “She’s still in there. She’s just been through a lot. We need to give her time. We need to be there for her.”
“Thank you, Alyssa,” he says quietly, his eyes heavy with the weight of his words. “For taking care of my sister as though she’s your own.”
I place my hand on my stomach. “These babies make us family now.”
He bends down and kisses me gently on the lips. And for the first time in weeks, this kiss is free from guilt or sadness or fear.
This kiss feels like a new beginning.
It feels like hope.