47 - With All My Heart

Ailsa

I wake up some time hours later, my back stiff as a board and the side of my neck aching something awful.

I groan, squinting around into the dark as I wonder what it is that's woken me.

I'm shocked to see Gentry. She holds a large torch, the flame high and flickering and illuminating her beautiful, stern face.

"Gentry. What are you..." I wince as I try to sit up.

There's clanking and screeching as she fiddles with the door, looking over her shoulder evey second between grunts of effort as she wedges a tool between the hinges.

"Gentry, you can't! You'll get in trouble. You cant! You simpoly cant, please!" I beg, crawling to her and trying to push her away with my weak, dirty arms. "Please! Don't risk this, not for me, you cant risk yourself! Its too dangerous."

"You're worth it lass, trust me." She insists, only sparing me a glance before going back to her work. "If I don't do this, you'll die. Don't you understand, Ailsa? I cannot let that happen. I will not stand for it.

Metal groans and squeals in protest as she shimmies the tool mercilessly through the hinges.

"I was always going to die. We both know it." I murmur, feeling weak and utterly helpless as she tries with all her might to break me free.

I reach a hand forward, pressing it to her knuckles until she stops.

Her desperate eyes meet mine, and her face pales.

"It's not working. You must leave me. If he catches you here..."

"I am not leaving you here!" Gentry raises her voice, making me flinch. She never raises her voice. "That's final! Now unhand me so I can help you escape."

I watch her until her tool pops, exploding into several pieces, making her curse something so awful I would never dare repeat it.

Her face falls, and she slams her hand against the bars in frustration.

"I should've known you'd come snooping." The voice makes us both stop cold where we are. I don't have to look up to see who it is, but I do anyway.

Pastor Ewan and a fray of guards at his side.

The pastor has his arms crossed, eyeing us with a smirk even as Gentry stands swiftly. My maid is stall and broad, this man is slim and more resembles a stick than a threat of any sort. He seems unfazed by her stature, and instead chuckles as he cocks his head to her.

She yells out as they grab her. He throws out an arm, knocking one over, and flings up her knee to disarm another as she lands a blow to his crotch. I wince as I watch, even though I silently cheer her on.

Ewan has the nerve to look shocked, taking a step back before pulling a knife from his belt and racing to my side. He yanks my hair as he pulls me forward with unexpected strength that makes tears spring to my eyes.

"Stand down, or the girl has an early death." He calls out, cold steel pressing to my face. It's sharp, already splitting my skin.

Gentry stops immediately, holding up her hands in surrender as she pants, trying to catch her breath after single handedly taking down two guards.

"No, leave her alone!" I wriggle in his hold, but his fist tightens in my hair until I can't move.

"Good." Pastor Ewan soothes, using his head to gesture to the guards. "Lock her up."

"No!" I scream the word, desperate to save Gentry from my fate, but I fail.

The guards gather her, tying her hands behind her back and bringing her forward to the pastor as he finally releases me from his tight hold.

I sigh in relief as my scalp burns from the abuse, the pain finally easing. He stands and grabs gentry, and she keeps her face impassive, even though she's trembling with barely leashed anger.

Swan unlocks my cage, shoving gentry so she falls right before me.

I'm suddenly on her, hugging her so tight that I can only see and smell her hair. i can hear the door swing shut, thudding closed and being locked.

"You crazy woman, what have you done?" I ask her, my voice brimming with affection.

Gentry pulls me close, shaking her head, but remaining silent.

"It seems that the vampire's sway was stronger than we thought. I didn't know he could control two lasses at once." He says, then barks and obnoxious laugh. "Actually, I'm not sure I would call you a lass. Too big. Either way, we'll have to build a bigger fire."

I try to turn away from Gentry so I can yell at him, beg him and plead with him to set her free because I'm the only one to blame here, but I can't. Gentry keeps her arms locked tight around me. I know she's shielding me from them as they leave louder than they arrived.

"What have you done?" I ask when they're finally gone.

Gentry's face is grim, but there's no regret there.

"What's done is done." She insists. I shake my head as I untie her wrists.

"I got myself into this mess, and now your life is at risk." I say, as it dawns on me. "This is all my fault."

Gentry flexes her hands once they're free, pinning the door with her full attention as she looks for a weak point. She walks towards it, feeling the grooves and the lock mechanism as she scours for a way out once again.

I roll my eyes, smiling to myself at her effort. Gentry never gives up.

"I wouldn't bother. I'm sure they've got guards posted up there now. I've caused too much trouble, surely they must be smart enough to do that."

She glares at me for a moment, slipping a finger down the door hinges.

"Do not sound so amused, lass. This is life or death we're dealing with. I will save you."

I sigh, watching her through the last flight of the dying embers from her torch hung on the wall.

"Fraser will save me." I inform her, allowing those few words to describe my calm mood despite present circumstances.

"So, thats the name of the scoundrel that you threw your life away for? Tell me, lass, was he worth it? He must've been something." She muses, shuffling across the floor as the remainder of the light flickers out into nothing, leaving us shrouded in darkness.

"He is something. He is worth it. He'll be coming for me soon enough, and you're more than welcome to accompany us when we make our escape."

Gentry is quiet for a long moment. I wonder if she's still searching our cage determinedly.

"I'll believe it when I see it." Is all she says, the deep timber of her voice much closer now in the pitch black.

"You will see, because he'll be here. He promised me. I know he'll come back."

I can't see her, but I can feel her eyes trying to seek me out in the dark.

"You really love him, don't you?"

I still, letting the question wash over me.

"With all my heart."

Her larger form settles beside me, and I seek out her warmth as a comfort in this dark place.

"Then I have no choice but to believe he loves you too, lass. Once one comes to know you, it's impossible not to fall in love with all that you are."

My heart stutters at the compliment, my face flushing from the compliment.

It's the nicest thing someone's ever said to me.

Gentry is the closest thing to a mother I've ever had. Her hold feels safe and secure.

I indulge in the physical affection, my mind turning to Fraser and where he could possibly be.

I may have defended him strongly to Gentry, but there is underlying fear.

I do have faith in him, a strong faith that refuses to be shaken, but I don't know where he is. I don't know how soon he's coming. I also don't know if he'll make it here in time.

The only thing I know is that I can't give up. He told me not so long ago that when he escaped I would be his to protect.

He loves me. I know he does. This is his chance to prove it, and I'll happily await it.

A lot is riding on this now. Before, it was just me and my short future at stake, and now it's also Gentry who could suffer if he is to fail.

"He'll come for me. He'll save us both. You'll see."

Thanks for reading! :)