Deal With The Devil -Charity-

[Isla Brackner]

Isla ran. Even though the blood from a gash on her forehead dripped, impairing her vision, and her one leg ached beyond reason, she ran. For the first time in her life, the trees no longer seemed so safe and all she wanted was to make it to the village. It just seemed so far away... But something motivated her. A strength deep down inside that she didn't realize she had in her.

Tonight, everything had come to a head. Logan had come home in a mood. Since her sixteenth birthday, the two had officially shared a room. Not because she ever said she wanted to... but the night of her party, he had made her his mate in the most literal sense of the term. After that, he'd taken her by force repeatedly as he was pissed he hadn't been her first. No, that was reserved for some tree bag elf and he'd never let her forget that mistake. He wanted to mark her... And the best way he figured to do that was to give her a cub. It had taken six months (after a particularly brutal beating for her using a potion to stay without child) but he'd gotten his wish.

Then he saw Nate in the market... Isla hadn't even known he'd been in Gaia. After Lo had told her she was pregnant... well she hadn't left the manor much. Not to do anything. He accused her again of cheating, of sneaking around behind his back. And the punishment had been the worst ever. As she'd lay on their bed, broken and bleeding, the worst wound was the one she couldn't heal. The proof of his cub, now dead inside of her, ran down her thighs like a crimson shame. He'd left to go find his mates and have a beer, letting her think about what she'd done.

As she'd ran. Now, as she reached Charity and Caleb's house, she knew it was a haven. One she'd hidden in twice since Lo had gotten the idea she was his. Charity was the closest thing she'd ever have to a Mother. And the only one who could understand what had happened to her. She couldn't turn to the pack this time. No, she needed to make a deal with the devil.

[*Gem*]

Charity was home alone. It didn't happen often, but her new fiance (despite living with Caleb for years now, and them having a child together, the ring on her left hand was still a new thing, that she loved alot) had taken both Grace and Ali swimming. Charity was led on the sofa, head in book, glass of wine beside her.

The door went and she barely looked up, expecting it to be her wayward family....for a moment she just stared as the girl practically burst into the house, then she put down her wine. Charity's eyes were black, but unlike her father or brother - hell even kenna- she had the sense to see the girl needed her there rather than chasing off after her fucked up little boyfriend.

Charity wet her lips, and rose. She went to the girl, and being gentle, she led her to the bathroom. The silence between them was an unspoke understanding. Charity sat Isla on the toliet while she run a hot bath for her, but only when the bubbles were flowing and the water steaming did she turn to the girl.

"We havn't seen you in a while, darling." She said, gently, motherly. "I'm sure we have alot to catch-up on, hey?" Her words were momentarily casual. "Come on- lets get you cleaned up, you'll feel alot better."

With her magic she summoned her wine glass, and a second full one for Isla. The girl looked like she needed it.

[Bails]

Isla stood up slowly, stripping off. The clothes were dirty from the forest and blood. With a wincing sigh, she climbed into the water and sunk into the deep tub. The bubbles took on a different hue. Once she was settled, a sob escaped her lips. She still hadn't said a word but she cried until she thought she was going to be sick.

When she'd drank most of the wine, and mostly stopped crying, she sighed. "I guess we do." Her voice came out thick as pea soup. "I- well I guess I haven't seen a lot of people in a while. Sorry."

[*Gem*]

Charity topped up her glass, and then Isla's near empty one. Sitting on the side, she gave the girl privacy but company also. She didn't want Isla to feel threatened or uncomfortable about talking in anyway, so started with safer ground. "How's those troublesome siblings of yours? And your hot-da?" She had a light teasing in her voice.

[Bails]

She laughed, "The kids are as troublesome as always. Though I love it. And although I have no opinion on my dad's hotness, he's fine too." Coughing as her laughter pained her, she sighed. "Lo's going to kill me the next time. Sometimes I wonder if it'd be better that way."

[*Gem*]

Charity laughed but as the girl coughed and spoke ill-omended words she stilled. "Let me get rid of him for you Isla, for once and for all?" But she knew the girl would say no- it wasn't a very Pack like thing to have done.

[Bails]

She sighed, "And as the closest confidant I have, a woman who has practically raised me for the last couple years, you know my answer. I wish sometimes I'd just let myself say yes-" Her fingers tapped across the water, "And you won't tell Parker so he'll do it either."

[*Gem*]

Chatty couldnt help but smile, she knew her too well. But she became stern and nodded, with a sigh. "Fine. But I wish you would. I'd enjoy it." She complained, and came and sat on the edge of the bath, topping up the girls drink.