Fidelis and his father went down the hall and to the receiving room. Al was pacing inside like a caged beast. Good, let him sweat, thought Fidelis.
"Al, we need to talk."
Al whirled around and glared at them. He crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed.
Fidelis almost laughed. Al was pathetic. He really didn't understand what Sera even saw in the other guy.
"Where is she?" Al demanded.
Fidelis almost said something snarky but swallowed his retort at his father's look. Okay, he would behave.
"Listen, Al, I am an attorney. When I see people in trouble, I do my best to help them. Right now, Sera is in trouble. Her father is abusing her, and I can't just stand by," explained Fidelis's father.
"You need to stay out of our business."
Fidelis couldn't stand it anymore. He marched over to Al, grabbed him by the shirt, and shook him. "Do you not hear yourself? You sound like a robot! I thought you and Sera were friends. Friends don't let friends be in danger!"
"You don't understand anything," growled Al. He knocked Fidelis's hands away from him.
"Then help us understand," encouraged Fidelis's father.
For a moment, Al's expression was sad before returning to its usual expressionless mask. Fidelis wanted to throttle the other boy. What kind of hold did Mr. Holland have over Sera's friend? He couldn't possibly imagine what it could be to inspire such blind obedience to the man. Fidelis truly despised Mr. Holland. Even more so because he was Sera's father and should love her, not hurt her.
"It is not my place to speak about my employer's business," Al primly retorted.
Fidelis growled, frustrated by Al's behavior. He started to say something but was interrupted by Lady Hinyah's arrival. She stuck her head inside, gave a nod, and went back out in the hall.
"Stay here. We'll be right back," ordered Fidelis's father.
They stepped out and closed the door.
Hinyah didn't wait to start explaining. "The girl needs to sleep for the next three hours. Her fever should be down and possibly gone by that time. She needs more treatment for things other than her physical wounds."
"We know. However, we don't have that option right now. If we can't get her or Al to agree to press charges against her father, we'll have to let her go home," replied Fidelis's father.
Hinyah made a disgusted face. "I understand. I will leave the medicine on the table next to the bed. Make sure she at least takes it with her."
"Thank you for your help," Fidelis told her. He meant it. He didn't dare think about what would happen to Sera without the treatment.
Hinya smiled, curtsied, and left. Fidelis glanced at his father. He was sure they had the same thought. He hated having his hands tied. Sera meant the world to him and not helping was driving him crazy.
"Let's go inside and inform Al about our decision."
Fidelis nodded and followed his father back into the guest room. A tense Al stood by the window; his arms crossed. He dropped them and approached the pair.
"Well?" he snapped.
Fidelis's father frowned at his behavior. "You can leave in three hours. We'll send some medicine with you that Sera needs to take. I'll be checking with my son to make sure you give it to her."
Al looked like he wanted to argue. Instead, he shrugged. "That's fine. I can do that."
"Good. We'll come get you when it's time to go."
Al didn't say anything. He went and sat down, pointedly ignoring them.
Fidelis sighed and left with his father. He hoped that when Sera woke they could convince her to seek legal help. He really didn't want her going home to her abuser. With his thoughts still going in a circle, Fidelis made his way to his bedroom to rest. His father would get him before they went to check on Sera.
~***~
Serenah slowly opened her eyes. She groaned at the bright light and quickly closed them. She could sense that she wasn't at school. The sounds of students moving about were missing. That begged the question of where she was. Her memory was foggy too. The last thing she recalled was being in fourth period and standing up to go to lunch. Everything was a blank after that. Her head wasn't hurting, which was good. She decided to open her eyes again and get a proper look.
This time she wasn't blinded by the light. She was in a bedroom. Not hers nor anyone's at the castle. The room structure was all wrong. She sat up, wincing at the throbbing from her hurt body.
The door opened and Romep walked in with his father. Serenah couldn't hide her confusion. Before she could speak, Romeo was by her side.
"Sera, how do you feel?"
"Cooler," she joked, smiling at him. When he frowned, she became nervous. Maybe she shouldn't use humor. She couldn't help it. Whenever she was anxious, she would try to get others to laugh.
"Um, I'm fine," she replied to break the silence.
"Sera, we need to talk."
Her gaze went from Romeo to his father. She wasn't sure what Mr. Lancaster wanted to talk about. "Where I am?" she blurted out. She didn't like the tension in the room.
"You are at our second residence," Mr. Lancaster replied.
"Okay but why am I here?"
"Sera, you fainted at school from a high fever. I took you to the clinic. The nurse tried to reach your father, but no one answered. I called my father, and he came to pick us up to take you here so you could rest."
"What about Al?"
"He's here in a different room," Romeo answered while stroking her hand. "He knows you were resting."
She started to relax. As long as Al was here, everything would be fine. She was grateful not to have been sent home to her angry father. Being with Romeo and his father was much better.
"Sera, I would like to speak to you about something important."
Mr. Lancaster's serious expression made her worry. What could be wrong? His next words made her anxiety skyrocket.
"Sera, we had our doctor look you over."
All the air left her lungs and she started to hyperventilate. Her father had said no healers. She was so screwed. He was going to punish her again.
"Sera, breathe slowly. Match your breathing to mine," Fidelis whispered in her ear.
She tried to rein in her fear and do as he asked. It was hard. The terror her father had instilled in her was eating her alive. She felt Romeo's hand on her back. He rubbed her in soothing circles until she calmed down.
Mr. Lancaster had joined them by the bed. "Sera, we saw your injuries. I know that you're scared, but I would like to help you. We can press charges against your father for the abuse. We can also get you out of the house and some place safe."
"Safe," she muttered bitterly. Nowhere was safe when it came to her father. She couldn't get humans involved in her family affairs. They might lose their lives and that was unacceptable to her. She looked into Mr. Lancaster's eyes. He was sincere about his offer. If there wasn't so much at stake, she would've taken the help. She refused to endanger the kind humans who wanted to help her.
"Thank you for worrying about me. I have to refuse."
"What?" shouted Romeo.
Serenah winced at the volume of his shout. She flinched when he raised his hand.
Romeo jerked his hand to his chest; his hurt expression piercing her heart. She didn't mean to cower from his touch. It was more of an instinctive reaction to the fear of being hit. She blamed her father for it.
"Romeo, I'm sorry. I know you won't hurt me."
"This is why we need to get you to safety," he argued.
Serenah sighed. He was right. However, she wasn't going to take the risk.
"Thank you, but I need to go home."
"Sera," Romeo began but she held up her hand, cutting him off.
"Please, just leave it alone. If I don't go home, things will only get worse. I don't want to cause you trouble, too."
She froze when Romeo abruptly grabbed her in a gentle hug. She inhaled his smell and smiled into his chest. She loved it when he touched her. It made her feel safe and wanted. She would happily stay this way forever if she could. Reluctantly, she pulled back and stroked his face.
"I'll let you know if something happens. I have Al, too, so it'll be okay."
She frowned at Romeo's expression when she mentioned Alaster. Had something occurred while she was sleeping? She would have to ask Alaster later. She swung her legs to the side of the bed and shakily stood. Romeo supported her until she was stable.
"Well, wasn't expecting to be this weak," she muttered.
"You are not weak, Sera. Not by a long shot."
She smiled and patted his arm. He stepped back a little to give her room to move. She managed a step or two before she felt dizzy and froze. She let it pass before opening her eyes to Romeo's and Mr. Lancaster's concerned gazes.
"I was just dizzy. I'm okay now," she insisted. She could tell they didn't believe her. That was fine. If she could get to Alaster, she could go home and rest.
Romeo came up beside her and stayed next to her on their way down the hall to Alastar. Romeo opened the door and stuck her head in.
"Al, I'm up."
Alastar rushed to the door, halting to give her a once-over. Satisfied that she was okay he held out his hand to her. Serenah took his hand. She turned to give Romeo a quick kiss on his cheek before leaving with Alastar.
They got in their car and the silence was filled with tension. Alastar started the car, and they drove home.
Alastar didn't speak until they were in the garage.
"I won't tell His Majesty about today. I strongly suggest you stop dating Romeo. He is human and doesn't understand our ways. It's only going to cause more trouble for you and him."
Serenah felt anger rising in her. How dare Alastar try to take away her only source of happiness!
"No."
"No?"
"You heard me, Alastar. I will not kick Romeo aside. He is the one thing that I won't allow Father to take from me."
Alastar sighed. "Don't say I didn't try to warn you."
With that, Alastar got out of the car and went inside. Serenah sat for a few minutes before she, too, went inside to her room. Her mind was rambling over so many things that she decided to lie down. Her head hit the pillow, and she was out like a light.