Give Me Love Read Free Page B

about twenty-three years ago. I was pulled away, brought back to Elysium by—” He looks toward Elizabeth. “—Alexandria. About the time Mikah’s wings were discovered.”  
    “Wait, what do my wings have to do with— I’ve only known you for a few years.” Mikah looks to his mother for an explanation.  
    But it’s Red who answers. “No, I’ve known you since you were a lad, since shortly after your family came to Boston. Though neither you nor your mother ever saw me, I was sent to keep watch over you. To protect you.” As Red talks he is trying desperately to understand and put all the pieces of this together. “As I said, I was pulled away from Rebecca by Alexandria, who was dethroned to make way for you, Elizabeth. She told me that I was to stay away from Rebecca, that I could never return. I questioned her, but she wouldn’t explain it to me. Then I met Kelly. Though I never truly forgot Rebecca, I was — and am — so taken with Kelly that I never regretted the way things turned out.”
    Vivienne’s eyes scan the room, unseeing, as she tries to understand everything that Red is saying. There is a connection here, something between Elizabeth, Red, Alexandria, and herself that she doesn’t understand.
    “I was pulled away in late February. That would have been twenty-two years ago.” Red looks to Rebecca. “Were you pregnant when I left? Were you pregnant with Vivienne?” he asks, his voice low.
    “Yes.” Rebecca sobs, still kneeling on the tile with her head in her hands.
    An eerie silence follows, finally broken by Mikah addressing Elizabeth. “Mother, did you know about all of this?”
    “Yes and no. I knew that Vivienne’s father was of angelic descent, I just didn’t have the details. Our archives are incomplete or missing,” Elizabeth says, and she doesn’t elaborate further.

SEVEN
    “Rebecca,” Vivienne says, her voice strong and determined. She’s finally recalled the reason Elizabeth brought Rebecca here, and she’s going to get answers.
    Her mother looks up at her, tears still streaming down her cheeks.  
    “We need to ask you a few questions.” Despite the fact that every muscle in her body is tight and her hands are shaking, Vivienne’s voice sounds confident. She feels Mikah’s hand on her back and she relaxes just a little bit more.  
    “I need to ask you about what happened tonight.”  
    Everyone in the room takes an added interest in Rebecca and what she has to say, but Rebecca’s face only shows confusion.
    “Uh...” Rebecca’s features goes through a series of different emotions: confusion, concern, thoughtfulness. Finally she says, “The last thing I remember is hearing a girl scream.”  
    “Girl scream?” Vivienne repeats. Now the same puzzled look on Rebecca’s features is displayed on Vivienne’s.
    “Yes, and there was a lot of noise – fighting or arguing – then a loud crack and a door slamming shut.” She pauses, thinking harder about what she remembers. “There was a man. He was pushing her around, but I couldn’t see him. I was sitting on a couch. After the door slammed shut, I heard scraping noises and then pounding.”
    Vivienne begins to shake uncontrollably. As her knees give out, Mikah is quick to catch her. Her heart is beating harder and faster than anything she’s felt in a long time. Her breathing becomes quick and shallow.  
    “The man comes to me. He’s dressed in blue jeans. He’s taking off—”
    “Enough,” Mikah snaps, and Rebecca falls silent. “Vivienne, look at me. You’re safe, no one can hurt you.” He brushes a few stray strands of hair out of her face. She’s clearly petrified, scared out of her mind, but Mikah can’t even begin to understand where this is coming from.  
    Vivienne’s heart rate is slowing, little by little. With each passing beat the memory begins to fade away and she can feel her strength returning.
    “Vivienne,” says a sweet, soft voice a little distance away. Vivienne