Edie

Edie

SasatheShy

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Chapter Twenty-Five: Second Invite

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When she was shaken to be woken, Amana screamed out of fright. She opened her eyes wide, but seeing that it was only Tonisha, and not her past nightmare, she sighed in relief while wiping at some warm, fresh tears. Sniffing, she slowly eyed the four standing there. She saw Tonisha, Leigh, and Edie. But when she saw Captain Cain, as well, she shrunk into her covers, panicked.

“Shh, it’s okay, Amana,” whispered Tonisha. “Cain just wants to -- share some news with all of us. And he wanted you to hear, too.”

News? Slowly, Amana peeked her head out. She eyed Cain. He was not smiling, nor looking at her with a comforting stare like the three ladies were. He only awaited her permission to begin.

Amana sat up. She leaned against her pillow as Tonisha took a seat on the stool beside the bed. Tonisha gently rubbed the girl’s back. Amana was not talking, but she was ready to listen.

Helping himself to a seat on the bed, Cain stared at Amana. “I wanted you all to know that I met with the two men that had raped Amana. And that they have been punished.”

“H -- how punished?” Tonisha saw that Amana was listening well.

“Severely,” Cain said. “They’re both dead.”

“Dead?” gaped Leigh. She put a hand over her mouth, shocked. Truth was, she and Tonisha believed Cain wouldn’t go to such extremes for Amana. On the other hand, since Edie was involved, well -- it was pleasing to hear.

“Yes,” Cain went on. He kept his eyes on Amana the entire time. And, shockingly, he gave her a gentle face. One Edie, Tonisha, nor Leigh have before seen. “You don’t have to worry about them, anymore. You are safe now.”

Blinking, Amana slowly pushed off the covers as she crawled halfway over to Cain. She stared straight into his eyes, making sure she had heard him right. “T -- they’re r -- really dead?”

Cain nodded his head. He smiled at her.

“A -- and,” Amana continued. “T -- that woman?”

“She, too, has been punished. You do not have to worry about her.”

To Amana, it was a miracle. She started to cry, but her tears had formed from her thankfulness. She slowly crawled over to Cain and hugged him. Her tears dropped onto his shoulder, soaking his uniform. The three ladies standing over them gasped, and Tonisha was worried Cain would do something drastic. However, to all of their shock, he allowed Amana to hug him.

“T -- thank you,” Amana cried. “Thank y -- you, C -- Captain Cain…”

“It’s all right,” Cain whispered. He gently rubbed her back. “You’re safe. And you have Tonisha and Edie to take care of you.” He lifted his head. His eyes landed on Edie. She was standing far behind Tonisha and Leigh, leaning her back against the wall. As Cain caught her attention, she blushed pink and looked away. Seeing him being gentle and caring made her insides churn.

Sniffling, Amana pulled off of Cain. She moved back to get under the covers. Tonisha helped her as Cain got to his feet.

Once she was settled back into her covers, Amana looked over at Edie. “I -- I’m hungry…” She had whispered this, but her voice was clear.

“I’ll make you some warm soup,” Edie said softly. When Amana smiled at her, it made Edie return it with one of her own.

Fixing up Amana’s covers, Tonisha said, “We’ll leave you to rest, now.”

“No,” Amana begged. She grabbed Tonisha’s arm. “T -- Tonisha, please stay with me? I w -- want you to stay with me.”

Smiling, Tonisha sat down and snuggled with Amana on the bed. “I’ll stay.”

As they held one another, Cain urged Leigh and Edie out of the room. He followed after them, but not before giving Tonisha a short nod. She shrugged at him, but she nodded back.

Closing the door, Cain faced Edie and Leigh.

“Well,” smiled Leigh. “Guess I’ll go back upstairs.” She curtsied before she headed away, leaving Cain and Edie alone.

Keeping her eyes off Cain, Edie pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She turned and headed into the kitchen, knowing that Cain was following her. She paused in the middle of the floor. She kept her head lowered. She could soon feel his warm breath flowing onto her neck. And in seconds, his hands found her shoulders. She was given a mild massage.

“You’re so tense,” she heard Cain whisper. “Were you nervous back there?”

“I --” she paused. She pulled away from him, and turned to face him. “Were you telling the truth?”

Cain stared at Edie with hurt eyes. “I never lie, Edie.”

“So…” she pressed on. “So then -- Verity is dead?”

“Well, no…” Cain said. “She’s not. I decided to give her one final chance. But she was punished, and she and I are no longer engaged. She’s beneath us, now. Are you afraid of her, Edie?”

Frowning, Edie looked away. “I -- I am.”

“Don’t be,” Cain whispered. He stepped up to her, but he moved unsurely. For once, he did not want to make her run. He did not want her to feel afraid. “I will make sure you are kept unharmed.”

Without Cain’s help, Edie turned her head to look back up at him. She was hesitant, but she still did this. A part of her told her that she had to look at Cain. She could not cower any longer.

Edie then thought back to that kiss she had shared with him in her bedroom. Thinking this caused her body to warm up, and her cheeks to flush. Crossing her arms, she pretended to be cold while she attempted not to break down in front of him. She still did not understand how she could had kissed him back. It could not have been her. She had been upset. That had to be it. It had just been an upset kiss, and Cain happened to be there, instead of Lavan.

“What are you thinking?” Cain suddenly asked, sounding open and gentle. His mixed speeches made Edie confused.

“Nothing,” she answered. She sighed, deciding it was best to lie. “I’m just hoping that Amana will be okay.”

“She will be,” said Cain. “She seems about as tough as you. Maybe you’ve influenced her some?”

Thinking this made Edie shake her head. She showed stubbornness, believing that it was highly unlikely for her to make anyone become stronger, themselves. But the captain was willing to force her into taking that into consideration.

“You are a great person,” he found himself saying. He nearly bit his tongue, but continued. “And everyone here loves you. That girl still loves you, even though she took your place in this -- big mess. But it is obvious that she does.”

Sighing, Edie hardly noticed her hand was now in Cain’s. She squeezed his hand gently as her gaze fell to the floor. “I don’t know why she does.”

“Stop beating yourself up,” Cain sighed. “For the last time, it wasn’t your fault.” He reached his empty hand out, ready to touch her face. When she stared up at him, he froze. He lifted his chin, surprised to see that she was giving him a serious look. “What is it?”

“Cain, w -- we need to -- discuss what happened…” she paused. She bit her bottom lip, but forced herself to continue. “Um -- about what happened in my room? That -- kiss…”

“Oh?” smirked Cain. Without her permission, he placed his hands on her hips. He stepped closer to her, almost enough to press his body against hers.

“I don’t know what came over me,” Edie whispered. “I -- I wasn’t myself. I think I was just -- upset about Amana, and everything…”

“Understandable,” Cain nodded. But he did not believe her. Not for even a second. She wasn’t even removing his hands attached nicely to her sides.

Edie put her hands out. Her palms found the soft material of Cain’s uniform. She pushed against him. “I’m sorry, Cain.”

But Cain would not budge. He held her in place, not caring that he was re-building her fright.

“Knock it off, Edie,” he sternly whispered, causing her to freeze. “You are being utterly ridiculous. Why do you keep fighting this, hmm?”

“P -- please stop it, Cain,” Edie begged. However, her voice cracked, sounding fake. She gasped when a large hand found its way into her hair, holding her in place at the back of her head. “Mm…”

“You’re shaking,” Cain smiled. “But you’re not shaking because you’re afraid. Am I right?” He gleamed as she looked down. “You are fighting what you are craving.”

“No!” Edie then shouted. She tried pulling away. “I am not -- craving anything!”

“Then why keep those flowers?” Cain asked. “And why kiss me?”

Edie backed away until she hit a counter.

“And where’s this Lavan been, hmm? During this crisis?”

“He…” Edie paused. She blinked back tears. “He’s out hunting with h -- his friends.”

“I see,” Cain nodded. “Will he be gone long?”

“Until -- the end of this week, I think.” She bit her tongue. Lavan wasn’t there. That was true. His comfort was currently far away, and, well, with Cain being there… No! She mustn’t think that way. “I -- need to warm up some soup for Amana. I promised her that I would.”

“Alright,” said Cain. He gently cupped her cheeks. “I understand. Just remember this, Edie. I will always be here for you -- if you need me. I can sense that you are sad, and that you need someone to talk to. So that comes to me asking one favor of you. Edie -- I want you to have dinner with me again. Say -- tomorrow night?”

Edie’s eyes widened. She stared up at Cain, showing that she was not ready to give him an answer. He finally released her, making her sigh. “I…”

“If you decide not to come, then I understand,” Cain said. “I will wait for you at my home. Talk it over with Tonisha, if you’d like. But -- just remember that -- you are welcome in my home.”

She watched as he turned his back to her. He took his leave. Placing a hand over her heart, Edie could feel it beating faster than any drum. Reaching her other hand up, Edie brushed at some sweat glistening her forehead. She closed her eyes, thinking about Cain’s words.

She believed him.

Looking down, Edie whimpered, “W -- what should I do?” as she wrapped her arms around herself.

--

About half an hour later, Edie gently balanced a tray topped with a bowl filled with creamy, steaming soup. She carried it through Amana’s bedroom door, seeing Tonisha sitting there quietly. Tonisha glanced up at Edie. She smiled when she saw the brim-filled bowl. Standing to her feet, she carefully took it from Edie.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Turning her head, Edie saw that Amana had fallen asleep. She looked to the soup. It was going to get cold.

“It’s okay,” Tonisha said as she set down the tray. She led Edie out of the bedroom, closing the door only a creak behind them. She faced Edie worriedly. “Are you all right?”

Edie nodded her head. “I’m better.”

“Good.”

Crossing her arms, Tonisha sighed. She shook her head a bit, thinking back on Cain’s words. “That man has surprised me so many times. But to think he’d go as far as he did to be -- generous for once. It’s remarkable.”

“Mm…” Edie bowed her head. It had been a startling miracle.

Tonisha eyed Edie. She no longer showed anger. Her concern for Edie had returned. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

Trembling, Edie slowly peered up at Tonisha. She sighed, knowing she should just tell the truth. He was sick of lying to Tonisha. “C -- Cain invited me to dinner again. F -- for tomorrow night.”

Gaping, Tonisha uncrossed her arms. She walked up to Edie. “That’s serious.” She watched as Edie merely nodded. She wished the girl would talk with her more.

“Listen,” she sprung. “I’m sorry for my behavior. I just never imagined that this could happen, and I did blame you for what happened to Amana.” She saw Edie frown, but she continued talking. “It was wrong of me to, though. For that, I am sorry. I’m just -- I’m also worried about you, Edie.”

“W -- why are you worried about me?” Edie asked, even though she had an idea. And her question made Tonisha huff and shake her head.

“Because, Edie, you are becoming close to a man that raped you.”

Gaping, Edie looked away. “That’s -- not true.”

“Think about it,” Tonisha said strongly. “I think you shouldn’t go to dinner, but the choice is yours.”

Turning her attention on Amana’s bedroom door, Tonisha twisted her body and walked up to it. She placed her hand on the door handle before looking back at Edie.

“Try.”

And she went back into Amana’s bedroom, leaving Edie to sorrow in solitude.