Leanna

[Leanna's POV]

[Wounds]

It had been a week since I left the hospital. It was a good thing that it was still summer break. I had a week of recuperating.

My family stayed with me throughout my healing days, so I forced Cain to go back to his penthouse –– temporary at least until my parents went back to our country. 

Though we were openly engaged, living together with my parents was awkward. Not because of some morality of cohabitation before marriage, but because I knew they were going to spy on our every move with concerning grins on their faces.

Not to mention that the twins might do something to Cain.

At the moment, at eight in the evening, I was at Cain's penthouse. Helping him clean his wounds and, of course, my little two cute bodyguards never left my side, not wanting me out of their sight.

Whenever I saw Cain's wounds, a painful waved of nausea hit me, and my eyes hurt at sight. The three deep slashes on his back where stitched closed: an unsightly black, red, and purple hues intermixed with his pale skin.

Every time I patched him, the twins cringed on their seats and shifted their heads away from the gruesome sight.

"You don't have to do this every day. I'll have Russ––"

"No," I cut in, "let me do this." Suppressing the shaking of my hands, and with all the gentleness I could muster, I tapped the medicine on his back.

It was like I was the one experiencing his pain. My heart was beating hard at every contact of the cotton balls on his wounds.

Cain, like always, would sit still like an unfeeling robot. Sometimes, I wonder if his immune to pain.

I also noticed he had a lot of scars. Not noticeable at first due to his pale skin, but upon closer inspection, there were tiny scars all over his body.

"There," I said and neatly wrapped the gauzes on his wounds.

Cain put on his shirt and faced me with a warm smile.

"Are you . . . sleeping well?" he asked, caressing the bags under my eyes. His gaze was frosty thick with unnoticeable concern.

Honestly, ever since that kidnapping a week ago, I couldn't sleep because of nightmares. I guessed the traumatic experience still haunted me even in my dreams. It got worse every middle of the night that I didn't sleep altogether to avoid that horrible experience.

But I couldn't tell him that. I didn't want him to worry about me anymore.

"Mm . . . I'm fine . . . Just being up every night watching movies."

I knew he knew I was lying, but he never pressed the issue. He just nodded his head.

"Sis, let's go! You already finished what you came here to do." Lance shot to his feet and threw us an impatience glance.

*sigh . . .

Cain and I hadn't been sleeping together since my family came. We hadn't been together much either since I was accompanying my parents whenever they explore New Haven, and Cain was busy with his own affairs.

Thus, I wanted to be with him much longer, but the murderous glares my brothers threw at him made me feel uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"Don't worry about it. Go and get some rest."

Cain grabbed my wheelchair as we made our way towards the elevator.

"I'll take that."

Lance scooted over and snatched the wheelchair from Cain's hold, and oddly enough, the cold man just let him –– every time. Every time the twins made rude remarks and gestures to him, he wouldn't retort back. He just looked at me, and his dark energy disappeared.

Sometimes, I felt like if I wasn't the twins' sister, they were long gone from this world by now.

We were already inside the elevator car as the elevator door close but halted when Cain held the door and kissed my lips, which stunned the twins in horror.

"Goodnight."

"Mmmm . . . ," I smiled and kissed him back. "Night."

----

[Leanna's POV]

[Nightmares]

"Sis, here . . . I got this for you."

Lance handed me a dream catcher. "It's said it helps in blocking nightmares."

I beamed and ruffled his hair. "Thank you."

I hanged the dream catcher on my bedpost and tucked myself on the bed in a comfortable position.

"Sis, this incense will help you to have a peaceful sleep."

Lawrence plugged an incense burner, and the soothing, relaxing smell of different herbs filled the air.

I almost sobbed on how love I felt.

"Thank you, my angels," I huffed a laugh to hid the choking of my voice. "Now, come on up and let's go to sleep." I tapped the mattress and motioned them to join me.

Since they came, they were taking every opportunity to sleep beside me, so they knew all about my nightmares at night. But luckily, this pair of brothers of mine just thought that I watched something scary again. I told them to keep my nightmares a secret from mom and dad since I didn't want them to worry about me.

I kissed their forehead and dimmed the lights, but I didn't close my eyes no matter how sleepy I was. I just couldn't, with all those nightmares of me raped and killed by those men.

Is this going to continue forever?

I closed my eyes tight at the realization that I might need to visit a psychiatrist if this goes on.

"Sis . . ."

The throaty and hesitant voice of Lawrence made me turned my head to him.

"Mmm . . . ?" I urged when Lawrence didn't continue.

"Well . . . I'm just curious . . . Why is that . . . Demon had a gruesome wound on his back?"

This was the first time that Lawrence showed interest in Cain even though it was because of his wounds.

I smiled and licked my lips.

"Lawrence, I don't know any demon you're talking about."

"Y-you know . . . T-that man . . ."

"What man? There are plenty of man I know."

"Sis, come on! You know who I'm talking about."

My lips kicked up into a smirk when I imagined Lawrence's pouting face. "The name, Lawrence. It's not that hard to say his name."

. . .

. . .

"C-Cain . . ."

I smiled in triumph and decided not to tease him anymore when his voice turned all shaky like he was on the verge of crying.

"All you have to know is . . . Cain has those wounds because of me. He risked his life to save me."

. . .

Lance sneered. "Hmp! I'm sure it was his fault in the first place."

I forced a smile. "Regardless . . . I'm alive because of him."

HMP!

Lance turned his body, his back facing me while Lawrence didn't say anything more.

After a period of time, my eyelids grew heavy. The countless sleepless nights were taking its toll on me. Even I didn't want to –– my consciousness drifted into my constant nightmare.

I was passed to different men while their maniacal laughter boomed. They shoved me from one man to the next until they ripped my clothes and––

GASP!

My body jerked, and I sat on the bed. My clothes dumped as well as my skin while my hair was a mess.

*pant . . .

*pant . . .

I stabilized my breathing to no such luck. The mental strain and physical exhaustion were draining me. I was afraid any more nights like this, and I would lose my sanity!

Weakness was creeping through my nerves, waiting for me to lose grip of the first tear.

But not here.

I must not cry here.

Cain . . .

I slid into my wheelchair and went out of my room as quiet as I could. I made my way in the hallway while all the while, feeling lost –– all alone and scared.

Cain . . .

The elevator dinged, and the man who silenced all my fears welcomed me the moment the elevator door opened. Tears of countless sleepless nights fell at the sight of his worried face.

I extended my arms towards him and choked his name, "Cain."

With quick long strides, I was in his arms. He held me tight, and I burrowed my face into the warmth of his chest as my arms wrapped around his neck. Wanting to pressed our bodies together.

With me in his arms, he sauntered into his room. He then sat on the bed and placed me on his lap before he gently rocked me to sleep as he ran his fingers through my hair.

"Shhh . . . I'm here . . . It's alright now."

His gentle voice melted the lump in my throat, and cries escaped my mouth. His shirt was wet with my tears as I cried his name over and over. My body clung to his in desperate need of his protection –– feeling his warmth and inhaling his scent.

"It's alright now, my love . . . No one will hurt you from now on . . ."

His gentle and soothing voice calmed my anxious heart.

His warmth and scent silenced all my fears.

Not long after, I fell asleep in his embrace with tears in my eyes.

Only this man made me feel safe and protected.

At this moment, I could no longer live without him.