“Ava?” Jack’s face loomed into focus, his brilliant blue eyes filled with worry.
“Jack.” I croaked, “Hawthorne.”
Hawthorne rested his head across my legs sadly.
“How are you feeling?” Jack asked.
“Thirsty.” I admitted.
Jack smiled reluctantly and handed me a glass of water which had been sitting upon my bedside table.
“Thanks.” I muttered as he helped me sit up to drink it. When I was done I flopped back onto the bed weakly.
“Why do I feel so drained?” I asked Jack.
Jack scowled, “It’s just what Noah’s Power does. He controls your body, takes away your free will. It makes you weak and vulnerable. It drains your energy. But don’t worry; you’ve got me looking after you. You really should rest up.”
“Thank you, Jack.” I whispered, “Thank you, Hawthorne. You really saved me.”
Hawthorne whined, and Jack smiled, “You’re welcome. Now go back to sleep.”
“But I have so many questions.” I argued.
Jack sighed, “You are always so stubborn.” He shook his head.
“Just a few questions?” I challenged.
“Just a few.” Jack agreed suspiciously.
I thought for a moment before deciding what to ask first, “Jack, why didn’t you tell me about his Madeline?”
Jack sighed and sat on the edge of my bed, “I’m really very sorry that I didn’t tell you, Ava.” He said sincerely, “But it’s a very hard subject for me to talk about-”
“You’re father.” I remembered.
Jack stared, “How did you-?”
“Noah.” I explained, “He told me about Madeline, and your father.”
Jack scowled and curled his fists into balls, “My father was a great healer, and Noah Forsythe blamed him for the death of Madeline. He vanished the day after she died.”
“I’m so sorry Jack.”
“I was twelve.” Jack continued, “My mother died giving birth to me, and I had no siblings. The only family I had left was driven away by Noah Forsythe.”
I reached out a hand and stroked Jack’s arm. I didn’t know what to say to comfort him. His past had horrors that I didn’t know about. I wondered how he coped with it. He had always seemed so happy and carefree.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, really I am. I realise now that I should have, despite the hurt it causes me to talk about it.”
“It’s okay.” I whispered.
Jack sighed and smiled at me, taking my hand. His fingers entwined with mine felt warm against my skin. Odd, I thought.
“So … H-how did you know?” I wondered, “How did you know where I was? How did you know I was in danger?”
Jack smirked, “I didn’t.”
I was confused, “Then why did you come bursting into the room?”
Jack was grinning now, “I didn’t know you were in danger. Hawthorne did.”
“Hawthorne?” I breathed, looking past Jack at my beautiful, overgrown fox who was pouting with his head still resting against my legs.
“I was hanging out in the stables, as usual,” Jack explained, “When all of a sudden Hawthorne started going, well, absolutely nuts. He began thrashing around, broke down his stall door and grabbed me by my coat and tried dragging me from the stables. Scared the crap out of Camryn. She thought Hawthorne was attacking me, but I could tell something was wrong … that something was bothering him.”
I stared, wide eyed at Jack. This made absolutely no sense.
“So I followed Hawthorne from the stables, the next thing I knew he was nothing but a blur. He moved so fast I barely saw him. He ran into the manor. Of course, I was absolutely going mental with worry. I thought for sure he would get caught. But of course, when you can run at that speed, and take on the colour of your surroundings, no one sees you.” Jack smirked and petted Hawthorne.
“Hawthorne ran through the manor?” I gaped, “and no one saw him?”
“He was like a ghost.” Jack said in awe, “It was amazing.”
“So you followed him?” I asked
“Well I tried to.” Jack chuckled, “But I think I had a good idea of where he was going. I ran straight to the third floor just in time to see Hawthorne slip through Noah’s bedroom door. That was when I heard the growling. It was a little bit frightening actually. I ran to the door and hid in the shadows of the hall, waiting for the right moment. I heard Noah inside, scared by the sounds of it. I mean, who wouldn’t be? I could see you through the doorway … could see you sprawled, half naked across his bed. I was filled with rage. Noah wrenched open the door to escape Hawthorne, and I just … knocked him out cold. He didn’t even have time to see me.” Jack finished.
I stared at both of them in wonder, “You really did save me.”
“I guess we did.” Jack smiled.
“But how did Hawthorne know?” I demanded.
Jack shrugged, “Beats me.” He said honestly, “But I have a theory.”
“Tell me.” I wanted to know everything.
“It’s like Camryn said … you two are connected by-”
“Yeah, yeah, love.” I rolled my eyes, “You’re saying Hawthorne sensed I was in danger because he loves me?”