Chapter Eleven: The Ugly Truth:

I turned around to look behind me and saw my Cassie awake and staring at me. She was around to turn on her side to get a better look at me, but I stopped her.

“Easy now!” I said putting out my hand to push her back down. “You’re still recovering. Moving around so much will cause you much more pain. Just lie down and take it easy.” She looked at me not sure to trust me or not at first. I don’t blame her. I *did* get her into this mess in the first place. Cassie finally settled back down in her bed. I breathed out in relief. She looked at me still.

“Why were they shooting at us, doctor?” she asked. I gave her a blank stare for a while. I knew it would come to this. I just didn’t expect… no, didn’t want it to be so soon. But now, it’s come down to that. And… what can I do? I had no choice by this point. Blake was still a little angry at me. Now, Cassie didn’t seem to trust me. I bit my lip as I began to plan how to bring it all out. This is not going to be easy! But then again, I knew that it wouldn’t since I learned that she was Elizabeth’s daughter.

“Cassie,” I said. “Are you under any pain meds at the moment?” My beloved looked at me oddly.

“No, why?” she asked. I breathed out some.

“Good,” I said. “This will take me a while. So, I need you conscious the whole time.” She still looked at me lost.

“Why?” Cassie asked again. I felt a little uneasy now. Aw, crap. I’m losing her now. Well, better get it all out before I start not making sense. I breathed in heavier this time.

“Years ago, I knew your mother *really* well,” I began to admit. “We… slept together for many years.” Cassie’s face changed to one of shock and disgust. She tried to get up again, but I pushed her back down.

“Don’t get up!” I told her. “You’re still recovering, remember?” She eased herself back down again. My beloved glared at me still.

“You had an affair with my mother?!?” she asked in rage.

“Yes,” I said with a slightly nod as my eyes wandered to the bed in front of me. “But it isn’t what you think! I didn’t seduce her! She seduced me. Your mother wasn’t sure cheap shag; I loved her to death. I really did!” My Cassie didn’t seem to believe me at all.

“For how long?” she hissed at me. I looked up at her again.

“Huh?” I asked.

“For how long did this affair carry on?” she asked me, bitterly. I breathed in deeper again.

“Twenty-three years ago,” I admitted, hesitantly. Cassie looked as if she would scream now.

“Twenty-three years?!?” she screamed. “Twenty-three years?!?”

“Shhh!” I whispered. “Not so loud.” My beloved glared at me with hate now.

“You scum bag!” she yelped. “How could you have taken advantage of mom when she was that young?!?”

“It wasn’t like that!” I protested. “We were really in love! It wasn’t just sex! We actually had a relationship until she died.”

“But she was married to my father!” my beloved cried.

“She didn’t love him!” I yelled. “She only got married to appease her parents!” We went quiet for a moment. Cassie still looked at me with hate in her eyes.

“And why are you so interest in me for?!?” she asked as if to snap again.

“You remind me of Elizabeth,” I answered merely. My Cassie looked at me in disgust even more.

“Is that all?” she asked.

“Afraid so,” I replied. “But you’ll need me to survive now.”

“Why?!?” Cassie snapped again. “Why the hell should I even think of trusting you?!?” I began to try and force the words out of mouth.

“The council is after you,” I reasoned. Her hate turned into confusion.

“Who?” she asked. Here came the hardest part. I gently patted on the shoulder.

“In England centuries ago,” I began. “The city became unruly. The people needed some order to be restored to them in all ways, morally and systematically. Without it, anarchy would soon follow close behind. So all of the people of the country elected all their cities and village’s wisest elders. All forty of them formed the council. These elders started out pure and wise just like most leaders do. But over the years, they started to die out. As a result, a new council took their place. Only, these guys were more corrupt. All they cared about was money. The rich got away scot-free with their crimes while the other classes paid dearly for it.” Cassie still didn’t seem to quite understand.

“So,” she said. “What does that have to do with me?” I looked at her rather grim.

“You are Elizabeth’s daughter,” I said. “I had a romantic affair with Elizabeth. Because you and your brother have found me again, the council does not like that. So, they have issued as order to kill you.” Cassie looked at me with wide eyes of fear.

“And what about Blake?” she asked in a panic. I nodded at her still looking grim.

“Yes,” I replied. “I’m afraid they have issued a hit on him too.” My beloved looked ready to cry now. A low whimpering noise started seeping out from her smooth pale lips. I lightly shushed her again.

“It’s okay,” I promised. “I will protect you from them.”

“How?” Cassie asked.

“I’ll come to live with you and Blake,” I told her. My beloved looked at me oddly.

“But, your practice is on the other side of town!” she gasped. I gave her a kind little smile.

“That’s not a problem,” I whispered. “I drop you guys off to school on my way to work and pick you guys up on the way home. How does that sound?” My beloved Cassie just stared at me in silence for a moment. She finally nodded at last. I smiled at her.

“Very good,” I whispered as I lightly pushed some of her bangs away from her forehead. I gave her a small kiss on the skin. Cassie softly shut her eyes as I did so. Then, I heard the door open behind us. I looked up and saw the nurse with a cup of pain meds in her hand.

“It’s time for Campbell-chan’s medicine, doctor,” she informed me. I nodded at her with a subtle nod.

“It’s okay,” I said. “I was just leaving anyway.” I turned back to my beloved Cassie. "I’ll see you this evening, okay?” I whispered. My love gave me slight little nod. I gave her another kiss on the forehead before I walked out the door. And now, now I’m ready to battle the council, again.