The Queen and Her Protector

Chapter 1

Neil knocked on the door of the O’Reilly’s and waited for someone to open but no one came. He knocked again and waited and still nothing. Neil was about to turn the door handle when the door opened and he saw Charlie standing there in front of him, shaking like a leaf and with blood on her hands. Neil rushed towards her but she held up her hands making him stop dead in his tracks. He looked around the house and saw the wreckage. The living room was completely damaged, all the furnisher was broken, glass almost all over the floors. Either Charlie had developed her powers or the Krasinki’s had found her. Neil tried once more to hold Charlie and this time she let him, he held onto her tightly and she did as well, crying intensely.

Neil felt her stiffen at the sound of the sirens; Neil hushed her and rubbed her arms with his hands as he tried to calm her. Neil was as genuine as possible; he had comforted Charlie only a handful of times.

“It’s okay little one; they won’t hurt you or take you away. This time we will place you with us. We’ll protect you, I promise.”

Charlie looked up at her uncle; although she had doubts she knew she could trust him. She had suffered more than her fair share, first her parents had died in a robbery gone wrong and now her aunt and uncle had been killed as well trying to protect her from two men who had tried to kidnap her.

She hadn’t cried until she saw Uncle Neil, she was too wired to even feel anything but rage and anger. She wasn’t old enough yet to seek justice but one day she would have it, for her parents and her father’s sister and her husband. Suddenly she felt it, she was alone in this world and although she had Uncle Neil and his family she was still alone. The only family she had left had been taken from her a few minutes ago. Was it just bad luck or was she just not destined to grow up with a family.

The footsteps and the shouting brought her back from her reverie. Charlie looked at the men coming towards her and she let them pull her away from Uncle Neil. She was shaking tremendously as she shook her head and spoke. Charlie felt as if she was about to pass out from the shockwaves that were vibrating violently through her body.

“It was me who called, I I called, I’m Charlie.”

Even though she was stammering they still didn’t release her until one of the officers got confirmation. Neil waited patiently until he could hold Charlie and be there for her. As soon as he could possibly manage he gripped her tight and let her know that she was alright and that things would be okay.

Neil explained that they were going to the police station now and she had to tell the officers what had happened and soon after that they would release her and Neil would take her home. Neil looked Charlie in the eyes.

“You’re a strong girl dear Charlie and if you need anything I’m right here.”

Charlie went into block mode as she did when her parents had died. She did everything she was told, answered questions and not once had she not been compliant. Charlie had learnt from the last time not to resist the process. Charlie started thinking about her life and just how chaotic it seemed to be. Was there some sort of plan that was about destroying her life?

Charlie thought about when the kidnappers had broken the door of her bedroom and dragged her down to where her godparents were kneeling down on the floor in the living room. She watched as they hit them over and over again, how her uncle had tried to stop them but they had hit him again and he fell to the ground. She had never seen that kind of violence, not even in the action films she had watched or been allowed to.

She remembered how her aunt had begged them to leave Charlie alone, that they would give them any amount of money necessary but instead the kidnappers had shot them both without any hesitation.

She shook her head of the memory, she wondered if anyone was safe around her and if she were to go to Uncle Neil, would he be safe or his family. Would anyone she lived with be safe?

Adam came to the police station as soon as his mom had told him about Charlie. He had simply acted on instinct; all he could think about was being there for Charlie and protecting her. He had been there for her when her parents had passed on, she was like this little sweet angel that you just always wanted to protect and never see hurt.

Charlie had known Adam for most of her life, a childhood friend who had always been there for her. Adam saw her standing near a bench, leaning against the wall, deep in thought. He felt his body move of its own accord towards Charlie. It stopped amazing him after a while, at some point he thought of Charlie as a magnet and she was drawing him closer and he was powerless to her pull of magic.

Adam opened his arms and held onto Charlie, she in turn didn’t shy away from his comfort. Adam lifted her face with his hand so Charlie was forced to look at him.

“Are you okay?”

Charlie was so grateful for Adam’s presence, he always made her feel so calm and he was the one person she didn’t have to hold back with. She could be completely herself and not be scared or hide away. Adam wiped the tears falling down Charlie’s face; he needed to see her face as she spoke. He could feel her shaking and that hadn’t happened often. He knew Charlie to be a very strong person, it really took a lot to mentally shake her up and if this did then she had seen or heard something truly horrible.

“Not in the least, Adam oh I…”

He hushed her and took her straight to the bench next to them.

“If you are not okay, I don’t want you to say anything for now Charlie, I’m here. Maybe we can talk at home.”

They just sat on the bench with Adam who was still holding Charlie when Neil appeared twenty minutes later, they could finally take Charlie home.

They left the station and went home where Neil showed Charlie her room; it was Adam’s sisters’ room.

Adam helped Charlie settle in, watching Charlie as she took in her new environment. Neil left them alone and went to check the house for Serena. Adam was leaning against the door frame while watching her silently move in the room as if she was accustoming herself to this room.

“Charlie, are you ready to talk to me?”

Charlie looked at Adam, shaking her head. Adam watched as she sat down on the bed and play with the bedspread with her fingers. Charlie looked up at Adam, letting the tears fall down her face.

“What do you expect me to say Adam?”

Adam sighed deeply as he went to sit next to her and held her tightly. He gently kissed her hair, hoping he was helping her in some way. It was rather frustrating for Adam that she wasn’t letting him in now that they were at home. He knelt down in front of her, rubbing his thumbs against her hands.

“I expect for you to tell me how you’re feeling, what you’d like for me to do, anything Charlie. As long as you aren’t this silent, you weren’t this silent when your parents died.”

“That’s because they didn’t die in front of of of me Adam.”

Charlie broke down in front of him, shaking as she cried. Adam lifted Charlie and put her on his lap. He rocked her back and forth, rubbing her back with his hands. It hadn’t occurred to him the difference between her two traumatic experiences. Adam could not even begin to comprehend how deeply this had affected her.

“I’ve got you, you are safe here, trust me my little kitten.”

He heard her give a tiny laugh as she sniffed; it was a small start for him but a start nonetheless. Charlie rubbed her fingers against Adam’s neck; something about doing that always soothed her. In fact just being around Adam calmed her down tremendously. He heard her sniff again as she spoke.

“Adam?”

Adam smiled as he caressed her hair; he was pulling her from the darkness.

“Yes kitten?”

Charlie shook her head, he always used the most ridiculous names when he was trying to cheer her up and the crazy thing was that it always worked.

“I don’t know what to do with the way I’m feeling, I’m so scared right now and I just can’t get them out of my head, it’s just so horrible Adam.”

“Oh Charlie, I’m right here. I cannot undo what you saw or what you experienced but I can help you move forward one tiny step at a time, together.”

Charlie held onto Adam as if her life depended on it. She considered herself a strong individual yet around Adam her most vulnerable side came out without fail.

It wasn’t as if she was this damsel in distress wanting Adam to save her, it was more like Adam made her feel like it was okay to not be on her guard, like it was acceptable to lean on someone.

Her time here with Stewarts was going to be dangerous but she knew with certainty that she would be safely guarded, that no harm would come to her.

Serena watched the interaction between Adam and Charlie, her first instinct was to protect her son at all costs but she couldn’t help but feel the same protective instinct for Charlie. When Neil contacted her to tell her what had happened and what was going to happen next she wanted to say no but now seeing Charlie’s reaction she knew Neil had made the right decision. She had no doubt it was going to be dangerous but Charlie was safest here with them.

Serena knew her son all too well, as much as he was the youngest Adam had always felt the need to protect Liv and she recognized the look Adam had with Charlie. Her boy was doomed and he didn’t even know it, God help him. Serena sighed heavily as she in turn rested her head against Neil’s chest.

“Thank you for being you.”

Serena gave an awkward laugh.

“Did I have a choice? She’s so young and lost so much already and for what my love?”

Neil grunted in agreement, he knew what Serena meant without her even voicing it. Charlie had a heavy laden battle ahead of her; it was in Charlie’s best interest to be prepared for it. At some point Neil had to tell Charlie about her heritage and what was to be expected of her but he was not looking forward to telling her.

Adam sensed that he and Charlie were not alone and had to let her know so he whispered in her ear.

For some odd reason, Charlie shivered as she heard him speak.

“Kitten, my parents are outside the room. Do you want them to come in?”

Charlie ignored whatever was happening to her body and spoke.

“Sure, why not.”

Adam signalled for them to enter the room and they did. Charlie turned her body so she could face Adams’ parents, Neil noticed that Adam didn’t loosen his grip on Charlie and she in turn didn’t leave Adams embrace.

Neil gave Serena a look and she just shrugged her shoulders

“You need something dad?”

“No son, your mother and I just came to check on Charlie. Charlie dear how are you holding up?”

Charlie grabbed Adam’s hand and squeezed it for support.

“I’m okay for now; Adam is helping me sort out some stuff. Thank you for letting me stay here, I truly appreciate it.”

Serena came towards Charlie and placed her hand on Charlie’s face, ignoring the little flinch that Charlie made. It was understandable considering what she’s been through.

“You will be safe sweetheart, if you need anything we are just across the hall.”

Charlie put her hand on Serena’s and gave her a tiny smile, Charlie felt so welcome and blessed, that even with her losses she was gaining a win.