Terror (Part 1 of the Valeska Series)

Revelations

✮ a c c a l i a  POV✮

I finish lacing my combat boots up and knock on the door to the visitation room, telling Edward and Mr Scott that they can come back in. Sitting at the table beside Jerome, I wait for them to come in. Edward is the first one, and his expression is, well, devoid of emotion. I give him a smile and he instantly brightens, sitting down across from us as I place my satchel on the table between us. Pulling out the file we stole from the orphanage, I sit in on the table, not exactly wanting to open it.

Edward reaches across the table and lays his hand on mine. "You don't have to do this right now, Accalia. You can wait if you want."

Nodding, I reach for the folder and open it. "I know, but I need to do this. It's better now than never."

Jerome wraps his arm around my shoulder comfortingly and looks down at the open folder in front of him. Turning my focus fully to the folder, I scan the data for anything remotely interesting about myself that I never knew or anything concerning my birth parents. Apparently I have the same blood type as Jerome, but that's the only interesting thing on the first page. Flipping to the next one, my breath catches in my throat at the image attached to a handwritten piece of paper. It's a letter with a photograph of my parents.

Picking up the photo, I can't help but smile at their happy face. The darker skinned woman - my mother - is holding me like I am the most precious thing in the world, and the dark haired man - my father - is simply smiling at the both of us, not even realizing that a photo is being taken. They both look so unbelievably happy, so it's hard to imagine why they gave me up. Turning to the letter, I know that I am about to find out.

My little Accalia,

You must have so many questions, but I cannot give you all the answers you desire within this letter because I don't know who will read this before you get the chance to steal it from the b***h we have been forced to give you to. Yes, you read that right. We had no say in giving you up, and it breaks my heart to know that I will not see you grow up. Your father and I hate having to do this, but we've been given the choice to either give you up or kill you before night falls.

We chose to save you from death and hopefully give you a life. If you're reading this, then know that we will meet each other soon. You have finally gotten out of that orphanage and have made your way to Gotham one way or another as every unfortunate soul does at least once in their life. Hopefully, you were adopted into a nice, loving family and have made so many good friends. I pray that you have lived a life that neither your father or I had, or could give to you.

Now, before I say anything else. It is very important that you know this. Your father and I were raised as brother and sister, but we are of no relation to each other, as you can clearly see in the photo I have sent with this letter to you. It is of the day you were born - today, the 13th of December. Our beautiful baby was born on Friday the 13th, but do not let that impact on your life, sweetie. You're going to be a beautiful girl with some devilish charms that you will instinctively use to get your way.

Accalia, listen closely. Your father and I will be returning to Gotham before your 18th birthday. If, by a slim chance, you are not living in Gotham, please find your way there. We are unable to seek you out, but, if you are to seek us out, no one can prevent you from doing so. Please, sweetie, come and find us when we return. You will know when we're there because things will begin to occur.

Love always,

Tabitha and Theo Galavan, your mother and father.

I don't even realise that I am crying until Jerome pulls me in for a hug, rocking me back and forth and humming 'Jerome' by Zella Day, again. Edward moves around to my other side and rests his hand on my shoulder, not wanting to overstep his bounds with Jerome only a foot away. Pulling back from the hug, I sniffle and wipe my eyes, placing everything back into the folder, and then placing the folder back into my satchel.

"What did it say, little terror?" Jerome asks, wiping away a stray tear.

I clear my throat and swallow. "They're going to be in Gotham this year, but I'm not certain when. All my mother said was that 'things will begin to occur' when they're here."

"I do hate to break this to you again, Miss Gordon," Mr Scott says, actually looking and sounding sorry. "Your time is up. I arranged for you to have an extra half an hour this time because of that favour you asked for, but it was a one time only occurrence."

"I understand. Also, we need to do something about getting visitation hours extended. Three hours is not enough to catch up." I stand and slip my satchel onto my shoulder. "Can you get good behaviour extensions or something?"

"If Mr Valeska keeps up his good behaviour and compliance in therapy sessions, he will be able to get longer visitation hours. That's a rule here, and they do not go back on their word. Good behaviour allows the patients extra privileges."

Turning to Jerome, I smirk as he stands up, looking sheepish. "Well, psycho. Look who's doing what he's supposed to. Keep that up, and you can get extra privileges."

Jerome grips my waist and pulls me closer. "Watch that double meaning, little terror. Just you wait until I get a taste of what you have to offer. We'll both be begging for longer hours."

Mr Scott coughs abruptly and Jerome and I both smirk at him, and even Edward has to hide a smile at the guard's obvious discomfort. Turning back to the ginger, I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tightly, not wanting to let him go. Surprisingly, he pushes me back and does something unexpected; he places his hands on the side of my face and kisses me like there's no tomorrow for us. Finding his hair, I wind my fingers into it and instinctively tug on it.

A small groan leaves him and he forces himself away from me, his evergreen eyes dark and promising. Smirking, I make my way over to the door and follow Edward out, shaking my hips to tease Jerome. A strangled sound leaves the ginger and I look over my shoulder at him with my smirk still present. He is gripping the top of the seat and his knuckles are beginning to turn white, his green eyes glaring at me with lust and annoyance.

"You're going to want to take care of your issue before you head back to the rec room," I inform the ginger, causing him to merely smirk at me. "Don't want those crazies seeing that the great psychopath feels simple pleasures such as lust."

Jerome cackles. "Oh, Cali. You, little witch, need to remember that I'll be out of here one day."

"I'm counting on it, ginger."