"Sweater Weather", The Neighbourhood

First, I had to get clean, and then I would explore what Abosede had seen in me.

Aidan was determined to help me through the hard days that were to come. We decided to stay at his apartment. I felt safer surrounded by his objects, furniture, paintings, and clothes. His bedroom turned into a bubble where, even in the deep darkness, I could feel his warmth.

He looked after me, comforted me relentlessly. For a while, every inch of my body ached, and I know I screamed for hours. He held me, waiting for this nightmare to be over.

When I calmed down and was able to sleep, he painted, trying to chase away the anguish he felt.

The next morning, I felt better and I found the strength to get up and join him in the kitchen. He had dark circles under his eyes and he was livid.

"Good morning, my love," I said.

He smiled at me with an expression of relief and love. I took both his hands in mine, pulled him toward me and wrapped my arms around him, trying to comfort him.

My head in the crook of his neck, I whispered gently: "I think I will be okay now. The worst part is over. Thank you. Thank you so much. I could not have done it without you, my love."

He brushed my hair off of my face and kissed me on the forehead. He was so exhausted he could barely stand.

"You should get some rest now," I said.

But he did not want to leave me. I called James and Amaury, who wanted to see me anyway, and, when they sat with me in the living room and Aidan saw I was not alone, he finally agreed to get some rest in the bedroom.

While he was sleeping, my favorite power couple tried quickly to entertain me, to push away the violence of the previous days. They made me laugh.

I also talked with them about what Abosede had told me and they encouraged me. But first, James rolled his eyes. "Elise's ascension. Here we are. Of course. So typically you wanting to be the center of attention."

I laughed and the entertaining show started all over again. After a while, though, the conversation got more serious and I told them about Stanislas.

"We are going to have to do something about him," I said.

"I would definitely enjoy destroying this bastard," James said. "The way he treats Aidan, it makes me sick. But he threw you against a wall and you could not match his power. What are we supposed to do then, if even you are not strong enough?"

"I was not, but I feel better now. And if what Abosede said is true, I may have new tricks in my bag. Anyway, I do not think we really have a choice. It is just a matter of time before he will get tired of this games and will try to hurt Aidan again."

"We'll stop him," Amaury said.

James and I nodded. I also asked them if they had any news from Anna, Lucas and Yon.

"We took care of the kids," Amaury said. "They were upset."

The day after, I met the three of them and apologized for my behaviour, especially to my dear Anna, whose birthday I had ruined. They were not mad at me actually, but frightened to have seen me that troubled.

I reassured them, told them I felt better now. And that I was ready to try to understand the changes in me, since I had come back.

There were a lot of hugs, a group hug, we could even say. Then we did a training session altogether, as old times, to wash away the stress, and it was well needed.