Chapter 15

Brennan and Shalimar were walking towards the cabin. Jesse and Emma were staying behind, because Jesse didn't feel up to it. He was still not feeling very great. The cabin was coming closer and Shalimar sensed the danger. Brennan stepped up the veranda and Shalimar was right behind him. He opened the door and they both stepped inside. It was dark and Brennan was blinking his eyelids a couple of times, to get used to the darkness. Shalimar's vision was very clear; she could see three silhouettes in the dark. She recognized Adam's and also the man from the diner. She looked at the third one and then she froze. Brennan, right next to her, felt the sudden change in her body and asked:" Shalimar?" She didn't answer him; she just took a few steps towards the man in front of her. Brennan called her name a second time, but she didn't respond. Brennan took a close look at the third man and couldn't believe his eyes. Shalimar looked at the man and tears were dripping out of her eyes."How could you do that to me? How could you let me believe you were dead! We just found each other again and I was so happy to have you back and you let me believe you were dead?" Shalimar was almost shouting the last sentence. She made fists of her hands and began beating the chest of the man. Nicolas Fox didn't protest. He had expected a reaction like this and he let his daughter working out her anger and frustration on his chest. He looked at Brennan and saw his anger too. Brennan put his hand on Shalimar's arm and turned her around. He pulled her close to him and she buried her face in his chest.

Over Shalimar's head, he looked at her father and his eyes were full of anger. The man, who had followed them, aimed his gun at Brennan as a warning not to do something stupid. Brennan, still holding Shalimar, grinned sarcastically:" You have to do better then that. Your friends were not so successful with their guns either." Nicolas Fox shared a look with the other man and he now pointed his gun at Adam. Adam was still tied up in the chair and he saw the gun. Brennan asked:" What do you want from us?" Shalimar turned around in Brennan's eyes and faced her father. Nicolas said:" I want my daughter back and I want Adam killed. He has to pay for taking away my daughter. Shalimar is mine and not his daughter. Her mother couldn't handle her being gone anymore and died of sorrow and missing her daughter. Adam is going to pay for that." He looked at Shalimar now, who couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're the one that brought me to that hospital to heal me from this mutation, remember? You're the one who allowed every means necessary for doing that. They were allowed to beat me up, to inject everything, just to get me better, remember? When I escaped, Adam was the one who was there for me, who took care of me, who made me believe in myself and he taught me to love myself again. The Shalimar in front of you is the result of Adam's love and his upbringing. I am not a freak, I am who I am and I love this Shalimar." answered Shalimar. She was silent for a moment and then continued:' Without Adam I had not met Jesse, Emma and Brennan", and with those last words she turned around and looked at Brennan for a moment. Nicolas saw the look and said:" You are not going to tell me that you're in love with him? Another freak!" Brennan's eyes were full of anger when he heard the word freak, but Shalimar put her hand on his face, smiled at him and then turned around to her father again. She looked at him and said:" Yes, I fell in love with Brennan and I love him with all my heart. I know he loves me, just for being myself and I know his love is unconditional." Brennan's heart filled itself with a feeling of happiness and love for this woman in front of him, when he heard Shalimar say these words. He just wanted to get her out of here and make love to her, but he knew he had to wait for that.

Nicolas' face was filled with horror. His daughter in love with another freak! He couldn't believe his ears, but the looks they shared were telling him enough.This was all Adam's fault. He turned to Adam and got his own gun out of his pocket. He held the gun in Adam's face and Adam's eyes followed the gun. Brennan took a step forwards, but the man aimed the gun once again at him. Brennan pulled Shalimar behind him to protect her.

Nicolas looked at Adam."What shall I do with you? I have had enough time to think of ideas for getting you killed, the last two years. I must confess a lot of very good ideas were entering my mind, but I have a hard time picking the most suitable. Shall I choose for a quick death or a slowly, more painful one? I don't know. But one thing is for sure: you're going to die and I will do it myself." Shalimar called her father, but he didn't response to her at all.

His attention was for Adam now.