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"There were others with you when you were sharing my memories. I felt them, two men with
us."
"There was only one man," Francesca corrected gently. "Gabriel. He is a very powerful man.
Under his protection there is no one who can harm you."
Skyler looked puzzled. "There was another. I am sure of it. There was one staying very quiet,
lending his strength to you and to me. But the other remained passive while you were here with
me. After you left, I remember him holding me, yet he wasn't touching me at all. His arms were
strong and felt very different than any other's. He wanted nothing from me, only to comfort and
help. Who is he?"
"Only Gabriel was with us, sweetheart. Maybe you were dreaming."
"I felt all three of you distinctly. He was very strong. There was no anger or rage, only a quiet
acceptance. He examined my memories. I know he was learning about you through me, I felt
it." Skyler sighed in resignation. "You don't believe me. You think I'm making it up."
"No, I don't think that at all, Skyler," Francesca said.He was learning about you through me. "I
simply do not know who it was. I only felt you. Later I realized Gabriel had shared your ordeal
with me, but I was so caught up in it at the time I was focused solely on you. I believe you have
this gift. How could I do otherwise? You cannot lie to me. Even though I cannot 'see' this man
in your mind, that does not mean he was not with you. You knew I shared your memories when
few others would have known. You are aware I am different from others. Stay with us, Skyler,
with Gabriel and me. We are different. I'm not going to pretend otherwise, but our feelings for
you are genuine." She sent a quick mental report of the conversation to Gabriel. It alarmed her
that Skyler remembered so vividly the feeling of another sharing their mind merge.
"How can I ever face myself, look in the mirror again?" For the first time the thin, small voice
held emotion, a sob of burning pain, quickly beaten back. Skyler's torment immediately claimed
Francesca's full attention.
She tightened her hold on Skyler. "Look at me, sweetheart. Look at me." It was a soft
command.
Skyler turned her head once more and lifted her impossibly long lashes. She could see her face
reflected in Francesca's black eyes. Like a mirror. Skyler looked beautiful. "That's not me."
"Yes, it is. That's how I see you. That's how your mother saw you. That's how Gabriel sees
you. Who else matters? That man who claimed he was your father? A drunken shell of a human
being who wanted only to use drugs to escape what he had become? His opinion cannot
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possibly matter to you, Skyler."
"I didn't want to come back. I was safe where I was." There was a plea in the young voice, a
heartbreaking plea. "I can't face it all over again."
Francesca stroked back the fringe of hair tumbling over the girl's forehead, her touch soothing
and healing at the same time. "Yes, you can. You're strong, Skyler, and you're no longer alone.
You know I am different, I have certain abilities. I can dull your memories, give you time to
heal properly. You will still feel the pain, but it will be bearable. You are surrounded by those
who love you and you see yourself the way you really are inside, not the way that man tried to
teach you. He was dead inside, a monster made of drugs and alcohol."
"He is not the only monster in the world."
"No, sweetheart, he is not. The world is filled with such creatures and they come in all forms
and sizes. We can only do what we can to stop them and rescue the innocents from their hands.
Gabriel has dedicated his life to doing so and so have I in my own way. Give us the chance to
love and care for you as you should have been."
"I'm afraid," Skyler said. "I don't know if I can ever be whole again. I can't bear the sight of
men. Everything frightens me."
"Deep within your heart and soul, Skyler, you know all men cannot be condemned for the
despicable things your father did. All men are not alike. Most are fair and loving."
"I'm still afraid, Francesca. It doesn't matter that I know what you're saying might be the
truth. I can't take the chance, I don't want to take a chance."
Francesca shook her head gently. "You retreated so that you would not become like them. You
wanted to be like your mother, seeing the good in people and having compassion. I read that in
you easily."
Her eyelids fluttered, then bravely remained open. "I wanted him dead."
"Of course you did. I wanted him dead, too. That does not mean we are monsters, sweetheart,
only that we are not angels. Join with us. I want you with me, I have been inside your head and
know you as your own mother did. Better perhaps. I would count myself blessed to share my
life with yours. If that is not what you wish, I will provide the money for your education and
upbringing. Either way, it is your choice. I will not abandon you."
Skyler twisted her fingers tightly around Francesca's. "You know what you're asking of me. I
know you do. I'll have to go out into the world, be with others. I'll never be the same as they
are. I'll never fit in."
"You'll fit in with me," Francesca insisted. "With Gabriel and me. We appreciate talent such
as you have, we really do. We can help you develop it. There are ways to tone it down or
expand it if it is necessary to do so. And you will have plenty of time to heal before you need to
face the world. Try to sit up, Skyler. You're strong enough."
"I don't think I want my ability developed any more than it already is. When I touch people, I
know things about them I shouldn't. Sometimes I see terrible things. No one believes me when
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I tell them." There was no trace of self-pity in Skyler's voice or in her mind. The teenager was
simply stating facts as she saw them. Skyler reluctantly withdrew her hand and with
Francesca's aid managed to sit up.
"I brought you a few things, some underwear and T-shirts and a robe." She held up the stuffed
wolf. "And this. Gabriel thought you might like a friend."
The girl stared at the stuffed animal for a moment, her eyes widening. "For me? Really?" She
reached for it, pulled the animal into her arms. At once peace seemed to steal into her heart, a
little at a time. "No one but my mother ever gave me anything before. Thank you, and please
thank Gabriel," she said in a tearful voice. She pressed her face against the wolf's face and
stared for a moment, entranced by the blue eyes. She had awakened from a long nightmare and
the world seemed more fantasy than real. She struggled to stay in it, not to slip back inside her
own head.
Francesca studied the teenager. Skyler was so thin, Francesca could see every bone in her
body. She seemed so fragile, Francesca was afraid she might break. Francesca placed pillows
all around Skyler, tucked the blankets up high. Skyler's face still held traces of bruising, but
she was remarkably healed from her single session with Francesca. She was all eyes, and she
had beautiful eyes of soft dove gray. They were haunting eyes, eyes that had seen far too much
for such a young girl.
"Well, how bad do I look?" Skyler asked it indifferently, her voice more tired than interested.
She didn't let go of the stuffed animal.
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