The shock on Annabeth's face made Zachariah almost want to laugh, but what had happened to his Snow was not a laughing matter. Her expression showed that know one in her life had cared enough about her to protect her or put her best interest first. This made him angry. He had never felt the urge to kill someone before now, but the fact that her own parents did this to her was disgusting. His Snow should be treated with care and love, not with beatings and harassments.
Zachariah didn't know why he kept saying 'his Snow' but he liked the way it sounded. He wanted her all to himself and he didn't think he would find any resistance on her part. However, he could not in good conscience start any kind of relationship with her in this kind of state, it would be cruel to take advantage of her like that. Getting back to the issue at hand, Zachariah looked at Annabeth and noticed she had her head down, almost in shame and the shocked expression had disappeared.
"Snow," he said softly.
Her head remained down. Reaching across the table to her he gently lifted her head up so he could look into her beautiful icy blue eyes.
"Listen to me Snow. You have no reason to hang your head. What was done to you is wrong. You are not an objection to be sold to the highest bidder. You mother and father should be absolutely disgusted with even the thought of doing something like that to you."
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he opened his mouth to continue. Before he could, Annabeth started to speak.
"They did it to get out of debt to Alexander's father. I may not like my parents but they were just protecting themselves, unfortunately they decided they didn't want to protect their child in the process. That was the first time in my life that my mother saw any kind of worth in me you know. My dad, I don't know how he feels. He never really spoke to me and just kind of turned a blind eye to my mother's beatings. Sometimes though he would sneak me food when my mother locked me in my room and refused to feed me. I guess that may have been his way of showing love."
Zachariah was shaking from the fury he felt, but he did his best to control it. There was no good reason for him to scare his Snow and make her fear him too. That thought alone hurt his heart more than he wanted to admit.
"I won't let those people near you again Snow. If they want you they will have to go through me, besides where we live, they would have to look long and hard to find you."
He saw Annabeth swallow and it looked like she was deep in thought. He started to pet her hair before bringing her closer to him. She was now sitting between his legs on her own chair and Zachariah still felt that she was to far away. Slowly and carefully he wrapped his arms around her and felt his Snow lean her head on his chest.
"It's ok to cry," he whispered, "Just let it out."
Her body quickly began to wrack with sobs and he felt her bury her face into his chest and grip his shirt in a death grip. Each sob she let out shattered his heart and made him hate himself. He knew that no matter how hard he wished he could, there was nothing he could do to change her painful past. All he could do now was continue to protect her in everyway he knew how.
After what felt like a good hour, her sobs turned into soft sniffles, but her death grip did not loosen up on his shirt. Zachariah decided to continue to sit there and hold her until she chose to pull away. Even though the circumstances for this intimate moment were less than ideal, he couldn't deny the small amount of pleasure he felt from getting to hold her and comfort her. For a moment he tightened his grip on her to assure himself that she was alright and that she was safe sitting here with him.
"Why don't I start making something for dinner Snow? A full stomach will help you feel a little better."
With a whimper he felt Annabeth pull him closer to herself letting him know she wasn't ready for him to let go. With a sigh he gently grasped her small hand and pulled her away from him so he could look at her face. The sight of her puffy red eyes and tear stained face made his chest hurt.
"I'll make you a hot cup of tea to sip on while I cook. You can sit right here at the table and watch me if that makes you feel better. But first, I want you to go change into something more comfortable."
Nodding she shakily stood up with some assistance from Zachariah.
"Could I wear one of your shirts?" she asked him.
Her voice was so soft he almost didn't hear her request, but when he did a smile almost made its way to his face.
"Of course you can baby."
Before he walked away he noticed the light blush that coated her cheeks. Handing her one of his shirts he walked back to the kitchen to start making her tea while she walked into the small bathroom bathroom.
Five minutes later he heard the bathroom door open and close again causing him to turn around and face her. The sight of her in one of his shirts satisfied this primal need in him that Zachariah wasn't aware of until this moment. Shaking his head, he brought over her fresh cup of tea as he promised as she sat down at the table.
Facing the stove once again he began working on their dinner. He didn't get to far in it before he heard Annabeth's soft voice fill the silence.
"Zach. There's something you need to know about Alexander and his father," she whispered.