_Third Person's Point of View_
Jace kept on glancing at Lavalee worriedly as he drove on the way to Lavalee's mansion.
He doesn't understand why Irene and Jess acted so scared and worried about Lavalee but when she saw Lavalee shaking, he quickly stopped himself from asking questions and just helped them take her away from the area.
'Lavalee has a trauma, but from where?' Jace thought
"Eomma... Appa... Array... Samantha... Freia... Icey... Fuego..."
Lavalee kept on mumbling then suddenly she halted and looked at Jace with glaring eyes. Her auburn eyes looked so different, and at this moment, Jace can swear that they looked very much like fire.
"Doshite?!" Lavalee asked with glaring eyes
"Lavalee," Jace called softly but Lavalee's eyes flared up with anger
"You will feel my pain!" he lost control over his car's steering wheel after hearing Lavalee's shout because she became aggressive
She went and held Jace's neck with her two hands, it took him by surprise, Lav's eyes were glistening with tears, her face is red, same with the skin on her neck, she's raging with anger.
"Lavalee, stop it!" he held Lavalee's wrists to stop her from choking him.
His elbows are the only thing that is trying to maneuver the car's steering wheel just so they won't get into an accident.
"Let me go!" Lavalee's eyes were raging mad and it made Jace confused
"Lavalee, stop it!" Jace gripped Lavalee's wrists tighter to stop her from hurting him
"I will take what you have taken away from me!" Lavalee shouted and struggled from Jace's grip
"Flame!" Jace called and Lavalee suddenly stopped
Jace took the opportunity to stop the car on the side of the road, and his grip on Lavalee's wrist tightened.
He wanted to release his grip on her wrist but knowing just how strong her force is as she attack, he didn't let go of her grip.
"Lavalee," Jace said and removed his seat belt he touched Lavalee's shoulder and the latter began sobbing
"Sorry," Lavalee apologized and cried while covering her face with her hands.
Jace saw Irene and Jess outside the car, she saw them smiling at each other before they went back to their cars and drove away, he figured that the two followed them because
"Lavalee," He called her name before hugging her, which made Lavalee cry harder
This is the hardest battle for her. Battling her nightmares was always the hardest, no matter what kind of mission, no matter what kind of enemy she's facing, her nightmare of memories that she wanted to forget so badly will always be her strongest enemy. An enemy she had never won over. Not even once.
"I... I want..." Lavalee's voice is already breaking at every word
Gone was the stubborn easy-going and happy-go-lucky playful heiress Lavalee Flamelinne that everyone sees, in front of Jace was the vulnerable, weak, and fragile Lavalee.
Jace hugged Lavalee back and caressed her back, coaxing her to give her assurance and to calm her down, the latter was sobbing so hard, her words barely comprehensible at this point.
"Shh. What do you want?" Jace asked in a calming tone
"I want... I want... I want to go home, Jace." Lavalee said softly
"I'll just take our luggage then we'll go to the airport, okay?" Jace said assuringly and hugged Lavalee tighter.
He release Lavalee from the hug and Lavalee leaned into the passenger seat.
Jace was the one to put on the seatbelt on Lavalee, she wasn't speaking and she was just staring into nothing. Jace started his car and drove Lavalee to the mansion.
While driving, he kept on glancing at Lavalee, it would be Lavalee's 18th birthday tomorrow and yet, she's experiencing things like this.
Jace kept on sighing as he drove to the mansion. He already deactivated the earpiece when the high frequency began and reactivated it when he got Lavalee, then he deactivated it again when he pulled Lavalee inside his car.
He reached for his phone and dialed his mom's number while driving, he kept on glancing in Lavalee's direction as he focused on driving.
[Jace, what made you call?] His mom asked as soon as she answered the call
"Mom, I can't go home for Christmas," Jace said while glancing at Lavalee who looks like she's still not back to herself as if she's still in a state of trance
[Why not? Is there a problem?] His Mom asked him
"I'll explain when I get home," Jace said
[Sure, where are you? The news spread that the syndicate had captured Lavalee, how is she doing?] His mom asked worriedly
"Lavalee's here with me. She's..." Jace doesn't know how and what to answer that question
He knew that Lavalee doesn't want anyone to worry about her and he's sure Lavalee's not alright, he's torn.
[Is there a problem, Jace? How is Lavalee?] his mom asked again
"She's not fine," Jace said
[Oh, that experience must have traumatized her. Where are you both?] His mom is obviously worried from the tone of her voice
"I'll drop her off before going home. She's leaving," he replied after heaving a sigh
[Can she do it? Who's going to accompany her on her trip?] Because of what his mom asked, Jace couldn't help but feel worried for Lavalee
"Later, Mom, I'm driving," Jace said brushing off the topic as he continued to drive
[Oh, all right. Take care,] his mom said and he hanged up
When they arrived at the mansion, Lavalee was still spaced out and motionless. Jace held her hand and Lavalee's gaze fell on his hand, then to him, there wasn't any trace of emotion on Lavalee's face, she looked void of it.
"Come on," Jace said and escorted Lavalee inside the Mansion
Chelsea, Irene, and Jess welcomed them but all they received was a blank stare. They still smiled and hugged Lavalee, as if it was their way of coaxing her, to pretend that everything is normal.
"Thank you for taking care of her, Jace," Chelsea said and supported Lavalee in going up the stairs
"Will she be alright?" Jace asked them
Jess and Irene shook their heads with a small smile as if saying that she won't be but there's hope that she'll be okay soon.
They all knew Lavalee won't be okay unless she gets assured that she's not alone but they alone can never heal her because her nightmare and trauma came from her fear of seeing her younger siblings dead. It's a fear that had been her fuel for strength and motivation but also her source of weakness.
"I'll go ahead," Jace said
"Thanking you. You matter to Lavalee, I hope she matters to you too." Jess said and they lead the spaced-out Lavalee to her room
"What was that?" Jace asked Irene who smiled weakly at her
"It's hard to see Lavalee cry, isn't it?" Irene said while they watch Chelsea and Jess assist Lavalee up the stairs
"Yeah," Jace replied in a soft tone
"You know, sometimes we want to scold Lavalee," Irene said with a small bitter smile on his lips
"She's such a liar," Jace looked at Irene confusedly because of this, which made Irene chuckle
"I'm not angry at Lav," she replied while smiling a small smile
"Well, maybe I'm sulking a little," Irene said and sighed
"She was always so playful and easy-going ever since we were young, even as a kid, just like what Jaxith said, her happiness is seeing us happy." Irene said and looked up as if looking at Lavalee
"We have never seen Lavalee cry when we were children, not even at her parents' funeral. She never cried at all, she was just… just there." Irene said and a tear fell from her eyes.
Jace looked at the floor, he just listened to what Irene was saying.
"It hurts us because we know that she is hurting inside, but there is nothing, her walls are too thick, and not once has she ever cried to us. We saw her in that state countless times but she never cried after waking up, she was just like that, spaced out. So, thank you because you made Lavalee cry, you made her release the sadness and pain through crying." Irene said and left Jace there
Jace left the mansion but before he rode his car, he glanced at Lavalee's window.
He drove to their house and his mom greeted him with a worried face.
His uncle was there too, he look relieved to see him.
"What happened? How is Lavalee?" his mom asked
"She's not fine," Jace answered and kissed his mom's cheek, and nodded at his uncle before going up to his room and taking his luggage.
"Where are you going?" he looked at the door where his uncle is standing and behind him was his mom.
He ignored the question and continued packing his things.
"Jace, where are you going?" his mom asked so he took his passport where his ticket is in and handed it to his mom.