Chapter 40-2

“Jamie come to me now.” Nan ordered, her body ridged with fear and anger as she stepped forward her hand outstretched for the boy. She should have known Eli would not leave her so easily, not now that he had found her. Not even if he believed she was the woman she had lived as these past eight years. In his eyes, so long as she looked like his Anna, she was. No matter what she said to the contrary. With a furrowed brow Jamie started for Nan only to be held back by Eli’s hand grasping hard upon his tiny shoulder. “Now, now my lad. Don’t be in such a rush.” Eli remarked casually, though his eyes never wavered from Nan’s, wicked delight sparkling like an over eager flame wanting more to burn than its simple lone candle wick. “Good day to you Miss Harris.” Eli nodded to Nan, his smirk curving his lips further as his eyes devoured her and she could see whatever scheme he’d concocted slowly unraveling within their depths. A chilling thing to behold, and even more so when he brought up his other hand and placed a pistol next to Jamie’s temple. His other hand sliding up to cup Jamie’s cheek, stroking it idly with his thumb, Eli’s eyes never once moving from Nan’s. “Your son has been quite a helpful lad; leading me up the cliffs; keeping me away from your lover’s protective gaze. Tell me, is he about? I’d hate to have our meeting cut short, once again. He does have the most unfortunate habit of showing up just when I don’t want him to.” Eli stated, with a small shake of his head. At the sight of the pistol Nan’s heart fell to her feet, a lead brick of fear for what the mad man before her might do to her boy should she make the slightest mistake. “Please Eli, don’t hurt him.” Nan whispered, her words pleading and full of fear, her gaze unwavering from the quiet angry tearful face of her little boy. He was trying so hard to be strong, trying so hard not to show how afraid he was. Despite having every right in the world to do otherwise. “Eli?” Eli remarked, cocking his head slightly his smirk transforming into a sardonic smile. “That’s rather familiar for you Miss Harris.” He stated, sounding pleasantly surprised that she had used his first name and not kept with formality as she had before in the market. “Could it be we’ve met before?” he queried mockingly. “Some years ago? As children perhaps?” He asked, his smile slowly returning to its cruel smirk as he watched the fear in her eyes fade into cold hard hate. As he watched them remove themselves from boy caught in his grasp and refocus squarely on him.  “Perhaps you had a different name then.” he grinned, more than delighted to finally have her looking at him. “What do you want?” she snapped, her hands fisting into white marble at her sides. “You, of course. My sweet darling—“ “Fine!” Nan snapped, marching forward. Her abrupt response catching him off guard as well as her sudden and speedy advance towards him and the boy. “I wasn’t finished.” Eli snapped, glaring at her with a mixture of annoyance and surprise. “I don’t give a good God damn what you were.” Nan bit back, glaring at him with pure hate. Once again surprising him with her outburst. “You want me. Fine! You have me now let Jamie go.” She demanded, stopping only foot away from him, her hands set up on her hips as she waited, toe tapping against the earth for him to release her boy. Incredulous of her behavior, Eli continued to stare at her, stunned, dumbfounded by her uncharacteristic actions. His Anna had never been so bold, brazen, or loud. She’d been soft, sweet...pliable like putty. When had she turned into this stony creature?  Shaking the thought off Eli, forced himself to ignore her oddity and focus back on the matter at hand. “Let him go!” Eli scoffed, the expression on his face appearing to question the intelligence of her demand. “You want me to let loose the last drop of my dear brother’s blood? Free the only thing I have to keep you with me? Really my dear, do you think me so shortsighted?” Eli questioned with an amused smirk, shaking his head as he grinned at her. Until she started laughing, giggling, then chuckling, until finally she was cackling so hard tear were filling her eyes and she was gasping for breath. “Jamie love. Did you tell the mad man how old you are?” Nan asked, leveling Eli with a knowing smirk that troubled him deeply. “No.” Jamie replied, as confused by her question as the man holding the pistol to his head. “Tell him, please.” She instructed. “I’m ten.” Jamie answered. Suddenly Nan’s laughter was understandable, her knowing smirk made sense. “When was it your Anna went missing?” Nan asked conversationally. “I believe I was told eight years. This one seems a bit too old to fit your bill.” Nan stated coolly, her mirthful gaze returning to its previous cold hate. “Blood or not, he’ll still keep you to me.” He smiled. “Not if you’re dead.” Nan replied, the words hissed between her teeth. “Dead?” he jeered. “And by whose hand?” he questioned, waving to the empty yard behind her. “I see no Ser—“ His words were cut off as Jamie slammed his foot down hard on Eli’s, then spun about shoving the Man back as hard as he could. The pistol firing it’s single shot into the air, its roar echoing like thunder. The man didn’t even have the presence of mind to grab on to anything, so caught off guard by the child’s unexpected attack. And so surprised by what he had just done all Jamie could do was watch as the man that had introduced himself as James and Nan had called Eli, fell from the cliff down to the beach.