Bird in a Lions Cage

Chapter 2 - Ghost

Axel POV

"A ghost? You know how rare this is?" I asked as we all stepped into the living room. Except Sean, North, and Gabe They went to take care of the small bird. 

"Da." Raven said. "She was a special little girl. I'm not proud of it but I saw the bruises on her. I knew something at home wasn't right. I had everything planned out. I was going to take her and leave the country but she was gone. No one looked for her. No one reported her missing."

"Take her as in kidnap?" Mr. Blackbourne asked. 

"Da. She was 12 years old. I didn't have the Academy at the time and I couldn't just walk away." Raven said "She disappeared and I looked for her. You've all heard me talk about her. Pretty blonde, bright green eyes, and a tattoo on her hip. Well last night the Herman's team spotted her at the circus they were investigating. I couldn't let her fall into the Academy's hands. She needs a home. She needs to be safe." Raven ran his hands over his face. "She was naked in a cage, chained up with animals. The lions showed her more kindness than the people there." No one said anything as they took in all her information. I couldn't believe what the poor bird had been through. 

"What should we do?" Luke asked looking to me and Owen. I could tell she had already won him over. 

"We keep her." Kota said. "I'm not happy about being lied to but family is family." I couldn't help but agree more. 

"We can continue with introductions after she wakes up. It's easier if no one gets up or moves. No yelling." Corey said. 

"She heard North chasing you for the candy and yelling at you about sweets the other day." Raven chuckled. "She got worried about you."

"She has been listening." Luke said. It would be interesting how much she actually knew about us.

"Yes but she refused to leave my room." Raven said. "She wanted to meet everyone but was to afraid too. I was hoping it would help her warm up."

"That's why she hid the candy up there. Luke you'll have to get it down for her." Corey said. 

"Never thought about hiding the stash up there maybe she'll have more ideas." Luke laughed.

Dr. Sean Green's POV

North laid the small girl on the bed. Nothing about her looked healthy. She was way too thin and dirty. I could already see scars on her arms. Had Raven not given her a bath?

"Poor little thing." I whispered before rolling her on her back. The whip marks on her back needed stitches. Gabriel handed me a wet rag. I slowly wiped down her back making sure that we got all the dirt before carefully stitching the open wounds. I watched as North ran his finger over the scars. 

"These were deep." He whispers. 

"Yes and went untreated." I said. My heart ached for the girl nothing about those marks could mean anything good. 

"How long do you think she will be out?" Gabriel asked walking to the bathroom. "She needs a bath." 

"You should have time." North said scooping her up and walking into the bathroom. 

"I'll put bandages on them once you two are done." I think I might get her some pain killers. she is going to be very sore when she wakes up. "Don't drown her. The Russian will kill you." I joke before walking out the room. 

The living room was quiet when I entered. Everyone seemed deep in thought. 

"I fixed her up and the other two are giving her a much needed bath." I said slumping down on the couch. "Stitches. Old scaring. It's bad." I couldn't hold back the emotion from my voice. "She probably weighs 90 pounds." 

"Do you want to take over her care?" Owen asked. Whoa? What? 

"I'd love to take care of the small beauty." I said sitting up straight. "She could be the future Mrs. Green." Raven Growled and I chuckled. "She'll be in great hands." 

North's POV

I couldn't help but feel bad for sending her into panic mode. As much as I didn't want to blow my top, I couldn't believe Raven would tattoo a small child like that. The urge to hug her tight won as Gabe started the bath filling the tub up enough to set her in it. 

"She is so small." the words escaped my lips before I realized it. 

"I wonder what she will look like once she is fucking clean." Gabe said with a slight chuckle. 

Under all the grime, she was no doubt a stunning girl. Gabe wouldn't shut up about how beautiful her hair was once he got all the knots out. the length was even more surprising. 

"You think she'll be okay?" Gabe said after we finished dressing her in some clothes he found. I knew what he was thinking. She was just as hurt and damaged as we were if not more. As much as I hate Crow, I couldn't applaud him more for his effort to help her. He can't help her alone. 

"Yeah, she has us now." I said before tossing the blanket over her before leaving the room. My answer seemed to satisfy him, as we silently joined the rest of our brothers.