He rested his head against the head broad and sighed. There was never any escape from this curse, it followed them to the hospital and was here waiting when they got home. With Hope in hospital he could relax a little and focus on Tammy. However, this was just the calm before the storm.
The thought that he could end up like Angus sent fear through his body. His eyes looked over at Tammy's perfect tiny face, her big green eyes scanning the pages. The idea of her living without him was a horrid thought.
He suddenly found himself relying on Jenna to keep him and girls together forever. How life had changed quickly.. He was now a father and husband and he still had to endure the horror of being a vampire.
“Oh my god” Tammy squealed in delight. Dante watched as her fingertips traced an outline of a picture. Her eye swept over and locked with his. She looked like she had just won the lottery, what was good about a picture in that book? Dante hated it, the thought that his ancestors had spent time writing down their discomfort made his skin crawl.
“Do you know what this is, Dante?” Tammy huskily said, her eyes full of delight. If she had any strength in her she would be jumping up and down on the bed in excitement. How could she of missed this? Although there were no words, just a beautiful drawing of a dagger. She wasn't mad or crazy... Angus's words were true. She had seen and spoken to her Gran.
For the first time in weeks she felt at peace knowing her grandmother was happy. She could feel the tears springing up in her eyes and she took in a deep breath.
“What is it?” Dante asked, he wiped a single tear from Tammy's cheek. “You can tell me...”
Tammy opened her mouth and then quickly closed it. She would show him and see for sure if the words were true. “Take me to Angus's portrait and I will show you.”
Dante carried her and placed her in front of Angus's portrait. He watched as her eyes lit up in amusement. He wished she would share and not leave him in the dark. In fact, she had been acting weirdly since waking up. Dante had been ready to console and comfort her, but she had remained cheerful. She was the complete opposite before Hope was born. Her own words ' they were doomed'. What was with the change of attitude?
“Tammy” Dante said, his voice shaking in places. “What is going on? You're actually starting to freak me out?”
Tammy gave a little laugh, she was freaking Dante out? There was a first for everything. Would he believe if she told him? She looked over at her beautiful husband; his mouth tight and his dark eyes urging her on. Maybe he would, after all this was much to do with him as much as her. She grabbed hold of his hand and held it tightly, they were in this together.
“Tammy!” Dante demanded, now becoming very awkward in her silence and staring. “Now, please!”
“Do you believe in after-life?” Dante's eyebrows rose and looked bewildered. Tammy smiled and bit down on her lip, it was a very rare moment to find Dante speechless. She had only managed it once, well twice if you counted now. “I do” her eyes turned back to the portrait as if she was locked in a magical spell.
Dante shook his head, she was crazy. He reached out and placed his hand on her forehead. “You are a little hot... Do you think you have a fever?”
She pushed Dante's hands away and frowned. “No!” She stepped a little closer to the portrait, once again Angus had somehow managed to hypnotise her. “They came to me” she finally said in a breathless whisper.
Dante was now behind her, his hand resting on her shoulders. His own eyes fixated on his uncle. “What do you mean?”
. “I saw them, Dante. Just like you stand there now,” a smile twitched on her lips and for the first time she felt superior. The strength rang through her body. “Angus told me.. I am the one.”
Dante suddenly remembered what his father said. “Tell me now” he growled. His arms released Tammy's shoulder and his dark eyes stared down at her. “Please” he whimpered at that the woman he loved.
Tammy shook her head and pressed her fingertips against her temples. “You don't know about the dagger?” Tammy hesitated, she didn't feel very superior now. Dante looked confused, his mouth tight and his eyes wide.
Tammy hated that look, she knew he liked to be in control. He liked everything his way and now she had one over him. Her eyes snapped back at the portrait. What if it was a dream? What if there was no end? What if someone was actually going to take her baby?
For some unknown reason Tammy felt her c-section wound stab with pain and she fell on to the floor. She let out a little murmur of pain, no she couldn't be wrong. After all her Gran said she was the one. The same image haunted her.....
They had followed the coffin into the church or what Tammy thought was a church. The hymns or the readings didn't make Tammy feel any better. She knew that within minutes her Gran was going to be pushed into those flames. Her body burned.
Tammy took in a deep breath and listened as her mother cried in front. It wasn't fair... Her grandmother was never going to meet Tammy's baby. Although, Tammy didn't know how long she would actually get with her child. What had happened? Why had her grandmother been taken away without any warning. She had seemed fine the day before she passed.
Now her own tears began to fall and she found herself lost in her own grief. Dante's strong arms wrapped round her and she rested her tearful face on his shoulder and wept quietly. Why was life unfair?
She looked through her wet eyelashes, the coffin filled with her grandmother peaceful body began to move through some doors. It was time to say her finally good-bye. It slowly disappeared and red curtains shut out what was happening....
“Tammy?” Dante was now by her side. “What is this all about?” Her behaviour was beginning to upset him. His hands reached out and cupped her face. Her big green eyes staring up at him filled to the brim with tears. This was heart wrenching not knowing what was going on in her mind. Then it clicked what she had said before she had fallen on to the ground.'They came to see her?'
Who? Dante quickly moved his hands away from her face and pushed himself back on his feet. Jenna was tricking him. How? How did they get into the hospital room without him noticing?
He began to pace in front of Tammy, his fingers locked in his dark hair. He finally stopped and slowly looked down at Tammy. “When did these monsters see you?” His voice full of anger and slightly growling.
“Monsters?” Tammy barked back. “No monsters came to visit me! Angus and Gran came to me in my sleep. Angus told me what has to be done to end this.”
Dante let out a deep sigh of relief, for a split second he had been tempted to find Jenna and destroy the witch. Then realization set in, she believed someone had visited her. The stress was seriously effecting her more than he'd assumed.
Once again he dropped to his knees and cupped her face. “My dear Tammy” he breathed. “It was just a dream. It probably didn't mean anything.”
Her little face screwed up and her lips pouted. “I knew you would say that” she snapped as she pushed his hands away. “You think I’m crazy, admit it!”
Dante sat back on his heels. “No, I just know you've had a lot to deal with at the moment.” his hands rubbed his face, he was beginning to feel drained. Life was certainly being a challenge at the moment and the worse was yet to come. Dante took in a sharp breath, maybe he should just amuse her to avoid her getting worked up. He thought things were weird but this won hands down.
“Okay” he calmly said, his eyes focusing back on Tammy. The quicker they got this over with the quicker they could sleep. “Tell me.”
Tammy stared at him, his face was pale and he looked sleepy. She wondered if he ever slept at the hospital. She reached out for his hand, how she loved how her hands felt in his. She loved him unconditionally, it that split second she felt her heart swell. “The story you told me on our honeymoon is wrong, Dante.”
A little smile appeared on his lips. “No,” he chuckled. “That was the true story, Tammy. The one I told you when you came here was...”
&
nbsp; “The right one. This is a curse, Dante. I can end this, only I can end this.” Dante wasn't blinking now and Tammy knew he thought she had gone completely mad. She tilted her head to the side and rolled her eyes. “Check behind Angus's portrait. You will find the dagger..” she watched his lips twitch. “The same dagger that started everything.”
Dante opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't find any words to describe how he felt. He reluctantly stood up and walked over to the portrait. “Behind it you say?” Tammy nodded very enthusiastically, just humour her the voice in his head said.
He looked it up and down, he couldn't believe he was actually going to see if anything was behind it. He shrugged his shoulders and just got on with it.
His hand moved behind, there was nothing. He reached a little higher and felt something beneath his hand. His heart began to race and he ripped it off from where it had been taped.
Tammy watched with wonder as something was placed in front of her on the floor. She looked up at Dante who was still just staring at the mysterious item wrapped in brown paper.
“It was real” she smiled.
Dante's dark eyes flipped up at her and he was giving that frown. He swallowed hard, unaware of what he should do next. Things had just taken a massive twisted turn.
He had to swallow his pride and admit that this thing was much more magical than he had first assumed. He had to remain rational and in control. If for one second he allowed to let his guard down this could all get out of hand. Especially after what Jenna had confessed at the hospital.
“It doesn't mean it is what you think” he growled, he could already feel his temper raising. “Look,” he ran his hands through his hair. “I'll speak to my father.”
Tammy finally stood up from the floor and shook her head. He still didn't believe her even with the evidence right under his nose. She gave him one glance, turned on her heel and left the room. She didn't want to be near him at the moment. Just like all the other times she was made to feel useless. Now she was a major factor in this curse and it had given her purpose.
She made her way down the hall, she was sure she could her faint yelling coming from the living room. She followed the yelling and listened against the door. She could make out it was Sir Renaldo arguing with a female, but it wasn't Claudia. Tammy pressed her ear against the door and swore she heard the word Jenna.
“What are you doing?” Dante growled behind her, making her jump up away from the door. The pain stabbed through her stomach and she hissed “Ow” through gritted teeth. “Come on” he smiled while sweeping her up in his arms. “You really need to rest.”
Dante had tucked Tammy into bed and didn't leave until he had placed a single kiss on her forehead. Now she was alone she stared up at the fancy painted ceiling. The word 'Jenna' kept echoing around her head, why would Sir Renaldo argue with Jenna?
Dante hadn't mentioned anything about their discover, why did she feel she was in the dark about something.
Tammy turned on her side and let out a depressed sigh. She never thought this was how she would spend her first moments of motherhood. Then again she never wanted to be a mother and now she was,well it was going to be ripped away from her. Then Angus's words replayed in her head. 'I believe in you, Tammy. Remember all of this. You're the one to break this curse.'
Why didn't she feel that confident now? It was a ridiculous to think a weak person like Tammy could end centuries of torment and hell. Maybe it had all been a dream and just by coincidence they had just stumbled across something.
Tammy closed her eyes and tried to to think about something else. She had to get stronger for hope and Dante. They were her main focus in life and she had to be well for them. She would think about this again when it was time to and not before.
Chapter eight
Dante stepped into the living room, his father was on one side and Jenna sat crying on the other side. His eyes drifted from one to the other. “What was the yelling about?” He stepped in and closed the door behind.
Sir Renaldo whipped his head round to his son. “Jenna has informed me she has decided to swap sides and you know about it!”
“Yes” Dante looked down at his feet. He heard his father come to stand in front of him. “I'm sorry” he said weakly.
“Your sorry!” His father yelled. “Are you really that stupid, Dante. I said to allow her to carry on being Tammy's friend but not this.” Sir Renaldo rubbed his forehead in anger. “You can not trust her” he yelled at the top of his voice.
A little laugh escaped from Dante's lips. “You think I don't know that?” His eyes sprung to Jenna, still sat there wiping away her tears as if she was the victim. “It's her” Dante yelled back, his finger pointing at Jenna. “She just came to the hospital begging and I gave in. I know Tammy loves you but if she knew what you were...”
“I know” Jenna cried as she stood up. “Do you know how much I believed I was the one to end this. I was the one to finally get what belonged to them.. My mother... My grandmother... They told me I was the one.” Her hand fell on to her face and she started shaking her head. “Okay,” her hand fell to her sides and suddenly a strength rang through her. Jenna's eyes locked with Dante's. “If you think I am such a monster” Her legs started moving before she decided. “Plung that dagger in my heart.” She was now chest to chest with Dante, their eyes locked while Sir Renaldo looked on at was occurring.
Dante coughed and took a step back. “What dagger?” He tried to keep his voice light but whatever he had found behind Angus's portrait was burning in his back pocket. “Seriously” he looked at his father. “She is crazy.”
“Don't make me look stupid, Dante” Jenna tutted as she folded her arms over her chest. “I know you have the dagger in your back pocket. I can sense it's presence.”
“Would someone please explain what is going?” Sir Renaldo growled, Dante could see he was on the edge of losing it. He removed the wrapped up item from his pocket, his eyes not once leaving Jenna; Who was now tapping her foot as she waited for Dante to hurry up and get it over with.
Dante walked towards his father and placed it in his hands. “Me and Tammy found it behind Uncle Angus's portrait. I have no idea what it is for.” A smile danced upon his lips. “If you speak to Tammy I am pretty sure she will inform you on any details.”
“Oh please” Jenna snapped. “I'll tell you exactly what it is” her attention now on Sir Renaldo who was staring down at what was in his hands with curiosity. “It is the 'de puissance mystique'. We believe it holds all of Glandis powers.” Both the men were staring at her with blank expressions. “Do I really have to explain” Jenna said as she rolled her eyes. “Please tell me you know your own Curse story?”
“Of course” Dante snapped. “Get on with what this thing is?”
“It is the dagger that Glandis used to change your ancestors into vampires. The theory is that for some weird reason when the blood was mixed the dagger held Glandis's life within. She tried to kill herself with it but nothing happened.”
“You are expecting me to believe that your leader is in immortal?” Dante laughed, now he had heard everything.
“No” Jenna forcefully replied. “She is not immortal, she can die but only one person can do this.” Her voice started to shake and she began to breath heavily.
“Who?” Sir Renaldo asked. “Who can stop all of this?”
Jenna looked from Dante to Sir Renaldo. “Tammy....”
Dante started pacing up and down. “How can Tammy do it?” The thought was crazy, there was no way Tammy could kill someone. She was so fragile and innocent. “This is just getting beyond a joke.”
Sir Renaldo placed a hand on Dante's shoulder and he finally stopped moving. “No, this is no joke.” his eyes turned back to look at Jenna. “What does Tammy have to do?”
“Tammy knows what to do” Dante blurted out. “God, I need something to drink.” He strolled over to his fathers drinks cabinet and poured himself a large Whiskey. The
stress of this whole situation was starting up his thirst. He knew the Whiskey wasn't going to help satisfy his needs but it was at least going to help with the nerves he was beginning to feel.
“How does Tammy know, Dante?” Jenna said. “If you two didn't know, then hell did Tammy find out.”
Dante could feel them both staring in his direction. “This is really turning into some freak show” he muttered before downing the rest of the Whiskey.
“Well?” Jenna glared at him urging him to carry on with what he had started.
Dante placed the glass down and tilted his head to the side. “They came to her she said while she was unconscious. Angus explained everything to her by the sounds of it.”
“You are telling me everything Tammy knows is from a dream?” Jenna began to match towards the door. “I need to speak to her.”
“No!” Dante yelled after her.
“Why?” Jenna yelled back stopping in the doorway. “We could end all of this tonight, Dante. Then me, you, Hope and Tammy will be free. Free to live a normal life without any of this shit.”