Chapter Eleven - An Old Secret Revealed, A Sacrifice Uncovered, And An End Of A Life
Entering our suite, Cecil is gone, but Amanda is waiting in our suite. “I hope that you don’t mind. Cecil left with one of the search parties.”
“Are you kidding, I don’t mind at all. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?”
“A cup of tea would be wonderful.”
Nicole follows me into the kitchen. Is uncle Lucas really going to be alright?”
“He seems to be doing much better and it looks like the werewolf bite healed nicely.”
“Mom, please don’t do that.”
“Do what?” I turn to face her.
“You and dad are beating around the bush and answering our questions very carefully. I could hear his heart beating. I know that something is going on.”
I turn around. “Sweetie, we are not beating around the bush, we know that he is doing much better than he was when the werewolf bite had taken hold of him. I won’t lie to you, his heart is beating now.”
“So is he like us now, part vampire and because of the bite, part wolf?” Her features reveal her surprise at this thought.
“Honey, we are not really sure what is going on. He may not be vampire at all anymore and he may have returned to his human state, but we can’t say anything for sure right now that is why we are careful with our answers. We don’t want to say anything that wouldn’t be true. That’s all.” She stifles a yawn. They must still all be exhausted from the past several days and the uneasy sleeps.
As the tea is boiling, I pop popcorn and place it in a bowl. “Why don’t you take this out to the others and enjoy a nice relaxing movie.”
I hear the quick shuffling of feet in the other room as I take out the tea and a sandwich for Amanda. Placing it on the table, there is a knock and I let in Paul, Julianne and Charlie. “I was wondering how Kayla was doing now that she saw her uncle.” Charlie inquires.
“She is doing much better, but I’m sure she would be happy to see you. They are just in the other room.”
As they pass, Amanda puts her hand on Charlie’s arm. “Charlie, let Kayla know how much better it is for you know that you know how to control your phasing and how it gets much easier. She still fears what happens and I would hate to see her never phase again because of fear. I have a feeling that she could be as strong as you one day if she can move past her fear, she definitely has the potential.”
“I will, she’s just afraid of hurting people she loves, but I’ll talk to her.”
Sitting by Amanda “Thank you so much for coming when Cecil asked you, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“I was happy to come, especially when Cecil told me what you did to David.”
Looking into her face, I see the devastation in her features as she utters his name. “Did he hurt someone you loved?”
“He destroyed someone who was very important to me and ripped my family apart.” She states bitterly. He is the reason I was so desperate to help the wolves gain an advantage over their transformations. I was always hoping that they would use their ability to wipe out David and his coven, but they never did. Grant tried several times, but his pack never got behind him so David’s coven grew too strong, spread out to several continents, and I just am not strong enough or brave enough to try to eliminate him myself after escaping from him.” She clears her throat. “Cecil was telling me that you are a very strong witch. Tell me, why have I never come across you?” It’s strange, not only is there something familiar about her, but the way she stares at me when she talks makes me feel as if she’s assessing me and committing everything I say to memory.
“I don’t travel. I didn’t find out I even had potential until I came here. Since that time, I have been raising my children.”
“You have a beautiful family. Your children are very close and very supportive of each other. I understand because of your circumstances why Kayla is so worried, but you should foster her powers as a wolf, she and Nicholas are going to be very powerful wolves because of their other talent and will be able to achieve great things as long as they embrace both their gifts. Embracing their werewolf side will not put them at odds with Nicole or Jacob because of what they are. Your children will do fine because they have a strong moral fiber and desire to do the right thing, don’t hold them back because you fought what you are for so long and lost your own sense of self. I know that you say that you haven’t really used your powers and I know you want your children to grow up as normal as possible, but you and your children are not normal. By hampering their growth in this world, you are limiting not only your ability, but theirs as well. Now is the time for all of you to come to terms with and experience who you really are and embrace all that you can do.”
Her candor surprises me. “Amanda, I appreciate what you are doing for my children, but you don’t know me so why would you say these things.”
“I have seen you in my visions and your children. I knew I would be coming here to help you before you even knew you would have children, before Katrina was even a twinkle in your mother’s eyes. I have the gift of sight and you can tell Catherine not to worry, everything is going to work out as is should; she and Lucas will not be separated.”
I feel my mouth fall open and fight to close it again. “I don’t understand.”
“You can tell her that her concerns will not come to fruition but you and...” She stops. I’m sorry, I know better. “The St. Clouds have done a wonderful job with this facility. I can’t believe how many they have helped. This is a wonderful teaching ground for the children. You should really try to keep Grant and his family on, they could be invaluable to teaching Kayla and Nicholas, and it will make it easier for Charlie and Kayla.”
Trying to keep the exasperation out of my voice, I speak slowly, deliberately. “Make what easier. You are speaking very cryptically.”
“I’m sorry I tend to go off some times. I really should be able to control myself better after so many centuries. The ability to see another’s future path comes with the burden of not being able to share it with them because their knowing could change the course of events and sometimes not for the better. But tell me, do you know what it is about you that allowed your blood to kill David?”
“No, I don’t know. All we know for sure is that after Marlena and David bit me, I did not transform into a vampire and their hearts started beating, but I’m sure with your gift you know that.”
“Yes, I do. You were right to warn Lucas not to take too much. It was David’s indulgence that caused him to age so quickly and killed him.”
“How do you know this? You seemed not to know it before we left.”
“I didn’t. Like you, as I am around someone’s things, their story becomes clearer, more of the pieces begin to fill in and my purpose is revealed.”
“Can you tell me if Nicholas and Kayla will be alright with gaining control of phasing or is that not allowed?”
She laughs. “You didn’t believe me, did you? They will be fine with phasing, they just need to practice. It won’t take them long at all and I meant what I said, they will be very strong if they learn to embrace both sides of their power, they will be almost as strong as your own children.”
“Do you know how many of William’s men are out there now?”
“There are five of them now but more linger behind, waiting to see if they too are needed, but not the one that Jeff is seeking. William and the strongest of his coven are already gone. He knows that even his lesser minions will be successful in reclaiming Marlena and there is no need for him to be here, he has other matters to attend to now that he is the head that will rule David’s covens.” She takes in a deep breath and looks as if she is debating whether to say more.
“They do not understand the real prize, but may in time, the answer is still unclear and so I can say no more to this. The search parties will not find anything tonight, nor will they run in to any trouble so
do not worry about Andrew and your friends. They will be fine and be back momentarily. If you don’t mind, is there somewhere that I could get freshened up? There is someone I have not seen in a very long time and can only now reveal myself to him.”
Rising, I lead her to the guest suite upstairs. Brushing by me, her arm touches my hand and the shock of the visions that shoot through my mind, stun me. They appear so fast, I cannot even decipher all of the information overloading my consciousness. Frozen in place, I vaguely acknowledge her thank you before mechanically walking back downstairs.
Reaching our suite, Andrew comes beside me, holding my arms and stooping to meet my eyes. “Mia what’s wrong? Are you alright? Are the children alright?”
I struggle to find my voice as the visions slow down allowing my mind to process what it sees, so I nod. Opening the door, he moves me to the couch, stroking my cheek. “Please talk to me, what’s wrong?”
The visions cease and I finally focus looking up at him. “Amanda is Reginald’s sister.”
“How can that be? Reginald said she was dead”
“He thought she was. She has been hiding from him all these centuries for fear if David, I mean Sebastian had tracked her, he would find and kill Reginald.
“Did she tell you this?”
“No, I just saw it. When I was showing her up to the guest room, she brushed by me and I saw her past. Sebastian after he had formed his coven as David, captured her. He tried to force her into transferring her powers to him, but she wouldn’t and he knew that if he killed her the powers would die with her. He tortured her for over a century until one day she escaped. Grant was wrong, he was not the first wolf she helped transform. There were others, but they were eventually destroyed. She stayed in the shadows hiding from Sebastian and hiding from Reginald for fear that if she were to ever reconnect with Reginald and David were to capture them both, that all David would have to do was to threaten and hurt Reginald and she would transfer her powers to protect him, but still it would not buy them enough time to escape and would make him a more powerful monster than he already was. She knew that if David could not find her, then he had no need to capture Reginald or hurt him because he had nothing more to offer David and every time she tried to envision herself contacting Reginald, she saw his gruesome demise because David was a much more powerful witch than Reginald.”
“Are you sure? I have never heard of witches being able to transfer powers. Although Reginald is not connected to the black arts, I can’t imagine someone being more powerful than he is.”
“Maybe she knew her brother, Sebastian, was more powerful or maybe Reginald could never go against his brother and that is what would get him killed.”
“Possibly, but what power could she have that Sebastian would kill his own brother for?”
“She says she can see the future.”
“I know she came to help us, but do you really think that is possible?”
“I don’t know, but I have a feeling she knows something about us, something not good and she says that she can’t tell people what she sees because it changes their future and not always in a good way.”
“What else did she say?”
“She said that the children need to embrace all sides of their power and that they will be strong. She also said that William is gone, but has left five of his coven behind near our land and others who are waiting to help if necessary and that they will be successful in recapturing Marlena, but that they don’t understand the real prize, but she wouldn’t tell me what that meant.”
“Maybe we should check on the children and then go have a talk with her and find out what she is talking about. If she knows anything about those coming for Marlena, we need know so that we can try to stop them and protect those here. Then I need to go and check on Catherine.”
Following him into the other room, everyone has fallen asleep watching the movie, including Paul, Julianne and Charlie. Not wanting to disturb them, I call over to Jeff to make sure it is alright if Charlie stays and to let Grant know about Paul and Julianne. We cover them up and catch Eva and Jackson going to their room to stay in our suite before heading upstairs to speak with Amanda.
Taking Andrew’s hand on the stairs, “I know that you’re worried about Catherine, but if Amanda is for real, she said Catherine would be fine and she and Lucas would not be separated.”
“Let’s not say anything to Catherine until we know for sure. I don’t want to get her hopes up. I’m not saying that Amanda is a fake, but I don’t want to give Catherine false hope if something causes their future to change.”
Raising my free hand to knock, Andrew grabs it and brings our intertwined hand to his lips cautioning me to be quiet. Turning around, we are heading down the hall when the door opens. “Come in.”
We turn again and enter. Reginald is sitting on the sofa, his features frozen. Amanda is holding his hands and stroking them gently. “We can come back, we didn’t mean to intrude.” Andrew states quietly.
“You’re not intruding at all. I know that you are skeptical and have questions, but some answers I cannot give you. I shouldn’t have spoken when I did, sometimes I forget, but I wasn’t trying to be intentionally cryptic or scare Mia, it’s just that if I were to tell you what I saw, I could change your future and it would not be for the better believe me.” She turns to me. “I know what flashed before you, and although some things are very real and have already happened, others may not be what they seem or set in stone because the future has not happened yet and one thing could affect something else or change the outcome.”
She turns back to Andrew giving me time to process what she said. “What Mia saw about Reginald and I is correct, and although you will try to stop William’s men from taking Marlena, you will fail. I’m sorry but there must always be balance.”
Reginald snaps out of his comatose state, staring at her. “Sebastian said something very similar. What balance are you two talking about?”
“There must always be a balance between good and evil on this plane. Do you really think that one side will allow the other to get too powerful? For each good one that you save, one such as David sires another one for their team. You know that the fight between them is not limited to heaven or hell. Each day, the battle rages in this universe, on this plane for fresh souls to strengthen their side. Just look at this family alone if everyone made the choices they did, his underworld would never grow and that would never due. Why do you think covens such as David’s exist? They are the balance to a family such as this. Reginald for as much as you know, even you are unaware of how much he lost when he lost them. Even not knowing the full truth in this matter, did you really think that he was going to sit by and take such a loss? Please tell me that you are not that naive. When he lost them, the heads of covens committed to pure evil received a boost to their abilities, even on this plane. Some became virtually untouchable. How do you think the heads of such covens avert full on attacks while their followers are decimated.
Taking in a deep breath, she continues. “That’s one of the reasons he went after her.” She nods toward me. “Before they were married, he knew what would happen if they got together and the product of such a union if they remained on this land. Why do you think he was so delighted when she died in the gorge? Even if he can’t have her this time, he will get her extension in this battle, especially now that Marlena is human and has the seed. The only question is whether he can get to and change Marlena’s mind before she does something stupid, she is ingrained with such hatred for the human condition that it may cost him his chance. He won’t be able to get her on this land and if they...” She stops abruptly. “It may be best if you both leave.”
Andrew stares at her. “You were just speaking about Mia and you know something that affects her. I think that before we leave you need to explain yourself, now.”
Reginald touches Amanda’s arm and his eyes become unfocused for a moment before he stares at me and I know he som
ehow saw exactly what she did. I have no doubt that she can see the future and it is not good, at least for Andrew and me. Reginald’s tone is very slow and deliberate. “She can’t tell you Andrew, it would be disastrous for you both. You have to let this unfold if you want any chance at all.” His desperate plea seeps through his façade confirming the other visions I saw when touching Amanda.
Amanda interjects. “I can tell you this, what I see does not involve something happening to your children. I believe that they will be strong. I wish I could be more help Andrew, but right now all I can see if I interfere at this juncture is disaster. I am truly sorry.”
As we leave, I hear Reginald questioning Amanda. “Is there any chance or will we lose them both?”
“I can’t say right now, it keeps shifting because the time line is not set. It was averted once already and then I thought when I first arrived, it would happen during the escape, but I’m just not sure now, you saw, the vision is too uncertain and the future too undecided. The sacrifice made is generally rewarded and with more than just this time, but she knows and will not allow one to suffer on her behalf, she will try to interfere. The wager will be made and although it will be fought in a short time, and certain things will not be allowed because of the initial sacrifice, I cannot see the outcome or the commencement.”
“I’ll be back. We have a lot to discuss.”
Andrew pulls me down the hall, and I hear Amanda’s door creek behind us. Reginald is at our side immediately. “Andrew I know you heard and if I’m right, Mia heard as well.”
“Reginald I know you saw what is going to happen and it involves Mia. If he is coming after her again, I won’t let him take her!”
“Andrew you cannot do anything to risk yourself.” I turn, intertwining our hands. “Please you can’t do anything that will take you away from here, from our children.”
Turning to Reginald, my tone reveals my anguish. “How many will be hurt trying to protect me?”
“It is not like that and he is not coming in the way that you think, he can’t, not this time. Trust me, it is not what you fear, but it may explain some of what is happening. I wish that I could go into it, but it would not help you now, it would only hurt you both. You just need to hold on to your love and remember that no matter what, the heart never lies!” His voice is full of emotion and he grips my free hand. His anxiety seeps through the rigidity in his touch revealing that he is afraid for me and what I will face. I have some indication from what I saw, but could my visions mean more, they were so unfocused and fuzzy, shifting, and only revealing what I now fear is a small part of what occurred and what is to come.
“I don’t understand.” My eyes search his knowing he cannot give me an answer, but hoping for some type of revelation.
His voice turns quiet, maybe in hopes of calming my racing pulse. “I know, but you said that your heart led you back to Andrew during your darkest time, don’t ever let go of that. Looks can be deceiving and the brain does not always register the truth.” Frustration wells within me. Reginald puts his hand upon my shoulder and I feel a strange surge then drain of power as he speaks. “It’s alright, Mia I know it is frustrating, but we are trying to help you and you have others who only wanted to help you too. You still have work to do here and we have so many answers still to find that I believe everything will work out.
Andrew interjects. “What did you do to her? I can hear the difference in her heartbeats.”
“I took back the power which I transferred to her. I didn’t realize that it was taxing her system until Amanda showed me.”
“What do you mean you transferred power to her?”
“When we were at the estate, I knew that my quest to find answers could be dangerous. I didn’t realize what I was going to find and if I died, I did not want certain powers to die with me. At the time, the power I transferred to her also worked in conjunction with your powers of healing to help her. She was not in danger I assure you, but Amanda did not like the way it was slowing her heart down and worried about complications in the long run.”
“How do you know this?”
“Amanda had the gift of sight even before she embraced her other powers. When we were children, she had the ability to share her visions with me. I need to get back in to her and you should go and see Catherine, Andrew, she needs your reassurance and support.” Turning on his heels, he reenters the suite.
Outside of our suite, Andrew pulls me into an embrace. “Are you going to be alright if I leave for a while?”
“I’ll be fine. I need to speak with Eva anyway.”
He kisses me gently before leaving.
Entering the suite, Eva is not there, but Jackson is sitting on the couch. “Is everything alright, you look worried?”
“Not really.”
“What happened when you spoke to Amanda?”
“Reginald was there. Jackson, we have trouble coming.” Realization as to what else they revealed to me hits like a wrecking ball and I’m glad to have a few minutes with Jackson alone.
“What kind of trouble?”
“Jackson, where’s Eva?”
“She just ran to our suite for a moment, she got a phone call and needed to grab a file.”
“Then I need to speak with you before I explain the trouble coming.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Amanda has the ability to see futures. She let Andrew and I know that there is something that is going to happen with us, but says that she cannot let us know what it is because it would interfere with our future and could lead to even more trouble.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to watch over Andrew and make sure that he doesn’t do anything foolish.”
“I don’t understand?”
“I’m not sure that I understand fully either or how much I can reveal but I fear what’s coming for me will separate us. I’m afraid of what Andrew may do when it happens. You need to promise me that you will keep him out of trouble and safe, please.” My hands are gripping his as I fall on my knees.
Pulling me back to my feet, his features fill with understanding, but his eyes reflect his fear. “I promise, but Mia you know that you and he are connected and if something happens to you, I fear for him.”
“I do too, but you have to do all you can to protect him and protect my family, that’s all that matters.”
“I promise.” He hugs me quickly and leads me to the couch. “What kind of trouble is coming?”
“William’s men are coming for Marlena and they will get her. Amanda seemed pretty confident that we would fail in our attempt to keep her. Considering where she is being housed...”
Eva walks in and seeing us, her facial features turn concerned. “What did I miss?”
“We have trouble coming for Marlena.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“At least five, maybe more very barbaric members of William’s coven, they are going to come for her and from what Amanda revealed, they will be successful in getting her.”
“If someone is coming for her, we need to move her away from the others to ensure no one gets hurt and that our patients do not see what is on the land. They will probably enjoy killing whoever is in their path and they won’t hide what they are. We don’t need that type of problem. Since everyone is up here, maybe we should concentrate on having them spread to the residency and have them move to the rooms in the recreation building on a semi-permanent basis. Then we can move down toward the school. If they come, at least they will be away from the main buildings.”
“Jackson rises. I’ll alert the others.”
Eva rises as well. “Can I talk to you a moment?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Eva, when you found me down in the gorge what really happened?”
My question catches her off guard and her eyes shift toward the floor. “Why are you bringing this up now?”
“Something h
appened that day and I need to know what it was. Amanda seemed to intimate that what happened that day will now affect my and Andrew’s future.”
A somber expression flits across her now resigned face and her tone turns thoughtful. “What did she say exactly?”
“It isn’t so much what she said, but what she seemed to be hiding. I thought I got a flash of something and I’m hoping I am wrong, but I need you to tell me what happened that day.”
“We found you there and you were dying, but we stabilized you enough so that between Andrew and the medical procedures, you healed.” I could hear the lie rip through her tone.
Concentrating on the vision, the picture begins to clear and reveals the truth. “You’re lying. I saw Michael there. You risked your future and sacrificed your immortality to save me, why?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Mia, please you were in very bad shape, I’m sure that what you think you saw was in your imagination.”
“Eva, it wasn’t in my imagination, it wasn’t what I thought happened during that time; it was what Amanda saw and tried to hide. You reached me first and were calling out to Michael for help. He finally came to you when you called out that you were willing to sacrifice your own existence for my life. He was so touched by your true willingness to give up your existence for your brother’s happiness that the two of you brokered a deal. If you met any type of trouble that could end a human life, other than natural causes, you would be extinguished. Why would you do that?”
Her eyes shoot around the room as if seeking divine intervention as to whether to tell me the truth. After what feels like hours, she takes my hands. “I did it for you and my brother. The day of our conversion, he risked everything to try and save me. Then when I found Jackson and sent him away to save him, he was the one with me as I suffered. He always watched out for us and tried to protect us. He saved my existence more times than I can count when we were fighting amongst ourselves and when others came to destroy us. I couldn’t allow him to suffer your loss, not when he had just found you. The thought of it was intolerable.”
“But you risked your own forever for us.”
“I would have done anything to give him time, to give you both time. You deserve to be together, it was not the time for your story to end, not before it even began. He deserved happiness and you deserved a life. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Eva, I need you to stay here. I’ll be back.”
“What are you going to do?”
“The only thing I can do. I’ll be back.”
She grabs my hand. “You can’t do whatever you are thinking. You have a family, a life here, you need to think about this and not do whatever is in your mind right now. It will be alright, I knew what I was doing and would do it again.”
I wrench my hand from her. “I love you, but I need to go.”
Running through the crisp night air and dense forest, I know I don’t have much time before Andrew returns and comes looking for me. Running as fast as I can to where this all began, I call out for Michael. “I know that you can hear me and I am begging you to please show yourself to me. Please this cannot end as I fear. Michael, she cannot die because of me! That is not right and you are all about what is right and just. You have always helped this family in the past and you know that they strive to do the right thing in return. I need to do the right thing now, please help me!” Closing my eyes, I hold on to the hope and continue my plea.
After several moments, I feel the light of his presence and open my eyes. Seeing the beautiful angel before me, I drop to my knees. “Thank you for coming.”
“I do not have much time. The sacrifice that was made for you was of one pure of heart who wanted to give you and her brother the life she had always hoped for him.”
“I understand that, but it cannot be bought upon her life. I know what she wanted and I thank you for the time, but she cannot sacrifice herself for me. Andrew will always have the best part of our love, he will have our children. When the time comes for her to pay for this gift I am begging you to take me instead and let her immortality be restored. That is the way it should be and you know it! Please allow me to take her place, the place where I should be anyway. I am begging you. You know that it is what is right and proper, please do not take Eva’s life, you need to take mine.” Taking in a deep breath, I can’t help but wonder if in trading my existence, it will be for eternity within the fires of his realm, the realm which haunted my nightmares for years after being bewitched. Shaking my head, it doesn’t matter, I will take whatever comes. Leaning back on my heels, “I am ready to join the fight on your plane or the fires in his.”
He smiles and his face glows, calming my anxiety. “Mia, I don’t need to take anyone’s life.” Although it is admirable that you would be willing to go there, that is not how it works, especially when the sacrifice is made pure of heart.
“I don’t understand.”
“I can see that you are willing to take her place freely and openly despite what you fear and what you will lose. Because of what both of you are willing to sacrifice for the other, your eternity will be here, but you will have no recollection of your children or of Andrew, it will be a very different life. You will not have the benefit of the powers which you now possess or the knowledge of what is waiting to come for you. He will try again. You will be vulnerable and can be influenced. Remember, you have made quite a few enemies in his world. Although he himself will not be able to come for you at this juncture because of your willing sacrifice, there are others who will be all too happy to turn you and make you his to gain power in his underworld. You are what he desires and anyone who is successful in turning you will be well rewarded by him for their efforts.”
“I am ready, but please may I ask just one more question?”
“You may.”
“Will my children and Andrew still be here or will my children disappear because of this?”
“No your children will be fine. They will still exist. This choice does not erase the past, it changes only the future. In their memories, you will have died, but there future will still be tied here and to those you have surrounded them with. They will continue to grow up with the love and support of those around them and those to come.”
“Thank you.” Tears of relief escape over my lids. “I’m ready now. Thank you.”
“Tomorrow, Mia. In order for you to trade places with Eva, you must stop Edmund from staking and burning her when they come for Marlena. Also, you are to tell no one of this or that you are leaving.”
Panic fills my heart and I interrupt him. “I have already made a mistake.”
He holds his hand up. “You had no confirmation of your fears when you voiced them to Jackson so don’t worry about that. You must go now, Andrew is almost done with Catherine and you must be back before he returns.”
“Thank you.” Thankfully only Eva is in the suite when I arrive, she is pacing wildly, distress ripping through her normally serene facade.
“What did you do?” She grabs my hands.
Running back, I had already fixed my features into an unwavering mask. “I couldn’t do anything. No one would respond to my plea.” Wrapping my arms around her, “I love you.”
Her telephone rings and as she departs I enter the children’s room. They are sleeping with the most angelic looks on their faces. I sit by each one, whispering in their ears, hoping that subconsciously they register my utterance so that it will always be with them. “Never forget how much I love you, how proud I am of you, and how strong you are becoming. Be happy, you are surrounded by love and I will love you always.”
I hear Andrew gently clear his throat in the archway and I don my mask once more, despite the raging emotions in my heart. Turning, his perfect features reflect the wonderful life we share and the time that I am so grateful for. Although it is ending, I am truly blessed to have shared this unbelievable love that will forever touch my soul, no matter what tomor
row brings. Moving closer and wrapping my arms around him, I pull him into an embrace. “How is Catherine?”
“She’s doing better. Did Jacob wake up with a nightmare again?”
“No. Why?”
“I heard you whispering and thought you may have been trying to help him go back to sleep.”
Placing my head on his chest so as not to risk him seeing through my mask, I lie to him for the first time since we met. “I saw him stirring and thought it may help.”
“Have you eaten anything?” He puts his hand under my chin forcing my face to meet his.
“I’m all set. What I would like to do though...” Slowly backing away, I intertwine our hands and walk into our room. If I only have tonight, I want to leave him with a memory of how much I love him and will always love him. Backing him into our bed, I sit beside him. As he turns to me, I kiss his glorious lips tenderly and run my fingers across his cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Mia, are you sure that everything is alright? I heard what you said to Jacob and it sounded more like a goodbye than comforting. Are you afraid because of what Amanda said?”
Drawing myself up on my knees, I wrap myself around him now. “I’m not afraid and it wasn’t a goodbye, you must have misunderstood. I’m fine. It’s just that we haven’t spent much time together since everything that happened and I miss you.” I run my fingertips down his sculpted torso.
Although he shivers, he is not deflected and I wonder if we are more connected than I ever realized. “Mia, nothing is going to happen to you. Amanda is wrong, nothing is going to separate our future.”
I kiss him again as my heart races. Knowing this is our last night, I don’t want to talk. I want to be near him, to love him, and to give him one last memory of us together. “I’m not worried Andrew, really. I just want to be with the most wonderful man on this plane or any other.” Slowly, I unbutton his shirt. As I unfasten the last one, he pulls me into his chest. The entire night, I refuse to let my eyes shut, even once. I want to memorize every fleck of his glorious, ocean eyes and feel every contour of his muscles. Even if consciously I won’t remember, I know his soul has imprinted upon mine and will touch me throughout eternity.
He is tender and sweet. His touch lights the embers of desire throughout my entire being, burning away the fear of what is to come. Although our time is short in comparison to the forever for which I hoped, I know that no matter what is erased from my mind his gift of love will forever warm and touch my heart and can never be stricken, not even by the most powerful of angels.
The gray hue pierces through the slotted blinds signaling my final hours with this angelic man and my wonderful family. I need to put one more thing in place before I leave my safe haven to ensure that Nicholas and Kayla will be taught well. Although Andrew and his family can deal with all of the other issues, they are not knowledgeable about this one and in his grief, I cannot let a power that will protect them fall to the wayside, knowing that I will not be here to help protect them myself.
Rising to start my final day, I don my mask for one final time ensuring that I do not let on that anything in our forever has changed. I will not break the rules, the consequences are far too grave, so I kiss him good morning as always, tell him I love him and get breakfast on the table just as the children rise.
As luck would have it, or maybe it is a gift from Michael, Jeff appears at the door to see Charlie, who is just sitting down to eat. Andrew is called away regarding an urgent patient matter and I seize the opportunity to put the last piece of the puzzle in place with Jeff.
“Can I speak with you in the living room for a moment?” He winks at Charlie letting him know he’ll be in the next room. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, I am just hoping to convince you to help Kayla and Nicholas adjust. I know that you agreed to help them through their first conversion and that you have a life and pack outside of Sanctuary, but if you or Grant could stay for a while to assist them in adjusting and learning how to use their skills as wolves, I know that they will be in good hands and be taught by good people. I know this is a lot to ask and normally I wouldn’t, it’s just that this is outside of our area.” I feel the fear of them being alone in this if he says no creeping its way into my heart and exposing me through my crescendo tone.
Jeff interrupts. “Mia, I’m sure you and Andrew can guide them just fine. They are good kids and it seems like you are a very close knit family.”
“We are, it’s just that I know that there are aspects of this that we are not equipped to teach them and I am hoping that you might consider staying or convincing Grant to stay for a while to ensure that their adjustment goes smoothly.”
“I don’t know how long I can stay, but I will definitely speak to Grant about it and I know that Paul and Julianne are very fond of your children and could be a big help.”
“Thank you. I can’t tell you how much better that makes me feel.” My voice involuntarily cracks.
“Mia, what’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“No, I’m just worried about them.”
His eyes bore into mine, searching for answers, maybe the animal side of him senses my fear. Casting my eyes to the floor, I fear I’m too late. “That’s not it. There is something more. I can sense it. Let me help you this time, don’t shut me out.”
“Jeff, it’s nothing. Everything is fine, it’s just been a complicated few weeks and my concern for them in this matter is getting the better of me because I can’t help them myself in this.”
Charlie comes bouncing out of the kitchen. “I’m ready to go.”
“Alright, let’s go.” He turns to me. “If you want to talk, let me know.”
Leaving with Julianne and Paul, I enter the kitchen to clean the dishes. Looking over to my children as they rise to clear their plates, a lump in my throat rises, almost choking me. Forcing it down, I only have a few seconds, before it overwhelms me. I cannot let on to them that anything has changed and if I allow my control to slip for even a second, the tears I am forcing back will be unstoppable.
Kissing them good morning again as they hand me their plates, I try to make a joke of it so as not to let my sorrow for leaving them escape into my voice, but I need to tell them I love them while they are awake.
As I hug Jacob, he looks at me with a confused stare. “Are you o.k. mom?”
“I’m fine sweetie we just have to get ready to start our day. I love you handsome.”
“I love you too mom.”
As they head into the other room, I close my eyes tightly, force my emotions into a draw, and lock it tight so as not to allow them to take hold of my heart. I need to be strong and I need to be ready. Any indication of what is to come and I will cost Eva her existence and forever impair the family that flamed the embers of my dying existence, making me feel alive for the first time. Forcing a smile on my lips, it is just in time as a cool set of arms wrap around my waist and Andrew rests his chiseled chin upon my shoulder. “Are you ready to go beautiful, the children are already in the hall?”
Turning, I kiss him. “I’m ready.”
We spend the morning helping out at the recreation center and seeing patients. At one o’clock Ryan comes in and from his expression, I know this is it. He whispers into Andrew’s ear and Andrew is gone in a flash, followed by his family. Knowing the children can tell something is going on and not wanting to leave them without kissing them goodbye, I race over to them.
Nicole inquires. “What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing to worry about it’s just a patient that we moved to another building. I have to go and help out.” I kiss and hug them all. “I love you.”
Outside, I dash towards what I know is a fight, Reginald catches hold of me, but we keep moving forward. “I will watch over them, they will be fine.” Catching his features, I know he knows what is about to happen too.
“Thank you.”
I cannot believe the strength of
the vampires that are coming at my family. They seem to toss them aside so easily. One enters the building followed by Andrew who is tossed out a window in a nanosecond. Immediately rising, he bolts back inside. Eva and Jackson are on another, but I see the one who I came for approaching with a lit stake. Knowing this is it, I throw myself at Eva’s back.
Chapter Twelve - Epilogue
Dr. Angelis, I’m sorry to disturb your rest, but there is a patient on route to emergency who has been shot. You need to scrub. Jumping up from the cot, I bolt down the hallway catching up to Janet, handing her my watch, cell phone and pager as she updates me. “The victim is believed to be a seventeen to nineteen year old male with two gunshot wounds, one to the abdomen and one close to the heart. The bullet through the abdomen is a through and through, but the one near the heart is lodged in the back rib cage. The EMT’s lost him twice on route. Operating room four is ready and your team is scrubbing. Pushing into the OR scrub room, I prepare and she is still by my side. “I placed the gown in your office for the benefit. Jonathan sent flowers again and said that he would meet you there. His plane was delayed, but should be landing around seven.”
Running through the operating doors, I prepare to operate.
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Synopsis Of Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Dark Encounter
Mia’s unearthing of Eva’s sacrifice all those years ago could only lead to one action, she had to die in Eva’s place when William’s men came to reclaim Marlena. As Andrew tackles a world without his other half and struggles to exist and pick up the pieces of his children’s mournful hearts in facing a world without their mother, Mia is thrust into an existence which no longer affords her the protections of Sanctuary and her powers. Alone, without any recollection of her past life, haunted by memories and visions of a tragic life which are appear to be her own, and stripped of the ability to awaken her powers, she is in the arms of her worst nightmare. Mia faces her most deadly challenge to date, and one which in her new life, she is not even aware as Jonathan returns to claim her as his own. Armed with new skills, a fresh plan, and a secret which if revealed in the proper fashion may lead Mia right into his awaiting arms and a commitment which will seal her fate for all eternity. This time the dark side may just get the soul it is hungry to consume, but only if it claims her before a mistaken belief leads to the end of her life by the one who will end his on in the process.
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