Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows (35 page)

Nicholas interjects. “We feel the change
coming. What we couldn’t understand is why you were afraid to tell
us. Didn’t you think we would notice the whispers?”

Andrew responds. “We wanted to get as much
information as possible about the situation and put as much
protection for you in place before we talked to you so that we
could assure you that everything will be fine. I’m happy to hear
your attitude because you’re absolutely right, it will be another
power that you can exercise and you will learn to control it and to
control your transformation. Do you remember Cecil?”

“Yes. Why?”

“She is following a lead to get Amanda, the
witch who helped Charlie control his transformation so that he
doesn’t involuntarily change with the full moon. As soon as she
reaches her, she will come and help us make it easier for you, but
for the first time, mom is going to take you with Grant and Jeff to
a cabin.”

Nicole turns to Andrew. “Dad, I think that we
should all go up with them so that we can help too. I know that
Kayla is afraid that she could hurt someone because of her dreams
and maybe if we all go together it will make her feel better.”

His tone fills with understanding. “We can’t
go with them this time honey because our presence may make it more
difficult for them.”

“I don’t understand, we’re family, we would
make it easier not harder.”

Moving closer to Nicole, I turn her face so
that she will look at me. “Nicole, you know how much Kayla and
Nicholas love you, but the first time they transform, they may be
confused because it is a new form, they will have other senses that
are more dominant than the ones that they are used to so it would
be better if they didn’t have people distracting them. Jeff and
Grant are coming with me because they have been through this before
and they will be able to help me make them more comfortable and
calm.” Although I want to downplay everything as much as possible,
it is obvious that they have drawn certain conclusions and their
dreams are clearly defining the dangers. “Mom, do you really think
that they can help us and keep us from killing or biting anyone? It
was really confusing when Grant’s pack was in the woods and I know
they said that it was a mistake, but I’m afraid that we could make
the same type of mistake if we’re around anyone. Maybe Nicholas and
I should go somewhere alone until it’s all over.”

“Kayla, you are not going to hurt anyone,
Grant’s pack made a mistake because they were in attack mode, they
had already lost some of their pack and knew David and his coven
were dangerous, but you will be with me, you have grown up loving
and trusting your family. When you transform, you will not be in
attack mode, you will be in a warm, comfortable cabin and I will be
with you to help reassure you that everyone you love only wants
what is best for you.”

Although her body slumps in relief, I catch
the looks passing between the children and wonder what else they
may have discerned.

“Dad, since we already know what you wanted
to discuss with us about, can we go to school today? We still have
a few more days before the full moon and we would rather not focus
on it. Charlie told us it wouldn’t be that bad and that his dad was
really good at containing him and some of the others, so there
really isn’t too much more you could tell us.” His eyes shoot to
the floor and his tone turns somber. “We are just hoping to get
through it and then be able to stop transforming until we get a
handle on the powers that we want to learn about.”

Andrew’s eyes shoot to mine and I nod. “If
that’s what you want to do, get your books, but after school we
need you to come back here so mom can try something with you.”

“Alright”

Kayla appears calmer as she picks up her
books and Nicole hands her an apple for snack.

Returning late in the afternoon, I am finally
able to connect with Kayla and Nicholas. After several hours, they
not only feel my presence, but intermittently, they hear me with
every fiber of their being.

Trying the next day, my communicating with
them is still intermittent.

As the sun rises on day of the first full
moon, butterflies overwhelm me. Cecil found Amanda and they are on
their way, but we still have this phase to go through. Hopefully
after the full moon cycle, Amanda will cast her spell and the
children will be able to cast this power aside until they feel more
secure to use it.

Kissing Andrew, Nicole and Jake good-bye,
Andrew pulls me aside. “Mia, you need to let Jeff and Grant take
the lead. They are more equipped to handle this and your heart rate
is still slower than before. Please be careful and know that I love
you.” His worry and concern are seeping through his strong
façade.

Squeezing his hand, hoping to reassure him, I
try to ensure my voice sounds confident. “I know you love me and I
know you love our children, so you watch over and protect Nicole
and Jacob and I will protect Nicholas and Kayla. I will see you in
the morning.” Kissing him good-bye once more, we go to meet up with
Grant and Jeff.

At the house, Charlie is waiting outside and
yells in for his dad before running over to Kayla. He whispers. “It
won’t be that bad, don’t worry really. The more relaxed you are the
easier and quicker it will happen. Then it will be all over. You’re
not concerned anymore about hurting anyone are you because I spoke
to my dad and he promised me that nothing would happen to you.”

Even whispering, her nerves pierce through
our quiet surroundings. “I’m not worried about something happening
to me, I’m more worried about what I might do to someone else.”

His hand moves toward hers and I see him drop
something into her palm. “This is my good luck charm, place it
around your neck, the chain is big enough that even when you
transform it won’t break or hurt you, I always wear it and I have
never hurt anyone. Wear it and I’m sure it will bring you luck
too.”

“Thank you” Placing it around her neck, she
tucks it into her shirt.

I catch a smile between Charlie and Nicholas
before they notice I’m watching them and then they try to redirect
my attention. “Mom, there’s Grant.” As I move closer to him, I hear
Nicholas whisper. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it, I like Kayla, she’s
cool.”

“Jeff just needs a minute and then we can get
started.”

We drive as far as we can and then hike. By
mid-afternoon, Kayla cannot tear her eyes from the sky and is
becoming more anxious with each passing hour. Nicholas tries to
make her feel better as she strokes the good luck charm underneath
her shirt, but as the sky darkens so does her mood.

Jeff and Grant try to reassure her, but even
I cannot draw her out of her shell to even glance away from the
window. As the last ray of sun sinks below the horizon, she turns
rigid. I don’t need Andrew here to confirm that her palpitating
heart is racing with anxiety.

Even Grant and Jeff seem more anxious now.
They continuously cross the room, checking the locks and circling
the children. Leading them over to a blanket in the corner, away
from all openings, I take their hands and try to connect with them
before the phasing begins in hopes of maintaining my connection to
keep them calm so that I will not need to utilize the spells
Reginald taught me. Although I practiced with Andrew to avoid
hesitation, using it against my children is another story. I offer
a silent prayer that I will be strong enough if it becomes
necessary to use it and keep them contained because the alternative
is unthinkable.

As we concentrate, I feel Jeff and Grant move
closer. My eyes fly open as I feel Kayla’s muscles contracting. Her
eyes fill with terror at what is to come. All of a sudden, Nicholas
bursts into form and is growling viciously. As he rises on all
fours, my authoritative voice ringing in his head, surprises even
me. I didn’t even realize I also connected with him. As I yell
“Nicholas sit now” I feel him fighting to do what he is told. He’s
not strong enough to overcome his struggle and his head whips
toward Kayla. His growl echoes through the cabin. She screams, but
then her face turns hard, her body shakes and contorts violently
before bursting into wolf form.

My back is turned to Nicholas who is growling
fiercely, as I turn to see him, his teeth are bared and I am
suddenly buried under a ball of fur. Struggling to free my hands, I
wrench my right wrist free and throw the repellant spell. A wolf
flies across the room, but it is not Nicholas who is still growling
beside me. As the wolf rises lithely to his feet, it must be Jeff
because Grant is just phasing as Nicholas and Kayla are now
charging toward each other head on. I’ve lost my connection and
have no choice but to throw the spell toward both of them. I gasp
realizing if I fail, they will be fighting each other and Grant and
Jeff will have to rip them apart.

My spell does not work as well on them. They
merely wobble and step back slightly. I am in the midst of four
werewolves, each growling viciously.

Nicholas and Kayla redirect their attention
and jump toward the corner where I had thrown Jeff and are about to
pounce on him. Knowing I could move him more effectively, I use the
repellant spell in reverse to bring him closer to me. I fight to
keep each wolf straight in my head. Jeff is a dark gray wolf; Grant
is spotted gray; Nicholas is almost black; while Kayla is chocolate
brown.

Nicholas and Kayla are about to crash into
each other when I see Kayla flying toward the bed in the opposite
corner. She lands lithely on her feet as I hear a satisfied huff
come from Nicholas. I wonder if he repelled her toward the bed with
the spell they learned in England, but how? I cannot even dwell on
the thought. She springs again, this time heading for Grant. I move
him quickly, and she hits the wall. Although she doesn’t seem
fazed, I wince.

Nicholas lunges toward her. I scream thinking
he will hurt her, and so must Jeff who tries to intercept by
jumping between them, but before he lands, Nicholas is already by
her side, his nose is stroking hers. On some level, piercing
through the shock, I realize he is not trying to hurt her at all;
he is trying to comfort her and I force myself to concentrate and
try to connect with them once more, but can only connect to
Nicholas. His body seems rigid as if he is trying to force his
every movement and is fighting with himself. I feel the struggle
within him and can hear him screaming at himself that he can’t lose
control.

Suddenly, rage engulfs him and a vicious
growl rips through his chest. He crouches as if to lunge at Jeff
and I throw the repellant spell, but this time, his stance does not
even wobble. Readying myself to redirect the energy to move Jeff, I
see Grant about to pounce, but Nicholas thrusts himself backwards
from the crouch. I’m not sure how he is doing it, but he has
moments of extreme control.

Kayla, on the other hand is growling wildly
and bearing her teeth. She crouches and lunges toward Nicholas.
Throwing my energy her way, she goes flying across the room. I
scream realizing she is about to hit a window, if she breaks it,
she’ll be gone. Quickly, I redirect my energy to the window, hoping
to hold it in place, but as I do, I feel something repelling my
energy and it ricochets back toward me sending me flying
instead.

I hit the wall with such force, I sink to the
ground. Kayla is also on the ground with Jeff and Grant ensuring
she does not move from the corner.

Shaking off my surprise, Nicholas’ head whips
toward my direction and then quickly toward the window, he growls
viciously and bolts through the window. Scrambling to my feet, I’m
surrounded by glass, yelling for him to come back. A commanding
voice orders him to stop and a spell is cast. I should have known
that Reginald would not be far away. Approaching the window, I hear
a thud, then a whimper coming from the other side as I yell again.
“Nicholas, come back please.”

Grant jumps past me and is outside growling
at Nicholas, pinning him to the cabin wall. His eyes are focused on
Reginald as he growls again in warning. He wants him to leave, and
so do I. If the children bolt and he cannot deflect them, they may
bite him. Kayla’s dream flashes through my memory. Climbing though
the window, standing between Reginald and Nicholas and Grant, I
yell. “Reginald, leave. Leave now, please.”

Grant is forcing Nicholas toward the door as
Reginald retreats about two hundred feet, with his hands still
outstretched verbalizing spells. Although Grant is grunting and
growling, the sounds are not angry. I wonder if they are somehow
communicating. As Nicholas gets closer to the door, he crouches as
if he is going to spring away, moving quickly I fling open the door
as Grant lunges at Nicholas knocking him inside. Quickly closing
the door and locking it, I run to stand before the window, hoping
that I can compel Nicholas away from it and scanning the room for
something more permanent to block it. As Grant inches Nicholas
closer to where Jeff is containing Kayla who seems more unstable,
continually contracting and springing forward, I realize that by
each window and door there are planks on the floor, a hammer and
some nails. Lifting the plank up, I am not strong enough to keep it
up and pound the nails. Releasing it so I can cast the levitating
spell, a pair of hands lifts it, holding for me.

“Mia, nail it in place quickly, he won’t be
able to hold both of them if Nicholas loses control again.” Jeff’s
eyes never leave Grant, Nicholas and Kayla. Securing it, he phases
back just in time to jump between Nicholas, Grant and Kayla as
Nicholas lunges forward. I throw the repellant spell and he wobbles
for a few seconds. He is much stronger, Kayla is much easier to
manipulate.

As the hours pass, their growls and lunges
are more frequent, but have less force. My connections with them
are intermittent and it appears Nicholas is losing control more
easily, but his attacks are weaker. I wonder if with each hour
inching closer to daylight, their strength diminishes, maybe that
will allow me to connect with them again. Closing my eyes, I
concentrate and this time I am much more successful, neither kicks
me out. I feel the fear engulfing both of them and the rigidity of
their muscles, allowing the calming spell to flow through me, I
feel Kayla relax slightly, but Nicholas is still rigid. Inching
closer to him, hoping he will not lunge at me, I tentatively place
my hand behind his furry ear, stroking it lightly. I can feel the
rigidity in his body slowly release.