Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows (34 page)

“Jeff, I have to be there. They need me and
I’m hoping that I can connect with them to make it easier. Did
Grant tell you at all about me?”

“He did tell me that you somehow could feel
them and know what is happening, but he didn’t think you were
communicating with them.”

“I wasn’t, but I did get through once and I’m
hoping to try to do it again over the next few days. If I can
somehow connect and they can feel me with them during the
conversion, I can help contain them and calm them.”

As the children approach, we rise. Jacob
inches over toward Jeff, once more. “Mr. Sheffield I truly am sorry
for knocking you down.”

“Jake don’t worry about it, I’m fine. I would
have done the same thing if I thought someone was hurting my mom
and you can call me Jeff.” He smiles.

Jacob smiles and seems to relax as we walk
back. Andrew and the others haven’t returned so I make dinner. As
they are eating, I hear a knock, its Emma.”

“Where are the children?”

“In the kitchen, eating. Why?”

“Mia, we have placed various protections
between the cabin and Sanctuary, each a little stronger, with the
strongest here. If they get this far, we are hoping that this will
knock them down as opposed to just repel them, but after speaking
with Reginald, he didn’t want to put anything that could possibly
make them lose consciousness because he didn’t know what that would
do during the conversion. He wants you to see him. He has some
repellant spells that you could use to try to keep them away from
any doors or windows. He will also Patrol the area around Sanctuary
just in case they break through our barriers.

“Would you mind staying with them? Where’s
Reginald?”

“He’s at the terminal building with James.
They are setting up some tests. Go on, I’ll stay until Andrew
returns. Victor called. They are on their way back.”

Reginald is alone in the lab. When I enter,
he puts down the vile. “Let’s go to the lounge.”

“Have you discovered anything?” I inquire on
the way.

“We have tested some of Sebastian’s blood and
the chemical makeup is definitely that of a human. There are some
abnormalities and James is trying to follow those leads, but it
sounds like we have a much greater issue to deal with first. The
first conversion is difficult to watch and a little slower than the
rest. You need to be prepared, not only for what you see, but to
throw the spells I am going to teach you. I promise you that they
will not hurt them, but I’m hoping that they will throw them back
away from the openings. Even if they hit the wall or floor, it
won’t harm them.”

As this thought flashes in my head, along
with the feeling of being thrown against the estate walls by David,
I shudder.

Noticing this, Reginald speaks firmly. “Mia,
you can’t hesitate. In that moment, they will be gone. They are
that fast. It would be better if you could keep them contained
because in truth, our protective shields may not work. I’m
concerned about the things we don’t know with such a mixed
conversion and the effects on their already traumatized bodies to
place certain things in the shields which may repel witches as
well. What I’m teaching you will hopefully just keep them off
balance enough to go through the first conversion without running
anywhere.”

Listening intently, I try the spells with
him. After about half an hour I feel extremely weak as if I am
fighting against a riptide and fall toward the floor while tossing
Reginald back. Surprisingly, he catches me before my head hits the
table and guides me gently to the floor. “Mia, what happened? Are
you alright?”

I try to rise, but my head spins violently
and my stomach contracts. Helping me to the daybed, he goes to the
kitchen and brings me back juice. Andrew enters as I’m still
drinking and as he glances at Reginald’s worried face, his features
turn concerned immediately. “Is everything alright?”

Clearing my throat in hopes of answering
strong, I’m disappointed as my voice sounds uncertain. “We were
just practicing some spells and I became a little tired.”

I catch the look passing between Andrew and
Reginald. “Mia, it is more than just you being tired, isn’t it?”
His tone is accusatory.

“I’m fine really. I just hadn’t eaten and
with the stress, you know me. I become weak at the drop of a dime
when I don’t eat.” I laugh, but their expressions remain
concerned.

Andrew inquires of Reginald directly. “Do you
think it is more than just exhaustion and hunger? Is there a
possibility that she could still convert because of the bites or
that there is something going on that we are unaware of?”

“I really can’t say. You know that everyone
who is bitten either dies or is converted. I can’t explain why it
didn’t happen. You should try to run some more tests and see if
there are significant changes.” I shoot him an angry look, which I
hope Andrew does not catch. “She could be right, it could be just
her body is still recovering from the loss of blood. She should eat
and you should at least check her out and make sure that physically
she appears to be the same.

Looking down at my watch, I realize the
children will be getting ready for bed. “We can do that later. I
want to see the children before they go to bed and I still need to
try to connect with Kayla and Nicholas.”

Andrew opens his mouth to object and I rise.
“Don’t fight me on this please, you won’t win.”

Walking back, I am fighting to take every
step, but try to appear un-phased not wanting to give Andrew any
reason to give me trouble with what I have to do. When we arrive,
the children are ready for bed and Gabriel and Martina are
there.

Kissing them and tucking them in, Andrew
insists that I eat something before beginning the process of trying
to connect to them. Quickly downing some granola cereal, I begin
concentrating. I quickly connect to Nicholas and Kayla, but Gabriel
informs me that he sees nothing to indicate that they are detecting
my presence. After a few hours, they are sound asleep and I am
extremely discouraged. Gabriel excuses himself and Andrew hugs
me.

“It will be alright. We still have time.”

“I know. I was just hoping that I could make
it easier for them.”

“You may still be able to, even if you can’t
connect to them. Besides I have an idea.”

Taking in a deep breath, he doesn’t speak for
what feels like an eternity. When I can’t take it any longer, I
inquire “Are you going to tell me?”

“I will, but first I want to check you out. I
know how you love to downplay how you feel and I saw the look on
Reginald’s face, so let me get Eva to stay here and you are coming
with me.” His has his no nonsense tone and I know arguing with him
is futile so I resign myself to my fate.

After an hour of him running his tests and
while we are waiting for the blood work to return, he finally clues
me in. “You connected with Jacob when he was frightened and really
needed you. I think you can do the same when we tell Nicholas and
Kayla what we suspect is going to happen to them. I know that it is
going to be frightening, but we need to prepare them. I know that
Reginald said sometimes they don’t remember their initial
conversions, but we can’t depend upon that and we can’t hide what
they will be going through. They seem to have accepted Grant and
his children which may make this easier, especially if we don’t
show them that we are concerned. Maybe after that, your connecting
with them will be easier because despite any downplay that we can
manage, this is something new and will be somewhat frightening for
them.”

I hate putting them through something else,
but he is right, we have to tell them. “When should we tell
them?”

“I would like to get them back in to their
routine as soon as possible, so I think if they feel up to it, we
should have them go to school tomorrow and then give it another day
or two depending upon the read we get from them. I know you don’t
want to wait, but I think that the stronger they go into this
situation feeling like themselves, if that is possible, the better
they will be through the conversion.” He takes my hands, caressing
my knuckles with his thumbs. “During that time, Mia, you need to do
all you can to get stronger and to rest. Although the other tests
have come back within normal range, your heart rate and pulse rate
have changed; they are slower than before this happened. Something
may be going on with you that we are unaware of.”

With so many more important issues to worry
about, I don’t want him concerned with this and try to distract
him. “I know one way to get my heart and pulse to race.” Allowing
my hands to glide up his strong arms and across his shoulders, I
brush my fingertips down to his fastened buttons.”

His arms snake around my back, drawing me
into an embrace while his lips tenderly nuzzle my neck until they
are up to my ear. “I think you are trying to distract me.”

“You said you want my heart racing, can you
hear it now?” It’s pounding erratically.

I feel a smile cross his beautiful lips as
they leave gentle kisses across my cheek to the corner of my lips.
“Yes I can.”

“Maybe you should take me home and see if we
can keep my heart at this sprint.” Claiming his lips heated blood
courses through my veins. I’m vaguely aware that he is intertwining
our hands and walking backwards.

When we return, Eva lets us know the children
are sleeping soundly before leaving. Leading Andrew into the
bedroom, I slowly unbutton his shirt and allow my fingertips to run
down his torso. I can’t believe how my heart still races wildly and
how he still shivers at my touch. We stay locked in each other’s
embrace until I wake at four-thirty.

It is nice seeing Andrew’s eyes closed and
I’m hoping he is relaxing, but as I move, his eyes spring open.
“How are you feeling this morning?” He inquires quietly.

“I believe you adjusted my heart rate to a
sprint” I tease, “But if you would like to increase it again, I’m
sure we have an hour or so before we have to wake the children.”
Leaning up on my elbow, I run my fingers across his muscular
chest.

He embraces me tenderly and kisses me, but
all too quickly, he is releasing me and leaning on his own elbow.
“Mia, I love starting your heart, but we need to talk a moment,
before the children wake up. I got the results of your blood test a
few hours ago and it has changed.”

“How?”

“Some of the abnormalities we see in David
and Marlena’s blood counts are now in yours. We don’t know exactly
why and I can’t say for sure it is because he and Marlena bit you,
nor can we tell whether the abnormalities are temporary or
permanent, but it has changed and I’m concerned. I don’t like not
having the answers where you are concerned and with what you are
going to try to do in the next few days.”

Putting my fingertip upon his lip, he sighs
and I curl up into his side, raising my eyes to meet his. “Andrew,
you just said this could be something temporary. I feel fine,
really and we need to concentrate on what is happening to Nicholas
and Kayla, prepare them and still deal with all of the fallout from
the events which transpired over the last week. I’m sure in time,
my tests will turn up normal so that you don’t have to worry so
much and our family will be fine again.”

Pulling him closer, I don’t want him
obsessing about this issue. Drawing my lips across his muscular
chest, I kiss every inch of his torso tenderly, but his body
remains rigid and his mind focused on this new development.
“Andrew, please I really do feel fine, but I will make you a deal,
if you promise to push this issue aside for the moment, you can run
all of the tests you desire later.”

He draws in a resigned breath and I know
he’ll concede to my wishes. “I promise I won’t push it right now,
but if you start to feel any changes at all, you have to tell
me.”

“I will, I promise. Now let’s see about
getting my heart racing again.” I pull him towards me.

Breakfast is on the table as the children
rise and hurry to get ready for school. I’m happy to hear them chit
chat about some of the assignments that are coming up.

Over the next two days, they seem to be
getting back into the swing of school and their routine, despite
the nightmares that creep into their dreams about the dungeon.

Andrew and I are readying ourselves to talk
to them in the morning when Kayla’s screams. “I didn’t kill anyone.
They…” Reaching her, I hug her tightly, reassuring her that she is
home and safe. When we question her about her dream, all she
remembers is someone yelling that she killed her uncle. As she
finally falls asleep, I begin questioning whether telling her in a
few hours is the right thing to do. Maybe it would be better to see
if they remember their initial conversion and speak to them later
if they remember it at all considering they are still dealing with
the other traumatic experience. Despite my qualms, Andrew holds
steadfast that we have to prepare them and that although it might
frighten them more at first, in the long run they would be better
prepared to deal with the lapse in memory and possibly the
conversion itself.

When the children enter the kitchen, we tell
them they won’t be going to school because we have to talk about
something.

Tears well in Kayla’s eyes and she grabs
Nicholas’ hand; he rubs her arm. “We already know what they are
going to say. We have been counting down too. You can’t worry about
it. They won’t let us do anything bad. Last night was only a dream.
They won’t let you kill anyone. Charlie said it really isn’t that
bad. We just have to learn to control it and then look at it as
another power.”

Andrew and I can’t hide our shocked
expressions. In my peripheral vision, I catch Jacob shaking his
head. “Mom, did you really think we weren’t going to figure it out
too.”