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Authors: L.A.A. Law

Tags: #fiction unique suspense intrigue supernatural revenge retribution sacrifice paranormal romance angels demons vampires werewolves

Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows (7 page)

BOOK: Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows
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His sudden silence screams to me the
information I cannot bear as the image of our children gone and
trapped the way I had envisioned Andrew was all those years ago
flashes violently through my mind like a nuclear explosion. Getting
up, I can’t stop my wild pacing. A tidal wave of grief envelops me
as I see our children being tortured behind a clear immovable wall
while we are helpless to save them. My heart seizes, if we had only
let Jonathan destroy us the many times he came for us or the night
in the woods, Kayla and Nicholas would be safe in Stephan’s arms
and Jacob and Nichole would not be suffering. Unaware that I voiced
my thoughts out loud, I’m frozen as Andrew grabs my arms and my
eyes meet his anguished expression.

“Mia, you can’t think that it would have been
better for you to be destroyed. Our children, all of our children
are strong, wonderful and powerful. You need to remember that.
Jonathan failed in all of his attempts over you when you were just
human and did not even know about your powers. Our children’s souls
are stronger that even ours. They will survive this. They will be
back with us.”

I interrupt him. “I know they are strong.
That is why the darkness wants to claim them now, before they
become so powerful that they cannot be held and manipulated. If I
had only allowed Reginald to train them earlier, maybe they would
be powerful enough now to at least escape or let us know where they
are!”

Andrew’s arms tighten around mine. “Mia, we
did the right thing in not letting them use their powers when they
were little. Each year, the light around them grows stronger and
brighter. It was a good decision to make them work for what they
want and to learn that there are consequences to everyday actions
so that their understanding of the repercussions that could result
from their utilizing their powers without thinking resulting in
unwanted consequences is ingrained in them now. They would have
been more susceptible to the temptations of the darkness if they
were not developing into the wonderful and caring individuals that
they are!”

“But at least they would have been able to
fight back, what if...”

His fingertips touch my lips, silencing me.
“Mia, I know that you are worried. I am too, but we have to have
faith that their goodness and love will lead them home to us, the
way it led you back to me all those years ago. If Jonathan is
involved, he won’t kill them.”

“What makes you so sure about that! He said
he didn’t want them to die before their time.”

“That may be what he said, but think about
it, if he wants us to suffer most, he is going to want to turn
them, not kill them.” As he utters the words, his facial features
twist in agony.

Kissing his fingertips, tears cascade down my
cheeks. “Andrew we just need to find them. If you are correct and
he won’t kill them, hopefully that will give us enough time. I
don’t care what it takes but I will not let him keep them or let
them suffer for being our children! If you say we should wait for
Reginald, fine, but in the meantime, we need to get Emma here and
see if there is any type of protection that we can have them
utilize until we can reach them.”

As he reaches for his phone, the realization
of the children’s souls being stronger than ours crashes over me
like an avalanche. I can’t breathe. This situation is not as before
when I could bargain my essence. What could we bargain with to save
them? With our children, Jonathan has four young souls who, if he
can manipulate, would be very strong and powerful forces, two of
which have celestial powers that could be used to bring carnage to
this plane throughout eternity. We have nothing he could want more
than that not even our suffering alongside him in hell would be
worth giving them up. Turning them over to him will ensure that his
past follies are not held against him and he will not only advance
in the ranks of his army, but will enjoy the icing on the cake. He
could watch us suffer knowing that he was the one who converted our
children to serve the darkness. Even if he fails to turn them, his
consolation prize is allowing the darkness to destroy them over and
over again.

My head spins wildly as I cannot escape the
horrific images of my children consumed in the fiery abyss. I’m
falling and feel my head crash against the corner of the table. As
I regain consciousness, I feel Andrew’s cool fingers taking my
pulse and the couch below me. Emma voice rings through the silence,
she is speaking with someone on the telephone.

“How are you feeling?” Andrew helps me sit
up.

“I’m sorry. How long have I been out?”

“Just a few minutes” He kisses me on the head
before heading toward the minibar. Returning, he hands me some
juice. “Mia, we will find them! Reginald will be here soon. When
Damian returns, Reginald wants Emma to tell you about a spell that
may help the children.”

“What do you mean may help them?” My eyes
dart between the two of them.

Emma moves toward me. “Do you remember when
we grabbed Abigail how Reginald kept the demons back?”

“Yes, but wasn’t that because we were in some
type of other realm.”

“No, the alternate realm had nothing to do
with his being able to use the shield.” She hesitates but then her
features turn stoic and she continues. “However, I think that you
should know that it only works on demons, it acts as a barrier to
them.”

“Where’s Damian, if we could get them to do
that spell at least he would not be able to get to them and drag
them anywhere or hurt them!” My heart leaps as a spark of hope
lights within me that they will not be lost to him.

Emma sits before Andrew and I and I can now
see that her eyes are full of concern. “Before we do anything, you
have to understand what I’m telling you.” She speaks slow and
deliberate. “This spell only works on demons. You said that you
thought vampires had the children, if they are not also demons, the
spell won’t work and it will reveal that they have powers.”

“But Jonathan knows that they have powers.
I’m sure that he has told them.”

“Mia, all I’m saying is maybe if you could
just hold on for a little while longer and try to wait for
Reginald, we could see if we find Jonathan and we wouldn’t have to
put the children in a position where they would have to try and do
this.”

From her tone, there is more. “What is it
that you’re not telling me?”

Her eyes bore into mine. “Mia, please don’t
take this wrong, but I have this feeling that it is not Jonathan
that has the children. I know that you said it’s him, you are their
mother and I am not doubting your talents, it is just a feeling I
have and I can’t really explain it other than there is something
telling me that things are not adding up to what we fear. I also
know that because of Jonathan’s warning and Reginald’s affection
for you and Andrew that Reginald put very powerful spells on
Jonathan’s energy so that he would know immediately when Jonathan
returned to this plane. It just seems strange that he would not
have known Jonathan was back even if he could block his energy, I
believe that Reginald would have detected traces because he would
have to corporealize first.”

Knowing how preconceived notions have
influenced past situations in my life, I sit mute desperately
trying to detach myself from the situation as I rerun each and
every detail in my head from the perspective of an observer rather
than a terrified mother. Is there anything that confirms that
Jonathan has them or could this be something else, a demon Andrew
crossed in the centuries he’s occupied this plane?

“Mia, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to upset you
more. Reginald made me promise to tell you about the spell and I
will. It’s just that I can’t seem to shake this feeling that it
might do us more harm than good at the moment.”

“You’re not making me more upset, I was just
thinking about what you said.” Turning to Andrew, how much longer
until Damian returns?

Getting out his phone, he calls him. “He’s
five minutes out.”

Turning back to Emma, “Will you channel with
me again to protect Damian, he needs to tell the children…” Her jaw
drops. “I’m not going to have him tell them the spell. I just want
them to know that we are working very hard on finding them and to
hold on to hope.” Her features relax slightly.

As hard as waiting is, I know she’s right,
any hasty decisions could cause them more harm. We strived to teach
them that despite their fears, they always need to try and think
calmly and make good decisions, I have to do the same and not let
my fears of Jonathan returning for his revenge cloud what is
happening now. What if I’m wrong and some other enemy has them who
is not aware of their powers and worth to the underworld, I could
be placing them in more danger if they reveal their hand. Andrew is
right they are very strong, smart, and caring children. Closing my
eyes waiting for Damian, I pray that their goodness, strength, and
wisdom beyond their young years will be enough to give us time to
get to them.

The door creeks and my opening eyes meet the
strained facial features of Damian and Serena, their search turned
up nothing.

“Was there any indication at all near the
site?” Andrew’s anguished voice reveals he knows the answer even
before voicing the question.

Walking across the room, Serena places her
hand upon his shoulder as defeat rings from her words. “There are
several farms and estates in the immediate area. We left the others
still checking, but so far there is no trace of the children or the
car.” As Andrew’s features darken, she strains to make her voice
sound hopeful. “Some of the locals were going to follow the road
further up. Don’t get discouraged yet, we’ll find them.”

Damian sits next to me. “Are you ready to go
again?”

“I am and I need you to get a message to them
if you are still willing.”

Grasping my hand, “like I told you before,
they are our family and I am ready to go whenever you are.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me, I’m as anxious
as you are to have them safe and at home with us. They bring joy
not only to your life, but to ours as well and I will do anything
to make sure that they are back at Sanctuary soon being tucked in
their beds.”

After telling Damian what I need him to say,
I close my eyes in concentration and am surprised that the
connection is almost instantaneous and hope that it means that I am
getting better and not that the one I connected to is in greater
danger! I hear a voice, but it’s not one of the children. Squeezing
Emma’s hand, I hope she knows not to let Damian appear.

The children are still feigning
unconsciousness as two female voices ring close to them.

“Alexandra, what are you doing still standing
out here, why haven’t you left the food and joined the hunt?” The
woman’s voice doesn’t sound angry, just curious.

“I was going to leave it, but then I became
afraid. What if they regain consciousness and attack me when I
remove their shackles so they can eat?”

Laughter echoes all around me. “They are just
children. From what Kristen told me, they aren’t even full
vampires. I’m sure with your abilities you could take them out
instantly if one of them even moves.

The girl interrupts. “Then David will kill
me.”

“Alright, if it makes you feel better, I’ll
go in with you and then we can both join the hunt, if you promise
to share.” She laughs again.

“I promise”

The door creaks loudly. “See, they haven’t
even come out of their stupors yet. Put the food down with the
water, while I remove one shackle from each of them and then we’ll
go.”

The tray hits the floor and so do the chains.
After another moment, the woman’s impatient voice bellows. “Come
on, let’s go, I’m starving. We can check on them later and tie up
their free hands.” The door slams.

I have connected to Kayla whose fluttering
eyes meet Jacob’s, Nicole’s and Nicholas’. Her stomach churns. As
the smell of blood overtakes her senses, vomit spews across the
room.

“It’s alright Kayla, stop breathing through
your nose. Breathe through your mouth.” Nicholas murmurs
calmly.

“Kayla take this and take small sips of
water, you’ll feel better soon.” Nicole hands her some water.

“What if they poisoned it, should we really
drink or eat anything?” Kayla’s voice is fearful.

Jacob takes and examines the bottle. “The
caps are sealed. They didn’t poison it. They want us alive.
Besides, if they wanted us dead, I don’t think that they would
bother with poison. If we don’t keep up our strength we will not be
prepared for what might happen later or what we might have to
do.”

As she sips slowly, her stomach calms. “Thank
you for covering the blood with the dish, it is much better now
that I can’t really smell it anymore.” She says quietly.

“I told you not to worry, we will be alright
if we just do what we have always been taught and think before we
let things get out of control around us. Can anyone loosen their
remaining shackle?”

The chains clink and bang against the hard
floor before I hear a frustrated humph, which I know is Jacob
before Nicholas’ frustrated tone overshadows the others grunts.
“It’s no use, as old as they are, I can’t break it.”

“Try to work on the ground connection, maybe
we can get that lose.” Jacob replies.

Nicole’s voice sounds extremely frustrated.
“It won’t budge and inch, it has probably been wedged in here for
centuries, why couldn’t it just be rusted through like some of the
other ones.”

“Nicole, it’s alright, we knew it probably
wouldn’t work. Don’t waste all your strength on it. Eat and drink
something. We just have to be patient and wait for our
opportunity.” Jacob replies trying to calm her.

Squeezing Emma’s hand to let her know to send
Damian, I hear Kayla’s excited voice. “Uncle Damian your back!”

BOOK: Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows
10.4Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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