Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows (14 page)

My little angel sits now on my shoulder
screaming into my ear. You can’t give up, your family needs you.
Think. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I know we
drove for a while, but Amelia wouldn’t risk going into the
territory, she must have dropped me on the fringe. If I had only
thought about that before I started moving, maybe I could have at
least backtracked into the wolves’ territory, but then again, maybe
she already convinced the others that I was evil too. I’m on my
own.

Getting on my hands and knees, I don’t know
whose territory I’m heading towards, and can’t risk falling again,
but I have to keep moving. For better or worse, I have to keep
moving forward. Despite knowing death will probably claim me in
this forest of the unknown as the protectionist spell fails
allowing the animals or barbarians to get me, I refuse to invite it
in warmly and hope to at least give death a small run for its
effort.

After what seems like hours, the underbrush
beneath me is clear of upturned roots. The sun is warming the earth
above me and ground beneath me. Lifting my face for a moment, I
relish the sun’s rays and allow it to heat my stiff body. Moving my
hand to the bandage, I’m relieved that it is no longer soaking wet.
Forging forward once again on my knees, I freeze in my tracks as my
hand sweeps over a set of shoes. Too stunned to scream, someone
grabs me and I’m immediately on my feet. It must be them!

“Mia, I’m so sorry.” I recognize the voice
immediately. His words are fast and pleading. “I know it’s no
excuse, but my sister wasn’t thinking, she was only trying to
protect our family. She should not have done what she did, but
please do not cast any spells on her, she really is a good person.
We have been fooled before and she lost both of her children in an
attack.”

“Grant, I have no intention of doing anything
to her. Please believe me when I say, that all I want to do is get
to my family and bring them back together. I have no affiliation to
David or anyone in his family. I couldn’t even figure out how they
learned that Lucas returned until I begged your sister to look at
the picture that was in the paper talking about our helping at the
new hospital wing. I still can’t figure out how they knew he was at
the hotel and why on earth they would think that my children are
his, but either way, everyone I love is in danger, my son is
captured again and now they may know his secrets and who knows what
is happening to him!”

“Mia, I know how fearful you are, I am too. I
went and talked to the elders about this situation, but they refuse
to go up against this family now. My sister tried to convince them
that you were here to destroy us and in league with them. We have
lost so many members of our pack in past altercations with vampires
that are not nearly as strong or barbaric as David. The elders are
afraid to move against them without help. They are sending some of
our members to speak with a strong pack that we know.”

“Did she convince you that I was in league
with them too?”

“No, she could not convince me of that. I
could tell how frightened your children were when they were inside
the dungeon and I know the panic I heard in the woods from your
friends trying to get to them. I wasn’t delayed in finding you
because I was debating whether or not my sister was correct, it
took me so long to find you because I followed a wrong lead of your
sent from when you were here the first time.”

I throw my arms around him. “Thank you for
coming back for me! I was sure that I was going to die.”

He tries to joke. “Hasn’t anyone ever told
you that witches don’t die? You really must be a strong one. I have
never seen anyone touch David before. If we work together maybe we
can save the people we love. I know that you are probably really
upset with our pack, especially after what my sister did to you,
but I hope that doesn’t stop you from considering that our working
together may solve both of our issues. Unfortunately, right now, I
am on my own again with a witch.” He chuckles. “It seems to be my
forte lately.” He chortles. “The elders will not move on this
without assistance and my sister has convinced them to be at least
suspicious of you, so we cannot return there because they would
probably believe that I am bewitched. Although my children assure
me that they will help, I do not want to separate them from the
protection of our pack now. It is not because I am suspicious of
you, but please understand that I cannot risk any more of my family
and they are safest among our kind on our territory.”

“Grant, I know that you may not believe this,
but I am not upset with your sister or your pack. I know the
extremes someone can be driven to because of suspicions and loss.
My family has always fought to try and do the right thing and I
don’t want to hurt anyone. I understand if you want to get back to
your pack. I know I cannot return there, but I am begging you to
please get me to civilization. I may not be able to contact my
family, but there are people that I can trust and that can help me.
I need to save my son before they realize ...” I stop myself.
Although I know Grant returned because he believes me and that his
pack is fighting against them, I remind myself that his children
are hostages and if they are still alive, they could be used to
manipulate him.

“Before they realize what? There is something
more with you and your family isn’t there? It has to do with that
healing thing and transformation that I witnessed, doesn’t it?”

I hate lying to him, but at this juncture,
without the protection of Sanctuary and my family, the less I
reveal might be the better and safer for everyone involved. “Grant,
I’m afraid that they will come to the realization that my son is
not Lucas’ and then they would have no reason to keep him
alive.”

From his hum, he seems to accept my
explanation. “Even if they realize this, I think they will keep him
alive because of what David thinks that he can get from your
son.”

“But that’s just it, my son probably can’t
help him in that, I didn’t lie to your sister when I said that
today is the first time that he transformed. He didn’t even know
how to do it without instruction. You saw how young my son is. I
haven’t been teaching him how to really utilize his powers because
I wanted him to grow up as normal as possible and learn to be good
person first.”

“So you’re telling me that he did that for
the first time today and was that powerful without really knowing
how!” His boisterous response makes me jump.

“Who are you people and how strong are you
really?” His voice is too loud and I shift away from him. Softly,
he inquires, “How did anyone communicate with him? I know they
couldn’t have had a phone or you would have tracked it to find them
right away. What exactly is going on? Who are you in league with
and does this mean more trouble for this area?”

“I am not in league with anyone. I tried to
tell your sister, I came here with my family because my father
received a commendation for a heart transplant surgery that he
performed and to assist my brother-in-law and sister-in-law with
the setting up of a new terminal wing of a hospital that was just
dedicated.”

“I read about that dedication ceremony in the
paper the other day, but someone named Jamison is running
that.”

Relieved that at least he knows about the
hospital dedication, I continue. “He is a friend of Lucas who asked
us for our help. My husband and his family run a hospital in Maine
and they have developed a comprehensive record keeping system. We
were transcribing the records of the transferred patients and
helping Jamison in arranging the records so that the patients could
get the best care in a proven, efficient environment. We did not
come here to start trouble or to get involved with this
family.”

“Regardless of your initial intentions, I’m
afraid you and your family are now directly involved with this
family and once they get involved with you, they do not let you go
until you are destroyed.”

His words tear at my heart. Knowing the way
everyone fears this family, how evil Lucas described them and how
long they have lived, I can’t help but fear that some of their
power comes from the demonic. My blood runs cold as I realize that
they may be communicating with the netherworld and if they are,
they could discover who they have! If those we fear learn that
Jacob is exposed and alone, the only question is whether those who
have him will turn him over to gain power with those we fear or if
a contingent would be sent to take him. Either way, my son will be
in a far worse situation than he is now, they will destroy him. I
have to get him away from them before it’s too late.

If I only had Damian’s abilities, at least I
could send Jacob a message to hide his lineage. I gasp as the
ramifications of Grant’s revelation that three other vampires were
captured hits me. Even if Jacob is smart enough to hide his
parentage if the others are not from our family, would they protect
that information too?

I am unaware Grant is touching me and hears
my thoughts until his outburst tears me from my introspection. “I
knew it, you are powerful, but who is it that you people are afraid
of and could they be coming here?”

Wrenching my arm from Grant’s grip, my tone
is harsher than I intend. “Please stop reading my thoughts. Can
everyone in your pack do that?” Out of all of the creatures with
talents that I had to encounter, it has to be a mind reader.

“Actually, no, it is some side effect from
the original spell that Amanda cast. In the ability to read others
thoughts around me, I am alone. I’m sorry, I didn’t do it
purposefully, it just happens. However, I am right, you are hiding
information, you are more than just what you seem and you have been
hiding your children from someone. Is it because they are even more
powerful than I suspect you of being? I can’t believe that I am
asking or considering this, but are they fiercer than this
family?”

“Grant, understand, you are right in what I
am, I am a witch, but other than that, there is nothing that you
need to know about my background. I assure you that my family and I
are on the side of good just like you, but for their sake, my son’s
sake and even your own safety, I implore you to stop trying to
discover anything further.”

He is silent for what feels like an eternity.
“Fine” He said gruffly, “but you have to promise me something.”

“What?”

“If what you’re trying to hide brings even
more trouble, you will try to protect my children and my pack as
well.”

“I promise you that my family and I always
try to protect those who are aligned with good.”

Silence stretches between us for an
immeasurable moment. My body relaxes as I hear a sigh. He did not
silently retreat, leaving me on my own. His voice is softer now. “I
brought you something. Put out your hand.”

As I do, he places something cold and
circular in my palm. “It’s just water. When I came running after
you, I grabbed my emergency backpack. I have some dehydrated fruits
and granola.”

“Thank you.” I turn the cap and feel the
twist break the little ties on the cap.

When I finish drinking, he hands me a
package. “It’s just some granola and raisins. I figure it may help
you feel better.”

“Thank you. Grant I’m sorry if I seemed
abrupt with you earlier. I really do appreciate you coming for me.
I am not trying to be deceptive. It’s just that your pack is not
the only one who has lost family members to dark forces. My family
and I have also been through some very trying ordeals.”

“You don’t have to say any more. The witch
who helped me couldn’t talk about certain things either. She always
said it was safer for me that way. You have the same tone in your
voice when you speak. I didn’t take offense. It’s just that like
you, all I want to do is protect my family. I don’t want to lose
anyone else.”

“Do you have a telephone on you?”

“Yes, but I don’t think that it would be wise
to try to contact your family if Marlena and whomever took your
son’s place is with them, they will hear your voice and even if you
don’t convince your family that it is you on the telephone, she
will still have my children or those other vampires which they
captured killed as punishment.”

“I wasn’t going to call my family, not yet. I
was going to call the hospital that we were expected to return to
and see if they returned there.”

“If they did return there, Marlena is with
them and when they patch you through, it will be over for
everyone.”

He’s right, I can’t just call. Even if I
asked them not to patch me through, there is a chance they could
pass the message that someone called to see if they returned.
Knowing Marlena could have only survived this long by being the
suspicious type, she would know immediately who called.”

As I consider her suspicions, I gasp at the
realization that my being in trouble could raise Andrew’s
suspicions if the protectionist spell I cast so many years ago is
still working. Would his seeing her next to him cause him to dispel
such feelings or images? Before I can contemplate this further, my
heart seizes as I realize she will be with Gabriel too. As Grant
just read my thoughts, Gabriel can read hers, if he hasn’t already.
If he goes after…alternative outcomes flash violently before me,
each one leading to a grave outcome for someone I love.

The situation is getting graver by the minute
with every road leading to someone’s impending demise. I have to
risk trying to get in contact with Gabriel before he exposes what
is going on. “Grant, I need you to make a call for me now, the
safety of all of our children depends upon you getting in contact
with my brother-in-law, Gabriel.”

“Is he with the rest of your family?”