Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows (22 page)

As I begin walking, the car’s engine revs and
it speeds away. Stumbling over the undergrowth, I fall a few times,
before calling out David’s name. I count another three hundred
feet, then hit an immovable stone and know that I am flush against
one of them.

Their hands clasp my shoulders. Lifting me
from the ground, we are traveling quickly. A gruff, young’s man’s
voice cuts through the blustery wind. “I told you I smelled her
blood and thought I heard her breathing after Marlena left her for
dead. You owe me an extra body in the next hunt.”

“Who brought you to us?”

“The wolves followed your orders so you have
no reason to attack them anymore.”

“Did you contact your family?” He inquires
and I can hear the threat in his voice.

“They wouldn’t let me even have a telephone.
They followed your orders to the letter so let the children that
belong to them go. They will have no more involvement in this if
you return their young ones.”

The next thing I know I’m flying through the
air and hit the ground with the thud. “You don’t tell us what to
do!”

Unbearable pain radiates throughout my
breaking body, spiking my already palpitating heart and pushing
inflamed blood into every crevice of my being making me feel as if
I will combust.

A panicked voice pierces through my pain.
“Stop! David said if she was alive to bring her back that way. He
wants to see if she can tell him about the boy or if he can use her
to get his answers.”

“Couldn’t we just say they dropped her body
off and that she was dead?”

“You know how good he is with knowing how
long a body has been cold.”

“Yes, but she is already cold since they bit
her so what is another dead vampire.”

I feel their presence as they move right next
to me, neither saying a word for what feels like forever. I can’t
understand their hesitation, especially if they think I’m a
vampire, I wonder why I haven’t felt the flame of a lit match.
Finally, and angry voice pulls me from my frozen state. “How did
you not know this is an imposter? If we brought her back to David,
he would kill us. Kill her now! I’ll tell David the wolves didn’t
comply and to kill their children. We need to prepare for an attack
and if she is there we have to find her before she interferes with
the plan to take out Lucas’ children. I heard Marlena call him and
say they are just waiting for the arrival of the rest of his
family.”

“Stop, please I am the one the David is
waiting for. The wolves did comply, the young one said he heard my
breathing after Marlena bit me, I’m sure he smelled my scent. It
hasn’t changed. Please, just take me to David. I’m sure that he
will know it’s me.”

The older one retorts angrily. “Do you really
think that we have been around this long because we can be fooled
so easily? I can hear your heart beating. If I take you back to
David, he’ll kill me. I’m sure that was your plan, have more of us
being taken out by our own. You must be with the pack. Do you
really think that you will be able to attack us? We took out your
scouting party and we will take you out as well.”

“I am the one David is looking for. I can
show you the bite!” Tearing at my neck, I remove the bandage.
“Please, no one else has to die! The wolves complied and I haven’t
been able to contact anyone. In fact, when David thrust me against
a tree, he made me blind. I can’t even see you. Please just turn me
over. He’ll probably reward you. Maybe it is another power you are
unaware of that stopped my transformation.” I bate. “I do have some
interesting powers; just try this one on for size.” I flick my
wrist and from the crash know I send one flying.

My head spins and I feel faint, hanging on
the precipice, knowing that if I tip the wrong way, the ones I love
can die. “It does smell like her and that is definitely where
Marlena bit the woman. She also looks like her.” The uncertainty of
the younger’s voice halts my teetering, but will their decision
pull me from the edge?

“You know what he will do to us if we are
wrong.” He retorts angrily.

“I do, but she does look like the woman and
her son did transform. What if she is telling the truth and Lucas’
whole family is somehow special and she survived the bite. David
will definitely want to know how she did that and what else she can
do. Just think about how he would reward us for a find like this.
Maybe he would let us hunt a whole family. Because of everything
that went wrong, I didn’t get my fill and I am still hungry.” The
longing in his voice makes me ill.

“In truth, so am I. Are you sure it smells
like her? What if they did a trick like Marlena, he is in no mood
for any more mistakes.”

“I don’t think they would because we do have
her son. I think it is the woman and just think of the gift that we
could give David, maybe it would calm him down. He’s pretty upset
and you know if the boy doesn’t give him the answers, he is going
to take out his frustration first on us in hopes of preserving and
cracking those in the dungeon.”

“Alright, but if it is a trick, I’m going to
tell him you forced me to take her.”

His gruff sigh tells me he is right on top of
me. “Fine, but if I’m right, I get the first kill.”

“Deal”

Jerking me from the hard ground we are
traveling at lightning speed. He pushes a door and we are through
before it slams shut. I fight to calm my hyperactive heart as I’m
thrust blindly into the unknown. I must keep calm and think of a
way to get them to take me to Jacob. A woman’s shrill pulls me from
my thoughts. “I see the wolves complied.”

“Where’s David?”

“I’m not sure. He flew out of here when the
scouting party was discovered and hasn’t returned. Throw her in the
dungeon with the others and find him. Maybe knowing that the wolves
complied will put him in a better mood. Be careful, he is very
aggravated with the lack of answers and having to wait for Lucas’
other children to return. You know how much he hates being
separated from Marlena.”

“Well we found another distraction for him.
This is the woman they bit, but she didn’t transform, she must be
special and probably the reason her son is special. She may be more
willing to talk than the boy, because although she is special, she
appears to have human physiology that can be damaged easily.” The
menace in his voice alerts me that he has plans and is looking
forward to testing my limits, but as long as he throws me in the
dungeon first and I can get Jacob out, I’ll endure it all. I only
hope I last long enough to give the others time to escape.

“This could give him a very interesting
distraction. Maybe we can even watch him tear her apart. Throw her
in the dungeon, Shawn and William are on guard, she won’t get past
them and find David the sooner he gets in a better mood, the better
for all of us.”

I can’t believe my luck, if they throw me in
without chaining me, I can get to Jacob quickly and get him out.
With the delay in taking me here, Andrew must be overhead by now.
He can grab Jacob as soon as he’s clear and have Damian appear in
the cage to fool David when he comes for me.

Taking in a deep breath, I need to ready
myself, move past my fears. Once Jacob is free, it will be better
and if I can find a way to occupy David long enough with my
supposed talent, the others can escape. Someone grasps my collar,
pulling me, grabbing my neck, I struggle to loosen my collar which
now feels like a noose around my neck as my legs crash against the
long flight of stairs.

My heart races with joy as I hear the door
creek and they toss me inside. My face crashes against the floor
and I hear someone gasp, but scramble to my knees as I hear a gruff
voice.

“Lock the door. We’ll be back with David
shortly.”

Moving to I don’t know where as the footsteps
retreat, I hear the voice I long for.

“Mom”

My head whips toward his sound. “Jacob where
are you? Keep talking.”

“Mom, what happened, how did they get
you?”

Moving toward his panicked voice, I finally
feel the bars. Reaching in, he throws his arms around me. “Jacob,
are you hurt?”

“No, I’m alright.”

Hugging him tightly, I whisper as shackles
hit the ground around me. The others are making noise to mask our
conversation. “Jacob, listen to me, your father is probably flying
overhead now and is waiting for you. Everyone is safe, but you need
to leave here before David returns. You need to transform into the
mouse again and get out of here. Once you are out, uncle Damian
will project himself in the cage and we can make his energy look
like you so it will look like you are still here. We will follow
shortly, but you need to leave now!”

Mom, the transformation makes me very weak
when I come out of it, what if I come out of it before I reach dad
and the others are around, they could kill me?”

I didn’t realize that the transformations
make them weak and wonder if that is why Gabriel or Eva did not
transform and try to get him out before because then they could not
help the others. Taking a deep breath, I make my voice sound
confident, even though this new information spikes my fear.
“Everything will be fine and your father will make sure that
nothing happens to you. You don’t need to transform out of the
mouse state until you are safely off of the grounds. Your father
can fly with you in his mouth, so don’t worry, everything will be
fine and you will be safe.” I hold him tighter, knowing that if he
goes, he will be safe and that this will probably be my good-bye to
him. “He is waiting for you so I need you to transform. Can you do
that for me now? We don’t have a lot of time, they are looking for
David now.”

“Mom, I’m afraid, what if they catch me?”

“They won’t your father will protect you, you
know that.”

“I know he will, but what about you, I can’t
leave you and everyone here. If they discover I’m gone, they’ll
kill you.”

“Jacob, please, no one here will get killed
and your father is flying as an eagle overhead. As soon as you
clear the window start running and he will come down and get you, I
promise you will be fine.” I feel for his face, stroking his cheek.
“Jacob I need you to leave so that we can fight David and the
others. We have friends coming our way to help us, but you need to
leave before they realize who you are. Jacob, please do this for me
now so that I can fight without distraction.”

“Mom, why aren’t you looking at me? What’s
wrong?”

“Jacob, it’s alright, we can talk about that
later. Right now, you need to go.”

“Mom, you can’t see me, can you?”

His tone tells me that lying to him won’t do
me any good and that it is not the last thing I want him
remembering about me. “Sweetie, it’s alright, I got hurt and my
vision is impaired, but I’m sure it will come back soon. Don’t
worry about that now. Do what I told you, please.” Hugging him one
last time, his arms move from my back to my head. The most soothing
heat emanates from his hands. It is the strangest sensation,
passing through my bones. I can feel it reaching my very cells.

“Jacob, transform now. Dad is waiting and so
is uncle Damian. Go quickly so he can take your place. I love you
and will see you soon.”

After an all too short moment, his hands are
gone and I can feel his retreat. Relief blossoms in my heart
knowing that despite the risk, once he makes it out the window,
Andrew will not let anything happen to him. I quietly call to
Emma.

“Mia, turn around on your knees. I am almost
directly behind you.” She whispers.

Turning, I crawl toward her as the vampires
outside yell “Stop the racket.”

They stop immediately. We don’t want them in
before Damian arrives. Stretching, I feel Emma’s hair. Placing my
lips close to her ear, I tell her about Damian’s appearance and
Reginald’s instructions to keep the image strong and solid to fool
David if Damian is unable to do it on his own. Knowing Gabriel and
Eva can hear, I tell her the others are coming.

I need to get to Julianne and Paul to let
them know that their father survived and is on his way. “Julianne”
I called out.

“I’m here. Who are you?”

“Keep talking.” As I get closer, she shuffles
her feet. “Your father is alive and coming back for you, he is
working with Elizabeth, just hold on. Don’t do anything to get them
angry. I am going to try to distract David.

“What about my mother, did she make it
back?”

Not wanting to upset her when she needs to
focus and avoid inciting them, I can’t say too much. “Your father
rescued me and then was isolated because the pack was nervous that
they may have been fooled into taking someone in who is in league
with David, so I don’t really know what happened to your
family.”

“Mia, he’s here.”

I scoot backwards to be near the cage again
and hear Julianne gasp and then whisper to Paul. “That’s not
possible.”

“It must be, you see him too.”

“We have him.” Heat from my elation warms my
being and a genuine smile threatens to split my face in two. No
matter what else happens, my children will be safe. Hearing the
distant voices, I shut down, if they look in, they must see fear
and desperation, I still need to give the others an opportunity to
escape.

The voices are closer. “You fools, just
because she is a witch that doesn’t mean she could survive a bite.
Marlena and I were very powerful witches before we changed. She has
to be an imposter.”

The door hits the wall. Instantaneously, the
cage screeches across the floor, crashing into another.

Gabriel yells. “You’re going to kill him.
Stop!” I scream out Jacob’s name hoping to help in the charade.

David grabs the back of my hair, pulling me
to my feet. His nose skims my neck near the wound as he inhales
deeply. “The scent is the same and she does look like the woman I
changed Marlena into.”