Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows (25 page)

We finally stop near a cottage with an
abundant field. Reginald moves slowly now, finally stopping before
a man crouched over tomato plants. Falling to his knees, Reginald
is at eye level with David. As David turns toward him, I see tomato
juice dripping from his mouth. I cannot make sense of the scene
before me. Vampires do not eat and Reginald is extending a shaking
hand out to touch David whose eyes dart between Reginald and our
group wildly. He looks as if he has aged a century. He is a frail
and withering shadow of the man who is aging before our eyes, but I
know without a doubt that it is David.

As the darkness from his black eyes fade,
turning them blue, his voice is a shattered echo. “How is this
possible?” Thinking he means what is happening to him, I nearly
sink to the floor hearing what he says next.

“I should have known brother that one of
yours would be the downfall to this existence. I heard the rumors
of you fighting our kind and all that you accomplished. I guess it
was all true. But tell me, how? Grant me this one last wish
brother. How did she make me human again?”

If Andrew wasn’t holding me up, I would once
again be acquainted with the cold, unwelcoming ground. Reginald
appears frozen for what seems like hours, but I know is only
moments. “Why? I don’t understand, I thought you were dead. How
could you turn into this? How could you do this Sebastian?”

His eyes turn back to black and his tone
turns cold, maybe even maniacal. “Balance brother, for everyone
good, there must be someone evil. The day we were ambushed you
continued on a good path and I converted into a vessel for hell.”
Holding the tomato to his lips, he bites it once more. “I forgot
how wonderful food could be.” Before even swallowing, he is gone.
Reginald is immobilized for the longest time then finally turns to
us. “Quick, someone get a container with a cover.”

A moment later, someone returns with a jug.
Reginald’s nail grazes David’s arm opening a vein. Placing David’s
arm over the opening, he collects David’s blood before handing the
container to Cecil. “Keep it cold, it may give us answers.”

Lifting David’s body, he moves forward. “We
need to leave.”

We travel in silence. Andrew carries me, but
appears as stunned as the rest of us. As reason returns to me, the
realization that the danger is not over hits me. “We have to
contact the others, if they try to reach David or if the ones who
were in the estate contact them, they will kill Nicole.”

One of Reginald’s party hands Gabriel a cell
phone. He speaks softly. “Ryan it’s Gabriel have them capture Mia
and Jacob, we are all fine. Call me back at...” Eva almost crashes
into him as he halts. “What happened, say it again.”

My blood runs cold as Andrew and the others
stop.

“Are you absolutely sure? I’ll call you back
shortly.”

Andrew turns to Gabriel. “What’s going
on?”

“The one who was Jacob has been destroyed. He
tried to attack the others when their Mia began screaming that it
had to be a trick and demanded to know what they did to her.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The one who was Mia keeled over in pain and
Ryan says her heart is beating. She is being well guarded, but they
can’t understand what is going on. They think it is some kind of a
trick.”

“Where is Nicole? Is she safe?” I ask
panicked.

“She is fine. When that Jacob began to lose
control, Catherine got Nicole out of there. She is on her way back
to Sanctuary with your children, Emma. Victor wanted them off the
grounds as well. Relief registers in her eyes and we being moving
forward again.

We’re back in the woods and have covered
about half a mile when angry growls rip through the trees as
menacing wolves surround us about to attack. One bursts through the
tees, transforming and running towards our party. Paul and Julianne
run towards him, throwing themselves at him and hugging him
fiercely. Putting me down, Andrew slips me behind him. Standing
stalk still, some of the others slowly transform, coming out from
behind the trees to join us. A woman moves towards Reginald, her
nostrils flair before her facial features freeze.

After a moment, she moves closer, inhaling
deeply. Her eyes scan David and then focus on Reginald. “Is this
him?” The surprise in her voice is unmistakable.

“Yes.” He responds quietly.

Her eyes tear away from his as she grabs
David’s arm. “Is this some type of a trick to get us to leave?” She
retorts coldly.

“This is no trick. Feel free to search the
grounds, you will not find the one you are looking for because this
is him, but be advised, there were still three in the estate when
we left and I don’t know if the ones who had run off will
return.”

Her eyes scan David once more before she
grabs his other arm, slits his skin and brings the open wound up to
her nose. Dropping it, she jumps back.

A man comes behind her, putting his hand on
her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

She turns to him, disbelief evident in her
features as he enfolds her in an embrace. Her voice is soft, but
audible. “It’s his scent, I can smell it in the blood, but that’s
impossible.”

The man steps before her, shielding her, the
way Andrew is shielding me, his eyes cold and fierce. He motions
for the others with them to back off. “What are you people?”

I pull myself around Andrew, who holds me
close to his side. “We are just a family who wants to go home and
these are our friends who helped save my son and some of your
own.”

The man who was hugging his children moves
toward me. “I’m glad that you are alright. My children told me that
you negotiated their freedom. Thank you.” He hugs me.

“Thank you for coming back for me when you
did. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. He glances at Andrew.
“Grant, this is my husband, Andrew.”

Andrew releases me and they shake hands.
“Thank you for all you did to help Mia.”

Elizabeth moves closer to us finally. “Grant
it looks as if we are done here now that David is dead. I think it
is best if we leave here. Although the others are nothing without
him, I have some men in need of medical attention and do not want
to risk encountering any problems.”

Andrew interjects. “If you accompany us back
to the hospital, I’m sure that we could treat your men.”

Her features reveal her shock. “You’re
physicians?”

“Yes we were working at a local hospital here
with Lucas before this all started.”

Her eyes light up. “Is he at the hospital
now?”

“No, he returned to the states to fool the
woman pretending to be my wife into thinking we lived on a
farm.”

“How is he doing? Is he happy?”

“I hope so. He’s married to my sister.” He
laughs. “He is also a doctor and has been working with us
intermittently over the centuries at a hospital we established in
Maine and has now settled there.”

“When you see him could you let him know that
I could never thank him enough for saving me that night and that I
didn’t stay with Florence because I was ungrateful for all he did,
I just desperately missed my mother and it was comfortable with
her. I heard him return one night, in fact I saw him, but I wasn’t
ready to leave the possibility of feeling safe with a family
instead of hiding out waiting to be caught by someone.” She sounds
wistful.

Andrew’s features soften. “Elizabeth, Lucas
wanted you to stay with Florence. He understood completely and knew
that he could never give you a normal life. All he ever wanted for
you was to be safe and happy. I’m sure that he would love to hear
from you. When we return, we could get your men healed and ready to
travel back home and give him a call.”

Traveling back, I didn’t realize Andrew
dialed Jacob. “Jacob it’s dad we have mom and everything is
alright. I’ll put her on.”

“Jacob, are you alright?”

“I am now that you are out of that awful
place too. Mom I can’t believe you came for me when you couldn’t
see.”

“Honey, I would come for you anywhere and in
any condition. I’m just so glad that you are safe.”

“Mom, I just spoke to Nicole, she is fine
too. She arrived at Sanctuary a few minutes ago and already saw
Nicholas and Kayla. Where are you?”

“We are leaving the estate and heading toward
the hospital, some people who came to help us got hurt. Are you
there?”

“No, I’m at St. Stevens with Uncle Jackson.
They didn’t want to return to the hospital, they didn’t think it
was a good idea. Is Uncle Gabriel, Aunt Eva and Emma alright or did
they get hurt?”

“They are fine. Some of the people who came
to help us from around here got hurt. I will be there as soon as I
can. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I am, but I’m really sorry you got hurt mom.
Do you think you will ever be able to see again?” His voice betrays
how upset he is thinking I’m hurt.

“Jacob, I can already see again. You are
amazing. I could...” I stop knowing it is not wise to reveal
anything to those surrounding them, despite all of their help.

“Mom, are you alright?”

“Yes, we are traveling back with the others.
I will see you soon. I love you.”

“I love you too. Mom, hold on, uncle Jackson
wants to talk to you.”

Knowing he wants to speak with Eva, I hand
her the telephone. The cars come into view as she hangs up.

We travel back with Eva, Gabriel, Emma and
Reginald. Andrew cradles me in his lap as Gabriel drives. Emma is
on the telephone with Victor. As my head lay on Andrew’s shoulder,
I drift in and out of sleep. Reginald’s hand moves to my shoulder
and he is asking me what happened between me and David, but Andrew
interjects. “Why don’t we wait on that and give her some time to
recuperate.”

The car stops before the hospital. Andrew
lifts me out. “I can walk. I’m fine, really.”

“We need to get fluids in you. I’m not sure
what is going on or why you haven’t transformed, but you have two
bites on you and while you were sleeping, I spoke with Reginald,
his transformation was not delayed.”

“Andrew, I feel fine, really. Is Jacob on his
way?”

“Yes he is returning with Jackson and Grant’s
children. They should be here soon. In the meantime, I need to get
you settled and help the others.”

“Where’s Reginald?”

“He took Sebastian’s body to the morgue.
James wants him to extract certain organs and prepare the body in a
certain way to assist him in his research.” His tone reveals his
continued surprise. “Mia, I heard his heart beating and could
easily smell the fresh blood as Reginald extracted it into the
jug.”

“I don’t understand. I thought he was a
vampire.”

“He was. He was turned over three millennia
with Reginald. He was Reginald’s older brother. They were attacked
one evening, Reginald witnessed his conversion and they were
together for a few hundred years before Reginald thought Sebastian
had been destroyed in an ambush.”

“But if you heard a heartbeat, how could he
be a vampire? Could he have just been some sort of demon?”

I don’t think so. When we found him, I heard
him inquire how you made him human. He and Marlena both accused you
of doing something to them to convert them back.”

“But I didn’t do anything. I couldn’t even
think of a spell to cast other than the repellant spell and witches
use that on vampires all the time.”

Placing me on a bed in the room, Andrew is
hooking up IV solutions when Gabriel enters. “Andrew, we have a
problem.” His grave features concern me.

“Is it the kids?” I ask as my heart rate
spikes.

“No, it’s Jamison. He was very surprised to
see us arrive back here. At first, I thought it was because we had
so many in need of help, but then he became very nervous.”

Andrew interrupts. “I know when you’re
beating around the bush. What are you afraid to tell me?”

“Andrew you need to stay calm and remember he
is human.” As Gabriel stares at Andrew, it clicks. I grab Andrew’s
hands knowing what Gabriel is about to reveal. Reading my fear,
Gabriel puts his hands on Andrew’s shoulders, bolting him to the
floor.

“What is it?”

“Jamison is the one who told David, I mean
Sebastian’s family where to find Lucas and the kids.”

The guttural growl tearing up Andrew’s chest
frightens me. As much as I understand what he is feeling and what
he wants to do, I fear for those in the hospital and, in truth, for
Andrew if he takes revenge. “Andrew, please stop. There are others
here.”

Fury blazes in his eyes just before he closes
them. When he finally opens them, they are filled with confusion.
“Why would he do that?”

“The ones who grabbed the children came to
him after seeing a picture of the dedication and offered him
immortality to tell them about Lucas and where he was.”

“But they’re children. Why would he do
that?”

“I don’t think he knew what was going to
happen honestly.”

“Is Reginald done preparing the body for
transport?”

“He should be done shortly.”

“Take Jamison down to him and have Reginald
make him forget about those two and what happened. I need to help
some of the others. Margarite and Charlie are hurt pretty bad.
Someone told me a wolf named Amelia is critical. I don’t want to
risk running into Jamison while I’m here and we can’t leave with
him knowing of our kind.”

Gabriel nods and is out the door.

Andrew turns back to me. “Will you be alright
if I leave for a few minutes?”

“I’m fine go see what you can do to help the
others. I want to call the children anyway.”

He kisses me gently and hands me my telephone
before departing.

I speak with Nicole, Nicholas and Kayla.
Thankfully they are all feeling better physically, but I could hear
the change in their voices and know that the repercussions of this
terrible event have forever changed them. I always knew that this
day would come when they would have to deal with the dark side of
the surreal, but wished it would have been when they were much
older. Although we can help them, this course of events opened my
eyes. I only hope that Reginald will not be too preoccupied with
this new mystery to return with us and teach the children
everything he knows. Either way, I need to ensure that they feel
empowered and ready for any future challenges. Closing my eyes, I
know that this time, someone was watching over them and offer a
little prayer of thanks for His bringing them home.