Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Nightmare Of The Dark Shadows (42 page)

“I don’t know how it happened.”

Before I can even finish, Andrew is by my
side. “Mia, Lucas is asking for you.”

I turn to Jeff. “Excuse me.” Lucas is hooked
up to an EKG machine which registers a heartbeat. I step closer to
Lucas. “How do you feel?”

“Shocked” He is holding Catherine’s hand,
stroking it with his thumb. “Thank you for saving me. I could feel
the bite extinguishing my existence.”

I’m speechless knowing what is happening
now.

He leans toward me, hugging me. “Thank you. I
was not ready to leave this existence and Catherine.”

“Is there anything that I can do for
you?”

“Yes, you can get Nicholas and Kayla and
bring them here. I’ll have them shut off the machine.” His eyes
shift to the EKG. “I want to let them know myself that I am doing
much better.”

“We’ll get them and be back.” Jeff is gone.
As we walk across the courtyard, Andrew brings me closer to his
side and I can tell his eyes are scanning the surrounding area.

“You don’t think they would come here do
you?”

“Considering what we just endured because of
David, their atrocities know no bounds so we can’t discount that
possibility. We don’t even know how many there are. We have
Marlena, they probably don’t know Alexander is dead, and they did
get to Amelia and manipulated her into biting Lucas. I don’t know
how much they know of what went on down there or your involvement
in David’s demise, but I’m not taking any chances. I don’t want you
or the children walking around here without one of us.”

Forgetting that Amanda and Cecil are in our
suite, I am caught off guard when I hear Kayla. “I don’t feel any
different.”

An unfamiliar voice responds. “You won’t feel
different but now with practice you can control your transformation
so that you are no longer a prisoner to involuntary phasing when
there is a full moon.”

“Does that mean I can force myself to never
transform again, if I don’t...”

As we enter, Kayla stops talking. She and the
other children fly at us. “Your back, are you o.k.? Charlie told us
you got bit again.” Kayla grabs my arm.

“We are fine and so is Uncle Lucas, in fact,
we came to get you. He’s asking to see you.”

“Is he going to be alright?” Jacob inquires,
his voice filled with excitement and hope.

Andrew responds carefully considering we
don’t have the answers. “The bite is healed and he is anxious to
see you.”

They run to the door, but then Nicholas turns
around and addresses Amanda. “I’m sorry, do you mind if we go? I
know you came a long way to help us, it’s just that we’re so
worried about our uncle, we’ll come right back, we just need to see
he’s alright for ourselves.”

“It‘s fine, go and see him. I will be here
when you return and Kayla, in answer to your question, you won’t
have to turn ever again if you don’t want to.”

Going over to her, I extend my hand. “It’s so
nice of you to come all this way. Thank you so much. I can’t tell
you how much we appreciate it. I’m sorry to take them away so quick
and have you wait, it’s just that...”

“Please go and see Lucas, I will still be
here when you return and then you can tell me how you brought David
down. I have been trying to do that for centuries.”

“We won’t be long.”

“Take your time.” She smiles, but looks
preoccupied. Staring at her, it’s strange but as she smiles, her
face looks familiar, but I can’t place why.

Heading into Lucas’ room, the EKG is turned
off and he looks much better, but Catherine’s eyes are still
fixated on him and she appears concerned. The children jump toward
Lucas. They are happy and relieved. Catherine backs away as they
climb on his bed and I touch her hand, whispering. “Can we go into
the hall?”

She shoots a glance at Lucas and we move
outside.

Moving over to a bench, I take her hands.
“Catherine, I know that you are afraid for him, but you look like
you are about to fall apart. Is there anything that I can do for
you?”

“You saved him and gave him more time, I’m
just afraid of what will happen. Mia, is it really possible that he
could be human? I know that all the signs seem to indicate a human
physiology. He even gave himself a paper cut to see if it would
bleed and it did, but is it truly possible?”

“I don’t know, it seems like it is, but I’m
not sure how.”

Her features reveal she is deep in thought.
“Catherine what’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry a selfish thought just crossed my
mind. It’s nothing.”

“What is it? I wouldn’t push, but your
features look as if whatever you are considering is
devastating.”

“I’m happy for him, he has a second chance at
life, that is what some of our kind have been searching for since
their conversion, but if he is human, our time together is very
limited. I feel as if I just found him, I can’t believe how soon I
will have to let him go, but considering how soon I thought I would
have to let him go, I…” She sighs and looks as if she would cry if
it were possible. Her eyes shift to the floor. “I’m sorry. That
sounded so selfish. I am happy for him, especially if that makes
him happy. I just hate the idea of losing him.” She takes in a
deep, calming breath and then squeezes my hand. “Mia, promise me
that you won’t even tell Andrew what I told you, I know it is
terrible and I shouldn’t be thinking this way. I just...”

Pulling her into a hug, I feel her anxiety
and know I would feel the same way if it were Andrew. “It may not
come to that. We don’t know what will happen.”

“Mia, there isn’t a trace of venom in him
anymore.”

“Let’s give it a few days. You know that
things always seem to work out the way they should in the end. I’m
sure that we can think of something and there are options each of
you can consider.”

She shakes her head slightly. “I could never
ask him to choose this existence for me again. Mia, even though we
band together and some of us have made peace with what we are, it
is only because it was foisted upon us and the alternative is
intolerable. I would never ask him to throw away his miracle for
me.” She straightens herself up. “I will just make the best of the
time that we have together and the memories of what we share will
sustain me. Mia, please don’t speak to anyone about this. I can’t
ruin his happiness.”

“I promise, but I do think that you should
consider being honest about your feelings with him.”

“I’ll think about what you said.” Despite her
words, her features reveal she could never speak to him about it.
“If you don’t mind, I think we should get back in there.”

Lucas and the children look so happy. They
kiss him and scramble off the bed. “We’ll see you later.” Nicole
waves.

Andrew goes up to Catherine, squeezes her
hand and whispers something that I cannot hear. Crossing the
courtyard, we pass several of our family and our friends forming
groups to search the woods. Andrew stops in front of Gabriel. Give
me one moment and I will join you.

Upstairs, he kisses us good-bye. “Mia,
remember, don’t leave here. I’ll be back soon.” Then he is
gone.

Entering our suite, Cecil is gone, but Amanda
is waiting in our suite. “I hope that you don’t mind. Cecil left
with one of the search parties.”

“Are you kidding, I don’t mind at all. Can I
get you anything to eat or drink?”

“A cup of tea would be wonderful.”

Nicole follows me into the kitchen. Is uncle
Lucas really going to be alright?”

“He seems to be doing much better and it
looks like the werewolf bite healed nicely.”

“Mom, please don’t do that.”

“Do what?” I turn to face her.

“You and dad are beating around the bush and
answering our questions very carefully. I could hear his heart
beating. I know that something is going on.”

I turn around. “Sweetie, we are not beating
around the bush, we know that he is doing much better than he was
when the werewolf bite had taken hold of him. I won’t lie to you,
his heart is beating now.”

“So is he like us now, part vampire and
because of the bite, part wolf?” Her features reveal her surprise
at this thought.

“Honey, we are not really sure what is going
on. He may not be vampire at all anymore and he may have returned
to his human state, but we can’t say anything for sure right now
that is why we are careful with our answers. We don’t want to say
anything that wouldn’t be true. That’s all.” She stifles a yawn.
They must still all be exhausted from the past several days and the
uneasy sleeps.

As the tea is boiling, I pop popcorn and
place it in a bowl. “Why don’t you take this out to the others and
enjoy a nice relaxing movie.”

I hear the quick shuffling of feet in the
other room as I take out the tea and a sandwich for Amanda. Placing
it on the table, there is a knock and I let in Paul, Julianne and
Charlie. “I was wondering how Kayla was doing now that she saw her
uncle.” Charlie inquires.

“She is doing much better, but I’m sure she
would be happy to see you. They are just in the other room.”

As they pass, Amanda puts her hand on
Charlie’s arm. “Charlie, let Kayla know how much better it is for
you know that you know how to control your phasing and how it gets
much easier. She still fears what happens and I would hate to see
her never phase again because of fear. I have a feeling that she
could be as strong as you one day if she can move past her fear,
she definitely has the potential.”

“I will, she’s just afraid of hurting people
she loves, but I’ll talk to her.”

Sitting by Amanda “Thank you so much for
coming when Cecil asked you, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate
it.”

“I was happy to come, especially when Cecil
told me what you did to David.”

Looking into her face, I see the devastation
in her features as she utters his name. “Did he hurt someone you
loved?”

“He destroyed someone who was very important
to me and ripped my family apart.” She states bitterly. He is the
reason I was so desperate to help the wolves gain an advantage over
their transformations. I was always hoping that they would use
their ability to wipe out David and his coven, but they never did.
Grant tried several times, but his pack never got behind him so
David’s coven grew too strong, spread out to several continents,
and I just am not strong enough or brave enough to try to eliminate
him myself after escaping from him.” She clears her throat. “Cecil
was telling me that you are a very strong witch. Tell me, why have
I never come across you?” It’s strange, not only is there something
familiar about her, but the way she stares at me when she talks
makes me feel as if she’s assessing me and committing everything I
say to memory.

“I don’t travel. I didn’t find out I even had
potential until I came here. Since that time, I have been raising
my children.”

“You have a beautiful family. Your children
are very close and very supportive of each other. I understand
because of your circumstances why Kayla is so worried, but you
should foster her powers as a wolf, she and Nicholas are going to
be very powerful wolves because of their other talent and will be
able to achieve great things as long as they embrace both their
gifts. Embracing their werewolf side will not put them at odds with
Nicole or Jacob because of what they are. Your children will do
fine because they have a strong moral fiber and desire to do the
right thing, don’t hold them back because you fought what you are
for so long and lost your own sense of self. I know that you say
that you haven’t really used your powers and I know you want your
children to grow up as normal as possible, but you and your
children are not normal. By hampering their growth in this world,
you are limiting not only your ability, but theirs as well. Now is
the time for all of you to come to terms with and experience who
you really are and embrace all that you can do.”

Her candor surprises me. “Amanda, I
appreciate what you are doing for my children, but you don’t know
me so why would you say these things.”

“I have seen you in my visions and your
children. I knew I would be coming here to help you before you even
knew you would have children, before Katrina was even a twinkle in
your mother’s eyes. I have the gift of sight and you can tell
Catherine not to worry, everything is going to work out as is
should; she and Lucas will not be separated.”

I feel my mouth fall open and fight to close
it again. “I don’t understand.”

“You can tell her that her concerns will not
come to fruition but you and...” She stops. I’m sorry, I know
better. “The St. Clouds have done a wonderful job with this
facility. I can’t believe how many they have helped. This is a
wonderful teaching ground for the children. You should really try
to keep Grant and his family on, they could be invaluable to
teaching Kayla and Nicholas, and it will make it easier for Charlie
and Kayla.”

Trying to keep the exasperation out of my
voice, I speak slowly, deliberately. “Make what easier. You are
speaking very cryptically.”

“I’m sorry I tend to go off some times. I
really should be able to control myself better after so many
centuries. The ability to see another’s future path comes with the
burden of not being able to share it with them because their
knowing could change the course of events and sometimes not for the
better. But tell me, do you know what it is about you that allowed
your blood to kill David?”

“No, I don’t know. All we know for sure is
that after Marlena and David bit me, I did not transform into a
vampire and their hearts started beating, but I’m sure with your
gift you know that.”