“No, no. Leilanie will get her due…in due time. I want you to find the girls and bring them back to me. They’re in Hawaii. You’ll go there safely now, as no one will recognize you. To make your cover more believable, I’m sending two women from my coven here in France with you. They already know my children were stolen and are thrilled to help me get them back. They’re very upset my children were taken from me, the lonesome father.
“Besides getting a free vacation in Hawaii, they will help you. Their presence will disarm anyone who believes you might be a suspicious character.”
Samson gave out a little cackle of understanding. He took out his notebook and wrote two words: Rod Nakamura?
“Yes. You will take care of that matter first. Then get the kids and bring them home.”
Marching orders intact, Samson nodded. He was ready to go.
“One more thing. No more looking in windows at women down in the village. We don’t want you picked up by the police as a Peeping-Tom. They would send you to jail before you could even get to Hawaii.”
Again, Samson nodded.
Omar was satisfied. Samson was loyal. He would never disobey a direct order.
Omar went up to the top room of his chateau where he did his best supernatural magic. It was almost like he was at the pinnacle of the world, with the wraparound view from all the windows providing a spectacular sight of the countryside on one side, the ocean on the other.
He had brought a detailed map of Hawaii with him. He placed it on the table in the middle of the room. Then he used a key to open a big and very old oak treasure box where he stored his most useful and sacred implements for Magick.
He took out the huge crystal ball, a scepter or wand, a scimitar-like dagger, and a long chain from the box and placed them on the table beside the map.
The most powerful spells always required blood, at least the sorcery that was considered black magic. Omar didn’t have a victim for this ritual so he had to use his own. He closed his eyes, wincing, and used the scimitar to make a gash in the center of his left hand. Then he made a fist, forcing out blood, holding his left fist over the crystal ball.
As his blood hit the crystal ball, a dark mist exploded, and there was a soft hissing noise, just like this magic ball was supposed to react to a blood sacrifice. He whispered out loud the name, Leilanie, and peered into the crystal. She was there! It was like a hologram of her face and body, but the image wavered and, after a few seconds, it was gone.
Omar sighed. It was okay. She was a long way from his location, but at least the crystal ball identified the one he was searching for.
Omar closed his eyes and concentrated. He wanted Leilanie, her location. He pictured her in his mind’s eye, the beautiful Hawaiian girl. Next, he pictured the island of Oahu. He stayed very still, until he felt the time was right, and picked up the silver linked chain, opening his palm and dipping the end of the chain into his own thick blood.
First he held the chain over the crystal ball, and waited until the wavering picture of Leilanie was again projected in the crystal globe.
Then he held the chain high over the map of Oahu. It started swinging, back and forth. As he lowered the chain, his blood touched the map, first at Rogers Boulevard in Honolulu. It was the site of the Honolulu International Airport, where Leilanie had arrived.
Then the chain was pulling his hand over the map, like the pointer on a Ouija Board, leaving a blood trail that snaked over the map. It stopped at the town of Kaneohe and made a route through the streets until the chain stopped altogether.
He could see the exact neighborhood, maybe even the exact house where she was located.
Now it was up to Samson to use this information to bring back his kids.
Later that evening, the two women who would go to Hawaii with Samson, Louise and Chloe, came to Omar’s house to meet with Samson and decide on how to proceed.
They all sat down in the living room with strong alcoholic drinks, to make the women more amenable to the suggestions he would make later.
Omar could tell Samson was beguiled by the two beautiful women. Chloe was blond and fragile, with delicate features. Louise, her sister, had darker hair. They both were lovely, and Omar reminded himself that he’d have to sternly tell Samson to treat them with decorum. No messing about with the help. He didn’t want Samson to spoil the plan by becoming erotically enamored with either of them, perhaps making a clumsy pass at one of them.
Omar’s chefs had prepared a feast of roast beef with braised potatoes and vegetables. They sat in the elegant formal dining room, decorated with classical antique French tapestries on three of the walls, at a giant marble table. The room was at the back of the mansion and there was a beautiful view of the ocean below from a wall of windows. The hearth provided warmth and was merrily sending flames up the chimney.
Omar, as dutiful host, had introduced Samson to Chloe and Louise, giving them a little background on why Samson couldn’t speak. A tragic story of a little boy who had been beaten and maimed. Of course, Omar was the hero, rescuing the young child from the violent street gangs in Bogotá.
The women were saddened for poor young Samson and immediately felt sympathy for the huge man he had become.
They decided rescuing Omar’s three children from the deceitful woman who had taken them away was a necessity for poor Omar, who had lost his beloved and precious babies.
By the time the first course was served, Omar was pleased to see that the women were flattered to be given such a splendid feast. And they were extremely excited to help Omar and Samson rescue his children.
“How exactly will we get the children?” Chloe asked.
“You two will first make friends with Leilanie, the Hawaiian woman who kidnapped my three girls,” Omar said.
The two women gazed at each other, appalled. “I don’t know if I’m a good enough actress,” Louise said. “The thing this woman did is monstrous.”
“Yes, but it won’t work unless Leilanie is lulled into thinking that you two are just tourists, in Hawaii with your older brother. You can mention him, but Leilanie won’t see Samson until the day you take my babies, because she knows he works for me. Just in case she might get suspicious, you can’t mention him by name.”
Omar continued, “Then, when the time is appropriate, each of you will pick one child up and run to a car you will have hidden on the street nearby.”
“Ah, but I don’t know if I can carry a child, and run as well,” Louise said.
Omar said, “They’re small. They each weigh only about thirty pounds. Surely you can grab one and hurry away.”
The two women agreed they could do that. In case they had a problem, Samson could run and carry sixty pounds, even ninety pounds, no problem.
There always had to be a back-up plan, a plan B, and Omar had one. It involved entering Leilanie‘s home late at night, and using chloroform to subdue her. Then grabbing the three girls while they slept.
Omar didn’t tell Chloe and Louise that plan because they might object, and Samson could do it by himself if it became necessary. He hoped he wouldn’t have to go to Hawaii himself, but thought he probably would.
“Why don’t you just get the police to locate your children?” Chloe asked.
Omar smiled at her seductively and lied. “I already did. But the Hawaiian Police don’t like to involve themselves in domestic situations. They rely on the courts to do it. And I don’t want to start a lawsuit. I just want my babies back.”
Chapter 12
Michelle had managed to ignore the vibrating in her pocket all evening, but the minute she left Leilanie’s house she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, checking her calls as she and Heather went back to her car.
“Uh-oh, Rod’s called me about ten times,” Michelle said.
Heather was looking at hers as well. “Me too! We’re in trouble. Mike left several voicemails. He called Rod. They’re out together searching for us.”
Michelle giggled a little nervously. “
Ah, male bonding over two missing women.”
“I guess we better tell them we’re on the way home.” Heather snorted, smiling. “I love being worried about! It’s so new.”
“Wait ‘till you’re married,” Michelle said.
“Do you find it claustrophobic? Not that you’re married yet, but you’ve been together longer than me and Mike.”
“Not at all. I like feeling cared about. But we should put them out of their misery. I’m not going to say anything about Leilanie or the girls to Rod now. I think I should do that in person.”
Michelle and Heather wanted neutral territory, in case there was any yelling. They were both now feeling a bit guilty about having upset and frightened their men, who might have been thinking they were involved in a car accident. Rod had other worries too, because Michelle had been the focus of a psychic madman. Who knew what Omar had planned next? Plus, he would be alarmed about the fact that Michelle had just been implanted with an embryo today. He’d be worried she might be unwell from the procedure.
“It’ll be okay,” Michelle said to Heather as they went into a cozy little corner bar near their condominium, where they’d planned to meet with Rod and Mike.
Rod and Mike stood up and waved as soon as they came in. Good thing they did, Michelle thought. It was dark inside and took a minute for her eyes to adjust.
Rod hugged Michelle hard. “I was so worried!”
They sat in a horseshoe-shaped leather booth for four. A waitress came to the table immediately, before anyone could say anything.
Michelle noticed Rod had piled up a huge stack of peanut shells, which were practically pulverized from nervousness. Most people just threw the shells on the floor. It was that kind of place, dim and friendly.
Mike hugged Heather when the waitress left.
Rod looked at Michelle. “What happened? Where have you been? We were so worried.”
“I’m really sorry. We didn’t mean to upset you guys. But I hope you have some very strong stuff in that glass,” Michelle said, eying his drink, “because what happened tonight is pretty momentous.”
The waitress interrupted, putting a Margarita in front of Heather and a club soda with lime down for Michelle.
Heather nodded her head, agreeing “It’s totally unbelievable. Remember when we were in Mexico, searching for Michelle?”
Both men nodded.
“Omar kidnapped Michelle so he could get what he thought were special eggs from her, believing he could have a dynasty of psychic children.” Heather turned to Michelle with a wave of her arm, “You finish.”
“Mike, you managed to steal five of the eggs that were stored at the fertility clinic in Mexico,” Michelle said, “but another three eggs were made into embryos with Omar’s sperm. They were implanted into Omar’s girlfriend, Leilanie.”
Heather burst in. “I was in Kaneohe today and saw Leilanie. With three little children.”
Michelle smiled, “Three of the most darling little girls you’ve ever seen.”
“They look just like Michelle!” Heather said.
Michelle laughed and shook her head, “No! I was never that cute.”
“Well, they certainly resemble you,” Heather said.
Rod interrupted, “Wait! You mean you found three of your own biological children?”
“Oh my God,” Mike exclaimed.
Michelle nodded. “Yeah. Leilanie raised them, and earlier in the evening I thought she would kill me with a baseball bat, because she thought I would try to take them away from her.”
Rod said, “You’ve been trying so hard to have a child. Now you have three! Don’t you want them?”
Michelle shook her head and murmured softly, “I can’t. I’ll tell you why later.”
Mike exclaimed harshly, “What about Omar? Did you see him there?”
Heather smiled and said, “Leilanie left that creep. Ran away from the son-of-a-bitch.”
“He was cheating on her,” Michelle said simply, as if that covered it all.
Rod said, “Oh man. Leilanie’s in trouble! He’ll go after them for sure.”
Michelle sighed and nodded. “I think you’re right.”
She wondered about her Witches’ school classes. Alice Holcum, their teacher, had given the students spells for protection against evil, and Omar certainly fit that description perfectly, but Michelle didn’t know if she could really cast a protective spell for Leilanie and the three children, or even perform the spell correctly. However, Leilanie’s baseball bat was a puny excuse for protection. It sure wouldn’t stop Omar.
“You are the biological mother,” Mike said. “The real mother. Maybe you should raise them, Michelle.”
“That’s just it,” Michelle said. “I’m not the mother. Leilanie is. They call her Mommy, and they are the happiest little girls. Once they got over their initial shyness with Heather and me, they were totally uninhibited. They talked up a storm and played with us all evening.”
Heather sighed. “Michelle’s right. The girls are so happy. They even sang ‘Aloha oe’ to us after Leilanie read them a bedtime story.”
“It was so cute,” Michelle said. “They waved their little arms in the air while they sang, like tiny hula dancers.”
Rod looked at Michelle seriously. “So you really think Leilanie should raise the children?”
“I’d like to be a part of their lives, but yes, Leilanie’s totally dedicated to them. As far as I can see, she’s done a wonderful job. And she adores them, anyone can see that. The kids love her back.”
“Did you see anything that would give you the creeps?” Mike asked. “I don’t mean to be insensitive, but Omar is the father. He’s a straight-up lunatic with weird powers.”
“I think environment will beat out heredity in this case,” Michelle said. “The girls are sweet and innocent. I don’t see that changing, as long as Omar doesn’t get them in his clutches.”
Mike laughed and said, “Maybe this is a bad analogy, but it’s like raising pit bulls. Great owner and you have a loving protective animal. But cruel treatment and you could get a dangerously temperamental attack dog.”
“That’s the worst analogy I ever heard,” Heather exclaimed. “Comparing raising little girls to raising pit bulls.”
“Mike’s the winner tonight. Most insensitive analogy so far this evening,” Rod said.
“The night is young,” Mike said, holding up his glass. “And I think we all need another round.”
Chapter 13
Three weeks had passed since the embryo implant and finding her biological daughters. Michelle, too impatient to wait for a doctor to confirm what she believed might be a real pregnancy, used a drugstore test strip once again. Her period had been late by a few days, and it was too soon for testing, she knew. But she had to do it. It was like an obsession, one she couldn’t control.
Michelle walked home from the drugstore, knowing she might get a false/positive result because she’d been on fertility drugs, which did strange things to her hormones, giving her emotional life highs and lows, but still, after she peed on the stick, seeing that Plus sign was a super-extreme, extraordinary high.
She had bought several tests and tried a different brand. It was also positive. Yes! Fabulous news.
She rinsed them both off, dried them, and put them in her jeans pocket.
Good thing Rod wasn’t home. She’d surely just blurt it out, with the way she was feeling now. She’d have to show some restraint. After all, it really was too early to know for sure. She’d have to take a blood test at the fertility clinic next week to be positive. She didn’t want to raise Rod’s hopes a second time, and then have them smashed to pieces.
Still, she felt like she was bursting, and grabbed her cell. Then she put it back in her pocket and ran out the door, down the hallway to Heather’s place.
Heather opened the door at her knock immediately, saying, “Just the person I wanted to see.”
“Wait. You’ve gotta see this,” Michelle said. She took on
e plastic stick out of her pocket and held it up. Then she pulled out the other one. “Here’s the second one.”
Heather frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to wait a little longer?”
“I couldn’t.”
“Obsessive compulsive,” Heather said, smiling.
“I know,” Michelle’s face fell. “Both might be false positives.”
Heather, seeing Michelle’s optimism turn to gloom, hugged her. “But it might not be. Two in a row! That’s awesome!”
Flash had been jumping against Michelle’s knees, needing some affection. She picked her up, holding the dog like a baby, while the puppy licked her chin. “Flash is getting so big. I can hardly carry her around anymore.”
“She’s a little brat, always wants all the attention. Puppies are destructive as hell, too. She chews on everything. I had no idea! But I did want to see you, Michelle,” Heather said, spinning around in a circle enthusiastically. “I think I found the wedding dress! I’ve been hiding it from Mike in the back of the closet, so he won’t see it ‘till I walk down the aisle.”
They went into the bedroom and Heather pulled a covered garment bag out of her closet. She unzipped it and revealed a white strapless gown. It was covered with tiny sparkling rhinestones peeking through delicate lace.
“Wow! It’s gorgeous. I love the layers of lace.”
“I had shoes to match, but they’re ruined. Flash thought they were chew toys.”
“Oh no!”
“I’ll just have them remade. And keep my shoes on the top shelf of my closet from now on.”
“Put it on!” Michelle said. “I want to see how it looks. Do you have a veil?”
Heather nodded. Michelle left the bedroom and closed the door.
She waited for a few minutes, until Heather called out, “Come in and see.”
“Wow! It’s totally gorgeous. Just spectacular,” Michelle said. “You look like a fairy princess.”
Heather was turning around in front of her mirror. “What do you think of the veil?”
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