Southern Spirits

by Shelley Stringer

  I shut my eyes as a sob escaped. My body was pure static…much like the day the Navy paid their visit. I had no way to get in touch with Banton, no way to let anyone know what happened to us. My babies…oh, God…Lucien has my babies.

  She crossed the space between us in a split second, so fast her movements were a blur. Grabbing me by my hair, she fisted her hand around it, pulling me to her painfully as she hissed in my ear.

  “I asked you a question, you little whining rich-bitch! Do you understand? Lucien will sink his fangs in them and drain them quickly, and give their bodies to the others for dessert! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”

  “Yes!” I screamed out as she slapped me hard, so hard I would have flown across the hallway had she not held a tight fist around my hair.

  “Good.”

  Although small-framed and wiry, she managed to drag me down the staircase effortlessly and then across the great room into the foyer. She turned my hair loose and thrust me forward in one swift motion, slamming me into an antique Bombay chest sitting just inside the entrance. She’d already placed a pen and paper on the desk.

  “Now, write. You will tell your husband you’ve decided to go to your friend Laurilee’s wedding, and you are on Delta flight 455 to Dallas. You’ve taken the twins, so they are not to worry. You will call as soon as you get to Dallas. Write!” she screamed as I tried to write through my tears.

  “He’ll never believe this. He’ll check, and there won’t be anyone on the plane,” I began.

  “Oh, plane tickets have been purchased with your credit card, and there is a cast of characters posing on your behalf. It will be late tonight before he can confirm with your friends that you weren’t on that flight. We’ll be long gone in another direction by then.”

  My mind was whirling as I wrote. She was standing over me, so I had to be careful. After I finished writing, she grabbed the letter and folded it neatly, placing it in an envelope.

  “Write his name on the front,” she barked at me coldly.

  I penned his name slowly, “Banton”

  I never wrote his name in cursive. I always printed it as I had the entire note. I hoped he would catch the difference and consider it strange. Then a thought hit me. As she straightened she threw a jacket at me, and then picked a duffle bag that I hadn’t noticed up from the floor beside the front door. As she focused her attention on the door, she glanced out the side windows, making sure that the family hadn’t returned yet. I used the opportunity and slipped my diamond bracelet and wedding ring off, dropping them on the rug by the chest. She pulled me roughly out the front door, down the brick steps to a black SUV parked in the driveway. I looked up expectantly, remembering the security cameras Banton installed only the day before. There was a dark disk covering the lens on the camera on the porch. My insides sank.

  “We’ve thought of everything, believe me,” she hissed, flinging the back doors open. “Get in!” she screamed at me as I shakily complied.

  “Why are you doing this? How can you be one of them,” I pleaded as her eyes narrowed.

  “I’ve always been one of them. Your dear, sweet Everett isn’t as good as he thinks he is at feeling someone’s emotions.”

  “Maybe it’s because you are dead inside,” I challenged. She back-handed me in reply. The force bounced my head off the wheel-well inside the vehicle, and the blow caused my vision to darken and form a long tunnel. As I watched her as if from a distance, she pulled my hands together and secured them with thick metal bands, and then the same with my feet. She then secured them together, forcing me into a ball. For a finale, she placed a large piece of duct tape across my mouth as I used every last ounce of strength I had to fight her.

  “Hmm. Only thirty minutes left…maybe it will be feeding time when we arrive,” she hissed into my ear as my world went black.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Banton

  I glanced in the rear-view mirror every few seconds. Dad held Claudia close, his soothing voice murmuring to her. She was doing amazingly well, and seemed in control during the funeral. My eyes shifted to Ava, who clutched Julia tightly and watched me warily. Chandler and I both were worried about her. I intended to talk to Chandler this morning about staying on with Claudia for a time. Instead, we had to argue.

  Chandler…she’d looked so hurt this morning. Why do I have to explode like that! She just doesn’t understand how I feel about her safety. My insides twisted every time I thought about being separated from her or taking her anywhere unprotected. I knew Laurilee’s wedding was the only thing she would argue with me about. She never asked me for anything. I smiled --sometimes I wished she would. For the hundredth time, I wondered if I was being too over-protective.

  No, I shook my head

  Maybe I’d been hasty. She was so upset about missing the wedding and disappointing Laurilee. Could I risk it? It would take Everett and a SEAL or two to make me feel she was protected. John and Brie could go. That would be four of us to protect her, and we could leave the twins with Momma and Daddy and the rest of the Aldon. I’ll talk to her again. Maybe we could charter a plane and come back the same day. Shit! That scene with Alexandra before we left! I couldn’t believe I’d weakened and fallen for Alex’s crap. I’d hugged her and tried to talk some sense into her. Chandler watched the whole thing. I knew she took it the wrong way. When will she ever see she has nothing to worry about? She is my whole world!

  I couldn’t wait to get back to the house. I shook my head. Chandler had that effect on me. Anytime I could make her smile…make her happy…those were the best moments of my life.

  “What the hell,” I muttered as I pulled into the driveway. The three Aldon Miss Astrid called in to help for the funeral were nowhere to be seen. They’d been stationed on the porch when we’d left this morning.

  “Where are the Aldon?” Brie muttered as John glanced up.

  “Maybe they’re inside or out back,” John replied as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

  “Chandler, we’re home!” I called out as I ran up the staircase. I was eager to hold her, and I felt an urgent need to make sure all was well between us. I didn’t kiss her before we’d left for the services. Finding our bedroom empty, I drew my brows together. The bed was still unmade, and our suitcases were out across the foot of the bed. It was unlike Chandler not to tidy the room. Chandler couldn’t stand an unmade bed, especially if we were staying with someone else. Maybe she’s ill?

  I pushed the door open to the nursery, and finding the cribs empty, returned to the hallway.

  “Banton, down here…there is a note for you,” Constance called out as I hurried back down the staircase.

  “Where’s Miss Astrid? Have you seen her,” I asked breathlessly as Ty shook his head.

  “There’s no one in the back part of the house,” he answered, alarmed.

  Constance handed me the note.

  “This doesn’t look like Chandler’s handwriting,” I murmured, puzzled as I looked at the envelope. I unfolded the note hurriedly.

  Banton,

  I know we discussed this, but I can’t let Lauri down. I’ll be just fine. I’m taking Miss Astrid with me, and she can keep the twins at the hotel during the ceremony, and she will be extra protection for me. We’re on Delta flight 455, and I will call you when we get to Dallas tonight. I’ll arrange for Daniel to pick us up at the airport. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.

  I love you with all my heart,

  Chandler Ann.

  “What the hell,” I said under my breath. Everett was immediately at my side, scanning the note over my shoulder. “She wouldn’t go to Texas, not after we talked. And she’d never take the twins.”

  “Banton, she didn’t write that note,” he said, alarmed.

  “I think it’s her handwriting all right, but,” I frowned, rereading the note again. Something didn’t fit. Chandler! What the hell are you thinking! You know you need two or three people to protect you and the babies…

  It hit me. “Look at this, she never calls L
aurilee ‘Lauri,’ and she wasn’t going to stay at a hotel…it’s a bed and breakfast.” I had a sinking feeling.

  Everett chimed in, “She never calls Dan ‘Daniel’ either.”

  My stomach turned over. “And she’s told me more than once, when she’s ‘Chandler Ann,’ she’s in trouble.”

  “And that’s what she’s telling you, my dear boy,” Everett said as he pulled the note out of my hands.

  I looked up into my father’s eyes. He’d been silently listening to us from the doorway.

  “Son, I hate to tell you this, but we just noticed the lens to the security camera out front has been covered.”

  “Shit! Ty, John…get on the phone to Singleton! Tell him Chandler and the twins have been taken. Ev, call your friends with the NOPD and have them alerted. Do you have any idea what kind of vehicle Miss Astrid would be driving?”

  “You think Astrid had something to do with this?”

  “She had too! Or she’s being forced to. Either way, we have to follow that lead.”

  Everett nodded, pulling his cell from his back pocket.

  “Dad, I need traveling money. We have our passports, but I might need for you to pull some strings. Everett, get in touch with Renault, and whoever the hell is in charge of the Aldon! I need their full cooperation, and now!”

  Everett’s eyes widened, but he nodded in agreement.

  “Banton, what can we do?” Claudia stood ghostly silent beside me, her arms around Constance.

  “Run upstairs and go through our bedroom and the nursery. See if you can find anything that makes sense.”

  They both nodded, both of them beginning to cry. I couldn’t let those emotions through. I had to stay calm and focused. My instincts warned me I had minutes to find something to give me a direction, or their trail would go cold. I had a gut suspicion my beautiful wife and my babies were on a boat headed for Somalia.

  “Banton, I just called a friend of mine at the State Capitol. He’s going to pull some strings and talk with the Board of Commissioners and Port Authority Harbor Police. They’re going to try to halt anything leaving N’awlins; maybe we can delay their departure.” My dad was dialing his cell as he spoke.

  “We’re assuming they’re traveling by ship. What if they’re flying?” John said, hanging his phone up.

  “I’ll get on the computer and check all the flights leaving the airport this afternoon,” Brie offered.

  “No good. You wouldn’t be able to access all the cargo flights, and that’s what they would use.”

  “I can still have the NOPD Aldon to check the airport, see if they can get any leads,” Everett interrupted, dialing his phone again.

  My insides tightened as I thought about our argument before we’d left for the funeral. I closed my eyes. For the first time I could remember, I didn’t kiss her goodbye. It hadn’t been intentional. Think! Think, Banton…there has to be something you aren’t thinking of!

  Constance ran back down the staircase with Claudia trailing behind her. “Banton, her small traveling bag is missing and a few of her clothes. But she left her bridesmaid dress, and the presents for Laurilee…her laptop. She also left the babies’ blankies in the living room on the sofa,” she added as her voice broke. “She’d never take Matty and Elly somewhere without them.”

  A tug at my pants leg startled me from my thoughts. Ava looked up at me, her big round eyes full of tears.

  “Doodle- Bug, not now. I’m busy.”

  “Unca Banin, An Andler’s bwacelet. Her dropped it,” she said softly as she held it up to me.

  I grabbed it out of her hand. “Sweetheart, where did you find this? Hurry, tell Uncle Banton.”

  “Ober dere,” she replied, pointing over to the floor by the desk in the entry hall. I walked over to look, and something sparkled on the floor where she was pointing. I bent over, and picked up Chandler’s wedding ring.

  Constance gasped and placed her hand over her mouth as my eyes met hers.

  “She told me the other day the only way that ring would ever come off her finger was at gunpoint. It was a joke at the time,” I whispered as I closed my hand over it. My insides were on fire. Chandler…Oh, God. For the third time in my life, someone took by force my reason for living. Only this time, I had no clue where they’d gone or how to follow them. And my babies were helpless. Knowing the Orcos used them to lure Chandler away, I was filled with a rage that I’d never felt before. I began to picture her like I’d found her in the tunnels, chained to the wall, dehydrated, beaten beyond recognition. I shook with fury, my hands fisted at my sides.

  “Banton, what do you want to do?” John asked as he pocketed his cell phone.

  “Let’s move. Take the gear we have in my SUV. Let’s split up in two vehicles. Head to the Port of N’awlins. My gut tells me that’s where they’re headed. Ty, you and John take your car, Everett and I will take mine. Call Sam, tell him to get Patrick and meet us as soon as they can.”

  “I’m coming with you,” Brie offered.

  “No, baby…stay here at the house with Banton’s family. You and Constance are their only protection until we can get someone else out here,” John called over his shoulder to her.

  “John, I don’t want to contradict you, but consider this. Brie has Aldon senses, can smell other Orcos and she has a connection to Chandler. It might be helpful. I can have security around this place in no time. I’ll call Lane and another friend at the Capitol. I’ll get state troopers if I have to. Just go, please.” My Dad pleaded with John, and John finally relented. I nodded to him, and then jumped into the SUV as Everett jumped into the other side. As I glanced in my rear-view mirror, my entire family stood on the front porch, watching silently and helplessly.

  As we sped toward the Interstate, Everett’s cell rang.

  “Yes, we are on our way to the shipyard now.” He snapped his fingers to get my attention, seeming to read a list off to me to commit to memory. I nodded as he repeated.

  “A large grey and black ship, cargo ship, bearing shipping containers. One of four, due to leave in the next twenty-four hours. The names?”

  He was writing on his jacket, not having found any paper in the glove box.

  “Anything else?”

  “Yes, I’ll call you back if we don’t find anything. How should we travel? Yes, four Aldon should be sufficient, with our team in place. We don’t need to be too conspicuous until we know what we are dealing with. Go ahead and make the arrangements, and notify the Coast Guard. Yes, all the gear the SEALs might need for a stealth mission. We’ll board her at sea if we have to.”

  “Good. Thank you for your cooperation, but with all due respect, you should have done this a long time ago.”

  Everett touched his phone, ending the call. “That was Aldon leadership. They’re making the arrangements and providing us with an escort to Somalia, with or without the Navy’s help, if we don’t stop Lucien here,” he said, his voice deadly grim. I glanced over at him, and his eyes glowed with intensity I’d never witnessed, full of tears and emotion. I put my hand up as if to stop his gaze. I couldn’t go there, and neither could Everett. Not when our girl and our babies were counting on us. I knew I had the one person in the world who cared as deeply for them as I did, and I found some comfort in knowing that just like me, he’d die for their safety.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chandler

  My head throbbed. The throbbing consumed every thought, in time with the hum and thrum of engines. I could feel the vibration against my cheek. The dirty smells of diesel, grease, and something rotten filled my nostrils. I coughed, trying to clear the fog in my brain.

  Opening my eyes, I took in my surroundings. I was in some sort of cargo bay. I detected a faint pitch, which caused my nausea to return with a vengeance.

  The twins! Miss Astrid…Astrid said Lucien had the twins! I pushed up, willing myself to get control of my careening world. Faint light filtered from overhead through metal grating. I pushed to sit against a large shipping crate
. My feet were no longer bound, just my hands, having been bound behind my back this time.

  The sharp pains in my side let me know my ribs had been re-injured, possibly broken. I couldn’t take a deep breath. None of that mattered now. Nothing mattered to me except getting to the twins. Where were my babies? I was so worried about Elly. Without the formula, she would get sick again. What were they feeding them? The thought sickened me.

  “Hello? Someone, answer me! Astrid?” I called out hoarsely in hopes that one of them would come to investigate. I had to know where my babies were.

  I couldn’t believe Astrid was a part of this. She’d fooled us all…even Everett. She’d been so sweet at Christmas, taking me under her wing, going all out for the wedding. Weren’t she and Everett old friends? How could he not have known?

  As my anxiety level spiked, I wondered what time it was. How much time had passed since we left this morning? Had Banton found my note? I pictured him, reading it and frowning. Surely he wouldn’t believe for a second I’d decided to go against his wishes and endanger the babies. Thoughts of how angry he’d been when I fought the Orcos at Claudia’s house flashed in my head, and I moaned, placing my head back against the crate. My greatest fear was he would think this was another foolish attempt by me to be brave, like I had when I’d gone out to help Claudia instead of locking myself in the house. That was only to help his sister and keep the Orcos outside away from the twins. I wouldn’t take the twins to Texas without protection. And I would never go without Banton. Never.

  I hoped someone had found my jewelry by now. Constance and Banton both knew I wouldn’t leave it behind. I never took my wedding ring off…even to wash my hands. That was the best clue I could think of to leave for them.

  But unlike the kidnapping before Mardi Gras, I had no way to communicate my location. I had no cell phone. I recalled someone pulling it from my pocket and dumping it as I was removed from the SUV.