by L. A. A. Law
From outside the security room, I hear Lucas’s anxious voice. “Come in, we have the tapes ready.” Stepping inside, the tapes from four different cameras are running, the hallway, the lobby, the parking lot and a stairwell. It appears several people passed through the lobby this evening. There is a blip in the hallway camera at eleven fifteen. The stairwell did not appear to be used. There was no blackout, so they must have found a different exit.
They used a service elevator.” Andrew murmurs before flying out of the room.
I turn to Catherine. “What time did the children go to bed tonight?”
“We came out of their room shortly before eleven.”
“They must have grabbed the kids when I saw it happening.” Maybe they aren’t too far!” I looked down at my watch, not realizing it is three o’clock in the morning.
We rewind the lobby tape. Despite the darkened night, a couple strolls in wearing dark glasses. The woman is even donning a wide brimmed hat. They approach the front desk, cross the lobby, but then duck behind a column. Despite the many cameras, they are not seen again.
Andrew returns. “They used a laundry basket to get the kids out of the hotel and used the service entrance, the car must have been parked in the north parking lot, have them run the tape. Did you see anything on the tapes while I was gone?”
Showing him the woman and the man, he doesn’t recognize them either. Running the parking lot tape, we catch sight of a very expensive Mercedes moving toward the north stairwell exit and then the camera blacks out for a minute. That’s all it took to get the kids in the car and speed off. Zooming in, the license plate is blocked. They knew exactly what they were doing. Lucas prints out the pictures of the couple and the car before compelling the guard to forget our presence.
Returning to the room, Andrew pulls me on the couch, his voice still straining to sound calm. “Did you learn anything else while we were gone?”
“The woman and man were bickering about staking the children. She told him that David had plans for the children and wanted them taken to him alive. I think that the man and woman who are traveling in the car are related because they talked about not trusting anyone but family. One of them also mentioned someone named William in their family.”
“Was there anything else? Could you see anything that they were traveling by? Did you smell or hear anything at all that may give us a clue as to where they are going?”
Closing my eyes, desperate to recall everything I heard and felt, I pray that something will give him a clue. “They still couldn’t see. They are bound with some sort of metal ties that the man was worried would not hold if the children woke up. I don’t think that they realize that Nicholas and Kayla are not ours by birth.” My eyes fly open. “The man said that they would be in the car for a few more hours. They are driving to wherever this David is and it is not in the immediate vicinity.”
“That’s good, try to connect with the kids, concentrate on what you can hear, maybe if they keep talking they will give us some indication of who they are or where they are heading.”
The telephone rings and I jump. As my eyes gaze at it, I notice for the first time, the sun is up and I know that it must be Stephan and panic. Andrew picks up the telephone. His features are stone, he is shut down.
“Good morning Stephan, are you ready to go to the airport?”
I can’t hear Stephan, but from Andrew’s response, he must be asking about us.
“Mia and the children had to head back to the hospital with Catherine and Lucas earlier. They had a major malfunction with the records and Mia remembered a lot of the patient classifications. I stayed behind to take you to the airport. I know she was really sorry that she couldn’t see you guys before you left.”
He listens to whatever Stephan is saying. “Yes, I have your father’s luggage packed. I’ll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes. I need to pick up a new staff member at the airport this morning anyways. It is no problem at all.”
Hanging up the telephone, he wraps his arms around me. The tears I have been holding back flow.
“We will find them Mia. You stay here and connect with them, see if you can get any more information about what is around them or how long they travel. I don’t want to leave you, but it’s important that we get your brother and his family out of here before they can figure out that anything is wrong. Since we don’t know who we are dealing with yet, I think that it would be best to stay close to him until they are safely on a plane. I’ll call and make sure arrangements are made for someone to watch them when they return and James is still with your father. I’ll let him know what’s going on. After I drop them off, Reginald has arranged for me to look at the street tapes for the Mercedes that we saw in the parking area. Maybe if we can get a handle on which direction they are heading, we can get a map and set out a few hours in that direction so as to get some sort of starting point. I know that it is a shot in the dark, but until we can figure out something else, we need to pursue every possibility. He is also going to send some local friends our way.”
Catherine comes out of the bedroom with my father’s luggage, handing it to Andrew. “You had better get downstairs. I’ll stay with Mia.”
Lucas interrupts. “Where are you supposed to go and who are you supposed to see regarding the tapes? I can go on ahead and start. Maybe I’ll have an answer before you meet up with me.”
Andrew turns to him. “That’s a good idea. I will text you the contact information and address as I head downstairs. Also, call Gabriel and see what his expected arrival time is. Have him come directly here.” With that, he kisses me and is out the door.
Sitting back in the circle, I grasp some of the children’s items to my chest, unable to hold back the new round of tears as my internal argument rages through my consciousness once more. I should have known from the gathering that formed when the children were born that it was only a matter of time before they would succeed in grabbing them. I should have taught them earlier how to use their powers fully. I was so blinded by wanting to give them some normalcy that we only taught them some basic powers with the other children. I should have had Reginald, Emma and Victor teaching them from the moment they were old enough to understand. If I had, maybe they could have protected themselves and maybe they would not be going through this now.
A cool set of hands grasp my shoulders. “Mia, open your eyes. You are too aggravated. You’ll never connect with them if you don’t calm down.”
“Catherine, this is my fault! Don’t you see; if I had listened to Reginald years ago when he wanted to start teaching the children, they would be stronger now? Maybe they would have been capable of warding off their captures. I should have never withheld such vital information and training from their lives!”
Shaking me, my eyes meet her determined features straight on. “You can’t think like that! Your children needed time to be children, to develop as individuals first and to become well-adjusted and compassionate human beings.” Her voice is filled with deliberate determination. “You have been teaching them. Mia if they utilized the full battalion of their powers too early that could have interfered with their development as strong individuals. Don’t you remember how overwhelming this surreal world felt to you? If they became too powerful before they could really understand right and wrong, it would have been disastrous. Mia, you know better than anyone that your children have the potential to be an extremely powerful force not only in this life, but also in the war which rages all around us, but still they are just children. They are only now beginning to even grasp the concept of what they can do and how they can’t always use their powers because they cannot yet fully understand the ramifications of such actions. Children can be impulsive, even the best meaning normal children can act impetuously and unwarranted results can occur. Just think of the disasters that could result if your children used their powers imprudently. Do you remember Jacob with the snapping turtle? Everyone knew that he did not mean to do it harm, but in that moment of anger w
hen it bit him, look at what happened. You did the right thing in allowing them to develop as good caring children first. It was necessary to withhold their utilizing their full powers. By allowing them to utilize limited powers, you showed them how special they are while instilling discipline and allowing them to see that any untoward use, even limited, could yield disastrous results. We will find them! I know that it is difficult, but you need to calm down and concentrate on trying to get as much information as you can.”
She is absolutely right. I can chastise my choices later, but to do it now is useless and self-indulgent! Closing my eyes, I hold their favorite clothing items close to my heart. I can’t stop the overwhelming panic from seizing my heart as each minute turns into what seems like hours passing me by without any feeling of a connection. Springing up from the floor, my eyes are unfocused. I do not even see Catherine standing before me as she grasps my wrists. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t feel anything! What if they are dead! I should have been able to connect with them by now!”
Shrugging out of her hold, I am at the window, my eyes darting wildly at the surroundings below. Unsure of what I am searching for, my heart sinks deeper and deeper with each hyperactive beat. Coming up behind me, she turns me, leads me back to the circle, sits me down, and moves the items closer before going over to my purse and removing my wallet. She hands me a picture we took at Christmas. “Mia, look at their beautiful faces and concentrate. They are not dead! You would feel that right away and you know it. In your anxiety and thinking about what you haven’t taught them, you are not considering all of the good you have shown them, so stop allowing your mind to punish itself! You just need to calm down and concentrate.”
Staring at their beautiful faces, I see my sister and David in the hazel eyes of Nicholas and Kayla, while Jacob and Nicole inherited the oceanic blue eyes Andrew possessed after his re-emergence with Nicholas. Closing my eyes, I concentrate harder. Finally, to my relief, I feel their precious hearts beating. They aren’t moving in a car any longer, someone is carrying them. Concentrating on each one separately, I try to discern if any of them are more conscious than the other, hoping that what they are registering will give me some clue as to where they are now.
The first heart is strong, but they have no real consciousness of anything going on around them other. Through their nostrils, I no longer smell the overwhelming scent of ether; it has been replaced by dank, musty air. On some level, they can feel the cold surrounding them. I must have connected to Nicholas or Kayla because I doubt that Jacob or Nicole would be feeling cold. I no longer sense the hood placed over their head. They must have reached their destination and their captures don’t seem to fear their waking.
Concentrating on the next heart, I sense more of an awareness of something bad going on around them and the overwhelming fear accompanying their awaking consciousness. Suddenly, my body jerks, they are struggling against their binding restrains. They are still covered with their limbs still bound tightly to their torso. It has to be Nicholas or Kayla.
The gruff voice of a man shouts in their ear. “Stop struggling or I will test out my own theory that staking can paralyze you and keep you under control! If I am wrong, at least David will still have three of you.” My heart seizes as Jacob or Nichole freezes in fear.
The woman’s angry retort echoes off the walls. “I told you that they cannot be staked! They will bleed to death. We are not losing one now! Let’s secure them and then we can get David.”
“Who made you boss? I am a member of this family too, I should have a say in what happens to them.” He retorts frustrated.
A loud thud rings in my ears as my head is seized with pain. I am falling sideways and then I feel nothing.
Forcing down my panic, whoever I was with is now unconscious. I concentrate quickly on another heart. I have to find out what happened. I need to hear what is going on. Focusing, the pounding of an anxious heart practically blocks the couple’s argument.
“Why do you always have to be so hasty? See what you made me do.”
“At least he is not fighting you anymore. Come on let’s get them confined. I want to be done with this. I’m not missing another meal.”
Nichole’s muscles feel as if they could snap from the stress and fear raging out of control. As her fear mounts, it overwhelms my senses, severing our connection! She must be fighting to cast out all emotions. I never imagined our teaching them to detach themselves from everything so they can think calmly whenever they get upset to avoid a repeat performance of the snapping turtle incident would develop into a way to toss me out. I should have performed protectionist spell on the children, if I had, maybe I would know where they are right now. The relative peace and contentment made me complacent and now my children are paying for it!
My firsts slam down, but hit cool palms. Opening my eyes, my arms fly around Andrew’s waist, pulling him to me. “Please tell me you found a lead! The kids are so frightened right now and the ones who have them are bickering and seem very unstable. One of them keeps talking about hurting them!”
Andrew pulls me closer before releasing me. The room is filled with anxious, pale faces. All of the St. Clouds are here along with several faces I do not recognize. Leading me to the couch, Andrew’s voice is soft spoken, but I know he is fighting for every ounce of control. “We caught a glimpse of a Mercedes heading north. By their speed, whoever it is knew what they were doing and stayed off of the main roads. They are heading toward the rural and estate areas which are all privately held. Lucas is still there and reviewing the tapes to ensure that we did not miss anything and Eva and Jackson have headed toward the road where we saw the car with some local friends to see if there are any clues or scents which they can pick up on.” My heart sinks and the life force is being drained from every cell of my being as he utters each word. What if Lucas doesn’t see anything else and all trace evidence is lost? The children could be anywhere, how are we ever going to find them in time? What if they are dragged to... I force my mind to halt the thought, if I finish it, I will shut down, never feeling them again, never connecting with them again. I will enter the deepest, darkest hell of my own creation, one where there is no escape, no refuge, no light, and no possibility to save them, ensuring that I lose them forever.
Chapter Three - The Search Commences
Andrew’s lips are moving. I fight through my deadening senses to hear him. “Don’t give up hope, Lucas is still looking and everyone here will assist in the search. Did you get anything more from connecting to them while I was gone?”
I can’t stop the tears streaming down my cheeks. “They aren’t traveling by car any longer. They were being carried to some confinement place. Kayla and Nicholas are still unconscious. Jacob was coming out of the stupor but they knocked him unconscious again. I can’t tell how badly he is hurt because I went to concentrate on Nicole hoping to get some information about what was happening to him, to them, but she started shutting down and my connection was broken. What if he is really hurt! I left him in his darkness.” The sobs rip from my chest.
Andrew wraps his arms tightly around me. “He is very strong. I’m sure that he’s fine. Please this is important, what else did you hear?” Although Andrew is trying to be strong for me, I can feel the anxiety radiating in his embrace at the thought of Jacob being hurt.
Straining to speak, “I could hear the same woman and man fighting. There has to be two other people with them, but they never spoke. The man was threatening to stake Jacob because he was moving around and the woman knocked him down. They were going to confine the children and then go get David. Andrew, they seem to be all members of the same family and wherever they took them, the room they were traveling through is exceptionally cold, I could feel it through either Nicholas or Kayla and the air around them is dank and musty.”
“What makes you think that they are part of the same family?” He inquires staring at me intensely.
“When they were arguing, the woman was g
riping over not disposing of Catherine and Lucas sufficiently and that their taking the children could have gone unnoticed longer if they had help, but the man said that they could only trust family. I don’t understand. If Jonathan returned, could he have engaged a family of demons and vampires to grab them? How many families have all been turned?”
His eyes dart to the anxious faces of his family and then back to me. “I don’t know how many families have been changed. Usually conversions happen in solitary incidents. Families are seen more with witches. Are you sure that the people who have the children are vampires and not witches or something else?”
I am about to answer, when a rapid knock at the door draws my attention. Gabriel opens it revealing the concerned faces of Emma and Victor.
“Are there any leads yet?” Emma inquires crossing the room towards us.
“Lucas, Eva and Jackson are following our only lead on the car, but we have no identity on the individuals who took them other than Mia’s belief that they are a family of vampires.” Andrew replies.
Emma interrupts. “Are you sure that it’s a family a vampires?”
All eyes follow Emma and Andrew as they turn to me. “I know that it is a family because I heard them bickering and the man saying that they could only trust family. They are strong and know about how staking Catherine and Lucas would paralyze them and they can tell that the children’s hearts are beating. I heard them arguing that they were not full vampires like their father.”
Emma kneels before me. “Mia, is there anything more that would have made you think that they were vampires? I’m only saying this because many witches are familiar with how to stop vampires.”
“They seemed to be very strong and could witches hear the children’s heart?”
“Are you sure that they heard the children’s hearts?”
