Beautiful Corruption (The Corruption Series Book 2)

by Jessica Manson

  “She is pregnant. She may be losing the baby. Help her!” Tristan cried out.

  She called someone on a radio before saying to Tristan, “Lay her on that bed. Someone is on their way to get her.” Tristan did as he was told and as soon as I was laid down a man came through a set of double doors.

  “I’m Liam, I will be her nurse today. Can you tell me what happened?” he asked as he wheeled me through the same double doors he just came from.

  “She is pregnant and is having pains. I’m afraid she might be losing the baby.”

  “How far along is she?”

  “We don’t know. We just found out she was pregnant. She hasn’t seen a doctor yet.”

  “I see. Has she been under any stress lately?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you tell me about that?”

  “No.”

  “Okay then, what was she doing before the pain started?”

  “She had just woken up. The pains started immediately.”

  Liam wheeled me into a room and another nurse stepped in to assist him. “I’m going to start an IV on you. We need to get some blood work. We will also need you to get fully undressed and into this gown,” he said as he laid the gown on the bed at my feet. “I can help you if you need my assistance.”

  “No thank you. Tristan can help me,” I said taken aback by his offer. I know he was probably just being a good helpful nurse but the way he said it sounded dirty, provocative even.

  “Okay, I’ll step out and let you get changed. I’ll be back in five minutes.” When he was gone, I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked at Tristan, “Do you mind helping me get into that?” I looked at the gown disgusted.

  “Of course, I’ll help you. You shouldn’t feel like you have to ask.”

  “Tristan, do you think my baby is okay?” I asked scared.

  “I don’t know. I hope so,” he said sounding perplexed. Tristan pulled my shirt over my head and then helped me stand to pull off my pants. When I stood, a pain surged through my stomach causing me to cry out. My knees went weak and I leaned into him. Our bodies were so close as he held my almost naked body in his arms protectively. “Let’s hurry so you can lay back down.” He slipped the gown around me, so I could discretely slip out of my bra and panties.

  “Thank you,” I said grabbing onto his hand as he tried to walk away. “Will you stay with me?”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He pulled a chair next to my bed just as Liam came walking back into the room. He was holding a bag with clear fluid in it, a bunch of little packages and some little tubes.

  “Okay let’s start that IV,” he said with a little too much enthusiasm. “We will need to get your blood work as well. Once the results of that come back a doctor will be in to examine you.”

  “How long does the blood work take to come back?” I asked already anxious to get out of there.

  “Anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour. But because you are pregnant with abdominal pain you will be moved to the top of the list. Your blood work will take priority over everyone else’s.”

  Liam stuck my arm but missed my vein. The pain caused me to flinch. “Ouch,” I cried out.

  “I’m sorry. The vein seemed to have rolled. I’ll try the other arm.” Liam scooted to the other side of my bed making Tristan move away from me. This time he got the IV in. Once he was finished drawing my blood, he stepped out of the room again. While we waited for the results a lady came in to collect my information. Once she was gone, with Tristan still holding my hand, I drifted off to sleep.

  I was standing in pitch blackness. I couldn’t see anything in front of me. I could feel someone there with me. A shiver crept up my spine. “Hello,” I called out. The person stepped closer to me; now I knew who it was by their presence. “Right now, is not a good time for you to make claims on my baby Slaaneth. I in fact, just might be losing it.”

  “You can’t let that happen Lilith. You must take care of the baby.”

  “You know I’m not surprised I’m losing my baby. You have me under so much stress and stress isn’t good for the baby.”

  “I know. That is why I brought you back here. I will keep my distance until it is time for you to have the baby. I will not get in your way. My army will back off as well.”

  “Why? Why have you decided to leave me alone now?”

  “Because Lilith, I need the baby healthy and strong, but most importantly, I need it alive.”

  “So, you will not bother me again throughout my pregnancy?”

  “No. I will not return until it is near your due date. Take care Lilith. And take care of the baby.”

  I jolted awake in shock just as Liam was walking back into the room. “Test results are back; the doctor is on his way in.” Just as the words left his mouth the doctor came into the room. He was fairly young and very attractive with his brown wavy hair and light green eyes. I couldn’t help but think about Odin’s eyes when I saw him.

  “Hello, Lilith. I am Doctor Reed. How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “Thirsty,” I said with a dry mouth that felt like I had been licking sand.

  After pinching the tops of my hands and ankles he pressed his thumb into the tops of my feet. He then pressed gently on my stomach, “Does this hurt?” I shook my head. “Well, there is a reason you are feeling thirsty. Your test results have come back. You are dehydrated. Your baby needs fluids to stay healthy. Are you drinking enough water?”

  “Not as much as I should,” I said suddenly embarrassed.

  “I would like to keep you here over night, so we can get some fluids into your system.”

  “Am I going to lose my baby?” I asked nervous of what his answer will be.

  “As long as you get some fluids in you, your baby should be fine. But I would like to set up an ultrasound for in the morning.”

  “Okay,” I said joyfully. The doctor and Liam both left the room. I was relieved that my baby would be okay. The joy filled my body threatening my heart to explode with it. Tristan squeezed my hand tight. I hadn’t realized how scared he was for me. I turned to look at him, “Everything is going to be alright.”

  “I should have taken better care of you and the baby,” he said with dread in his eyes.

  “This isn’t your fault. It’s mine. I should have been drinking more water. You take great care of us just by being by our side.” He rested his forehead on our still clasped hands. “Tristan please don’t put this on yourself. It is my fault. And you heard the doctor, everything is going to be fine.” He gently kissed the back of my hand sending a tingle up my arm that reached all the way to my heart. He actually felt guilty about a baby that isn’t even his. I realized he loved this baby just as much as I do, and he has no connection to it other than me. I knew then that he would love this baby unconditionally as if it were his own.

  “Lilith, I need you to make me a promise.”

  “Anything,” I said willing to give him whatever he wanted.

  “I need you to promise me that you will take better care of yourself and the baby. And I too will promise to take better care of the two of you.”

  “I promise,” I said looking straight into his eyes.

  Liam came back into the room with a wheelchair. We have a room ready for you. Tristan helped me get into the chair while Liam hooked my IV bag to the attached pole of the chair.

  Tristan left me at the hospital to go get our stuff and to check us out of the hotel. I spent the rest of the afternoon lying in bed with my feet propped up. I lay there watching TV until he returned. I was too afraid to go to sleep without him by my side. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway because the nurses disturbed me every hour on the hour to check my vitals.

  Tristan came back and almost immediately had fallen asleep propped up on a chair. He was lightly snoring, and the sound was making me sleepy like a lullaby to a baby. Once I finally drifted off, I had the best uninterrupted sleep. It had been so long since I slept that good.
There were no visits from Slaaneth as promised.

  I didn’t wake up until a lady came in to take me for my ultrasound. I called Tristan’s name to wake him and he jumped to his feet on alert. “Do you want to go with me for the ultrasound?”

  A huge smile spread across his face. “I would love to.” I got into another wheelchair and the lady drove me to the elevator. She took us down three floors and when the doors opened the hallway had an eerie feeling to it.

  I grabbed Tristan’s hand and spoke to him with my mind, “Something doesn’t feel right.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know. Something just feels…off.”

  “Everything is okay. I’m right here beside you. Nothing is going to happen while I’m here.”

  His words didn’t console me. I gripped his hand tighter afraid if I let go something bad would happen. I could feel eyes on me and a shiver crept up my spine. I was eager to get off this floor. We entered a room with a big machine and a hard bed in it. The lady instructed me to lay down and lift my gown to my chest. I was thankful when Tristan looked away as the bottom half of my naked body was exposed. The only thing not showing were my breast. The lady finally came over with a sheet and covered me from my middle down leaving only my stomach exposed.

  She then squirted a cold gel onto me and placed some kind wand looking tool on my stomach. She started moving it around pressing down firmly. She stopped when she found what she was looking for. “You look like you are about eight weeks along,” she said. “Want to hear the heartbeat?”

  “Yes,” Tristan and I said in unison making me laugh. It warmed my heart to see him so involved. The lady turned the volume up so we could hear. It was amazing. I have never felt so much love for one person in all my life, especially one that I have never met before. I watched Tristan’s face light up and had to fight the urge to hold back tears. I listened to the heartbeat holding my breath making sure I created a memory of this moment. But then the heartbeat started to sound funny. It was almost like there was an echo to the heartbeat.

  “Why does it sound like that? What’s wrong?” I asked panicked.

  “Hold on just one moment. Don’t worry that sound is perfectly normal,” the lady said with a smile on her face.

  “Then what is? Why does it sound like that?”

  She turned the screen toward us, so we could see the baby. “It sounds like that because there are two heartbeats. You are having twins.”

  I almost passed out from shock. “Twins? Are you sure?”

  “Yes dear, twins. The proof is on the screen.” I looked at the screen again and sure enough there was two little bean sprouts growing in my belly. Tears filled my eyes. The lies and betrayal from Odin that I thought corrupted my heart, in this moment, turned into a beautiful corruption. He had stolen my life from me, but he gave me the most precious gift anyone ever could. Not one but two babies grew inside of me.

  I looked over at Tristan hoping he still wanted to stick around. When I looked at him, I watched a single tear escape from his eye. He was just as happy as I was. “Tristan.”

  “Yeah?” he asked never taking his eyes off the screen.

  “That’s our babies,” I said letting my own tears fall.

  “Ours?” he asked finally looking at me.

  “Ours. If you will still have us.”

  “Of course, I will.” He leaned down and kissed me gently. “You have made me the happiest man in the world. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.” I kissed him again but this time letting him feel what I was feeling. The kiss grew and was becoming very passionate. We forgot about the lady being right next to us until she cleared her throat.

  “Would you like a picture of the babies?” she asked breaking the awkwardness.

  “Yes please,” I said. “How far along do I have to be to find out what they are?”

  “Usually around sixteen to twenty weeks. It will all depend on how the babies cooperate.”

  Once the pictures were printed, I got back in the wheelchair and we headed back upstairs. When we stepped out into the hallway, I had the same eerie feeling as before. I looked around the hallway and noticed a shadow standing a few feet down.

  I was eager to get out of the hallway. “Can we walk a little faster? I want to get out of here.” They sped up their pace while I kept my eyes on the figure down the hall. It was a guy hidden in the darkness of a doorway. I couldn’t see any of his features, but I knew he was watching me. We reached the elevator, but it seemed like it was taking forever to open. I watched as the figure took a step closer. It was as if he was taunting me.

  The doors finally came open and I rushed them inside. Just as the doors were about to close the man stepped in front of it. He stared at me with a wicked smile. I could smell him; he was a shifter. Odin had found us, again. Panic filled me. Tristan and I had to get out of the hospital. I was anxious to get back to the room, so I could tell Tristan, but then I remembered I could already speak to him. “Tristan, they found us again. We have to get out of here.”

  “Okay. Stay calm. We will leave as soon as we get back to the room.”

  I grabbed his hand. I was terrified. There was no telling how far away Odin was from us. We finally got back to my room and I immediately got dressed. We were just about to leave when a knock sounded at the door. The person didn’t wait for an answer before walking in. “Well, hello. Leaving so soon?” My heart fell when Brant and Latham stepped inside.

  “Just let us go. No one has to know you found us,” I pleaded.

  “You know we can’t do that,” Latham said.

  “I can’t go back there. He killed my parents,” I said furious. Latham’s body stiffened like this was news to him while Brant seemed unaffected. I looked at Latham closely, “You didn’t know, did you? He didn’t tell you?”

  “No. He failed to mention that detail,” he said.

  “So, you see why I can’t go back to him. I won’t.”

  “Why are you in the hospital anyway?” Brant asked.

  “I got sick and had to stay overnight.”

  “What happened?” he insisted.

  “Nothing I am just a little dehydrated. Everything is fine.”

  “We should get going,” Latham said.

  “I’m not going with you!” I yelled.

  “Yes, you are. Odin is waiting,” Brant said.

  “I don’t care. I. Am. Not. Going,” I said making sure to enunciate every word.

  “We can do this the hard way or the easy way. But either way, you are coming with us.” When had Brant become so vial? I have never seen this side of him.

  I stood there eyeing the both of them while I spoke to Tristan in my mind, “What do we do? We can’t go back there. They will kill you and take my babies.”

  “Can you put a sleeping spell on them?” he asked.

  “Oh, my Gosh, why didn’t I think of that? Cover your ears. Last thing we need is you falling asleep with them.”

  I recited the same sleep spell on Latham and Brant that I had used on the mover.

  Awake by day, At rest by night,

  I thank the Gods, Turn out the light,

  I pray to thee, O holy one,

  Let him sleep, and his day be done.

  “What are you doing?” Brant asked right before he fell to the ground sleeping. Latham looked at me and smiled then nodded right before he fell over next to Brant.

  Chapter Eight

  We ran as fast as we could without raising suspicion from the hospital staff. We jumped in the car and headed south once more toward New Mexico. Tristan drove as fast as he could to get as far away from Latham and Brant as we could before they woke up. “How do they keep finding us? We got rid of our phones and keep switching cars. How is he doing it?” I asked panicked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe they have Kira tracking you.”

  “She can do that?” He nodded. “Then what is the point of us even running? We will never be free of
them. Our babies will never be safe.” A big grin played across his lips. “What has you smiling like that at a time like this?”

  “You called them ours,” he said still smiling.

  “Because they are ours. Yours and mine.”

  “Lilith, I know this is bad timing but, I love you. I love our babies. I will raise them and treat them as if they are my own. According to me, they already are mine. I am the only father they will know. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Running forever or one day finally being free, I will always be by your side.” My heart warmed by his words. He had taken on so much in such a short amount of time.

  “I love you too Tristan and I couldn’t pick a better father for my children.” I grabbed his hand and pulled it to my lips, kissing the back of it. I didn’t let go and he didn’t pull away. Tristan is everything I thought Odin was. He has shown me unconditional love. He has proved himself to be worthy of my love. And I do love him. I think I have been in love with him for a while now, but I was also in love with Odin. I couldn’t understand at the time how my heart could love two men at once. I had no choice but to ignore my feelings for Tristan.

  Odin’s love came with passion, but Tristan’s love came with something that I needed more. Trust. Sometimes, trust trumps passion.

  We had driven for hours and there was no sign of anyone following us. I started to relax and was beginning to drift off every now and then. I tried to stay awake, but my body was so exhausted. Sleep finally took over drawing me into a deep abyss.

  I could hear murmurs in the distance. It was so dark I couldn’t see anything. The murmurs grew louder until it turned into something else. Chanting. Finally, three witches stepped in front of me. “Welcome Lilith. It is time you joined us.” The woman that spoke sounded so sure of herself as if she just knew I would do whatever she demanded of me. She must be the leader of the three.

  “Who are you?” I asked feeling like I have seen them before.

  “We are a part of you. You need to join us, so our coven will be complete.”

  “Join you? I will not join you or anyone else. Why can’t you people just leave me alone to live in peace?”