3.17 Bad Place

Shaking his head Alanon watched helplessly as Adam held his son as Heath took his last breath. Eyes brimming with tears Adam held his child in his arms nothing would ever be right again. His child, his son was gone. Adam screamed his pain, his rage into the tiny confines of the house. Eyes burning bright with an anger he never felt before. He turned to Alanon "Alessandro goes down tonight." As he spoke his fangs extended, sharp and pointed. He let his vampire side take control no longer willing to suppress it.

"Adam you need to grieve...." Ambrogio attempted only to take several steps backwards as Adam glared at him.

"What I need is to have my son back....alive and healthy. Failing that I'll take Alessandros' head on a platter. He did this. He will pay."

Ambrogio could feel the familiar tingle as his vampire self took control. The need to follow his master. Would he follow Alessandro, the one who turned him? He looked up and peered into Adam's glowing eyes and the fear that seized his heart released it's grip upon him. Nodding as he said "yes master" he acknowledged Adam as his leader, his master. His  eyes glowed as his fangs extended.

Alanon stepped back leaning into the wall behind him knowing better than to get in the way of vampires out for revenge, following the blood trail. Slowly he moved towards the stairs careful not to attract attention to himself. It was now or never. He had to make the call. Had to alert the others the revolt was about to begin. The warning had to be given so that the members of the rebellion could hide their loved ones. Now was the time to choose sides. To take a stand for one side or the other.

Once the call went out Alanon joined the others downstairs where Adam still hovered over his son's body. He felt a pang of guilt for not being able to do more, to save his life. He should have been able to prevent this. Should have been able to prolong his life until he found a solution. Heath was too young to be gone so soon. Without thinking he approached Adam "I'm so sorry," he put a hand on Adam's shoulder.

The touch. The words filtered through his mind. He wanted to hurt to destroy the speaker of those words. He wanted revenge on everyone involved with his son's demise. Snarling he bared his fangs whirling on Alanon grabbing him by the throat. Squeezing he could hear the pitiful attempts Alanon was making to breathe. He could smell the blood. The fear. Could see the blood flowing through his veins. A wave of desire stronger than anything he had felt before swept through him and he wanted to feed. To fill his mouth on this creatures rich nutritious blood. He opened his mouth to take his first bite. The desire to feel his fangs sink through the thin layer of skin into the vein beneath was strong. Moaning Adam threw Alanon across the room crumpling to his knees crying. "What's happening to me?" he cried out overcome with a voracious need to feed. The hunger was strong and painful. It took all his willpower not to give in to it.

Ambrogio dropped to his knees in concern next to Alanon's crumpled body saying in a low voice "are you alright?" Alanon moaned in response. "I need to check on Adam." Ambrogio moved to stand only to have Alanon grip his arm. Looking down he found Alanon shaking his head vigorously.

"He's in a feeding frenzy. He needs blood," Alanon swallowed "it must be the baby. It must need the nutrients in blood that the plasma fruit can't supply."

"That means the child is a vampire," Ambrogio stated staring across at Adam "that's good isn't it?"

"It would be but Adam never finished the transformation. It's extremely dangerous for anyone other than a vampire to carry a vampire baby to term."

"Adam can't transform now," Ambrogio protested "it would kill him and the child."

"I know," Alanon acknowledged "the stress over losing Heath must have stressed the fetus sending it into a feed frenzy."

"What can we do?" Ambrogio asked never taking his eyes away from Adam's quivering form on the floor.

Alanon shook him regretting what needed to be done "the pregnancy will need to be terminated." His eyes slid in Adam's direction fearing what the combined grief of losing his eldest and youngest in quick succession would do.

Nodding Ambrogio got up "I'll tell him."

"Not yet," Alanon objected "we need him in this state to lead the rebellion. He's powerful like this. The people will follow him like this." Alanon peered into Ambrogio's eyes saw the immediate objection to his words. Squeezing his arm he continued to make his argument "the others will sense what you did. That Adam is their master. Their leader. They will rally around him." Rubbing his neck he continued "he's the only chance we have of getting the people to follow. The only chance we have of overthrowing Alessandro."

Shaking his head Ambrogio knew Alanon was right but he couldn't do this "Adam needs to be told."

"No the less he knows the better," Alanon said firmly "we can't have him in a state of grief. We need his anger fueled by his need for revenge. You can help him though. He needs blood. Your his relative he can drink from you without the danger of finishing the transformation. The fetus will get the nutrients it needs and for a time it will survive."

"I don't like this," Ambrogio protested even though he knew he had no choice but to do as Alanon suggested. He approached Adam as Alanon watched from across the room. Alanon and no idea what Ambrogio said to convince Adam but he winced as Adam bit into Ambrogio's wrist. Moving slowly Alanon went to fetch a packet of blood for Ambrogio to drink knowing he would be weak once Adam finished feeding.

After both Adam and Ambrogio recovered enough Alanon approached them "I'm sorry but we need to go. Everyone is expecting us to lead them to victory."

Nodding Adam stood. Stared across at his son's body. Nodding "let's get this done," he growled walking from the room without looking back.

***

Ten minutes after they left the house two figures dressed in dark clothing approached the house. Moving swiftly in the shadows they neared the house and let themselves in. Gathering around Heath's toy form one of the masked figures hissed "I told you the serum would work."

"If it worked why is he still in toy form?" the other snapped "I don't want a doll for a husband."

"You should feel lucky to have him in whatever form," the other replied.

Rolling her eyes her companion asked "since you know everything, how are we going to get him out of here?"

"You want him...you carry him," the other said moving towards the door.

"Aren't you going to help?" she grunted as she attempted to pick him up "he's your son after all."

"I've given birth to several brats in my time. None more irritating than that one." She coldly turned her back on them and walked out the door leaving the other to either carry Heath alone or give up and leave without what she came for.

Struggling she managed to throw Heath across her shoulders and followed the woman from the house. Reaching the portal to Midnight Hollow the girl dropped Heath to the platform. Discarding her mask Windy activated the portal. She couldn't believe how easy it had been to walk in and take Heath. The plan was working perfectly. While most of the IF's were rallying around Adam as their new leader and helping to remove Alessandro from power they had been able to to slip in without being noticed. No one would realize what happened until they were long gone.

Smiling down at the girl "I told you my plan would work." Frowning at the girl she commanded "now put your little pet in it's cage. It'll be waking up soon and when it does it'll be in it's normal form."

"If the memory blocker worked as well as this did. Why do we need to put him in the basement?" Dana asked discarding her mask.

"Because I said so," Windy explained "I'm not taking any chances. If your worried about  him you can stay down there with him." She moved away laughing into the night. Once Adam figured out what happened he would come to her.  Walk into her trap. Then she'll be able to accomplish her goal. Destroy the one who brought her to life. It didn't matter if he was their new leader or not. She had to do this. By her calculations this should take a year maybe two. Once it was accomplished she had no doubt she would be rendered back into toy form to be sent back out to another child. The cycle would begin again.

Frowning Dana watched Windy walk away. How she hated that woman! Shaking her head she wished she didn't need her to get what she desired. What she desired lay at her feet. He didn't look like much but once he was back in human form she would convince him they were happily married. As long as his memory didn't come back she was sure she could make him happy. Happier then her twin ever could. What did Don have that she didn't?

Tossing Heath onto the bed she debated whether or not to stay down here with him. Shaking her head in disgust at the furnishings of the room she quickly vetoed the idea. She'll come up with something to explain why he was down here and she wasn't. Chuckling to herself she bent down and kissed his forehead murmuring "good night sweetheart. You're mine now and for always." Walking out she locked the door behind her.

***

"Daddy, daddy," Kimberly shouted waking and sitting up in her crib.

Hearing his little girl crying out in the middle of the night Don raced to her. Holding his little girl he let her cry in his arms. Through tears and hiccups she told him what she felt and saw in her dream. 

"My other daddy's gone." Fighting the fear that cut through his heart Don held the child tight "what are you talking about? Heath's with Grandpa in Moonlight Falls."

Shaking her head tears flowing down her cheeks "I felt Grandpa's pain when daddy died. I can't feel daddy anymore. He's gone....gone....gone...."

Hugging her tight Don felt his throat constrict. Heath couldn't be gone. He didn't believe it. He wouldn't believe it. "Kimberly are you sure?" he asked having come to rely upon her feelings and incite into people. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes daddy," she said her voice small and afraid. Kissing Don's cheek she continued "his last thoughts were of us and how he wanted to spend his last moments with us. He loved you. Loved us." She leaned into him mumbling "I want my daddy back."

Don held his little girl until she fell back to sleep. As he watched her eyes droop and close he wondered how much she understood about death. More then he wanted her to know he was sure. He dreaded the call he was going to make but it had to be done. Going into the kitchen he took a deep breath taking his phone he dialed Adam's number. It rang multiple times before he heard someone answer "Adam?" he asked not recognizing the voice on the other end. 

"No Ambrogio," came the reply. with a sinking feeling he asked "can I talk to Adam?" A slight hesitation "I'm sorry now isn't a good time."

"Please," he pleaded "I need to know how Heath is. Kimberly just work up screaming that he was gone..." The long heavy sigh echoed in his ear before Ambrogio responded "we lost him Don. I'm sorry. Look I'll talk to you later. I really have to go now." The click in his ear told Don that the call had been terminated.

Staring at the phone in his hand Don began to shake. Falling to his knees he dropped the phone to cover  his face in his hands sobbing. How could this be happening? It couldn't be happening. He couldn't live without him. He didn't want to live without him "Daddy" a small voice said. Looking up he found Kimberly staring at him. Wrapping his arms around her he held her close. The last remnant of what was left of Heath  that he had left. He had no choice. He couldn't give up. This little girl and the baby he was carrying needed him to be strong.

***

Moaning Heath began to twist and turn upon the hard uncomfortable bed. The pain traveled through his body. What was happening to him? Screaming in agony he clutched the blanket beneath him. He arched his back as the pain increased. A feeling like he was being torn to pieces, cell by cell. Slowly the pain ebbed leaving him exhausted. His body lay limp upon the lumpy bed too weak to move. Closing his eyes he fell into an uneasy sleep.

"Good morning sleepy head," a female voice happily announced waking him from his nightmare. 

Blinking he looked up at a dark haired young woman. She looked somewhat familiar. The light blue eyes ... he shivered unable to identify why he found them unsettling on her.

Putting a hand to his pounding head he moaned "what happened?"

Pointing towards a work station in the lab "you were working late and something exploded. You weren't sure of the side effects of the chemicals so you slept down here," she explained. Stroking his cheek "always looking out for me and making sure I'm alright."

He stared at her with a mixture of disbelief and repulsion. Why should her touch make his skin crawl? Why did he have the feeling she was trying too hard? Pretending to be something she wasn't? Shaking his head he tried to make sense of the conflicting messages he was receiving. It would be so much easier if he knew who he was. "Who are you?" he blurted out unable to contain his confusion any longer.

Her smiled faded "I'm Dana, your wife." Blinking he shook his head...that didn't feel right. It didn't fit the dreams he had. All night during his nightmares a shadowy figure would come to him assuring him he was loved, needed and missed. Someone with dark hair and light blue eyes. He glanced up at her hoping to feel the same calm, love and shelter he had in his dreams from his shadow protector. Dropping his eyes before his disappointment was ascertainable. He didn't feel the same looking into her eyes as he did in his dream. She wasn't the owner of the light blue eyes. How silly was that? Why was he giving so much credence to a dream instead of this young woman claiming to be his wife? Dismissing the dream Heath sniffed the air "is that for me?"

"Of course," she smiled "pancakes and eggs your favorite."

Taking a bite he frowned "they're good thank you," he mumbled trying to cover up his disappointment. The pancakes were good but he doubted they were his favorite. He wished the haze in his mind would lift so he could remember something, anything about his life.

Watching him closely Dana asked "is something wrong?" she asked noticing the slight hesitation, the doubt in his eyes as he began to eat.

"No it's fine," he replied swallowing "why can't I remember anything?" he asked her.

"I'm sure it's temporary," she dismissed his concern. Sitting next to him she leaned over pressing her lips to his.

Heath wanted to duck, to turn away from the unwanted affection but what if she was his wife? He didn't want to hurt her feelings. As he returned her kiss he couldn't help but feel that something was missing. A spark, an attraction, something familiar. When they pulled apart he could see his feelings mirrored in her eyes.

Turning her head Dana stood up gathering the remnants of the breakfast she had gone through the trouble of preparing. "Would you like to come for a walk with me?"

Nodding he accepted the stilted invitation. What was her game? His mind was still hazy, a blank slate with far too may questions and not enough information. An image of a pretty a little girl flittered to mind looking up at him calling him daddy. "Do we have daughter?" he asked.

Forced laughter erupted from Dana as she tried to cover up her shock "not yet but we're trying," she replied before leaving the room. "I'll be back," she said as she left.

Heath followed her to the door only to hear the lock as it latched barring his exit. Frowning he wondered why if he were her husband why did she feel the need to lock him up? Looking around the room he was overcome with a feeling of deja vu. He had been here before he was sure of it. Turning from the door he paced his prison refusing to give in to the urge to scream for someone to let him out. Somewhere in his head were the answers he needed. He had to figure out a way of getting to them. That woman was up to something and the sooner he figured it out the better.

***

"Daddy?" Kimberly gasped staring into space.

"What do you need sweetheart?" Don asked hearing her call out to him.

Shaking her head her eyes fixed on something only she could see "not you daddy my other daddy."

Heart pounding he knelt beside her "what do you mean the other daddy?" His mind jumping to the wrong conclusion that Silver had somehow escaped the time bubble.

Kimberly turned smiling in wonder towards him "I can feel daddy again."

"Heath?" Don breathed out his name as a wave of dizziness and lightheadedness swept through him. Could Heath be alive? How? Where? Looking at his daughter he asked "are you sure?"

Nodding "he's....confused," she told him frowning "he doesn't like where he's at or the lady who has him locked in her basement." Turning to Don "it's a bad place and she's a bad lady."