4.23 So It Begins

Walking into the club Keenan glanced around the interior. It looked like a rundown arcade with the addition of a bar in the corner for the older clientele. It was rather desolate except for a couple of girls near their own age sitting at a table. He groaned inwardly as Tommy strode confidently up to the girl's table. He followed a step or two behind.

"Hey Ladies," Tommy greeted them with his best ingratiating grin "what brings you two lovelies out on a night like this?"

"Obviously we wanted to be left alone" the bumble faerie said in a somewhat hostile tone.

"Don't be like that" her companion said with a smile directed at both boys. Her eyes brightening as they came to rest on Keenan. She gave him a wink before turning her attention to Tommy. Leaving Keenan slightly flushed "we came for some fun. Looks like we may have found it."

"Don't encourage him" the bumble muttered glaring at her green skinned companion.

"Why not?"she demanded "they seem nice." 

Sitting down Tommy winked at the girls motioning for Keenan to join them "we are nice sugar."

The bumble tensed as she moved to leave. Standing she bumped into Keenan. "Watch it" she growled pulling back as he reached out to steady her.

"Sorry" he mumbled looking away dropping his hands. He took a step back to allow the girl to pass him.

Some of her anger dissipated confronted by the meek stance of the boy in front of her "no I'm sorry..."

"Don't mind my cousin" Keenan said "he's new here...."

"He's human" the girl added as if that explained everything. Turning she watched the irritating boy deep in conversation with the elf.

"Yeah he doesn't know much about supernaturals," Keenan explained "give him a chance. He can be nice once you get to know him."

"You're a vampire," the faerie observed with interest.

Nodding Keenan squirmed under her scrutiny. Tommy glanced up with a smirk "he's not just a vampire. He's the vampire in charge."

A low combined rumble filled the room as Keenan's bodyguard tensed for action. The girls eyed the large displeased werewolves warily "you're the heir. The prince," the bumble mumbled in a low weak voice as she dropped to her knees shivering in his presence.

"What are you doing?" Keenan asked appalled that the girl was on her knees at his feet. "Get up," he pleaded looking around hoping no one was watching "please get up" he repeated.

"I meant no disrespect" the girl said gathering her feet beneath her "I've heard stories about a great powerful vampire king who brought peace to Moonlight Falls." Her eyes if anything grew larger "that must be why humans have been allowed here. I had heard many stories about them but I always believed humans were a myth. Created to scare children into behaving."

"Well sugar I'm not...."

"Don't call me that" she interrupted stomping her foot forgetting entirely in whose presence she was 

in.

"Why? Sugar is an endearing nickname" Tommy glanced from his cousin to the irate girl "I meant no disrespect."

"He doesn't understand" Keenan attempted to smooth things over.

"He should have some manners if he expects to stay here," she pointed out glaring at Tommy.

"I'm sorry" he said contritely. Standing Tommy walked around the table holding his hand out "I'm Tommy" he said introducing himself.

Keenan shook his head trying not to laugh as the bumble silently glared at his cousin. The strain was too much and the pressure to laugh came out as a strangled snort. "Sorry" he mumbled as he felt everyone staring at him.

Hesitantly the faerie took the humans hand. A gesture both awkward and invigorating "I'm Velvet."

***

Heath was pushing papers around his desk trying to come up with some sort of system to take care of everyones concerns and complaints. He'd come up with several piles marked urgent take care of immediately. Important must be done within a few weeks. Serious but can wait. Neutral take care of when feasible. Not the best system. It would have to do until he sorted through everything.

He glanced up rubbing his eyes as someone knocked on his office door. A man was escorted inside. Heath smiled recognizing him "Jeff I'm so glad you were able to come."

Shaking hands Jeff sat down "it sounded urgent."

"And you were hoping you'd have time to see your son before you got started" Heath gave him a knowing grin "I'd do the same thing if I were you."

"Have you seen Tommy?" Jeff asked eager to hear news of his boy.

"He's rooming with my baby brother Keenan" Heath said "they're doing fine. Plus he's under constant guard so you don't have to worry about him getting into trouble."

"I'm his dad. Worry comes with the territory" Jeff chuckled a little relieved that his son was doing ok.

"Don't I know it. I have two grown up daughters, a couple of teenagers and a five year old," Heath smiled fondly looking at the family photo on his desk "you never stop worrying."

"What do I need to know about Mr. Lawrence?" Jeff asked getting down to business.

Heath handed him a large over stuffed file, "sorry the IF's aren't exactly into the computer age yet."

Thumbing through the large file Jeff sighed at the daunting task of reading through it. The sheer weight of the file seemed to predict how difficult the task was going to be. "Any suggestions where I should start?" he asked laying the folder aside for now.

"I'd start in Isla Paradiso. That's where all his resorts and warehouses are" Heath suggested "if he holds true to form he's probably still running them under an alias or something."

"What do you want me to do when I locate him" he asked.

"Once you locate him contact me. I'll send a delegate of IF's to apprehend him to bring him Midnight Hollow to face trial for his crimes." Heath got up walking around his desk "Mr Lawrence is a terrible person."

"I'll check with the local PD to see what his human persona has in the system" Jeff rubbed his chin deep in thought "I'll call it research for the family since by human life spans he should be dead by now."

"Or very freakin old" Heath shook his head "which is why he was adamant that Kyle take over running the family business."

Standing Jeff nodded towards Heath "I'll drop in to see my son then catch the earliest flight to Isla Paradiso."

"Let me know what I can do to help," Heath said following him outside.

"I could use a partner" Jeff said "someone to help with all the leg work."

"Well one day I'm sure you'll find someone," Heath assured him.

"I hope so" he waved as he walked away.

***

It was a rare treat for them to have a few hours to themselves. Everett insisted they do something different just the two of them. Leaving Phoebe with her great grandmother Kimberly allowed Everett to blind fold her and lead her from the house. "Where are we going?" she asked clutching his hand.

"Not far," he assured her starting the car. He drove to the little beach he had found on one of his explorations of Moonlight Falls. Not many people were there making it perfect for what he had planned.

Leaning over he removed the blind fold. Kimberly blinked up at him then at the scenery around them. "It's beautiful" she gasped as he got out of the car and ran across the car to help her out.

Taking her hand Everett walked with her to the water's edge. Kneeling in the damp sand he gazed up at her. "You've had my heart since the moment I saw you. I put on a gruff crusty facade intended to keep you and everyone else away. You looked beyond that to the man beneath. I never wanted to be vulnerable again yet with you I am weak."

She knelt in the sand beside him. She brought her hands up to stroke his face "you are not weak. You're one of the strongest men I know. You left everything you knew to be with me."

Taking her hand he gently kissed the palm "I love you so much it hurts. I never want to be without you. I want to walk this world with you by my side now, forever and always." He could see the tears shimmering in her eyes. He felt her soft gentle touch as she wiped the tears from his cheeks. Their eyes locked breathing rapidly he asked "will you marry me?" He held his breath feeling as if the world had stopped waiting for her answer.

"Yes" she said so softly he almost didn't hear her. "Yes yes yes I'll marry you," she shouted joyfully setting the world to spinning again. He pulled her close smashing his mouth on hers. Kissing with a need, a passion, a love they both shared.

When they came up for air they were lying in the cool damp sand of the beach. Laughing Everett attempted to brush the sand from her long brown hair. 

She bit her lip looking up at him through her long lashes "we have one problem" she said biting her bottom lip. She watched as his smile faded and a profound sadness spread across his handsome face. "We either have to get married now. Like right away or wait. At least a year or two."

He blinked unsure of what he just heard "you still want to marry me?"

"Of course" she put a hand on her stomach "the problem we have is right here." She took her other hand to grab Everett's hand to cover her hand on top of her stomach.

"You're pregnant" he choked barely getting the words out.

Nodding she watched as his face transformed again "this is your future. Your legacy. The family we create together."

"I love you so much" he murmured pulling her close "I don't want to wait another year to make you mine."

"I don't need to be married to know I'm yours and your mine" she kissed his nose "whether we're married or not we belong to each other forever and ever." She entwined her fingers with his "I love you Everett Gray."

***

Quinn stayed longer then she planned or expected with Phoenix and the twins. She didn't want to return home. Back to  her own dimension where she would have to be alone. She envied Phoenix the playful chatter of the kids.

"It's not all fun and games" his voice interrupted her thoughts "I worry each time I leave them to tend to something in the dimension."

"You need a babysitter" she fretted.

"I have one" Phoenix assured her "it just hasn't been activated since you've been here."

"Activated" she asked.

"It's a  simbot from Oasis Landing made to care for children" he explained "I couldn't bring someone here into safe haven to care for them. The fewer people who know of their existence the better."

She nodded in understanding. His dimension knew nothing of male pregnancy. She approved of his precautions. She sat on the floor reading to the kids. She still couldn't wrap her mind around the idea that she was a mother. Her. The one who wasn't ever supposed to have children. For that fact alone she couldn't have them in her dimension at least not openly acknowledge them as her children. She couldn't give the Elysians anything to use against her. She gasped eyes becoming large and wide with alarm.

"What's wrong?" Phoenix asked watching as the blood drained from her face.

"Silver" she whispered the hated name "Silver knows of their existence."

"That's not good" Phoenix echoed her feelings.

"No it's not. It's awful" she stood up "I need to leave."

Before she could go Phoenix grabbed her "tell me what's the danger. Are the twins in danger?" He shook her slightly in his urgency "tell me".

"Yes" she cried "Silver will use them to get what he wants. He could tell my enemies of their existence. They could force me to work on their fertility issues."

"Isn't that what you're known for?" he asked confusion written on his face and voice.

"It is but it's also what caused me to become the dimension watcher" she sighed knowing it was time she told him everything. It took several hours to explain it all. In the end he sat in silence staring at the kids quietly playing together. Quinn stirred beside him taking his silence as rejection she stood "I should leave."

"Don't go" he cried when her back was towards him "not like this. I'm sorry I never knew anyone who had been punished by the council before. I come from a people who volunteer to help them out. They need a watcher someone volunteers for a set time period. I'll confess this scares me a lot." He got up and took her in his arms "but am I any better? I broke the rules the moment I fell in love with you. The moment I took you in my bed." Gently he kissed her squeezing her tight.

She clung to him needing someones strength to rely on other than her own "I only wanted to help. I made everything so much worse."

"You're not alone now. We'll get through this together" he ran his fingers through her hair "we'll have to be cautious. We'll get through this. I'll help you as much as I can."

"All right" she sniffed taking a step back "I have to go. I've been away too long."

"I know," he sighed staring at her as if he'd never see her again.

"Erix" his wife called his name "we've found a Wandler."

"Where is it?" Erix asked looking around the room in eager anticipation.

"It has already been dispatched" she advised him "I thought it more important it got started terrorizing the child then wasting time meeting with you."

Anger flashed in his pale purple eyes "I do not like having my wishes ignored even by you."

"Forgive me" she was quick to bow in deference to his authority "I overstepped by bounds. It was only my excitement in finding a Wandler that prompted my rash decision."

"You're forgiven" he said with a stiff lipped smile "don't let it happen again. I won't be so forgiving next time."

"Understood" she said eyes wary "the Wandler will report once she's in place."

"Good good" Erix nodded a tinge of guilt knifing it's way through his consciousness. The guilt that told him what he was doing was wrong. Wrong to delight in the torment of an innocent child in their quest to have their own children. He understood the wrong of it. If it were him watching his child suffer he would not want to help the tormentors. He knew what he was doing was wrong. What other choice did he have?

The Wandler silently surveyed the toys in the room of the sleeping child. Which toy was favored by the girl? Then she saw it. A rag doll hugged tight to the girls chest. Smiling the wandler vanished becoming one with the stuffed lifeless doll. She felt the comforting weight of the child's warm body hugging it's new form tight. Tonight it would enjoy the simple comfort of sleeping with the child. Getting a feel of the child's' dreams, her nightmares. When the child woke the games would begin. A hint of a smile etched itself across the dolls expressionless face. The Wandler could hardly wait to begin. It had been much too long since it had the pleasure of terrorizing a child. This was going to be fun.

***

"This is not a good idea," his senior guard protested  upon hearing that Adam intended to visit the school upon request of the first grade class. "If you they wish an audience with the esteemed one they can come here."

"They're children," Adam chuckled "what harm could it possibly make to speak to their class?"

"It's not the children that concern me," the man grumbled "it's the vulnerable areas where it would be easy to attack. I would not put it past Serafino to have arranged this expedition in the hopes of attacking you."

"I have already given my word," Adam said refusing to back down "what do you suggest I do?"

The werewolf thought a moment before making the following suggestion "a field trip sir."

That almost brought a smile to Adam's face "there's merit to your suggestion. Children love field trips." Rubbing his chin Adam nodded liking the idea more the longer he considered it "make the arrangements" he said turning to his assistant.

"Yes sir" the man said stepping forward and walking away to do as he was ordered.

A loud commotion had the senior guard throwing Adam behind him as a group of young vampires rushed through the door. A strange almost hypnotic glow in their eyes as they charged past the werewolves dropping several with what appeared to be silver bullets.

Although caught off guard by the attack and several of their members lay wounded or dead. The senior guard fought to protect his superior. A shot rang out deafening everyone nearby. The guard went down clutching his left arm to his side.

Adam charged the young vampire pointing the gun. A look of fear and recognition brightened his dazed eyes for a moment. A searing pain in Adam's chest brought him to his knees as the boy twisted a wooden stake through him. Dimly he was aware of shouts from several more guards rushing into the room subduing the young vampires.

Adam felt the cool clammy wetness as his own blood leaked from his wound. His heart beat painfully in his chest as one of his trusted guards lifted him and carried him to safety. His head lolled back on the heavily muscled shoulder. He could feel his life force slowly ebbing away. His final thought was for his young son who was ill equipped to take his place on the throne.