4.27 The Darkness

Quinn entered Phoenix's safe haven. It was small like hers. No unnecessary adornments cluttered his haven unlike Audric's palatial abode. Audric could use the excuse that he needed the additional space to house individuals he was protecting. Yet neither she nor Phoenix had found it necessary to bring outsiders into their havens. Silver was the only visitor Quinn has ever had and he was uninvited.

"Quinn" a young voice called from a nearby tree.

Looking up Quinn saw a flash of red. Boy or girl she couldn't tell through the dense foliage of the tree. "Where's your father?" she called up into the tree.

"Away" came the uninformative response.

"Away where?" she asked. Of course she could find him if she really wanted to without their help. Phoenix was no doubt dealing with some problem within his dimension.

A tug on her sleeve had her looking down. A little boy smiled up at her with a dirty face. "Daddy said there was a problem he had to take care of. He went to fix it," the little boy explained. Quinn took the little boys grubby little hand as he led her to the house. "I'm in charge while he's gone" he informed her.

"He's isn't" an indignant voice said from behind them. "I'm in charge" Ivy said climbing down from her lookout in the tree.

"I hate to contradict you but I'm in charge" a deep voice said causing all of them to turn around in surprise.

"Daddy" the kids yelled in unison running to give their father a hug.

Quinn smiled watching them greet their father. An unfamiliar suffocating throb in her chest. She was missing so much of their young lives. At moments like this she envied Phoenix and even Audric the companionship of their children. Her melancholy was broken by someones strong arms pulling her close followed closely by their mouth's pressing passionately down on hers.

"Hello beautiful" he said running his fingers through her long hair "what brings you here?"

"I needed to see how you and the kids were doing" she smiled up at him comforted by the feeling of
his arms wrapped reassuringly around her.

"Flattery will get you nowhere" Phoenix nuzzled his nose along her slender neck "I've missed you."

Laughing a little she melted into his arms "I've missed you too." She followed him into the house watching as he talked to the kids. Listened to them tell Phoenix everything they did while he was gone. While the kids ate their snack Phoenix took her hands "what brings you here?" he asked again without any of the earlier banter he had earlier.

Sighing she wondered if she were this easy to read by everyone or if it were just him. "I need your help" he nodded remaining silent waiting for her to tell him "what do you know of wandlers?"

A frown marred the beauty of his face "they spread darkness and fear."

"That much I know" she sighed "how do I get rid of it?"

"You need to destroy the object it's attached to" Phoenix rubbed his chin "you need to do it before it's able to spread it's influence."

"Influence?" Quinn raised an eyebrow "like casting enchanted sleep?"

She felt him shiver beside her "you have a serious problem Quinn" he raised his eyes "you need to get rid of it before the darkness spreads. The more people who fall victim to the darkness entering into enchanted sleep the harder it will be to destroy the wandler."

Nodding Quinn suspected as much "so far I have two that have fallen victim. I suspect there will be more from what you've just told me. With every victim the wandler grows stronger and the darkness spreads."

"I'm afraid so" Phoenix nodded "you don't have time to waste. You need to find that object and destroy it's hold on the child it's attached to." He watched her stand to leave before she disappeared he added "a wandler must have a handler. You need to find who unleashed it."

***

"Velvet what's wrong?" Tommy asked kneeling beside her his knees digging into the moist soil. In the few years they had been together he had never seen her cry. Reaching over he tugged on her hair.

"Ow" she mumbled sniffing "that hurts." She shoved him away from her as she got up.

Stunned he picked himself up and ran after her. "Hey what's wrong?" he asked again running to keep up with her. "Please talk to me" he begged as she out distanced him.

Slowing she stopped waiting for him to catch up. Tears glistened on her cheeks "I wasn't there" she cried "I never told her."

"Never told who what?" he demanded twisting her around to face him.

"My mother" she cried "she's fallen victim to an enchanted sleep."

"Sleep" he asked confused "what's so wrong with that?"

"You don't get it do you?" she cried pushing him away.

"Then explain it to me" he pleaded following her "explain to the dumb human what he's missing."

Stopping Velvet turned towards him "I'm sorry. It's just I'm really scared right now."

He pulled her close "please tell me" he requested kissing her forehead.

"I'm not....sure" she hesitated "I'm not" she groped for words "I shouldn't know about my mother. It's my punishment for leaving."

Being excommunicated took on a new meaning to him listening to her sob in his arms. "I'm sorry baby" he murmured in her ear.

She took a deep fortifying breath "my dad risked everything to find me. To tell me. I don't want him to get in trouble. He has enough to deal with now.

"I won't tell anyone" he promised "tell me what's an enchanted sleep."

"One slips into an enchanted sleep right before death or is drawn into one by the darkness."

Darkness. That had meaning to him. It was something Keenan had told him about. Kimberly, his niece had fallen into a coma after trying to connect with her daughter in a dream. Phoebe told everyone the darkness took her.

His arms tightened around her. Velvet looked up at him in concern "you've heard of the darkness before haven't you?"

Nodding he explained what had happened to Kimberly. She gasped clutching at his shirt "what? What is it?" he demanded.

"It's a wandler" she gasped eyes unfocused "it has to be. There is no other creature who attaches itself to small children to feed off their fear."

"I don't understand" Tommy shook his head wishing his knowledge of supernatural things was more extensive.

"A wandler is a creature of the darkness. It has the ability to change form into whatever the child loves most." She pulled away from him "we have to hurry"she pulled on his hand in impatience.

He allowed her to drag him towards the parking lot where he normally left his car. When they got there she looked around confused "where is it? Where's your car?"

"I didn't drive today" he said panting. In Velvet's rush she forgot how much slower he was than her. "I walked here" he finished once he had gotten enough oxygen in his lungs.

She blew an exasperated sigh out her nose "I can't carry you" she said sounding irritated with him.

"It's not my fault I can't fly" he pulled away from her feeling like he was being ridiculed for being what he was a human. Weak, frail, slow, inferior everything he could see in the eyes of all the supernaturals he met in Moonlight Falls. He just hadn't expected it from her.

"It's not that" she cried pulling him along behind her "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

He stopped lungs heaving. He allowed her to turn him to face her "what's the urgency" he asked.

"We need to find the object the wandler is attached to" she explained.

His brows knitted together "what good will that do?"

"If I remember right it should break the bond between the child and the wandler." She blinked back tears as she recalled her father's face as he told her about her mom "that's why my father came to me" she murmured "he knew it was a wandler. Mother must have tried to intervene..."

Pulling her close Tommy gently rubbed his hands in small circles across her back "what's a wandler?"

Leaning into him, drawing strength and comfort Velvet sighed "a wandler is a very ancient dark fae. Evolved from the darkness it serves."

"I thought you said it was a shape shifter" Tommy shook his head confused.

"It can" Velvet smiled as she transformed into a tiny winged creature.

Tommy smiled in childish delight "why haven't I seen you do this before?"

"It never came up before" she said tugging on his arm as she took her normal form "and now isn't the time either. Come on we've got to go."

***

"Dad you shouldn't have agreed" Keenan jumped to his feet facing his father.

"It's not like I had a lot of choice" Adam said his voice carefully neutral.

"What about mom?" he asked "how does she feel about this?"

Before Adam could respond Beverly came into the room "I encouraged him to accept it." Her eyes snapped with energy challenging the young vampire.

"How could you?" he cried throwing himself into the chair he just vacated.

"Simple" she said quietly sitting beside him "your father's happiness matter's to me."

"He's happy with you" Keenan protested his tone sullen.

"Yes he is" she looked up and smiled at her husband "we love each other very much."

"Then why?" Keenan challenged.

"Because I love him" Beverly said eyes still locked on Adam "tell me Keenan what happens when I'm gone?" She turned her gaze on her son.  She smiled at the thought. He was her son regardless of his parentage.

"But you're not" he protested his voice cracking. 

Smiling gently at him Beverly reached over taking his hand "it's going to happen some day whether we want it to or not."

Keenan's eyes searched Beverly's face "I don't want to think about it" he murmured allowing her to pull him close.

"Neither do I" she agreed "sometimes we have to though. I want to know when I'm gone there will be someone here taking care of your father for me. I don't want to think of him being alone."

"He wouldn't be alone" Keenan protested "he has us. His family."

Beverly rolled her eyes at him "Keenan you know that's not the same. It helps. It's not the same."

He nodded thinking of a certain green skinned young elven woman who had become an important part of his life in a very short span of time. Of course they had known each other for over two years but hadn't gotten together until recently. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Already he could imagine a lifetime with her.

Looking up at Adam Beverly smiled "I think our son's in love."

"I think you're right" Adam agreed as a sudden rosy glow spread across Keenan's cheeks.

"Dad please" Keenan pleaded feeling the heat rise on his cheeks.

"I want to meet her" Beverly enthused.

"So do I" Adam nodded.

Looking from one parent to the other Keenan sighed "alright I'll ask her. I know she'll say yes. It's all happening so fast." He felt like his head was spinning at the speed things were going. One moment he was heir the next he wasn't. Just an ordinary vampire with extra ordinary powers. He didn't mind not being heir. It was a large weight he had carried around with him. Now he felt lighter, freer then he'd ever felt before in his life.

A knock interrupted their family moment. A guard stuck his head inside the room "Lord your escort is here."

A cloud fell across all their faces. "How is she today?" Keenan asked.

"She's still in a coma" Beverly told him "the doctors don't know why or if she'll ever wake up."

"Dad maybe I could..."

Shaking his head Adam motioned towards the guard. When the guard was once again on the other side of the door he side "I don't want you attempting to contact her. That's how she slipped into this enchanted sleep."

"That wouldn't happen to me" 

"Promise me" Adam urged.

"Alright" Keenan agreed as he looked into his father's anxious face. He followed them from the castle uncrossing his fingers. What his dad didn't know wouldn't hurt him. First he had to find Lydia.

***

Don came up behind Heath wrapping his arms around him. He could feel the tension in his husbands body. "Are you all packed and ready to go?" he asked kissing the back of Heath's neck.

"Uh huh" Heath sighed leaning into Don's caress "are the kids ready?" he asked stepping away from Don's embrace.

"They are" Don said following him around the room with his eyes.

"Good" was all Heath was able to say as he walked towards the door.

Sighing Don wished there was something he could say or do to alleviate some of Heath's stress. At times like this he felt useless. Sometimes he missed the days when Heath would look at him like he had all the answers. Sometimes Don felt like just another piece of furniture. There for decoration only. Had that been how Heath had felt like? Had that been why he had forced the issue with his art show? Don had never stopped to think about it until recently. He had never meant to make Heath feel that way.

They got into the car where the kids were already waiting for them. Heath turned to Don the same expression that never failed to make him feel like he could do anything. "She'll be ok won't she?" Heath asked clutching at Don's hand.

"Of course she will" Don told him even though he himself needed someone to tell him his baby girl would be alright.

Heath leaned his head on Don's shoulder. "I hope you're right" he murmured back low enough that only Don was able to hear him.

"Me too" Don said kissing the top of his head. Regardless of the changes they had both gone through one thing always stayed the same. Their love for each other. No matter what Silver did to them they always had their love.

He glanced across the seat where the kids sat staring at their tablets. Owen glanced up smiling "Kimmie will be ok daddy."

"Shut up squirt" Noah grumbled beside him "you don't know that."

"I do to" Owen insisted.

"No you don't" Noah said with older brother superiority.

"Dad make them stop" Madeline pleaded.

"Boys stop arguing" Don snapped feeling Heath stir beside him "honey its ok. Go back to sleep."

"Dad he can't really know" Noah insisted "not even the doctor's know."

"I know" Don acknowledged "it doesn't hurt to let him believe she's going to be alright though."

Understanding brightened Noah's eyes as he nodded. Owen looked from one to the other perplexed. "You believe me don't you? Kimmie will be ok."

"Yes son I believe you" Heath said lifting his head from Don's shoulder.

Don felt a chill run down his spine as a thought came unbidden to his mind "Heath you're not..."

Heath inclined his head slightly before saying "I'll tell you later."

"She comes to you in your dreams doesn't she daddy?" Owen nodded "sometimes I see her clearly and other times it's just darkness. She tells me to wake up sometimes when the darkness reaches out to get me."

"Sometimes there's a beautiful faerie" Heath added "she's fighting the darkness."

Owen nodded as if he had the same dream. Don no longer looked forward to the long drive where he hoped Heath would be able to sleep. Now he wondered if Heath would wake up at all. Was this Kimberly's way of communicating with them? Was she some how connecting to Heath and Owen in their dreams? Neither of whom had slept well since all of this started.

***

"No daddy no" Phoebe screamed squirming in her father's arms as he carried her to her room "I don't want to go to bed. Please daddy don't make me."

Everett hated bed time. The screams. The pleas. The bruises he sustained as his daughter fought him kicking, hitting, screaming. You would think he was killing her instead of putting his four year old daughter to bed. "Honey I know you're scared. You need to sleep." He tried to comfort her to no avail. It was like she was deaf to his voice "I'll leave the light on" he said having accomplished getting her in her room "I'll be right here when you wake up. I promise I'll be right here."

Eventually her eyes grew heavy and despite her best efforts sleep overtook her. "Mommy" she called into the mists "Mommy where are you?"

"I'm here baby. I'm here," Kimberly's voice called from the darkness.

Phoebe shivered as the tentacles stretched out to reach her. Screeching in terror she ran. No matter where she ran or how far she ran the darkness followed her.

"Poor little girl" a familiar voice soothed "so afraid."

"Go away" Phoebe cried covering her ears.

"Don't you like me anymore?" the voice taunted.

"I hate you" Phoebe stomped her foot "I want my dollie back."

"I am your dollie" the voice said.

"My dollie would never hurt me" Phoebe protested.

"I won't hurt you" the voice said "I'm your dollie. Come play with me."

"No" Phoebe turned to run tripping over a tentacle. Screaming she flailed her arms out.

"I got you" a familiar voice assured her.

"Owen you shouldn't be here" she said taking his hand.

"Why not?" he asked sounding hurt "you needed help. I'm helping."

"I want to go home" Phoebe cried falling into her young uncles arms.

"You have to wake up first" Owen said.

Shaking her head Phoebe pushed away from him "daddy would make me go back to bed."

Nodding Owen took her hand "we should find somewhere to hide."

"The darkness is everywhere," Phoebe protested "there's nowhere to hide."

"Of course there is" Quinn contradicted her "we just have to find the light."

"How?" the girl sniffed wiping her nose on the back of her hand.

"Well" he tapped a finger on his mouth thinking "this is your dream work isn't it?"

"Yeah" she hadn't thought of it like that before.

"Then you can make the light" Owen said confidently "come on try it."

Squishing her face together she shook her head "I can't."

Taking her hand he said "let me help. Think of something bright and happy."

Smiling Phoebe clapped her hands together as a rainbow appeared above them "did I do that?" she asked in wonder.

"I think you did" Owen stared up at the ominous sky "look" he pointed towards the tentacles "the darkness is going away."

"We better find somewhere to hide" Phoebe suggested as the rainbow started to fade into the murky mists.

Pointing to a tall building in the distance "do you think we could go there?" he asked.

"It's too far" she whined.

"I'll carry you" Owen offered letting the girl climb onto his back.