4.34 One Bad Situation After Another

Author's Note: This chapter contains subject matter that might be distressing to some. Please do not read if you have a problem with the mention of death, murder, teen sex and pregnancy.

 Silver ran a finger along the debris ridden experiment strewn table. He watched the man hunched over his test tubes, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. Clearing his throat Silver watched with a measure of interest when the Van Winkle patriarch jumped as if prodded by an electrical charge.

Turning Peter knocked over a beaker of yellowish goo that dripped slowly to the floor. "What are you doing here?" he demanded once his eyes locked on the white haired male.

"To help" Silver announced with a wave of his hand.

"Yeah right" Peter grumbled turning to remove a beaker from the heat.

Stooping he wiped up the gelatinous yellow goop from the floor.

"Why must everyone assume I'm a bad guy?" Silver asked his voice overly grieved as if it wounded his feelings that anyone would think his motives were less than pure.

"Are you serious?" Peter grunted in dismay as he wiped the goo from his fingers "you've tormented my family for years. You have some gall to feel put upon when we naturally assume you're the bad guy." He looked up his blue eyes flashing "that's like asking a poisonous snake not to bite. It just can't be done."

"Pity" Silver fingered the beakers arranged on the table.

"Don't" Peter glared at Silver as he tipped some of the contents onto the table.

"Don't what?" Silver asked with a sneer "I thought I'm the bad guy. Bad guys destroy things just because they can."

"So you admit to being the bad guy" Peter watched the man's fingers hovering over the next beaker.

Silver tipped the beaker over spilling the contents onto the counter "I guess a tiger can't change his stripes."

"Guess not" Peter grunted turning his back on the man "leave when you're finished making the mess you've come to make."

Silver smirked. He liked that Peter was unfazed by his antics. "What would you say if I could provide you with the DNA sample you need for your experiments?"

Peter held his breath a moment before exhaling "Quinn would never give the sample to you."

"She wouldn't have to" Silver dismissed the idea "the DNA is mine."

"That's not the DNA I need" Peter resumed his work hoping the irksome man would get the hint and leave.

"I'm the product of that original experiment" Silver let his words hang in the air between them "I knew that would get your attention." Silver grinned like the Cheshire cat pleased with himself.

"It does make a difference" Peter grudgingly agreed "the question now is what do you want from me?"

"That's the rub isn't it?" Silver chuckled "you're right I do want something. How much are you willing to do for a chance to solve this infertility problem? Will you give your great great granddaughter a chance to have her own family?" He knew by the look on Peter's face he had the man hooked. All he had to do was reel him in.

***

Phoebe sat on the bench her leg bouncing up and down while she waited for her boyfriend to arrive. A twig snapped causing her to jump up in surprise. Whirling around she found a couple of squirrels running from tree to tree in search of nuts. With an aggrieved moan she sank onto the bench to wait. She glanced at her phone. He was late. What was taking him so long? Her fingers hovered over the keys debating whether or not she should send another text. Closing her eyes she resisted the urge. What use would it make? He hadn't responded to the last three messages she had sent. Why would this one be any different?

Restlessly she got to her feet. She swung her arms as she paced back and forth in front of the bench. She tried not to think about the reluctance she heard in his voice when she last spoke to him. The grudging agreement when he said he'd meet her. Things hadn't been the same since that night.

She hugged her arms tight around herself as her mind drifted. It had been a full moon she recalled. It had been so bright. They hadn't needed flashlights to guide them to their favorite place. A smile graced her lips as she remembered the way the air seemed to sizzle with magic as his hands caressed her skin. His touch made her skin tingle with a heat she'd never felt before. When his lips met hers her mouth opened inviting him in. Everything within her came alive. She felt his heart beating in his chest as her hands explored his body. His hands moved up her shirt unclasping her bra. Everything was happening so fast. Her brain was yelling at her to slow down. As one new sensation swept through after another her brain completely switched off.

Before she fully realized what they were doing she woke up in his arms naked shivering from the cool breeze. The sky had a rosy hue as the sun began to rise. He had nuzzled up close to her murmuring in his sleep as she tried to crawl out from beneath him. "We need to go home" she said as he protested her attempts to wake him.

The wind stirred her hair. It was hard believe that magical night was six weeks ago. Hard to believe that the boy she gave her virginity to had hardly spoken to her since that night. What she thought had been a magical, special, mind blowing moment had been nothing more to him than sex. Tears pricked her eyes as a feeling of shame and worthlessness swept through her. How had she been so blind. Did she really think at fourteen well fifteen in less than a month, she'd find her one true love? Yet she had believed. She still believed in love at first sight. Believed there was one person for everyone. She had been an idiot.

"Well" his voice startled her "I'm here." He tossed his dark hair from his eyes the suns rays picking out the purple highlights.

She put a hand up to her chest "you startled me" she gasped.

Crossing his arms he smirked "I don't have all day."

"I..." she bit her lip staring into is handsome face. He was older then her. More experienced. She knew instinctively she wasn't his first "I think I might be pregnant."

His eyes went wide then narrowed an instant later "you think it's mine?"

Her mouth dropped open upon hearing the doubt in his voice "of course it's yours if I'm pregnant," she stammered. She reached a shaking hand up to wipe away the angry tears that were cascading down her cheeks "I...I've never had sex before that night or since."

He had an odd look in his eyes as he gazed down at her "what do you expect me to do about it?"

His voice was brittle. His tone confirmed what she already thought, that night meant nothing to him except another notch on his belt. What a fool she had been to think he loved her. "Nothing" she spat at him "I want nothing from you."

Shrugging he took a step forward "then why am I here?"

"I thought you might want to know," she took a deep breath willing the tears to stop. She didn't want him to see her cry.

"Anything else" he asked his voice clipped and bored.

Crossing her arms she looked him up and down "you don't really care do you?" She didn't know why she asked. The answer was written all over him.

"Not in the slightest" he turned to walk away.

"Don't ever call me again" she called after him "I never want to see you again." She held it together long enough to watch him walk out of the part before sinking onto the bench. Now what was she going to do?

***

Phoenix knew something was wrong the moment he arrived in his haven. It was silent. Too silent. The trees were still which they never were. Where were the twins?

"You've been keeping secrets" a man said as he came from the house.

His heart thudded against his chest as the emissary came to a stop in front of him. "I don't know what you mean" he said evasively eyes never leaving the emissaries face.

Tapping his fingers on a device the twins appeared before them held within a stasis field "are these not your children?"

"Dad" the twins cried at once struggling in their invisible prison "what's happening?"

"It's going to be alright" his voice confident despite the panic that made his heart pound.

"Who is their mother?" the emissary demanded unconcerned with the fear he was raising in the children.

Phoenix gave the man a cool calculated stare "their mother is none of your concern."

The emissaries eyes glared at him with undisguised anger "I beg to differ. Their mother is of great concern. She's another watcher. Don't bother to deny it. Who is she?"

Phoenix turned his gaze away from the enraged man. He knelt before his children "don't be afraid. No matter what happens. Don't be afraid."

They nodded eyes round with fear despite their father's words to the contrary. "We love you daddy" 

Ivy cried wanting to bury her head on her father's chest. Feel his comforting arms around her.

"I know sweetheart" Phoenix blinked back tears not wanting them to see him cry "Ellery take care of your sister."

"I will dad" he nodded eyes moist with tears but like his father he was keeping the waterworks from gushing.

"Isn't this sweet" the emissary cooed "too bad the boy won't be able to keep his promise."

"You can't separate them" Phoenix protested as if he had any power to prevent it.

"Who is the mother?" the emissary demanded.

Phoenix wanted nothing more then to gather his children to his side. Hug and kiss them. Assure them that no matter what happened they would have each other. He couldn't do or say any of that. It was all too clear the emissary was going to take them. Separate them from each other and everything they ever knew. "I'm sorry" he whispered blinking fast.

"Very well" the emissary said coldly "you Phoenix Cross broke the watcher code of conduct. These illicit children are hereby property of the council to do with as they see fit."

"Wait" Phoenix implored "please allow me to say goodbye to them."

As if he were deaf to the man's pleas the emissary continued "all parental rights are hereby rescinded. The children known as Ellery and Ivy cross are given into the hands of the council." The heartlessness of the proceedings left them stunned. The man released the stasis field "with the power invested in me I give you the mark of the ...."

"Go" Phoenix shouted at his children hoping they remembered what they had prepared in case something like this happened.

Ellery grabbed his sisters hand nodding once towards his dad before vanishing with her. To Phoenix it felt like forever for the children to vanish but it was only a few seconds. A maneuver they had practiced in case it was necessary to evade the council. The twins were now truly on their own. In a dimension other than their own. 

"Where did they go?" the emissary demanded coming towards Phoenix. The air vibrating with the beings rage. 

Shaking his head Phoenix took a step backwards "I don't know and even if I did I wouldn't tell you."

"You don't know" the emissary shouted sending a bolt of energy towards Phoenix.

Phoenix stumbled back crying out in pain. Toppling over he was dimly aware of voices around him and the stricken look on the emissaries face. Then nothing but silence, darkness and pain.

***

Serafino waited at the edge of the castle boundaries. Why had Silver insisted on meeting him here? It was too close to his adversary. He glared up at the dark foreboding walls. This should have been his. Serafino could feel his rage bubbling up within him. 

How could the clan elders be so stupid as to want a mongrel vampire as the ruler? Even the mongrel preferred to act and live like a human. It even had a human wife. On the other hand he was a pure breed. He was of noble stock. He Serafino should be the esteemed one of Moonlight Falls. If only his assignation attempt had been successful. Hard to imagine that was over ten years ago. Luckily for him he had not spent all those years in prison. He still had powerful allies.

He turned. His foot brushed against something in the thick brush. The wind rustled the air around him. He sniffed. It was thick with the scent of blood. Hungrily he followed the scent. It had been too long since he had the pleasure of dining on sweet succulent blood. Plasma fruit was no substitute for the real thing. The years he had been incarcerated and the following years of probation he had been deprived of the real thing. Treated like an common criminal. It irked him to know he had helped pass that law into existence. Even worse knowing Adam had argued to the contrary. His argument had been what if blood lust took over the criminal and that led him to kill someone. Like that would ever happen. He, Serafino was stronger than that.

His eyes glowed a dangerous glint within their orbs. His mouth watered as his hunger grew. Something lay in the bushes. Dropping to his knees beside the inert body all logic fled his mind as blood lust to control. His fangs protruded as he scooped the semiconscious woman in his arms. 

Her eyes fluttered open, emerald green and frightened. She murmured something as his fangs sank into her artery in her neck. He sucked hungrily upon the succulent nectar of her blood. As his blood lust abated he laid the woman's corpse on the ground where he had found her. Her blood dribbled down his chin staining the front of his shirt. He breathed deeply as his heart rate slowed to nothing. Opening his eye he moaned aloud "what have I done?" He reached an unsteady hand over to close the woman's eyelids unable to take the blank glossy stare. The woman's once rosy complexion was chalky white from having her life's blood drained from her. 

Looking around he could see the castle walls through the thick shrubbery. With a sickening realization he knew Silver had set this whole thing up. Silver had arranged for him to be here. 

Ensured the woman would be unable to call for help. Knew that Serafino would not be able to control the blood lust once it manifested itself inside him. This had been Silver's plan all along. He had never meant to follow through on his end of the bargain.

"Oh but I did" Silver smiled at the man "I said I'd take care of the woman." Gesturing towards her body "and I did."

Serafino swallowed, the taste of the woman's blood filled his mouth almost making him want to gag. "You framed me for murder" he growled.

"I didn't frame you" Silver laughed "I simply made it easy for you to commit murder."

The blood drained from Serafino's face "I didn't murder anyone..." he postured.

Silver stepped into the shadows "tell that to the guards while her blood drips from your chin."

"Where is she?" Adam cried stumbling into the crowded area. The guards parted allowing him access. "Beverly" he called her name falling to his knees beside her body. Crying he cradled her lifeless boy in his arms "Beverly don't leave me." He rocked her body back and forth moaning "don't leave me. I need you." He buried his face in her hair filling his senses with her lingering scent.

"What is he still doing here?" Keenan demanded.

"We are waiting for transport" one of the guards informed him.

Glancing towards his distraught father Keenan ordered "get him out of here before the esteemed one sees him."

The guards eyes slid towards Adam and nodded. Taking Serafino by the arms he prodded him into moving.

Struggling Serafino pleaded to Keenan "I didn't kill her."

"Of course you didn't" Keenan snapped "you only tried to kill my father and you want me to believe you didn't kill my mother. Do you think I'm an idiot? You have her blood all over you."

"You have to believe me" Serafino cried desperation taking control as he broke free from the guard "I was set up. I had no control over my actions."

Shaking the desperate man Keenan coldly glared at him "why should I believe you?"

"There's a bigger threat" Serafino insisted "he's the one who set this up."

Before Serafino could continue several guards led him away. Keenan watched silently dwelling upon Serafino's words. There was only one other person who was a bigger threat to his family. Keenan shivered as his mind said the man's name silently within his mind.

Keenan glanced over at his grieving father. The guards had gotten him to release Beverly's body. A sheet shrouded her body. Shoving aside everything else Keenan went to him "dad you're coming home with me."

Turning towards the sound of his son's voice Adam nodded with blank eyes. "She's gone," he moaned falling into his son's arms.

"It's going to be alright" Keenan soothed doubting every word he was saying. There was no way this would ever be alright.