Shadow Dweller Series Book 2 Redemption

Chapter 4

           Anabel wanted to stop him from going to Carlos’ realm and messing his new life. She wanted to see Carlos, but she wanted it on her terms, and not Dremis’. Looking down at the twins, she wanted them to see their father, but she didn’t want to be stuck in Hell or wherever Dremis felt she needed to be.

           “Wait Dremis.” She said getting off the bed. “Please leave him alone, he doesn’t need to be involved.” She said stopping near the door.

           Dremis stopped walking, he turned to face her. “So you want me to do my ritual on you then right?” he said waiting for her to respond.

           Anabel shook her head, she didn’t want him doing this ritual on anyone, but she didn’t want him to bring Carlos here. “Yeah, I guess.” She said lowering her head. “But we have a deal in place, so you cannot do it for three days.” She said shaking her head at him.

           “Of course Ms. Knight.” He said turning and walking away from her.

           Walking back into the room, Anabel picked up James and cuddled him. She had to figure out how she was going to get her boys to safety and stop Dremis from doing this ritual to force her to get the sword and Dremis into Heaven.

           Anabel put the babies back to sleep, Drake brought in a small crib for them to sleep in. once she felt they weren’t going to wake up, she wanted to walk around to see what kind of plan she could get together, and get the boys out of there.

           “Hi, Anabel,” Rita said coming into view. “I’m sorry for what I had to do; Dremis said that you were in danger if I didn’t do it.” She said shaking her head. “I don’t expect you to understand or to forgive me, but I hope you at least don’t hate me.” She said shaking her head.

           “I do hate you.” She said walking past Rita. “I just wish I had something to kill you with than I’d not hate you.” She said shaking her head at Rita, but she didn’t turn to face the demon.

           “Don’t worry Rita when I finish the ritual, she won’t even remember why she hated you,” Dremis said coming into view. “You only have to deal with her for a few more days, I’ll wipe all of her memories, and replant some of my own.” He said walking towards Anabel.

           “You won’t have a chance to do that ritual Dremis,” Anabel said closing her eyes. “My friends will gather and they will come for me.” She said walking away from Rita and Dremis.

           Walking back to the boys, they were still sleeping. She wanted to find a way out of there, but every time she came close, there was always someone there checking on her, it was like they were expecting her to try something.

           She wanted to get word to the Angels but didn’t know-how. Michael said her powers would only be activated during a war, or when one of her charges needed her, but she wasn’t assigned to protect anyone, at least not yet.

           Anabel was missing Misty more and more, but she didn’t even know if the Angels knew where she was, and that she was in danger. She didn’t want to betray all the good she’s done in the war, and for the people around here. She thought this part would be over, and if Heaven needed her, she would go with them, but she wanted some time for herself.

           Drake came in a little while later with some food for her and some milk for the boys. “Do you want some help feeding them?” he asked looking down at the twins.

           “Sure if you want.” She said looking at James. She picked him up and gave him a bottle, Drake picked up John he did the same. “I wish things with us were better, I’m sorry you hate me.” He said sitting in a chair near the fireplace.

           Anabel didn’t say anything; she didn’t want to communicate with Drake. Just because he was the twin’s father, it didn’t give him the right to talk to her like they were friends or something. “Just feed John.” She said taking a bite of a piece of bread. “I don’t want you to try and make me feel bad for you and want to be around you. It’s not going to work that way.” She said taking another bite.

           “I know you hate me, Anabel, I just want to work things through so at least you let me see my kids.” He said shaking his head at her. “But I do understand where you’re coming from, so I’ll guess I’ll take what I can get, and enjoy them now.” He said kissing John on the forehead.

           Anabel finished feeding James, he went to sleep. Drake laid John in the crib next to James; he sat down in the chair and waited to see if Anabel would speak to him. She didn’t, she went on eating her dinner, Drake took her dishes away when she finished.

           Climbing into bed, she wasn’t sure if Dremis would give her the three days she asked for, but she’d hope things would start to work in her favor. Looking down at her wrists, the symbol for Heaven started to ache, she wasn’t sure if it was Misty trying to find her, but she had hope things would work out for her before the three days. She rubbed them until they became numb, once that happened she felt better.

           Anabel slept most of the night, sometime in the middle of the night, she felt like something was wrong. Jumping out of bed, she went to check on the twins, they were missing.

           Anabel’s heart went into her throat; she wasn’t sure if Dremis came in and took them while she was sleeping. Rushing to the door, she opened it and ran down the hall. Dremis was sitting in the middle eating with Drake, when he saw Anabel he stopped eating, she looked panicked.

           “What’s wrong Ms. Knight?” he said standing up.

           Anabel ran towards him, she punched him in the face. Blood formed at his lip. “Well if you want to get rough you should have said something.” He said shaking his head.

           “Where are they!” she growled wanting to punch him again. “Where are my boys?”

           Drake stood up, “Anabel what are you talking about? They are sleeping in the crib in your room.” He said shaking his head at her.

           Anabel looked at Drake, “no they are not!” she said shaking her head, she wanted to fall and cry, she wasn’t sure why Dremis was doing this to her, she was doing as he asked. “Dremis, why take them you have me here?” she said shaking her head.

           “Ms. Knight, what are you talking about?” Dremis said shaking his head. “Why would I take the twins away from you? You’re right I have you and that’s all I need.” He said wiping the blood from his lip. “Here let me show you.” He said walking past her; Anabel turned and followed him back down the hallway.

           Dremis walked into the room, and over to the crib. It was empty. “Drake?” he said looking at him confused. “The twins, where are they!” he growled walking over to him. “I told you to watch them! They are gone, Heaven took them!” he growled storming out of the room almost running into Anabel. “Ms. Knight you have twenty-four hours until I do my ritual. Your Angel friends took the twins.” He said walking past her.

           “What? Yeah right, I’m sure you took them.” She said shaking her head. “I’m sure you did this to make it so I don’t get my three days as I requested.” She said folding her arms across her chest.

           Dremis didn’t stop to face her; he didn’t want to explain to her that Heaven was coming for her. He wanted to do the ritual so when they did come, she would already be on her way to being evil, and he would be moments away from Heaven.

           Drake stood over by the crib looking down, he was sad they weren’t there anymore. “Can’t you tell your friends you want me to see our children?” he said finally looking at her.

           “You don’t get your choice Drake; you chose to be bad so you have to suffer from that,” Anabel said sitting down on the bed. “Why don’t you tell Dremis just to bring them back here, I know he was the one that took them.” She said rubbing her eyes, she was exhausted but she couldn’t sleep even if she wanted to.

           Drake didn’t say anything, he excused himself out of the room, he wanted to ask Dremis what he was planning, and if he was the one that took them. He doubted Dremis was smart enough to take them and blame it on Heaven just to get them to start another war.

           Anabel looked at the crib, she was sad Heaven took the boys but didn’t come back for her. She wanted to know what was taking them so long, and why Misty hadn’t found her yet. Anabel was worried Dremis would try and grab Carlos, she wanted him safe before they came for her, at least that is what she hoped would happen.

           Getting up from the bed, Anabel wanted to talk to Dremis but knew he wouldn’t talk to her like a person. She needed to find another way out of there now that the twins were safe. Walking down the hallway, she saw Rita talking to a few guards, she didn’t look at Anabel, and instead, they walked into another room and closed the door behind them.

           Anabel walked past the door they went into, she walked to another door hoping it was unlocked and would lead outside. Quietly trying to open the door, it slowly opened, looking outside snow covered most of the ground, and it looked almost like it wanted to snow again.

           Anabel looked back to see if there was anyone there, she was alone in the hallway. Walking out the door, she quietly closed the door and headed north hoping that would lead to the portal that used to be there.