Our Last Hope

Home Sweet Hell

I had just settled back into my room when there was a knock at the door. Mama had taken a break from the hospital, I assured her that I would be just fine. I knew that Gregor would be here soon and I was hoping to get some alone time with him anyway.

“Knock knock!”

Before I could answer, Gregor popped his head in past the door. I smiled at him and waved him in.

“How are you feeling mama?”

Gregor walked right over to the bed and sat on the corner. He placed his hand on top of the blanket and happened to be on my knee. I didn’t pull away, it felt nice to actually be comforted by someone that I care about. I shrugged my shoulders, I was feeling a lot better, I was just really stressed out. William hadn’t made an appearance in a couple of days. I was worried that he was plotting something big.

“I’m okay, I just have a lot on my mind right now.”

“Do you want to talk about it? I can be a great listener.”

I placed my hand on his and smiled at him.

“I know that you are, I just don’t know if I’m ready to talk about it yet.”

The whole situation with William had gotten out of hand and I wasn’t sure where to go from here. I didn’t want him to hurt my children, I wouldn’t put it past him. He would try to use the babies against me, just to hurt me. Not to mention, we still had the pending attack from the great and powerful mutt. We had all seemed to forget about him. After all, we hadn’t heard an update in over six months. I've been too busy living my life on eggshells.

"I know Win, I know that you've been going through a lot, but it might help to talk about it."

I nodded my head and gave him a shy smile. I knew that he was right, but I didn't want to unload all of my bullshit onto him, he had enough going on.

"Winnie, if you don't tell me, I can just go inside your mind."

Damnit he was right. Ever since we became friends, he began testing the limits when it came to our telepathy, he had gotten quite good at it actually.

I huffed, I would probably prefer that. I was too tired and frustrated to say any of this out loud.

"Go right ahead."

Gregor smiled and closed his eyes. It was a little harder for vampires to penetrate each other's minds, unless you were directly related or mated. Gregor has been struggling with his attempts, closing his eyes and clearing his mind was a sure fire way for it to work.

I started to giggle, he looked kind of silly when he tried to get into my mind. A giddy smile spread across his lips.

"I need absolute silence please. Let me penetrate your mind."

I couldn't contain my laughter any longer.

"Can you not say the word penetrate?"

Gregor squinted out one of his eyes and looked at me. He smirked and then closed them once more.

Am I in?

I stared to giggle.

I don't know, are you?Okay shush, let me take a look around.

I let my mind take a backseat as Gregor went exploring. After a few minutes I felt Gregor leave my head space.

"I see. Well, let me just that nothing will ever happen to you or your children while I'm around. I'm sure your parents will be more than happen for you to stay with them. And the mutt problem has been distinguished, for now. I haven't heard anything new. The chief told me that the mutt went further North and hasn't been spotted in a couple months."

Gregor moved up closer to me and I felt a warm fuzzy feeling taking over. I had goosebumps cover my body, something felt new, and different. I didn't mind it. It was the first time in a long time that I felt that pull that I had learned to love so much.

I sat up a little straighter in bed and stared into Gregor's eyes. I subconsciously leaned in and Gregor mirrored my actions. Suddenly, his lips touched mine. I felt a literal spark between our skin and it felt like my body was on fire, but in the good way.

I felt his fingers in my hair and he pressed me to him. I sat up on my knees and placed my hands on the back of his head. My mind went blank as our tongues intertwined. I pressed my breasts to his chest and a low moan escaped my lips. I felt wetter than I ever have before. There was something even stronger about the pull with Gregor than I have ever felt with William. William and I had passion, but when I was kissing Gregor, it was for survival. I was breathless as I tried to form words.

Gregor laid me back onto the hospital bed, his lips never left mine. I unhooked the front of my sports bra and my breasts toppled out. Gregor growled as he felt my bare breasts on his forearms. I felt the full weight of his body on mine. I wanted him, I didn't care where we were or who might walk in on us. I felt so much passion that I thought my heart was about to burst. I started to shimmy my way out of my yoga pants and exposed the dimples in my hips, but Gregor stopped me suddenly.

"No, wait. I don't want to hurt you."

He pulled away from me and looked down into my eyes. I couldn’t believe he stopped me, I thought he wanted this to happen.

"I'll be fine, I assure you." I pulled him back down to my face and attacked his lips.

He started to shake his head.

"No, no. I'm sorry. I can't do this. I mean, I WANT to do this. But I can't. Not until certain people leave our lives."

I huffed, he was right. Gregor pulled away from me and readjusted himself. I struggled to put my breasts away. I saw Gregor's disappointment as I zipped them in. I sat up on my knees and Gregor cupped my face in his hands. He planted a light kiss on my lips and pressed his forehead against mine. I felt another spark and a pull. Our minds were linked permanently.

But how can I have two mates?

"That's because your bond with William is wavering. Your souls know that they are in turmoil."

"I didn't now that you knew so much about this."

I pulled away and looked at Gregor, he was struggling with something. I reached forward and pushed his bright blond curls out of his face. His crystal blue eyes were clouded with deep thoughts. His eyes had changed back to their original color once daddy let Gregor into the Coven.

"Tell me what's on your mind."

He tilted his head down and couldn't make eye contact with me.

"Gregor, tell me." I could tell that he was replaying something in his mind, over and over again. "Gregor, please tell me. I've lost you somewhere in there, come back to me."

He finally looked up at me, his eyes were filled with tears. He tried to shake it off before I could see.

"Nothing, I just feel like history is repeating itself."

It hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew that there were some similarities between their childhood and the abuse that was being inflicted, but now I could truly see it. William was turning into his father, whether he realized it or not. Gregor did warn me about the hunger for power that William couldn’t get away from.

“I just don’t want the same thing to happen to you.” There was desperation in his voice as the words left his lips.

I tilted his chin up so he could look into my eyes.

“That will never be me. William will never get the chance.” That seemed to calm Gregor a bit. There was something in that statement that he was forced to believe. I had to continue to play a dangerous game before mama and daddy could execute their plan.

There was a light knock on the door that made Gregor and I suddenly pull away from each other. Mama strolled into the room with Starbucks in one hand and her phone in the other. She was startled when she finally saw who was in the room.

“Oh! I’m sorry. Am I intruding?” She looked embarrassed, as if she knew what she was interrupting.

Gregor began shaking his head, “No, no Mrs. Harrington. I am sorry, I should get going. Win needs her rest.” I knew that he couldn’t leave the room without giving me a kiss so he settled for a kiss on the temple. He quietly waved and bowed slightly to my mother before heading towards the door. Mother followed him with her eyes until the door shut behind him. She whipped her head in my direction and there was frustration written all over you face.

“You are playing with fire my dear.” There was an edge to her voice, she was not messing around.

I felt like the time she yelled at me for coloring on my bedroom walls.

“I know mama, I just can’t help the way I feel. Gregor and I are so much more in tune with one another. I don’t understand how all of this could be happening. Honestly, my mind in spinning.”

Mama came over and set the coffee on the table next to my bed and sat next to me.

“I know that you’re going through a lot but you have to keep your head down and keep the suspicion off of you. What your father and I are planning is going to raise a lot of flags, we have to keep you out of the cross hairs as much as possible. You have to act as if nothing is wrong, you have to pretend that you are still madly in love.” She sighed dramatically, she had more to share. “I’m afraid that you have to go back home when they discharge you.”

I couldn’t keep my mouth from hitting the floor.

“Mama! You cannot be serious? I can’t go back to that house, he will kill me!” I began to panic and I could feel the cold sweats set in. I started to shake and felt the sweat gather on the back of my neck. The hair on my body stood at attention and I knew that I was having a panic attack. I felt mama’s hands on my forearms as she tried to keep me calm.

“No he won’t darling. I promise you. You will never truly be alone. And you and I both know that he cannot kill you without damning himself.”

Mama pulled me to her chest as the tears filled my eyes. I felt my breathing regulate as my hyperventilating ebbed. I sighed dramatically in her ear.

“How long?”

Mama pulled away from me and looked at me with sympathy in her eyes. She sucked in her lips and I saw her choke down a lump in her throw.

“Mama, how long?”

There was a brief pause, “3 months.”

I felt my body go numb, another 3 months of abuse. I don’t know how much longer I can go through with this. I knew that it was part of the plan, I just wish that someone would let me in on it. Tears continued to stream down my face and mama kissed them away. She pulled my head to her chest and stroked my hair.

“I know honey, I’m so sorry.” I could feel her tears falling on my forehead. “But we have to time it right with the wedding. On the night of the rehearsal dinner is when we will do it.”

I nodded my head slightly as I understood what she was saying. It was meant to look like a tragic, unexpected loss. I would have to look like the distraught widow the morning of her wedding, I would have to find my husband dead next to me. I was curious how they were going to do it. There were only three ways to kill a vampire, two of which were with extreme violence. The last was more inconspicuous, deadly nightshade.

******

I started to gather my stuff from around the hospital room. William still hadn’t been back to the hospital or even bothered to check on the babies. I shook my head as I packed my suitcase. Mama and Daddy had gone to the nursery to get the twins so we could take them home. I wanted to ask daddy about William’s whereabouts, I guess no news was good news.

Among the errands that mama ran yesterday, she made sure to stop by the house and grab the car seats, along with the Tahoe for some extra room.

“Who is ready to see mommy?”

Dad came in holding the two carriers in either hand. Mama had the diaper bag flung over her shoulder as she followed in close behind him. Lastly, Gregor and the discharge nurse were at the back of the group.

“Alright Ms. Harrington, who is ready to go home?” I hid behind the smile on my face, I didn’t want to go home, I want to burn that cabin to the ground. “Alright, let’s get your paperwork filled out and you will be on your way!”

Mama and daddy gave the nurse some room as she presented me with a clipboard, there were easily 50 pages that I had to fill out. We made our way through the large stack and after about a half hour, we were finally finished.

“Alright you three, you are all set to go home!” I gave the nurse a sweet smile and she left the room.

I decided to feed the twins one last time, hopefully they would knock out on the two hour car ride home.

When I was finished, I strapped the twins back into their respective carriers. I knew now would be the perfect time to ask about William. Without looking up I directed the question to daddy.

“Daddy? Where is William right now?”

The room went silent, did they honestly think that I wasn’t going to ask about his whereabouts?

“He’s still at the cabin. He had been coming and going the last couple days but he was either running errands or going for a run. We’ve had the guard doing constant sweeps of the territory around the cabin as well as inside. There hasn’t been anything out of place. You will be under constant surveillance, if he tries anything, there will be a guard standing by.”

As much as I wanted that to calm me down, it didn’t. If I had to keep William from getting suspicious I would have to play along with him. As much as I wanted to rip his throat out, I couldn’t give the guard any reason to interfere.

I looked up at daddy and he had that look in his eyes, I look that gave me an uneasy feeling. I knew that he didn’t feel right about sending me back, but we all knew that we didn’t have a choice. Daddy helped me to my feet and pulled me into his chest. I felt his chin on the top of my head and his fingers in my hair.

“I love you so much bug. I promise that nothing will happen to you. This will all be over soon.”

Daddy released me and I felt his hand linger on my shoulder.

“Shall we get you three loaded up?” Gregor was trying to cut the silence in the room. I silently nodded my head and the rest of the room all grabbed at something. Daddy picked up the twins, mama had the diaper bag and Gregor grabbed my bag and pillow. We all headed downstairs and out into the late fall air. It was a bit chilly but both cars were already running.

One car would take mama and daddy home and the other was for Gregor and I. It didn’t surprise me that Gregor would be the one to look after me. Mama, daddy, and I all shared a tearful goodbye, it was hard to separate from them, but I knew what I had to do.

A knot formed in my stomach as I Gregor helped me into the passenger seat of the Tahoe and shut the door. I watched him walk in front of the car and climb into the driver’s seat. The twins had passed out as expected, at least I would have to quiet time to think on the way home to my hell on Earth.

*****

We pulled down the gravel road and I wanted to throw up. All the lights were on and the chimney was puffing smoke, William had the fire going and I could see him moving around inside. Gregor reached across the center console and squeezed my hand, it was a last minute assurance that I would be okay.

Gregor helped me detached the carriers before grabbing the bags from the trunk. I didn’t know what awaited me inside those walls. What kind of father and fiancé doesn’t help his mate come home from the hospital, especially after giving birth to his children? Gregor handed me the bags and he grabbed the babies, they were just beginning to stir as we stepped in passed the door.

William was sitting on the couch facing the tv when we walked in. He turned his head just enough to look at me out of the corner of his eye.

“Oh good, you’re home.” He had an creepy tone to his voice, he seemed too cheery. I could feel Gregor tense next to me, he would have to hide his anger better than that. We needed to keep a very discreet profile.

William strode over to me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. He held me tighter than he should, it was a rigid hug that I wanted to wiggle out of. He let me go and quickly knelt down by the babies.

“Look how perfect they are. I’m so happy that they are home.”

There was something about his interaction with the twins that seemed genuine, I didn’t feel uneasy about him being around them. I couldn’t let my guard down though, I wouldn’t be able to sleep much the next couple months, not until that monster is ash on the ground.