Our Last Hope

Living Hell

We were getting close to the wedding. The timeline had been ticking and so was my patience. I needed desperately to get out of here. I couldn't wait to have these babies and start my new life, without William. The sooner he was dead, the better. 

I was beginning to get scars, my wounds from him were healed but the residual marks stayed behind. My belly was getting bigger with each passing week. It didn't look good for an extremely pregnant teen to have marks and old bruises covering her body. 

William forbid me to go outside most of the time, and when I did go out, he would have to accompany me. I was supposed to wear something that would cover the marks, if I didn't, I would receive more beatings. It was a relentless cycle of abuse. Some how, it was making me stronger. The closer we got to the finish line, the more I started to fight back. Unfortunately, most women in my situation don't have the same strength I do. I am one of the lucky ones to have my parents in my corner. 

My mother began to drink more and more. Every new mark that showed, she would take another dram of whiskey. She couldn't bare that she was the one that kept me in this. I assured her that it wasn't because of her. I was in no state to move right now anyway. I couldn't do it while I was pregnant and there was the contract to think about. 

I was sitting on the lanai, that was the only fresh air that William allowed me. I was technically outside but was still sheltered. As usual, William would always put on a happy face and be the dotting husband that everyone thought he was in public, even around my parents. Behind closed doors, it was a completely different story. 

My days were filled with a lot of one on one time with mama but my nights were filled with s****l abuse and beatings. Despite the constant merry-go-round of abuse, I felt my inner flame burn brighter than it had before. I knew that it was going to be over soon. 

Mama had convinced William and I to stay until the babies were born. William obviously needed more convincing than I did. I knew that if we went back to the cabin, I would be killed. 

Mama and William would accompany me to the doctor's every week. Despite the doctor telling William to leave the room, he would always play the mate card and they would have to back down. They could see the marks and scars, but they couldn't say anything unless I did. Mama said it best,

"It will happen, it just needs to be the right time."

I would leave my appointments, internally screaming and praying for these babies to come out. I was terrified that William would continue the abuse on them too. I prayed for them, I prayed that William would look at them as an extension of himself, and that would keep them safe. Mama promised me that she would keep them safe no matter what. They would be having a lot of sleepovers at Mimi's and Papa's for a while.

"Do you want to know the s*x of the babies?"

The tech was only addressing me. She made constant eye contact with me, she never once looked at William. Which shocker, he didn't like very much. Seeing as William had no control over the tech, she always fought back when he was being a d**k. 

"Excuse me, I am the father. Don't you want to ask me that?"

The tech looked at him like he was stupid. 

"Seeing as you are not currently carrying them, I could give two shits."

Mother and I gasped while secretly cheering her on. William filled with rage and decided to excuse himself. He knew that he couldn't murder a human with so many witnesses. He tossed the curtain aside and stepped out into the hallway. 

"I'm sorry, but I don't have patience for men that think that they are God's gift to women." She rolled her eyes and placed her wand back on the stand. "Did you want to know the s*x dear?"

I shook my head as I wiped off the goo on my belly.

"I'm kind of scared to know." 

The tech nodded sympathetically and placed her hand on my shoulder. She leaned in close to my ear. 

"If you need anything, you come right back here. Feign labor, we will help you."

It was no secret that she knew what was going on. Tears started to fill my eyes and I nodded my head. She gave me a shy smile and pulled the machine out of the room. 

Mama leaned over and kissed my cheek. 

"Three more months." She whispered

"Three more months." I echoed.

William was waiting out from of the hospital in a huff. He was on the phone with someone. 

"I don't care if she's human! She needs to be fired. You should of heard the way that she disrespected my wife! She's in tears because of that b***h!"

Mama threw her arm over my shoulder and we walked right past William on the sidewalk as he screamed to whoever was on the phone. She led me to the car with William trying to catch up with us. When we were in the car, William climbed into the driver's seat and slammed the door. He didn't dare turn to face me right now. 

"So did you find out the s*x?" He looked at me through the rear view mirror. 

I wrapped my cardigan closer around my belly and shook my head. I was staring out the window, watching an empty grocery bag, blowing in the wind. It got stuck on a branch high up in the tree. Very funny universe.  

"You will look at me when I speak to you." 

Mama placed her  hand on my thigh in backseat and shot daggers at William. 

"You will NOT speak to her like that!"

William has never lost his cool in front of my mother before, there's a first time for everything. He got all huffy again and realized that he had f****d up. William put the car in drive and we took off towards home. Mama pulled me to her chest and stroked my hair. 

Three more months.

I echoed in my brain, it was my mantra. 

*****

My parents had thrown me a beautiful baby shower that next month. I remember mother running around like a chicken with her head cut off. She forbid me to help, I was nearly 8 months pregnant with twins. Normal women would be told to go on bedrest. With me being a vampire, they told me that I could handle it a little more than most. Dr. Snell just told me to take it easy and sit when I need to sit. 

Mama had set me up in the lanai with a blood orange smoothie (haha get it?!). I was happily sipping watching the room buzz about. William came in mid preparations and starting yelling at me. He called me every name in the book. To sum it up, he called me a lazy cunt in front of my mother. 

Mama didn't like that much, she bite back so f*****g hard. 

"How f*****g dare you! I ordered her to sit. She is about to give birth to your demon spawn! Get the f**k out of my sight!"

William squared up to my mother, he wasn't backing down. He smiled down at her, that sinister grin that haunted my nightmares. 

"Make me mom." 

Mama wasn't sure what to say or do with that, but she didn't back down. William eventually gave up and walked out of the room. Before he left, he made sure to turn and tell me that I would pay for that later. 

Mother shook her head as he disappeared from sight and ran over to me and pulled me to her chest. She started sobbing. 

Killing him is going to be so satisfying.  

Despite the drama earlier that day, the shower was perfect. Daddy even came in and made an appearance at one point. William stayed hidden away, but I knew he wasn't too far. I could feel the evil aura in the house, he was always around watching me. 

Daddy offered to take me upstairs to bed once everything was cleaned up. Mama and I both echoed. 

"No!"

"I mean, I can take her up, it's no trouble." Mama pleaded with daddy through eye contact. Daddy did her one better. 

"Actually darling. I don't feel comfortable with Winnie climbing those stairs in her condition. Why don't you and Winnie take our room darling. I sleep in the study."

I started to nod my head enthusiastically and daddy smiled down at me. 

"Then it's settled!" mama clapped her hands matching my energy. "I'll have them bring the leftovers into my room and we can pig out all night!" 

Mama turned to one of the housekeepers walking by. 

"Caroline, will you be a dear and go up to Winnie's room and grab her things?" Caroline bowed and smiled before heading upstairs. 

Mama helped me waddle over to her room and I sat down on the edge of the bed. For the first time in a long time, I was about to get a good night's sleep. 

William was internally yelling and cursing at the idea, he knew that he wouldn't be able to deliver that pay back he promised. I turned him off and starting preparing for bed. 

We stayed up and watched all the classics. Bridget Jones Diary, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty Woman. We had every snack possible and had a great time reminiscing about my childhood and old times. I think that we finally passed out around midnight. 

Around 4 am, I jolted up out of bed. I felt a wet puddle between my knees. At first I thought that it was blood, but it was clear. s**t. 

 I started shoving mama lightly, trying to wake her. Knowing her, she was about to get up anyway. Mama shot up and blinked rapidly trying to adjust. I held my finger up to my lips and pointed down.

Her eyes bugged out and she nodded her head, she understood perfectly. 

Daddy crept in a couple moments later, mama must have linked him. Daddy came over to my side of the bed and braced himself against the mattress. He reached his hands forward and braced them on my wrists. He mouthed his countdown and on three he heaved me up out of bed. When I stood, there was another gush of clear liquid that covered the floor. I tried to apologize but daddy shook his head and shushed me. 

Mama was quick to gather my things and grab a pillow. 

Are we telling him? 

I looked at mama and nodded.

We have to, it will only make things worse if we don't.

She looked down at the ground and nodded her head. Daddy and I interlocked elbows as he led me out of their bedroom and took me straight to the car. I left mother in charge of waking William. I knew that she could handle him. 

Within 2 minutes, he was down at the Jeep with the keys in the ignition. 

My contractions were getting faster and harder the closer we got to the hospital. William was shouting at me through link.

Shut up.

It doesn't hurt that bad.

You're just doing this for attention. 

Mama had intercepted a few to remind me that I was doing a great job and that She will block him as much as she can. The block only angered William more. I saw his knuckles turn white as he gripped the steering wheel harder. 

We finally pulled up to the valet and it was a mad dash to get inside. Mama and Daddy jumped out and helped me out of the backseat, while William stood there and looked bored. 

"I'll be in after a while."

No one argued with his absence as my parents escorted me inside. Within minutes I was registered and put up in my room. Daddy decided to stand guard of the door while mama was my coach. I was so thankful to have her. I guess I had always imagined my mate doing her role, but I was so grateful that he wasn't here and she was. 

She let me squeeze her hand as she stroked my back. The contractions were closer together and I was progressing much faster than they thought. There was no time for an epidural. 

You can do this Winnie! Breath my darling. You've got this. 

The room was buzzing with extra sets of hands. I watched as they frantically set up two of everything. I only saw red eyes as the nurses and doctors came and went. This was a high profile birth and it was definitely unique. 

Dr. Snell sprinted in, dressing as he approached the bed. 

"Alright let's check here." 

He disappeared under the makeshift blanket that they gave me. He looked up and smiled. 

"Are you ready? These babies don't feel like waiting much longer."

I nodded my head and listened to his instructions. About 35 minutes later, I heard the most beautiful cry echo throughout the room. It was my son, he was beautiful. He looked nothing like his father which I was thankful for. I prayed that both of my children would look more like me than their father, he didn't deserve them to. 

"It's a boy! Congratulations mom!" 

I started crying as I followed my son with my eyes. Mama hugged my shoulders and kissed my cheek. 

"I'm so proud of you Winnie. He's gorgeous."

I was only allowed to rest of a minute or two before I had to start pushing again. 

Another cry filled the air, but it was dainty, it was soft. 

"It's a girl! Congratulations mom! You did so great!" 

Dr. Snell was beaming as he smiled up at me. He nodded up at me before he began addressing the mess around him. I zoned out when they placed my babies on my chest. 

Lillian Rose Harrington on the right

Henry Michael Harrington on the left. 

Mama was besides herself. She couldn't stop kissing me. The room was so joyful, I haven't felt anything like this for quite some time. 

When everything was cleaned up and the room started to empty, daddy came in with fresh tears in his eyes. 

"I heard the cries from the hallway. I figured it their crying, so should I." 

I smiled up at my dad, he was so goofy. He is going to make a wonderful papa. He came up and kissed my forehead. He said a hushed prayer over the three of us. 

"So who is who?"

I chuckled and introduced him to his grandbabies. 

"This beauty on my right is Lillian Rose Harrington. And this strapping boy is Henry Michael Harrington."

Daddy gasped and the tears popped up. 

He could barely speak, "Now that's what I call a name." He was blubbering, I have never seen him like this before. 

Suddenly, I felt a dark energy fill the atmosphere. 

Something wicked this way comes.

Mama and Daddy stood up a little straighter as they prepared for the intruder. William came trudging into the room. He ignored my parents and went straight to the opposite side of the bed. 

He went straight for my son. There was no oohing or ahhing, he didn't say thank you or say how proud he was of me. He gently scooped up Henry and pulled him to his chest. It wasn't until he had secured him that his demeanor changed, but only for a split second. He softened just for a moment before looking down at me in disgust. 

"So we have a girl too?" I smiled up at him, which he didn't reciprocate. 

"Yes, would you like to hold her?"

William didn't even look at me. He shook his head and turned his attention back down to Henry. 

"What did you name my son?"

I took a deep breath, the peace in the room began to thin and I knew my parent's were seething. 

"His name is Henry."

William shot up his head and glared at me. He knew the significance to that name. 

"It's not something I would have picked." 

I scoffed and tried to hold in my temper, it didn't work. I was spitting fire. 

"What would you have named him? Blaze? Sequoia? or were you thinking William? After his egotistical, son of a b***h father! Should he even call you that? You didn't bother to be here for his birth?" 

William's eyes turned blood red. He was ready to snap. Without thinking, I handed Lilly off to my mother who clutched her to her chest. Henry became to cry at the change in energy. William looked down at him disgusted and handed him to my father's awaiting hands. 

"Please take MY children out of the room please." I squared off with William. I wasn't afraid of him anymore. I had my children, they were the only good thing to come out of this union. I wasn't about to give them up. 

My parents shuffled out of room the with the babies and daddy went to retrieve a doctor, he knew that I was going to need one. 

Despite the aching I felt in between my legs I sat up and knelt on the bed. I got higher into William's face. I must have a death wish.

"What's the matter baby? You got what you wanted. You have your boy, you can kill me now."

William either couldn't say anything or didn't want to so I continued on. 

"Believe me, I've been praying for death every chance I get. There is nothing more for you to do to me, other than kill me." My sarcasm that had long disappeared magically reappeared. There was another point on that contract that non of us thought about. He had already broken his promise to protect me and to keep me safe. If he killed me, he would die too. 

He smiled down at me, he knew that he couldn't kill, he was just going to make my life a living hell. 

"You can torture me, rape me and beat me. But I won't go without a fight. I have something to live for now and you do not." I spit in his face. He was the spawn of Satan. I couldn't wait to stand over his dead body and laugh. 

I had a new determination in me, I felt the fuel to my fire. I was not going to go down easy. There is nothing else that he could do to me to break my spirit.

I saw the flames flicker in his eyes briefly before He brought his hand back and slapped me across the face. It was so hard that I flew off the bed and landed on the cold tile floor. I must have knocked down several monitors in the process. The crash sounded louder than it hurt me. I stood easily and assessed the damage. Other than the small trickles of blood that were falling to the floor, I was fine. I knew that I had a mark across my face, but the adrenaline was keeping me on my feet. 

This would be our little secret. We were both playing a very dangerous game. It was a sophisticated game of chess and I was about to be the grand master. I stuck my middle finger up and proud at William before turning to head into the bathroom. I wanted to shower and I hoped that he would be gone by the time I got out. 

Well my wish was granted. By the time I dried off and pulled on my sweats, I opened the door and William was no where to be found. I put my dirty gown into the bio bin by the door and noticed that the sheets on my bed had been stripped and changed and all the monitors were now upright and in their rightful positions. 

Mama came in just as I was climbing into bed to rest. Most of my body felt pretty good, my knees were a little beat up and wobbling from when I was thrown across the room. When she saw me, she zeroed in on the new red mark right below my eye. 

She bit her lip and was ready to scream. I closed my eyes and shook my head. I had no more tears to cry over him. 

"I'm fine mama. Please don't worry about me. Where are my children?"

She relaxed and came over to sit next to me on the bed. 

"They are just fine. Your father is with them. The staff has the babies on lock down. Only you, me and your father have access to them. They do ask that you come to them, if you are feeling energized enough."

I nodded my head. I knew that they needed to be fed, and I was the only source of food. Mama reached forward for my hand and gently raised me out of bed. I stepped into my non-slip moccasins and we shuffled down the hall to the nursery. 

*****

They are absolutely perfect. They are so beautiful and full of life. I can feel how pure they are, I was afraid that they would inherit dark energy. They were in and out of sleep as I fed them both. The nurse told me that it would be easier to do one at a time, but I wouldn't dare split them up. There was no way that I would leave either one of them vulnerable. I know that that's not what the nurse meant, but I had a very f****d up perception of the world now. 

I almost fell asleep feeding them. It was so therapeutic and peaceful that I forgot about the life that I was living. When they finally fell asleep for the night, the nurse came to put them in their respective bassinets. I didn't want to leave them, but I knew that it wasn't safe for them in my room. 

Mama assured me that daddy wasn't going anywhere. She suggested that I pump for the babies and get some rest. Honestly, I didn't feel like I needed it. There was no negotiations. 

"At least try and get a couple hours of sleep. You cannot protect them if you are not properly rested. Me and daddy are not going anywhere, you are safe. William hasn't been seen in hours."

That's what I was afraid of, he was going to pop up when we least expect it. Mama shook her head. 

"We have the entire hospital surrounded, as well as our home and yours. We have eyes on him at all times."

I popped my eyebrow at her as I prepared to pump. 

"Where is he now then?"

"He is back at the cabin, for now. We will know the second he decides to move."

There was a knock on the door that made me jump. I keep saying that I'm ready for anything but a little knock scares me. I rolled my eyes at myself. 

"I'll get it." Mama pushed up off of the bed and went to answer the door. 

She was having a hushed conversation with someone. I enhanced my hearing, mother always forbid me to do that, to  her especially. 

People have hushed conversations hoping no one hears them. It is an invasion of their privacy.

Mama was all about the privacy. 

"She is indisposed at the moment."

"I just want to make sure that she's okay."

There was a brief pause. 

"She is just fine Gregor. I'm sure she would love to see you. Just give her some time."

Mama snuck back into the room, hoping that I wouldn't notice her being all secretive.  She was trying to play stupid. She popped her shoulders up and shrugged. 

"What?"

"Who was that mother?" She smiled, she knew that I was listening.

"Gregor just wanted to check on your well being." I rolled my eyes. Mother knew that Gregor and I have never been closer. I would consider him my best friend. Surprisingly William didn't know that I talked to Gregor everyday. Maybe he knew, he just didn't care. 

Gregor surprises me, he was painted in such a dark light for years, but his soul is so pure. He makes me feel so comfortable and confident. He constantly reminds me how strong I am, and how he is so proud of me for putting up with his brother. I wonder if he tells me these things because he never got the chance to say them to his mother. 

I focused on pumping so I could see Gregor. There was something pulling me deep inside. The feeling I once had with William. I had to be very careful about my next steps. I could not get pulled into another situation like that. I don't think Gregor would ever do to me what William did, or does. But they are from the same gene pool, they might be a lot more like each other than any of us realize.