“I was so worried about you!” he cried, “I thought you died. No one knew what happened! I can’t believe you’re okay.” He softly kissed my forward as he was still holding me tight.
I was still soaking from the rain and realized I was shivering as Damon held me tight. As soon as he let go of me, he pulled the blanket off the bunk and wrapped it around me. As soon as I was covered, I asked Damon how he was doing, and he told me a little bit about the last year.
He told me the night we were taken, everyone had been put under a sleeping spell. The sleeping spell lasted a few days and when they woke up, no one knew what had happened. Everyone had been fast asleep when our group was captured.
“Your father looked everywhere for you!” He said, “He even went to New Jersey to see if your birth father took you. Mark and his kids have been a wreck with Melody missing. Lauren was going crazy with you and Allison gone. The whole town was a mess. No one could figure out what happened. We held a memorial for all of you just a few weeks ago, exactly one year after you left. Brandon and Maria have been running the town again since you left. Miranda, your dad has been a mess. So have I. What happened?”
“I’m so sorry this happened.” I said as I looked down. I looked back up and glanced around the room. I saw that most of the town was now in the safe house. It was time to tell everyone what had happened the last year.
I stood up and walked to the center of the room. I cleared my throat and said, “Everyone, can I please have your attention?”
The room quieted down and looked my way. I felt nervous as I began telling the story. I began with our group being trapped in the holding cell, all the way to my mom’s resurrection. I even went on to tell everyone I was pregnant with a boy who would be the true king of Sidhe. When I finished the story, everyone looked shocked and in disbelief. The room was silent for a few moments before the questions poured in.
“Is Melody okay?” Mark cried.
“I don’t know?” I said, “I think...she was injured last I saw, but I don’t know what happened. They dropped the portal on me and now I’m here.”
“Will the Queen come here? What will we do?” someone shouted.
My dad stepped besides me and said, “My daughter needs rest. The council will meet soon, and we will come up with a plan. In the meantime, everyone stay here.”
My dad looked at Ayden, “Can the fairies place protection magic over the safe house?”
“Yes,” Ayden said, “The Fairies will keep the house under protection magic around the clock. I will start now.”
Ayden walked to quiet corner to begin his magic. Addison joined him.
I saw that Dr. Glintin had returned. I nodded at him and he signaled me to a bunk.
Once I was laying down, he said, “Do you know how far along you are?”
“I would guess four weeks—maybe five. I’m not sure.” I quickly told him how I found out I was pregnant.
“I can’t guarantee we find a heartbeat. That isn’t bad—it’s just early.” He had a grim look on his face and said, “Have you had any bleeding...cramps?”
“No, nothing at all. But I traveled through the portal and fell hard on the pavement.”
The doctor began setting up a portable ultrasound and said, “I will take a look, but I think it be best you spend the next few days in bed.” He began squirting gel on the probe as he spoke, “You have been through a traumatic experience and you need to rest. Miscarriages usually happen in the earliest stages. Until the baby is bigger, you need rest. No magic and no more portals. Just rest.” He pulled up my shirt and began rubbing the probe across my belly.
As he searched for the baby, my father and Damon were soon by my side. My father held my hand and Damon stood nearby. Dr. Glintin continued rubbing the probe across my belly, trying to find the baby. The image on the screen looked foreign, so I waited patiently for Dr. Glintin to give me news.
Finally the Doctor smiled and pointed to a tiny dot. “There he is!” he cried. He scrunched his face and looked at the screen and said, “You’re right, you’re about five weeks along. I’m sorry, but it’s too early to hear a heartbeat. We can try again in about...I’d say three weeks.”
So many emotions were running through my mind. I was really pregnant with Ben’s baby and as far as we could tell, he was safe, but we wouldn’t know for sure for another three weeks. For the next three weeks I would be restless as I waited to find out if my son was okay. Not only was I worried about my son, but also the life of Ben and my family back on Sidhe. My last vision at the castle was a gruesome scene of my family and friends in piles of their own blood.
As I lay in bed I heard Brandon begin to speak, “I think it’s best the town remains in the safe house until we come up with a plan. We have plenty of food and water to last months, and the electricity and water is running great.” He looked around the room and said, “I would like to send five volunteers to gather clothes, medicine and other supplies. There is no telling how long we will be here, and I want to make sure we have everything we need.”
“I’ll go!” My father said immediately.
“Daddy, No! I need you! Please stay with me.”
My father looked at Brandon, then looked back at me. He pushed all the air out of his lungs and said, “Never mind, I need to stay with Miranda.”
“I’ll go,” Damon said.
I shook my head at him, but I couldn't hold everyone back. I was just terrified to lose anyone else. I wasn’t sure if anyone on Sidhe was even alive. I feared they killed Ben and my family. I was struggling to hold back tears as I replayed my final moments on Sidhe.
“I’ll go!” Nathen cried.
“We’ll go,” Virgo said with Sophia by his side.
“I need one more person,” Brandon said and looked around the room.
My dad looked restless when no one volunteered. I knew if no one else spoke up, my dad would go. I hoped for the sake of my father, someone else would volunteer. My dad opened his mouth and stood up just as Mark said, “I will go.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
Brandon nodded his head in approval and said, “Make sure to get medicine, clothes, food and any other necessities. We have food here, but it won’t hurt to stock up just in case. Canned vegetables, dried meat, stuff that will stay good for awhile.” He looked at Dr. Glintin, “Any medical supplies you need?”
Dr. Glintin handed Damon his keys and said, “Grab a few bottles of prenatal vitamins, a box of gloves and—I’ll just write this down.”
Dr. Glintin wrote a list of supplies for Damon to bring back. I assumed I would be delivering my baby here, as it was safest place I could be until my son was born.
As the volunteers were preparing to head out, Brandon said, “Is there anything else anyone needs?”
Everyone looked around at one another and shook their heads. I quickly jumped from the bunk and leaped into Damon’s arms. He embraced me and kissed me on the forehead.
“Please be careful,” I said, “The Queen’s minions could portal to Earth at any time.”
Damon nodded his head.
Once the volunteers left, Brandon, Maria and Delia joined my father around my bed. It was time to come up with a plan. We had many problems and needed a plan. We would have to protect our town and eventually send a team to rescue the others left in Sidhe and kill the Queen. Right now there was nothing I could do. I was on bed rest and my number one priority was keeping my son safe.
Loxes and Jewl joined our group and Delia was the first to speak, “There may be other fairies available to help. The seven of us are the only ice fairies left of our tribe, but there are others out there...nomads...and ice hybrids—like Damon. I can speak with Addison and Ayden.”
Brandon nodded his head as Delia headed to Addison and Ayden.
“We’re going to need man-power and a lot of magic,” I said, “The Queen has more vampires and fairies than I even know of. I don’t know how we’re gonna do this.”
“We’re going to need
more than just the Warriors,” my dad said, “We’re going to need many volunteers. I don’t think we have enough power...most of our town is older folks or kids. We can’t send kids and the elderly to fight.”
Everyone was quiet for several moments as we looked at one another, hoping someone would speak. No one said a word.
Suddenly we heard a thundering of footsteps outside the safe room, and the door swung open. My heart jumped out of my chest from the commotion, and some of the others jumped to their feet in fear.
The five volunteers ran in, slamming the door behind them. I relaxed, but I knew something was wrong. They looked frightened and out of breath. Everyone was soaking wet from the rain. Damon and the others had managed to gather a few supplies, but it was clear they had raced back to safety.
“They’re here!” Damon cried.
“What happened…how many were there?” Brandon shouted.
“I don’t know…ten…fifteen.” Damon was red as he wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “We were at Dr. Glintin’s office. I was gathering the supplies on the list. I got most of them. We heard a loud bang and a saw a portal open…right in the middle of the town.
I gasped. My heart began to thunder just imagining Desmeralda’s minion’s storming the town.
Damon continued, “We got out of the office and snuck back to the mansion as quickly as possible. We weren’t sure if we were going to make it. I don’t know what they were doing, but we came here as fast as we could.”
My eyes were wide in fear, and everyone was looking at Brandon for a plan. Brandon threw his hands up and shook his head as he said, “We need to take them out. We need the warriors and volunteers. We don’t know what they are capable of.”
“I agree,” Maria said.
“There are ten to fifteen of them!” I cried. Vampires are hard to kill and the Queen’s fairies are insane. You don’t know what you’re up against.”
“We need weapons,” Brandon said to me as he turned around. He raised his voice and looked towards the town members “Does anyone have weapons?”
“I have my gun on me,” Loxes said.
“I have my gun as well.” My dad added.
Our two town Police Officers announced that they had guns as well.
“Anyone else? Knives…guns…anything that can help take a vampire out?” Brandon asked.
Most of the town looked at one another. No one else said a word. We had four guns. Four guns weren’t enough.
“Okay, we need all the warriors, the vampires, all the fairies and any volunteers,” Brandon announced to the crowd. “Can anyone else help us?”
The town looked at one another. No one had fought in years; the town wasn’t prepared for this.
My father looked at me with sad eyes and said, “I have to help Sweetie. I’m sorry. I’m doing this for you…and your mother and my grandson.
I felt tears swell up my eyes. I wasn’t sure if Ben, my aunt or my mother were alive. I couldn’t lose my dad too, but what choice did I have?
“Dad, you haven’t fought in years,” I cried.
“It’s okay,” he said, “I used to be the best and strongest fighter in town. I think I can handle a few fairies and vampires.”
After my father volunteered, Nathen volunteered as well.
“I will fight too!” Maria added.
“We will help,” Bill, the Chief of Police, said as he looked at Greg. Bill and Greg were the only two police officers in town.
“Anyone else?” Brandon said as the volunteers began to join the group.
Everyone looked around at each other. A cowardly superhuman named Michael spoke up, “I’m not much of a fighter, but I will do what I can.” He stepped forward.
We had six volunteers, two vampires, five warriors, and four guns. Most of the volunteers hadn’t fought in years. It was likely we were outnumbered and overpowered. Ayden and Addison would continue doing protection magic over the safe room for those who stayed behind. The fairies, Florence, Carmen, Lily, Nikolaus and Delia were all very fragile, but they offered to use their magic to help fight. Magic would be our only chance at taking the Queen’s minions out.
The group was getting ready to head to battle. Damon hugged me tight and kissed me on the cheek, and I told him to be careful. Just as my father reached down to say goodbye, a blast of thunder exploded outside and shook the entire safe house. Several of the children screamed, and fear washed across my father’s eyes. There was a bad storm outside brewing up, and my father and friends were walking into it. With horror in his eye, my father kissed me on the cheek before heading away.
Just as my dad was leaving, Brandon rubbed my shoulder and said, “Don’t worry Alexander, I will protect her as if she was my own child.”
My dad gave him a half smile, but I could tell he was terrified. My father smiled at me and waved goodbye, but tears were falling down my eyes. The group headed out the door. Damon was the last one out, and as he shut the door, my heart began to race in fear.
Chapter 19
As the remainder of the town waited quietly in the safe room, the storm outside was gaining strength. Through the thick concrete walls of the safe room, I could hear thunder booming down on Earth. The wind and rain was so loud, we could hear it through the layers of thick walls. I could even smell the musty odor of the storm seeping through the ventilation system.
I felt more alone than I ever had in my life. Everyone I loved was off somewhere fighting for my son and I, maybe even dead. As the lights flickered from the storm, Brandon stayed by my side, keeping his promise to my dad. I curled up on a bottom bunk in the corner of the safe house to try to relax.
Brandon was sitting on the bunk immediately next to mine, with his two small daughters sitting on his lap. Sophia and Virgo’s children were lying on bunks nearby and Damon’s younger brother was not far from us. There were very few adults left and the room was mostly full of scared children and the elderly. The teenagers even seemed frightened.
As it was late in the middle of the night, Brandon was trying to get the children and teenagers to go to sleep. The lights were turned out in the safe house with only a few night-lights on for guidance through the dark. The dim night-lights were flickering off and on from the storm above, creating an eerie affect. If the electricity went out, the generator would kick on, but the flickering lights frightened the children and kept them from sleep.
Brandon was singing softly to his girls and trying to ease their fears, but I could hear in his voice that he was very afraid. If the group did not return, Brandon would be left alone to care for several children with very little help.
It took awhile, but I eventually fell asleep. It didn’t seem like long after I had fallen asleep, I quickly woke with a sick feeling in my stomach. I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or my pregnancy. I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom.
I hardly made it to the toilet before I began vomiting. As I vomited, I heard the storm pounding from above. There was a loud burst of thunder and all went dark. I continued vomiting in the dark, feeling like I was going to collapse as I lay down on the cold concrete bathroom floor.
Moments after I shut my eyes, I heard a kind familiar voice calling my name. I opened my eyes and saw a light shining from under the bathroom floor.
“Come in,” I said quietly.
I heard the door open and my grandma Lauren walked in.
“Are you okay? I saw you run to the bathroom. You don’t look well.”
“Grandma, I’m scared…and I feel so sick.”
“When is the last time you ate?” she asked as another eruption of thunder echoed from outside the safe house walls.
“I am not sure—yesterday…breakfast I think.”
“Have you been drinking water?”
“I don’t know…I can’t remember. Everything has been such a…such a blur,”
I stuck my head in the toilet once more and began to vomit again. Just then, the generator kicked on and the lights came back on. I heard my grandmothe
r click off the flashlight just as the tornado sirens began to blow. I began shaking knowing that my father and friends were outside in the horrendous storm.
“Stay here Sweetheart,” she said.
When she came back, she had a pillow and blanket, a glass of water and Dr. Glintin behind her. I was grateful I still had my grandparents nearby
My grandma set the pillow behind my head and covered me with a blanket. Like my grandmother had, Dr. Glintin asked if I had eaten or had anything to drink. I shook my head, and my grandmother held the glass of water up to my mouth. I took a few sips and leaned back. Only a few moments after drinking the water, I began to vomit once more. My grandmother brushed her fingers through my hair, as I was sick.
“I think Damon brought a few bags of saline and an IV kit,” The Doctor said. “I’ll get Brandon and we’ll set up a cot in the supply closet. I can treat you there.”
I nodded my head. My grandmother rubbed my shoulder, as I felt terrible.
“Is this normal?” I asked my Grandmother.
“Maybe?” she said nervously. “Every pregnancy is different, but you have been through a lot. You traveled from another world. I can’t imagine what your body is going through.”
Dr. Glintin and Brandon came for me and walked me to the supply closet. It wasn’t ideal, but I would have privacy and wouldn’t disturb the others while I was sick. They laid me down and Brandon went back to bed.
Dr. Glintin stuck me with a needle and started a saline drip. I felt a bit better from the fluids, but I was still vomiting in the bucket my Grandmother brought.
“I’ll check my bag and the first aid kit and see if there is anything I can give you. Try to eat some crackers if you can.” He looked at my Grandmother, “Can you look for something for her to eat?”
My Grandma nodded and began looking through the supply closet for something to eat. She quickly found a few packages of crackers and handed them to me to eat while I waited for the doctor.
After a few bites, the Doctor returned with a solemn look and said, “I don’t have anything to give you. Get some rest and eat what you can. I’ll check on you in the morning.”
The Portal to Sidhe: Book 1 Page 20