Hannah nodded. “Of course I will.”
Ursula gave Hannah a warm smile. “What Drew said about your desires isn’t true. It’s an excuse that some of them use to avoid exercising any self-control.”
“I don’t take much stock in anything Drew says. I just wish that I didn’t run into him so often.”
“Don’t worry, Hannah.” Ursula assured her. “Noah will take care of everything. You will be safe soon.” On that cryptic note Ursula left the kitchen.
“This family is just one secret after another,” Hannah grumbled.
Noah wasn’t back yet, and she was starving. She began to forage through the refrigerator, until she came across a party tray filled with fruit. It had probably been prepared for some special visitor, but she didn’t care. She set the tray on the counter, ripped off the plastic wrap, and slid a slice of kiwi between her lips.
“Hello, Hannah.”
The raspy male voice startled her. She spun around, and found Isaiah running his right index finger along the edge of the light switch. It seemed to fascinate him. His arms were free from restraints this time, but she still got the impression that he wasn’t supposed to wander around on his own.
It occurred to her that if she possessed even half his talent as an escape artist, she would already be free of this place. That thought actually made her giggle.
He looked at her, and took a step forward. Instinctively she stepped back, and he stopped.
“I’m sorry I scared you, Hannah.” His raspy voice came out in a childlike whimper.
“You just startled me.” Her voice was calm.
He shoved his hands in his back pockets, and stared at his bare feet. “I’m glad you don’t trust Drew, he hurts people.” He met her gaze. “Drew likes to hurt people, they all do.”
This left Hannah speechless. She had no idea how long Isaiah had been eavesdropping, but she would need to warn Ursula that he might have overheard her confession.
“The fruit looks good. May I please have some?” He was pointing at the tray, lower lip almost quivering.
“Go wash your hands first.” She pointed to the sink. “Soap and water.”
Being spoken to like a child didn’t seem to bother him. His eyes lit up, and he smiled as he rushed to the sink to wash his hands.
“I think they’re clean now,” she said with amusement after he had scrubbed for well over a minute.
As he dried his hands, he murmured, “They’ll never be clean again.”
Noah was surprised when he walked in to find Isaiah and Hannah seated on stools at the center island, plundering the fruit tray.
“We need to get him his own magic show,” Noah said as he set the takeout bags on the island. “I’ll be damned if he’s not the best escape artist I’ve ever seen.”
Isaiah beamed. “I like magic.”
Hannah took a napkin, and dabbed Isaiah’s chin.
“I think we have enough food for three,” Noah said looking at the bags.
“Come on, Isaiah, we’re going to sit down at the table, and have lunch.” She guided him to the table, like a mother with her child.
“Did you get me French fries?” Isaiah looked hopeful.
Noah shook his head. “I’ll bring you some later today.”
Isaiah’s face lit up. “Thanks, Noah. You and Hannah and Ursula and Justin are the only people I really like.” He looked at Hannah. “Noah brought me a Big Mac last night and French fries too. I didn’t eat the Big Mac, because I don’t like meat anymore.”
Hannah's gaze shifted to Noah, catching the guilty look on his face. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who felt bad for Isaiah.
Noah set out plates and forks for all of them. They served themselves, and Hannah began to make happy moaning noises as she ate her food.
“Justin is my big brother, he's a doctor,” Isaiah said out of the blue.
Hannah smiled. “I know. Eat your lunch before he realizes you’re missing.”
Isaiah quickly obeyed her.
“There you are, Isaiah. I went up to your room for a visit, and you were gone. I was going through my DVD library, and thought we could watch Bloody Mary, and then There’s Something about Mary.”
Drew’s words agitated Isaiah. He rocked back and forth in his chair, and tugged at his hair.
“Get out of here, Drew!” Hannah nearly shouted.
He smirked. “I’m just trying to spend a little time with my cousin.”
“Didn’t mean to do it.” Isaiah mumbled to himself as he slipped back into lunacy.
Noah held Isaiah’s hands to keep him from clawing at his own face. “Get out, or I’ll kill you, Drew.”
Drew ignored Noah. “What’s wrong, Cuz?” he drawled.
Hannah walked toward him slowly. Drew watched her approaching, but he was still caught completely off guard when she took a swing at him. Her left fist struck his cheek. He was ready when her right fist came at him, and caught her arm. His grip was painfully tight.
Noah was on his feet and across the room in a heartbeat, but it was Justin who jerked Drew away from her.
Justin seethed with rage. “I told you to stay away from my brother.”
Drew pulled away from him, and rubbed his cheek. “People in this house have no sense of humor,” he whined as he stormed out of the kitchen.
“I wish I could believe that I wouldn’t see him again today,” Hannah muttered, “but he keeps coming back.”
“He’s the herpes of this family,” Noah added.
Justin took a deep breath, and blew it out through his teeth. “Thank you for protecting my brother.”
“We did it for him, not for you,” Noah said.
“Regardless of your reasons,” Justin said with sincerity, “I owe you both.”
Hannah paid them no heed. She knelt beside Isaiah. Tears streamed down his face. She crooned softly, until he leaned into her, and sighed.
Justin reached out his hand, and Isaiah took it.
Hannah’s heart ached. Demons were a way of life for this family, but they would not be for her baby.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Noah had been gone four long days. He’d used the excuse of a teaching conference to explain his absence. Hannah was miserable without him. It was sad when the bright spot of every day was Isaiah’s escape. He managed to track her down daily. Justin no longer searched frantically for his brother, because he knew Isaiah went straight to Hannah. On days when Nathaniel wasn’t home, Isaiah followed her around like a lost puppy for most of the day.
Drew was, for the most part, leaving her alone. She wasn’t sure if he had grown bored with tormenting her, or someone had threatened him in a more convincing manner. Whatever the reason, it was a nice change.
As of two days ago, she could take short walks around the grounds as long as someone went with her. Nathaniel claimed that it was too dangerous for her to walk around alone in her condition. Whether her new freedom was based on Nathaniel’s faith in her or his impenetrable security system, she wasn’t sure. Not for the first time, she wondered if the new security measures were for her or Isaiah.
It was just after ten in the morning. She had eaten her entire breakfast two hours ago and it had stayed down, thanks to the anti-nausea medicine that Justin had given her. Her French toast was not as good this week, but she didn’t care enough to ask if they had a new cook. She didn’t plan on staying long enough to care. She was going to have to learn how to make French toast for herself.
There was a quiet tap at the door, and then it opened.
Ursula hurried into the room. Her long black hair was held back by a scarf, and she wore a brightly colored floral skirt with a white cotton blouse. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Hannah shook her head. “No, I was just thinking. Do you know how to make French toast?”
Ursula shook her head.
“Oh, well,” Hannah said with a sigh.
Ursula moved closer, and spoke just above a whisper. “Noah asked me to have yo
u put on your burgundy dress and cape. Then he wants you to walk to the stables. You are to tell Nathaniel that you want to bring apples for the horses. You need to tell him that you will bring me to carry the basket for you.”
“I don't understand.” She knew that Ursula loved Roman and Nathaniel too much to betray them, so this could not be part of Noah's plan, but it made no sense that Noah would want her to go out to the stables with Ursula.
Ursula touched her cheek lovingly, and smiled sadly. “They don’t mean to hurt others, but that does not excuse their actions.” Tears formed in her dark eyes. “I cannot allow you to live like a prisoner. You don’t deserve to be treated this way.”
Hannah hugged her. “Thank you! I will never forget what you’re doing for me.”
“You must hurry! Noah will be home soon, and the timing has to be perfect,” Ursula said urgently.
Hannah changed her clothes as soon as Ursula left the room. She left her hair down, and wrapped the cape around her shoulders just as Nathaniel entered the room.
His eyes moved over her entire body, taking in every detail. “You look beautiful in that dress. I take it you’re feeling better today?”
She gave him a genuine smile. “I feel much better, thank you. I look like little red riding hood in this cape but it is very pretty. I hope I don’t run into the big bad wolf.”
He laughed, and Hannah realized that this was the first time she had heard him truly laugh since she’d been staying there.
She forced her thoughts back to the plan. “I would like to take a walk to the stables.”
Nathaniel frowned. “You aren't planning to ride in your condition, are you?”
She shook her head. “Now you're being silly. Do I really look like I'm dressed for horseback riding? I just want to bring apples to the horses. I was planning to take Ursula with me so that I won't have to carry the basket.”
He took her hands in his. “I only worry because I care about you.” Then an idea came to him. “I don't have any plans this morning. I’ll go with you.”
Hannah felt a little panicked. That wasn’t part of the plan.
The sound of a car horn caught Nathaniel's attention, and he looked out the window to see who it was. “Noah’s home!” He turned back to Hannah. “I really do want to go with you, Hannah, but I need to talk to Noah about a few things first. Please forgive me.”
“Don't apologize for wanting to spend time with your brother.” She hoped her relief didn’t show on her face.
He smiled confidently, and rubbed her belly. “I’ll let Ursula know that you need her, and I’ll come out there to meet you after I talk to Noah.”
Hannah kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. I’ll be in the kitchen getting the apples.”
This seemed to please him, and he hurried to find Ursula.
Hannah’s hands shook slightly as she walked out of the room. Ursula met her in the kitchen. “I was told you want me to walk to the stables with you?”
Hannah nodded. “Yes, I want to visit the horses for a little while.”
* * * *
Nathaniel greeted Noah at his truck. Trish was there as well, and that made Nathaniel anxious. His frown must have given away his anxiety.
“I thought that Hannah should have a girlfriend to talk to about wedding plans.” Noah explained as he handed Trish a canvas bag. “She made a bunch of clothes for the baby that she’s been begging to bring over.” Noah leaned in close enough so only Nathaniel could hear him. “I figured that if there was a problem it would be easy to alter Trish’s memory. If things go well with this visit maybe Caitlin can come another day. Hannah would like the company.”
Nathaniel nodded, and visibly relaxed.
Trish smiled, and began to pull things out of the bag. Nathaniel had never seen so many baby clothes. It was overwhelming.
“Oh my God!” Trish gushed. “I’m just so excited. I can’t wait to make more baby clothes. Where is Hannah? Why didn’t she come down with you? Look I even made her a nursing dress. She is going to breastfeed the baby right? I know some women don’t, but it’s really good for the baby, and she should.”
Nathaniel felt like his head was spinning. “You made all of this in two weeks?”
Trish nodded. “I didn’t want to bring everything this trip. I need to save some things for the baby shower. I’m so excited about the bridal shower. When will it be? It has to happen soon. Do you have your colors picked out? Are you going on a honeymoon? Who is in the wedding?”
Nathaniel looked thoroughly confused and overwhelmed. “Hannah is at the stables, feeding apples to the horses. Why don’t you head over there now? I need to talk to Noah for a few minutes alone, and then I’ll join you.”
Noah took her arm, and pointed her in the right direction. “Right over there.”
“Thanks! I’ll take the baby stuff to show her now.”
* * * *
Hannah and Ursula walked to the stables in silence. They nearly tripped over Isaiah, who was sitting in the shadows between the stalls.
“Isaiah!” she squeaked. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
He put a finger to his lips.
It was then that she noticed he was typing frantically on a laptop. She looked at Ursula, sure that their plan had just been ruined, but Ursula merely reached out and squeezed her hand.
“It’s show time!” Trish said from behind her.
Hannah spun around, and nearly knocked Trish over with her hug. “I can’t believe you’re here. Wait, what are you doing here?”
“Well here’s the plan,” Trish started in a conspiratorial whisper.
* * * *
And then all hell broke loose.
The alarms for the back gates all went off.
Justin ran from the house with Drew right behind him. Justin was out of breath when he reached Nathaniel. “Isaiah is gone, and he took all the sedatives we have.”
Nathaniel cursed in several languages. “Noah, I need you to get Trish off of the property. We don’t know what Isaiah is capable of. He hasn’t been violent up to this point, but he’s not in his right mind.”
Noah nodded. “I’ll take her home now, and then I’ll come back here to help you find him.” His phone vibrated, and he looked down at it. “Damn! I need to take care of something at the college while I’m out. It may take a few hours.”
“I think we’ll be fine without you,” Nathaniel assured him. Then turned his attention to Justin and Drew. “We should focus on the back gates since those were the alarms that he tripped.” Nathaniel caught sight of Hannah walking back to the house with the hood of the cape over her head to keep the chill away, and he was glad she wouldn’t be outside for this. Ursula was just slightly behind her. He couldn’t make out Trish, but she was small enough that she was probably just on the other side of Hannah, and Ursula. “I’m just going to check on Hannah before I start looking. Drew, you head to the gates at the west end of the property. Justin you head to the east gates.”
Nathaniel and Noah headed toward the house, as Justin and Drew went to search for Isaiah.
They entered through the veranda doors to find Trish and Ursula sitting at the kitchen table. “Where is Hannah?”
“She was tired after the walk so she went up to her room to lie down for a little while.” Ursula explained. “Let her rest.”
Nathaniel nodded. “I’m sorry your visit got cut short, Trish.”
“I should take Trish home.” Noah held out his hand to her.
“Why are the alarms going off?” Trish asked.
“Just a glitch in the computer system,” Nathaniel assured her.
“I’ll be back soon,” Noah assured him.
Nathaniel nodded. “I’ll text you with any updates on the security glitch.”
“Let's go,” Noah ordered, as he guided Trish out of the house with his hand on the small of her back.
They climbed into the truck, and Noah drove through the gates. When they were about a mile from the house he turned aro
und, and spoke to the pile of blankets, and bags in the back. “You need to stay down a little longer. We can’t risk being spotted.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It took nearly three hours to find Isaiah. By that time Nathaniel was starting to panic. Okay, he had started to panic after two hours. It was when they returned to the house for lunch that they found Isaiah under the table building a castle out of empty pill bottles, and pills. The staff insisted that he had not been there ten minutes earlier. Nathaniel sent a text message to Noah to let him know they had found Isaiah, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m going to make sure Hannah has eaten lunch,” Nathaniel said.
Justin stopped him. “I’m sure she’s already eaten. She’s been napping a lot during the afternoon so maybe you should let her sleep. This pregnancy has been really hard on her, and the medication I gave her to help with the nausea makes her pretty sleepy.”
The visit with Trish had unnerved Nathaniel, and he wanted to see Hannah to reassure himself that everything was still okay. Reluctantly, he agreed to wait until dinner, or until she came out of the room.
Justin took Isaiah back to his room, and Nathaniel decided to go for a ride to distract himself. He sent Drew to sit close to Hannah’s room, and assured himself that it was just in case she needed something when she woke up.
After his ride, he couldn’t wait any longer. He tapped on Hannah’s door, but she didn’t respond. “Have you seen her leave the room at all?” he asked Drew who was just down the hall.
Drew shook his head.
He knocked a little louder. “Hannah?”
When she didn’t respond, he cracked the door and peaked in. Her room was ominously silent. The bathroom door was wide open, and the room was empty.
Rage surged through him. “Damn her!”
Drew peered into the room nervously.
“Ursula!” Nathaniel shouted.
Ursula came immediately, and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“When was the last time you saw Hannah?” His voice shook with fury.
“This morning at the stables,” she replied.
Vampires and Vixens (Psy-Vamp) Page 17