by Lane Hart
"Kate said she'll never forgive me. I swore to her I wouldn't do this to her again. We took vows. Nothing can fucking fix it," Sam mumbles, and I swear the vampire sheds a tear.
"Joselin never changed any of her husbands for this exact fucking reason, and within two weeks I fuck up, hurting her beyond repair," Tom mutters.
"They'll forgive us eventually," I tell them. I have to believe Cyn and I can move past this. We have to. I love her so damn much. For the first time in my life I've found someone I can't live without, and I’m not going to lose her now.
"Believe me. The women won't ever get over this," Sebastian says, rubbing his forehead.
"There's got to be something to make this better," I tell them, trying to push down the panic rising inside of me.
"Yeah, going back in time and leaving that whore in the burning building would make it better," Sam grumbles.
"Then let's do it," Sebastian says, and we all look at him like he’s crazy. "Well, not leave her inside to burn to death since that's a bit medieval for whoring, but figure something else out."
"Sorry but my Mazda's not a time machine, Doc," Sam tells him.
"We don't need a time machine. All it takes is a spell. One that I know, but has never worked with my blood or my father's. I’ve tried it, but all it did was shift me back a few seconds, right before I stirred it. But, with Kate's..." he says.
"You think it'd really work?" I ask.
"Maybe. Moving any small distance through time requires immense power. Even one small, seemingly insignificant change can fuck everything in the future up. The butterfly effect, or whatever. But I don't think things can get more fucked up than this," he explains, heading to his room and returning a minute later with a battered spell book, flipping to the right page. "Here," he says pointing to it. Of course I can't help but wonder if I could go back in time and save my mom and sister. But unless they’re willing to do the invincible spell it wouldn't do any good. And if I did that, Kate wouldn't have been born, and I may not have ever moved and become a police officer. Then I wouldn't have met Cyn.
Shit.
"Growing a beard? Seriously?" Sam asks.
"It's a ruse. You know Father Time, aging? The time reversal spell is everything here but backwards. See it needs a watch, turned back to "the moment of truth" it's called."
"Hell, do it!" Sam yell. "Now. Please!"
"When do we need to go back? When we get her out? Then what?" I ask. This has to work. The rest of my life depends on it.
"Knock her out with a stun spell. Drag her somewhere safe, and leave a wad of cash and a note telling her she's on her own," Sebastian offers.
"Okay. What time was it? Five fifty?" I ask.
"Yeah that should work. You doing it?" Sebastian asks. “Since you’re the strongest of us, you should probably be the one to go back.”
"Yeah. I'll do it. I don't know what happens with you all, knowing things are being changed, but I guess we can try it and see."
…
I’m standing in Tom and Joselin's kitchen one second after we finish the spell, then the next I’m in front of the D.R.A. building and Jacob is sliding his card.
Holy shit! It worked.
I’m afraid to say anything and screw it up, so I follow along into the building, down the elevator, watch Jacob kill the agent, and then go to work on getting out the hostages.
After Sandra is out I go to the werewolf's container and release him.
"We're getting you all out. How do you feel? Could you carry another hostage out?" I ask him.
"Thank God, and yeah, I probably could," he nods.
"Okay, go wait at the elevator and I'll bring her to you," I tell him, shooing him away before Ava walks up.
I go over to the boy's container and start working on it, pretending not to notice her as she walks towards me. My first thought is just to let her walk past, and stun her from behind. I palm the spell, but looking at her face I’m struck with a sudden realization. I hold my free hand up to stop her, and ask “How long have you been down here?”
She gives me a long, lingering look that makes me decidedly uncomfortable. “I’ve lost track of the years,” she says, arching a blonde eyebrow at me, “and you…a heroic rescuer, deserve a special reward, don’t you think?” She moves a step closer to lay a hand on my arm, and shifts to press her breasts against me.
“And for all those years, there was no one in the world who cared enough to say ‘Ava’ three times and summon you out?” I ask her quietly.
She recoils from me, grasping her belly as if I’ve punched the air from her. “How…my name…do you know? Who are you?” she whispers as her beautiful brow crinkles, and tears form in her eyes.
Still grasping her belly, she moves around me, wide-eyed and with an expression of such loss and grief I waver. Only briefly, however. After she rushes past me I hurl the stunner spell at the back of her head and take her down.
Checking to make sure she’s okay and really out, I use the back of her shirt to gently dry the liquid. “I know what it’s like to be lonely,” I tell her as I take her still form into my arms. “And for what it’s worth, I forgive you.”
I carry her over to the werewolf. "Here you go," I say, handing her over and hoping he didn’t see me take her out. "Tell the guys in gray upstairs this was a judgment call, and whatever they do, do not wake her up. Got it?" I ask. He nods, then goes up the elevator with the passcode.
The boy and young male vamp are next, then I immediately give the young female vamp my blood.
"What are you?" she asks as she comes to.
"Warlock. We're getting everyone out. Can you walk?" I ask, and she nods.
Leading her out we meet Alex.
"This all of them?" I ask, trying to keep everything else exactly as it had been.
"All that's left. One man was already gone," he says sadly. Then I feel bad, wondering if we'd come sooner if we could’ve saved him. No, we had no idea when he died, and we couldn't chance it screwing everything up.
Upstairs Sam and Matt look bored, just as they’re supposed to.
"You look bored," I tell them again.
"We are. This it?" Sam asks, nodding to the woman.
"Yeah. Can vamps have warlock blood?"
"Fuck yes," he says again with the same smile. "Well, I've never had warlock's, that's just ew. Witch's blood is awesome. After I drink Kate's I can even manipulate minds. She a vamp?" he asks.
"Yeah. I gave her some of my blood."
"Umm. And it was good too," the vampire says again.
"Okay, let's get out of here."
Outside we climb on the bus, and I make sure Ava is still out. Sebastian does the head count, the facility blows up, and everyone cheers like the first time we came through.
"So why'd you knock her out?" Sebastian asks me.
"She was going to ruin the future. I had to come back and redo it by knocking her out to make it right," I tell him.
He raised a suspicious eyebrow at me. "You can do that?"
"I am doing that. With your spell."
"Using Kate's blood? Of course, hers would make it work!" he exclaims with a smile.
I nod. "We need to take her somewhere safe, to a hotel room maybe before she wakes up. Leave some money and a note telling her good luck with life, then get the hell away from her."
"She's that bad? She doesn't look dangerous. And she’s damn hot,” Sebastian says, eyeing her sleeping form.
“She’s a freak. I’m talking abandoning-us-in-an-alternate-universe-to-seduce-us-all crazy. But…I don’t think she’s….bad, really. I think she’s just lost, and alone.”
“She seduced all of us?” he asks with a smirk.
“All of us,” I tell him nodding to the vamps. “You told us she single-handedly wiped out all of the witch babies from the future, if you get the idea.”
“Holy hell! The gap in my premonition. That was her?” he asks.
“Yes. Hopefully when we get back to Mexico, everything
is set right. Oh, but Kate’s staying at Tom and Joselin’s so don’t let the warlocks go near there until she’s out,” I warn him, trying to set that right too.
“Okay. Thanks Jason. Sounds like we all owe you,” he says seriously.
“You do,” I tell him, then pull out my phone to call Cyn.
…
Seventeen hours later I dive into bed with Cyn, not bothering to undress or shower. I just have to hold her after coming so close to losing her.
"Hey! I'm glad you're home," she says, turning over to look at me, flashing her beautiful smile.
"God, I'm so glad to see you. I missed you," I tell her before my lips are drawn to hers.
"You've got too many clothes on," she complains with a grin.
"Not for long baby, I promise you," I assure her as I yank my shirt over my head, then stand up to quickly strip off the rest of my clothes before climbing back on top of her.
"I love you more every single second. I didn’t even know that’s possible," I say as my mouth moves greedily down her neck.
"From what I hear, that's how it feels when you have children, too," she replies.
When I look into her sweet emerald eyes I know I have to make her mine, because I can't live without her. Just the thought of doing so for a few hours almost killed me.
"Let's have a baby for them. After all I've been through in the last twenty-four hours, I want this. I want you. I want it all."
"You do?" she asks, blinking up at me in surprise. "We can wait, it doesn't have to be now."
"No it doesn’t, but it's going to happen. I get that now, and I'm not going to be the one to stop it and screw everything up."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. So, do you think I should get your father's permission before I ask you to marry me?"
"What? Are you serious?" she asks, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Yes, I'm serious. I only want you. Every day for the rest of my long life. So can I ask him?"
"Yes," she says with a smile.
"Good, because I'd like to marry you before you get knocked up by my niece and another warlock," I tell her and she laughs.
"Which one?" she asks, and I know she’s referring to the baby's father.
"Who were you thinking?" I ask. "Sebastian?"
"Yeah. I think so," she nods.
"Sebastian?" I yell.
"What damn it? I just went to sleep," he yells back through the walls from across the hall.
"Will you knock up my girlfriend, and soon to be wife?" I ask smiling down at Cyn.
There’s silence and then, "Hell yes! You've just got to convince Kate and Sam," he says, softer.
"Nothing to it," I tell him before I make love to Cyn, over and over, non-stop for the rest of the day.
…
When we finally get out of bed that night and go down to find some dinner, all the warlocks are at the table, eating what looks like a Thanksgiving Day spread.
Memories of mom spending the day cooking for just me and Liz every year wash over me. Her telling us how thankful she was to have the two of us, even though our births cost her a husband. God, I still miss them like crazy.
"You okay?" Cyn asked, grabbing my hand.
"Yeah. Just remembering something from the past."
I look around to see if everything looks back to normal. Joselin and Tom are making out in the kitchen against the refrigerator, so that’s good. Sebastian and the guys are joking and laughing around the table while shoveling food into their mouths.
"Hey Sebastian. How's the future looking?" I ask. He looks up at me with a creased brow for a second.
"Great. Just like it always does," he says with a smile.
"Good," I say with a sigh of relief.
"You sure you're okay, Jason?" Cyn asks again.
"Yeah, just, hey everyone, if you ever come across an elf woman with long blonde hair, run the other fu-freaking way. Got it?" I tell them, catching the f-bomb when I notice the two boys. “I’m not going to tell you her name, because knowing it is dangerous. Just…stay away from elves, period.”
After Cyn and I eat until we’re busting we borrow Tom’s SUV to head over to Sam and Kate’s to ask them how they felt about our plan.
It takes them awhile to come to the door and I feel bad, thinking we really should've called first.
"Hey guys, come in," Kate says, slightly out of breath, with a flushed face and messy hair when she greets us.
"Sorry for just coming by without giving you a head's up," I tell her.
"Oh, you're fine," she assures us, motioning us into the living room before she sits on the couch, and we head for the loveseat. "Madison just laid down for the night, so I hate you missed her."
Sam finally comes down the hall, his hair a mess too, but he looks to be in a great mood. "Hey Jason, Cyn, how's it going?"
"Sorry to just stop in on you," I apologize again.
"Don't worry, we were done," he says with a grin, sitting beside Kate then pulling her onto his lap. "For a few minutes."
"The fucking vamp blood," I blurt out before I can stop myself. "Works like Viagra?" I ask.
"Ah, yeah. How'd you know?" Sam asks with a raised eyebrow, at the same time Cyn says, "When did you have vamp blood?"
"Long story. Anyway, back to the reason we're here. So, we know it's a lot to ask of you both, especially since you're already doing it for Tom and Joselin, but now I'm a believer in the psychic, and I hope you'll agree to let us have one of your…ah, witch babies," I finally say, the words sound more bizarre when they’re spoken out loud.
"Oh," Kate says, then looks back at Sam. "My husband and I will have to discuss that and get back to you," she says, trying not to repeat her mistake.
"Of course. Take however much time you need," Cyn assures them.
"You really buy in to Sebastian's bullshit?" Sam asks me.
"Yeah. I do now. I can't explain it, but…I saw it disappear. We're all on the right track again now, though. I didn't believe my sister either when she told me she dreamed of the future. I shouldn't have doubted her. And I'm sorry you never got a chance to meet her Kate."
"I've seen her," Kate says. "I mean, not just in pictures, but while I was pregnant I think I saw her in my dreams. I even talked to her. But I could've just imagined her."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me?" Sam asks her.
"Because I didn't think there was anything to it. But after everything my dad said about her the night Madison was born…I think it may have really been her."
"Maybe it was," I tell her.
"I even think she's the reason I ended up at Madison. I never applied there, because I didn't think my dad would let me move so far away. Then when he agreed, I always thought he had been the one that sent in my application. I haven't asked him, because I wanted it to be her, you know?"
Needing to know, I pull out my phone and text Tom. He replies right away.
"Tom says he didn't send in any applications for you, and didn't even know you'd applied to Madison until the envelope came in the mail. He said that's what made him decide to let you go off to college."
"Oh my God. It was her…she must have had it arranged…" Kate says, covering her mouth.
"Well, I'm really glad she brought you to me," Sam tells her. "So you haven't dreamed of her since Madison was born?"
"No. I think it was Madison, and I think she is going to be one powerful little witch. Don't tell my dad but the other night she turned the lights on and off in her room and it freaked us the hell out," Kate says, looking worried.
"At first I thought it was a fucking electrical shortage or some shit, but I think Kate's right. It was Madison," Sam agrees.
"Her um, mobile spins on its own too," Kate says.
"It does?" Sam asks. "I haven't seen that. Holy shit, that's freaky. But at least Sebastian knows she's going to be a good little powerful witch," Sam assures Kate.
"He does?" she asks.
"Yeah. He said Ryan and Madison
are going to be completely normal, unlike their father," Sam explains to her. "I'm banking on that, so I guess I have to admit he might be right about the rest. Baby, I think you should give them a baby too."
"You do?" Kate asks with a smile.
"Yeah. I mean if you want to. It's your daughter so it’s your decision," he tells her.
"It's our daughter," she corrects him.
"I think we can trust them to take care of her. Besides, we'll have our hands full with our own daughters."
"We will?" she asks with a smile.
"Yeah. I know I've been an asshole, but like I've told you before, you really were just the beginning for me. And now I know you're the key to happiness for a lot of other people too. I'd be selfish not to let you give three more little girls, three lonely warlocks, and two other couples their own beginnings. From there it will only multiply across more lives, all because of you," Sam tells her.
"How could you ever doubt why I married you?" she says before turning around to straddle him. The two kissed each other for all they’re worth.
"So, thanks for agreeing to give us one of your babies, and we'll show ourselves out," I tell them, then grab Cyn's hand to pull her along.
As soon as we step outside I wrap Cyn in my arms and kiss her. "You want to go tell the warlock they got their wish?" I ask when we pull away from each other to catch our breath.
"Yes. And after our daughter's born, maybe we can have a few of your sons?" she asks with a wide grin.
"A few?" I laugh. "Let's go one baby at a time here."
"Don't you want to knock me up?" she asks.
"Fuck yes. And we'll have nine months to get in some practice," I tell her.
Chapter Fifteen
Cyn
We find all three adult warlocks in the big ass hot tub with Joselin and Tom when we get back to their house. Alex and all the rescued supes, except for Jacob and his vampire, have struck out on their own or in pairs to start over, each with a stack of cash from Europe's coven.
"Glad you're all here," Jason tells the group. "We've got some news."
"What's up?" Sebastian asks, looking super relaxed as he leans back in the tub with bubbles up to his chest.