The Shifter’s Nanny

by T. S. Ryder

  If I asked to come back, would he let me?

  If it wasn't for him, she'd be back in that women's shelter, struggling to feed herself while earning her education. If Angelus had been anything like her stepfather, she would be back there already. He wouldn't be taking care of her while asking nothing in return. Now she was too afraid to be accepted back into the palace and his arms, knowing if their places had been reversed she might not give in.

  Rosa rolled onto her side, wiping her eyes. The violence of Freya's punishment had terrified her, but the more she learned about that Vampire woman, the more she came to agree with Angelus' actions. She had even told him that. In response, he told her that she was right in that he took to violence too quickly, and he was working on a new legal system with a greater emphasis on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

  "This is ridiculous," Rosa muttered, swinging out of bed. "I can't just lay here crying like a broken-hearted waif."

  The baby kicked some more as Rosa crossed the room, to where her cell phone was plugged in. Her morning sickness had eased significantly now that she was in her final trimester–only six weeks left. She was having a girl. Angelus wanted to name her Helena, after his sister.

  She hesitated a little before phoning Angelus. She knew she had been stubborn these past months, but she hadn't completely cut him out of her life, and it wasn't like her actions were completely unjustified. Apologizing for being afraid of the violence he meted out as punishment wasn't something she was going to do. Neither would she apologize for leaving. Even if her fears were unfounded, she was putting her health and safety first.

  If Mama had done that, then maybe Michael wouldn't have killed her.

  It didn't matter that the coroner's report said suicide. Even if–and this was an 'if' Rosa didn't believe in–her mother had actually taken her own life, Michael was responsible for it. The most frustrating and terrifying thing was that he would never be held accountable for it.

  She let out a breath, phoning Angelus. He answered at once.

  "Rosa, are you okay?"

  "I'm fine. I…" A lump formed in her throat. "I made a mistake by thinking that you were like my stepfather. I'm sorry for thinking the worst of you."

  "I understand why you did," Angelus replied softly. "What else were you supposed to think?"

  "Maybe I should have listened to you instead of jumping to conclusions."

  "There was a woman nailed to a post outside your window. No, you made the right choice."

  Angelus' soothing assurances made her tears start all over again. She rested a hand on her round belly. It was now or never. "Can I come back? I know I broke the contract—"

  "I don't need a contract. I want you to come home, Rosa. I love you."

  Rosa pressed a hand over her mouth to stop herself from gasping. Love? Nobody had ever loved her before. Not like this, at least. Her heart swelled with joy, but it left her hands cold with fear. What if he was only saying that to get her back? It was ridiculous, she knew. She was already coming back. He didn't have to lie to her about it.

  Yet, after seeing the way Michael had manipulated her mother with similar declarations, she didn't have much trust in love. This applied especially to the love she knew she felt for Angelus.

  "Rosa?"

  "I want to come home, too," she said. "But I'm afraid…"

  "I promise, I will give you all the time you need, my love. Just please come home."

  "I'm the one who phoned and asked if I could come back," she pointed out. "You don't need to make any assurances."

  Angelus laughed softly. "That's true. I'll have someone drive you back tonight if that's okay."

  "It is. I… I look forward to seeing you again."

  "I do, too… I love you."

  Rosa hung up. She wiped her tears and smiled as she rubbed her stomach. "We're going home, Helena."

  She was soon off, driven by a single car and a lone guard. Angelus must have found the people threatening her and taken care of it. The guards around the house had dwindled lately, familiar faces replaced by unfamiliar ones. If the threat wasn't over, at least it was diminished.

  Rosa played with her dark hair as they drove through the streets, not paying attention to her surroundings. Soon she would be back at the Vampire palace with her Vampire King. What would she tell him?

  It wasn't until they stopped in a dark, deserted area of the city that Rosa realized that they hadn't been heading to the palace. There were no other cars on the street. Her heart started thumping as her Vampire guard got out of the car, walked to her door and yanked her out.

  "What are you doing?" she cried in alarm, struggling uselessly against his grip. He dragged her into the light of the headlights.

  "Rosa?"

  Her heart stopped. Bile climbed up her throat and Rosa couldn't move, frozen to the spot as a man stepped into the light. His pale features were illuminated harshly, a familiar cruel smile spreading over his face. His crisp blue uniform clung to his muscled body, silver badge flashing.

  Michael Jones strode forward, looking at her as if it were Christmas. "Well, if it isn't my wayward stepdaughter. Allowing yourself to be impregnated by the Vampire King, are you? How far the mighty have fallen."

  Rosa swallowed dryly. Whatever this beast had in store for her, she wasn't going to cower before him. She leveled her chin, trying to look braver than she felt. "Michael. So you're a part of the group wanting to overthrow the Vampires?"

  "Something like that." Michael remained smiling.

  "And you." Rosa yanked her arm free from the Vampire's grip. "He wants to kill Vampires and you bring me to him? Why?"

  "Humans can't destroy our race," the Vampire replied arrogantly. "But they might be able to topple the Angel King."

  "Angelus?" Rosa gasped. "This is about killing Angelus? Why?"

  "For Freya." The Vampire turned on his heel and marched away, not looking back.

  Rosa backed away from Michael, her arms clasped protectively around her belly. The shock of seeing her stepfather ate away at her determination to be strong until she trembled with fear. Whatever he wanted, she couldn't let him hurt her baby! She had to find some way to delay or deter him from harming her.

  What did he want from her?

  "Are you going to kill me?" she blurted.

  "Not if I don't have to. The child is, what, seven months along?" Michael's eyes were locked on her belly.

  Rosa stepped back from him. "Close enough. What are you going to do?"

  "Kill you and cut the child out of you if need be. Seven months is viable, but I would prefer a natural birth."

  He didn't want to hurt her baby. Rosa's shoulders sagged in relief. She almost started crying. If he wasn't going to kill the baby, then why all of this? "So, you want to use my child for ransom? Angelus loves me. You don't have to kill me."

  "Vampires are incapable of love," Michael grabbed her arm. "Come along or I'll shoot you between the eyes."

  Trembling, Rosa walked forward. What else could she do? Michael had all the power right now. She swallowed and met his cold eyes as they headed for a nearby building. "What are you going to do to me?"

  "You'll see, Rosa." Michael smiled. "You'll see."

  Rosa's arms tightened around her middle. Angelus will find me. He loves me. He loves me, she repeated to herself. He won't let anything happen to me or our baby.

  The door swung shut behind them, locking Rosa in a place she didn't know with a man who had haunted her dreams for two years. Angelus, please find me!

  Chapter Seven - Angelus

  "They should be here by now."

  Angelus paced back and forth on the porch leading to his palace. At any other time, he would have admired the polished granite, the tile mosaic of the sun rising up the steps, the statues that held the balcony over his head. Now, in the dark of the night with no sign of his lover or the Vampires that he had ordered to bring her back, it all seemed too much. Unimportant, as if his designs for the palace had somehow distracted h
im from Rosa.

  Beside him, Lucilia held her cell phone to her ear again, chewing her lower lip. Her small, delicate fang had torn open the lip, and Angelus cupped her face in his hand, brushing his thumb against the drop of black blood that appeared. Lucilia winced and stopped chewing.

  "None of them are answering."

  A lone car pulled through the gates. Angelus tensed further. There should have been at least half a dozen vehicles in the convoy. He was taking no chances with Rosa's safety. The threats had only increased in the past months since she had chosen to live elsewhere.

  When the car came to a stop, only one Vampire got out. He moved with languid motions, strolling to open the truck. The scent of death hit Angelus' nose. Rage overwhelmed him. The thought of Rosa injured or worse drove him out his mind. He charged forward, his vision turning red. He heard a shout from Lucilia but ignored her.

  He was on the Vampire in a second. The smell of death was stronger, and Angelus pounded his fist into the Vampire's face and chest. His knuckles cracked and a loud screech filled the air. The Vampire he attacked never had a chance to fight back. It was only because Rosa's living scent clung to the creature that he survived the onslaught.

  Angelus growled, grasping the Vampire by the collar. "Where is she?"

  The Vampire was barely conscious, but his eyes managed to focus on the King's own. "Our lady Freya will rise again."

  Freya? What did she have to do with any of this? Angelus stepped back, his chest heaving as he panted. Morgan was beside him now, dragging the traitor to his feet. The Vampire began laughing. Angelus resisted the urge to throttle him.

  "Take him to a cell and bring Freya to me," Angelus said, dragging a hand through his hair. "I swear, if my Rosa is not returned to me unharmed, Freya will lose her head."

  The traitor stopped laughing abruptly. "She was not a part—"

  "Get him out of here," Angelus snarled. Another second and he might just kill the traitor.

  He remained where he was, hands clenched, eyes closed as he sucked in deep breaths. Bloodlust was simmering just below the surface of his emotions. If he wasn't careful, he would lose total control and go on a killing spree. Everyone he even suspected to be a part of the conspiracy would die, whether they were guilty or not.

  Isn't it this very violent streak that caused Rosa to leave me to begin with?

  The buzzing in his ears was so loud that it wasn't until Lucilia tapped him on the shoulder that he realized that his phone was ringing. He dug it out, his breath halting when he saw Rosa's name and picture. Was she alive, or was this a game that Freya was playing with him? Had she arranged this before he imprisoned her?

  "You should answer it, Uncle," Lucilia said.

  Angelus let out a deep breath, forcing himself to be calm as he brought the phone to his ear. "Hello."

  "Angelus."

  "Rosa!" He held the phone with both hands, clinging to it as though it could bring Rosa back to him. Her voice trembled and had a raw quality to it that indicated she had been crying, but there was no pain in it. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

  He quickly put the phone on speaker so Lucilia could also hear it.

  "I'm fine," Rosa said, sniffing. "The baby is fine. But if you don't give them a billion dollars, they'll kill me."

  Angelus' eyes narrowed. So she had been kidnapped. The traitor had handed her over to… who? They wanted a billion dollars, not Freya's release, so it didn't have anything to do with her. Or did it? Was one of her followers demanding money so that she could build herself an army and overthrow him? Or was it something else entirely?

  "Who are they, Rosa? Where are you?"

  Rosa whimpered. His vision tinged with red.

  "If they hurt you, I will destroy them."

  "They say to leave the money at the docks in two days. No police or I die."

  The line went dead.

  A roar echoed around the palace, and the phone crumpled like tissue paper. Lucilia backed a few paces from him, but her phone was already in her hand. "I will start liquidating assets for the cash drop."

  Angelus yanked at his hair, pacing round and round. Think clearly. Don't be violent. Oh, how he wanted to rend Freya limb from limb! He wanted to put her head on a pike, to feed her body to the crows. But I don't know whether she's involved or not. I don't know if hurting her will kill Rosa.

  He gulped in a deep breath. "I am going to question the traitor. Let me know when you have the money."

  Lucilia nodded as Angelus stalked back towards the palace. He would get to the bottom of this, one way or another. When he did, heads would roll!

  Or would they? What would Rosa want me to do? He couldn’t answer that. What matters most is getting her back safely. I can think about morals after she is in my arms again.

  ***

  The next day, Angelus received an email from Rosa's address. He sent everyone away from his office before he opened it. There was a video attachment, and whatever the kidnappers were sending him, he knew that he was going to have to struggle to remain in control. Lucilia and Morgan would want to help him, but if he went into bloodlust, he might hurt them.

  In case you think about changing your mind, read the email. He sat on his fancy, expensive chair, staring at the HD display, preparing himself for the worst. The mouse hovered over the attachment.

  What could the kidnappers be sending him? His blood tingled in his veins, burning with the desire to find his woman and bring her home. If the kidnappers knew what was good for them, they wouldn't lay a single finger on her. Yet, he had a feeling that they didn't understand how strongly a Vampire could react to seeing someone they loved in pain.

  Angelus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened the video. At first, it was dark, but then a light flickered on. Rosa sat on a chair, her large, pregnant belly emphasized by the flowing top she wore. Her eyes were wide and frightened, but she wasn't looking at the camera. They were locked on a man as he walked into the frame.

  Her mouth moved. Angelus stared at her lips. Please, Michael.

  Michael? Angelus mind reeled in shock. Why would a kidnapper tell her his name? He wouldn't. It was somebody Rosa already knew. A growl rose in his throat. Her stepfather. Michael Jones. It had to be him. The video had no sound, but Michael clearly didn't expect that Angelus could read lips.

  Rosa was in the hands of the man she feared most. Angelus had never felt so helpless. This was all his fault.

  A snarl erupted from him as the man's hand flew across Rosa's face. Her head turned, her mouth opening in a silent cry of pain. Angelus felt his fingers turning into claws as he clutched the arms of his chair, ripping through the leather. Another slap. Now a full-on punch. Tears rolled down Rosa's face.

  Red settled over Angelus' vision. But his mind, rather than consumed by the rage that was usually associated with bloodlust, was focused. He knew the name of the monster that had Rosa. He would be able to find where she was being held, and he would kill Michael Jones. Slowly. By the time he was done, the man would be begging him to end his suffering.

  But first, he had to find the villain. It was a good thing that there was a traitorous Vampire in his dungeons who knew where to start looking.

  Chapter Eight - Rosa

  The tiny cuts stung her face as her tears rolled down over them. Even though Michael had only hit her a few times, her whole face and neck throbbed with pain. One of her eyes was swollen half-shut and a crack in her lower lip still oozed blood. There were more bruises on her arms.

  Michael had assured her that he went easy on her because of her pregnancy. And she believed him.

  He was always careful not to bruise her mother's face or arms–nothing that would make her wear long sleeves in hot weather, nothing that could be visible in her tank top and shorts. Rosa could remember lying in bed listening to her mother cry, glad that she had remembered to lock her door before going to bed so that he couldn’t get in. She remembered being angry with her mother, hating her for not just leaving and taking bo
th herself and her daughter away from Michael.

  Now she knew better. The deep fear that he had already instilled in her had her frozen. With every slap, he told her that it was her own fault for getting involved with Vampires until he had forced her to agree with him. If he had her under his thumb for years, like he had her mother, how long would it be until he had convinced her it was true?

  Rosa wrapped her arms around her belly. Helena was kicking strongly. That, at least, was a relief. Even though Michael hadn't gone anywhere near her belly, she had been afraid that the trauma to her body would harm her daughter.

  Angelus will find me, she tried to tell herself again, even though she knew that was next to impossible. The city was filled with places where a cop could keep her hidden, and Angelus didn't know it was her stepfather who was holding her prisoner.

  The door to her lonely cell opened. Rosa sat up. Every muscle in her body ached and she chewed her inner cheek to stop herself from whimpering. She had been provided with a thin blanket and nothing else. The hard cell floor left her back in spasms, but she struggled to her feet and pressed herself to the wall as Michael stepped through the door. His blue eyes shone with a maniacal gleam, a triumphant grin over his face. He brought a lunch bag with him.

  "I thought you might be hungry and thirsty." He held the bag out to her.

  Rosa eyed the bag warily. Her stomach chose that moment to growl loudly. Well, if he wanted to kill her, there would be easier ways than poison. And drugging her? He'd find a way, even if it meant shoving the drugs down her throat. There was no reason for her not to eat or drink. She accepted the lunch bag, opening it to find a sealed bottle of water and store-bought egg salad sandwich. Her jaw ached with the desire to eat. She tore into the sandwich, tucking the lunch bag and water bottle under her arm.