by L. A. A. Law
Drawing myself up on my knees, I wrap myself around him now. “I’m not afraid and it wasn’t a goodbye, you must have misunderstood. I’m fine. It’s just that we haven’t spent much time together since everything that happened and I miss you.” I run my fingertips down his sculpted torso.
Although he shivers, he is not deflected and I wonder if we are more connected than I ever realized. “Mia, nothing is going to happen to you. Amanda is wrong, nothing is going to separate our future.”
I kiss him again as my heart races. Knowing this is our last night, I don’t want to talk. I want to be near him, to love him, and to give him one last memory of us together. “I’m not worried Andrew, really. I just want to be with the most wonderful man on this plane or any other.” Slowly, I unbutton his shirt. As I unfasten the last one, he pulls me into his chest. The entire night, I refuse to let my eyes shut, even once. I want to memorize every fleck of his glorious, ocean eyes and feel every contour of his muscles. Even if consciously I won’t remember, I know his soul has imprinted upon mine and will touch me throughout eternity.
He is tender and sweet. His touch lights the embers of desire throughout my entire being, burning away the fear of what is to come. Although our time is short in comparison to the forever for which I hoped, I know that no matter what is erased from my mind his gift of love will forever warm and touch my heart and can never be stricken, not even by the most powerful of angels.
The gray hue pierces through the slotted blinds signaling my final hours with this angelic man and my wonderful family. I need to put one more thing in place before I leave my safe haven to ensure that Nicholas and Kayla will be taught well. Although Andrew and his family can deal with all of the other issues, they are not knowledgeable about this one and in his grief, I cannot let a power that will protect them fall to the wayside, knowing that I will not be here to help protect them myself.
Rising to start my final day, I don my mask for one final time ensuring that I do not let on that anything in our forever has changed. I will not break the rules, the consequences are far too grave, so I kiss him good morning as always, tell him I love him and get breakfast on the table just as the children rise.
As luck would have it, or maybe it is a gift from Michael, Jeff appears at the door to see Charlie, who is just sitting down to eat. Andrew is called away regarding an urgent patient matter and I seize the opportunity to put the last piece of the puzzle in place with Jeff.
“Can I speak with you in the living room for a moment?” He winks at Charlie letting him know he’ll be in the next room. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, I am just hoping to convince you to help Kayla and Nicholas adjust. I know that you agreed to help them through their first conversion and that you have a life and pack outside of Sanctuary, but if you or Grant could stay for a while to assist them in adjusting and learning how to use their skills as wolves, I know that they will be in good hands and be taught by good people. I know this is a lot to ask and normally I wouldn’t, it’s just that this is outside of our area.” I feel the fear of them being alone in this if he says no creeping its way into my heart and exposing me through my crescendo tone.
Jeff interrupts. “Mia, I’m sure you and Andrew can guide them just fine. They are good kids and it seems like you are a very close knit family.”
“We are, it’s just that I know that there are aspects of this that we are not equipped to teach them and I am hoping that you might consider staying or convincing Grant to stay for a while to ensure that their adjustment goes smoothly.”
“I don’t know how long I can stay, but I will definitely speak to Grant about it and I know that Paul and Julianne are very fond of your children and could be a big help.”
“Thank you. I can’t tell you how much better that makes me feel.” My voice involuntarily cracks.
“Mia, what’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“No, I’m just worried about them.”
His eyes bore into mine, searching for answers, maybe the animal side of him senses my fear. Casting my eyes to the floor, I fear I’m too late. “That’s not it. There is something more. I can sense it. Let me help you this time, don’t shut me out.”
“Jeff, it’s nothing. Everything is fine, it’s just been a complicated few weeks and my concern for them in this matter is getting the better of me because I can’t help them myself in this.”
Charlie comes bouncing out of the kitchen. “I’m ready to go.”
“Alright, let’s go.” He turns to me. “If you want to talk, let me know.”
Leaving with Julianne and Paul, I enter the kitchen to clean the dishes. Looking over to my children as they rise to clear their plates, a lump in my throat rises, almost choking me. Forcing it down, I only have a few seconds, before it overwhelms me. I cannot let on to them that anything has changed and if I allow my control to slip for even a second, the tears I am forcing back will be unstoppable.
Kissing them good morning again as they hand me their plates, I try to make a joke of it so as not to let my sorrow for leaving them escape into my voice, but I need to tell them I love them while they are awake.
As I hug Jacob, he looks at me with a confused stare. “Are you o.k. mom?”
“I’m fine sweetie we just have to get ready to start our day. I love you handsome.”
“I love you too mom.”
As they head into the other room, I close my eyes tightly, force my emotions into a draw, and lock it tight so as not to allow them to take hold of my heart. I need to be strong and I need to be ready. Any indication of what is to come and I will cost Eva her existence and forever impair the family that flamed the embers of my dying existence, making me feel alive for the first time. Forcing a smile on my lips, it is just in time as a cool set of arms wrap around my waist and Andrew rests his chiseled chin upon my shoulder. “Are you ready to go beautiful, the children are already in the hall?”
Turning, I kiss him. “I’m ready.”
We spend the morning helping out at the recreation center and seeing patients. At one o’clock Ryan comes in and from his expression, I know this is it. He whispers into Andrew’s ear and Andrew is gone in a flash, followed by his family. Knowing the children can tell something is going on and not wanting to leave them without kissing them goodbye, I race over to them.
Nicole inquires. “What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing to worry about it’s just a patient that we moved to another building. I have to go and help out.” I kiss and hug them all. “I love you.”
Outside, I dash towards what I know is a fight, Reginald catches hold of me, but we keep moving forward. “I will watch over them, they will be fine.” Catching his features, I know he knows what is about to happen too.
“Thank you.”
I cannot believe the strength of the vampires that are coming at my family. They seem to toss them aside so easily. One enters the building followed by Andrew who is tossed out a window in a nanosecond. Immediately rising, he bolts back inside. Eva and Jackson are on another, but I see the one who I came for approaching with a lit stake. Knowing this is it, I throw myself at Eva’s back.
Chapter Twelve - Epilogue
Dr. Angelis, I’m sorry to disturb your rest, but there is a patient on route to emergency who has been shot. You need to scrub. Jumping up from the cot, I bolt down the hallway catching up to Janet, handing her my watch, cell phone and pager as she updates me. “The victim is believed to be a seventeen to nineteen year old male with two gunshot wounds, one to the abdomen and one close to the heart. The bullet through the abdomen is a through and through, but the one near the heart is lodged in the back rib cage. The EMT’s lost him twice on route. Operating room four is ready and your team is scrubbing. Pushing into the OR scrub room, I prepare and she is still by my side. “I placed the gown in your office for the benefit. Jonathan sent flowers again and said that he would meet you there. His plane was delayed, but should be landing around seven.”
Running through the operating doors, I prepare to operate.
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Synopsis Of Secrets Of Sanctuary Hospital Dark Encounter
Mia’s unearthing of Eva’s sacrifice all those years ago could only lead to one action, she had to die in Eva’s place when William’s men came to reclaim Marlena. As Andrew tackles a world without his other half and struggles to exist and pick up the pieces of his children’s mournful hearts in facing a world without their mother, Mia is thrust into an existence which no longer affords her the protections of Sanctuary and her powers. Alone, without any recollection of her past life, haunted by memories and visions of a tragic life which are appear to be her own, and stripped of the ability to awaken her powers, she is in the arms of her worst nightmare. Mia faces her most deadly challenge to date, and one which in her new life, she is not even aware as Jonathan returns to claim her as his own. Armed with new skills, a fresh plan, and a secret which if revealed in the proper fashion may lead Mia right into his awaiting arms and a commitment which will seal her fate for all eternity. This time the dark side may just get the soul it is hungry to consume, but only if it claims her before a mistaken belief leads to the end of her life by the one who will end his on in the process.