“The police hit the compound a little over an hour ago. They found the missing girls and Carlo’s sub-basement. I decided my time there was at an end and came here following them. I was waiting to see if they captured you when you came out the back door. I’m curious. How did you get away?”
“Alison used Natalie as a diversion and then stalled Manning to let me get free. Damn the man. He ruined my wedding and because of him, my wife and unborn child will be spending the night in police custody. We’ll have to get her free.”
“Yes. That is most unfortunate, but I’m afraid, making any attempt to free her at this time would not be wise.”
“What do you mean?”
“I suspect that by now your picture is being sent to every law enforcement agency in the country. We’ll be lucky if we can get to my hidden lab without being pulled over. I will not go to jail again Mr. Laurence. Consider yourself lucky I picked you up. Once we’re safely at my lab, then we can discuss the options available to us.”
MItch’s eyes narrowed. “If you believe I’m such a problem, why didn’t you just escape without me?’
“You, Mr. Laurence, are still a valuable asset to our organization, but believe me when I say that can change in an instant. While I regret losing your wife and child at this time, you sir, are an essential part of an ongoing enterprise. Not to mention you have at your disposal a number of lucrative trust funds. You owe me your life and I intend to collect.”
For the first time in his life, Mitch felt like an object. Kipling saved his life with an experimental serum, and to him, Mitch was just the continuing experiment. He stared straight ahead out the window, as he came to that realization.
***
Inside the church, John and Todd were on their way back to Brody and Natalie. Bo had been notified of Mitch’s escape and he was trying to coordinate his remaining force and attempting to block all exits from the city.
Natalie was confused. She was being held by a strange man, and her secret lover had disappeared. She looked up to see The Handmaiden being led out in handcuffs. Breaking free of Brody’s hold, she ran to Alison. “Why are they doing this?” She rounded on Brody. “How dare you handcuff The Handmaiden. She is The Messenger’s wife. What right do you have coming in and stopping this wedding?”
Brody moved to stop Natalie from interfering. “Natalie, stop this. She kidnapped you and held you all this time. What’s the matter with you?”
“What are you talking about? She would never do such a thing. The Messenger took me in when I had no one. He gave me his son to raise and has given me, my own babies. I’ll never be alone again because of him. Who are you and why have you done this terrible thing?”
Brody was stunned. Natalie didn’t know him and she talked like Liam was only a child to care for instead of her own son. This was worse than they had anticipated. “Look you’re just confused. We’re going to take you to the hospital and get you checked out.”
Just then Natalie spotted John and ran to him. She began smothering him with kisses. “You came back. You are real and now we can be together like in my dreams. I want to go somewhere quiet with you.”
Alison spoke up. “Yes Natalie, Heed the messenger. Officer, you heard her, she said she was with us because she wanted to be. I would hardly say she was kidnapped, and look, she’s taken right back up with the good lieutenant.”
John at first responded to Natalie’s initial kiss, but then things got weird. She attempted to undress him and it was obvious she wanted to make love to him right then and there. He glanced over to Alison and saw her smiling like a cat. “What did you do to her?” He said as he tried to contain Natalie’s hands
“Why, nothing. You see Lieutenant, Natalie loves The Messenger, and would do anything for him, including bearing his children. But it appears she also cares for you deeply. Natalie is a loving person. She made quite an impression on one of our followers at last night’s rehearsal dinner.”
John was aware of what Alison was implying and his concern for Natalie grew. They had obviously brainwashed her somehow. According to Dr. Wolek, they knew she had been drugged at one time. Was she still under the influence of some drug? John held her hands still. “Natalie, looked at me.” He waited until he had her full attention. “Who am I?”
“You’re my dream lover.” She said simply.
“Do you know my name?”
“I.... I don’t know, you never told me.”
“Do you know who Liam is?”
“Yes, he’s The Messenger’s son. I care for him because his mother is dead.”
“Natalie, he’s your son, yours and mine.” John opened his wallet and showed her the picture of the three of them.
“No, that’s not possible.” She looked at the picture and back at John and fainted in his arms.
“My my, Lieutenant, you have them swooning at your feet. I never realized what a heartthrob you were,” remarked Alison sarcastically.
John glared at Alison. “Get her out of here. Make sure none of Mitch’s followers get near her and take her to the station.” He then worked at getting Natalie to wake up.
Todd intercepted Alison and her escort on the way from the building. Although held off by the police, he stated. “Make it easy on yourself. You’re at least six months pregnant. I can help get you into a nice cushy penitentiary, all you have to do is tell me where Mitch went. He doesn’t love you. He went off and left you to face the music by yourself.”
“You’re a maniac. I don’t know where Mitch is and I would never tell you. He’ll get me free. He loves me and I have faith in him.”
“You’re a fool, he doesn’t love anyone but himself.” Todd turned away, knowing Alison was too enamored with Mitch to be any help. He walked back to John and the now revived Natalie. “We should get her to the hospital. I’ll call Vicki.”
Brody spoke up. “Don’t bother. When I dropped off Liam at Llanfair, Jessica told me she was still at the hospital, I’m sure by now Jessica has reached her.”
John nodded, “Natalie, do you trust me? I want to take you to get checked out at the hospital.”
Natalie looked about uncertain.“But what about The Handmaiden and The Messenger. I really should go with them.”
“The Handmaiden is going to be taken care of and The Messenger left. You don’t need to worry about them right now.” John led her out of the Tabernacle.
Todd watched them exit and found himself alone in the now deserted tabernacle. He walked to a column close to the front door and turned to look at the room. Another scene popped into his head. Marty sitting on the floor cradling Suede Pruitt as he took his last breath. He remembered how scared and frustrated he had been. A man had just died, because of him. Then another image flashed before his eyes. Mitch’s smiling face as he talked about Blair. Todd pounded his injured hand against the column. “Mitch Laurence, if I have to spend every cent I have, I’ll find you and end your existence once and for all.”
***
Mitch exited the car following Kipling into a rather rundown apartment building in the middle of Philadelphia. What he didn’t expect was the interior. It was like stepping into a palace. “This is your hidden lab?”
“Of course not, this is my home. The lab is down below. Come, Carlo is waiting for us.” He walked to a rather ornate elevator that occupied the center of the room and entered. “Mr. Laurence, I have no urge to be late for dinner.”
Mitch stepped into the elevator and it took them to the top floor. He was impressed to say the least. “Doctor, forgive me for asking, but why on earth were you living in the woods when you could have been living here?”
“I live for my work. You were in the woods and provided me with a means to test my babies. It was actually very relaxing to work in that environment. Surely you understand. You would be dead if I hadn’t assisted you.” The elevator stopped and they exited to be greeted by Carlo Hesser.
“Ivan, Mr. Laurence, please join me.”
***
Todd arrived at the hospital just in time to see Vicki hugging Natalie. He felt for his sister when she didn’t get the response from Natalie she had been expecting. It was going to be hard on her and the family. Natalie had no memory of them. From what he had seen and heard, she was a shadow of her former self. Mitch and Alison had obviously tampered with her mind completely. On top of all that, she was pregnant.
He left them and walked to the elevator that would take him up to his family. He hadn’t realized how much he needed them until he had arrived back at the hospital. He nodded to Nurse Rogalla. “Has there been any change?”
She shook her head no.
He walked into the room just as Sam was telling his mom of Rascal’s latest antics.
“Mom, it was so funny, Jack was chasing Rascal around his bedroom wearing one shoe, while the puppy ran with his other shoe. Rascal kept diving under the chairs and the desk, then Jack had him cornered by the closet. You’ll never guess what happened next, Mom.”
“Sam, you swore you wouldn’t tell anyone,” said Jack.
“But Jack, Mom doesn’t count. Anyway you should have seen it. He had the puppy cornered and he was reaching for his shoe when Rascal ran through his legs. Mom, Jack fell forward and did a somersault and landed on his back.” Sam started laughing and even Starr joined in. The image of Jack flat on his back and the puppy racing away was vivid in everyone’s head.
Jack looked pained. “Hey, it wouldn’t have been funny if he had done it to you.”
Todd laid a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m sure Rascal will find a way to get something of Sam’s too. Just bide your time.” He walked over to Blair, who lay quietly. Starr was brushing her mother’s hair.
“We‘ve been talking to her for a while. She still doesn’t respond. Dad, I don’t get it. It looks like she’s awake.” Starr said looking up at her father. “When you were in the coma down in Savannah, you looked like you were sleeping, but this is weird.”
“I know. I was told I looked like that back when you were little, Starr. It’s kind of strange that now it’s your mother going through this. We just have to stay positive that she wants to come back to us and when she’s ready she will.” He sat down opposite Starr and took his daughter’s hand. “She knows we’re here. That I can tell you for certain. I knew people were waiting for me even though I was afraid to come out and face the world. I got a little help from my alters when they came out first back then, and eventually, I returned. We just need to find the right way to help your Mom to come back.”
Sam piped in. “Dad, why don’t you try kissing her like the Prince in Sleeping Beauty. Mom always tells me you’re her Dragon Prince. The one who’s always been there when she needed you.”
“Oh brother, are you nuts. That doesn’t happen in real life.” Jack said.
“Jack, don’t do that.” chided Starr, although she doubted it would actually work, she didn’t want to upset Sam.
Todd looked at his two older children. He had to agree with them, but he wanted to let Sam down easily. “I don’t know Sam. That’s something that only happens in fairytales.”
“But, Dad, you believe in fairytales.” Sam looked at his father with wide eyes.
Todd looked back at his sleeping beauty. “Yes, Sam, I do believe in fairytales.” Putting his hands on both sides of Blair’s face, Todd looked into her vacant eyes. “You hear that, Babe? I believe in fairytales because you fulfilled my every wish. I love you, Blair. It’s time to come back to me.” He leaned forward and kissed her soft lips, putting all the love he felt for her into the kiss. He thought of all those times recently when she had pulled him from his hidden room. God, let this work. Come on, Babe, come home to me.
Then he sensed a change. For a brief moment, he thought she was responding. He raised his head looking into her eyes. “Blair?” Moving one hand down to her belly where their daughter lay resting, he felt a little kick. “Hey, even your daughter thinks it’s time you came back.” Trying again, he covered her lips. Whispering softly, he repeated,. “I love you, Blair.” Then kissed her with all his passion and hopes.
Sam had faith his father was going to help his mother. "Dad, I know you can wake Sleeping Beauty. You’re her prince.”
Todd felt her lips move of their own accord under his. Shit. It’s working. Then, her hand touched his shoulder. That’s my girl, welcome home.
Aww. He wakes her with a kiss? How romantic...
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