A/N: Well, here it is. I've been putting it off and putting if off… but it's here. The last chapter of God's Gift! Now, the reason it's taken so long, this was a really hard chapter for me to write. I actually had to walk away from the computer occasionally because I found what I was writing too disturbing to write in one big chunk. This is an extremely emotional and highly disturbing chapter and I would recommend having a box of tissues on hand, what you're about to read is NOT nice.
Chapter Ten
I knew I wasn't in Forks anymore. I was close to the Oregon border and James, for whatever reason was heading for higher ground, but staying near the coast.
He wouldn't drown Líle would he? Not even he could do something as monstrous, as beastly as...
"MAMA!"
The scream rocked me to my core and I sped up and, throwing all caution to the winds I screamed "LÍLE!" in response and I heard my baby scream for me again and the devil's quiet laugh as he listened with a sadistic ear to the proceedings.
I left the trees then and found myself near the edge of a cliff, the wind whipping my hair back from my face. In front of stood James Witherdale. He had my toddler by the ankle, holding her out over the cliff. My heart, which had started beating again the moment I'd taken Líle from her house as a badly abused baby two years ago, stopped. It stopped like the dead organ it was.
"James" I managed to choke, my eyes on my terrified baby girl while she screamed and cried and tried to reach out for me.
James smiled sadistically "Victoria"
"Líle..."
"Lily is quite safe, if rather frightened" James told me "She will remain safe if you do as I say"
"What do you want me to do?" I asked, but I already knew what it was and I already knew I would agree to it.
"Come back" James said "I've missed having you around, Victoria. You always added a certain, ah, how shall I phrase this, excitement to my day"
I swallowed and he continued "Of course, things will be simpler than they were in Witherdale. I would just expect you to follow any instructions I gave you and keep me company at night"
"I'll do it" I told him and he raised one eyebrow, obviously suspicious that I was agreeing so quickly without fuss. "I'll do it if you let Líle go"
"You are not in a position to bargain, Victoria" James told me "I have the hostage" and, as if to prove his point, he let Líle's ankle slip a little in his grasp. My baby screamed and I took a step forward.
"AH!" James said "Ah, ah, ah. You stay just there, Victoria. Lily will be perfectly safe as long as you comply"
I was torn. I would agree, but I wanted Líle to be left out of it.
"Please James" I begged "She's just a baby"
James sighed "How about this, Victoria. You agree and I will give you Lily to carry and cuddle and calm while we walk to where Laurent is waiting for us. Once we are there, you give Lily to Laurent and Laurent will look after her while we reacquaint ourselves with each other"
"You won't hurt her?"
"I swear on my good mother's grave, Victoria, Lily will be safe" James told me with a sardonic smile and I knew full well that his 'good mother's grave' meant nothing to him. He'd probably spit on it and not think anything of it.
"James, please, I will do anything you ask, but leave my baby out of it" I begged and James sighed "What if I promise that I won't hurt her and that Laurent won't hurt her either, then will you come?"
There was nothing else for it. I nodded and James hoisted my screaming daughter into his arms and walked towards me, holding her out. She reached for me, terrified "Mama! Mama! Help! Help! Mama!"
I took her in my arms and she grabbed me and I cuddled her against my chest. She was crying hard, clinging onto my hair for dear life and I considered, just for a moment, running with her. I was faster than James, I could get away...
"If you run, I will catch you again, Victoria" James said "And the next time I catch you and your little brat I will kill Lily and you will watch"
There was nothing I could do. I followed him with my sobbing baby in my arms while we walked. We walked for a very, very long time. By the time we stopped I had a feeling we were quite a way away from where we'd started and nowhere near Forks. This was it. We entered a small clearing and James friend with dreadlocks, Laurent, was waiting for us. He glared at James as we approached.
"I nearly died today" he said coolly, his voice slightly accented "I nearly died and I didn't even get as much as a thank you for creating a diversion"
"Well, I simply told you to create a diversion" James said "I didn't tell you to antagonize the shape-shifters"
Laurent muttered under his breath in a language that sounded like French, it made sense considering both his name and accent were French, and said "Do you want me to take the baby now?"
"Yes" James and he turned to me "Give Laurent, Lily, Victoria"
I gave my little girl a kiss on her forehead, cuddled her close and then went to pass her, however reluctantly, to Laurent.
"Mama! What happening?! What going on?! I'm scare, mama! I'm scare!" Líle clung to me and I explained "Mama has to stay with James for a while, Líle, but I'll see you soon, alright?"
"No! No! Not right! Not right! Don't go mama! Don't go!"
"I love you, Líle" I told her "I love you baby. But you have to go with Laurent. Laurent won't hurt you"
"No! No! Mama!" Laurent had his hands around her middle now and she screamed and kicked and struggled and I let go of her with a reluctance. It felt so wrong to be delivering my daughter into a situation that neither she nor I felt comfortable about. But, if I wanted her to live...
"I love you, baby!" I called to her as Laurent walked away with her, trying to hush her gently "I love you!"
"MAMA!" Líle wailed "MAMA! HELP! MAMA!"
I couldn't watch, I turned away and James put his hands on my shoulders and whispered in my ear "It's good to have you back, Victoria" and his hands slithered to my t-shirt.
"MAMA!"
A/N: *Bawls at the top of my lungs* Wasn't that awful?! How could I write something so terrible. Now, for anyone who read and DIDN'T vote, get down on your hands and knees and thank Indigo1100 and Liyorah for voting on what I'm writing next. The sequel to God's Gift is titled Only Son of Satan and, if you leave me a review, I will send you a teaser for the first chapter of that story.
I'd like to take a moment now to thank Indigo1100, Liyorah and LordXeenTheGreat who read and reviewed… Every. Single. Chapter! A round of applause to you guys and I take my hat off to you! You all ROCK! Thanks for keeping this story going!