~*~Fear~*~

When Marty awakened the next morning, she overheard Victor and his mother having a heated argument out in the hallway. "Everything was fine until SHE came here!" Irene cried out.

Victor groaned as he ran his fingers through his hair. He wasn't happy because his mother had interrupted his morning cuddling with Marty. Now that she was back in his arms, he did not want to waste a single minute with her. He was happier than ever, and he didn't want his mother ruining it.

"I love her, Mother," Victor stated. "She is my life... and as soon as I get out of here..."

"I KNEW it," Irene interrupted. "You are leaving me. My beloved son is LEAVING his mother!"

"How could I possibly leave?" Victor countered. "You have me locked in this fortress, with countless guards watching my every move. Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't."

"You're not leaving?"

"No, I will stay... as long as Marty gets to remain here beside me... and you never hurt her," Victor replied. "If you hurt her in any way, shape, or form, I would leave in a heart beat. I love her... and she's everything to me."

Marty sat up in bed and groggily brushed the sleep from her eyes. Her reunion with Victor had been so passionate and she hadn't gotten much sleep since they had first made love. Despite her grief from losing her husband, son, and granddaughter, Victor had helped make her feel complete again. Now that she was back in his arms, she felt joyous, and she didn't want it to end. Living in Irene's Victorian mansion was like paradise, but Marty still felt afraid. Irene Manning was not playing with a full deck. Marty knew it was just a matter of time before the evil in Victor's mother seeped out, and someone got hurt.

"Did you hear?" Victor asked as he strode into the room. He was wearing nothing but a form-fitting pair of sleep pants. His body was so muscular and sexy that Marty felt waves of desire as she gazed at his chest.

Marty reached out and pulled Victor down on the bed with her. "Yes, I heard everything..." she spoke with a little frown.

"You're worried," he said as he tenderly brushed the lines of agitation from her brow.

"Your mother frightens me, Victor. Her attachment to you isn't normal. She's keeping you locked up here so you do not leave her."

"That's not what worries me most," Victor spoke with a far-off expression in his eyes.

"What... ? What did she say?"

"After our discussion as I was walking away, I heard her muttering something under her breath. I don't know what she meant by it... but it was chilling," Victor revealed. "She said, 'I know you will leave me, eventually... and when you do, I will make sure that you never really leave."

"What does she mean by that?" Marty asked fearfully.

"I don't know, but you are right, Marty. She's dangerous. I'm sorry I was blind to her evil. All I want to do is keep you safe," Victor stated as he pulled her closer and kissed her lips.

"Do you think she will... hurt us?"

"I won't let her hurt you," Victor promised. "I will protect you with my life. I brought you here... and I won't let anything happen to you. I love you, Marty, with everything I am."

"I love you that much, too," Marty said as she gazed into his eyes. Gently she caressed his chiseled cheek. "Make love to me?"

A slow smile came to Victor's lips. "You want to make love again? So soon?"

"Yes," she said with a slight blush. "We may as well enjoy ourselves... and keep our mind off the guards... AND our captivity."

Victor smirked. "I am glad you see it my way now," he said as he swept her into his passionate embrace.