Hello, my lovely readers. I've had a bit of writer's block. Hopefully, things will move along quicker in the next month, or so. On with the show…
Chapter 3: Let Me Be Your Sanctuary
Bonnie
The world felt empty. Bonnie Bennett-Gilbert laid on her back. Feigning sleep, she allowed anything resembling living pass her by in the detention center. Jeremy Gilbert had been taken from her, again. They had made a vow to grow old together. And the people who took her love from her were probably roaming this building as Bonnie laid still, waiting. She would make them pay for taking her children's father away from them. When she'd quenched her thirst for revenge, she would go home to those same children, and allow herself to grieve.
As if someone had decided that Bonnie had no more right to lay, and drift, in the silence which had kept her company for the past forty-eight hours, a buzzing sounded. Heavy eyelids lifting, Bonnie frowned at the plain, concrete ceiling. Who would be foolish enough to enter this cell?
Heavy footsteps led toward the hard mattress she'd slept on, since arriving in this cell. "Mrs. Gilbert."
With a slowness that was partially due to having small people growing inside her and partially due to weakness from not eating, Bonnie sat up. Her narrowed eyes moved to a man who came to stand two feet from the end of the bed. He had a somber look on his face.
"What do you want?" Bonnie demanded, her voice hoarse from lack of use. She did not feel like being polite. And they could punish her. They would regret it.
The man frowned and turned. "Nichols, get this woman some water! Now!"
Bonnie's ears perked up at the sound of more footsteps. Eyes returning to the man in her cell, she watched him closely. Either he had power here, or had liked to scare people into doing what he wanted. She guessed it was both.
Soon a guard came to the cell door and the door buzzed open. The guard came in and handed his superior a bottle of water. "Go." The guard hurried away at the command, his head ducked. Yes. The man on her cell had power. And he would not be in her cell if he did not want something from her. Vamps. Wolves. Humans. It all added up to the same thing: They wanted witches for spells.
However, this group did not seem interested in using magical beings for their powers. Or maybe they were. Maybe there was something more at play. Something Bonnie, and her friends, could not have guessed. This idea made Bonnie's throat tighten.
The man in her cell held out the bottle of water. "You must be parched."
Thinking about refusing the offering; Bonnie decided she needed the water too much. But she did not thank the man as she twisted the cap, hoping that they had not contaminated the water. Lifting it to her lips, she took a slow sip, and then a long swallow, water dripped down her chin and over her neck. She was so damned thristy.
"Feel better?" The man asked. He examined Bonnie closely. She nodded, but, again, she refused to speak to him.
Hand gesturing to the single, metal chair in the room, the man said to Bonnie, "May I?" She shrugged in return. He seemed to take this as an invitation to stay. Pulling the chair over, he took a seat. "I wanted to pay my condolences. For your loss."
Suddenly enraged, Bonnie stared at the man. Her fists curled at her sides. "You want to tell me how sorry you are that my husband was murdered—in front of me—probably by men who work for you?" Bonnie let out a bitter laugh. "You can take your sentiments and—"
"Mrs. Gilbert, if I had been there—you can be assured—I would not have allowed my men to kill your husband."
These words, from this man, made Bonnie's stomach cllench, and she shook her head. "I don't believe you."
This stranger shrugged. "You don't have to." He sat back in the chair and looked Bonnie over. "Heard you haven't eaten since they took you off the IV drip, back in the lab. Not good for those babies of yours."
Again, Bonnie was annoyed. "My children are not your business."
Chuckling, the man nodded. "True. And I usually wouldn't care what ya did. Your body, your choice, right?" His eyes bored into Bonnie's and she did not like his frank look. Nor did she like that knowing little smirk on his face. Lab... Did they know that these babies could not be Jeremy's? Could they have been able to test for witch-siphons? They had Jos. Who knew what they learned from her DNA.
The man continued on, his fingers lacing behind his head. "Jeremy Gilbert was a kind of hero to me. Out there. Fighting the good fight. Taking on the supernatural elements. But, I guess when your sis used to be a vamp, and your kiddies are witchy-ies, kinda makes the lines blurry as all hell. Don't it?" Now, this stranger was smiling at Bonnie like they were sharing secrets. He made her skin crawl. She wished he would leave her alone.
Not moving. Not speaking, Bonnie waited for this man to go. He did not. Instead, he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "I can see why he got lured into all of that. Pretty, little lady like you. Must have been something else in your prime."
He was trying to provoke her. Bonnie had been around plenty of men like this one. She would not allow him to make her lose her temper. No. She planned on taking him on in her own time.
Cocking his head to the side, the man seemed to hear the same sounds in the hallway that Bonnie did. Someone was heading by. Breath catching in her throat when they were moving past the door, Bonnie could not contain herself. "Stefanie!" Bonnie shouted, moving to get up.
Stefanie turned away from the guard who had been leading her down the hallway. "Aunt Bonnie?" The doe-eyed girl stared at Bonnie, her mouth opening.
"Fan!" Bonnie hurried to the door. Her hands went up. Screw the plan. Seeing the fear on her niece's face made Bonnie's maternal instincts kick in.
"Back up! Now!" The guard with Fan lifted a gun and pointed it at Bonnie.
A chuckle erupted behind Bonnie. "Peers, put the weapon down."
"You don't run this place anymore, Townsend." The guard continued pointing the gun at Bonnie and released the safety. Hands pointing outward, Bonnie's fingers began to close. The spell would begin to choke the guard. The problem would be Townsend. He might attack Bonnie from behind. Well, she couldn't let Peers shoot her.
A shot rang through the air while Bonnie was thinking. Fan's hands clapped over her ears. Her eyes were on Bonnie. Bonnie looked downward. She felt shocked to not find blood dripping from a wound in some part of her body. No. She had not been shot. Peers could not say the same.
"Good help, so hard to find." Townsend moved to Bonnie's side and shook his head at Peers' body. "But that is what you get when you don't obey commands in this place."
Jaw tightening, Bonnie could think of a number of replies, but she did not think a man like Townsend would care what she thought of him.
Townsend looked from Bonnie to Fan. He rubbed his jawline. "Think it can be arranged for you ladies to have lunch, today. I'll make sure they get that on the schedule before I get to my other duties, in-town."
Like murdering other people's husbands, Bonnie thought, bitterly. But she did not say this aloud. There would be time for that, later. She watched Townsend leave her cell and move to stand in front of Fan. "You were headed off to see the Doc, huh?"
Fan's head lowered. "Yes."
Townsend seemed amused. "It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Gilbert. I'm sure we'll speak again, sometime soon." He offered Bonnie a quick smile before escorting Fan down the hall.
Going back to her bed, Bonnie closed her eyes. They would bring Fan back to her. And her niece could give Bonnie a clearer vision of what the hell was going on in this place. Then, Bonnie would work through how to get them back out of here, and how to burn this place to the ground.
~0~
Time passed slowly as Bonnie got up to pace the floor of the cell. She had been lying in bed too long. Her legs protested this abrupt return to exercise within five minutes time. She found herself returning to the bed, to sit down, and to contemplate the blank wall across from her. If only she had a book. Fat chance.
With a sigh, Bonnie tried to relax, wiggling her toes in the shoes she found her feet inside of when she awoke. At least they were comfortable. Probably not good for running in. That would seem to be the point, wouldn't it?
An hour later, Bonnie heard footsteps in the hallway. Her heart leapt in her chest. Stefanie. Pushing herself to her feet, Bonnie got up and waited. Her disappointment nearly overwhelmed her when a guard came to the cell doorway.
The guard looked at Bonnie. "Against the wall. Hands where I can see them!" He called to Bonnie. She forced down the eyeroll his words inspired. Moving to stand in front of the wall- at the back of the cell—Bonnie lifted her hands to shoulder-length. She would not be causing her blood pressure to rise for this idiot.
Apparently, Bonnie had done enough, because the guard wheeled in a cart and then backed out of the cell. The door closed behind him and the guard disappeared before Bonnie could ask him about where Fan was.
Concentration on the food, Bonnie made her way over to the cart. There were two trays on it. So, it would appear that she would not be dining alone. Picking up the lid over the tray facing her, Bonnie felt her stomach growl. There was not much here. Chicken broth. A bread roll. And one, ripe orange.
Without thinking twice, Bonnie plucked the orange up and tore at the peel. Her fingers dug into the rough skin, until she uncovered the sweet-smelling, sticky fruit. Freeing a slice, she placed it in her mouth and sucked at it. So good. She dug out another slice and squeezed it between her teeth, allowing the juice to pour down her still-parched throat.
The sound of more footsteps in the hallway were the only reasons to distract Bonnie from her hunger. Then the cell door buzzed and Fan entered. Her eyelids were puffy, her nostrils flaring and red.
All thoughts of the orange were forgotten. Bonnie set it down where she found it before moving to meet Fan. Arms going out to the girl, Bonnie hugged Fan who began to openly cry in her aunt's arms. Closing her eyes, Bonnie could pretend that she was holding her own daughter in her arms.
"You're okay, Stefanie," Bonnie murmured, rubbing the girl's back. As she held the teen, Bonnie became aware of Fan's own bump pressing into Bonnie's, making their hug just a little more difficult.
Slowly, Bonnie eased back. Her eyes went down to Fan's middle. An anger rose in her. Fan was a child. What had the monsters done to her?
Soon the anger slid away into confusion. The math did not compute. The girl had been taken only months ago. She could not be this far gone, this quickly. She had to have been pregnant when she came here. Unless they had another species of supernatural creature Bonnie and her friends had never heard of...which was possible...
"Fan..." Bonnie said, quietly, as Fan moved to dry her eyes with the back of her hand. "How did you... You're pregnant... Did..."
"It's Todd's."
Relief filled Bonnie. She nodded. Thankfully, Todd would never have to worry about what Damon would do to him. Bonnie felt regret the moment the idea popped into her head.
"Food!" Fan turned and noted the cart. She picked up the lid of the other tray. "Turkey on rye. Cool." Bonnie noted that they had also given Fan a box labeled: Apple Juice and a bag of baby carrots.
Picking up the tray, Fan carried it over to the bed and took a seat. "You should ask for a better bed." She took a carrot and crunched down on it.
Bonnie nodded. "I'll take that into consideration." She did not add: I don't plan on staying here; so, I'm not worried about the accommodations."
Fan chewed on her carrot. "So, they took you, too."
Nodding, Bonnie felt her throat close. Stefanie sighed, and dusted her hands off. "Uncle Jer's gonna have a ton of work to do, trying to keep up with J.J. and Rob, by himself."
"Stefanie..." Bonnie felt her eyes fill with tears.
Eyes, so much like her mother's came to rest on Bonnie's face.
"What's wrong?"
"It's about Jeremy..."
Lower lip wobbling, Fan shook her head. "Aunt Bonnie... No..."
Getting up, the girl crossed the space between them as Bonnie's knees let go and she sunk to the floor, sobbing. "Oh, no..." Fan pressed her hands over Bonnie's shoulders, and they rocked together on the floor, Bonnie sobbing into the younger female's arms. "I'm so sorry..."
Bonnie nodded. "Me, too, kiddo."
When grief loosened its hold on Bonnie long enough for her to be able to breathe again, Bonnie got to her feet. "We should try to eat, before they come back." Mind returning to Fan's state when the girl had originally entered the cell, Bonnie added, "And you should tell me what they did to you. Why you came in here looking so horrified."
Picking up a half of her sandwich, Fan held it out to Bonnie. "They didn't give you much to eat. Do you want this?"
"I can't eat solid food. Not right now."
Fan nodded at Bonnie's words and put her food down, wiping her hands. "Okay." Pausing, she looked at her lap. "The doctor, here, he introduced me to a boy."
"Why would they do that?" Bonnie was thinking aloud.
"They want us to breed."
For a moment, Bonnie felt she must have heard her niece wrong. "Come again?"
"They want me to have another baby. With him." Fan's eyes went wide and she pushed her tray away. Her hands went to her knees and she tugged at the fabric of her pants. "We're both special. Different. They think we'll make special babies."
Frowning, Bonnie tried to process Fan's words. They did not make sense to the witch. Different? Special babies? But Fan was human? What could possibly make her babies different from ordinary humans?
About to ask Fan to explain, Bonnie suddenly flashed on a trip she made in a Prison World. It felt like another lifetime. When Kai Parker trapped Bonnie there. She'd been achingly alone, but she had taken the time to find a present for Damon, to give Elena, in Nova Scotia... The Cure to Vampirism...
Two cured vampires have two babies... What are the chances that one of those, or both of those babies will carry a gene for The Cure? Oh, no...
Fan looked at Bonnie. "Mom and Dad made me and Sam swear to never tell anyone what I am. But if they use me; everyone will find out. Eventually."
"That isn't the important part, Stefanie. What they want to do... This is wrong. And not just because of your age... This kind of science... Other humans have tried breeding people. And they call us monsters..." Teeth on edge, Bonnie had not known she could feel this kind of rage. But they had set the bar just low enough. Taking hold of Fan's arm, Bonnie stared the girl in the eye. "Don't worry, they will never get the chance to use you in this manner. I promise you that."
Sand
"Stay away from the windows!" Sandra Bennett-Gilbert called to her younger brother, Jeremy Junior. Her shoulders hunched and she tried to avoid the cold chill that went up her backbone at the thought of someone noticing the movement at the window.
J. J. turned his head, to give his sister a dubious look. "I thought that's what the illusion spell was for." However, he edged away from the window. Striding over to their couch, he fell down on it, long legs and arms sprawling. He was already taller than his sister, growing every day. Soon, he would use that height as an excuse to stop listening to her.
"Sand?" Rob, who was still the baby of the family, at thirteen, moved to stand beside her. "When is mom coming home?" She met his big brown eyes and felt her stomach tighten. One arm rose, to drape over the boy's shoulders. Rob buried his nose in Sand's shoulder.
Closing her eyes, Sand replied, "Soon." But this was not true. Deep down, Sand knew that their mother was somewhere they could not reach her. Tightening her grip on her little brother; Sand just hoped she could keep what was left of their family safe until their mom could come home...
One Day and Twelve Hours Ago:
"Where's Mom?" Rob sat backwards on the couch. J. J. tossed some popcorn at the back of Rob's head and Rob shot him a dirty look while J. J. shoved more popcorn in his mouth and laughed at the TV show he was watching.
Sand wished she could join her brothers on the couch. She wished she could stop checking the clock. Bonnie should have returned by now. Why weren't their parents back yet? Had something happened? Should she, Sand, go out, and try to track them down?
Eyes going to her brothers on the couch, Sand remembered that she had made a promise to her mother to stay behind. She was supposed to take care of the kids. But she could go take a look, right? Just a brief glance. Their Mom said she would be just down the street. It would only take a minute. Go to the end of their walk, look around. Just the tiniest of peeks...
Making up her mind, Sand moved towards the door. "I'm going to go out. See if I can see Mom from here. J. J., you're in charge!"
"Mom said to stay!" Rob complained.
"Yup!" J. J. added, glancing up and giving Sand a curious look. If she did not get away from them, J. J. would go from curious to suspicious.
"Just two seconds! Okay!" Sand retorted with an eyeroll. "You can have ice cream when I get back."
"What are we, five?" J. J. shot back.
"Yes!" Rob cried. "Extra scoops!"
"As many as you can handle."
This ended the argument and Sand opened the front door. She exited the house and headed down the sidewalk. Turning to her right, she saw nothing. Turning to her left, she did not see anything. Her eyes went to her own house. Neither Rob, nor J. J., were spying on her. Inhaling, she decided to stretch the truth of her search and took a few steps forward.
Peering down the street, Sand wrapped her arms around herself. Nothing was out of place. And there was no sign of her mom. Just a few more steps. And a few more. Why was there a car in front of Mrs. Emerson's house? She did not drive. She did not have people who visited, and she hated anyone being too close to her house.
Breath catching in her throat, Sand jogged towards the car. The driver's side was open. No one seemed to be inside the vehicle though.
Sand moved to look inside and her heart stopped. A man laid across the backseat. His eyes stared through the windshield. No. He was not staring. He would never stare at anything, ever again.
Swallowing heavily, Sand moved to the driver's side of the vehicle. She had to get closer. She had to get a better look at this man. This stranger.
Climbing into the driver's side, she leaned in as close she would allow herself to get to this man. His brown eyes stared through her. Her fingers went out to brush his cheek. His skin was cold. Her throat closed up. Scalding hot tears blurred her vision. "Dad?" she choked out. "Daddy! Please!"
A hand suddenly took hold of Sand, jerking her by the elbow, back out of the car. "No!" Sand cried, jerking away, and fell to the concrete. She did not register the pain of the fall. She could only try to get back in the car.
A hand took her by the shirt, "Stop, that, Child. Get up, now. That man. He can't help you anymore. You've got to help yourself."
Eyes rising, Sand felt like the little girl she'd once been, tugging three-year-old, J. J. out of Mrs. E's petunias. "So-r-sorry!" Sand choked out.
Mrs. Emerson shook her head. Her eyes went to the car. She grimaced and pulled her coat tighter around her throat. "Get up. Go home. Your mama is in trouble, girl. So, you gotta take care of those boys. Make sure those men don't come for you. Now, go, girl."
"Yes, ma'am. Yes, Mrs. Emerson."
"Before the cops come."
Sand nodded. She forced herself to not look at the car. She forced herself to not look at the man who used to pick her up and run in circles, her legs flying through the air while they laughed. She would not look at his sightless eyes which would never shine when she finished first place at a meet. His arms which would not hold hers on her wedding day.
Running back to her house, Sand paused to throw up in the bushes. Then she went to the door. With a deep inhale, she twisted the knob. "Where's Mom?" Rob stood on the other side of the door.
"She has to help Dad take down the bad guys. She asked me to put a spell on the house. Like the one she put on the boarding school. Okay. But she will be back."
"Okay." Rob had said.
Sand had turned and began the spell. It gave her something to do and prevented her from cracking open in front of her brothers.
~0~
The doorbell rang. Sand's brows shot upward. "Mom!" Rob cried. He got up, to run for the front door.
"Robert, no!" Sand ran in front of him. She gripped his shoulder, tight.
"Why would Mom use the doorbell?" J. J. came to stand on Rob's other side. He folded his arms and reminded Sand of their dad.
Rob gave them a long look. "Maybe she was in a hurry, and forgot her key."
"She could use magic to open the lock!" J. J. argued.
With an eyeroll, Rob sighed. "Fine." He turned and slunk over to the couch, flopping down.
The doorbell, rang, again. Sand looked at it. J. J. did, too. "Who do you think it is?"
A tiny part of Sand wanted it to be Bonnie. Bonnie and Jeremy. Their mother found a way to bring their dad back. "Just like all those stories I told you guys, as kids," Jeremy would say. Then he would hug them.
The doorbell rang, again. "We need to find out who..." Sand said quietly. She looked to J. J. who nodded. He moved to stand behind the door. They exchanged a long look before Sand reached for the doorknob.
Let it be Mom and Dad, Sand prayed before she opened the door. Instead, she found a girl her own age on the porch. She seemed to be alone. "Hello?" The girl had to be a witch. A human would not have been able to get past the cloaking spell.
"Hi, I'm Penelope Park. Josette Saltzman told me that this would be a safe place."
Sand's eyes widened. "You're from the detention center?"
"Yes."
"Come in." Sand stepped aside.
"Come on, guys!" Penelope called. She stood aside and there followed invisible people into the house. Lifting her hands, five other kids appeared.
"Sand, we're going to need more food!" Rob called out.
Nodding, Sand looked at the weary children and Penelope. "Welcome to the resistance," Penelope said. Sand nodded, wondering what she'd just done.
Thank you for reading, faving, following, and reviewing. :)
Be safe,
-J