ISFNE Chapter 27

Eric POV

I need some help, I heard, ever so faintly. I sat up straighter immediately. She'd actually listened to me. It made me happy beyond words.

I was starting to think I wouldn't hear from you at all, I responded. What kind of help? It must be serious if you're contacting me.

Well…they keep getting out. I'm worried sick that they're going to hurt themselves. It's only when my back is turned, and I have no idea how they manage it. Any insight to offer?

I shook my head slightly at myself, she was careful as always, still no slip on girl or boy. I turned my thoughts back to her problem though, I'm guessing that the child is crawling by now, so they are likely sparking, I stated.

And that is…? She asked.

It's a terminology. They are probably finding their reserves of power. Since they are so young there isn't much to use and they have little to no control over it. However, they can still tap it at random and it will conduct to what they are wanting currently. Hence the term sparking.

But how does that explain how they got out?

Well, where did they get out of? And where did you find them when they did get out?

A playpen, it was latched closed though. And I found them at my feet.

I smiled to myself, It's obvious then that all they wanted was to be closer to their mother. They likely sparked the latch so they could get to you.

I checked her emotional thread at this point, glad to feel a small bit of contentment weave its way into her worry. That's…that's kind of sweet. I can't have them getting out all the time though.

I laughed, It's a fairly simple solution don't worry. You just need something more complex that would be difficult to spark. Add another latch or a more complicated one and it will likely stop for a while.

A while?

They're only going to get more powerful, Faith, you're going to have to get creative until I can offer my help in person, I said a little grimly.

She was silent for a while but she hadn't disconnected. Thank you, I'll keep that in mind, she finally said.

How about a new word for me about the child? I asked.

They're trouble, she said, before leaving me alone once again.

Allison POV

I took Eric's advice and got a second latch to put on the playpen that had thankfully stopped Solomon's antics. I was working a solo shift with the twins maybe a week after the incident when Mr. Davenport came into the bookstore.

"Hello!" I said cheerily, "glad to see you back."

"Allison, I have to ask you about something very important," he said approaching the counter directly, a worried look on his face.

"Mr. Davenport? Is something wrong?"

"How long do you have before Simon arrives to join you on shift? This is of the utmost importance, I'm sorry."

"You're scaring me, what's going on?"

"It's about your twins," he said carefully.

"What about them?"

"What did you know about their father?" he asked.

That got my attention. "Quite a bit," I said slowly, "why?"

"Well, Allison, your twins are…oh my, you're going to think I'm a senile old man, dear, but hear me out when I tell you your twins are half vampire."

This was unexpected. Was Davenport merely going on conspiracy? Or was it something more? I looked at him closer everything suddenly falling into place, the wisdom he had, his clothing, his age. He was one of them. How much did he know? I backtracked quickly; nothing, he'd already admitted he knew nothing by thinking I didn't even know anything. It was dangerous but…he could be very helpful. I decided to risk it.

"Yes, I know. I'm more surprised I didn't recognize what you were."

His eyebrows shot up, "Well, you are full of surprises. I sense a very interesting story."

"A very jeopardizing story if I cannot trust you. How close are your ties into the community?" I demanded quietly.

"Practically non-existent. I have a nephew that is active in it but he is full vampire, I'm merely a dhamphir."

"So you recognized the twins as such," I surmised. He nodded. I made my decision. "I will tell you, but not here, not now. Simon comes in too soon."

He nodded again, "Might I invite you to tea tomorrow? We can talk then."

I nodded, "Okay, my shift is done at noon."

"I look forward to it, Allison."

I didn't sleep well that night, even though the twins slept soundly. I tossed and turned worried about whether I'd judged correctly or not on my decision to confide in Davenport.

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The next day slogged past before it finally reached noon. I'd left the twins upstairs with Grams, telling her I'd be gone for a few hours after my shift. Thankfully she didn't question. Davenport finally showed up at noon on the dot, and I handed off the bookstore to Simon, who definitely looked like he wanted to question where I was going with Davenport, but with our almost two months of tension he said nothing as I left the store. We went to a coffee shop down the road where Davenport insisted on buying me a drink and a muffin before we found a small table in the corner where we wouldn't be disturbed or overheard.

"So you knew the twins' father?" he prompted.

"Yes," I answered, still unsure of how much I truly wanted to share.

"I always assumed they been a product of…unfortunate circumstances. Vampires tend to indulge themselves and leave a girl saddled with the responsibility of a dhamphir, but they usually alter their memories and steal the child away when the mistake is realized," he explained, "So why do you still have them? Especially if they are powerful enough to be sparking already," he asked curiously.

I took a long sip of my tea and cautiously started, "Because I wasn't a mistake. I was taken as a mate. Though that doesn't lessen the fact at all that the twins were…forced on me."

"I would take your hand in support but I'm very conscious of that cross you're wearing," he responded.

My hand flew to the pendant and I gave him an apologetic look, "I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. I just-" he shook his head abruptly, cutting me off.

"It's understandable, truly. It's the reason I stayed away so long from the bookstore, but I was so curious to check in on you," he said with a small smile that turned into a confused frown as he took in my answer. "Forgive me, but I must express my shock when you say you were a bride. You mean to say you escaped?"

"I did."

"How has your mate not found you then? Were you not bonded?"

"We were. I don't see what that has to do with it?"

"He'd be able to track you. You'd be tethered, unless the bond was incomplete. Which I'm guessing is the case as you are so young. You can't have reached two decades."

"I'm eighteen," I said quietly, "I do remember something about a part of the bond being incomplete."

"Your timing was everything then, dear girl, you're very lucky," he said seriously, "but how did you ever pull it off?"

"I truly don't know," I said quietly, "but that's why I'm here, in hiding. He's still looking for me and the twins."

"That's the other thing," he said, "by every precedent you shouldn't have twins or be alive."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean that dhamphirs take an incredible toll on a fledgling, let alone a mortal, which you still are. They are also known to kill each other in the womb if the mother's body doesn't just stop supporting one altogether. How did you ever manage to survive having not one but two?"

The shock on my face was very evident, "So he truly wasn't lying," I said faintly. "He saved me, their father, I mean. I don't know how to explain it really," I said looking down into my tea.

"You are quite the enigma, Allison," he said, "even with so much explained it only brings up more questions."

"And are you going to turn me in?" I accused.

"Turn you in? When I'm sympathetic to your cause and the cause of most brides? Never. You deserve your freedom; you've definitely earned it."

"Well, then I have a question for you. How are you only a dhamphir? He told me the twins would turn one day to full blood."

"If they are powerful enough, which they are, not much will stop them, but less powerful ones such as myself would have to do quite a bit to become fledgling material. We usually live out our long lives as happy half-breeds."

"Why aren't they sensitive to my necklace? I thought maybe it was a dhamphir thing but it obviously bothers you."

"It's probably something to do with their age. As they become more powerful holy things will have more of an effect on them."

There was a long pause before I asked my burning question.

"Do you think he'll find me?"

"I can't say. It depends on so many factors, but with the children in the mix, I don't think you can ever truly think you're free. He'll use every resource to find you."

Chloe POV

It had been two full months since New Years and as predicted Simon had done nothing to mend things with Allison. I'd even visited the bookstore on a few occasions when I knew they were working together but had found it almost painful to watch how they avoided each other. Even the others had come full circle on my idea, it seemed the only way to make them put everything out in the open so they could resolve things. At this point, resolution, whether good or bad, needed to happen.

We'd planned between the four of us how the entire thing was going to play out. We knew we wouldn't be able to get them to come together so we'd have to invite them separately, leading to a convoluted plan for the boys to take a trip with a bunch of our friends that we would join that weekend, leaving both Simon and Allison unaware the other would be present. That left Kate and I with the job of making sure Allison would participate. It was going to be difficult – it wasn't really her type of game – but Kate and I were up for the challenge. It was the only possible wrench in the plans. Kyle had convinced his parents to let him use the family cabin, a six-bedroom beauty, perfect for the couples and singles we were inviting. It only got more convoluted from there.

"Next weekend," I said with finality to them. "We have Friday off. Can we make that happen?"

"I'll double check with my parents for the cabin," Kyle said. "God, I hope this works."

"Hey! We all agreed this was the way, the last resort," I defended. "And we've thought through every part of it, all we can do now is set it into motion and pray for the best."

Simon POV

I was thankful for the break the weekend promised. Kyle had invited a group of friends to the family cabin for a weekend to let loose, promising lots of booze and games. The girls were coming up as well but had been delayed with a friend's birthday party they'd already promised to attend; they would join us with a few others later Friday night. As we arrived at the cabin early in order to prepare it for the others I took a deep breath of the fresh air. Maybe this would clear my head from everything that had transpired over the past months.

We cleaned up the bedrooms and the grand living room area and started laying out snacks, throwing drinks in the fridge, and restocking the bar. By the time it was getting dusky, almost everyone had arrived and we were gearing up for the night to start.

"Attention all!" Kyle called out, "As many of you have joined us on different occasions for our undergrad parties, you will recall a certain brilliant game invented by that guy right there," he said pointing at me as a cheer went up. I wasn't sure I liked where this was going. "We have decided to resurrect this game tonight! Start your strategizing, get changed or whatever else. Meet back here to start at ten if you want to play."

People dispersed, chattering excitedly and I quickly made my way over to Kyle. "What are you doing?" I asked harshly. "I thought we'd put that game to rest."

"It's a great party game, Si, plus, look how excited everyone is. You're not obligated to play," he said with a shrug.

"I won't be," I said.

"Fine," he responded, turning to his phone to text. "Chloe says they'll be here soon."

"Did she say anything about the birthday party? Whose was it anyways?"

"Not sure, I didn't bother asking," Kyle said nonchalantly. "Two hours," he reminded with a wink as he left to make more small talk.

"Not playing," I shot back.

Allison POV

Chloe and Kate would be here soon and I was still grabbing my last few things. They had reached out to me to invite me to a weekend party earlier in the week and I'd been ready to decline when Grams had out of nowhere insisted I go and that she would gladly take on the twins for the weekend. When I argued I'd left them with her much too often she reminded me that it'd been two months since I last went out.

"You're only young once, Allison, you should be able to enjoy it as often as you can." She refused to take no for an answer.

So here I was dressing up for the party "casual and layered" as instructed since the cabin could apparently get very warm. I heard the buzzer that alerted the apartment of a visitor and quickly grabbed my overnight bag and rushed over to the nursery.

"Alright, kiddos, here's the deal. You are going to be good and well-behaved for Grams all weekend. Keep the sparking under control," I said pointedly looking at Solomon who gurgled slightly and clapped his hands. "And for goodness sake, nothing new until I get back. I know you guys don't understand a word I'm saying yet but I'm hoping you get the message." I put down my bag and reached down to pick them up one at a time, kissing their cheeks and putting them back down. "I love you both," I said quietly, leaving them to nap.

"Allison! Chloe and Kate are here," Grams said from the top of the stairs, obviously having come up to retrieve me.

"I know, sorry, I was just saying goodbye to Ellie and Solomon," I said apologetically. "And before I forget, I put another bottle of milk in the fridge this morning, just in case."

"Allison, I can always pick up some formula if I run out. But thank you," she said kindly cupping my cheek, "We'll be just fine, it's only two nights."

"Thank you again, Grams," I said, planting a quick kiss on her cheek and going downstairs.

Outside stood Chloe and Kate along with two others I hadn't met before. The first, a guy with darker skin wearing a lavender button-down and tan pants, the second a shorter girl with blonde-brown hair cut above her shoulders wearing an orange tunic dress with a wide belt over black leggings and tan, mid-calf boots.

"Allison, this is Peter and Dana. Peter, Dana, this is Allison," Kate said, jumping to introduce us. "They're driving up with us as well, Peter's car's been having trouble starting."

Peter smiled, offering a hand, which I shook, "Pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot from these two about you."

"Glowing remarks I hope," I teased slightly, hoping to ease my nerves around this guy. I was always so tense around new people, especially men. Wonder why, I thought to myself cynically.

"Of course," he said with a small laugh, "Can I get your bag for you?" he offered.

"Oh! Well, thanks," I said shrugging it off my shoulder and handing it over.

"Always such a gentleman," Dana said with a smile as I shook her hand and turned to get into the car.

"You're lucky. You've got a good one there," I said with a smile.

"Oh, don't I know it," she said beaming, "you take the side seat, I'll squish next to Pete," she said, sliding in first.

A/N: Happy Halloween :)