ISFNE Chapter 35

Eric POV

I grabbed and pocketed the locket off the counter and then was at her side in an instant, though I could only be so close to her with the crucifix around her neck.

She was trying valiantly to keep her composure, but it was overwhelmingly obvious that she would have no such luxury. I softened slightly. I'd been ready to fight her every step, but I hadn't been prepared to have it revealed that she maybe didn't know as much as I thought; that some of her damage could have been unwittingly done. I reviewed what she'd said to me about not hearing from me for years, entertaining the possibility that she didn't know she'd severed our bond. It also explained how she'd placed Caleb's condition as a fault in my power, probably unaware she even had her own that had gone out of control. And she didn't even know the basics of dhamphirs after all this, driving home her naiveté and her loyalty. They were both her children, she wasn't going to do without either, something I admitted to myself was exceptionally cruel of me to consider only moments before.

"Faith, I understand that they are your children, but I must know if I have an heir."

She ducked her head away and continued to unsuccessfully rein in her tears.

"Faith," I said gently, "it's an admirable try, but dhamphirs are only born singularly. Twins ar-"

"Are impossible, yes, I know," she choked out between sobs, "But it's the truth. Why would I lie to you about something like that?" she asked rhetorically, finally beginning to steady.

I froze at her question. It was true, why would she say such a thing. She didn't want them to be mine, that much was obvious from her dream from so many years ago; I shuddered inwardly, it still haunted me as though it were yesterday.

I would rather die than let this child become anything like you, the memory floated through my consciousness uninvited, as it so often did. I pushed it aside. It explained things though if what she was saying was true. We'd never bothered searching for twins since they were deemed an impossibility so, of course, we'd never found her through that avenue. And she was so persistent in never addressing the child as a boy or a girl and continued to use an ambiguous "them", never letting on that she truly was speaking of more than one child. It even explained why their birth had taken such an enormous toll on both Faith and me. It all rushed together quickly, and I found myself stunned with the knowledge that I'd been blessed with not only a child, but two.

"You never said her name," I said quietly.

"What?" she asked, caught off-guard.

"My…our daughter. What is her name?"

"Ellie," she whispered.

"Ellie and Solomon," I tested the names, "truly…you never cease to be unprecedented do you…" I said more to myself than her. Had she unknowingly named my child after my first mate? I pushed the thought aside, I'd come back to it with her later, after she knew.

She didn't respond, her mind more occupied with what my next move would be as she was keenly aware of my distance, though not in the same way she had so often been in years past. It wasn't a cowed fear of harm, instead it seemed more calculated, like she was making sure I didn't pass a certain unknown boundary. I looked over at her, seeing that she was already pulling herself together, the traces of her breakdown fading quickly. I took note of her again, looking her over carefully with the knowledge that it truly was Faith. Her hair was much darker and had been cut shorter along with some bangs that I found suited her quite well. She wore a fitted pair of jean capris, a hair clip clamped around one of the belt loops, a cream peasant blouse that cut off at her elbows, and a light orange scarf hung loosely around her neck along with a cross and two small other charms that she was sliding back and forth on her chain nervously. Her eyes, however, I could not understand, a piercing blue so unlike the violet ones I loved. I moved on instead to taking in her bookstore.

"Do you own this place?" I asked, not really making conversation, merely wanting an answer.

"Yes," she responded evenly.

It was well kept, obviously stocked with care and brimming with books in a way that felt cozy rather than cluttered. There were sections dedicated to everything from poetry to history and even some cozy looking places to sit amongst the shelves. The counter had many books behind it, likely more expensive, as well as a few trinkets such as book lights, bookmarks, and pens. The hallway behind it where the two children had appeared likely led to an apartment overhead. I wondered at the place; she had built a comfortable life without me, and I found myself loathe to take it away from her again, especially as I remembered a very important detail she had mentioned earlier.

"You're married," I recalled.

She fidgeted nervously, "Yes."

"Is it the same man who-"

"Yes," she interrupted quickly.

I looked at her, she seemed worried about my imminent reaction. "Honestly, I'm not surprised." I'd caught her off-guard with that, "You're quite a catch if you haven't realized yet," I teased slightly, unable to help myself.

She met my gaze with suspicion, blue eyes icy. "Does it change anything?"

"I think you know the answer to that question," I said evenly.

"I won't come. I have this," she said clasping her cross and finally moving to her feet, "And I have more if you really want to force my hand," she threatened.

"I don't. Though I am curious as to what you have to ward me off," I said, standing calmly.

Her hackles seemed to lower slightly, "What…what do you mean? Why are you even here then?"

"I said I don't want to force your hand. However, you seem to be leaving me no other recourse. Something you do often."

"What is your 'recourse', oh Count?" she sniped as I moved closer until I was standing right in front of her.

"It would have to be relieving you of that lovely necklace."

"You can't," she said confidently, though I saw the fear in her eyes.

"Oh, it's by no means easy. In fact, especially in your case, it will likely burn me quite badly before I can neutralize it but it's a price I'll willingly pay. However, I'm telling you this so you might save us both time and energy, as well as preserve your necklace, as I'm sure it's quite special to you."

"I don't understand," she said quietly.

"It's quite simple: I'm asking you to take off your necklace willingly. You can even keep it if you would like. I just ask you remove it from your person for now."

"What, so you can destroy it more easily? I'm not stupid," she said crossing her arms.

"I will not destroy it, and in return I ask a small boon of you."

"Wait, wait, wait," she said waving her arms in agitation and then holding them out in front of her palms out. "You want me to take off my necklace and you want to get some sort of favor for it?" She scowled, "Why would I bother when I can instead retrieve my other tools and banish you from the premise?"

"I believe you'd try, you won't succeed though," I said almost amused; gods I'd missed her fire. "And you should bother because you get to have a rational, calm conversation with me instead of a less pleasant one after you fight me on this front. I'll even let you keep your necklace afterwards. Otherwise, I will be forced to destroy it."

"I think you're bluffing." She said, her eyes narrowing.

I didn't respond but instead steeled myself and reached out to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear slowly stroking her cheek as well before drawing back, a few angry blisters already forming on my skin.

She looked in horror at me and then at my hand. "You're burned!"

"An astute observation," I said, ignoring the way my hand throbbed, inwardly pleased that she didn't revel in my pain. "It will heal."

She moved toward the counter, "You can't leave it like that!"

"Faith, please focus. Will you agree?"

She wavered and then decided to let it go momentarily, "I don't understand your offer. I take off my necklace, you ask a favor that I fulfill and then what? I get to keep it? I put it right back on so you can't do anything to me without suffering?" she asked, full of suspicion.

"If that is what you want, yes."

"What kind of favor? I'm not inclined to grant it since it obviously requires touching."

"Why would you say that?" I asked, my amusement growing.

"Why else would you need me to take off my necklace," she retorted.

I sighed, "Faith, I want to see a memory of yours. That is all."

She paused, seeming quite lost, "Nothing more? And I get to keep my necklace?"

I nodded.

"Swear it. Promise me this isn't some trick to make me come with you."

"I promise. I will not use this to force you to come with me," I said, extremely careful with my wording.

Faith POV

I weighed my options carefully. On one hand, I didn't trust Eric any farther than I could throw him, but on the other hand he was offering me back my protection and seemed to be asking for something harmless enough.

"Why can't you just access it through our bond? Why do I have to take off my necklace for it to work?"

"A question for another time," he said dismissively, "All will be explained."

Well that seemed suspiciously evasive. I sized him up carefully. He was perfectly calm, patiently awaiting my decision.

"At least let me bandage your hand, I'm not letting you near me with it like that," I said slowly unclasping my necklace and laying it on the counter within easy reach.

"That's unnecessary, love, I heal quickly," Eric said as I stepped toward him and held out my hand, asking for his. He relented with a bit of a smile. But he was right, it was already scabbing over. I stepped back, appeased, "What kind of memory do you want?" I finally asked slowly.

"I'd like to see how you met your husband," he said, surprising me.

"What? Why?" I asked in confusion, taking another half-step away.

He smiled, "Curiosity."

I shot him a look that told him I still didn't trust his story at all, but I didn't question it further.

"What do I have to do?" I asked with a bit of resignation. I may have to cave on this, but I hadn't lost this fight…yet.

"Just focus on that memory and think of pushing it out toward me," he said, closing the distance and gently settling his hands on my temples, one hand radiating heat, his other cool to the touch.

I warily closed my eyes and focused in on my memory of showing up on the bookstore doorstep. I felt him catch my invitation into my memory grasping it tightly and taking control of the thread I'd given him.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

He watched without comment the bits and pieces that I had from that day, I had been basically unconscious for most of it, and focused intently on Simon, though I saw a flicker of something in his features at my fearful reaction to Simon.

Is there a reason I can't know your name?" Simon asked.

"Mr. Timmons I just, I can't give it," I said faintly.

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing, I just don't want to give my name out."

Something else seemed to catch Eric's attention and I felt a tug as the memory changed.

I was pulled into a new memory, this time of the twins' delivery and how I focused in on Simon's hand holding my own as I faded in and out of consciousness. I felt a telltale tug that it was moving to a different memory and knew this could no longer be a coincidence, Eric was manipulating this.

"Stop changing it! You asked for one memory and you've seen three now!" I said as it suddenly changed to my memory of the Christmas party so many years ago. I was staring in the mirror at myself in what Simon and I had come to call merely "The Dress". I saw the interest spark in Eric's eyes especially as the memory quickly progressed until it slowed down on the moment Simon saved me from the man at the bar and defended me to Valerie.

"On the contrary, she makes for engaging conversation and is one of the wittiest people I've met. She is also one of the strongest people I know, with a personality I wish I could replicate for her caring and patient nature which make her all the more beautiful, though her physical attributes are just as lovely. And finally, the fact that you even feel you have to stoop as low to attack her sexuality says much more about you than it does her. Her body and who she may or may not sleep with are her business and hers alone."

I felt the telltale tug once again, and the memory changed quickly to Simon kissing me at midnight, and then to him carrying me off at the end of The Game, all the while I struggled to take back control, but Eric's grip on my web of memories was unyielding. "Please, stop, Eric! You've seen enough!" But the skimming continued, small bits of the memories popping up here and there as Eric watched.

"Why-Why did you kiss me, Simon?"

"I happen to like you quite a bit, Alice. I'd go as far to say I'm in love with you."

"Allison, I want to fix this, I don't care if you don't return my feelings I would at least like us to remain friends. Why do I scare you, how do I make it stop?"

"I don't want anything from you, Allison, I want you, or at least whatever you are willing to give, be that friendship, trust, or anything else. I just don't want to lose you."

And then it slowed to a normal pace every detail and word relived.

"I'm too broken to -"

"You are perfect," Simon cut me off, his hand cupping my cheek.

There were a few beats of loaded silence before I kissed Simon with every inhibition suddenly abandoned.

"Eric, please, stop," I said again, in agitation, knowing exactly where this was all heading and having a feeling Eric did as well. But I was forced to continue watching as the memories progressed.

"He knew my feelings for you, he could feel there was…more than just affection and he was, of course, upset. After all, he seems to view me as his possession, how dare I have any desire for someone other than him. It just made me think on…that night and how he still has this…this hold on me; you know? He's the only one I've ever had sex with and it wasn't of my volition and I can't stand that. I just…I was maybe thinking the only way I may ever truly feel free of him is to move past that. To erase his presence. Maybe… I can move on completely if there is nothing of mine that's his alone."

I was ready to spout some Scripture to stop Eric from progressing, but he surprised me again by stopping himself. There was a long pause before I felt one last tug bringing us to a memory that I cherished from later that night with Simon. We were tired out and I was feeling content but uncertain after all that had happened, after all it had been quite a whirlwind.

"Are you okay?" Simon asked me, gently toying with some of my hair.

"Yeah," I responded with a small smile, "just thinking."

"A dangerous pastime," he responded with mock gravity.

I giggled, but we faded into a silence once more.

"Anything you feel like sharing? You look worried," he said in concern.

"I just…want to know…I just don't…what are…we?"

He laughed and moved closer, "Well, I was kind of hoping I might be considered for the role of boyfriend. I thought my audition was pretty strong."

I couldn't help but laugh, but I could feel a hollowness gnawing at me all the same that must have shown in my face.

"What is it?" he asked, quickly turning serious once again.

"I'm fine," I lied, nervously.

"Faith," he said gently, sitting up to look over at me more fully.

I felt myself shiver a little at his use of my name again. "It's nothing, Simon, let's just sleep."

"Talk to me, what's wrong?"

"Do…do you really mean it?"

"Mean what?"

"Do you actually want to start a real relationship? Even with everything that just happened?"

"What do you mean 'even with'?" There was a long pause as he seemed to realize something. "Because you still think I got all I wanted, don't you?"

I was silent for a moment in my shame at the revelation that I still couldn't seem to trust him before finally letting my tear fall. "I'm sorry," I said my voice small and fragile to my ears.

Simon was there in an instant, enveloping me in his arms. "Shhh, it's okay."

"I want to trust you, Simon, I promise I do," I said faintly.

He pulled away carefully to meet my eyes. "I know. I understand," he said, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"I just can't make myself ever since- I want to though, I promise."

"Faith, you were abused that's not something you overcome quickly."

"I'm broken, Simon, you deserve-"

"I don't deserve someone as beautiful and incredibly resilient as you. You may feel broken right now, but broken things heal. And you may be distrustful, but trust can be rebuilt," he said kissing my forehead.

"I'm weak and paranoid," I replied.

"You are one of the strongest people I know. The fact that you have the twins in your life is a testament to just how strong you are. You are inspiring, Faith Allison."

"And you like all that? You want all that?"

He smiled, "With all of that how was I supposed to not fall head-over-heels in love with you?"

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I was blinded by the sunset streaming through the shop window as Eric suddenly and forcefully disconnected, throwing me unprepared back into reality.

I stumbled and grabbed the side of the counter, hurriedly grasping my cross as well as I lowered myself to the floor, watching Eric take a step back and seem to struggle to compose himself, running a hand through his hair in agitation.

Eric POV

It was all so wrong. She was happy, adjusted, and loved and I had to be the force to destroy all of it. Would I ever get a second chance if I took this from her? Would she ever understand I was powerless in all of this? That everything I'd done and taken from her was for her sake? Her power needed channeling, she had needed saving from Xavier and his followers, the children needed guidance, and she was destined for me. It had been a whim that told me to look into her relationship with her now husband - Simon, I'd discovered. I'd hoped to find something I could twist or rescue her from, but instead I'd found a saint who had pieced the girl I'd broken back together and truly cared for my bride and children.

I glanced at her, clutching her necklace to her chest as she sat on the floor watching me carefully. I tried to pull myself together quickly but knew that my nerves were showing.

"When will he be back?" I demanded, knowing I sounded too forceful but too upset to care.

"Within the next half hour," she stated, her voice surprisingly steady.

I sighed and let my composure fall slightly, "You should prepare the children and get your things together."

"Eric-"

"You know you will want for nothing, but anything sentimental or irreplaceable-"

"Eric-"

I pressed on through her interruptions, "You will be leaving tonight by car with Marissa and Maxwell to the nearest safe-house."

"Eric, we're not coming," she said with a calm finality that made me wonder at the difference the years of healing had made.

"Please, don't make this harder than it has to be," I pleaded with her.

"You can't erase me again. And with the twins as well? Too many people know us, too many people care, and enough people know about all of this to know exactly what your tricks will be."

"Allison Freedman will die just like Faith Allison did, and no, it won't be easy, but it will happen. I will even let you say some goodbyes if you like but you are leaving tonight."

"I have a life here," she said, her voice rising as she stood up and slowly began closing the gap between us, her steps punctuating her every statement, "a family, a neighborhood, a livelihood, heck, I'm about to finally get a degree after all these years because you derailed my education. I have a home, I have a passion, I have love. What I don't have," she continued, coming to a stop in front of me, less than an arm's length away, "is any room for a selfish, abusive, stalking, manipulative rapist to waltz back into my life."

I couldn't muster anything but despair. I met her gaze beseechingly, "Faith, it's out of my hands-"

"It is BY your hands!" she screamed at me, "Why are you so intent on bringing constant misery into my life?"

I shook my head and sighed, knowing I would make no headway through this conversation. I deflected her attention to something I could control, "Your Simon will be back soon, Faith. I intend to meet with him and will be altering his memory afterward in preparation for your disappearance so please, gather your things and prepare yourself to leave."

She suddenly paled drastically before her faced clouded with absolute fury, "If you hurt him I swear I will-"

I quickly cut through her impending rage, "I will do no such thing. My quarrel is not with him."

"If you do anything," she threatened, undeterred.

"I will have you to answer to," I said.

Her rampage was cut off by the opening of a door behind the counter and footsteps that indicated her husband was home.

"Alice, you will not believe the absolute soap opera that went down at the hospital toda-", Simon cut off his story as he took in the current situation. The tension was suffocating; the silence absolute.

"What the fuck is going on?"