Chapter Fifty-three
This was perfect, Mark thought as he grabbed the remote. The image of the petite blond faded as the set turned off. His cohorts were doing a fabulous job, keeping an eye on his target with unbelievable ease. Soon the time would come when he'd be able to make his move.
The pretty young slayer always seemed to be surrounded. He knew it wouldn't be easy to get to her away from those who sought to keep her safe, but somehow he thought he'd be able to pull it off.
Sooner or later someone would slip up. They always did.
Mark chuckled to himself as he thought of Caleb. My but was he pathetic. He'd taken a wife and started a family. Even with his fangs he seemed mortal. Mark couldn't believe how easy it would be to get to him.
He thought back to how he got to this moment. His father had dedicated his life to serving Caleb. Mark had been young when his father was turned but he knew how much he honored the traditions and responsibilities that came with the gift bestowed on him. Mark waited and studied and bided his time until he'd be able to join him. And then, in an instant, all he'd worked for – all he'd dreamed of was taken from him.
He fought his way back, he waited and he planned. He made the acquaintances necessary to finally become the type of man his father was. But instead of serving, he himself would become the master. The goal was in sight. It was only a matter of timing now.
Before they knew it, all those responsible for his father's death would be paying the price.
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"So. What do you think?" Lynnie said as she turned towards Ethan. She nibbled on her nails and looked at him anxiously.
"Do you like it?" He asked her with a grin.
She ran her hand down the smooth railing of the pew. Was he kidding? Everything about it was perfect. "I love it. It's beautiful."
"You're beautiful." He whispered as he bent his head to kiss her. "Do you think Lia will agree?" He asked with a laugh.
Lynnie gave him a look as they made their way up the aisle. "She doesn't have a choice. I gave in on the color of the dresses, she said I could pick the church."
"Then I guess it's decided. This is where we'll be getting married." He grinned at her. Ethan couldn't believe it was possible, that he was able to be here with her, that she was going to be his wife. Having this second chance was unbelievable enough. Being able to live his life with Lynnie was more than he could ever dreamed of. He watched as Lynnie turned around and faced the altar again.
He was incredibly reluctant to go, but he had a ton of work to do. "Lynn? Sweetheart? I'd love to stay here with you all day but I've really got to get going."
She didn't seem to hear him. He moved closer to her, afraid of what she might be seeing. "Lynnie…" He whispered.
"Colin's here." She whispered back, nodding towards the front of the church. Ethan saw him then, looking desolate, kneeling near the front of the church with his head resting on his arms. "I'm going to stay here and talk to him."
Ethan loved to look at Lynnie, but his heart broke whenever he saw her like this, full of concern and worry about the people she loved.
"OK…" He said, knowing he'd never be able to talk her out of staying. "I'll see you later." He whispered as he pressed a kiss to her head. "Love you."
"Love you too" She whispered back as she moved down the aisle again.
"Colin?" She called out softly.
His head snapped up and he wiped the tears from his eyes. "Lynn. Hi." He said, forcing a smile.
"I don't mean to disturb you – I just wanted to make sure you're alright – or as alright as you can be under the circumstances." She whispered as she moved to sit beside him.
"She's dying, Lynnie." He replied, his voice broken.
She wasn't going to pretend. She wasn't going to tell him everything would be alright. She knew that's what she hoped and prayed would be true – but she couldn't be sure. She knew deep down, Colin would appreciate that more than empty reassurances. "I know." She nodded.
"I guess this looks a bit funny." He said with a sigh, his voice bitter. "A vampire's son coming to a house of God to plead for the lives of his wife and child."
Lynnie shook her head at him and reached for his hand. "No. It's not funny at all. Colin. Right now you need to do anything you can to comfort yourself."
"Yeah. Well." He said as he stared at the ceiling. "It's not working. Nothing's working. And Chris – he seems to think knowing that the baby's fine will make me feel better – when all I feel anytime he says it is that I can't possibly raise him alone. I need her here with me, Lynnie. You understand that don't you?"
She nodded again and wiped at her eyes. "Of course you do."
"I won't be any good without her." He promised.
"Colin…" Lynnie tried to find words but came up empty.
"I won't. I'll do a horrible job." He said, inconsolable. "Well. I know at least I can't threaten to turn him and ruin his life – he'll be half slayer." Colin laughed bitterly.
They sat there in silence for a few moments until Colin finally spoke again. "We should have known nothing good would come from this." He said as he hung his head again.
"From what?" Lynnie asked.
"Katrina and I being together. We were doomed from the start." He tried to swallow the tears lodged in his throat but wasn't able to.
"That's so untrue. For many reasons but I can tell you honestly that I'm here in this place right now because of the two of you." She promised him.
"I don't understand." He said, confused. "Were you here to pray for Katrina too?"
"I pray for her every day – but I was here with Ethan. And without you and Kate, I would never have found him."
"Sure you would have." Colin replied.
"Oh really?" She challenged him. "If it wasn't to go after Katie, why else would I have been in Transylvania chatting with an angel?"
Colin didn't buy it. Everything happens for a reason. "He'd have found you – you'd have found each other. Some things are just destined."
That was her point but she didn't expect him to see it. "I know. Some things are destined. Look at you and Katie." She said as she gave his hand a squeeze.
He looked at her tearfully. "Lynnie…"
She shook her hair back off her shoulders and stared into his eyes. "I know I get previews occasionally. I know that I see things all the time that I wish I wouldn't. I know that you're scared but you two have so many things in your favor. You have a baby on the way, you have all of us, your friends and your family. I mean. Look. Even your fathers are working together. I have to say, if ever there was a miracle that's it."
"Or it's a sign that the world is coming to an end." Colin countered his voice sounding defeated.
Lynnie straightened her glasses and gave him a smile. "I'm engaged to an angel. I tend to believe in miracles more." She replied, her laughter softly ringing through the empty church. "Because you and Katie found love so many good things happened. Just look at all of it Colin. Because they broke up and Kate met you, Lia found out how she felt about Danny, Grant finally got the guts to tell Chloe how he felt, I found Ethan, and your sister was born." The list was longer than she realized. Lynnie could see she was getting to him and smiled wider as she continued.
She stared into his eyes again and spoke softly. "I don't know what's next but I know this Colin. Focus on what's wonderful about you and Katie being together now, focus on your baby and the love you have for each other – because honestly – all the things that kept you apart all those years ago don't matter anymore."
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"You're out of your mind." Rafe said with a sigh.
"I'm the only one using my mind at the moment." Caleb replied.
Kyle looked at Becky and whispered, "Sont-ils toujours comme ceci?"
Were they always like this? Becky grinned at his question. She leaned close and giggled, "Eu am nu răspuns. Acesta este nou la spre eu de asemenea."
Silently the two of them slipped out the door and into the main part of the gym. "You have no idea?" Kyle said with a laugh. "Haven't they worked together before?"
"Worked together?" Becky smiled. "No." She said her voice definite. She looked at him and then added, "Well. Once. But that's because Caleb wanted something and he couldn't get it otherwise. They made a sort of deal. It happened before Katie was born."
As they walked Kyle peered over his shoulder again.
"You need to stop that." Becky laughed at him. He was always so nervous about being caught together.
He ignored her and asked. "That long ago huh?"
Becky smiled and gave Cindy a little wave as she moved towards the stairs. "Yeah." She answered as she started to climb. She stood a few steps above him. "C'mon." She said with a grin.
"Becky. NO." Kyle said as he reached for her hand and gave her a tug. "I can't go up there with you."
"Why not?" She pouted.
"You need a list?" He hissed at her. She laughed as he pulled her down to the foot of the stairs. "One, your father rented me that apartment so he could keep an eye on me. Two, it's right across the hall from your brother, three, I can tell what type of mood your dad is in and on a normal day he'd rip me limb from limb for taking you up there alone."
"And today?" Becky asked her eyes dancing with laughter.
"And today – he'll do it in record time." Kyle sighed at her. How much longer could he really resist her though, the way those big blue eyes sparkled as she stared up at him?
"Don't you like kissing me?" She leaned close and asked him in a whisper.
"No…yes…no." Kyle sighed again and started to laugh. "Stop it, Becky – I mean it."
She wouldn't be persuaded. Becky grabbed at his shirt and pulled him around to the other side of the stairs. "Just kiss me once - really quick. Please?" She batted her lashes and grinned wider. "You look so cute today."
"Becky…" He feared for his life but couldn't help himself. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
She swayed into him and clung, sighing a bit as he deepened the kiss.
They were completely losing track of where they were when Cindy's voice rang out. "Hey Rafe!"
"I KNEW IT!!" Kyle's eyes flew open in shock at the sound of her voice. He let Becky go, horrified. "SEE?!"
Becky smoothed back her hair and peered around the stairwell. She saw Cindy smiling at the desk, pretending to be busy.
"Cindy's just messing with us." She said as she grabbed his hand and pulled him back onto the floor.
They didn't notice how Caleb flew past and slammed the door behind him. Laughing, Becky kept walking and crashed straight into her father.
"Rebecca Elizabeth. What the hell do you think you're doing?" He asked suspiciously.
"I'm – ummm – I'm…" She stammered.
"You're grounded that's what you are. And you…" Rafe glowered as he reached for Kyle, snagging his arm and pulling him to face him. "You're sparring with me today, tough guy."
"NO…" Kyle fought to find his breath as he looked at Becky desperately.
"Daddy. Don't hurt him – please." She begged. Watching it all transpire, Cindy continued to giggle. This was the greatest job she ever had. She thought with a smile. There was nothing more entertaining than this place.
Not swayed by his daughter's pleas in the least, Rafe shoved Kyle none to gently towards the studio door. "OH YES. And when we're done - we'll just see how worthy of my daughter you are."
