Chapter Three

Josephine laid in her bed that night. She had stopped at the nearest Hilton hotel. When she walked in, all she had to do was play with the mind of the receptionist. Once that was done, he gave her a key to the only available suite. Josephine had immediately turned out the lights and laid on the soft bed. She was so exhausted when she arrived but now she couldn't fall asleep. What was bothering her? Maybe it was because of her meeting with Stanton tomorrow. It would be the first time they would talk about it since-.

"Why are you troubled?" a familiar gentle voice asked. Jospehine rose from her bed frightened but then relaxed. It was only her son. "Nothing," she said turning on her side. "Is it about Father?" he asked. There was no reason in hiding it from him. He already knew who his father was. "Yes," she said solemnly. "What happened?" a small voice asked. Josephine recognized it as her daughter's. "I don't know if I'm doing the right thing," Josephine said more to herself than to her children. "Why?" her son asked. She sighed. "You father seemed so happy today." It was quiet before her daughter spoke. "But you need his help do you not? You know He will come after you when He finds word of your plans." Josephine knew of whom she was speaking of. Lambert was looking for her. A few members of the Cincti told her that he was planning revenge. But revenge for what? They would not tell her. She had heard that Stanton had replaced him as Prince of the Night but what did that have to do with her?

"Maman," her son said quietly, touching her arm gently, "I think I know why he is coming after you." "Please," Josephine said irritably. "Can we discuss this tomorrow?" "But," her children said together. "Michele! Genevieve! I need peace...please." They drifted back into darkness with their heads hung low. They were all she had left since joining the Atrox. They were the dearest things to her. But being born into the Atrox had given them high status already. Michele was a Regulator but his features had never been disconformed. Genevieve was an Immortal and was about to be the first female ever allowed into the Cincti. Thinking of her children always made Josephine cry. Slowly, she cried herself to sleep.

Stanton sat in Pink's the next day looking at the menu. He was anxious that Jospehine was going to be here soon. He didn't know why though. Serena was the love of his life. How could he still have feelings for someone that he was with five hundred-fifty years ago? Everything would be fine. He just prayed that Serena was with the Daughters today and was far away from here.

The bell above the door rang, signaling someone walking in. The sudden stillness in the air made Stanton aware that it was Josephine. He looked up. She was wearing a pair of tan dress pants with a plaid shirt that came to a stop a little above her pierced bellybutton. Her hair was tied in a ponytail and the ponytail part was curled. The bangs were still in her eyes. Every guy turned their head to look at her. There were many jealous girlfriends scolding and even slapping them. Josephine had that affect on guys. Stanton knew it too well. She saw him and walked over to him. She sat across from him in the booth. "So glad you could make it," he said looking at her. "Would I ever miss an opportune moment?" she said smiling. Stanton noticed something different about her. She had her labre pierced as well as her nose and tongue. "Wow," he said smiling. "Didn't realize how much you have changed over the years."

"Enough fucking around," she whispered. "We need to talk." Stanton inched his head closer to hers. "First, tell me how these two very important people are," he whispered. "I cannot believe you can't guess who they are," she said coldly. He stared at her confused. "What happened between us that caused these people to link us together and I with the Atrox?" Stanton ran through the memory in his mind. But without realizing it, he brought Josephine into the memory as well.

Stanton watched for the next three days as Josephine laughed and played with her nieces and nephews. She seemed so happy but then again he remembered that when he was kidnapped, she had been blamed for it. Jesus, she was only five years old. He remembered that day. He and Josephine had been good friends, his father a King and her father a French nobleman. But her father had much more power than the King of France himself. Josephine came with her mother and father on a diplomatic trip to cease all war between their countries. While there, Stanton had gotten acquainted with her and they became fast friends. One day, as they were playing out in the garden, Josephine asked Stanton if he wanted a cookie. He of course said yes. But then he remembered that her Grandmother had said they were 'For blood only'. She couldn't give them to anyone but her family. She never really did listen to her Grandmother. So they had a cookie that afternoon, but that night, as Stanton was sitting in his room, the Atrox took him. Ever since that, Josephine felt the blame for his disappearance.

He saw Josephine walk into her room the evening of the third day. By the stoic look on her face, Jacques was to be there any minute now. Apparently she hadn't remembered that Stanton was watching outside for she began to remove her clothes. One at a time, pieces of her outfit, her shoes, stockings, dress, jewelry, fell to the floor and finally she was standing in a white corset and underwear. Stanton's heart began to race with excitement. She was beautiful. She had truly grown alot over the ten years he had been away. From the way she looked her breast were perfectly round and she had a slim waistline. But there was a discoloring in her skin as he looked closer. Near her neck was a black and blue mark. Jacques had laid his hands on her again. Rage ran through Stanton's veins. Delicately putting cover-up over the mark, Josephine started to put on another dress. He did not want her in clothes again. A whimper almost escaped his lips as she tied the dress and put her stockings on along with her shoes. But then there came a knock at the door. Stanton heard her sigh miserably. He guessed she had told them to come in for the next thing he knew a young man with light brown hair walked slowly over to her. Stanton knew this wasn't her father but guessed it was Jacques. Jacques looked at her seductively. Josephine had unease in her eyes. He laid a hand on her but she defiantly pushed it away. Suddenly, Jacques stiffened and Stanton saw Josephine cower in fear. In one quick strike, Jacques slapped Josephine across the face. She held her face and slowly sat beside the bed. Without a word, Jacques turned around and walked out of the door.

Josephine cried silently beside her bed. She couldn't keep going on like this. And tonight was their engagement. How would she survive living with an abusive husband? Then suddenly, she heard her window open with a creak. Frightened, she stood up. "It's OK. It's just me." She sighed. It was Stanton. He had a sorrowful look on his face. Had he seen what Jacques had done? Not like I've never seen it before he said in her mind. She began to cry again. Stanton embraced her tightly. "I promise no one will ever hurt you again," he said kissing her head. She slowly looked up at him. "How?" she asked. He looked deep into her clear blue eyes. They seemed so sad and it broke his heart. And he loved her. Slowly, he leaned his head closer to hers. Then he kissed her. She was shocked at first but then kissed him back. It was a passionate one. After they had finished kissing, they both looked at each other. Stanton smiled and so did she. The next thing she knew, they were moving onto the bed slowly.

The de Galle's along with the de Moulin's sat in the dining room waiting for Josephine to come down from changing. Jacques sat on the right hand side of her father. She had been up there for quite awhile. And Jacques knew it didn't take her that long to recover from his blow. Everyone was getting irritated and fidgety. Jacques decided to take action. Standing up, he addressed her father. "I will go upstairs and make sure she is alright." Her father nodded his approval as so did her mother. Quickly, Jacques walked out of the dining hall and up the stairs to Josephine's room.

Laying under Stanton, Josephine felt her heart race. He looked so different. She had never realized how much both of them had grown since that day. He wasn't the funny boy she played in the mud and got in trouble with. Stanton was a handsome young man. Josephine's hands run up his muscular arms. They felt firm and strong. He smiled gently at her and his eyes were kind through the sheet of blonde hair obscuring them. Gently, he lowered himself on top of her and began to kiss her. It started off innocent enough, the kiss, but then it suddenly turned passionate. Stanton was sending all kinds of messages through her body.

Jacques was breathless by the time he reached the floor where Josephine's room was. The long hallway was dark and cold save for a few candles lighting the way. He walked slowly to her room as to not give her the slightest idea that he was coming. If he walked fast and noisily, then that would give her time to hide. Her door came into view. Only a few more steps and he would be there. Once outside her room, he opened the door furiously but what he saw shocked him so that he couldn't even speak.

A man, or more like a young man, was on Josephine's bed. And he guessed that it was Josephine whom was making all the noises for none of the servants would ever, in their right minds, have sex in the de Galle's beds. He watched as her nails dug into his back and she moaned in ecsatsy. The young man must have detected his presence for, slowly, he turned his head in Jacques direction. But it did not have a shocked expression. It was one of loathing. Jacques guessed it was towards him. Then Jacques realized who it was. Air caught in his lungs. It couldn't be. But how? Stanton? But then, suddenly, someone said 'Yes' but it sounded like it was in his mind. He looked at Stanton again. He was still humping Josephine while looking at Jacques. A smile crept across his face as his blonde hair clung to his forehead with sweat. Josephine's hand brought his attention back to her. Jacques wanted to run but his legs couldn't move. He watched in agony as Stanton quickened his pace and Josephine arched her back and wrapped her arms around his neck. He now had a clear view of her face. She looked like she was in heaven. With every thrust Stanton gave, the more she arched her back. Her eyes opened and they came in contact with Jacques'. They showed no emotion except when Stanton thrusted. Jacques knew they held contempt towards him. But then her face had one of pleading as she climaxed. A loud whimper escaped her lips as she pushed against Stanton and she tensed as he comed into her.

"Uh," Josephine moaned loudly and high-pitched. Then she collapsed in Stanton's arms. He held her closely to his hot and sweaty body. They kissed lightly. She heard the door close quickly. Jacques had run and Josephine was happy that he witnessed her and Stanton's love for each other. Quietly, through his shaky breath, Stanton declared, "I love you." "I love you, too," Josephine replied as he gently laid her back on the bed. Stanton didn't pull out of from her but instead laid his head on her chest and they fell asleep quickly.

Stanton looked back at Josephine now that the memory had finished. "No," he whispered gravely. "Don't worry," she said quietly. "It wasn't that fast. When we made love during Christmas, that was when I became pregnant with your son. And the summer of my sixteenth birthday was when I became pregnant with your daughter." Stanton was shocked. How could he have not known that he had a son and daughter. Now he wanted to see them badly. "Not now," Josephine said quietly and then he knew why. Serena had walked in with Vanessa, Catty, Jimena, Tianna along with Michael, Collin, and Derek. She had apparently seen him for she had a big smile on her face and was walking in their direction. He looked nervously at Josephine who just smiled coyly.

"Hey, Stan...ton," Serena said coldy as she saw Josephine. Josephine smiled up at her and tilted her head. "Hello," she said cooly. Serena looked hardly at Stanton. "Who's this?" She sounded pissed. Stanton opened his mouth to explain but Josephine beat him to it. "Josephine. An old friend of Stanton's," she said sweetly. She stood from the booth and stuck out her hand. "And you are?" Serena looked twice at Josephine but then shook her hand. "Serena, his girlfriend." "Yes, I have heard so much about you. All nice things of course." "Nice labre," Michael said pointing to the space between his chin and lower lip. Vanessa nudged him and look coldly at him. "What?" he said. "Thanks," Josephine replied smiling sweetly. "Well, I better be going. I'm going to be late for a show." "A show for what?" Michael asked intrigued. "Concert." "What do you play?" he asked, his eyes lighting up. "Bass guitar and lead singer," she said smiling widely. He smiled and his face lit up. "That's so cool! Maybe we should go for coffee some time and talk music." Vanessa's eyes widened. Stanton wanted to laugh. "That would be great," Josephine said. She never stopped smiling. "I'll be in town and whenever we run into each other again, I'll give you my number." She turned around to Stanton. "See ya." Then she turned towards the Daughters. "Nice to finally meet you Serena and I hope to see you guys again." Josephine walked out of Pink's with her hips swinging. The guys all looked at her.