Roxy glanced at the sleeping child speculatively, waiting. The little thing had been exhausted, Roxy knew, which had only made the screaming worse the further they'd gone on. Even in her sleep, the child had a little crease between her delicate brows, her soft mouth set in a miserable frown. She'd been sleeping for a day…then again, they'd been traveling for three.
The phone rang.
She answered, "Roxy."
"Mel."
"What is it Melanie?" she asked impatiently.
"You're very late," The voice drawled in a silky tone, "He's getting impatient. If you want to keep that coveted position as favorite -- I suggest you hurry."
Roxy scoffed, "I'm doing this faster than anybody else could."
"Well then," Mel's smooth tone was deadly, "I suppose that's not even enough."
"Oh shut up, you're just envious."
"Just as envious are you are lame."
"I resent that." Roxy retorted bitterly.
"You should."
Roxy looked toward Cate, and cussed.
"Oh perfect-- you woke her!"
"Sure I did."
Click.
Roxy whirled back to the two-year old, who's lower lip was already trembling.
"Daddy," she whispered.
"Daddy's not here right now," Roxy said glumly.
She started to cry.
"I want him here too." Roxy insisted.
Cate sobbed.
"He'll get here very soon." Roxy said flatly, hoping it was true.
Cate sniffled, "Daddy's coming?"
"Yes, Daddy's coming."
Cate sniffed, straightening and wiping her eyes. She turned toward Roxy, her little eyes solemn.
"You bring Daddy?"
"Yes. I bring Daddy."
A smile spread on her little face, wide and beautiful. Her eyes flashed and the color returned to her cheeks.
"Daddy's coming."
Something like guilt burned up and down Roxy's spine. She ignored it, embarrassed, and continued to pace the room. "Maybe I slammed into him too hard…" Roxy was beginning to doubt.
The door slammed open and a gust of wind carried the horrible bitter smell to her nose, burning it.
She shrieked and flew for him, but Jacob was already on the other side of the room, Cate in his arms.
"Stay, away from her," Jacob growled.
Roxy grinned.
Jacob slammed into the wall, rolling to the floor and back to his feet the second he realized Cate was gone again.
He flew at Roxy, then stopped with a horrible shudder running up and down his spine. His stomach lurched and dropped with a horrible feeling he'd never felt. His world tilted and faraway sounds of waves crashing filled his ears. He put a hand on the wall to steady himself.
Her blood-red lips were pressed to the infant's neck as a deathly clear threat.