I could feel strength coursing through my veins. My eyes opened. I was laying on my back. My father and Captain Craig were kneeled over me. I father had his hand on my shoulder. "Get up." He whispered. My legs cooperated and he helped me to my feet. I leaned against him. A few other people had gathered. A paramedic had come over. The man looked ragged and tired.
My strength came back. Then I remembered. My baby was gone. Tears flooded down my cheeks. I buried my head in my father's chest and sobbed. "He's gone. My baby is gone." I sobbed hard. My father had his hand on my back. He just held me.
"Who took him Persephone?" He said calmly but I could hear the anger trying to get out.
"CPS. Cody said it was CPS." I pulled away from my father. I started pacing. "I am a horrible mother. How could I let this happened?" The tears kept coming. I could feel energy building up. I heard screams coming from the building. The fire that was almost out had flared up with new intensity.
"Persephone. You need to calm down." My father's voice was low and authorative.
I kept pacing. "I should be home. Not here. Why did this happen?" My head down. I felt more energy leaving my body. More screams. The ground shook.
"Persephone Montana." My father commanded. I stopped. No one used my middle name. The ground stopped shaking. The fire died down. He placed his hand on my shoulder and I could feel my heart beat lower. "Calm down."
"But we need to find him." I cried.
"I know, darling. But this is not getting us anywhere." He turned to the captain. "Can they just take babies like that?"
"Only under duress." The man's voice was full of stress. "Montana?"
My father chuckled which was entirely out of place for the scene. "Wasn't my idea."
Another man approached us. A man a little older than the captain. I recognized him as the chief of police. The captain leaned to my father. "Get her home."
Normally my father wouldn't have allowed a mortal to command him like that. But he just nodded and started walking to the waiting shuttle bus. I just stood there. I couldn't think. I couldn't move. I felt his hand on my shoulder again. "Walk." His voice commanded and my legs complied.
We got onto the bus and a very rattled driver drove us to the visitor center. We got back to my car and I was fumbling with my keys. My father took them out of my hands. "I'm driving." Then guided me to the passenger side of the car. He helped me in.
As we drove home my mind just would not slow down. The command from my Grandfather. Worry about Isaiah. My baby was missing. Where was my baby? I couldn't stop crying.
"Detective Decker wonders why I don't like kids." I heard him mumble.
"Huh?" I looked over at him. His dark eyes focused on the road.
He pulled something from the right breast pocket of his jacket. "Call your husband." He handed me my phone.
My hands shook as I fumbled with the phone. I finally managed to get it to call Bryan. It trilled a few times. "Hello." Bryan answered.
"Bryan. He's gone." My voice broke again. "They took him."
"What?"
I started sobbing heavily. I couldn't breathe. The electronics in the car flickered. "He's gone." I couldn't keep it together.
I felt my father's hand on my shoulder again and everything went dark.
I woke up on the couch of my apartment. There was a blanket over my legs. A pillow under my head. MY cousins Jessica and Cody were sitting on the other couch. I sat up and they both jumped.
"Oh Persi." Jessica cried and walked over to me. She sat next to me. "I am so sorry. We tried to stop them."
I nodded. I couldn't find words at the moment. "How did I get in here?"
"Your father carried you in," Jessica said. I turned to her. Her makeup was running down her face.
I moved the blankets back on the couch. I motioned to get up. Jessica tried helping me but I brushed her off. I stumbled towards my bedroom. Halfway there I took a detour and found myself in the baby's room. I looked at his empty crib. Tears found my eyes again. I just sobbed.
Then I heard something fall in the room. I turned to see someone sitting on the window ledge. He wore white linen pants and a light t-shirt. His long black hair hung over his dark eyes. A long jagged scar ran down his cheek. His hand looked cut and bruised. He smiled slightly. I gasped.
"Isaiah."
"Hi Persephone." His voice was even and cool.
I didn't know whether to be happy or concerned. I just stepped towards him and he got up. We hugged. We pulled back. I smiled and then it disappeared. "What did you do, Isaiah?"
He shrugged. "I missed you. I needed to see you again. You didn't come back."
I frowned. "I was coming back Isaiah. I promised you."
He took a step towards me. "They told me how to do it."
I lowered my eyebrows. "Who told you Isaiah?"
He pointed to his head. "They did." He whispered.
I heard an English accented voice call out. "Persephone, do you have any better tea- "I turned to see my father standing in the doorway of the nursery. He stared right at Isaiah who returned it. He forgot the box of cheap tea in his hand. I stood quietly while father and son just looked at one another.
"Isaiah?" My father said quietly. He dropped the box of tea and took a step towards Isaiah. MY brother took a step back. He wasn't really sure what to do.
"It's okay Isaiah." I put a hand on his arm. For once today I felt calm. MY worries over my lost baby were not forgotten. But I was trying to relish this moment.
He looked at our father but seemed unable to say anything. "No horns." Was all he could muster.
My father laughed. It was happy laugh. "No, I'm afraid not." He smiled.
"Oh because the nuns said you would have horns."
My father shook his head. "Nuns lie." He took another step towards my brother. Isaiah didn't' step back this time. "You have your mother's smile."
Isaiah smiled. "Really? Tell me more. What was she like?" His voice was laced with curiosity.
"We have plenty of time for that."
Father and son continued to look at each other. They made small talk. I felt guilty for feeling happy at the moment. But I just couldn't look way. The joy in each of their faces was palatable.
"Persi, are you in here?" I tensed up. It was Bryan. He stepped into the nursery. He had on his black jacket and white shirt with blue tie. His badge hung on his belt close to his gun. He paused when he noticed us all standing there. His eyes widened when he spied Isaiah. He drew his gun and pointed at him.
"Bryan!" I shouted to him.
Isaiah put up his hands and backed up. My father glared at him. "Put down the gun Bryan." He held out his hand to my husband.
"What is he doing here? The entire city is looking for him."
"He came here to see me." I said to him.
My father took a step towards my husband. His gaze leveled at him. "There is no danger here. Now put the gun away."
Bryan hesitated and lowered his gun. He shook his head. "I can't deal with this right now." He waked out of the room.
I followed him out without waiting for my father and brother. He was sitting on the couch. I didn't see where my cousins had gone. I sat next to him.
"Why did you bring him here?" He exclaimed as I sat.
"I didn't. He just showed up."
"The prison is a mess. Persi, the National Guard has been called in." He leaned towards me. "There is a shoot to kill order out for him."
My heart quickened its pace. My Grandfather's voice echoed in my head. I took a deep breath. "We saw the prison."
"The Captain told me. And now our child." He trailed off. I put my hand on his knee. "I'm going to strangle my father. How could he do this to us?" He put his head in his hands. I put my arm around him and leaned on him.
I noticed the Morningstar men enter the room. Isaiah sat down on the coffee table in front of us. "You're the detective from the other night."
Bryan didn't look at him. He just shook his head. I smiled at Isaiah. "This is my husband, Bryan."
"Well, now that everyone knows everyone. Let's get to work on finding my grandson." My father broke in. "Where do we start?"
Bryan looked at him. "I'll go back to the precinct and get a hold of CPS." He started to get up, I stood up with him.
"I'm going with you."
"But, what about them?" He pointed to my father and brother.
"They'll be fine."
"Persi, he is a wanted fugitive. We can't have him in our house."
"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him." My father chimed in.
"See. Dad will keep an eye on him." I picked up my purse.
"But- "Bryan tried to say. I pulled him towards the door.
"Dad, you and Isaiah stay here. Don't go outside."
Bryan hesitantly followed me to the door and to the elevator. We rode down to the parking garage in silence. MY mind racing. I was afraid he would leave me after all of this mess. I wouldn't blame him. I would leave me. If it was reversed. I would take my child and run far away.
The elevator dinged when it reached the garage. We walked to the Range Rover. I hoped no one came looking for Isaiah. They already knew I was the one who came to visit yesterday. Oh boy. There was no explaining our way out of this. But for now my focus was on Tristan. If anyone could keep Isaiah out of trouble it would be the Prince of Darkness.