”Sir,” Conner started, “I have something I’d like to ask you. Would you listen?” Conner always was one for niceties, always respectful of Sebastian’s rank and knowledge.
“What troubles you, boy?” Sebastian turned to look at Conner.
“I-” he paused briefly to form his sentences. “I have feelings for Tessa, but she does not reciprocate them. She says that she is not open to love right now, I believe her to be mourning her lost life, but I want her to be happy. I want her to move on and find love here,” he looked at his feet. “I want her to love me. I’ve never asked for much before, but this would mean the world. I would be in your favor for all my life.”
Sebastian looked at Conner in skepticism. “You want me to get Tessa, a strong willed woman with no intrest in love, to agree to marry you. That’s a pretty high call,” Sebastian thought for a moment. Conner was like a son to him, and he wanted to see him be happy. He had a vague understanding of the heart, and he knew that the presence of Tessa would either make Conner get more infatuated or it would make him love her less over time. Still, he wanted Conner’s support if ever there was an uprising.
“I will see what I can do.” he concluded.
~*~
Everyone had gone to sleep, and Tessa lugged out the large tub they had to wash Eric and the dog, Jeremy. The early autumn air was perfect for a warm bath, and Tessa felt like she hadn’t been clean in weeks. There was the public bath, where the people wore just enough clothing to be decent, but nothing was like washing in your own, clean, water.
She undressed, dipped in a toe, giggled quietly to herself in excitement, then got in the rest of the way.
Apparently not everyone was asleep. Conner walked around the side of the church, probably to use the bush to relieve himself, and he saw Tessa bathing in the open, her red hair like a beacon.
“Wh- What should I do?” he said very quietly to himself. “If I go to the bush, she’ll hear it for sure and cover herself, but if I stay here too long she’ll think I’m spying on her... “ Conner couldn’t see anything from this angle anyway, no use in staying in this position. He should either get his view or be on his way… Maybe a view was on the way…
He walked out in the open towards the bush like he hadn’t seen Tessa. She screamed when she saw that he was so close and could have seen her in such a revealing position.
“What are you doing out here!?” she whispered quietly. No one inside would want to be disturbed and woken up in the dead of night and Tessa didn’t want anyone to find out she was in just a towel in the company of Conner.
“Going to the bush. Some people have to get up in the middle of the night, you know. Sorry to intrude.” he said honestly.
“Did you see anything you shouldn’t?” Tessa asked furiously. “I swear, if you came out here to peak…”
“I didn’t linger, but I couldn’t help my peripheral vision. I’m sorry. It wasn’t very clear if that helps. I wouldn’t stare, what kind of a man do you think I am?” Conner asked, upset at the notion.
“I’m sorry.” Tessa said, deflated. “I’ve just been so on edge lately about every last thing that I can’t even take a relaxing bath without being seen. There’s no privacy, no peace, I feel like I’m just going to implode… And the baby doesn't give me any rest…”
“It’ll get better.” Conner reassured. “You’ll come to know us more as family and less as strangers, it’ll be ok, I promise.”
“You’re sure? I can hardly wait for that to happen.”
Conner patted her shoulder, unconsciously envisioning what she looked like under the towel and he kicked himself for it. It wasn’t the polite thing to do, quit it inner Conner, and he went over to the bush to do his business. Tessa found a shadow to change her clothes in and she went back to bed. She didn’t feel like she could be at peace tonight.
~*~
Ever working, Tessa was in the garden attending to the vegetables. Conner waltzed by, feeling guilty about the night before.
“Good afternoon, Tessa.” he said. Tessa straightened up and looked at him. “I was wondering if you had a minute.” he asked, sounding kind and sincere.
“Conner, I-”
He relinquished a flower from behind his back. “A flower for a flower.” he said.
“Conner, I,” she looked at him in the eyes. They were full of hope for success, but Tessa knew how to turn men down. She was nearly a qualified professional at this point.
“Conner, I’m not going to take it. I’m not open to love right now, please stop asking. Why don’t you try Blanche, or Haylee, or even Chaya. Chaya is a nice girl, you’d like her.” Tessa urged.
“But I don’t like them the way I like you. You’re confident, calm, but fierce. I like you, I love you. Why don’t you love me back?”
“It’s not like that. It’s so easy to just throw a switch. Besides, I wouldn’t want to love anyone right now. My husband is still very fresh in my mind, I can’t just forget him.”
“Why not?” asked Conner. “Everyone else has forgotten their outside relations. It’s easy, they say. All of them.”
Tessa hesitated. “Conner, I don’t know what to say to that. All I know is what I feel, and it isn’t easy.”
~*~
Tessa was awakened by Sebastian shaking her shoulder. “Come down stairs, we have something to talk about.” he said. It had the tone of an order, and Tessa didn’t try to disobey.
Tessa got to the bottom of the stairs, grumpy from having been woken up, and waddled over to where he was standing. She was getting the hang of being pregnant, but it only got harder and harder to get up out of a sleeping bag every morning. Soon she’d need help. It was only about 4 months until she was due.
“Sit.” he said, motioning to a chair in front of him, against a pillar.
“What’s so important that it can’t wait until morning?” asked Tessa.
“Something that other people can’t hear. So keep your voice down.” He adjusted his stance. “I’ve been asked to rule on something, and as the leader of the settlement, it is my job to ensure the contentment of my people. Because of this, and because I find it to be a sound and fair request, you are to marry Conner.”
Tessa almost didn’t catch the last part of what he said. He said it so nonchalantly, like it was any other words coming out of his mouth.
“I’m what? You can’t make me do tha!” she said quietly in disbelief.
“I can, and here’s how I’m going to enforce it. You are going to marry Conner. If you don’t there will be consequences for your baby.”
“You wouldn’t dare beat a pregnant woman!” Tessa raged quietly.
“Oh, no, I would never dream of such a thing. But those babies that were all stillborn weren’t still born. They were changelings. Switched at birth by the aliens. You didn’t know that we had aliens, did you? Didn’t the Jones seem just a bit too clean for their surroundings? Don’t they act just a bit strange? They’re conducting a research mission on developing children and mothers. They didn’t take little Eric because he’s a vampire, but they’ve been taking babies for a long time.
“Here’s where you come in. If you refuse to marry Conner, I will let them take your baby and you will never see it again. If you agree to marry Conner, I will escort them to the other island myself and we can hope that they live agonized lives for their crimes. No harm will come to you or your baby if you cooperate.”
“But Carly and Marly are only children!” Tessa hissed.
“They’re older than they look, they’ve simply taken on this form to blend in. I would have your answer.”
Tessa looked bewildered at first, like when someone called checkmate in chess. You try to calculate any way out of it you can, but all roads lead to defeat. “Fine,” she said softly, “I agree to marry Conner.”
~*~
Isaac was worried. He hadn’t heard from Tessa if she had arrived at her destination, but he knew that she could sometimes get wrapped up in the moment and forget everything else. He had hoped she was just having fun on her trip, but then evening and night came, and even equation for the time difference, Tessa still hadn't called.
I’ll wait until morning he thought. If she doesn’t call by then… Do I call the police? Do I call her mom? Probably her mom. I shouldn’t call the police before calling her. That doesn't seem right. Thoughts like this plagued his mind for hours while he tried to sleep in his cold bed. He felt like he couldn’t radiate warmth with Tessa, and the room was too quiet without her breathing.
A bright light split the darkness as his phone on the table lit up and started ringing. He looked at the number and knew that it had to be important if they were calling at all.
“Parker, why are you calling at this hour? Are you stuck at a bar or something? I don’t think that I would be your first choice as a contact…” Isaac said grumbly.
“No way dude. I need you to tell me where Tessa is. Tell me she’s there with you. I can’t get a hold of her.” Parker said while sitting in a bar.
“Why do you want to talk to my wife? What could you possibly have to say to her-” Parker reaching out for Tessa opened wounds better left forgotten. He didn’t need Parker in their lives, not while things were getting good.
“Dude, find a TV and turn on channel 13.” Parker said urgently. Channel 13 was the news channel, and Isaac didn’t put two and two together until he turned on the screen in the living room.
“After the storm on in the bay between San Myshuno and Brindleton Bay, it was announced that up and coming artist Tessa Ruff-Stone did not arrive at her gallery showing this evening. Her ferry did not dock in the port, and the ship has not been seen. If you know anything about the whereabouts of Tessa Ruff-Stone or the captain of the ship, please contact your local authorities. You will be in our prayers, Mrs. Ruff-Stone.”
Isaac’s legs shook and he was grateful that he had used the bathroom before he had tried to go to bed. He sat down on the couch and put his phone back to his ear, parker was talking but he hadn’t been listening.
“When was the last time you heard from her, Isaac? What have you done to Tessa, you jerk! You lost Tessa? I would never have let her out of my sight and this would have never happened!” he roared on the other end.
“I, I need to call her parents. And Parker? Get laid.” Isaac hung up on the loud ranting about how Parker was superior, and speed dialed The Russ-Stone residence. It was terribly late, But Aria didn’t sleep much. She did most of her writing at night.
The phone rang three times, then the sweet and gentle voice of her mother answered. “Hello Isaac, why aren’t you sleeping?” she asked simply.
“Hi, Aria, Are you in the TV room? No- not the TV room, the program is probably over- are you on the computer? I’m going to send you a clip. I need you to be sitting down. It isn’t good, Aria.” he said with a heaviness in his voice.
“Yeah, But I have to be quiet. The rest of the family is sleeping and Owen is in the TV room. So not too loud.”
Isaac’s fingers felt heavy and energized at the same time, like he had the power to move quickly but he couldn’t coordinate himself to utilize the energy.
He looked up the program that had already been posted to YouSim, and sent it to Aria’s email.
“I sent it to you,” he relayed.
“Ok, let me get it… There it is… Ok, I’m clicking the link…” Aria was the sort who talked through everything she did on the phone. She also sent texts to let you know she got your message, that sort of thing.
Isaac listened to the faint voice of the anchor lady talk about how his wife was missing and he felt like he had been punched in the stomach. The air had left his lungs as if Tessa was his air.
“I, that’s not possible.” Aria said in disbelief. “How could that be possible? I’ve seen that ferry route and it’s visible from shore though it’s whole journey, there’s no way that it got lost. How could it get lost?”
“Apparently the storm never hit shore and when it cleared they were gone. It was a freak accident.” Isaac made his mouth say.
“But, my little girl, MY LITTLE GIRL!” Aria started sobbing on the other end. Isaac felt like he should be crying too, and he envied Aria and that whole family for their openness to their emotions. Whatever they felt, they felt it fully.
“Aria, Aria, wake up Darian and tell him. You don’t need to tell the kids yet, wait for morning, but tell Darian. Let the two of you comfort you selves.” Isaac murmured.
“Isaac-” Aria said between hiccups. “Please, come over.” hiccup “Stay with us for a while.” hiccup. “Family should be with family at times like these.”
“Aria, I’ll be over there by noon.” Isaac promised.
~*~
Tessa stood and looked down at herself in. She couldn’t see beyond her bump, but the way that the women around her smiled let her know that she must have been pretty. Or the settlement’s equivalent of pretty.
It was a wedding dress that looked very dated to her, but then she had been getting married only about a year ago. It was adjustable, thankfully, and it looked like she wasn’t the first to wear it, thought she didn’t know of any other married couples besides Monroe’s. Had they gotten married here, or had the former bride left?
There was a shriek from outside. Why was it always a shriek? Tessa saw a crowd gathered outside near the farm, and she quickly changed into something other than the wedding dress.
As she got closer, she saw that Alec Monroe was on the ground, and a dark, haunting figure stood over him. It appeared that with all of his vampiric knowledge, he didn’t know to not stand in the sun, and he died as a result. Everyone cried, his wife the most, thought she waited for everyone to leave first. Tessa gave her a hug and then took the children away so that she could grieve openly. It was a bad omen for the wedding, surely, to have death the day of the wedding. Tessa wasn’t superstitions, but there were those among the settlement that were.
As the sun was going down, Tessa and Conner stood in the little yard that they had, Conner’s arm around Tessa’s waist She was stiff, not having decided how she should act. Should she act natural or should she let everyone know that she didn’t approve of the marriage?
Sebastian presided over the wedding, and he looked around, making sure that everyone was there. It was a motley group; people were dressed in their best, but their best wasn’t always very classy. A few handmade vests were here and there throughout the crowd, and the crowd didn’t seem too relaxed. The wedding felt rushed and the death of the day didn’t sit well.
Throughout the ordeal, Tessa thought of Isaac and how he would have held her, kissed her, instead of Conner. If she didn’t look directly at him, maybe it wouldn’t feel like such a betrayal.
My plans have come to fruition! I'm goign to have a shortter chapter next time, this one was quite the chunk. Please keep submitting names, the poll will be very soon! Until the, stay cool.
Oh....I have a love/hate relationship with this chapter. Where to begin....Sebastian....I really don't like this guy at all. And Tessa...forced into something that is breaking her heart. And Conner....poor Conner...he has been on the island all his life...he doesn't know anything else. I do think, though, that he does love Tessa. And now Isaac finding out from a voice from the past! Oh.....the plot thickens for sure... Great chapter. Love the storyline
Be easy on Conner. I have a feeling that Isaac will find her.
Oh my gosh! I have missed SO much! Isaac needs to come and save Tessa ASAP! Connor you are such a creep!!!!! Originally I thought maybe she might be tempted and I loved the wedding screen shot of them standing side by side - talk about all of the emotions! I just can’t see Tessa being tempted. I can’t believe she’s been forced into this marriage! I feel a responsibility for Tessa as the #simsoccermum of her husband. Isaac buddy!!! You wife needs saving! As does your baby!
It had been a week since Tessa had married Conner, and she had been avoiding him. She had shared a bed with Conner, and it felt wrong. She tried to not be around him or he may realise that she didn’t want to be married. The sad thing is that Conner seemed like a genuinely good guy, if a but odd. He didn’t know how the outside world worked, and he had the population the size of a school room to learn from. Who had he learned his behavior from?
The fact that the Joneses were still there bothered her. She tried to act normal around them with their unusually long glances, but she avoided them. Skirted their perimeter. She hated to do it. On the outside they looked like normal kids, a bit odd, but young people who needed direction.
Sebastian didn’t seem to be in any hurry to get rid of them.
“When are you going to follow through with your end of the bargain?” Tessa asked aggressively.
“Soon, what’s the hurry? They’re not hurting anyone right now, are they?” he responded flippantly.
“Not hurting anyone? Sebastian, they want to take my baby. I’m due soon, it could come at any time and I want it to be safe when it does. I need them gone. You had terms, those were mine. They leave or I tell everyone that I was forced to marry Conner because you threatened me.”
“Really?” Sebastian looked up at her. “Who will believe you? I have the power, I wear the pants. I have the tattoo of leader. You have a tattoo, but it means nothing. If you want this position, you’d have to fight me for it. And you’d lose.
“I’ll gather everyone tomorrow night. That’s when it’ll happen then.” he said, looking down again at a book that had washed on shore with plastic covering it, so it was unharmed. “But know this: I don’t like you. You come in here with expectations and act like you deserve things. You don’t. I’m doing this for Conner because it’s a happy wife, happy life? If you’re upset, you could disturb him. I could care less for you and the child, but I care about him.”
A shiver ran through Tessa and she stood there shaking. “Just make them go away.”
Tessa started to turn away, but Sebastian had to rub in his superiority just a bit more to make sure she knew he was in charge.
“When do you think you can have Conner’s child? How long will you need?” he asked with an edge of mockery.
Tessa turned and left the room. The air was chilly and to leave the church mean facing the freezing cold. Snow had been expected for a week, and Tessa suspected that tonight may be the first snowfall.
“Let’s just hope that it isn’t first baby…” she thought aloud.
The basement had been dug out more over the months, and everyone could stay down there comfortably. There wasn’t much space down there though, so everyone tried to stay up where the sun shone. A fireplace had been built in the church, and a bonfire stood outside as well.
Tessa had a cold she couldn’t shake. Her nerves were building up again, and she had to wait for the wave to end. The Joneses would be gone soon, and then she would have the baby, and it would be moving forward after that.
That’s when her stomach hurt. “Ow…” she muttered. It could simply be braxton hicks contractions, not the real thing. Still, it meant that baby was coming soon.
The next day comes and it’s like a cotton field has filled the sky. Big, fluffy flakes of snow are drifting down and blanketing the ground. In every direction it’s hard to see due to the volume of the snowfall. The world was muffled by the faint sound of falling snow. It felt both cozy and isolating.
The meeting bell was heard from the main floor of the church, and everyone collected in to hear what Sebastian had to say.
“Good people, I have come across some news that concerns us all, especially those most vulnerable. Would the Joneses please step forward?” he said in a tone that carried weight.
The three did so. Jeremy hadn’t been seen in two months and no one knew where he had gone.
“The three people standing before you are not people at all, but aliens here to gather information on us! They stole away the last two babies born that were still born and took them to their base! They would do the same to Tessa’s baby, and we can’t allow it, can we? I vote that we banish them to the other island immediately so that they can do no more harm to our people, to our family!”
The crowd murmured in pairs. Oddly missing among the group were Chloe, Tessa, and Hailey Monroe. Sebastian patted Rover Jones on the arm. “Time to get out.” he said. Was that a twinge of sadness in his eye? Why would he be sad to see someone who made children be in danger?
“What proof do you have of this claim?” Asked Marly. “How could you do this on a night like tonight? It’s certain death out there and the other island will kill us!”
“Maybe it’s what you deserve for taking all of those babies! Now get out of my sight and never return! If I ever see you again,, I’ll kill you myself!” he bellowed.
The crowd parted to let the trio pass, and out they went into the cold, shivering just like any human would.
~*~ A few hours before~*~
Tessa got up from her daily nap and felt a twinge in her stomach, then another prolonged pain. She walked out of her room, and leaned against the wall, waiting for it to pass, but it didn’t.
The baby kicked and she grabbed her stomach. Her water broke.
“Ch- Chloe!” she shouted. “Chloe, I need you!” she was feeling weak and though that maybe it was a better idea to lay down again, but chloe came dashing down the stairs.
“What, is it time? You’re all wet! It is time! Ok, I’ll go and get Haily M. Hold tight. We’re just going to get you comfortable while I go and find her.”
A few minutes later, Tessa was changed into more comfortable clothes and moaning with effort.
“Please tell me I can push, please! I want to see my baby now!”
Tessa gave birth to a happy little girl named Lana. Look at her smile!
“My baby, I’ll never let anything hurt you. Not Sebastian, not the cold, not hunger or sickness. I’ll protect you with my life, I swear.”
~*~
A few months passed and spring was upon the settlement. Tessa and Hailey were looking up at the stars one night.
“I hope our children can be like siblings to each other. I haven’t told anyone, but I got to tell my husband that we were going to have another child shortly after his death. I know, who believes in ghosts anymore? but my husband was a vampire, so something is real, right? I told him that I was expecting, and he was happy. I miss him so much….” she trailed off.
“I miss my husband too. He was such a good presence in my life. One in a million. I miss him too. I miss my parents, my siblings, my dog, my home. I would give anything besides my daughter to get off this stupid island, to get home, to see my love again…” Tessa trailed off too.
“But you have a love. Conner, right? You love him?” Hailey asked.
“I love Conner just as much as I love a life vest. It keeps me safe, but it isn’t sexy and I don’t want it in my bed. We don’t do much together, and I don’t want to let go of my husband. We were so happy for a short amount of time… I don’t want anything else.”
“I understand.” she said simply. “I feel like I am the most qualified to understand. Hey did you hear that Gretta and Buddy have been flirting with each other? It’s so cute to see the two of them happy. I hope they make it work.”
A shriek was heard from inside the church, a woman’s cry. The pair of them got up, Tessa helping Hailey off the ground. They raced to the door, but upon seeing the sight inside Hailey decided to stay outside where she could breathe and not lose her lunch.
Jarrod was laying on the floor, not moving. Blanche had discovered him, and she was weeping uncontrollably. “HE’S DEAD!” she wailed. “My beef cake is DEAD!”
Tessa had no idea that she had felt that way about him, but she squatted down and felt his pulse. She felt nothing, just the cold and damp skin of a body no longer producing heat.
She backed up and nodded to Sebastian. He doubled over and cried too, as if he had been stabbed.
~*~
Outside, on the sunny cliff top, Chloe and Santiago said their vows to each other in a quiet elopement. No witnesses, just their love, the sea, and the sky.
Bloopers!
I don’t know if my game is glitchy, but every time there's a fire, at least two people go to pick up toddler Eric and only one of them gets to hold him, but the others follow like zombies. It reminds me of this so much for some reason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzJDimvPW1Y .
Isaac loves the rain.
Some one take this angry lady away from me, please.
Gretta can go through doors and even though it looks like Chaya is giving Eric the stink eye, she played with him moments later.
Sleepy Lana. I know all babies look the same, but I think she’s really cute.
Good chapter and the bloopers were great. Gretta is so strong she can break the space of fabric & time just to rub an expecting mom's belly (presumably without permission).
There is so much I loved about this chapter!!! I’m glad Tessa is making a life for herself but...ISAAC!!!!!! I hope their love isn’t a doomed one. He’d never give up on her I KNOW it!
Thankyou for your comments! I was looking forward to twins, but alas, the first single birth to my family had to happen sometime.
(Short history: Aria was made in cas as a hybrid of her parents with gene stuff. Then she married Darien and i made Tessa the same way. BUT: both Aria's parents and Aria had triplets and aria had twins. So my family hadn't had a single birth ever. )
I've been working on a chapter, I promise! it's just a bit labor intensive and it's wrapping up a few things. Now would be a great time to submit a sim to my casting thread, link in my signature. This chapter is just taking a bit longer than I thought it would. I had to rewrite, Mull it over, write some more, but it's coming along. I'm pretty busy this week, so I don't know when I'll get it out, but I'm working on it!
“This isn’t right…” Isaac said as he paced the Ruff-Stone residence’s kitchen. Aria sat and watched him. “It’s been four months, and no one has found anything. How could it be so hard? How could there be no trace? How could they not find her? Or any sign of her?” he was obviously agitated. He felt like he hadn’t slept well since he had received the news.
“It takes time, sometimes years. We have to have faith in their system.” Aria assured.
“If they can’t find anything, it’ll just become a cold case and they’ll drop it until it becomes relevant to them in the future. It was a storm, for God’s sake, not foul play, why would it ever come up again? There is no one to blame. They’ll give up and she’ll never be found!” Isaac shouted in frustration.
“What can we do about it? I can’t leave to searching myself, I have kids to look after and I’m not as young as I once was. Do we know anyone who has channels to even go on such a trip? I don’t know anyone…”
Isaac looked up at her. “I have money. Surely I can get someone to talk. I would give every last penny if it meant that I could have Tessa back, I’ll give anything. I need to start looking myself, anywhere, I need to get out of this house!” he stormed out the door and made his way down to the shore. He wanted to hate the ocean. It had taken his love from him, it had been the source of his pain for months, but he couldn’t hate it. The ocean didn’t take revenge. It didn’t care about anything, much less one woman, a captain, and a ship.
“I’ll find you. I promise.” he vowed.
I’ve screwed up before…
I’ve nearly gotten you killed by poison…
I let you go alone when I could have gone with you…
But I will find you…
~*~Present day ~*~
Dorian and Buddy looked out from behind trees at nightfall at the island below. Fires burned in their small city, and it was a sight that could set anyone’s nerves on edge. The other island had been a bit louder than normal, sparring and fighting loud enough that they could be heard on the other side of the settlement.
“What are they doing?” asked Dorian in a quiet hiss. “What are they planning?”
They didn’t see the Joneses among the moving people, but there were probably more of the other islanders than the settlement could take on if a fight broke out. They looked strong from this distance. They had enough land to sustain them, they didn’t have to ration out food and they didn’t have to rely on canned food washed ashore.
“I don’t like this, man. Didn’t you hear that Jarrod had a dart in his back and that’s why he died? What if we get shot? Can they hit us from here?” Buddy whimpered.
“No, they can’t hit us from here. They can’t see us, we’re fine. Still, I’ve seen all I need to see here. Let’s go.”
~*~
Isaac was close to an answer, he could feel it. If if had a flavor, he could taste the crumbs. The last historian he talked to told him that there was once a small pair of islands that monks would live on away from the mainland and study the words of their God, but it had fallen out of knowledge because no one could find the thing. It could see land, but no one on land could see it, and that made for puzzling circumstances. If Isaac’s wife was on the island, he would have a hard time finding her.
Legend said that the currents went around the island, so impact rarely happened except when storms pushed them to the island.
“If you could spot currents from the air, you could probably find where the divergence was, but it’s nearly impossible.” the old man finished.
“A plane. I could look for her in a plane, and then I could find her. I could save her.” Isac looked distantly at the wall behind the man, in thought. He could easily buy a plane, that was no problem. He could even fly it, his father had taught him as a teenager. He finally, after a year of searching, had found a shred of hope to hold on to.
~*~
Sebastian furrowed his brow. “We should prepare for the worst. They could be planning an attack, and we don’t need that right now. We need the opposite. We need safety for the children and the weak, not cannibals tearing us apart. Put a barricade in every room and enough food for a week in each. We don’t know if we’re going to have to hole up and wait for them to leave. Who knows what they would want.”
“Maybe they’re angry we sent them those alien freaks and want revenge.” commented Dorian.
“Dorian, don’t call them freaks, even if they were freaks. It’s not polite.” Haylee Potts quietly chidded.
“If they’re freaks, they’re freaks. They aren’t even here to care, relax.” he defended.
“Very well. Dorian, Buddy, you’re on watch. Eric, I want you to go with them. You’re a faster runner, and you can transform into a bat and come back if you see something. You’re our eyes and ears on this one, ok?”
“But-” Haylie interjected but Sebastian payed her no mind.
“Aye, sir!” Eric almost saluted. Haylie looked white as a sheet.
~*~
“I don’t need a copilot. Where I’m going, it’s too dangerous. I don’t know if I’ll get back, and I can’t endanger someone else. I need to do this alone.” Isaac said sternly to the assistant helping him get his plane ready. He was full of nerves, and he saw this as just another step on his journey to getting to where he needed to be.
“But, sir, it’s policy to fly with a first time pilot. It’s necessary to make sure you know what you’re doing. Please, allow me to join you.” the boy insisted.
Isaac looked up at him with a stern look in his eyes. “Boy, I need to go alone. I don’t have time or patience for a test flight so that you know I’m a decent pilot. I bought the plane in full; If I die, you aren’t out anything. I’ve inspected the plane, it’s in working order, now please leave. I need to go.”
The power of the request and the tone in his voice made the boy shiver a bit. Here was a man who didn’t care if he lived or died. His eyes were on the future, the present was just an ends to a means. It startled the young man, and he held out his clipboard.
“I need you to sign this. Your flight went well. Safe journeys.” he said stiffly.
“Thank you.” Isaac replied, signed, and got into his little plane. It could fit about six people, pilot included.
~*~
Eric flew in quickly and landed, out of breath. “They’re breaching the shore and trying to climb the cliff! Sebastian says that we need to get the mothers and children to the basement. I’m coming with you, mom, you can let go of my arm.” he said urgently.
Haylie and her children hurried down the stairs and into their room. Their room was larger than most because it was two rooms joined together to fit the family. But Tessa was still in her room, and she hadn’t come out. Haylie wanted to rush over and grab her, but Eric had already put the barricade in front of the door, and it didn’t move easy.
“We need to get Tessa and Lana! Take that barricade down.” Haylie demanded.
“I can’t do that, mom. Sebastian said that we were to stay in our designated areas, and he’s the boss. We have to stay here.” Eric recited.
“But Tessa and Lana are alone, they need to be looked after! Sebastian didn’t think this through, she’s alone in her room. We have time before the battle gets here, I see no reason to not get them in here.” Haylie reasoned.
“I will not open that door unless Sebastian says to do so.” he said calmly.
Haylie crossed the room to the door and tried to lift the barricade, but couldn’t make it budge. Curse Eric and his vampiric strength. Haylie sat back down on her bed and pouted. If she had her way, Eric would have been grounded for a month, but Sebastian had the highest authority here.
~*~
Isaac saw that there were clouds on the horizon, but he didn’t worry about them. He would he would be back to the mainland before it would become a problem, and if he wasn’t, maybe it would lead him to Tessa.
The surveying was going not that well. If he hadn’t loaded his plane with food, clothes, and medical supplies, the journey would have gone longer, but the weight was using up the fuel. That’s when he saw it. Lightning flashed on the horizon. He saw the waves curling away and making an eye in the middle of the water. Without regard to the oncoming storm, he dipped down and made for the oddity.
~*~
Tessa was pacing the room as her children slept. They were so young, would they be spared if they were captured? They wouldn’t hurt innocent children, would they? They were so young, so sweet, Tessa’s pride and joy. Her heart swelled with happiness when she looked at them, but it was quickly replaced with dread and worry for their safety.
Tessa continued paced her room. What was happening? Who was winning? Were her friends alright? Chaya? Gretta and Buddy? Dorian and Haylee? Conner? Her stomach churned and hurt at the thought of any of them dying.
~*~
Isaac flew into unnaturally thick clouds, worrying that he may hit water quickly if he couldn’t see, but then tow islands appeared, surrounded by the mist. One was larger with a good beach to land on, and as the wind picked up and the small craft shook he made a hasty landing.
~*~
Conner was hiding behind a tree. He saw Chaya ahead of him, collecting stones to throw at the attackers if they came too close, and he was jealous of her bravery. Then again, she had only herself to live for. She didn’t have a wife and child waiting at home. Buddy and Gretta were waiting ahead of them, and they were making good headway into the forest. They were quiet, and they moved pretty quickly, despite their size. Then again, Conner had to remind himself that Gretta wasn’t gluttonous. She was a trained athlete and knew a good deal about the human body. If there was anyone you wanted on your team, it was Gretta.
Conner couldn’t see Sebastian anywhere, and he wished that he had his mentor nearby to help him be brave. To rally his spirits. As it was, he was hanging behind, but Sebastian was supposed to be behind him. He must have been held up, where was he?
Conner waved his arm to get Chaya’s attention. She looked at him, and was puzzled. He motioned that he was headed back, and her eyes went wide. “No!” she mouthed. “Get back here!”
He turned his back and jogged quietly back in the direction of the settlement.
Chaya nearly jumped as she heard a warcry head of her and she pulled out a rock. She wasn’t going down without a fight.
~*~
Isaac’s landing was rough and his descent was too steep. He didn’t have the altitude to turn around and try for a shallower landing, so he said a prayer and crashed onto the shore, digging a large hole and tearing off his landing wheels off at the same time. Looks like he wasn’t getting out of here for a while, if ever.
He looked up from his daze, and saw figures in the trees.
~*~
Conner had made his way all the way back to the clearing with the church and he still hadn’t seen Sebastian. He should have seen him by now, where was he? Had he been attacked? Had he gone around to flank the enemy?
The church was very quiet, not even a baby crying. The wind rusted through the budding trees, and it seemed wrong. There was always noise, always someone walking around, but now only the mothers and the children should be here. Then why was he door left open?
Conner walked over to the door tentatively. He could hear the skirmish getting closer, and he felt dread at that, but his wife was here. If door was left open, there could be someone already in the building and he had to save his wife. He looked around the main room and saw nothing, but he didn’t have time to check the loft to see if it was empty. He had to get to the basement to check on Tessa. She had to be alright.
~*~
Sebastian walked down the stairs and took an immediate right. He knocked on the door.
“Open up, Tessa! It’s Sebastian!” he requested.
“Are you alone?” Tessa hollered back.
“Yes, But we need to be fast! Open up! I need your help!”
Tessa removed the barricade and opened the door, but Sebastian wasn’t bloody, not even hurt. Instead he had steady look in his eye that didn’t sit right with Tessa. She backed up, nearly tripping over a child’s bed.
“Sebastian, what’s going on? Why are you here?”she urged.
“I’m here to do what I have to do." he said with a steely gaze" You’re too much of a trouble maker, Tessa. You are the key to unraveling me, and I can’t lose control now. Your death will secure my hold on power for a long time after I kill you murderer.”
“Sebastian, you are your own undoing. People don’t follow you not because of me; they don’t follow you because you aren’t a good leader. You don’t listen to the people around you, you go against a parent’s wishes, and you force people to do things that they don’t want to do. That wasn’t my fault, I just didn’t stand for it.” Tessa backed up further.
“You’re a silly woman who is good for few things, warming Conner’s bed, and being a martyr.” He loomed over her, and she looked for a way out.
Sebastian lunged for her, knocking her to the ground. He put his hands on her neck, and she failed, hoping that her children didn’t wake up and see their mother dying.
A racket could be heard in the hall, distracting Sebastian.
“Not my wife!” shouted Conner as he banged through the door that Sebastian didn’t close. Conner pried Sebastian off of Tessa, shouting something like a warcry to keep his strength. It was something to behold, seeing Conner stand against Sebastian.
More voices and footsteps in the hall signaled that they weren't alone, and Conner and Sebastian made their way out, fighting. Conner was stronger than Sebastian, a younger man who did more work.
Their noises were joined by others, and then they were-- subdued.
The door burst open, but the man who opened the door was unfamiliar. He had very light hair and a large beard, both were things that Tessa hadn’t seen in years. She sat perplexed as he offered her a hand. She wanted to shy away, and he could tell.
“I have someone who wants to see you. At least, you fit the description.” he said with a deep voice and a small smile.
Tessa eyed the hand with skepticism, but then took it and got to her feet. Conner and Sebastian were restrained in the hall with crude handcuffs, guarded by two other men. The first man lead her up the stairs to the main room, then out to where the sun was shining. It hurt her eyes in contrast to the dark that she had been in before, but as her eyes adjusted, she saw her people in restraints kneeling on the ground, alive and somewhat injured, but nothing that wouldn’t mend.
Then she saw a shape,
then a beard,
then a pair of eyes and the rest of him.
A pack of bears couldn’t have kept her away from the person in front of her, and she cried tears of happiness as her Isaac was in her arms once again.
They held each other that way for a while, and eventually Isaac murmured in her ear. “What happened to the baby, my love? Was it born?”
Tessa pulled away, wiping tears from her eyes. “Yes, yes. Someone, please bring me my children, and bring me the red haired man.”
She held Isaac’s hand while the man did so. Neither of them wanted to let go of the other; they didn’t want to release the ghost of the other in case they disappeared while they weren’t looking.
Eventually, Conner came up with the man and the children. “Isaac,” Tessa said as she picked up both children, “This one is our’s. I named her Lana,” indicating to the child on the right. Tessa then shifted and looked at the red haired man. “And this… is our child, Violet.”
All the bloopers!
They could be twins, for all their looks. I have no idea where the black hair came from, but both of the girls have it so it must be form Tessa's side of the family... but no one has black hair? Doesn't matter, I'm thrilled with it because now I can sing 'Black is the color"Link
Adorable Lana
My babies are growing up! So sweet. It feels like forever ago since Tessa was a child, and her sisters are just as precious.
Caring is sharing
Remember Colby and Raul? I in-cas aged them up to see what they look like, and correcting for eyebrows, they're identical twins!
More cuteness.
Haylie had her baby (Which is oddly didn't take pictures of,) and is named Rosalinda! She's sweet as well. I love toddlers, guys. They're so cute.
Tessa telling Conner she's expecting his baby:
And with that, I leave you until next time. Change is on the wind, just like so many seasons and weather patterns. I have been slammed at work lately, working double shifts, but I am off on Mondays and Tuesdays, so if the winds are fair I may be working on this on those days. We'll have to see.
Comments
Boys
Benjamin
David
Cody
Girls
Crystal
Hannah
Abigail
Chapter 6
Hallelujah
“What troubles you, boy?” Sebastian turned to look at Conner.
“I-” he paused briefly to form his sentences. “I have feelings for Tessa, but she does not reciprocate them. She says that she is not open to love right now, I believe her to be mourning her lost life, but I want her to be happy. I want her to move on and find love here,” he looked at his feet. “I want her to love me. I’ve never asked for much before, but this would mean the world. I would be in your favor for all my life.”
Sebastian looked at Conner in skepticism. “You want me to get Tessa, a strong willed woman with no intrest in love, to agree to marry you. That’s a pretty high call,” Sebastian thought for a moment. Conner was like a son to him, and he wanted to see him be happy. He had a vague understanding of the heart, and he knew that the presence of Tessa would either make Conner get more infatuated or it would make him love her less over time. Still, he wanted Conner’s support if ever there was an uprising.
“I will see what I can do.” he concluded.
~*~
Everyone had gone to sleep, and Tessa lugged out the large tub they had to wash Eric and the dog, Jeremy. The early autumn air was perfect for a warm bath, and Tessa felt like she hadn’t been clean in weeks. There was the public bath, where the people wore just enough clothing to be decent, but nothing was like washing in your own, clean, water.
She undressed, dipped in a toe, giggled quietly to herself in excitement, then got in the rest of the way.
Apparently not everyone was asleep. Conner walked around the side of the church, probably to use the bush to relieve himself, and he saw Tessa bathing in the open, her red hair like a beacon.
“Wh- What should I do?” he said very quietly to himself. “If I go to the bush, she’ll hear it for sure and cover herself, but if I stay here too long she’ll think I’m spying on her... “ Conner couldn’t see anything from this angle anyway, no use in staying in this position. He should either get his view or be on his way… Maybe a view was on the way…
He walked out in the open towards the bush like he hadn’t seen Tessa. She screamed when she saw that he was so close and could have seen her in such a revealing position.
“What are you doing out here!?” she whispered quietly. No one inside would want to be disturbed and woken up in the dead of night and Tessa didn’t want anyone to find out she was in just a towel in the company of Conner.
“Going to the bush. Some people have to get up in the middle of the night, you know. Sorry to intrude.” he said honestly.
“Did you see anything you shouldn’t?” Tessa asked furiously. “I swear, if you came out here to peak…”
“I didn’t linger, but I couldn’t help my peripheral vision. I’m sorry. It wasn’t very clear if that helps. I wouldn’t stare, what kind of a man do you think I am?” Conner asked, upset at the notion.
“I’m sorry.” Tessa said, deflated. “I’ve just been so on edge lately about every last thing that I can’t even take a relaxing bath without being seen. There’s no privacy, no peace, I feel like I’m just going to implode… And the baby doesn't give me any rest…”
“It’ll get better.” Conner reassured. “You’ll come to know us more as family and less as strangers, it’ll be ok, I promise.”
“You’re sure? I can hardly wait for that to happen.”
Conner patted her shoulder, unconsciously envisioning what she looked like under the towel and he kicked himself for it. It wasn’t the polite thing to do, quit it inner Conner, and he went over to the bush to do his business. Tessa found a shadow to change her clothes in and she went back to bed. She didn’t feel like she could be at peace tonight.
~*~
Ever working, Tessa was in the garden attending to the vegetables. Conner waltzed by, feeling guilty about the night before.
“Good afternoon, Tessa.” he said. Tessa straightened up and looked at him. “I was wondering if you had a minute.” he asked, sounding kind and sincere.
“Conner, I-”
He relinquished a flower from behind his back. “A flower for a flower.” he said.
“Conner, I,” she looked at him in the eyes. They were full of hope for success, but Tessa knew how to turn men down. She was nearly a qualified professional at this point.
“Conner, I’m not going to take it. I’m not open to love right now, please stop asking. Why don’t you try Blanche, or Haylee, or even Chaya. Chaya is a nice girl, you’d like her.” Tessa urged.
“But I don’t like them the way I like you. You’re confident, calm, but fierce. I like you, I love you. Why don’t you love me back?”
“It’s not like that. It’s so easy to just throw a switch. Besides, I wouldn’t want to love anyone right now. My husband is still very fresh in my mind, I can’t just forget him.”
“Why not?” asked Conner. “Everyone else has forgotten their outside relations. It’s easy, they say. All of them.”
Tessa hesitated. “Conner, I don’t know what to say to that. All I know is what I feel, and it isn’t easy.”
~*~
Tessa was awakened by Sebastian shaking her shoulder. “Come down stairs, we have something to talk about.” he said. It had the tone of an order, and Tessa didn’t try to disobey.
Tessa got to the bottom of the stairs, grumpy from having been woken up, and waddled over to where he was standing. She was getting the hang of being pregnant, but it only got harder and harder to get up out of a sleeping bag every morning. Soon she’d need help. It was only about 4 months until she was due.
“Sit.” he said, motioning to a chair in front of him, against a pillar.
“What’s so important that it can’t wait until morning?” asked Tessa.
“Something that other people can’t hear. So keep your voice down.” He adjusted his stance. “I’ve been asked to rule on something, and as the leader of the settlement, it is my job to ensure the contentment of my people. Because of this, and because I find it to be a sound and fair request, you are to marry Conner.”
Tessa almost didn’t catch the last part of what he said. He said it so nonchalantly, like it was any other words coming out of his mouth.
“I’m what? You can’t make me do tha!” she said quietly in disbelief.
“I can, and here’s how I’m going to enforce it. You are going to marry Conner. If you don’t there will be consequences for your baby.”
“You wouldn’t dare beat a pregnant woman!” Tessa raged quietly.
“Oh, no, I would never dream of such a thing. But those babies that were all stillborn weren’t still born. They were changelings. Switched at birth by the aliens. You didn’t know that we had aliens, did you? Didn’t the Jones seem just a bit too clean for their surroundings? Don’t they act just a bit strange? They’re conducting a research mission on developing children and mothers. They didn’t take little Eric because he’s a vampire, but they’ve been taking babies for a long time.
“Here’s where you come in. If you refuse to marry Conner, I will let them take your baby and you will never see it again. If you agree to marry Conner, I will escort them to the other island myself and we can hope that they live agonized lives for their crimes. No harm will come to you or your baby if you cooperate.”
“But Carly and Marly are only children!” Tessa hissed.
“They’re older than they look, they’ve simply taken on this form to blend in. I would have your answer.”
Tessa looked bewildered at first, like when someone called checkmate in chess. You try to calculate any way out of it you can, but all roads lead to defeat. “Fine,” she said softly, “I agree to marry Conner.”
~*~
Isaac was worried. He hadn’t heard from Tessa if she had arrived at her destination, but he knew that she could sometimes get wrapped up in the moment and forget everything else. He had hoped she was just having fun on her trip, but then evening and night came, and even equation for the time difference, Tessa still hadn't called.
I’ll wait until morning he thought. If she doesn’t call by then… Do I call the police? Do I call her mom? Probably her mom. I shouldn’t call the police before calling her. That doesn't seem right. Thoughts like this plagued his mind for hours while he tried to sleep in his cold bed. He felt like he couldn’t radiate warmth with Tessa, and the room was too quiet without her breathing.
A bright light split the darkness as his phone on the table lit up and started ringing. He looked at the number and knew that it had to be important if they were calling at all.
“Parker, why are you calling at this hour? Are you stuck at a bar or something? I don’t think that I would be your first choice as a contact…” Isaac said grumbly.
“No way dude. I need you to tell me where Tessa is. Tell me she’s there with you. I can’t get a hold of her.” Parker said while sitting in a bar.
“Why do you want to talk to my wife? What could you possibly have to say to her-” Parker reaching out for Tessa opened wounds better left forgotten. He didn’t need Parker in their lives, not while things were getting good.
“Dude, find a TV and turn on channel 13.” Parker said urgently. Channel 13 was the news channel, and Isaac didn’t put two and two together until he turned on the screen in the living room.
“After the storm on in the bay between San Myshuno and Brindleton Bay, it was announced that up and coming artist Tessa Ruff-Stone did not arrive at her gallery showing this evening. Her ferry did not dock in the port, and the ship has not been seen. If you know anything about the whereabouts of Tessa Ruff-Stone or the captain of the ship, please contact your local authorities. You will be in our prayers, Mrs. Ruff-Stone.”
Isaac’s legs shook and he was grateful that he had used the bathroom before he had tried to go to bed. He sat down on the couch and put his phone back to his ear, parker was talking but he hadn’t been listening.
“When was the last time you heard from her, Isaac? What have you done to Tessa, you jerk! You lost Tessa? I would never have let her out of my sight and this would have never happened!” he roared on the other end.
“I, I need to call her parents. And Parker? Get laid.” Isaac hung up on the loud ranting about how Parker was superior, and speed dialed The Russ-Stone residence. It was terribly late, But Aria didn’t sleep much. She did most of her writing at night.
The phone rang three times, then the sweet and gentle voice of her mother answered. “Hello Isaac, why aren’t you sleeping?” she asked simply.
“Hi, Aria, Are you in the TV room? No- not the TV room, the program is probably over- are you on the computer? I’m going to send you a clip. I need you to be sitting down. It isn’t good, Aria.” he said with a heaviness in his voice.
“Yeah, But I have to be quiet. The rest of the family is sleeping and Owen is in the TV room. So not too loud.”
Isaac’s fingers felt heavy and energized at the same time, like he had the power to move quickly but he couldn’t coordinate himself to utilize the energy.
He looked up the program that had already been posted to YouSim, and sent it to Aria’s email.
“I sent it to you,” he relayed.
“Ok, let me get it… There it is… Ok, I’m clicking the link…” Aria was the sort who talked through everything she did on the phone. She also sent texts to let you know she got your message, that sort of thing.
Isaac listened to the faint voice of the anchor lady talk about how his wife was missing and he felt like he had been punched in the stomach. The air had left his lungs as if Tessa was his air.
“I, that’s not possible.” Aria said in disbelief. “How could that be possible? I’ve seen that ferry route and it’s visible from shore though it’s whole journey, there’s no way that it got lost. How could it get lost?”
“Apparently the storm never hit shore and when it cleared they were gone. It was a freak accident.” Isaac made his mouth say.
“But, my little girl, MY LITTLE GIRL!” Aria started sobbing on the other end. Isaac felt like he should be crying too, and he envied Aria and that whole family for their openness to their emotions. Whatever they felt, they felt it fully.
“Aria, Aria, wake up Darian and tell him. You don’t need to tell the kids yet, wait for morning, but tell Darian. Let the two of you comfort you selves.” Isaac murmured.
“Isaac-” Aria said between hiccups. “Please, come over.” hiccup “Stay with us for a while.” hiccup. “Family should be with family at times like these.”
“Aria, I’ll be over there by noon.” Isaac promised.
~*~
Tessa stood and looked down at herself in. She couldn’t see beyond her bump, but the way that the women around her smiled let her know that she must have been pretty. Or the settlement’s equivalent of pretty.
It was a wedding dress that looked very dated to her, but then she had been getting married only about a year ago. It was adjustable, thankfully, and it looked like she wasn’t the first to wear it, thought she didn’t know of any other married couples besides Monroe’s. Had they gotten married here, or had the former bride left?
There was a shriek from outside. Why was it always a shriek? Tessa saw a crowd gathered outside near the farm, and she quickly changed into something other than the wedding dress.
As she got closer, she saw that Alec Monroe was on the ground, and a dark, haunting figure stood over him. It appeared that with all of his vampiric knowledge, he didn’t know to not stand in the sun, and he died as a result. Everyone cried, his wife the most, thought she waited for everyone to leave first. Tessa gave her a hug and then took the children away so that she could grieve openly. It was a bad omen for the wedding, surely, to have death the day of the wedding. Tessa wasn’t superstitions, but there were those among the settlement that were.
As the sun was going down, Tessa and Conner stood in the little yard that they had, Conner’s arm around Tessa’s waist She was stiff, not having decided how she should act. Should she act natural or should she let everyone know that she didn’t approve of the marriage?
Sebastian presided over the wedding, and he looked around, making sure that everyone was there. It was a motley group; people were dressed in their best, but their best wasn’t always very classy. A few handmade vests were here and there throughout the crowd, and the crowd didn’t seem too relaxed. The wedding felt rushed and the death of the day didn’t sit well.
Throughout the ordeal, Tessa thought of Isaac and how he would have held her, kissed her, instead of Conner. If she didn’t look directly at him, maybe it wouldn’t feel like such a betrayal.
My plans have come to fruition! I'm goign to have a shortter chapter next time, this one was quite the chunk. Please keep submitting names, the poll will be very soon! Until the, stay cool.
Also, I emulated a song in this chapter. Thank you Pentatonix for their wonderful rendition!
I'm happy you like it! You really keep me going with your praise.
@Rawla - lol we both suggested Benjamin lol
hehe Its a good name. #greatminds
Aaaaah! All of the emotions! Loved it!
Vote!
Chapter 7
When the Bough Breaks
The fact that the Joneses were still there bothered her. She tried to act normal around them with their unusually long glances, but she avoided them. Skirted their perimeter. She hated to do it. On the outside they looked like normal kids, a bit odd, but young people who needed direction.
Sebastian didn’t seem to be in any hurry to get rid of them.
“When are you going to follow through with your end of the bargain?” Tessa asked aggressively.
“Soon, what’s the hurry? They’re not hurting anyone right now, are they?” he responded flippantly.
“Not hurting anyone? Sebastian, they want to take my baby. I’m due soon, it could come at any time and I want it to be safe when it does. I need them gone. You had terms, those were mine. They leave or I tell everyone that I was forced to marry Conner because you threatened me.”
“Really?” Sebastian looked up at her. “Who will believe you? I have the power, I wear the pants. I have the tattoo of leader. You have a tattoo, but it means nothing. If you want this position, you’d have to fight me for it. And you’d lose.
“I’ll gather everyone tomorrow night. That’s when it’ll happen then.” he said, looking down again at a book that had washed on shore with plastic covering it, so it was unharmed. “But know this: I don’t like you. You come in here with expectations and act like you deserve things. You don’t. I’m doing this for Conner because it’s a happy wife, happy life? If you’re upset, you could disturb him. I could care less for you and the child, but I care about him.”
A shiver ran through Tessa and she stood there shaking. “Just make them go away.”
Tessa started to turn away, but Sebastian had to rub in his superiority just a bit more to make sure she knew he was in charge.
“When do you think you can have Conner’s child? How long will you need?” he asked with an edge of mockery.
Tessa turned and left the room. The air was chilly and to leave the church mean facing the freezing cold. Snow had been expected for a week, and Tessa suspected that tonight may be the first snowfall.
“Let’s just hope that it isn’t first baby…” she thought aloud.
The basement had been dug out more over the months, and everyone could stay down there comfortably. There wasn’t much space down there though, so everyone tried to stay up where the sun shone. A fireplace had been built in the church, and a bonfire stood outside as well.
Tessa had a cold she couldn’t shake. Her nerves were building up again, and she had to wait for the wave to end. The Joneses would be gone soon, and then she would have the baby, and it would be moving forward after that.
That’s when her stomach hurt. “Ow…” she muttered. It could simply be braxton hicks contractions, not the real thing. Still, it meant that baby was coming soon.
The next day comes and it’s like a cotton field has filled the sky. Big, fluffy flakes of snow are drifting down and blanketing the ground. In every direction it’s hard to see due to the volume of the snowfall. The world was muffled by the faint sound of falling snow. It felt both cozy and isolating.
The meeting bell was heard from the main floor of the church, and everyone collected in to hear what Sebastian had to say.
“Good people, I have come across some news that concerns us all, especially those most vulnerable. Would the Joneses please step forward?” he said in a tone that carried weight.
The three did so. Jeremy hadn’t been seen in two months and no one knew where he had gone.
“The three people standing before you are not people at all, but aliens here to gather information on us! They stole away the last two babies born that were still born and took them to their base! They would do the same to Tessa’s baby, and we can’t allow it, can we? I vote that we banish them to the other island immediately so that they can do no more harm to our people, to our family!”
The crowd murmured in pairs. Oddly missing among the group were Chloe, Tessa, and Hailey Monroe. Sebastian patted Rover Jones on the arm. “Time to get out.” he said. Was that a twinge of sadness in his eye? Why would he be sad to see someone who made children be in danger?
“What proof do you have of this claim?” Asked Marly. “How could you do this on a night like tonight? It’s certain death out there and the other island will kill us!”
“Maybe it’s what you deserve for taking all of those babies! Now get out of my sight and never return! If I ever see you again,, I’ll kill you myself!” he bellowed.
The crowd parted to let the trio pass, and out they went into the cold, shivering just like any human would.
~*~ A few hours before~*~
Tessa got up from her daily nap and felt a twinge in her stomach, then another prolonged pain. She walked out of her room, and leaned against the wall, waiting for it to pass, but it didn’t.
The baby kicked and she grabbed her stomach. Her water broke.
“Ch- Chloe!” she shouted. “Chloe, I need you!” she was feeling weak and though that maybe it was a better idea to lay down again, but chloe came dashing down the stairs.
“What, is it time? You’re all wet! It is time! Ok, I’ll go and get Haily M. Hold tight. We’re just going to get you comfortable while I go and find her.”
A few minutes later, Tessa was changed into more comfortable clothes and moaning with effort.
“Please tell me I can push, please! I want to see my baby now!”
Tessa gave birth to a happy little girl named Lana. Look at her smile!
“My baby, I’ll never let anything hurt you. Not Sebastian, not the cold, not hunger or sickness. I’ll protect you with my life, I swear.”
~*~
A few months passed and spring was upon the settlement. Tessa and Hailey were looking up at the stars one night.
“I hope our children can be like siblings to each other. I haven’t told anyone, but I got to tell my husband that we were going to have another child shortly after his death. I know, who believes in ghosts anymore? but my husband was a vampire, so something is real, right? I told him that I was expecting, and he was happy. I miss him so much….” she trailed off.
“I miss my husband too. He was such a good presence in my life. One in a million. I miss him too. I miss my parents, my siblings, my dog, my home. I would give anything besides my daughter to get off this stupid island, to get home, to see my love again…” Tessa trailed off too.
“But you have a love. Conner, right? You love him?” Hailey asked.
“I love Conner just as much as I love a life vest. It keeps me safe, but it isn’t sexy and I don’t want it in my bed. We don’t do much together, and I don’t want to let go of my husband. We were so happy for a short amount of time… I don’t want anything else.”
“I understand.” she said simply. “I feel like I am the most qualified to understand. Hey did you hear that Gretta and Buddy have been flirting with each other? It’s so cute to see the two of them happy. I hope they make it work.”
A shriek was heard from inside the church, a woman’s cry. The pair of them got up, Tessa helping Hailey off the ground. They raced to the door, but upon seeing the sight inside Hailey decided to stay outside where she could breathe and not lose her lunch.
Jarrod was laying on the floor, not moving. Blanche had discovered him, and she was weeping uncontrollably. “HE’S DEAD!” she wailed. “My beef cake is DEAD!”
Tessa had no idea that she had felt that way about him, but she squatted down and felt his pulse. She felt nothing, just the cold and damp skin of a body no longer producing heat.
She backed up and nodded to Sebastian. He doubled over and cried too, as if he had been stabbed.
~*~
Outside, on the sunny cliff top, Chloe and Santiago said their vows to each other in a quiet elopement. No witnesses, just their love, the sea, and the sky.
Bloopers!
I don’t know if my game is glitchy, but every time there's a fire, at least two people go to pick up toddler Eric and only one of them gets to hold him, but the others follow like zombies. It reminds me of this so much for some reason
Isaac loves the rain.
Some one take this angry lady away from me, please.
Gretta can go through doors and even though it looks like Chaya is giving Eric the stink eye, she played with him moments later.
Sleepy Lana. I know all babies look the same, but I think she’s really cute.
I'm liking this strange development so far.
Hailey looks like she can’t run fast enough
There is so much I loved about this chapter!!! I’m glad Tessa is making a life for herself but...ISAAC!!!!!! I hope their love isn’t a doomed one. He’d never give up on her I KNOW it!
The sunset was beautiful!!!!
(Short history: Aria was made in cas as a hybrid of her parents with gene stuff. Then she married Darien and i made Tessa the same way. BUT: both Aria's parents and Aria had triplets and aria had twins. So my family hadn't had a single birth ever. )
Love you guys.
Chapter 8
The Other Side of the Coin
“This isn’t right…” Isaac said as he paced the Ruff-Stone residence’s kitchen. Aria sat and watched him. “It’s been four months, and no one has found anything. How could it be so hard? How could there be no trace? How could they not find her? Or any sign of her?” he was obviously agitated. He felt like he hadn’t slept well since he had received the news.
“It takes time, sometimes years. We have to have faith in their system.” Aria assured.
“If they can’t find anything, it’ll just become a cold case and they’ll drop it until it becomes relevant to them in the future. It was a storm, for God’s sake, not foul play, why would it ever come up again? There is no one to blame. They’ll give up and she’ll never be found!” Isaac shouted in frustration.
“What can we do about it? I can’t leave to searching myself, I have kids to look after and I’m not as young as I once was. Do we know anyone who has channels to even go on such a trip? I don’t know anyone…”
Isaac looked up at her. “I have money. Surely I can get someone to talk. I would give every last penny if it meant that I could have Tessa back, I’ll give anything. I need to start looking myself, anywhere, I need to get out of this house!” he stormed out the door and made his way down to the shore. He wanted to hate the ocean. It had taken his love from him, it had been the source of his pain for months, but he couldn’t hate it. The ocean didn’t take revenge. It didn’t care about anything, much less one woman, a captain, and a ship.
“I’ll find you. I promise.” he vowed.
I’ve screwed up before…
I’ve nearly gotten you killed by poison…
I let you go alone when I could have gone with you…
But I will find you…
~*~Present day ~*~
Dorian and Buddy looked out from behind trees at nightfall at the island below. Fires burned in their small city, and it was a sight that could set anyone’s nerves on edge. The other island had been a bit louder than normal, sparring and fighting loud enough that they could be heard on the other side of the settlement.
“What are they doing?” asked Dorian in a quiet hiss. “What are they planning?”
They didn’t see the Joneses among the moving people, but there were probably more of the other islanders than the settlement could take on if a fight broke out. They looked strong from this distance. They had enough land to sustain them, they didn’t have to ration out food and they didn’t have to rely on canned food washed ashore.
“I don’t like this, man. Didn’t you hear that Jarrod had a dart in his back and that’s why he died? What if we get shot? Can they hit us from here?” Buddy whimpered.
“No, they can’t hit us from here. They can’t see us, we’re fine. Still, I’ve seen all I need to see here. Let’s go.”
~*~
Isaac was close to an answer, he could feel it. If if had a flavor, he could taste the crumbs. The last historian he talked to told him that there was once a small pair of islands that monks would live on away from the mainland and study the words of their God, but it had fallen out of knowledge because no one could find the thing. It could see land, but no one on land could see it, and that made for puzzling circumstances. If Isaac’s wife was on the island, he would have a hard time finding her.
Legend said that the currents went around the island, so impact rarely happened except when storms pushed them to the island.
“If you could spot currents from the air, you could probably find where the divergence was, but it’s nearly impossible.” the old man finished.
“A plane. I could look for her in a plane, and then I could find her. I could save her.” Isac looked distantly at the wall behind the man, in thought. He could easily buy a plane, that was no problem. He could even fly it, his father had taught him as a teenager. He finally, after a year of searching, had found a shred of hope to hold on to.
~*~
Sebastian furrowed his brow. “We should prepare for the worst. They could be planning an attack, and we don’t need that right now. We need the opposite. We need safety for the children and the weak, not cannibals tearing us apart. Put a barricade in every room and enough food for a week in each. We don’t know if we’re going to have to hole up and wait for them to leave. Who knows what they would want.”
“Maybe they’re angry we sent them those alien freaks and want revenge.” commented Dorian.
“Dorian, don’t call them freaks, even if they were freaks. It’s not polite.” Haylee Potts quietly chidded.
“If they’re freaks, they’re freaks. They aren’t even here to care, relax.” he defended.
“Very well. Dorian, Buddy, you’re on watch. Eric, I want you to go with them. You’re a faster runner, and you can transform into a bat and come back if you see something. You’re our eyes and ears on this one, ok?”
“But-” Haylie interjected but Sebastian payed her no mind.
“Aye, sir!” Eric almost saluted. Haylie looked white as a sheet.
~*~
“I don’t need a copilot. Where I’m going, it’s too dangerous. I don’t know if I’ll get back, and I can’t endanger someone else. I need to do this alone.” Isaac said sternly to the assistant helping him get his plane ready. He was full of nerves, and he saw this as just another step on his journey to getting to where he needed to be.
“But, sir, it’s policy to fly with a first time pilot. It’s necessary to make sure you know what you’re doing. Please, allow me to join you.” the boy insisted.
Isaac looked up at him with a stern look in his eyes. “Boy, I need to go alone. I don’t have time or patience for a test flight so that you know I’m a decent pilot. I bought the plane in full; If I die, you aren’t out anything. I’ve inspected the plane, it’s in working order, now please leave. I need to go.”
The power of the request and the tone in his voice made the boy shiver a bit. Here was a man who didn’t care if he lived or died. His eyes were on the future, the present was just an ends to a means. It startled the young man, and he held out his clipboard.
“I need you to sign this. Your flight went well. Safe journeys.” he said stiffly.
“Thank you.” Isaac replied, signed, and got into his little plane. It could fit about six people, pilot included.
~*~
Eric flew in quickly and landed, out of breath. “They’re breaching the shore and trying to climb the cliff! Sebastian says that we need to get the mothers and children to the basement. I’m coming with you, mom, you can let go of my arm.” he said urgently.
Haylie and her children hurried down the stairs and into their room. Their room was larger than most because it was two rooms joined together to fit the family. But Tessa was still in her room, and she hadn’t come out. Haylie wanted to rush over and grab her, but Eric had already put the barricade in front of the door, and it didn’t move easy.
“We need to get Tessa and Lana! Take that barricade down.” Haylie demanded.
“I can’t do that, mom. Sebastian said that we were to stay in our designated areas, and he’s the boss. We have to stay here.” Eric recited.
“But Tessa and Lana are alone, they need to be looked after! Sebastian didn’t think this through, she’s alone in her room. We have time before the battle gets here, I see no reason to not get them in here.” Haylie reasoned.
“I will not open that door unless Sebastian says to do so.” he said calmly.
Haylie crossed the room to the door and tried to lift the barricade, but couldn’t make it budge. Curse Eric and his vampiric strength. Haylie sat back down on her bed and pouted. If she had her way, Eric would have been grounded for a month, but Sebastian had the highest authority here.
~*~
Isaac saw that there were clouds on the horizon, but he didn’t worry about them. He would he would be back to the mainland before it would become a problem, and if he wasn’t, maybe it would lead him to Tessa.
The surveying was going not that well. If he hadn’t loaded his plane with food, clothes, and medical supplies, the journey would have gone longer, but the weight was using up the fuel. That’s when he saw it. Lightning flashed on the horizon. He saw the waves curling away and making an eye in the middle of the water. Without regard to the oncoming storm, he dipped down and made for the oddity.
~*~
Tessa was pacing the room as her children slept. They were so young, would they be spared if they were captured? They wouldn’t hurt innocent children, would they? They were so young, so sweet, Tessa’s pride and joy. Her heart swelled with happiness when she looked at them, but it was quickly replaced with dread and worry for their safety.
Tessa continued paced her room. What was happening? Who was winning? Were her friends alright? Chaya? Gretta and Buddy? Dorian and Haylee? Conner? Her stomach churned and hurt at the thought of any of them dying.
~*~
Isaac flew into unnaturally thick clouds, worrying that he may hit water quickly if he couldn’t see, but then tow islands appeared, surrounded by the mist. One was larger with a good beach to land on, and as the wind picked up and the small craft shook he made a hasty landing.
~*~
Conner was hiding behind a tree. He saw Chaya ahead of him, collecting stones to throw at the attackers if they came too close, and he was jealous of her bravery. Then again, she had only herself to live for. She didn’t have a wife and child waiting at home. Buddy and Gretta were waiting ahead of them, and they were making good headway into the forest. They were quiet, and they moved pretty quickly, despite their size. Then again, Conner had to remind himself that Gretta wasn’t gluttonous. She was a trained athlete and knew a good deal about the human body. If there was anyone you wanted on your team, it was Gretta.
Conner couldn’t see Sebastian anywhere, and he wished that he had his mentor nearby to help him be brave. To rally his spirits. As it was, he was hanging behind, but Sebastian was supposed to be behind him. He must have been held up, where was he?
Conner waved his arm to get Chaya’s attention. She looked at him, and was puzzled. He motioned that he was headed back, and her eyes went wide. “No!” she mouthed. “Get back here!”
He turned his back and jogged quietly back in the direction of the settlement.
Chaya nearly jumped as she heard a warcry head of her and she pulled out a rock. She wasn’t going down without a fight.
~*~
Isaac’s landing was rough and his descent was too steep. He didn’t have the altitude to turn around and try for a shallower landing, so he said a prayer and crashed onto the shore, digging a large hole and tearing off his landing wheels off at the same time. Looks like he wasn’t getting out of here for a while, if ever.
He looked up from his daze, and saw figures in the trees.
~*~
Conner had made his way all the way back to the clearing with the church and he still hadn’t seen Sebastian. He should have seen him by now, where was he? Had he been attacked? Had he gone around to flank the enemy?
The church was very quiet, not even a baby crying. The wind rusted through the budding trees, and it seemed wrong. There was always noise, always someone walking around, but now only the mothers and the children should be here. Then why was he door left open?
Conner walked over to the door tentatively. He could hear the skirmish getting closer, and he felt dread at that, but his wife was here. If door was left open, there could be someone already in the building and he had to save his wife. He looked around the main room and saw nothing, but he didn’t have time to check the loft to see if it was empty. He had to get to the basement to check on Tessa. She had to be alright.
~*~
Sebastian walked down the stairs and took an immediate right. He knocked on the door.
“Open up, Tessa! It’s Sebastian!” he requested.
“Are you alone?” Tessa hollered back.
“Yes, But we need to be fast! Open up! I need your help!”
Tessa removed the barricade and opened the door, but Sebastian wasn’t bloody, not even hurt. Instead he had steady look in his eye that didn’t sit right with Tessa. She backed up, nearly tripping over a child’s bed.
“Sebastian, what’s going on? Why are you here?”she urged.
“I’m here to do what I have to do." he said with a steely gaze" You’re too much of a trouble maker, Tessa. You are the key to unraveling me, and I can’t lose control now. Your death will secure my hold on power for a long time after I kill you murderer.”
“Sebastian, you are your own undoing. People don’t follow you not because of me; they don’t follow you because you aren’t a good leader. You don’t listen to the people around you, you go against a parent’s wishes, and you force people to do things that they don’t want to do. That wasn’t my fault, I just didn’t stand for it.” Tessa backed up further.
“You’re a silly woman who is good for few things, warming Conner’s bed, and being a martyr.” He loomed over her, and she looked for a way out.
Sebastian lunged for her, knocking her to the ground. He put his hands on her neck, and she failed, hoping that her children didn’t wake up and see their mother dying.
A racket could be heard in the hall, distracting Sebastian.
“Not my wife!” shouted Conner as he banged through the door that Sebastian didn’t close. Conner pried Sebastian off of Tessa, shouting something like a warcry to keep his strength. It was something to behold, seeing Conner stand against Sebastian.
More voices and footsteps in the hall signaled that they weren't alone, and Conner and Sebastian made their way out, fighting. Conner was stronger than Sebastian, a younger man who did more work.
Their noises were joined by others, and then they were-- subdued.
The door burst open, but the man who opened the door was unfamiliar. He had very light hair and a large beard, both were things that Tessa hadn’t seen in years. She sat perplexed as he offered her a hand. She wanted to shy away, and he could tell.
“I have someone who wants to see you. At least, you fit the description.” he said with a deep voice and a small smile.
Tessa eyed the hand with skepticism, but then took it and got to her feet. Conner and Sebastian were restrained in the hall with crude handcuffs, guarded by two other men. The first man lead her up the stairs to the main room, then out to where the sun was shining. It hurt her eyes in contrast to the dark that she had been in before, but as her eyes adjusted, she saw her people in restraints kneeling on the ground, alive and somewhat injured, but nothing that wouldn’t mend.
Then she saw a shape,
then a beard,
then a pair of eyes and the rest of him.
A pack of bears couldn’t have kept her away from the person in front of her, and she cried tears of happiness as her Isaac was in her arms once again.
They held each other that way for a while, and eventually Isaac murmured in her ear. “What happened to the baby, my love? Was it born?”
Tessa pulled away, wiping tears from her eyes. “Yes, yes. Someone, please bring me my children, and bring me the red haired man.”
She held Isaac’s hand while the man did so. Neither of them wanted to let go of the other; they didn’t want to release the ghost of the other in case they disappeared while they weren’t looking.
Eventually, Conner came up with the man and the children. “Isaac,” Tessa said as she picked up both children, “This one is our’s. I named her Lana,” indicating to the child on the right. Tessa then shifted and looked at the red haired man. “And this… is our child, Violet.”
All the bloopers!
They could be twins, for all their looks. I have no idea where the black hair came from, but both of the girls have it so it must be form Tessa's side of the family... but no one has black hair? Doesn't matter, I'm thrilled with it because now I can sing 'Black is the color"Link
Adorable Lana
My babies are growing up! So sweet. It feels like forever ago since Tessa was a child, and her sisters are just as precious.
Caring is sharing
Remember Colby and Raul? I in-cas aged them up to see what they look like, and correcting for eyebrows, they're identical twins!
More cuteness.
Haylie had her baby (Which is oddly didn't take pictures of,) and is named Rosalinda! She's sweet as well. I love toddlers, guys. They're so cute.
Tessa telling Conner she's expecting his baby:
And with that, I leave you until next time. Change is on the wind, just like so many seasons and weather patterns. I have been slammed at work lately, working double shifts, but I am off on Mondays and Tuesdays, so if the winds are fair I may be working on this on those days. We'll have to see.
Love yah guys!