ABBY

Chapter 3

Two weeks after the funeral, Captain Davidson is getting ready to depart on a mission of his own.  He’s on a search quest along with Lord Bolton’s blessings. The murderers of Sam Davidson must be found and brought to justice. Sean Davidson will sail to the ends of the earth if he has to.

He arranged with Patrick and Glenda Hudson to look after Abby while he is away.  He’s also arranged for the Pirate's Oasis to be rebuilt, but not as a pub.  Glenda is a master when it comes to baking and cooking and since she and Sam were best friends, he gave her the building to open a bakery or small corner cafe in honor of Sam. He gave up the cottage where Sam and Abby stayed. Their belongings were stored in a container in one of the huge storage facilities at the harbor.

Abby is not happy and she’s been crying and whining the whole way to the harbor. She clings to the Captain as if it will be her last chance. “Sweetheart, please don’t make this even more difficult for me.” He begs her.  Her cheeks are tear stained and her blue eyes even more blue and glassy, but she is not budging. “Daddy don’t go! Please!” She begs. “I’ll be good, I promise.” She wails as she holds onto the Captain.  His heart is breaking, but he has to do this.  He will have his revenge.  Not only for himself, but for Abby as well.

“Glenda, please take her.  I have to go.” He says in a shaky voice as he turns and hands Abby over to her.  “Please take good care of her. I am not sure how long this will take.  But I will be back.” With that he turns on his heel and walks over the bridge to board the Black Swallow where his crew waits for orders. He can still hear Abby’s screams as Glenda tries to calm her. 

Captain Davidson does not have the courage to turn around, so he makes his way to the Captain’s Quarters. As he closes the door behind him, painful sobs wreck his chest. Apart from the death of his wife and her funeral, this is possibly the hardest day of his life. Leaving his only daughter in the care of others, not knowing for how long. Or if he will ever return. The ocean has hazards around every corner. Promising to be back, may prove to be the hardest to keep.

Abby’s life comes crashing down around her.  Not only did she lose her mother, but her father is also leaving her.She lost her home too.  Was she a bad little girl? She doesn’t understand what is going on.  As the huge ship slowly makes her way out of the harbor, Abby struggles in Glenda’s arms to get a chance to escape. She screams at the top of her lungs for her father to come back.

"Daddy.....come back!"

Her throat is raw by the time she loses sight of the Black Swallow. Her sobbing is only painful whimpering as Glenda holds her close, trying to comfort her and start to walk down the street in the direction of their cottage. By the time they reach the front door, Abby is fast asleep. Exhausted and hurt for being left behind. Abandoned.

Her life is turned upside down in a matter of three weeks. She misses her mother and her father said he’ll be back, but she doesn’t know when. Abby Davidson never thought, in her wildest dreams, that fate can be so cruel. 

It’s been a week since her father left and Abby is an empty shell of her former bubbling and giggling self.  She sits in the bay window of the Hudson cottage, staring down the street. Watching every movement,  waiting for her father to appear from around the corner.   Glenda and Patrick are at their wits end. They have tried everything.  They took Abby to a play park, but she just watches the other children play while keeping a watchful eye on the gate.  Standing rooted in one spot, her eyes are glazed over and dull.  It’s as if her mind is occupied in another dimension.

As soon as they get home, she takes her position in the bay window once again. Most of the nights, this is where they would find her, asleep with tear stains on her cheeks.  Glenda also notices that her appetite is not what it was.  Abby is getting thinner and weaker by the day.

“You have to let the Captain know, Pat.” Glenda states at the dinner table one night. “This is getting serious.  If something is not done soon, we’ll lose her.” Patrick knows this as he looks over at the small sleeping figure in the bay window.  He sighs: “I know, Love. I just don’t know where the Captain is at now. The ocean is quite vast.” Glenda nods as she gathers the mugs and heads for the sink to wash up.

A soft knock is heard at the door and Patrick gets up to answer. A tall, dark figure fills the door. “Good evening, Patrick.” Lord Bolton’s deep, rich voice fills the room.  Glenda nearly drops the mugs.  “Mr. Bolton, Sir.  What brings you to this part of town?” Patrick asks nervously, and winces as the words leave his mouth. This is the Vampire King, for Pete’s Sake, and he talks to him as if he's a next-door neighbor. “I’m here to check on Abby Davidson.  I am sorry to disturb you at this hour.” Lord Bolton says as he shifts his weight from one foot to another.

“Not a problem, Sir.  Please, come in.” Patrick invites as he stands to the side to let the ex-mayor of Windy Acres in. Lord Bolton is quite an impressive man.  Broad chest, wide back and strong shoulders.  Godlike features to give any male model a run for their money.  Dark brown, almost black, hair in a neat cut with steel grey eyes. A power figure that is noticed wherever he goes.  His son, William is not one to forget either.  The next Vampire King of the Cronos Coven, he is a force to be reckoned with. Even though Lord Bolton is a vampire, he and Captain Davidson have known each other since the Captain’s early teens.  When he started as a deckhand on one of Lord Bolton’s ships.They became close friends and Sean Davidson worked his way up the ranks. Today, he is the commander of the entire Windy Acres Fleet. Forty ships in total each with a manpower of twenty plus.

Lord Bolton walks in through the door and takes in the scene in front of him. It’s an open plan kitchen, dining and living room. Quite small, but enough for a family of four. His eyes scan the area and land on the small, sleeping figure in the window. “How is she doing?” He asks, motioning in Abby’s direction.

“Not so good, we’re afraid. She’s basically stopped eating and she’s not socializing.  She's an empty shell, and we don’t know what to do anymore.” Patrick says as his wife, Glenda joins them, hooking her arm into his.

Lord Bolton closes his eyes as he lets out a sigh. He’s been through something similar, just a few years back.  The two Healer mages, Dimitri and Christina Slate, were killed by a rogue and their six-year old daughter, Christy was left orphaned.  He himself also knows the pain of loss, as his wife and daughter were both killed during a raid in Castelena.  Where he almost lost his son as well. “I’ll be taking her with me for a while.  I think I might have a solution.” He states as he makes his way over to the tiny sleeping figure.

Patrick and Glenda watch in shock as the Vampire King makes his way over to the bay window. He sits down and gently strokes Abby’s hair. She stirs sleepily and a soft whimper escapes her lips. “Daddy come back.  I’ll be good. Promise.” She whispers and tears stream down her face once again.  She opens her eyes and looks at Lord Bolton, not totally awake.  She lunges into his arms and clings to him for dear life. Wrenching sobs rips through her small body.  Lord Bolton embraces her with his powerful arms and rocks her till she calms down, while whispering soothing words in her ear.