Days of Darkness

Chapter 33

"She's tougher than most," I said, stretching the truth, "she doesn't feel things the way we do." I pointed to her feet, "It still affects her thought process, though she becomes more careful. Learning without the pain." I let my smile free to ease Victor's concern. Sam was still on my mind, so it was an easy transition.

"It's happened before?"

"Ever since she started crawling," I replied, "she'd bump her head on the table and avoid it the next time. If you haven't noticed, she never cries." She cried when my mother died. Victor didn't need to know that. My mother was worth a million tears.

"Are there other things like that?" Victor asked, "Things that seem unnatural for a child."

"I wouldn't call it unnatural," I replied, "It's simply her way of coping with the world. It's different than our way, but it works for her." The guard gathered the first aid kit and headed back off to wherever guards go.

"Pain teaches. How does she learn without it?" Victor asked, his mind on overdrive again. I couldn't tell him that she didn't like hurting her daddy. A whole new set of security would be deployed.

"She feels it in a different way," I replied, skirting the truth, "She learns from it well enough." I watched him watching Teegan. He was analyzing her. "Does all this go in a report or something?"

"It does," Victor replied, "Anything unusual is noted. In this case, we will increase our vigilance when she's near dangerous things, like stoves or knives. How long would she hold her hand on a burner if she doesn't feel pain?" The thought scared me. I couldn't imagine it would be more than an instant, but testing it would cause real pain to Sam. These people had put more thought in Teegan's safety than Sam and I had. Too bad they hadn't considered her freedom as well.

Teegan became bored with the tree, and I lifted her back into the stroller. I think she missed the loose sticks and rocks the forest held in North Dakota. The visuals were still entertaining, she pointed down the trail and grunted to get me going again. We began moving at a leisurely pace, letting the fresh air and landscaping calm us.

"Where am I?" I asked. It occurred to me I still had no idea of where I was. Feeling Sam made it seem less important. He knew where I was.

"Pardon?"

"What state and city?" I restated.

"Oh," Victor smiled that fatherly smile, "You are on Mr. Corbett estate outside of Portland, Oregon. I'm sorry we didn't tell you earlier."

"It's pretty here," I said as I looked around at the trees. Someone spent a lot of time keeping it immaculate, but the natural beauty bled through anyway.

"I'm glad you like it," Victor went into sales pitch mode, "we have all the facilities you could desire here. An indoor pool, jacuzzi, exercise room and a theater. If you enjoy tennis or bowling, you won't be disappointed. There's a..."

"It's a wonderful cage," I said, interrupting him. He lost his smile.

"You will be paid handsomely," Victor continued, "with no expenses, you will be able to retire as a wealthy woman." I would prefer to return to the three room cabin with Sam. Happiness is priceless.

"What about love?" I asked.

"You are speaking of Mr. Donaldson?" I nodded. "Have you ever considered that your mutual bonding was the cause of your relationship? The man was barely a high school graduate, a petty criminal and not a very successful one. You are, or, at least, were a successful lawyer graduating in top 10 percent. Natalie, are you sure it was real?"

It was Teegan who brought us together. Victor was right about that. But I felt Sam's love. The late nights, losing ourselves inside of each other. No one is taking that away from me. No one is taking Sam away from Teegan or the child growing in my belly. If it's all an illusion, then I'll take the dream and to hell with reality. The cabin was the pinnacle of my happiness.

"You have a low opinion of my judgment," I said stronger than I should.

"That wasn't my intent," Victor back peddled, "just something to think about. It's my understanding that the bond is strong and works somewhat similar to a d**g. I could be wrong, and I didn't mean to be insulting."

"Can I ask you a question? One that doesn't make it into any report," I asked, calming my tone.

"I can promise it won't make any report," Victor responded, "I can't promise I will answer it." I nodded and took a deep breath.

"Mr. Corbett and Teegan are in mortal danger. You can only save one. Who do you rescue?" I asked.

"The child," Victor replied without hesitation. I could see the honesty in his face. However he justified Teegan's imprisonment, her safety was his top priority.

"Then I think we can be friends, Victor," I said. We shared a smile as we went over a small foot bridge. The stream underneath fed the small pond. We spent the next hour keeping Teegan from running into the water after the ducks. She loved wildlife and thought it all needed to be touched. Victor was able to call for some bread that was quickly run out to us. It tempted the ducks closer and made Teegan laugh wonderfully. Sam and I could feel her glee. I had to quiet my face to stop Victor's inquisitive looks. I could see he sensed that something was happening that he didn't understand. Love is so hard to hide.

.22 - Natalie

"Mama," Teegan called. It wasn't the first time she called for me. I smiled and finally opened my eyes to find her standing in her crib. She started bobbing up and down when she saw my eyes. I hated to pull back the Egyptian cotton sheets. I could have only slept better if Sam was next to me. I sat up with a yawn and an exaggerated stretch.

"Good morning, sweetie," I said. Her happiness flowed through me and rebounded off Sam. For a second, I half expected him to be standing next to me. I remembered the cameras. I laughed to myself thinking how bored they must have been watching me sleep all night. I stood and lifted Teegan from the crib. She buried her head into my shoulder and gripped me hard. Her legs were pumping in excitement. 'This is how every mother should awake,' I thought.

My pleasure subsided quickly when my stomach turned. I felt bile rising in my throat. I remembered Victor's warnings about bringing her into my bathroom, so I started to put Teegan back in her crib so I could run to the toilet. She wrapped her hands tightly around my neck, and the sickness faded. I looked at my little girl's smile with confusion.

"Da," Teegan said. I felt Sam heave. Wherever he was, he had absorbed my upset stomach. Realization hit; morning sickness.

"No, honey," I told Teegan, trying to undo what was happening. I felt Sam strain again as nature advertised my pregnancy. I hugged my girl closer and tried desperately to express an apology to Sam.

It happened then.

A fourth innocent soul joined our bond. It was so soft and quiet. Tenderness wrapped solidly in between the three of us. My breath caught as it spread so perfectly, finding every part of me and pulling all of us closer. I felt tears in Sam's eyes, and my own began to fill. Our unborn son was there. He was so perfect, unmolded, and so wanting to be part of it all. Teegan hugged me closer, her smile burying itself into my neck as joy completed us.

The door burst open, and Abigal ran in. I quickly wiped my eyes and turned toward her, trying to fake irritation at the intrusion.

"Every think of knocking?" I said, trying to let the bonding fade. It was so beautiful, it was hard to let go.

"It...It looked like something was wrong," Abigal said, looking around the room like she expected to find something.

"Teegan wanted a hug," I said curtly, "a private one if you don't mind." I turned away from Abigal, trying to reinforce the idea of an unwanted invasion.

"I'm sorry, Natalie," Abigal said, backing out of the room. When the door closed, I let go of the breath I was holding.

"You already love him," I whispered to Teegan. She smiled as she always did. There was no jealousy in her. I could feel her acceptance of a brother, her desire to be with him. It was simply beautiful. I smiled for the cameras and danced around the room with Teegan as my partner. She laughed and sent her happiness to all of us.

.23 - Sam

I thanked God. It was hypocritical of me since I never believed before. I couldn't fathom his existence, and now I had no doubt. God wished me to know of him. He announced himself through the soul of my unborn son. My son was so perfect, so beautiful. As beautiful as his mother. As perfect as his sister.

I was on my knees, praying to someone I finally understood. I flushed the toilet as my stomach finally relaxed. I laughed at the world.

It was the strangest feeling. I felt so strong taking on Teegan's and now Natalie's pains. I stood proudly, feeling like some conquering hero. I smiled at how guilty Natalie felt when my stomach churned instead of hers. Thoughts of how she will make it up to me excited me. For the first time, I felt fully worthy of Natalie's love.

God help anyone who stands between my family and me.

.24 - Natalie

"This is Anthony," Abigal said, introducing the chef. He was a busy seasoning something that was sizzling in a frying pan. A tall black man wearing exactly what you would expect of a chef, white pants, white double breasted shirt, and a white Pillsbury Doughboy hat.

"Hello," I said as he turned. He had to be at least six foot five, not what I expected at all.

"Greetings," Anthony said, his hand still shaking the frying pan, "you must be Miss French Onion Soup." I liked him immediately. Some people just bled friendliness and Anthony was a perfect example. His smile was warming, and his eyes found mine and seemed happy at what he saw.

"Natalie, please," I said, adjusting Teegan in my arms. Teegan smelled whatever was cooking and tried to crawl through the air toward the stove. Anthony laughed at her struggles and moved the pan to a cold burner.