Unchained

This is insane!

Devlin walked back into Lily's house. His heart felt as if it was breaking into a thousand tiny little pieces. He clutched his chest an sat down at the kitchen table. He turned his knees in under the table and started to stare at the wood grain in the table. He looked at the flowers in the vase in the middle of the table. The centerpiece that he thought was beautiful when he arrived there just last night. He thought was dreary an plain this morning. Then he noticed it. A folded up piece of paper sticking out from the bottom of the vase. He picked the vase up an took the folded note into his hands. He sat the flowers back down an unfolded the paper. It was Hayden's handwriting. He would notice it anywhere. His dead heart gave a little thump at the sight of it. He started to read it even though he knew it was something he didn't want to see. 

            Dear Devlin, my handsome husband, my soul mate, the love of my life........... 

I love you, I will always love you, until the day I die, my life will be incomplete without you,

I am truly sorry for leaving like this. I knew that it had to be done, an it is because I love you so dearly that I had to do this. I love all of you so much. I do not want anyone to have to live in fear anymore, I do not wish to see one more of you hurt because of me or Ava. I know that they will never stop hunting her. I know what I must do now. I am taking Ava far away from the people we love so that no one will be hurt or kidnapped or worse...dead. I do not wish any harm on any of you. If we were to stay there, it's only a matter of time before the Devil's Flag comes back, Or your father. I came to the conclusion when Xavier was kidnapped an I had to watch my best friend/sister come unraveled because of the life we created. I don't want to see anyone in that kind of pain again. I am leaving you with this note because I know you will blame yourself. I do not want you to do that. This is on me. I chose this. I didn't want to leave you, but, I knew that this was the only way to keep you safe. To keep our family safe. Please don't take this out of any of them. They need you. I need you to stay there, do not come looking for us. You will not find us. I have taken measures to make sure that we cannot be found. Remember I love you. I always will. Tell Charlie that I love her as well. I am sorry. Please forgive me Love. I miss you already XOXO

                                                                                                     Love Always and Forever your wife

                                                                                                                         Hayden Torrin 

P.S. I will keep contact. I love you. 

Devlin balled up the letter an threw it on the table. He laid his head in his hands, covering his face from view an broke down. His heart felt as if it shattered. His soul crumbled. He cried so hard he felt like he couldn't stop. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He knew it was Derrick. He had followed him into the house to help him figure this out. I am sorry Devlin. I will help you find them. Derrick said softly. He knew Devlin was hurting more than he had ever felt. He could sense the pain, it felt as if knives were stabbing through his own chest. You want me to get anyone? Derrick asked. Devlin just kept balling into his hands. He really couldn't stop. Derrick didn't know what to do. He took his phone out of his pocket and sent a text to Xavier. I know it hurts buddy. I will help you get them back. I swear to it. Derrick added. Devlin didn't respond. He had quit crying an laid his head in his folded arms on the table. He tried to soothe him by rubbing his shoulders. He knew that it was pointless but he didn't know what else to do. A moment later Charlie burst through the front door. Tears already streaming down her face. Xavier was at her heels carrying Ashton on his hip. Charlie ran over to Devlin an hugged him from behind, leaning over his back, her head on his shoulder. She was already breaking down crying. WHERE IS SHE?????!!!!!  Charlie cried with a gut wrenching sound. Her heart was breaking as well. She couldn't believe Hayden an Ava were gone. They both felt as if a piece of them were missing. I. don't. know. Devlin barely choked out. He grabbed the balled up letter off the table an handed it to Charlie and laid his head back on the table in his arms. She took it cautiously still crying her eyes out. She wiped at the tears and smoothed out the letter. She was still whimpering a soft cry. Her eyes skimmed the page and after she finished the letter she collapsed to the floor, covering her face as her cries grew louder. Xavier handed Ashton to Derrick an ran over to Charlie. We will find her Babe. You guys found me. We will find her. Xavier pulled her against his chest as he knelt down beside of her. Read the letter! Charlie struggled to speak through her tears. WE WON'T!!! Charlie added. Xavier leaned over an picked the letter up off the floor an began to read. He sighed an ran his hand through his hair. I don't care what this says, we will find her. Xavier stated with anger in his voice. I can't believe she thought we wouldn't fight for them. They are our family! Xavier bellowed. Devlin sat up straight at the table an wiped his face with his hands. Yes! We will fond them, whether she wants us to or not. Devlin said as he stood an walked over to the stairs. He walked up them an a moment later they all heard the bedroom door slam. Charlie was still on the floor crying while Xavier held her. Derrick stood there holding Ashton as they both stared up the stairs where Devlin had just disappeared too. Ashton looked down at his parents, clearly upset that his mother was crying. Mommy? Ashton said in a soft voice. When Charlie didn't respond to him he tried again. Mommy? Are you Okay? Ashton asked sadly. Charlie wiped her face an had Xavier help her up. She walked over to Derrick an took Ashton from him. Yes Sweetie, Mommy is just a little upset. Hayden an Ava took a little trip without us. We need to make sure they come back. That's all. Charlie said with sadness in her tone. Okay. Ashton replied as he hugged his dinosaur plush to his chest. Can we go home? Ashton added. We sure can sweet boy. Charlie said an started for the door. Derrick stood there in the middle of the room. I will stay here to make sure he is okay. Will you guys let Lily know what's going on? She is probably worried that I'm not back yet. Derrick asked. Sure will brother. Let me know if you guys hear anything. Anything at all. I'm going to the store to see if I can buy some phone tracing equipment. We will be back soon. She said she will keep in contact in her letter so I am assuming that she will eventually call Devlin. Hopefully we will be able to get a trace on the call. Xavier stated. Good call Brother. I would have never thought about anything like that. Derrick replied. Yeah, lets just hope she didn't get a burner phone. Xavier said as he walked out the front door. 

Hayden felt it the moment Devlin had found the letter an broke down. Her heart was truly shattering with his. She didn't think she could take the pain much longer. She had felt the emptiness in her chest, but this whole heart break was so much stronger than she had imagined. She had to pull over for a moment to regain some clarity. She couldn't separate her thoughts from Devlin's. She knew that it was going to hurt him she just hadn't expected this magnitude of it. She was hurting just the same. She knew it didn't justify her actions but she thought that maybe he would be able to forgive her one day. If this threat would ever stop. She knew that they would stop hunting Ava if there was another Child Prophecy born again. She just didn't know when that was or how she was even going to find out who. Theia looked over at Hayden with concern in her eyes. Are you Okay? She asked Hayden. Yes, I am just dealing with the heartbreak I've caused. Hayden replied. Let me ask you a question. When do you think another Child Prophecy will be born again? Hayden asked. Theia furrowed her brows. Ava is five, so probably fifteen to twenty years, maybe one hundred? I couldn't say for sure but Ava will feel it the moment he or she is born. It feels as if a weight has been lifted from her soul. Theia expressed as she touched her chest where her heart was. Theia sighed. For your sakes, I hope that is sooner, rather than later. Theia commented. Me too. Hayden said as she put the car back in drive an pulled off from the side of the road. She had no idea where they were headed. She just figured she would drive until a spot felt right. They had been driving for eight hours now an they had just made it half way through Wisconsin. She knew this wasn't far enough but she figured they would start to travel West after leaving Wisconsin. Maybe Arizona or Mexico? Hayden said aloud. Theia smiled at her. I have always wanted to travel to Mexico. I have heard so many stories about Mexico in my travels. I would listen to peoples stories as I would hide out in airports an train stations. The wonders people experienced there sounded so amazing. Theia stated with a sparkle in her eye. Mexico it is then. Hayden said as she grabbed at her chest again as another wave of sadness hit her so deep she had to close her eyes for a moment. Ava had finally woken up an she sat in the backseat playing on her tablet. Hayden had stopped at the first car lot she had seen and traded her Mercedes for a nice  2020 Nissan Murano with low miles. It had black interior an the paint was black to match. Everything felt so comfortable, she knew it was the one the moment she sat in the drivers seat. The guy that traded the vehicle was so excited to be getting the Mercedes that he has given her the wifi package to access in the vehicle. Hayden had agreed with a smile. They man felt as if the deal was to good to be true an thought she would back out any minute. After realizing she was serious he got serious too. She just wanted to get in an out in a hurry. He had asked her if she was hiding from someone or if the car was stolen. She had given him her ID to show him that she did indeed owned the car an never answered his question about hiding from someone. The guy had given her the title with little paperwork to sign an let her go on her way. She knew that she would eventually have to get the thing registered where ever they decided to live but that was a worry for later. Right now she just had to get through all the pain and sadness she was feeling. 

Devlin had locked himself in Lily and Derrick's bedroom. He felt as if he had no energy to do anything. This is what depression feels like. He thought to himself. Come on Man! You can't stay in there forever! Derrick yelled through the locked door as he knocked lightly. Yeah...... Come on Dev! I picked up some hardware that will trace the call when she does decide to call you. We need to set it up before that happens! If you want to find her then this is the first step! Xavier added as he shook the bag. He hoped that Devlin would hear it and opened the door. Devlin perked up at that statement. He realized that he didn't even have his phone with him. It was still downstairs in the kitchen. He jumped up out of bed an opened the door. Standing there with sad smiles on their faces were Xavier an Derrick. Xavier held the bag up to him. I appreciate it Brother. My phone is in the kitchen. Devlin stated sadly as he made his way past them an headed down the stairs. He turned right into the kitchen when he got to the bottom. They followed close behind. Devlin unplugged his phone off of the charger an put in his password. No texts an No calls. He said as he handed the phone to Xavier. She will call Man. She said she will keep in contact. It says so in the note she left. I'm sure she is hurting just as much as you are Dev. Xavier stated as he laid the phone on the table an began to take the devices out of the bag. You sure this will work? Devlin asked as he wiped at the tears that started to form in his eyes again. Yeah, I know it will. As long as she didn't buy a burner phone. It may take a few times but we will get her location. Or close to it. Xavier explained. She should be calling soon. I know that she felt the pain that she caused me. She has to be feeling it herself. That is why I work up this morning with an empty feeling in my chest. That is what she was feeling. That is what her decisions cost her. She is still feeling it. As it is still in my chest as well. Devlin explained. Xavier stopped what he was doing and glanced at Devlin. Can't you track her? You guys have exchanged blood right? Xavier said full of hope. That my dear friend is a myth. I can not track her because we have exchange blood. That is something that is made up in those cheesy vampire movies. Devlin stated blandly as he walked closer to the table to see what Xavier was doing. Xavier picked up Devlin's cell phone an placed a lumpy piece of rubber onto the back of it. He laid that down an plugged a cord into the bottom of his phone an into a square device. It kind of looked like a block wireless charger. He pulled his laptop over to the middle of the table and plugged another wire into the side of it. After doing that he pulled up a map of the United States onto the screen. He began to pull up the microphone software up as well. All set. Xavier stated. Now what? Derrick asked after he had stood there in silence the whole time. Now we wait. Xavier said with a smile.

Hayden began to feel famished after nine hours of no eating. She had fed on Devlin a few times last night while they made love. She grabbed at her stomach, feeling the hunger growing there. Theia looked at her. You okay? Theia asked. Yeah, I'm just a little hungry. I have some of Devlin's blood in my suitcase. It's in a cooler pouch in the front. You mind grabbing me a pack? Hayden asked. Sure. Theia said as she unbuckled her seat belt and turned around in her seat to get to the luggage. Theia unzipped the front of the luggage an pulled out the cooler pouch. She noticed that there were at least four dozen packs of blood. He gave you all of this? Theia asked. No, we keep it in our fridge incase one of us is gone all day an we can't feed each other. Hayden stated as she looked into the rear view mirror. How long will this last you? Theia asked curiously. Hayden thought about it for a moment. Maybe three weeks. Hayden said with nervousness in her tone. What do you do after you run out? Theia asked her questions back to back as she turned back around an slid down in her seat. She handed the pack of blood to Hayden an Hayden bit down on it. Her fangs piercing the bag easily. She gulped the blood quickly an threw the package in a plastic bag that they had put trash in. Ava and I can feed each other if we need it. Hayden replied as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, making sure she didn't have any on her face. Oh, well if you need anymore blood...... I don't mind, you know..... if you need it. Theia offered hesitantly. Hayden nodded. Thanks. I appreciate that but, you don't have to do that. Hayden said. I want too. If I can help...... I want too. Theia said. Does it hurt? Theia added. Well. I know it doesn't hurt me. We have a type of numbing agent on our fangs, so I don't believe it will hurt you either. Hayden replied as she looked from Theia an then back to the road. What do you say we get a hotel room or something? I think Ava could use a break from the car. We could find one with an indoor pool. Hayden suggested. Ava squealed with joy. YES MOMMY!!!! Please!! That would be so fun!!!! Ava shouted. Theia had a smile on her face. I have never been swimming. I have taken bathes in the lake before, but I have never gotten into the water to have fun. Theia expressed. Okay then. It's settled. We stop at the next hotel or motel we see with an indoor swimming pool. Hayden said as she looked at the billboards advertising different restaurants and clubs along with a five star hotel. She pulled over on the side of the road and googled the name of the Hotel Swanson. The website came up quickly an she confirmed that it did indeed have a indoor swimming pool. Ok guys! That is the place, ten miles ahead. Hayden said as she pointed up at the billboard. Theia glanced at the picture of the rooms that it had displayed across it. That place looks so inviting. Theia stated with her eyes sparkling. Hayden laughed. That is the point of those advertisements. To make people want to stay there. Hayden said as she continued to laugh. It felt good to laugh for a moment. Even though that empty feeling stayed planted in the middle of her chest. Theia joined her an started to laugh as well. Hayden put the SUV in drive an pulled back onto the highway. Fifteen minutes later they were pulling up into the parking lot for The Hotel Swanson. This is insane!! Theia said as she looked up at the hotel. Ava clapped with joy. Is this where Daddy is meeting us Mommy! Ava said with joy. Hayden's face fell from a smile to worry. No Honey, we are just stopping here to rest. Daddy will meet us when we get to where we are going. Hayden said an Ava stopped clapping. I want Daddy to come now! I miss Daddy! I want to call him! Ava yelled. She had started to throw a tantrum that Hayden had never witnessed before. She worried that he daughter would lose control an hurt someone. Okay. Hayden said loudly as she pulled into the parking space and turned the vehicle off. We will call him when we get to the room. Okay? Hayden asked her. Ava had gone quiet while Hayden was speaking. Thanks Mommy. Ava said as Hayden opened the door to step out of the SUV. After getting checked in an taking their bags upstairs. Hayden had went to the hotel shop downstairs to get them all swimsuits while Theia kept an eye on Ava. She opened the door to their room after grabbing them each a bathing suit. Ava was sitting on the edge of one of the beds watching cartoons on a fifty inch flat screen. Who is ready to go swimming?! Hayden exclaimed as she walked into the room an held up the bag. Theia raised her hand excitedly. Ava just looked at her mother. I want to call Daddy first. Ava said softly. Hayden lowered the bag and walked over to Ava an sat down beside of her. Okay Sweet Pea. I need to talk to him anyway. Hayden said as she handed the bag to Theia. Pick whatever one you want besides the little tiny one. That one is Ava's, it has mermaids on it. Theia nodded an headed to the bathroom to change. Hayden pulled her phone out of her pocket an dialed Devlin's phone number. She hit the speaker phone button an handed the phone to Ava. Hayden closed her eyes and waited for his voice to come over the phone. A tear escaped her eye an she wiped at it before Ava could see. The phone rang an rang. On the third ring he picked up.