A DEADLY NUPTIAL

35

The Next Morning

Dark's POV

I sat in the living room watching the sun rise. I hadn't slept at all due to the gultiness that ran through me each time I thought of Josephine, and what I had done. She came back and the first thing I do is hurt her. I raked my hands through my hair not noticing someone come down the stairs.

"Dark, I didn't expect you to be awake this early," Elsa said approaching me.

"I couldn't sleep. Why are you up so early? You usually don't leave for another hour."

"I'm going to visit Josephine before going to the clinic."

"Is something wrong?" I asked looking up from the ground anxiously waiting for her reply.

"I'm just going to see how she's doing this morning and check on her pregnancy."

"Please tell me if you find anything wrong."

"Dark," she sighed, "it's clear that she's on. Sh's expecting a child with another man. You need to move on. You're expecting a child with another woman."

"I know,"I sighed.

"You still love her don't you?"

"You do, don't you?" Came a voice from behind us.

"Shine." I said standing up.

"I best be leaving," Elsa said probably sensing an argument coming on. After she left I was left with dealing with Shine.

"Is that why you didn't come to bed last night? Because you were thinking of that w***e?" She accused her yes narrowed. Even pregnant she didn't change her attitude. She still acted the same with no hint of maternity glow like Josephine who radiated with her maternity glow.

"Don't call her that. Besides she's moved on, and I've moved on, so isn't that enough?"

"It will never be enough until you love me."

Josephine's POV

I awoke to Casper gently shaking me, "Josephine wake up. Elsa's here."

I opened my opened my eyes no longer groggy. Well, I opened one eye, the other was still shut and most likely swollen.

"I'll be out in a second let me just get changed."

"Alright, we'll be in the guest room down the hall getting the equipment ready. She brought an ultrasound machine," he said excitedly.

"Really?" I asked mirroring his excitement.

"Yes, I don't know how she managed to get one, but she did." He smiled.

"I'll be out in a jiffy," I said trying to move as fast as I could with all my weight.

I heard him chuckling as he left.

15 minutes later I was in the guest room with Casper and Elsa. I laid on the bed as Elsa moved the transducer probe around my belly trying to find the spot where I would be able to see my baby. Casper held my hand as we waited. Elsa's face changed suddenly as she tried concentrating harder and looked as if she was trying to figure something out.

"What is it? Is there something wrong with the baby?"

"It's something strange. I think...I think I hear two heart beats." She took out her stethoscope and began to listen. Then took the probe once more and began looking at the monitor for an image. There it was. I could see two bodies that were back to back.

I was so happy and hormonal tears I could feel the tears coming.

"So my prediction was correct. You're expecting twins," she smiled, "that would explain why you're growing so fast especially for only being 1/4 vampire.

"Wow, I never expected twins."

"Me neither," agreed Casper kissing my forehead.

"You're also in great condition. We'll be able to determine the s*x of the babies at the next check-up."

I shook my head, "I don't want to know the gender of my babies. I want that to be a surprise."

"Alright, well at the next check-up we'll see your progress to determine when they'll be born."

"I can't wait!"

"They could possibly be born next month at the rate they're growing."

"Next month..." I thought rubbing my belly as the twins began to wake up and move around.

"Alexa's wedding is in two months," Elsa commented as she began to turn off the machine. She handed me a printed picture of the ultrasound.

"How is she by the way?"

"She was devastated when you left, we all were."

"Last night she couldn't stop talking about the fashion show and your big revelation. She's upset, but I'm sure it will pass. She's too caught up in all the planning to even remember who she's made at."

"Has she found her dress?"

"Surprisingly no. She had wanted to do it with you, but after you left she sort of left it to the side never losing hope that you would soon return."

"Tell her I'll pay her a visit soon once my eye is better. We could go to Alexa and I's new boutique here in the city. I even have a special design I created while I was away. Don't tell her about it, I want to shock her."

"Of course I won't. She'll be ecstatic."

* * *

Shine's POV

I sat in Hulk's apartment waiting for him to show up. I looked through his newspaper having found it at his door. I came across the headline "True love at last for the billionaire bachelor Casper Williams?"

I scoffed at the pictures of the event from last night. As I read the foolish article I heard the door being unlocked. I set the paper down waiting as Hulk finally emerged from the other side of the door.

"Took you long enough," I greeted taking a sip of my martini.

"What are you doing here Shine and why are you drinking?"

I shrugged, "I feel like it. You're not the one carry a huge load and having to look like an elephant."

"This was your plan, so I don't see why you're complaining."

He said sitting down on the leather couch across from me crossing his right leg and placing it on top of his left leg as he draped his arms along the top of the couch.

"Have you heard the news?" I asked knowing he most likely hadn't.

"What news?"

"The love of your life is pregnant with another man's baby and is engaged?" I said throwing him the paper.

He read the article throwing it to the side after he was finished reading it, "This is absurd!"

"I'm not happy about it either. That's why we have to come up with a plan quickly. Either you taker her somewhere far away or I will kill her myself." I threatened.

"I can't just kidnap her. That would just lead to more problems. I would be looked for everywhere. I have to get close to her first and convince her to leave with me. She has to know who I really am."

 . - 31

A Week Later

Josephine's POV

I sat in the parlor finishing some sketches for Alexa's wedding. I had the sample dress ready for her at the boutique which we would be visiting today. Alexa had returned to Paris leaving me in charge of the boutique. After our event last week we had hundreds of orders from the most elite of society. I closed my sketch book just as the door bell rang. I got up to open the door as I was just in the next room. Lily, one of the new maids, ran to the door just as I approached it.

"It's alright Lily, I'll get it."

She nodded returning to her duties. I opened the door to a person holding a giant bouquet of different assorted flowers of many colors.

"Good morning," said a voice who's owner peeped around the giant bouquet, so I could see their face.

"Hulk," I said surprised, "what are you doing here?"

"I heard that you're going to be a mom, so I wanted to bring you a present."

"You really shouldn't have," I said stepping to the side letting him enter.

"It's nothing. Where do you want these?"

"Umm. You can place them right here on the table."

He set them down on the table by the door.

"I'll have one of the butlers take them to my room later. They're beautiful thank you." I said facing him after touching on of the petals. I didn't expect him to be so close."

"Again it was nothing," he replied taking my hand and placing a kiss. It made me feel uneasy but thankfully Casper came down the stairs.

"Casper," I smiled removing my hand from Hulk's grasp. Casper approached me pulling me to his side grabbing my waist with one arm and giving my forehead a kiss.

"Morning, love. Who do we have here?"

"This is Hulk. I met a few parties. He brought some flowers to congratulate me for our babies."

"Babies?" Hulk said truly flabbergasted at what I had said.

"We're having twins," Casper informed him placing a protective hand on my belly. Hulk stared at it with a glint of anger in his eyes before a weary smile formed on his lips.

"Well, that just means double the congratulations then," he said offering Casper his hand. Casper shook his hand with a firm grip as I could tell both were trying to have the firmer grip by the way their faces grew red.

"Casper, are you heading to work?"

They released their grip regaining the color back in their cheeks.

"I was. Did you want me to stay longer?" He asked looking at Hulk.

"No, I'll be fine. You should get going before you're late."

"I can always spare a few more minutes for you," he said giving me a wink.

I laughed taking his face in my hands, "Go, before I regret it."

He gave me a lingering kiss which I knew he was only doing because Hulk was here.

"I'll see you three tonight," he gave me another kiss this time on the cheek.

"Have a great day."

Hulk cleared his throat clearly trying to remind us he was still here. I blushed while Casper simply gave him a nod grabbing his suitcase from Lily's hands who had arrived a few seconds ago.

"Sorry about that, we tend to get carried away sometimes."

I heard Lily try to cover her gies behind her hand. I whirled around giving her a look. She knew nothing of what I was saying was true. She grew red.

"Lily, could you please bring our guest a refreshment?"

"Yes, Miss Josephine." She scurried to the kitchen.

"Sorry, Lily's new and likes to embarrass me ."

"It's understandable, you and Casper are quite the couple."

"Thanks, I think we are too."

"So, I wanted to talk to you about something." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"What is it?"

"Could we sit down somewhere?"

"Sure let's go to the terrace outside."

I led him to the back of the mansion to the covered terrace. We sat in the outdoors living room. I fanned myself as Lily brought out a tray with a jar of lemonade and glasses. She poured two glasses setting them on the glass table.

"Thank you Lily."

She gave me another nod returning inside.

"So what did you want to tell me?" I asked taking a sip of my lemonade.

"This isn't easy for me to say, but I've known you for a long time."

This was getting creepy. "What do you mean? We've met only a while ago."

"No, we've met before," he took my lemonade and set it down on the table taking my hands in his. "Josephine, you must remember me. I left you when you were still in high school before your mom's accident. We were always together." He unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt revealing a tattoo that was around his wrist. The tiny black letters read, "Forever and Always".

I gasped, "Vagon?" I looked at him my eyes truly seeing the resemblance to my high school sweetheart. "Is it really you?"

"It is, and I've come back for good."

I was shocked this couldn't be happening. I stood up turning around to face the gardens.

"Josephine," he grabbed my shoulders turning me around to face him, "you have to believe me."

"I can't. How do you expect me to believe you after you left me when I needed you the most?"

"You have to understand why I left." He pleaded.

"Then tell me why." I commanded with arms crossed.

"Your father had me sent away."

* * *

Those words echoed in my head as Alexa called my name waving her hands in front of me.

"Josephine are you there?"

"Huh?" I blinked.

"You've spaced out for the third time today. What's up?"

"Nothing, just zoning out." I looked up at her realizing she was in the dress I made for her.

"You look gorgeous Alexa. Do you like it?"

"No," she frowned then quickly beamed, "of course I like it! It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen!"

"You scared me for a minute," I said swatting her arm, "don't do that ever again."

"Sorry, it won't happen again. You should have seen your face though," she laughed checking her self out in the giant mirror.

We were at the boutique in the VIP room.

I stood up standing behind her.

"I'll just need to make some changes to the bust. It seems a little too big at the sides. I'll have it sewn in no time."

"Thanks so much Josephine. You're the best maid of honor." She said giving me a hug. She pulled back to look at me."You're still going to be my maid of honor right?"

"You know it. I wouldn't miss the chance to be your maid of honor."

"Yay!" She exclaimed pulling me into another hug nearly choking the life out of me.

"Alexa you're kind of choking me and the babies."

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" She apologized quickly releasing me. She did a double take, "Wait, did you say babies?"

"I'm having twins!" I exclaimed.

"Omg! No way!! Congrats!"

"I can't wait till you and Aron have babies!"

She turned bright red, "We'll see about that."

* * *

The rest of the month I spent organizing the twins' room since Elsa informed us at the recent check-up the twins could be born any day now. Casper hired a painter that painted it a soft shade of yellow. We argued for hours before finally settling on yellow. She went shopping for cribs and others items always being followed by the paparazzi. We had numerous magazines, newpapers articles, and online articles with our faces on the cover. Everyone believed my relationship with Casper was real, except for Hulk.

He constantly visited me trying to regain my trust and love. I told him I could only be friends with him and nothing else. He took the offer knowin my love for him had died a long time ago. I was afraid of our friendship. Afraid that I could fall in love with him again and be deserted like he did years ago.

Dark's POV

I flipped through channels as Shine got ready for bed. There were late night talk shows talking about Josephine and that fiancé was hers. I groaned turning off the t.v. instead. Shine emerged from the bathroom in one of my shirts that was clearly not for a pregnant woman to wear.

"Shine you should wear your maternity night gown."

"Are you saying I look ugly?" She pouted looking heartbroken.

I sighed, "Of course not. It's just that you're due any day now, and wearing such a tight shirt could be uncomfortable."

She pouted even more as someone knocked on the door. I got up to open it finding Elsa dressed up formally.

"Elsa, are you going somewhere?"

"Sorry if I woke you and Shine, but I just wanted to inform you that I'm leaving for a conference. I don't know when I'll get back, so I informed two of the doctors I trust the most to take care of Shine. They know her special condition. Don't worry they won't say a thing." She added noticing the look on my face.

"Shouldn't one doctor be enough?" I questioned.

"Well, the other doctor's for Josephine."

"Josephine?" I said truly taken aback.

"She wanted me to deliver her baby, and is also due any day now."

"So soon?"

"She's expecting twins."

Twins? She was going to have two babies.

"Dark," Elsa gave my arm a gentle squeeze, "she'll be fine and Shine will be fine."

"Thanks," I said giving her a weary smile before saying farewell and returning to the room.

"What's wrong? It looks like you've seen a ghost," Shine commented as she looked through a wedding magazine.

"Elsa just came to inform me she won't deliver our baby."

"What?! Why?!"

"She's going to a conference." I simply said not bothering to mention Josephine.

"Well, I want the information over those doctors I'm going to pay them a little visit tomorrow."

"I'll go with you."

"No, I'll go myself. We both know you're behind at work and your father is not happy. I'll go with a friend."

"Alright," I said not wanting to discuss this even more. I turned off my lamp closing my eyes in an attempt to sleep.

Shine's POV

I watched as Dark fell asleep. At least he was in bed this time rather than all the other times I found him asleep in his office, the living room, or not even home. I threw the magazine to the side not happy with Elsa leaving.

The next day I went with Hulk to the doctors Elsa had chosen. The first doctor was tall and old with a long nose. The other was the complete opposite short, plump with glasses. They performed an ultrasound to check on the thing. Both of them looked concerned after moving the probe around for ten minutes.

"What wrong?" Hulk asked with concern.

"We," the short one began, "Dark't find a heartbeat sir."

My head snapped up, "What do you mean you can't find a heartbeat?"

Hulk placed a hand on my shoulder.

"We'll need to perform an emergency ultrasound."

"Do what you need to doctor." I said concerned for the first time. Without this baby Dark would leave me, and I could not let that happen.

After they performed the emergency ultrasound they informed me the baby was stillborn.

"It can't be!" I yelled.

"We're sorry miss. We're going to have to do a c-section to remove the baby."

I was not going to let this happen. A plan quickly formed in my mind.

"I have a proposition for you two. When Josephine Johnston goes into labor you inform me. Then you will perform the c-section. After Josephine gives birth you will give me one of the twins telling her she lost one of them."

"But miss-"

"In return you will receive a grand sum of money for your job and silence. No one especially Dark, should know about this. Do we have a deal?"

They looked at each other before saying, "Deal," at the same time.

Josephine's POV

"Casper!" I screamed as I realized my water broke while I was trying to sleep.

He barged through the door turning on the lights.

"Is it time?!"

"Yes," I gasped as another contraction hit me "they're coming!"

"Ok, ok" he said frantically trying to calm himself more than he was trying to calm me, "let's get you into your robe and put your shoes on."

After doing that he carried me bridal style to the car speeding out of the estate while calling dr. Nex.

Shine's POV

My cell phone rang as I had just closed my eyes. Damn that device!"

"What!?" I snapped.

"Miss Johnston's going into labor Miss Shine," said Dr. Simon through the receiver. "She's on her way now."

"Alright, I'll get there as soon as I Dark. Make sure my operation is in the room next to hers according to the plan."

"Yes miss."

I called Hulk to take me to the hospital. Thankfully Dark wasn't home.

We arrived at the hospital with Dr. Simon waiting at the entrance with a wheelchair.

He performed the c-section while dr. Nex attended Josephine in the next room. Hulk made sure Casper was not allowed inside. After Dr. Simon removed the thing from inside me. I waited in pain for that w***e to give birth. Hours later I was in my room still waiting. As I was dosing off the door to my room opened revealing Hulk holding one of Josephine's babies. It was wrapped in a blue blanket with its head poking out with a dark patch of hair on its head. He handed it to me.

"The first one was a boy, and she just had a girl." Hulk said grimly placing the thing in my arms.

"Why so sad? Our plan was a success! Especially now that it'a a boy! That means he's the heir to the Evan family fortune!"

"How do you expect me to be happy? I just took one of Josephine's babies when I'm supposed to be regaining her trust. This is the worst thing I could do to her." He said covering his face with his hands.

"Oh, shut up. You can still win her back. It's not like her baby died. She still has one. Now stop your blubbering and hand me my phone I need to call Dark."

Josephine's POV

I was taken to my room after hours of giving birth. I was in shock as I laid there confused. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," I weakly said.

"Look who's here?" Casper said smiling bringing my baby girl to me. I sat up flinching in pain but eager to see my baby.

"My baby girl," I cooed as Casper placed her in my arms. She was born with a patch of silky brown hair weighing 5 lbs 3 oz. she was small but thankfully healthy. Her tiny finger grasped my pinky as she slept in my arms.

"What happened to my baby boy Casper?"

"Your baby boy? What are you talking about Josephine ? You only had the girl."

"That Dark't be. I clearly recall giving birth to a baby before my baby girl was born. I asked the doctor to let me see him, but he wouldn't let me as the baby girl was already coming out."

"I'll get Dr. Nex."

He returned with Dr. Nex in tow. He wore a serious expression.

"How are you doing Miss Johnston?" He said standing at the foot of my bed.

"I want to know what happened to my baby boy."

"There was no baby boy. Well, there was, but he died stillborn. I'm terribly sorry."

"What? where is he? I want to see him!"

"I'm afraid that won't happen. You see once we examined the baby he vanished into thin air. It's a possibility that was because he was part vampire. We've never delivered a vampire baby, so we don't know what we should have expected. I'm sorry," he repeated.

"Thank you," I said above a whisper as tears streamed down my cheek.

He left leaving me in my emotional pain.

"Josephine, I'm so sorry," Casper said hugging me to his chest careful not to hurt the baby.

"Casper, I don't know what I would do without you." I cried into his shoulder.

Dark's POV

I sped to the hospital as soon as Shine called me. I was pissed at myself for not being there when my son was born. I was a dad to a baby boy! I was eager to see him.

I arrived at the hospital running at my stupid human pace. I asked the nurse at the front desk where Shine was.

"Room 321. Congratulations on becoming a father. Your son is in his incubator down the hallway where your wife is located."

"Thank you," I said running to the elevators.

I dashed to the incubators. Through the glass window I could see a dozen baby's with names on the front. A pink bundle of joy caught my eye. I read the name. Lewanna Johnston. I froze. Was Josephine here? Did she already have her babies? I searched for my son finding his name. Neil. That was what we had agreed on when we had found out it was going to be a boy. Josephine must have done the same thing honoring her mother's memory as I honored my brother's. I then headed to visit Shine. As I was close to Shine's room I nearly bumped into Casper Williams.

"Dark, what are you doing here?" He asked annoyed, "don't tell me you came to see Josephine she's in no condition to see anyone."

"First of all I didn't know she was here. Shine gave birth to our son. What's wrong with Josephine?"

His face was in a tight line, "It's none of your business. Now if you'll excuse me."

I rolled my eyes heading to Shine's room. I found her asleep, so I decided to search for Josephine's room. I asked a nurse in the hallway who had a clip board.

"Miss Johnston is in room 325 just down the hall a couple doors down."

I thanked her going down the hall.

I slowly opened the door peeping to see if she was awake. She was looking at the ceiling with tears gliding down her cheeks.

"Josephine," I said quietly approaching her.

"Dark, what are you doing here?" She asked furiously wiping her cheeks trying to sit up.

"Relax, I just found out you were here. Shine gave birth a few hours ago."

"Well, what a coincidence. I also gave birth."

"I saw you named your daughter Lewanna like your mother." Her eyes snapped to mine. "What about your other baby?"

"I--I only had one." Her voice trembled.

"Weren't you expecting twins?"

Her eyes were filled with so much hurt I could nearly feel it.

"I lost my baby boy." She said biting her lip to stop the tears from coming out of her.

"Josephine, I'm so sorry," I said hugging her small frame placing my chin on top of her head. She grabbed my shirt as if clutching onto dear life.

"Oh Dark, our baby I lost our baby," she wept.

"Our baby?"

She looked confused then quickly explained "My baby with Casper."

"Right," I shook my head, "sorry for a moment I thought you meant- never mind."

"I should leave, I wouldn't want your fiancé to be bothered."

"Thank you for your support and congratulations on being a dad. I'm sure you're going to be a great father."

"You're going to be a great mother."

I got up to leave, but turned around confessing what I had been feeling for months, "Despite what you did to me I can't stop loving you."

Josephine's POV

"No matter what you did to me I can't stop loving you."Dark confessed closing the door behind him.

"Bullshit." I thought, how could he say that to me after everything he had done? Alex was still in a coma.

Some barged in through the door.

"Lorenz!" I exclaimed truly surprised.

"Josephine!" She replied truly elated, "I was so excited to hear you were here! You won't believe the news!"

"Is it Alex?"

"Yes! He woke up!"

"That's amazing! I have to see him!"

"No can do girl. You just gave birth! You need to rest, you'll see him tomorrow I promise."

"Fine," I agreed yawning. Exhaustion was taking over my body.

* * *

Following Month

I was breast feeding Lewanna or Lucy as I liked to call her when there was a knock at my door.

"Come in."

Casper came in with a folder and some papers.

"Good morning ladies," he greeted kissing both of us on the forehead.

"Why are you up so early?"

"Aren't I always up early?" He smirked.

"Touché."

He pulled up a chair, so he was sitting in front of me while I was in my rocking chair.

" I have some news from the police over your father's case."

"What did they find?" I said eagerly.

He pulled out some pictures from the scene.

"They found a cigar close to the scene. At first they didn't think of it as anything until they noticed it was a Cuban cigar with initials on it. R.A.G.

Who had those initials? They sounded familar.

"They've also interrogated Alexander. He surprisingly remembers the model of the car, so they are ado searching through vehicle registrations."

"Thank god. I just want to know who did this."

"I thought you believed it was Dark ?"

"At first I did, but something tells me it wasn't him."

"Hmmm, well hurry up we don't want to be late for Alexa's wedding.

"Right! I won't take long!"

"That's what every woman says," he chuckled under his breath as he left.

"I heard that!" I yelled after him.

After I had burped Lucy I set her down in her crib for her nap as I got ready.

I took a quick shower, then applied my make up. I the proceed to put on my dress. Alexa had chosen a navy blue as her theme. Thankfully, I was no longer like a whale and could actually fit into the fitted one shoulder dress that was knee length. Lorenz arrived just in time to do my hair.

"Josephine, you always look gorgeous. I'm so jealous."

"I feel so old, and I'm only 18!"

She laughed, "we're both 18!"

I grinned, "How was graduation?"

"Sad that you couldn't be there, but someone was."

"Was this someone my brother?" I asked wiggling my eyebrows.

"Perhaps...he also asked me something that night." She smiled sheepishly.

"Hand," I commanded holding out mine, so she could put hers in mine.

Yup, I was right. Right there on her ring finger was an engagement ring.