35 - Helen POV
1270 Words
Oh how things have escalated in the last couple of days.
I thought watching my own grandson's funeral was bad enough, especially knowing that there was a chance that my Abby would have joined him.
Then, I come back to my pub, where I had been staying since myself and Edward became estranged, only to find that it had a few items missing from it; mainly food but some clothing items were missing to.
I was already at my wits end, now I was on edge. So, I got the shotgun down that Edward left at the pub. He said it was for my protection - I told him he was being paranoid. But, he said every old pub needs a shotgun behind the bar as it was tradition.
Little did I know, I would be pointing said shotgun at my own husband the minute he appeared in front of me, courtesy of the McGraw sisters.
My worry increased as I could see he was also accompanied by Jason and Abby.
The anger announciated every word in my statement to him.
"Get away from my children!"
"Whoa, mum!" Abby exclaimed as Jason pulled her behind him.
"You stay with Jason, Abby. I have a pest to deal with." Clocking the barrel of the shotgun so that it was primed and ready to go. One pull of the trigger and I would be a widower.
"Children?" Edward stuttered out his sentence.
"Abby is my daughter. I have always seen the McGraws as my own. And, now that I know Jason is your son-" I shove the end into his forehead so thst it tilts back slightly. "-and found our what an upbringing he had, I will be the mother he deserves. So yes, my children!"
"Mum, take it easy! We need him!" That stunned me to the spot. Abby... was with her father willingly? After everything?
My eyes slowly turned towards her as the gun remained levelled at my... estranged husband's head. "Explain."
Abby eeked out from behind Jason, giving his should a squeeze, before coming to stand near me. "Mum, we havd a bigger problem."
I cast her a look that asked me if she was serious. "Bigger than your father and his murderous friends coming after you?"
She swallowed a lump in her throat before answering. "Mum, Gabe is back in the country, and he didn't come alone."
Mulling over her words for a few beats. "How is that possible? And with who?"
"A dark witch." Maeve's turn now to speak. "And she, along with some local vampires, helped him get back to Nottingham."
This cannot actually be happening? But, by the looks of all of their faces, it actually was.
How could there be more threats to their lives? My own were living as if danger lurked around every corner, yet for them, this turns out to be true.
I hated this. I want them safe. And was this how they felt they could keep safe? By working with the monster I had not realised I had married.
"Why do you need him for then?" My attention turns back towards my husband. He just stared at me, hurt riddled in his eyes - probably questioning how his wife could ever hold a gun to his head?
"Begrudingly, he can help track them down in ways that we would struggle with." Adelaide casts a side eye at Edward whilst folding her arms.
"And then what?"
"We take down Gabe and his crew... then business as usual." Jason replies as he takes a step forward and gently grabs a hold of the barrel of the gun. "Please?"
It took a few seconds, but reluctantly I let him remove the gun from my grasp. This was really not sitting right with me. Making my way over to the bar, I pull out a glass and pour myself some whiskey. "This is needed."
"Mum." Abby came up behind me and cuddled me from behind. "I need to do this. We need to do this. We need to make sure we are all the safe. Gabe is a threat. So, if creating an alliance with Dad is what solves that problem, then we have to take it."
"Helen..." Finally the man was brave enough to speak. "I am aware of Abby's new... condition."
That was one way of putting it. My gaze was cold as I looked at him. "And what do you intend to do about it?"
"I would never kill our daughter!"
"No? But you would traumatise her by torturing and killing her nearest and dearest." I fired back at him.
He tried to say something to retort, but one more daring glance from me made those lips seal shut fast. Good! He still understands which one of us wore the trousers in our relationship.
I shake my head as I turn towards Abby and the rest of the group. "What do you need from me?"
"You aren't going to stop us?" She raises her eyebrows at me.
"You are my daughter. I know, once you set your mind to something, there is no stopping you." I smile at her a I tenderly stroke her cheek.
"We need some food to take with us whilst we go on our scouting mission."
"There should be food in the cupboards that will last longer than a few days."
"Sweet, thanks mum. Take it out of my monthly wages." Abby smiled at me whilst making her way towards the kitchen.
"I am sure I can treat my children to some food." A sniffle behind me catches my attention. Turning around, I clock it's Jason. "Are you alright, dear?"
"Just... not used to you, or anyone referring to me as their child." He wipes a tear before following the rest of the group. " I will try and get used to it."
"That's the spirit." I give his cheek a little stroke as we head into the kitchen, only for no one to have turned the lights on. "You searching for food in the dark?"
The McGraws turned around first. "We can sense dark souls nearby, and it's not from your husband."
Edward gives them a tight smile before heading over to the window. Tucking himself out of sight, he scans the treeline. "There." He points out towards the woods.
"What is it?"
"Laser pointer from a scope." He ushers the group to hunker down to the ground.
"From who?" Who was pointing a laser at my pub?
Jason, crouching low, heads over toeards the window. Leaning close, he takes a few sniffs by the cracks at the edge of the window sill. "Its silver."
"Hunters."
"We need to get out of here." Edward turns to the group. "You two need to teleport us away, that includes you teo Helen."
"I am not leaving the pub." My protests were quiet as the group stared at me in disbelief. "This is my pub. And if they don't come today, they will come tomorrow, the next day and so on."
"We can't leave you here though, Mum." Abby takes a hold of my hand as she pleas with me.
Sorry dear, but stubborness is a strong trait of mine. "No. You lot can go. I will try and distract them."
*knock knock knock*
The front door was now taunting us as we all stared at it.
Adelaide whispered to the group. "If we teleport away now, they will know that we were here."
"Helen, come with. Please?" Maeve looked at me, but I held firm.
"No. All of you - hide. I will deal with this."
- Writer
