Ever After (12 page)

“No William, not harm from you. I cannot see whom yet, but someone wants to hurt her very badly. I feel it and tonight it hit me hard that the danger is growing closer.” She rubbed her eyes, exhausted and clearly upset.

“I will not let anyone or anything hurt Corrine. You have my word on that, Gran. I would lay down my life for hers.” Will got up and put a hand onto her shoulder. He knelt down at eye level to her. “I will guard her. I promise you and as soon as you have a clearer vision, call me anytime day or night, together we will keep her safe.” Will found a pen on her table and wrote his cell phone number on a piece of paper for her.

Gran sat silently for a few minutes, thinking about all that had happened. She looked over to Will still kneeling at her side. “Thank you for coming into her life. She so desperately needed you always watch over her. I know you can. You will be able to protect her, her whole life or whatever road she chooses to follow, you will do what’s best for her. I know this.”

“I will, Gran. I will never abandon her.” He kissed her cheek gently. “Can I get you anything? Are you going to be okay?”

“Oh no dear, it’s just been a tiring day. Ah to be young like you again.” She winked playfully at him. “Or immortal! Now that’s the ticket, hey?” She nudged him in the side.

“Well it is handy sometimes.” He laughed as he headed for the door and back to Corrine.

“Remember; call me if you learn anything more.” Gran nodded, waving goodbye to him.

“I will not forget, see you soon, dear boy.” Will gently closed the door and quickly went back to Corrine.

The room was silent as he walked in; Corrine was curled up on the couch asleep again. Will knelt down next to the couch and gently pushed the hair away from her face, smiling at her angelic profile.

“My love, you sleep, but your beauty never rests. You capture me to the depths of my soul,” he whispered as he kissed her cheek. Will was not surprised she didn’t wake at his touch, as of late she had been going off to sleep like this at the drop of hat.

He sat there thinking of what Gran had told him. All he could think of was Todd Downs. He could be the only one who wanted to hurt Corrine. Todd had been to county lock-up five times since he was put on house arrest. Will had been sure to monitor him whenever he could.

Corrine’s father had used his influence in society and his massive bank account to have Todd watched by the local police day and night. Will decided to make plans to have Todd watched even closer now. Roth, Will’s closest cousin, had been helping him. Things had changed and now he would involve his other cousins who had begged Will to let them go
old
school
on Todd.
Old
school
in vampire terminology meant to bite someone and drain their blood, thus killing them.

Will didn’t want any of them to violate the coven rule of never killing humans and get in trouble with Doc. The truth was, if anyone was going to go
old
school
on Todd Downs it was going to be himself. It was all Will could do not to kill him. He fought every instinct he had as a natural born killer and hunter to keep from ripping into the man who hurt his beloved Corrine.

Will frowned as he watched Corrine sleep. It bothered him to no end that something was wrong with her. The many times he asked if she was feeling okay or having any problems she either ignored him or acted like he was crazy to ask . Will decided he needed to have a talk with Doc and get her in to see him for a check-up. He just wanted to make sure she was really ok.

Doc would know what was wrong just by looking into her eyes and touching her skin. This was a gift he had, to sense illness in humans and pain. This made him one of the most respected doctors in Massachusetts. Doc had attended her when she had the fall from her horse but only on a very limited basis. Doctor Mott, the Whitmore’s’ family doctor, was her main physician at that time.

Will decided he should do some looking around. He noticed Corrine’s deep sleep and took advantage of it. The long set of stairs in the old mansion were very steep as Will made his way back upstairs. Corrine’s room was next to Gran’s so he had to be extremely quiet, as he turned the doorknob slowly. The room was dimly lit, only a small pink night light lamp with a pink shade gave off light. Will went to her nightstand, looking at the stacks of books. He smiled knowing how she loved to read. A picture of himself and Corrine hugging was in a silver frame. There was a tissue box and her cell phone next to it. Will sighed. He saw nothing unusual, then he looked under a hat and found a prescription bottle of high dose pain pills.

Will snatched it up reading the date on the label. The order was from the time of her accident by the river. She was not supposed to still be taking these. This made him drop down on the bed. He sat there staring at the bottle. She was in pain and hurting and was not telling anyone about it, or she was addicted to them.

The dose level was why she was sleeping so much; it couldn’t be safe to take this long term. He hoped she hadn’t become addicted to them, as he had heard about. The first thing he would do when he got home was talk to Doc. This was serious and he had to take care of her. He loved her too much to let her hurt herself. He couldn’t ignore what he had found.

Chapter 15

“
Back to Corrine’s point of view”

Many Questions

I never did know what William and Gran talked about a few nights ago. He only told me she had some questions for him. I figured that if it had been something serious, he would have told me all about it. It was stuffy in the house so I decided to sit outside on the front porch swing and read. The wind still had a bite to it but it was nearing the end of winter now and spring would soon be here. I wanted some fresh air.

I pulled up the throw blanket around me as I settled in to read in peace for a bit. I caught myself. My mind was wandering, thinking of summer picnics with Will and moonlit strolls, anything involving him. I noticed headlights at the end of our very long driveway. I thought it was Will’s Mercedes, but it was not. I squinted, trying to see who was parked there but I couldn’t see. This made me feel uneasy. I was alone in the house and edgy anyway about that. Our security had been lessened since dad was sure Todd wouldn’t break his house arrest again.

William was coming over. He said he had a few things to do first and we were going to study until Gran got home. Sara was out, shopping or socializing and dad was at work as usual. I had noticed Will rarely ever left me alone anymore, and his cousins were always around too.

They all seemed to be looking for something. I was used to Roth. He and Will were best friends, so he was with him when I wasn’t. I sighed, going up to my room and locking the door. I clutched my cell phone, ready to call Will if that car didn’t leave soon. I peeked out the window, and I saw it backing out of the drive and leaving. I took a deep breath in relief.

I decided listen to some music so I found my IPod and turned up the music to calm my nerves. I was zoning out in my own world, trying to ignore another headache I felt creeping up on me. I had been lucky. I was on my third day without one. I was hoping they were over now. I glared at the pain medication bottle on my nightstand, praying I didn’t need to use it again tonight.

The doorbell jerked me out of my intense thoughts. I clicked off the music and cautiously peeked out the window. I saw no cars. It had to be Sam, our stable manager, or one of the stable hands. I pulled on my sweater over my t-shirt deciding to go answer it. I had no choice. I was all alone. I got halfway down the stairs and realized I forgot my cell phone. The visitor rang again several times so I decided against going back to get it.

Chapter
16

Home
Alone

The entryway was dark. I went to turn on the lights above me but it wouldn’t come on. I grumbled, making my way to the door. I tried to see my guest before I opened it, but the outside lights, which were always on for security reasons, were also off. I decided to ask who it was just to be safe.

“Who’s there?” I said loudly since the front door was a thick heavy oak monster from the turn of the century.

“Dan, one of the stable hands. Sam sent me up. There is a problem with Windy. He needs you to come down.” I couldn’t recall anyone named Dan working for us, but we hired many people over the course of a year. He must be new. The voice was muffled from behind the thick door, so I couldn’t recognize the voice either.

“Is she sick or something? Why didn’t Sam just call me about it?”

“Said he couldn’t get through, and she is bad sick Ms. Whitmore really sick.” I gasped my precious Windy sick. I instinctively grabbed my coat to go to the barns.

“I’ll be right out. We have to call the vet. Has Sam done that yet?” I swung the door open as I slid on my hat. I stood there frozen in shock as the one person that could send fear through me was staring into my face—Todd Downs. He had a wicked grin and a glare in his horrible green eyes.

“Corrine, it’s so lovely to see you. I can see you were not expecting me. That’s stupid of you really, to think I wouldn’t be back for you.” He ran his cold hand along my cheek. I felt sick to my stomach and flinched away. “That’s no way to greet a guest now is it, honey? You need to be more hospitable to me; it really will benefit you.”

“You can’t be here Todd; you’re violating the restraining order.” I backed away slowly, my legs shaking. “Go on get out of here, or I’m calling the cops.” I got a hold of the door ready to slam it in his face. Todd saw it coming, stuck his foot in the doorway, and shoved it so hard I fell backwards onto the floor.

“Nice try Corrine, but you’re not fast enough or strong enough this time to beat me, plus I know you are all alone here.” He knelt down, running his hand along my leg. “It’s time for me to pay you back for destroying my life, and you will pay tonight to be sure!”

I tried to back away still on the floor. I scooted away from his touch. He shook his head watching me.

“Ah Corrine, it’s no use to try to get away, you won’t. I have been monitoring you and I know everyone’s schedule in this house. I know when they go out and come back, even the maids and cleaning people, you haven’t got a chance.”

“You won’t get away with this, Todd. You’re crazy!” I snapped getting to my feet now.

“Really? You don’t think I will. That’s funny, it really is. I have had this night planned out to the very last second of your life, Corrine Whitmore. I wanted to ask you, did you enjoy your day? I do hope so, seeing as it is going to be your very last.”

“What?” I gasped in shock. My heart started to race; fear gripped me the look in his eyes told me he was not kidding.

“Yes, my revenge on you will be to end your miserable life. I’ve dreamed of this night so many times.” I could feel myself getting lightheaded, as I was not able to catch my breath.

“No please Todd, don’t do this.” I started crying, tears running down my face. “Please, I am begging you not to do this!”

“Save the tears, it’s all set up. I am not changing my mind, and your pretty boy boyfriend isn’t going to save you either. I forget

his name again.. Willie is it… or Wally?”

“No it’s
William
and
he
will be here, you jerk! He will kill you.” I gasped, holding my head where it hit the wall. “You can’t imagine what he can do to you!”

“I’m scared, really I am. He might break a nail if he hits me or get one of his perfect hairs out of place!” He laughs as he pulls out a small handgun; it shines in the dim light. The next thing I know he has me by the hair pulling me closer to him. I scream as he yanks harder. He jams the gun into my side.

“Take me to your room, and don’t screw around or I am going to use this gun on you right now.” I cried as he pulled me upstairs. I kept tripping on each step. My head was pounding and a sharp pain ripped through my head. I collapsed. I couldn’t get up which infuriated Todd. I tried to keep up with him but my vision was getting blurry.

“Please… please, Todd I can’t.” I was out of breath. I knew this was the end for me. Todd was not going to stop.

“Get up now!” He yelled. He hit me across the cheek and I fell back hitting the stair rail. Everything went dark. I woke up in my own room; all the lights were off, all but my tiny night light. I could barely see, as my vision was blurry again. I could see Todd near the window. He was talking to someone on his cell phone. I could feel my head throbbing. I rolled over and grabbed a pillow, burying my face in it. The pain was too much to bear. I cried out to William in my head. I knew that was one of his weakest gifts, hearing people’s thoughts. I knew he said he could rarely use it, but I hoped he could hear my thoughts now tonight. I had to pray he could hear me.