{Chapter 9}
When Glen arrived home from visiting with Layla and Marcus he found Mark in the sitting room with little Joselyn. The child had grown significantly since her birth just three months ago. Glen entered the sitting room and watched as the small child with auburn locks pulled herself up to a standing position while holding onto her father’s legs.
“Look at what a big girl you are,” Mark chuckled scooping the child up. It was then that he felt eyes on his back. “Welcome home, brother,” he said never taking his eyes off of his daughter. “Why don’t you come hold your niece?”
Glen came over to the couch and looked down at the child in Mark’s arms. Emerald green eyes stared up at him a moment before chubby hands reached for him. She resembled Joselyn in so many ways that it pained him to even look at her.
“Go on,” Mark said smirking at his brother. “Hold her.” He held her up so that Glen could take her from him.
Tentatively Glen took the child from Mark, holding her out in front of him. She giggled, clapping her hands as he held her like that. Mark chuckled, watching his brother.
“She’s not toxic waste, Glen,” he said.
“Dada,” Joselyn said reaching out her arms for Glen.
“No, darlin’,” Mark chuckled. “He’s Uncle Glen.” Mark stood patting Glen on the shoulder. “Be a good man and take care of her for a little while. I need to speak to Thorn.” With that he left the sitting room leaving Glen alone with little Joselyn.
Glen sighed, cradling the child to him as he took a seat on the now vacated couch. “Your father seems to think that by leaving me alone with you I will be swayed to see you as a blessing,” he said speaking calmly, though inside he was raging. “I will never see you as a blessing. You’re the reason my Joselyn is gone now.”
The child looked up at him with wide eyes, not fully understanding what he was saying. Glen sighed, running a finger down her chubby cheek. “You are a beautiful little one,” he said, his heart conflicted. “I will not call you Joselyn though. I refuse.” The child grabbed hold of his finger as it brushed past her cheek again and suckled on it, her fangs pricking the skin ever so lightly.
“What was it your father called you the night you were born? Joselyn Rose? I shall call you Rose.” She plucked the finger from her mouth and gurgled at him. “You like that? You like the name Rose?” Happily she clapped, giggling.
“So, you’ve decided to rename my daughter,” Mark asked entering the sitting room. His green eyes were full of amusement. He hadn’t gone to speak to Thorn at all. Instead he had slipped out of sight and was listening to his brother speak. He made his way over to the couch plucking his daughter from Glen’s arms. “Rose, huh? You like that name do you, darlin’?” Again she clapped her hands and giggled. “Very well. Rose it is,” he said smiling down at his daughter.
~~~~~
“This is interesting,” Punk said frowning as he glanced over the info on his computer screen.
“This better be interesting to us, Punk, or your ass is grass,” Hunter said looking up from polishing his gun.
“I finally managed to hack into the medical examiner’s files,” Punk said glancing at Hunter. Shawn had gone to get some food for them.
“Only took you three fuckin’ months,” Lashley muttered, groaning as he shifted positions on the couch. He was recovering from his injuries well, but the healing was taking longer than he would have liked.
“I told you they were encrypted up the wazoo,” Punk fumed. “Why the fuck M.E. files need to be encrypted is beyond me.”
“What’d you find,” Hunter said tossing his gun aside and heading over to where Punk sat at the keyboard.
“According to this file Joselyn Levesque’s uterus was way too big for her to be pregnant with only one child,” Punk read.
“Shit,” Hunter growled. “Do they know how many?” He hadn’t planned on there being more than one child. It would be difficult enough to kill off one child.
“The best they can guess is she had twins,” Punk said reading on. He visibly paled at what he read next.
“What is it, kid,” Hunter asked seeing this.
“According to the M.E.’s notes what initially appeared to be animal claw marks on her abdomen…they were made from the inside out,” he stopped reading, visibly retching.
“Stay with us, kid,” Hunter said clapping him on the back. “We knew the findings would be gruesome.”
“I’m all right,” Punk said holding up a hand. “Just give me a minute.”
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Lashley muttered. “That poor girl was ripped apart from the inside out.” Punk shot out of his seat and headed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Moments later both men could hear him emptying the contents of his stomach with a loud groan.
“Did ya have to say that, Bobby,” Hunter demanded. “Jesus! The kid was grossed out just reading about it. Did you need to paint that oh so vivid visual for him?”
“Kid’s soft,” Lashley replied with a shrug. “If he’s hoping to work in the field one of these days he’ll need to get used to a whole helluva lot worse than that.”
“I’m all right now,” Punk said coming out of the bathroom wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. “Musta been somethin’ I ate.” He smiled weakly at them.
“Course it was,” Hunter replied offering a crooked smile. He stood and headed over to the younger man. “Listen, kid, why don’t you go take a breather. Bobby and I can finish going through the files while you’re gone.”
“Thanks, Hunter,” Punk said softly as he grabbed his jacket and headed out of the apartment.
“Where’s Punk going,” Shawn asked entering the apartment with an armload of take out. “He looked a little pale.”
“We found something,” Hunter said helping Lashley over to the computer. “Punk finally decrypted the M.E. files.”
~~~~~
“Rosie,” Mark groaned as he bounced the child on his hip while she cried. “You have to quiet down now, darlin’.”
“Mark, quiet that damn child,” Glen fumed entering Mark’s room without knocking. “What is her problem?”
“Hell if I know,” Mark growled. “She’s been like this for hours.”
“Give her to me,” Glen said with an exasperated sigh. With just hours until sundown they all needed their rest before anyone could hunt. Mark gladly handed over the crying toddler. “For Christ sake, Mark. When was the last time you fed her?”
“Right before she was put to sleep,” Mark replied. “She can’t be hungry again. Not so soon!”
“She’s a growing girl,” Glen sighed. “She needs constant nourishment.” He headed out of the room and down the hall to Thorn’s chambers. Without knocking he entered. Mark was right behind him. “Kevin, send word to Viscera and Ken to gather up any animals they can find.” Thorn nodded exiting the room.
“My daughter will not be feeding on animal blood,” Mark growled.
“The amount of humans needed to feed her appetite as she grows would raise suspicions by the local police, Mark,” Glen replied. He had allowed Rose to suckle at his finger to keep her quiet. “Animal blood is the only way. Until we can teach her to hunt.”
“Fine,” Mark growled. “You’ll be in charge of her feedings from now on.” With that he turned on his heel and walked back to his chambers.
~~~~~
“Glen,” Thorn said a few nights later. A woman clad in a dark hooded cape followed close behind him.
“Who is this,” Glen asked. Rose, who had begun to walk little by little on her own now toddled behind him.
“My name is Ariel,” the woman said removing her hood. She smiled at Glen revealing glistening fangs. “Kevin thought that I could help with the little one. A sort of wet nurse, if you will.”
Glen looked from the woman to Thorn and back at the woman again. “Have you any experience with children,” he asked.
“Oh yes,” she replied kneeling down to Rose’s height. “Hello sweetheart. What’s your name?”
“Her name is Rose,” came Mark’s voice from the stairway. Everyone’s eyes turned to see him strolling down slowly. “You’re hired.”
“Mark,” Glen protested.
“She’s hired,” Mark replied scooping up Rose and handing her over to Ariel. “A woman can take better care of a child than you or I, Glen.”
“As you wish,” Glen replied through gritted teeth. “I need to go for a walk.” With that he headed out of the mansion.
“Thorn,” Mark said turning his attention from Ariel, who was now playing with Rose, to the man before him. “Follow my brother. He disappears way too often. I’d like to know where he goes.”
“Yes, Master,” Thorn replied bowing before heading out of the mansion as well.
It had been difficult for Thorn to find Glen’s trail, but he finally did and followed it to a small cottage on the outskirts of town. Creeping up to the window he peeked inside. What he saw caused him to gasp. He slapped a hand over his mouth in the hopes that the inhabitants of the cottage didn’t hear him.
Moments later the front door opened and Glen stepped out. “You can come out now, Kevin,” he said evenly. Thorn stepped out of the shadows. “Mark sent you?”
“Yes,” Thorn replied. “Glen…is that…is that the other child?”
“Marcus,” Glen nodded.
“If Mark finds out about this…he’ll kill both the woman and the child and make you watch before killing you.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Glen replied. “Marcus has just as much right to live as Rose does.” He fixed his eyes on Thorn. “And if my brother finds out about Marcus I will hold you personally responsible for anything that happens to him. Are we understood?”
Thorn met his gaze a moment before turning away. “Yes,” he replied softly. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Good,” Glen said. “You should get back to Mark and tell him you lost my trail.” Thorn nodded and headed off back to the mansion. He knew all too well that Mark would be infuriated at the news he was going to deliver.
“Glen,” Layla asked coming out of the cottage. “Is it safe?”
“Yes,” he replied turning his gaze on her. He smiled seeing Marcus in her arms. “I’ll see you two again in a few days. Mark is having me trailed. It’s not safe for me to come back too soon.” He kissed Marcus on the forehead. “Keep Layla safe, little man.” He caressed Layla’s cheek a moment before leaving them.
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