Hybrid Trilogy

Chapter 33 Confinement

Charlotte had made sure that they were all well masked, casting a shield spell so that demonic forces could not detect them. For nine months Cassandra tried without any success to track

down George & Ruby utilising every piece of magic, using every single spell at her disposal, & for 279 nights she reported back to Mandrake, her failed attempts in finding them & each time Mandrake had taken out his frustrations on her, beating her, unbeknown to Cassandra, Mandrake needed her & knew he couldn't kill her until they were found, but he never let on. Not only because he needed to find them but also to ensure Drake was tended to.

"So, it is agreed then, the baby will be born in the farmhouse" Ruby said addressing George & Charlotte as the girls sat at the scrubbed pine kitchen table drinking tea. "I have no desire to bring a child into the world in the scary looking surroundings of those new-fangled hospitals, or the sparseness that is Katy's flat!" Ruby finished "well for a start" began Charlotte "they are not new, it just means that the doctors are in, one clean place, hospitals have been around for a long time helping man through two world wars & they have gotten better at medicine with the passage of time" she continued" but do not worry the farmhouse is the best place, I can protect you here, I'm not so sure I could do so in a hospital" Charlotte ended  ("besides we aren't sure what the baby will look like when she's born") she thought "thank heavens for that, I don't want any man looking at my private parts" Ruby stated firmly George just stared vacantly out at the courtyard, oblivious to the conversation "what troubles you George?" Asked Charlotte noticing his mental wonderings "do you ever go back" he asked almost absentmindedly not taking his eyes away from his vacant distant glance "Go back? Back where? She replied looking puzzled "home to Your family?" George asked again, quite distressed that she hadn't understood him. "Well no, I've only been back once and that was with help, the portal that allows us into the world of man, its lost to us, when we come across, the memory of its location is lost to us, we could be standing right next to it & I'd have no idea" Charlotte answered "and besides you two are my family now, and the baby" she added pointing to Ruby's tummy "but why?" She asked "I just miss them, my mother, my father & my baby sister, all long dead & long since turned to dust" he mused as he continued to gaze out of the window. Ruby crept up behind him & despite her bump threw her arms around him "well I love you, my prince & I don't plan on turning to dust any time soon" she said kissing him affectionately on the cheek George didn't startle or jump "I knew you were coming, I could hear you" he smiled warmly turning his head & kissing her on the lips "I love you too my Ruby" he replied.

The sanctuary of the farmhouse was by far the safest place for them to be, the evening was fast approaching & the new moons 3-day cycle would mean they would not only have to face Vampires & Witches but Werewolves too, so they needed every possible chance. Luckily Charlottes magic was very strong & no Vampires, Witches or Werewolves had been near them in the nine months since she had cast the shield spell as the farmhouse was enveloped in very powerful magic.

The following morning, at about 5:am Ruby let out an earth shattering scream, George opened his eyes immediately with a start although he hadn't slept, turned to see a sweating, convulsing Ruby "WHAT'S WRONG MY LOVE, WHAT'S WRONG" George asked panic sweeping over his face, she stared fearfully into his eyes "GET CHARLOTTE, PLEASE, IT'S.....IT'S THE BABY" she panted between convulsions "it's COMING" she shrieked then looked down at the bed, which was soaking with her broken waters. "OH, MY.... AHRRRR" she screamed, this brought Charlotte who burst into the room "it's THE BABY" George cried panicking as he looked up from where Ruby & he lay "it's coming" he said.

George paced up & down outside the closed bedroom door, whilst Charlotte nursed Ruby through her labour, it went on for hours & hours, well into the night. Charlotte flitting between mopping Ruby's fevered brow & checking on the baby's progress, whilst doing this she glanced up to Ruby, who looked down at Charlotte, panic began to swell within her "what's the matter?" She asked "it's breach, the baby's coming out feet first" she said as if sensing that Ruby didn't have a clue what a breach birth meant. "I will have to perform some magic, to ensure the birth is without any further complications" Charlotte said in reassuring tones as she cast the spell & as she did the full moon came out from behind some clouds, & again the red ora materialised, all the wolves & Werewolves began howling, and all the Werewolves then turned in the direction of Loxwood as did all the Vampires. Unbeknown to Charlotte when she cast the spell to protect the birth, a fissure appeared in the protection of George & Ruby, meaning that for the briefest of moments all supernatural beings could sense them.

Mandrake was about to rain down another levy of blows on Cassandra, when she put up her hand & he halted, his arm still raised ready to strike "please my lord I know" she whimpered "what do you mean Witch, I've sensed them, I know they are near" he said firmly as he raised his hand higher "but my lord I felt magic, I know where they are" she whispered protecting her self in anticipation of more blows. Mandrake brought his hand down Cassandra winced and cowered but instead he offered it to her helping her to her feet "then let us go and put an end to this threat." Mandrake said in remarkably calm tone as Cassandra stood up, he smiled coldly at her, she smiled back nervously, always aware that her master could alter his demeanour in an instant. Together they headed out of Guildford towards Loxwood at a leisurely pace along the Horsham road. By the time they arrived in Loxwood village the night was well & truly advanced, it was quiet, but Mandrake & Cassandra were joined by other Vampires & Witches as they walked slowly but purposefully towards the farmhouse.

George sensed the presence of many Vampires, Charlotte came to the door her face full of fear "YOU stay with Ruby" he began before she spoke "I presume the protection spell will keep them out, will it?" he asked, "yes don't worry George, she is safe in here nothing can get in unless I want it to." She said, "but whilst my magic is a lot stronger now, there is more than just Vampires to deal with" Charlotte finished "you just keep her safe" George said indicating the still screaming Ruby. George went out through the kitchen into the courtyard, to be faced with a huge pack of at least 20 snarling, snapping Werewolves who due to the spell cast by Charlotte couldn't get into the yard "STAY AWAY YOU ARE NOT WELCOME" he shouted "Well now you defiantly shouldn't let those dogs in" Mandrake  shouted back from the roof of one of the out buildings, George & the Werewolves all looked up just as Mandrake stepped off the roof in a bid to jump down into the courtyard, but like a rubber ball bouncing on a concrete floor, he was  repelled back by the magic, causing a yellow light to erupt from the impact point like fork lightning. In the meantime, George exploded from his clothes as he let the moon call forth the animal from within & became a full Werewolf, & this George was huge at least 8 & half ft tall & full of rage. Other Vampires & Witches tried to gain access to the house & courtyard, then the Werewolves, Witches & Vampires began fighting, suddenly a scream emanated from the house & a Werewolf flew into the courtyard the spell it appeared was broken.

All hell then broke loose as a recovered Mandrake swept aside any Werewolves in his way like rag dolls, jumped the gate landing in front of George stretching out his hand at speed placing it around George's throat "you will not find me as easy to put down as my father, dog" he sneered another loud scream erupted from the house, closely followed by the cry of a baby. Both of them looked up at the house, just then the Werewolf who had earlier been thrown into the courtyard, latched its jaws onto Mandrakes outstretched arm, he in turn let out an almighty blood curdling cry, letting go of George as he flung the Werewolf to the other side turning then back to George, at which point George leapt on him snapping & snarling, it was all he could do to keep the salivating animal from killing him.

Mandrake managed with some difficulty to get his legs coiled up into George's stomach, then using them like a leaver he launched George up & back into the air sending him crashing into one of the barns enclosing the courtyard. Mandrake then jumped quickly to his feet and was about to go in after the disorientated George, but just glanced over his shoulder to see a pack of roaring Werewolves advancing purposefully towards him, taking the snap decision that living (metaphorically speaking) to fight another day would be infinitely more preferable than the possible alternative, he leapt to the roof of one of the other barns "this isn't over just yet flea bag, one day your mutt friends won't be there" Mandrake shouted from the reasonable safety of the roof ("that is so weird why aren't they attacking me?") George thought. The battle was all but over now, most of the Vampires had fled their day light protectors in tow, with the majority of the Werewolves in hot pursuit & those left were still fighting, George got to his feet, turned and padded back into the house, & as he did he changed back to his human form "wow" he said to himself "I so didn't see that coming" he added as he grabbed a coat from the back of one of the kitchen chairs & high tailed it up the stairs, to the sound of a cooing baby. George entered the bedroom to see Ruby sitting up in bed a baby in her arms, & Charlotte fussing about the room like a mother hen. "It's a girl, I mean she's a girl" Ruby announced proudly smiling & and offering the gurgling bundle to him, he took the baby looking down into her beautifully vibrant sky-blue eyes, just like Ruby's used to be, meanwhile Charlotte took the opportunity and moved in to make sure Ruby was comfortable and didn't want for anything. "We shall call her Unity" George told the room "hello Unity, welcome to the world" he said warmly as he looked lovingly at his daughter.