Part of the Family

Chapter 9

    I look up from mending Rose's sweater as I hear howling from outside. "Another raid on the village?" I ask, listening. I stand up and look out the window. "Those poor people..." I mutter, when I notice some howling getting closer. I furrow my eyebrows. "Are...don't tell me they're getting closer..." I mutter. I lean closer to the window, and see a group of figures closing in on the house. "Shit..." I mutter. I throw open the window, and lean out. "Return to the house!" I shout to the Soldats.
    They all come shambling, at a fast pace, to the front porch as I close the window.
    I rush to where Rose is napping, and put the sweater on her.
    She wakes up, and looks at me, like she doesn't understand.
    "Time to go, Rose..." I mutter to her, picking her up. I wrap a blanket around us, tying it so she stays secured to my chest. I then grab a pen and paper and write a quick note. I take it to a Soldat out front. "Take this to Heisenburg," I tell it, "The Factory, understand?"
    It just stares at me for a second, and starts to shamble away.
    "You three, come with me," I say, pointing out the nearest three Soldats, "The rest, protect the house,"
    The rest of the Soldats, except the three I pointed out, turn around and walk toward the perimeter of the woods around the house.
    I start toward the back door, grabbing a bag and supplies, shushing Rose as she starts to cry. "It's okay, honey..." I mutter, "...we'll get you safe..." I peek out the back door.
    No Lycans.
    I take a deep breath and look at the Soldats following me. "I'm going down to the creek," I say, "to the boat. I'll be going to the Castle. Make sure no one follows us,"
    They all stare.
    I look forward, and start down the path behind the house.
    Howling follows, and I pick up the pace.
    I start to run, watching so I don't trip and fall.
    A Lycan tackles one of my Soldats, but I keep running.
    "Please, please, please, please..." I'm muttering, seeing the creek in the distance.
    Another of my Soldats is attacked, leaving just one still following me.
    "Just a little more," I mutter. I get to the boat, and the last Soldat helps me get into the boat. I look up at it. "Come with me," I say, gesturing for it to get in the boat.
    It pauses, and clumsily gets into the boat as well.
    Rose starts to cry.
    "It's okay..." I mutter as I start the boat and push away from the dock, "...we'll be safe soon," I start down the creek, toward the Castle in the distance.
---
  I enter the castle, and glance around, not seeing anyone. "Alcina?" I call out.
  There's a silence, and then I hear someone approaching from an upstairs room. "Valerie?" Lady Dimitrescu says as she descends the stairs, glancing at the Soldat standing behind me, "What are you doing here?" She approaches me, and looks at Rose a little surprised. "Is that..." she starts, "...is that the child?"
  I nod a little. "The house..." I say, "Lycans attacked it. I had to run. Do...do you mind?"
  She shakes her head. "Of course not, dear," she says, "but...Mother Miranda will be suspicious,"
  "Doesn't matter," I say, "thank you, Alcina. Any sign of Ethan yet?"
  She pauses, and glances upstairs. "Now that you mention it..." she mutters, "Cassandra?" she calls out.
  "Yes mother?" Cassandra responds, appearing at the top of the stairs.
  "Bring the man-thing down here, please," she says.
  "Yes, mother," Cassandra says, disappearing again.
  Moments later, Cassandra, Bela and Daniela all lead a disheveled man down the stairs.
  "Where are you taking me?" he demands, "Where's my daughter?"
  The girls just laugh a little.
  "So impatient, man-thing," Daniela says.
  Once downstairs, they all step back from him.
  Bella walks over to me, and smiles. She looks at Rose, still strapped to my chest.
  I smile at her, then look at Ethan. "Ethan Winters, I presume," I say, "long time no see. Though...we didn't properly meet last time,"
  He stares at me, a look of both confusion and disbelief on his face. "Wait...I...I know you," he says, "...don't I?"
  I nod a little.
  "You...you were there," he says, taking a step closer to me, "...in Dulvey. That girl in the kitchen...you didn't join us at the table..."
  I nod, frowning a little. "They treated me like I was a fragile porcelain doll..." I say, "unable to do anything for myself. That might have been why I was still so shy and scared back then,"
  He furrowed his eyebrows. "You're like her," he says, anger rising in his voice, "Like...like Evie,"
  I tilt my head a little. "Not exactly," I say, "but...yes, I'm a bioweapon,"
  He sighs angrily, and is about to say something, when he notices Rose move a little. His face switches to a look of astonishment. "Wait...Rose?" he asks, relief filling his voice.
  I smile a little, and nod. "I've kept her safe, kept her from Miranda," I say, "I knew you might come after her, so..."
  He nods, walking closer, and looks at the infant in the blanket.
  "Bela," I say, "help me untie the blanket..."
  She nods, helping me.
  Once the knots are untied, I gently switch Rose's position and gently hold her out to Ethan.
  He nods a little and takes her from me, and sighs. He laughs in relief a little. "Oh, Rose..." he mutters, holding her close, "...I thought I lost you...I'll never let anything hurt you..."
  I smile a little, and feel a bit of an ache in my chest. "We have a plan," I say, "to defeat Miranda. Rose won't be safe until Miranda is gone,"
  Ethan nods a little. "Count me in," he says, "what do you want me to do?"
  "First of all, trust us," I say, "None of us are on Miranda's side anymore,"
  "That's not what it seemed like before..." he mutters, glaring at Lady Dimitrescu, "...I was nearly killed by that son of a bitch with the hammer,"
  I pause. "Heisenberg?" I ask.
  "I think that was his name," Ethan says.
  I sigh and roll my eyes. "I'll have a word with him later," I say.
  "I apologize, Mr. Winters," Lady Dimitrescu says, "we had an act to keep up, make Miranda believe we were still on her side. We had to...alienate Val for the plan to work. The Vessel taken by a rogue member of the group, disappointing everyone. It's been working rather well, so far,"
   I nod. "But, now," I say, "It's time for the rest of the plan to be put into action. Let's get to the Factory. Karl should be expecting us,"
  "You let him know what's happening?" Lady Dimitrescu asks.
  I nod. "I sent a Hauler with a note," I say, "hopefully it reached him,"
  "Alright," Ethan says, "I trust you, Val, because you kept Rose safe. I'll need a bit more time for the rest of you..."
  "Understandable," Lady Dimitrescu says, "and, the feeling is mutual," she narrows her eyes at him.
  I chuckle a little. "Play nice, Alcina," I say, "he's the main part of the plan, remember?"
  She nods a little. "Let's just get to the Factory," she says, "And continue from there,"
  I nod.