How Soon Is Now

Part Two - Chapter Twenty-Nine: From Bad to Worse

Fernando slowly prepare for his fight against Gideon, he couldn't believe that Neena had been stupid enough to bring the deranged Elder back to life; however he did feel sorry for Neena since she had discovered too late that he had been using her. 

Fernando sighed recalling his talk with the Angel of Death, who had told him that the spell that Neena had used was dark magic that caused more harm than good and that it couldn't be used to bring Nicola back. 

"Papa when is Mama coming home?" Nora asked softly making him pause as tears filled his eyes, it had been a couple of days since Nicola had been buried and still Fernando didn't have the heart to tell his children that their mother was dead. 

Nora stared at him waiting for his answer and hoping that she would be home soon before Charlotte looked at her sister, things had been odd in the two weeks since they had last seen their mother. 

"She's not... Mama's dead," the little girl whispered making Fernando stare at his youngest daughter; he forgot sometimes that she could sense things better than the others could. 

Nora stared at her sister making Fernando quickly pulled her into his arms as tears started to fill his eyes; it was then that the nine year old realised that Charlotte was telling the truth. 

"I'm sorry," Fernando murmured pulling Nora into the hug as she started to cry, he couldn't believe that he had lost his soul-mate and now he was a single father. 

The two little girls cried as they thought about never seeing their mother again, Fernando sniffed wondering how he was going to survive all of this without Nicola. 

"How sweet," cooed a voice making Fernando stiffen, pushing his children behind him as he turned to face the man that had caused all of this; Fernando glared at Gideon, who smirked as he looked at Charlotte.

"It's wonderful to see you again Fernando... it's been what four years?" Gideon mused making Charlotte flinch back into her father's leg, she had heard about the Elder's defeat in stories told to her by Ryan but she never thought she'd see him face to face like this. 

Fernando wondered what he wanted, he had already taken Nicola from him and now Gideon was here in his home and he doubted that this was a friendly visit; something that unsettled the Spaniard since he recalled why Gideon had been killed. 

"What is it you want Gideon? My wife is dead... my children are motherless, what is it you want?" Fernando snapped making Gideon smirk looking at the pale Spaniard, who had looked unwell since the loss of Nicola. 

It wasn't until Gideon turned his attention to Charlotte that Fernando realised what the Elder wanted, however before he could comment Gideon flung him across the room and slammed him into a wall as he orbed Charlotte to him. 

Charlotte cried as Gideon held onto her as Fernando pushed himself carefully to his feet, he glared at the Elder who chuckled at him amused that it had been that easy; he had waited long enough to get what he wanted. 

"Goodbye Fernando," Gideon called before he orbed away with Charlotte, watching helplessly Fernando stared into space where Gideon and his daughter had been. 

Fernando gave a cry he had broken his last promise to Nicola and he had no idea how he was going to get Charlotte back; he had failed as a father to protect his youngest daughter. 

Nora crawled over to her father and hugged him, her brown eyes staring at the place where Gideon had been standing and slowly hatred formed in her towards the man that had done this. 

Fernando wept, he didn't understand why his entire life was collapsing around him right now.

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