Searching for the Monster's Child :.Book 3 in the Delfunie Trilogy.:

Chapter 1

Six weeks. We stayed at Lucian for six weeks. He never came back and I never left. Ragnar, he left with Alex to go find anything they could on where our son, Jax might be. Jax is only four months old, he doesn't know that Lucian is his biological father. He used to light up whenever Ragnar was around though. Jax loved Ragnar and Ragnar loved him but it took him until he was taken to take the title of his father.

"Mavis, we're back." I stopped running out to greet them weeks ago. Today, I just sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee. I looked over my cup as they walked in the room. I could tell they still have no leads and I could see this was taking its toll on Ragnar. Alex went to the fridge and grabbed the milk and started to make a cup of coffee for himself.

"Any luck?" I asked, already knowing the answer. I was like a robot, by the time they come home, I'm drinking my coffee, Alex always goes to the fridge to grab the milk for his coffee and Ragnar sits across from me as I ask 'any luck?'

"If anyone knows where Lucian is keeping Jax, they're not saying it. I'm sorry, Mavis." Same sentence every morning. "Are you still having nightmares? You seemed pretty calm last night." I nodded. Every night, I have the same nightmare. Jax is a teenager and he kills Ragnar and Alex before he comes for me.

"Nothing changed, I just got used to it." I said, standing up. "I'm going to take a shower." I've been in every inch of this house since we've been here. I found Lucian's bedroom and two offices in addition to the one downstairs. There was a total of five bedrooms, with on suite bathrooms other than my own and the nursery, two full bathrooms, three half bathrooms and about a million closets. Every bedroom had women's clothing in the, and that would fit with Lucian's stories about other mothers.

"I was supposed to clean those out." Ragnar had told me one day when he found me in one of the rooms. "But Lucian always had a new woman before I got around to doing it." I just nodded and went looking around the rooms. I would find belongings like pictures, books, clothes, even baby stuff. I put those things in a box and pleased it in my room.

When I found Ragnar's room, I was a little shocked. It was nothing more than a closet with a bed. It looked like Lucian found the smallest room in this house that he could find and put Ragnar there. I asked Ragnar about it but he didn't want to talk about what his brother did to him.

I made my way up to my bathroom and turned the water on as hot as my body could handle. I quickly undressed and got in. I felt the tears escape my eyes as I slowly sank to my knees and let the sobs escape as well. I felt helpless. I don't know where my son is my daughter is dead and how I didn't even know if we were safe. Once Lucian figures out we're here, he will kill us.

"Hey Mavis, you want to save some hot water for me?" I heard Ragnar say from the doorway. I stood up and quickly grabbed the shampoo bottle.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't realize how long I was in here." I said, trying to finish up quickly. I heard the door close and took a deep breath. I finished my shower and stepped out to find Ragnar had never actually left. He was sitting on the toilet, waiting for me. He stood up and handed me my towel. I wrapped it around myself as he wrapped his arms around me. I felt the cold metal of his wedding ring on my bare shoulder and as usual, it gave me some piece of mind.

Two weeks after we lost Jax, Ragnar proposed. I gladly accepted and he found someone who would come to the house. We got married with Alex as a witness and after the first night, I went back to sulking. That made Ragnar a little disappointed.

"We'll find him. I promise, we will bring him home." He said, after he kissed the top of my head. I pulled away and tried my best to smile.

"I know we will. It's just hard. I don't know where he is or if he's hurt. I don't know what to think." I said, sitting down. He just kneeled in front of me.

"Mavis, all you need to know right now is that we'll get him back and that he will be safe with us soon enough." I just nodded and leaned into his arms.

When I finally got dressed and made it downstairs, Alex had made breakfast for the three of us. He's the best cook. I sat down and ate my eggs and bacon in silence and when Ragnar came down, Alex got out attention.

"Guys, we need to talk." He said as Ragnar set his plate on the table and sat down. "Listen, it's been six weeks and we're still no closer to finding Jax." He explained. I looked to Ragnar, confused. He quickly spoke up.

"What are you saying?" He asked.

"I think it's time to go back to Cincinnati."

"We can't give up. We have to find my son." I yelled.

"And I have to take care of my daughter. I must get back to Maia, Mavis. We will find him but I need to take care of my child as well." I knew he was right but I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want to give up here. I didn't want to leave on the off-chance Lucian will come back. I pushed my plate away seems I was no longer hungry and I stood up to walk away.

"Mavis."

"You're right, Alex. You both have kids you need to get back too but I'm not leaving." I walked away then as I heard the chairs scratch across the floor of the kitchen and footsteps as the guys came running after me.

"Mavis, we're not leaving you here alone. It's not happening." Ragnar said, cutting me off at the stairs. I didn't even look at him. I just squeezed the smooth, cold wood of the banister.

"Ragnar, I can't leave. You two have your kids to protect and I have mine. Go, call me when you get to my parents' house. So I know you're alright." I said, pushing passed him to get upstairs. He grabbed my wrist, stopping me again.

"I can't leave you here. It's not safe. It was reckless to stay here this long. Alex is right, we need to leave."

"If Lucian comes back with Jax and I'm not here, I'll have missed my chance. I have to stay here."

"Mavis, if you stay here alone and he comes back, he'll kill you. Even human, he's stronger. Please come back with us." I stopped halfway up the stairs and tried to catch my breath. I let out a sob and sank to my knees. Ragnar took the stairs two at a time until he was next to me. He silently sat on the step and held me as I cried.

Alex had packed his things before he came to talk to us and Ragnar never really unpacked our things so it only took a few minutes to pack the car. I walked up to Jax nursery and looked around. I found a diaper bag in the closet and thought about all the things that we didn't have if we found Lucian and Jax. I started putting clothes and toys and food. Soon I found that it was helping. I was more relaxed and it was keeping my hands busy, keeping my mind busy.

"Mavis?" Ragnar came looking for me. I walked over to the changing table and grabbed diapers, wipes, powder, and anything I thought we might need if we find him. I then went to the closet and grabbed a bunch of clothes, I did the same to his dresser. I placed them in the bag and almost couldn't get it shut.

"Did you get the box from my closet? The one with the girl's things?" He nodded and grabbed my elbow.

"Mavis, what are you doing?" He asked, concern all over his face. I looked up at him and smiled, which seemed to scare him a little.

"If we find Lucian, we have none of Jax's things. We need more in case we get him back." He nodded and let me go. He took the bag from me and went to the door.

"When, Mavis. When we get him back." He then went and put the bag in the car. I looked around and took a shaky breath. This was the last time I was going to see my son's nursery. The last time I'd see the olive-green walls and white furniture. The last time I'd walk out and close the door. I'd never again lay my son down in that crib, or rock him to sleep in that chair by the window. The last time I'd see the window seat where I spent many nights.

I looked in the window seat and saw that I almost left without Jax's blanket. I walked over and grabbed it before walking out and closing the door.