Secrets.

Prologue.

Today, the 19th of December 1689, the wind was blowing the leaves of the trees around, the clouds were so dark as it threatened to rain. The claps of thunder proved that the rain would be very heavy. It was the must unusual thing; rain in December. It was like today was just destined to be bad.

"It is about to rain, my love, we do not have much time. You must go now, my love, they must not find you." Derek voice shook with fear as Elena held on to him. He rubbed her protruded stomach and wiped her tears. He felt tears well up in his eyes in fear for his wife and the life in her.

"I can not go without you, Derek, please come with me. Why must I be hunted for being pregnant? My time is near, I can tell, I know the baby will arrive today or very soon and Maria thinks so too." Elena cried. She hung onto him like a leech. She could not bear to leave him but then, she knew. She knew.

"Elena, I love you so much and I am sorry you have to go through this and I can not come with you. Let us not agrue over this again, it will make it easier for them to catch you. But please, you can not stay here, it is not safe. You must run, run away so they do not catch you. I wish I could see our baby when it is born but it is too risky, you know what will happen once they lay hand on our child, my child." He gulped and sighed then continued as Elena broke out sobbing.

"I love you more than anything, never forget that, now you must go! Get to the Grey house on time in case you are to deliver today. I will stall them, prevent them from furthering in this their madness, and when it is safe I will come see you, I will bring you back home with me, where you belong. But when the time is right. Helen will accompany you, I know I can trust her with my life, you will see her at The Rachel's Oak tree." he shouted over the sound of the wind while he took her outside through the back door.

"I love you too Derek. Good bye for now my love." Tears rolled down her eyes as she waved and started to run. She looked back and saw him for the last time, as the lamp shone on his handsome face that she always admired and loved, she absorbed in the imagine for the last time.

She knew she never intended to return back there but she could not break his heart by telling him. It was all for the safety of their child or as Maria believes, children. She had been repeating it in her head, trying to convince herself and suppress her guilt.

Elena secures her coat around her as she protectively wraps her hands around her very pregnant stomach, as she runs to make it to the Grey house before the rain begins. She was petrified as she kept looking left and right. She knew no one in their right senses should be out here by this time and weather alone for that matter. Nevertheless, she was here running for the life of her unborn child.

The wind aggressively blows her hair everywhere, making it hard for her to see. But she did not care, she must make it to the Grey house unless, 'they' will rip out her child from her stomach.

'They' call them abominations, 'they' want to kill her children. However, 'they' did not know she was determined to rather die than let 'them' kill her children.

After a while, she saw a hooded figure standing beside Rachel's Oak tree, assuming it was Helena, she drew nearer. Also, Helen noticed a heavily pregnant Elena approaching the tree.

"M'lady, it is I. We must hurry now. You shouldn't be out here by this time and weather." Helen said desperately. She walked away from the tree and went to hold and support the pregnant woman.

"Thank you Helen, for doing this, thank you greatly." Elena had began to tear up. She held unto Helen for support.

"It is a great pleasure to help the De Montfort family. Shall we, M'lady?

"Yes, we shall. The storm is fast approaching." Elena said, rubbing her protruded stomach.

After about an hour and a half of walking in the rain that began pouring down, totally on her own except Helen, she saw the black gates of the Grey house and they raced towards the gates. She was tired and ready to faint but was still on the edge, thank God for Helen.