Deception

Chapter 43

"You could take the photo into your room if you'd like." Ellenore said as she handed it to Johnny.
"Okay I just wanted to show Cam.
He was so upset when he thought I lost it.
It was our favorite.
Dad never let us have pictures together.
I thought he found it and destroyed it." Johnny said.
She could see the joy over this picture light up in his eyes.
"Johnny.
With all our talking about being onstage and everything with your dad.
I feel you keep leaving something out about your how he raised you." She put her hands on his arms searching his face for a reason on why he seemed so distant.
He wasn't the little strong willed warrior she raised.
"Well I guess dad kinda died when you did.
Or what ever it is that happened to you cuz obviously your not dead.
Let's just say after that day our dad was no more and he was no longer a caring loving father, sure, for a few years he tried.
He tried to let us be kids together but eventually, actually pretty quickly that faded and I just became Cam's shadow." Johnny stared down at their happy faces, the only day that actually felt special for both of them.
Cam was proud because Johnny aced his test that they spent weeks nearly a month getting ready for and the same went for Cam.
They were so proud that they actually achieved something because they helped each other and worked on it themselves without their dad breathing down their necks and making the one who already knew the material handle it.
Plus their trusted stage hand brought, well snuck his family to celebrate with them, he made a big deal out of it for them.
"Johnny I'm so sorry, if I knew.
But than yet I am so sorry to say even tho how hard he was on you boys you were safer with him than me." Ellenore started to tear up.
Johnny the big softy he was couldn't resist hugging her.
"I know you had your reasons and you plan to share them in time.
But you gotta give me some time to process.
I don't jump for joy cuz a flower bloomed or a butterfly nearly landed on me like Cam." The two laghed at the statement.
"You make me sound like a girl." Cam scoffed.
He was leaning in the door way  content watching his brother and mom bond until Johnny's last statement.
Johnny showed him the pic he too was pleased to see it again.
Johnny figured best it stay in their mom's room.
............................................................................
When Elenore came too IVs were hooked up to her.
Its very, very rare, they never use IVs.
"Cam, Johnny, Bash!" Elly cried out.
"Be still Elly.
They are safe.
I sent them back." Gabe tried to calm her.
"No!
Why!?
I want my babies!" She cried.
As Gabe hugged her.
He looked to one of their nurse staff to give her something to calm her...
.............About three and a half............
weeks later she was up sitting outside, she was
....................still weak........................
She saw Mallory in the distance playing.
"It was her mother?" Elly said with distain in her voice.
"I'm afraid so.
The prime target was your home.
We can't figure out why, with her daughter in there." Gabe said as he watched the children play.
Mallory was the exact image of her mother it actually pained Elly to look at the child she once felt so much love for.
"Okay I need to go see my boys." Elly stated and was about to get up but Gabe stopped her.
"Elly for their safety and yours you can't do that.
Wendy put a target on your family.
The only way your boys have a chance at a normal life is zero contact with you.
At least for some time, eventually you can see them but they still can't know who you are.
To them and Bash you are dead. Granted if we didn't rescue you, you actually would be dead.
Now as for Mallory, she could use a mother." Gabe tried to suggest.
"I'm sorry Gabe but because of what her mother tried to do and the fact I can no longer be with my boys I can't raise her." Elly said as she tearfuly looked at the small child who waved at her with her beautiful smile that always made Elly melt just like Bash but this time it could even give her the slightest warmth.
"Elly..."
"No Gabe!
Besides her life is most likely in danger here too.
Send her away to live with someone out there in the real world." Elly got up and headed to her new home in the newly built tree houses...
.................Years later the boys..................
................were no older than six..............
"Johnny I thought I told you to play over there!
I'm tying to get a picture of your brother." Bash ordered as Johnny hugged Cam who hugged back.
"Get this picture dady!" Johnny lifted Cam as they giggled but instead of enjoying their childish joy he grew annoyed with Johnny's stubbroness.
"You are going to listen when I talk!" He grabbed Johnny's shoulder hard causing him to loose grip of Cam who fell to his knees but instead of tending to Cam their dad took Johnny to the vacant room in the back and locked him in.
The poor boy screamed and cried but Bash ignored.
He got Cam back on his feet straighten out his clothes.
And took the pictures.
Cam faked his smiles through sobs of confusion, fear and pain, his poor little knees hurt but Bash never inquired.
"Okay I'm gonna go get the film developed.
Dinner is on the table.
Don't you dare let him out or I'll lock you in your room.
Johnny has to learn to listen to me." Bash ordered as he left them alone in the big archive.
Cam grabbed their plates and went to the door where Johnny was crying.
Cam opened it, immediately Johnny hugged him.
"Dad said you can't come out but he didn't say you can't eat."
Cam said as he handed Johnny his plate.
They sat like one person while they ate.
Their dad was out late and Cam wasn't about to leave Johnny so they played together in the room.
When Bash came home he saw the boys fast asleep hugging eachother on a mound of stuffed animals.
He wanted to snapp a picture but he couldn't let the world know there was twins it could lead those who tried to kill them to their home.
Thats what Gabe warned him.
But Gabe didn't know Bash would grow so cold and loose patience with his boys.
Gently so not to wake them he tucked them into bed...
When the boys were no older than seven he started getting them in his shows, they were getting curious and trying to leave the house when he was away.
He even figured it was time to teach what little self defense Gabe taught him.
When Johnny was ten he was away with his dad.
Cam was sick and had to stay home.
At first Johnny wasn't thrilled leaving Cam behind they were practically inseparable.
But as the days went on Johnny liked the attention Cam usually got from their dad.
Johnny got the okay to walk around the area within reason.
Johnny spotted a park where kids were playing across from the hotel.
He joined in on their fun.
He wasn't paying attention on how late it was getting and that almost all the kids went home.
It wasn't till a small group of kids much older than him came out and started harassing him but their bullying ended quickly when a woman approached.
"Are you okay sweety." She cooed as she hugged Johnny who was terrified.
But there was something about her embrace, it felt safe, familar even.
"Lets get you to your parents.
Do you know where you live or staying?" She inquired as she fixed his coat and scarf.
She noticed a small cut on his forehead.
"Poor little warrior." She said under her breath.
Johnny took her hand and led her to the hotel.
"You should come up and meet my dad." He smiled.
He didn't want her to go, everything in him said to hold on to her.
"No its okay your safe now." She started to walk away but Johnny ran after her and clung to her.
"No don't leave." He cried.
By now the bell hop came out.
"Cameron your father has been worried sick." He gasped when he saw the bruises.
"The playground bullies.
He stayed there to late, they all scattered when I approached.
But this little guy is a tough one." Elly said.
She too didn't want to leave, she wanted to scoop him up and say "its okay mommy's here and I'm never leaving you." But she couldn't.
"Its okay miss.
I will see him to his father." The young bell hop said as he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Thats when she saw the name tag "Sky."
She smiled knowing Johnny was in good hands.
"Okay Master Black what story do we tell your dad this time?" Sky laughed. He knew this was Johnny and he refused to call him Cam on a regular basis cuz he was not Cam.
So the two came up with Master Black.
"We could tell him I was kidnaped by pirates and an Angel rescued me." Johnny said taking Sky's hand and looking one last time at the woman who saved him as she practically vanshed. Most likely due to the night and fog.
But Johnny imagined it mor special.
"J... Cam I am getting sick of your stories!
First is witches trying to cook you, than its a pack of warewolves.
Oh and let's not forget that vampire scare in Transylvania..."
"But that one really did happen." Johnny protested...
He and Cam snuck out and stumbled upon a group of cult people that tried to catch them but they pulled off a baby deception and got away but both boys did get hurt resulting in two different emergency room visits.
Bash took Johnny, while a trusted stage hand took Cam...
"Enough already.
Your grounded for the daration of this trip.
Only time you leave is to be on stage with me." Bash scolded.
Johnny folded his arms.
"Whats new?" He mumbled.
Bash was about to scold some more when the door bell rang.
Johnny stayed out side watching the night sky.
He knew never to interact with the people that showed up.
"Hi." This beautiful ten year old girl said as she joined him.
There was something familiar about her too but he couldn't figure it out. They spent hours talking and laughing til Bash came out and tore her away.
"Dont you ever talk with my son ever again!
You are not apart of my family!
You are nothing more than a traitoriest thiefs daughter!" He scolded the girl not even caring how much he was crushing her spirit...
Bash was afraid of what all she remembered and he also resented her mother for killing his wife those many years ago.
But poor Mallory all she remembered that day was the love the two showed her, the fear she feltt and longed for him to let her know she was still loved.
She rembered uncle Bash even tho she was told why she needed to pretend that wasn't true any more.
She remembered playing with the twins and when Johnny would get rough and well bit her Cam smacked his little head and how stunned Johnny looked when Cam did that making her laugh which in turn made the twins laugh.
............................................................................
A smile graced MW's face as she looked at her locket thinking back on that day three year old Johnny bit her six year old arm and Cam Slapping Johnny on the head.
"What has you all happy?" Cam stood in the door way leaning against it arms folded with his usual cocky grin.
"Oh nothing.
Just a small meaningless memory." She said as she closed the locket.
Cam flopped on her bed next to her.
"Do tell." He batted his eyes and flashed that award winning smile.
"Cam...
Just get out." She shoved him off and he landed with a thud on the ground.
He bearly got a chance to say ow when MW was surrounded by two gaurds swords drawn at her neck.
"Easy guys...
Lets not be hasty here, nothing happened." Cam said as he attempted to approach but another gaured stood in between.
"Oh for heaven sake what's going on? Cam?!" Johnny burst in and got the gaurds to back off.
"Why Cam?
Why not MW?" Cam shrugged as ge pulled up a chair.
"Just get out.
Sorry Mallory..."
It just rolled off his tougne like water.
"No ones called me that since I was six." MW looked up in shock.
Granted Johnny was equally shocked why and how was he so sure it was her name.
As for Cam...
Well...
Cam was confused but let's face it, lately and with all those blows to the head it was inevitable......