Chapter 89-Never Gets Easier

In the weeks since Mulo’s return, my life began to evolve again. Aric called me daily to check on me. I would be lost without the constant support he offered. Often times the line on who was the parent and who was the child seemed to be blurred. Dax was doing well in his career. He would be moving soon to Starlight Shores moving up from the minors onto a major league team. He was excited and I was happy for him. The thought of him being thousand of miles away made me sad, but I wouldn’t dare stand in the way of his dreams.

He left shortly after Kylie’s birthday. She wanted a pool party so we threw it here at the house. Aric and Mulo were civil to each other. Jonathan and Finley were nearly inseparable. Ceula announced that she and Trey were expecting.

It took them by surprise so they were fast tracking the wedding since she wanted to be married before the baby was born. Bynni and TK were out on tour with his band and she quickly squashed any ideas of her becoming a mother when we talked. She said it would be her luck to end up with a child worse than she was as a teen. Victoria said yes just as I suspected and she wanted a Spring wedding. She surprised me by asking me to be one of her bridesmaids. She was quite the social butterfly and figured she had closer friends that she would rather stand up with her. She said I was an important part of Carter’s life therefore an important part of hers. I was honored to be there for my friend. Finley would of course be the flower girl.

Mulo had practically moved into the house. The triplets love him and when he wasn’t there they were constantly asking for him or calling him. I wasn’t sure how much he was helping me since they waited for his approval whenever I told them to do something. I was annoyed and slightly jealous. The old feelings of when Aric was a child came creeping back, I was the one there with him every day yet he appeared to have a closer bond with his father. I know it was all in my head, but it still stung a little.

We had family dinners although I as rarely included in on the conversation unless Mulo brought me in when he sensed what I was feeling. I had just gotten ready for bed after getting Finley put down when he strolled in without knocking.

“You don’t have to be jealous, they love you. I’m just...cool.” 

I turned to glare at him wanting to knock the smug grin off his face. He threw his hands up in mock defense but the grin stayed on his face. As much as I wanted to deny being somewhat jealous it was no point. He was in my head and it seemed like the more we were around each other the stronger that damn link got. On top of that, he didn’t bother trying to filter his thoughts ever.

“Get out of my room. Go home. I think they will survive the night without you being under the same roof.”

“Oh don’t be that way Love.”

He stepped closer pulling me into his arms before I had a chance to react. “I’m only doing what you asked me to do.”

“You weren’t supposed to turn them against me.”

“I haven’t and I wouldn’t. You are their mother, they need you, they love you. But you can’t give them what they are after. You know that, which is why you asked me here to begin with.” I pushed against his chest to get free of his embrace.

“I know why you are here and I know I am the one who asked you to come. I just...it wasn’t supposed to be like this. You were suppose to tell them everything Marisol said was wrong, make them more like their brother and sister then leave. It wasn’t supposed to be.... this.” I said waving my arms around in frustration. 

“I simply wanted them to not hurt Finley or anyone else. I wanted them to not shut me out.” I dropped down onto the bench and Mulo sat beside me.

“You more than anyone should know that life rarely turns out how you plan it.” 

I shot him a drop dead look which he ignored and continued talking. 

“They aren’t shutting you out and they didn’t mean to hurt Finley. They actually really love her but with everything Marisol was telling them, they were curious.”

“Curious? What the hell were they curious about? On how long it would take her to die?” I asked trying not to scream but feeling my anger rising all over again. I felt him as he put up a block which angered me more. He had better control and could keep me out easily but didn’t do it often so for him to do it now meant he was hiding something.

 “Mulo, don’t you dare keep stuff from me now.”

“They, well there is no easy way to say this so, they were trying to change her.” 

I looked at him confused while I let what he said sunk in. 

“They were a little confused on the details of exactly how one goes about it. They knew the blood part so one of them had her...”

“THEY WHAT?” I yelled cutting him off. “Change her? What? No. Why?” 

My head was spinning with the realization of what he was saying. All this time I just thought they were trying to kill her, and almost did, but instead they thought she should be like them. This was too much. I started pacing, rubbing my temples trying to figure out what had gone so terribly wrong with my children. I only had to look to my left to see the answer to that question.

“There’s nothing wrong with them!” Mulo had that same tone of voice that brought back memories of when I went to him about Aric. It scared me then, but now I had more important things to worry about other than his temper.

“Yes there is! If not for what you did, they would be happy normal little kids. Not...not the confused and potentially dangerous children they are turning into.”

“You thinking that way is why they feel the way they do.” 

Mulo stood to face me his eyes glowing as a sign of his rising anger. He was very protective of the triplets and no matter what I said, he considered them his children. Both of our emotions were heightened as we fed off each others feelings.

“What do you mean feel the way they do?”

“You told her?” 

I turned at the sound of Elphie’s voice. I hadn’t heard them enter my room but all three stood there looking at Mulo for answers.

“You said it was ok to tell you, that you wouldn’t let her know.” Edson chimed in.

“I know I did, but she needed to know.” His instant change in voice and demeanor was astonishing. 

“But she already hates us.” Elton added softly casting a nervous glance at me.

“We’ve talked about this before. She’s your mother, she could never hate you.” 

I stood there as I listened to the conversation between the four of them. I admit I didn’t feel comfortable around them at times and I refused to let them play with Finley unless I was in the same room but I had no idea that they thought I hated them.

“Elton, honey, he’s right. I don’t hate any of you. I never could.” I responded kneeling down in front of them.

“Then why don’t you treat us the same?” Elphie challenged. “We heard you, think there is something wrong with us because of what Daddy Mulo made us, but there’s not!”

I sat back and looked at their faces as I thought back over my actions since the incident and even before. I kept waiting to see signs of Marcus, glimpses that he was in there somewhere regardless of what Mulo had made them but I could never find it. From the moment I realized they were vamps, it had been harder for me to connect with them, even after finding out that Marcus was indeed their father. Then when they stood watching as Finley nearly drowned, I had pulled back even more. I couldn’t remember the last time I hugged them or really interacted with them for fun.

  “Guys take a seat.” I said pointing towards the bench. They looked towards Mulo and he gave a slight nod before they walked over to sit. I ran my hands through my hair and took a deep breath as I thought about what I needed to say.

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve made you feel this way. There’s...there’s a lot I try to juggle and handle and sometimes, well a lot of times it seems, I well I screw up.” I looked back at Mulo who sat in the chair saying nothing. I wanted to blame him for everything, a lot of it was his doing, but this was all on me. They sat quietly waiting on me to finish. “What you did to your sister was wrong, no matter what your reason was behind it. I wasn’t trying to treat you differently but I was scared.”

“Of us?” Elton asked.

“Yes, of you because of what you did. And because of Marisol, not knowing what she told you. I didn’t know if you would try to hurt your sister again.”

“But we weren’t trying to hurt her. We were making her better. Like us.” Edson stated proudly.

“I know that’s what you thought, but you can’t do that. She’s not supposed to be like you. You aren’t supposed to be...” I stopped to take a breath not wanting to make them feel bad about something that was out of their control.

“We aren’t supposed to be vampires, but we are and you hate us for it just like you hate Daddy Mulo for doing it!” Elphie yelled jumping up from the bench running to her room then slamming the door behind her. 

There was that phrase again, ‘Daddy Mulo’, I had traded one bad influence for another by bringing him in and made a mess of my relationship with my children. One would think that after all these kids I would be better at this, but I wasn’t. With each new child I was learning how terrible I was at being a mother.

“I’ll go talk to her.” Mulo said rising from the chair. 

The boys stood and followed him from the room not bothering to look back at me. I stood alone in my room knowing I should be the one to go comfort Elphie. I could hear her crying in her room because of me. Exiting my room I stopped by the nursery to make sure Finley was still sleeping then popped in to the boys giving them both kisses on the forehead and telling them that I loved them. I paused outside of Elphie’s room hearing her sobs and Mulo’s soothing voice trying to calm her.

“Go away I don’t want to talk to you.” She said soon as I opened the door.

“Elphie.” Mulo softly scolded.

“What she hates me so I hate her!” She declared crossing her arms before turning her back to me.

“I don’t hate you Elphie, or your brothers.” I said sitting on the bed. Mulo exited the room giving us some privacy to talk.

“You are right about Mulo, I was and am angry at him for lots of things but that’s between us grown ups. I’m sorry if my actions have made you feel like this. I truly am.” 

She kept her back to me even when I picked up the brush and started brushing her hair, something I hadn’t done in a long time.

“I love you and your brothers very much, being vampires doesn’t change that. You know I was gonna be one as well at one point.” She turned and looked at me then.

“Really? When?”

“Um well your dad is, I mean was sick so Aric was going to change him to make him all better. And since I loved him very much I was going to change as well so we could always be together.”

“Why did he go away then?” I let out a tense breath cursing myself for going down this path.

“I’m sure he didn’t want to leave us, but sometimes people go missing and we never know why.”

“Oh. Well you can still be a vampire like us. Daddy Mulo would change you I’m sure and you can stay with him always.” I cringed inwardly at her statement.

“That’s not possible honey.”

“Why not? I like Daddy Mulo. I know before you said he was bad but he’s not and I’m sure he’s sorry for whatever you are mad at him about. Don’t you want to stay with me forever?” The looks she gave me with that last question was heart wrenching. I pulled her into a hug softly stroking the back of her head.

“Oh Elphie it’s not that easy anymore. I wish it were but it’s not. But I will love you and all your siblings for as long as I am here. Now you should go to bed. You have school tomorrow.” 

After getting her tucked in I walked back to my room to find Mulo waiting for me. He had me against the wall engaged in an intense kiss before I had time to process what was happening.

“Forever with you. Sounds like a very good idea.” He whispered as he trailed kisses along my neck. I felt his fangs scrape across my skin then the pinching sensation as he sank them in to me.

*****Bonus pic of Kylie*****