Chapter 107-A Woman Scorned

The kids took the news of the engagement well. Bynni, Ceula, and Nina all kicked into wedding planner mode since Marcus insisted on us getting married before the babies were born. Since I was again carrying multiples, I was on limited activity restrictions. I wasn’t totally bedridden, unless it was left up to my soon to be husband. The wedding was planned at a small chapel in town. We had done the beach, and the house, so I hoped having it in a church this time would make a difference. I still worried but tried not to let Marcus know. We had planned it for after the triplet’s graduation and that day had arrived.

“Mom you look absolutely radiant!” Ceula exclaimed.

“Yes. I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy or Marcus, but you are glowing.” Bynni added with a smile.

“I’d say it’s probably more Marcus than the pregnancy because these kids are kicking your mom’s ass.”  I replied laughing.

Seconds later Jonathon and Finley walked in.

“Ugh I don’t like this thing.” He complained pulling at this bow tie.

“At least you don’t have to be in a dress.” Finley retorted scrunching up her nose.

Nina walked over to softly scold both of them. “Stop complaining you two. You look very handsome.” She said kissing him on the forehead.

“Ew mom, stop that!” he whined wiping of the lipstick

.

She just rolled her eyes before turning towards Finley “And you are the prettiest flower girl I’ve ever seen.”

“Yes you are.” I agreed.

I hadn’t seen Finley in a dress since she was a toddler. Once she got older she turned into quite the tomboy. I didn’t push and wanted her to become her own person. She didn’t know it, but I did pack her a change of clothes so she wouldn’t have to stay in the dress the whole time.

“Ok you two, it’s time, go get ready.” Nina said taking their hands. “I’ll send in Aric.”

“Actually tell him I need about ten minutes.” I replied.

“Mom?” Elphie asked looking concerned.

All four girls turned to look at me. “I’m ok. I just need a moment to myself.” I responded.

They gave me hugs then filed out of the room. I exited the side door that lead out the gardens. It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight, an absolute perfect day to get married. Things were going well, my life was finally looking up, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread I carried with me. 

“Look at you.” 

 I turned when I heard her voice. Florence stood behind me with a scowl on her face and there was something off about her. She said some words I didn’t understand then gave me an evil smile.

“For me he postpone often, for you he wastes no time.”

“Florence, what are you doing here?”

“Came to offer congratulations.”

I looked past her towards the chapel, Aric would be looking for me soon. As angry as I was that she would just show up, I had to keep calm for the babies’ sake. She turned and looked towards the door as well then shrugged.

“They can look, but will not find. Just a simple cloaking spell. Gives us privacy.”

“Cloaking spell?” I asked confused with my uneasiness about her presence increasing.

Florence let out a wicked laugh before leveling her crazed gaze at me. “Marc no tell you. Naughty boy.” 

Her eyes lowered to my stomach for the first time making me instinctively wrap my arms around it for protection. “Well this will be more fun than I thought!”

Before I could say anything else everything went black.

Marcus POV

“What do you mean she’s gone?” I asked Aric failing in my attempts to keep calm. “Where the hell would she go?”

“The girls said they left her in the bridal suite. It was empty when I came to get her and she’s nowhere on the grounds. I can’t sense her.” He replied calmly.

“Neither can I.” Bynni added.

“I thought that thing she has with him, kept others out.” I replied through clenched teeth. I liked Aric but I would have no problem killing his father if he had something to do with this.

“We’re her kids, so for us it’s a little different. When she’s close, we can pick up on her but she’s not here.”

Bynni gave me a sympathetic look. I knew they were as worried about their mother as I was and I needed to keep my temper in check. Ceula was doing a good job keeping Finley calm because she didn’t understand why her mom ran away. She’d been in tears the moment Aric told me she was gone.

“Aric.” I said trying to not lash out at him. “Your father.”

“I tried him already, he’s not answering. I don’t even know if he’s in the country or not.” He replied solemnly. “But if he did take her, he won’t hurt her.” That statement brought me little comfort.

I stormed out the side door needing to get some air. She wouldn’t leave me, not after everything. I knew she was nervous about getting married, but she was happy. She wouldn't leave me. She wouldn’t leave the kids.

“Where are you Amari?” I asked to the clear blue sky.

Amari POV

When I came to it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness before I noticed I was no longer at the chapel. I looked around the room in hopes of figuring out where I was. It appeared to be some sort of old storage room possibly. Bags of trash and empty boxes were scattered around everywhere. I rubbed my arms trying to get rid of the chill. My eyes finally settled on the door and I immediately ran towards it. I pulled on it hard, but it was locked. Pressing my ear to it, I tried to figure out if Florence or anyone was out there, but I heard nothing. Some of the words she said to me replayed in my mind, she’s a witch. How could Marcus not tell me that? That was information I needed to know! Especially with her apparently being dangerous. Footsteps approached causing me to step away from the door. I searched around for a weapon of some kind, but found nothing useful.

“Good, you are awake.” Florence said as she stepped into the room. “How far?” She asked looking at my stomach again.

“None of your business!” I retorted wrapping my arms around my stomach. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I yelled. “Do you really think taking me is the way to win Marcus back? Do you think you will get away with this?”

“I no want him back. I want him suffering.” She replied calmly. “He broke my heart, so I break his! And yes. They no know I was even there and no one knows you are here.” She stated smugly.

I saw the intent in her eyes, she wasn’t just taking me, she meant to kill me. I knew something would happen, something always did, I wasn’t meant to have happiness.I had fought too much, been through too much to have it end like this, to die at her hands of all people. I moved towards her, but I was stopped by something, an invisible wall of some sort. Florence just stood there, smiling at me.

Mulo, if you’re there I could really use your help.

Florence said a few more words I didn’t understand and then with a wave of her hand I felt like I was being choked. I dropped to my knees, pulling at the invisible hands. Fear ran through me as I thought about my family and never getting to see them again. I thought about the babies I was carrying and it angered me that our lives would end here. Just as I thought I was going to black out, the pressure stopped. I took huge gasps of breathe as she stood over me laughing.

“It will not be that quick. I shall play for a while.” She said as I glared at her.

“I should have dropped you!” Her face fell when she heard his voice. 

Quickly Florence tried to mutter something but Mulo grabbed her by the throat cutting off her words.

“I warned you, did you think I was joking?” Mulo spoke calmly, but the tone even sent a shiver down my spine. “It’s been a while since I dined on witch.”

Mulo’s fangs extended then he roughly plunged them into the side of Florence’s neck. Blood dripped through his hands where he held her, staining the front of her outfit and draining down to the floor. She let out a strangled cry as Mulo ripped away from her, unceremoniously spitting a chunk of her neck out of his mouth.

“Bitter, just like your soul!”

I covered my ears not wanting to hear the guttural choking sounds she made as she drowned in her own blood. Helpless tears streamed down her cheeks as the fear in her eyes expressed the mortality of her situation; she knew what was coming. Mulo looked over at me briefly before turning his attention back to Florence. Without hesitation, he punched through her chest. The sound of her ribs breaking was loud enough to cause an echo and she gasped silently as he pulled out her heart. Florence’s limp body fell to the floor in a large pool of blood; her eyelids fluttering once before closing. I sat there too scared to move, staring at her dead body.

“I half expected it to be black.” Mulo said looking down at her heart in his hand then over at me. He tossed it across the room before walking over to help me up. I didn’t resist when he pulled me into his arms. I was shaking from the cold of the room and from the shock of the last few minutes of my life. Mulo had just killed a person for me, to save me, and I watched him do it. He had done a lot of terrible things to me, but no matter what when I needed him most, he was always there.

“Sorry it took so long Love. Are you hurt?” I shook my head as I cried into his chest. “Well then I should get you back, your family is missing you.”  I could not only hear the melancholy in his voice, but I felt it also.

He had really resigned to just let things go which was very surprising; I never thought Mulo would give up. I pulled away and looked at him.

“I don’t want to go home right now, but will you at least let Aric know I’m ok so he can tell…everyone.”

“As you wish Love. Where would you like to go?”

Where did I want to go? I knew Marcus was probably worried, they all were, but I wasn't ready to face him.  I didn't want to tell him again that marriage was a bad idea, that it wasn't meant to be for us.

“I don’t know. I’m just tired and need away from here, and her, and just everything.”

Without another word Mulo scooped me up and carried me away from the building. We ended up back at his place.

“I think your dress may be ruined.” He commented after sitting me on the bed.

I looked down to notice for the first time that dirt and Florence’s blood covered it in spots. Mulo walked over to his dresser and pulled out a shirt and a pair of his boxer briefs.

“Take a shower and get some sleep. I’ll go call Aric.” He said dropping them on the bed beside me.

As he walked away, I reached out to grab his hand. He smiled and I knew what he was going to do before he did it but I didn't stop him. I let him kiss me and I don't know if it was because of the gratitude I felt, or just a natural reaction, but I kissed him back. I could tell he wanted more, but I could also tell he wasn't going to push. Instead he pulled away and left me sitting alone in his room.