CURSE OF THE MOON REBORN

“So would I. To protect the three of you I would give my life.”

“Protect us? You put us in danger. Ever since I met you there was always some vampire around the corner who wanted to kill me, and our children always got caught in the crossfire.”

“I’m sorry, I try so hard to protect you, all of you but I always fail.”

All of you. Scarlet knew that the conversation had veered outside the four of them to include someone else.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me that you met Sotera at the beach? You never told me that that was the place that you shared with her. Instead, you made it our place.” She knew it was a sore subject but she needed to know whether the war she fought with Sotera’s ghost the first few months of their relationship was over.

“I just needed to replace her memory. I needed to move on and when I took you there for the first time I knew I could live without her.”

“Uh-huh.” She was convinced but she wasn’t about to make it easy for him.

“I love you, more than anything in this world. And yes I do love Sotera but that is different and besides, she is already dead and so is Marquis. We can get back to our lives now.”

She watched as he groveled on his knees. Scarlet wanted so much to run to him, to kiss him and to make love to him there and then on the cold grass but she couldn’t.

“We can’t get back to our lives, not just yet. I need some time to myself to think about all this to decide which direction I am going to take.”

“Please Scarlet.”

“Don’t you understand? I can’t move on like this was all a nightmare. I can’t touch you without thinking that just yesterday you were-,” She abandoned her trail of thought it was too painful and humiliating.

“I told you-,”

“I know why you did it and I appreciate it but I need some time to myself.” Now it was she who was pleading with him.

“How much time?” His head dropped.

“I don’t know, as long as it will take for me to make a conclusive decision.”

“I’ll leave in the morning, that way you won’t have to feel crowded or obliged to rush your decision.”

“No, I will leave.” She decided.

His head snapped up. “But you can’t. The baby needs you and SJ will not understand the reasons you need to go away to be alone.”

“I’m taking the kids with me.” Scarlet was stunned by his reaction and took a step back.

Stephan rose to his feet and breezed towards her stopping inches away from her face, “You can’t take my children away from me.”

“I’m not-,” she couldn’t finish because he interrupted her once more.

“You can’t take my children away from me. I won’t let you.” His eyes turned from the swirling silver color to a soldering black, a ring red fiery ring around it.

Scarlet had only seen him this mad once before and it stunned her just as it did the first time. Acting on instinct alone her eyes turned into a sweltering red color and her body took a defensive position, bending into a crouch waiting to attack.

“You won’t let me? I almost lost my life giving them life. They are more my children than they are yours.”

“They are our children, it took both of us to bring them into existence and you will not take them with you.” That was Stephan’s final word.

“You think so? Shame you are stupid. I am going to take them with me, whether you like it or not.”

“Don’t try my patience, Scarlet.” He hissed.

“What are you going to do, kill me? Because that is the only way that you will prevent me from taking my children with me.” She snarled back.

Stephan staggered back, running his hands through his hair he let out a loud groan. He couldn’t believe what he had just done, he believed that he was losing his mind. He had gone to the point of threatening the woman he loved instead of coaxing her to stay with him.

“I’m sorry I don’t know what came over me.”

Seeing that he had calmed down, Scarlet stood from her crouch and her eyes turned back to their tranquil color.

“We are just tensed right now. We aren’t thinking straight.” She said.

“I can’t lose all three of you. I won’t be able to survive it.”

“You aren’t losing anyone and besides you will always have your children no matter what happens between us,” Scarlet reassured him.

“So I am losing you?”

“I didn’t say that. I just need time to think.”

“Ok, fine.”

“So can I take the children with me? I was thinking about taking Chrissie to my parent’s graves.”

“Sure, I don’t have a problem with that.” he felt a little better knowing where they were going. “When are you leaving?”

“I wanted to leave today but I guess I should give you some time with Chrissie.” She suggested.

“Thank you.” Stephan gave in, this was how it was going to be and now it was out of his hands and in hers. It was her decision now and all he could do was wait.

Scarlet moved around the room as quietly as she could. She didn’t want to disrupt Stephan’s time with Chrissie. She watched as he cradled her in his arms and cooed lullabies to the sleeping baby.

She already had her and Chrissie’s things packed in her suitcase. She zipped the bag up and realized that Stephan watched her with dreading eyes. She couldn’t stand to see how sad he looked.

“This reminds me of the time you ran away from me. Of course, I didn’t see you pack, but you still left.”

Scarlet ignored his statement, she didn’t want to get caught up in the emotion and the guilt. “I’m going to check on SJ.”

She couldn’t get out of the room fast enough, she got to SJ’s room and shut it behind her leaning on the door.

“What’s wrong?” A puzzled SJ asked.

Scarlet took a deep breath and stood away from the door. Her eyes darted from the empty suitcase to her son. “And what is this?”

“I will not help you break up with Dad. If you want to leave you are going to have to do it without me.”

Scarlet’s eyes were wide with horror, she took in a deep breath trying not to lose her temper. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t want you to break up. I am not going to come from a broken home I won’t allow it.” SJ was adamant.

“First of all you are a child, you aren’t old enough to allow anything to happen. Secondly, your father and I aren’t breaking up we just need some time apart.”

“This house is big enough for the both of you to be apart. You do not have to go anywhere for that to happen.”

“SJ please I already talked to your father about this and we have agreed that this is the best decision.”

“For you and not for Chrissie and me. She just got back home and she needs us all to be together.”

“SJ please understand, we need some time apart.”

“SJ listen to your mother.”

Scarlet turned to find Stephan standing by the door, with Chrissie still in his arms. She appreciated the backup, he always had a way with SJ.

“I don’t understand why we have to go. We should all be here with the baby. We just got her back.” SJ moaned.

“You won’t be gone for long. Now pack and stop stressing your mother out.” Stephan’s voice was stern. He didn’t want SJ to be upset with him especially since they were leaving the next morning.

“Fine but we come back as soon as possible.”

“I promise.” Scarlet raised her left hand as if she was taking an oath.