A/N: I'm back. I apologize for the long(est) wait. Hope you'll enjoy this new chapter
Chapter 24 : "Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides"
A call is all it took to shake my already torn apart world "Would you accept a call from Sean Renard?" what could I possibly say? No? well, maybe… but there was too much at stake. He was a threat to my dearest ones and I wasn't risking their lives especially since they're already hanging by a string "I guess" I replied weakly
"Adalind" came his breathy voice, he seemed shaken, on edge
"What's going on?" I asked although I didn't care whatever happened to him
He hesitated briefly "I've been arrested for murder"
What kind of game is he playing now? Well, let's see where he's going with this "Really?" I purred sarcastically "Who'd you kill?"
"I didn't kill anybody" of course, lucky he can't see me roll my eyes right now
"Well then, who do they think you killed" I was really interested in hearing his story, taking this call proved highly entertaining, however, I was not the least prepared to the bomb he was about to drop on my head "Rachel Wood" a name I thought I'd never hear again. A name that would bring shivers to my spine, although the reason to my dread is not her in person, but the circumstances of her…death "Oh"
"Yeah, so I need you to listen to me closely" I swallowed hard, getting ready for his next words "Get somebody to watch the kids and get down here, right away"
Was he kidding me? Why would I ever do that? "Why?"
"Because you're going to get me out of here" he stated it like it was the most natural thing to do for me. I was tempted to laugh at the irony given that I wished nothing more than for him to rot in a cell, so the reason I accepted is completely beyond me, or is it? He's still the father of my Diana and also a threat to my family who'd be able to cause collateral damage, even when locked in the confines of hell.
After ruminating my conversation with Sean, I finally decide to get dressed and ready, next thing I do is call the only person I ever considered a friend…Rosalee "Hey, it's Adalind, can I ask you a favor" I ask immediately.
"Yeah, sure" she replies hesitantly, I can imagine he brows furrowed in confusion as to why I would call a favor
Rosalee is the only person I trust with my children, ironic, huh! Given how a few years ago I despised her for helping kidnap Diana. Well, if one thing I learned during the past few months, it's that those who you thought bad might be the ones to help you when you most need it "Can I bring the kids by the shop for a couple of hours?" when there was no answer, I added hastily "there is something I have to do and I don't trust my kids with anybody else…Except for Nick and I don't know where he is" there starts the rambling, a clear indication of my stress "and I'm just too afraid to contact him"
"Yes, bring them over" I could hear the smile in her voice and it helped ease the craze of my beating heart
"Thank you, we'll be there soon"
After getting the kids ready and explaining why I had to leave them with "Uncle Monroe" and "Aunt Rosalee", mom's friends, we finally made it to the spice shop. I was delighted to see Rose again, it had been so long since we last met.
"Thanks so much for helping us out" I expressed my gratitude the moment we stepped in
"Of course" Rosalee gave the three of us a warm smile that confirmed once again I made the right choice by leaving the kids with her, although I could only imagine her and Monroe's apprehension to stay alone with Diana, heck, even I was scared of my daughter sometimes…She's too young for such great powers "Hi, Diana" Rosalee turned her attention on my daughter, shaking her hand "I'm glad we finally get a chance to meet" she stood again "I'm Rosalee and this is Monroe" she said reaching her husband's arm with affection.
"I know" Diana smiled a big toothy smile that reassured me "I saw both of you with Kelly's daddy" referring to when I asked her to deliver a message to Nick through a sort of teleportation.
"That's right, that was pretty impressive what you did, just appearing like that out of the blue" Despite his smile, Monroe was stiff and I resisted a wince, noting the unsaid in his sentence…His own fear.
"Why?" Diana asked good naturedly, as if her appearing in the middle of nowhere was the most natural thing in the world, her question took Monroe and Rosalee by surprise and sent them off balance.
"Oh, um" Monroe was at loss "Just 'cause most people can't really do this sort of thing"
Diana simply walked away, her attention now fully on the spices and ingredients that lined the shop shelves, while Monroe shut his eyes tightly, probably wondering how he's about to spend the longest two hours of his life with my daughter, me on the other hand was trying hard not to laugh at his mortified expression.
"What is all this stuff" my little hexenbiest asked, eyes in awe
"Just a bunch of herbs and spices" Rosalee offered kindly
I really was enjoying this exchange, but I was running out of time, so I asked Rose if I could place my Kelly in the back room while he was still asleep. Rose helped me find a cozy spot for my son, leaving an utterly afraid Monroe behind.
"Do you want to see some of the herbs and spices?" I heard him ask my little girl
"Thank you so much for doing this" I breathed the moment Rose and I were left alone in the back shop
Her eyes stayed on Kelly, as she rocked his chair "I can't imagine what you're going through considering what's going on"
Her words warmed my heart. I was still not completely accustomed to acts of sympathy and kindness, but that's Rosalee, she has the biggest heart known of.
I sighed in frustration "Sean's been arrested" I couldn't believe how relieved I was to be able to confide in a friend again
"What?"
Her surprise was palpable "Yeah, for murder"
"I…I'm surprised" she stuttered on the words "Not that he murdered somebody, but that he was arrested for it"
Yeah, just my thoughts, I cringed internally
"Was it Bonapart?"
I shook my head "No, Rachel Wood"
Her face blanched "He killed his own mistress?"
Ergg…I hated not being able to tell her the truth, but I had to protect my daughter and lying to my friend was out of the question, so I went with the safest answer "It's complicated, but he wants me to get him out of it"
"How?"
I sighed heavily "I don't know, but I'll be back as soon as I can"
"Never thought I'd see this" I said honestly the moment my eyes landed on Sean, seating in an interrogation room, handcuffed and completely disheveled. Well, I didn't feel sorry for him, maybe he'll finally pay for the wrongs he made.
"Well, enjoy it while you can" he cringed as I sat across from him
Not beating around the bush, I cut straight to the point "What do you want from me?"
"A little help"
"And what kind of help would that be?"
He looked away from me "Well, ironically, I don't have an alibi for the night Rachel was killed"
I raised an eyebrow "Where were you?"
He looked at me pointedly "I was killing Bonapart"
Hearing the name of that tyrant made the hair on the back of my neck stand, I managed a smirk though "Oh, well, that is awkward"
But, Sean used the one weakness I had, my children "We both know who killed her"
The mere mention of the incident made me jump out of my skin "What do you want me to do? Turn in our daughter so you can get out of this?"
"No, you will get me out of this"
"How?" I rolled my eyes at him. I didn't want to help him but I was left no choice
"We were together all night, I never left the house"
I had to shut my eyes for a moment to gather my senses "You expect me to be your alibi for a murder you didn't commit, because you were actually murdering the person who was your alibi" Well, let me laugh at this for a second
He had the nerve to nod "Basically, yeah" he raised an eyebrow looking at me as if I was somewhat too stupid to comprehend what he was saying "Shouldn't be too hard"
It took all my will power not to punch his smug expression off his face
"Unless I perjure myself and I end up going to jail" is this man insane? Completely rhetorical question, of cause he is "Let me tell you something, I have two kids to take care of"
"I'm not going to jail for a murder I did not commit" he spat vehemently
"Why not?" I lost all my temper "You're not going to jail for the one you did commit"
He inched closer, leaving a barely there space between us and whispered with unmistakable threat in his voice "You owe me"
"I owe my children" I looked him straight in the eyes "And if I have to chose between me going to jail and you going to jail," I paused to let my words sink in his miserable little brain "Good luck with the grand jury" I winked and left the room before I murdered someone myself.
I was still in the precinct when an unknown number called my cell phone "Hello?"
A deep velvety voice I missed more than anything replied "Hey, it's me"
I managed to keep my cool, not wanting any more attention than needed given where I was at the moment and how the man on the other line was wanted "Ok, where are you?" then realized my mistake the moment I asked "Wait, don't tell me" I don't want anybody squeezing the words out of my mouth if shit went down
"I need your help with something, where are you?"
"Actually, I'm in your precinct"
He sighed "Can you talk?"
"I think so"
I heard a weird background noise, like a door opening or a window "I need to make a deal with somebody I don't trust" he started
Oh, that was familiar "Oh, you need a trust me knot, it's not a –not not-" I explained to avoid any confusion "It's a knot with a K like the one you tie with a rope"
"And how does that work?" he was breathing fast, probably in motion
"It's pretty simple actually" I sighed "Whoever signs the trust me knot has to do it with what they promise or they choke to death like a hangman's knot around their neck…I can do one for you"
"Can you do it now?"
I thought about it for a second, thinking of what I might need "Um, yeah, let me grab a couple of things and… where should I meet you?"
And the next thing he said blew my mind and sent my emotions in a whirlwind "Where you first told me you loved me"
Images of my confession of love flooded my mind, engaging my heart in a race and my limbs going weak. Where you first told me you loved me, the words like liquid honey dripping from his mouth and making their way to my ears.
"Ok" is all I managed to say as my brain was too busy focusing on the fact that I was about to meet the love of my life again and of all memories we shared together in that particular location, he chose the one closest to my heart.
My heart was about to explode as I made my way inside the empty loft, walking as slowly as possible toward the bedroom; the place where I told Nick I loved him for the first time. The room seemed empty and I felt disappointed for a fraction of a second. Didn't he remember that this was the place where I first said those three words to him?
A small tap on my shoulder and his breath on my ear proved me wrong? "Adalind" my name was feathery against the sensitive skin between my ear and my neck. I closed my eyes, exhilarated in the exquisiteness of the moment "Don't you want to turn around?" he chuckled, his voice barely audible
I let my head fall back against his chest "Give me a second" or eternity, for I don't want this moment to ever end, I want to never leave this place…this man…this calmness again.
"Take your time" he buried his nose in my hair then brushed his lips against my neck
"Ok, that's it" I turned around and grabbed his face, giving in to my desire and engaging in a fierce kiss that made Nick stumble back before he regained his balance and responded with equal hunger "Gosh, I miss you so much" I muttered between kisses. Nick was tugging at my jacket as I let myself be pushed on the bed "We don't have much time before they get here" he murmured against my throat, then sucked on my skin, enjoying the vibration of my moan against his lips.
His palm traveled under my shirt, leaving goose bumps behind "Kelly?"
"With Monroe and Rosalee" my voice was breathy and unrecognizable to my own ears
Nick's phone vibrated, making us both groan "I have to take this" he looked at me apologetically and straightened. After glancing at the screen, he rubbed his face in frustration "They'll be here in five minutes"
"They?"
"Hank, Wu and Sean" then he told me how he needed me to be Sean's alibi for the night Rachel was killed, as a way to bargain with Sean "Are you ok with the plan?" he asked as he finished "I'm not forcing you to do anything you don't want" he added with so much affection in his eyes. I reached for his arm and stroked it "I'll do it…for you"
He planted a kiss on my lips and left reluctantly "I'll freshen up before they get here" with that he walked to the bathroom.
I remained on the bed a few more seconds to gather my thoughts, then I heard the elevator and male voices. That's when I got to my feet and arranged my appearance.
"…your fingerprints were at her place and you have no alibi for that night" I heard Wu say, only for Nick to interject "He has an alibi…me…I know where he was and what he was doing…But if I testify to say you killed Bonapart at the time, that might complicate both of our lives even more"
"We're here to help you" Hank directed his gaze at Sean
"How do you plan to do that?" Sean asked
"You drop all the charges against me" Nick stated while Hank added "and reinstate him in the department"
"And we give you an alibi that will work for the night Rcahel was killed" Wu chirped in
"Adalind" Nick said when Sean wanted more details
"Already tried, she turned me down"
Nick's voice seemed way too happy when he said "She didn't turn me down" I had to fight a mile when I realized he sounded like he was showing him on which side my heart lied.
"I'm not dropping the charges against you until I'm cleared by the grand jury" Sean declared
"And Adalind won't be testifying until we have a guarantee that you will drop the charges against me" Nick informed him
"So how do we get around this mutual little distrust of ours?"
This is when I decided to intervene, rope in hand, I walked in on them "A trust me knot"
"You really get around, don't you?" Sean looked at me with distaste, but I didn't give a damn as I walked closer
"Take these cuffs off" I instructed the guys "He's going to need his hands for this" I stared pointedly at Sean "You know how this works?" asking was just a formality, of course he did
"Sort of"
I gave one end of the rope to Nick and the other to Sean who seemed to hesitate "Take it" I ordered
I looked at both of them as I stated "This" I held the rope in the middle "Is a blood oath, whoever breaks it first will die" I glanced at Sean, making sure he understood the implication in case he had plans of his own
Staring at Nick I continued "You, Nick Burkhardt agree that I will testify at the grand jury on Sean Renard's behalf" then turned to Sean "And you, Sean Renard agree that once my testimony is given, you will drop all charges against Sean Burkhardt and reinstate him"
Both men agreed, then I woged before I bit my hand and let blood drops land on the rope. Once the rope turned red, I took it back and recited and incantation.
"If the trust is broken" I translated what I just said "The knot will kill" the rope formed a knot than had Wu exclaim in surprise "Don't want to be breaking that"
Nobody wants to…that is, if they are smart enough
Once back to the spice shop and making sure the kids were fine, Monroe told me I could find Rosalee and the girls in the basement. I wasn't sure how I'd feel running again into Juliet/Eve. I filled in the girls on what happened at the loft, then realized they were working on a very old piece of fabric.
"It's an ancient cloth that has some writing on it and we're trying to read it" Rosalee explained
"Without destroying it" Juliet added
Rose nodded in agreement "We used a spectral imaging machine but we can only make out a few letters"
Trubel seemed deep in thought "One of the words is miracle and the other is Dangerous or Perilous"
"What are you using" I asked curiously
"Since it's so old, we started with a mix of Phenolphlatein and red cabbage water"
Eve was working on the cloth "if the ink is ammonium based…"
"It will turn pink and become more legible" I finished for her
"That's the theory" Rose said as all of us gathered around the cloth, but to everybody's disappointment it only burnt part of the fabric
Diana appeared then asking to leave
"What are you doing?" she wondered as she and Monroe inched closer
"I'm trying to help Rosalee and Eve see something"
"See something where?"
Trubel pointed to the fabric sitting on the table "On this very old cloth"
"It has some writing on it and we are trying to read it" Rose offered
"Can I try?" despite my protest, Diana's eyes turned purplish blue as she stared at the cloth "I can see it"
"What can you see?" Eve prompted her
"Lots of stuff"
I looked back and forth not seeing anything "Can you tell us what you see?"
"Little pictures and strange writing"
Just then, Nick joined us in the basement, he explained that he had to make sure he wasn't followed before he came. Trubel told him Diana could see things on the cloth.
"Strange drawings and pictures" I said proudly, getting Nick's attention, we looked fondly at each other for a second forgetting we had an audience, until Diana spoke.
"You are the one my mom wanted me to talk to"
"Thank you for helping us" this was the first formal introduction they ever had, and it filled my heart with so much emotion
"You're Kelly's daddy"
"I am, and you're his sister" Nick added
"I like him" Diana confessed "He doesn't talk much" that made me smile
"Can you draw what you're seeing?" Nick asked Diana
"Sure" then she proceeded to do just that
Meanwhile, Trubel got a call from HW that seemed to make her very uncomfortable, by the end of it, she informed us she had to leave in two hours and asked Nick to go with her, which sent me on hysterics. I wasn't ready to lose him again. But now was not the time to think about it as Diana handed her drawing.
None of us had ever seen such a thing
Rosalee tried to find something on her computer but it was no use. We had no idea where to look and what we were looking for. After some time, Trubel said she had to go and asked Nick once again to go with her. My heart leaped and my throat clogged. What if he left? I had no right to stop him.
Nick glanced at me, probably seeing my worried expression, his eyes softened, then he told Trubel he couldn't leave. She insisted saying that he should leave, especially if Renard was still running the city, eyes on me Nick said he was going to stay no matter what and deal with him. Part of me hoped Kelly and I were the real reason he was staying.
The flutter in my heart didn't last long as Hank called to let me know I had to testify this soon given Sean's position. I was nervous all of a sudden, but nothing prepared me to what was to come.
The session had barely started when the judge decided the case had no reason to go to trial, Sean being considered innocent, thus me not testifying and the promise going void. Sean had planned everything and we fell into his trap. My head was spinning and bile rose to my mouth.
Hank and Wu were expected to resign the very next day and I expected the worst for Nick and I.
"You have to move back with him" Nick instructed me once we were back to the spice shop
"What? No, I hate him" I pleaded, my eyes already watering. Didn't he care for me? didn't he want me beside him?
"He's going to come after me" Nick said with great pain "and if you don't go he's coming after both of us" only then did I notice his trebling voice. Understanding how much it hurt him to ask such a thing of me.
I closed my eyes, willing the tears to dry
"Bastard got everything he wanted" Hank sighed