Stay Away… or He Dies

I was folding Jace’s clothes when my phone rang.

I looked down and saw the hospital’s name on the screen.

My hands froze .

I pressed the answer. “Hello?”

“Elena,” the nurse said. She sounded breathless. “Jace had another seizure. It was small. He Is stable now, but… you should come right away.

For some second, my breathing stopped and my hands started shaking.

“I am on my way now,” I whispered slowly and I dropped the call. 

I did not even bother to change my clothes. I was still putting on Lucien’s company hoodie. 

And immediately I grabbed my bag and ran out of the penthouse.

__

The night was so cold, and rain wet my skin as I stopped a taxi.

“St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital, please,” I said my voice was barely there.

The driver nodded to me and drove off immediately, and then I tried to rest my head on the glass door but my chest was tight and I tried to stay calm.

“Please be fine my Jace,” I whispered. “Please hold on.”

He was all I have, and he was the only reason I was still standing.

___

I pushed through the hospital doors ten minutes later. My shoes were so soaked in water and my heart did not stop racing.

The elevator was very slow, so I just instead took the stairs up to the sixth floor.

My legs burnt and my hands held the rail firmly.

I bursted into the hallway and ran to Jace’s room.

The nurse was waiting outside, and immediately she saw me, she took some  steps back. 

“He is resting now,” she said gently. “The seizure lasted thirty seconds. We gave him meds. He’s okay.”

I pushed the door open.

There he was…my baby. He was looking so small and pale now and his face was still and his chest rose up and down softly.

Wires ran from his arms and machines blinked next to him.

I rushed to his side.

“Hi, baby,” I whispered and knelt beside his bed. “Mommy’s here.”

I picked up his tiny hand. It was warm but weak. I pressed it to my cheek.

My eyes instantly became more stung and my throat kept burning. 

“I am sorry I was not here,” I whispered slowly and softly. “I should have stayed. I won't leave again.”

His body shook a little bit but did not wake up and I brushed his hair gently from back to his forehead.

“You are my whole world,” I whispered, and leaned forward to kiss him. “My love. My angel.”

Click.

The sound made me freeze.

I turned around fast.

Lucien stood at the door.

His dark coat was soaked from the rain and his hair stuck to his forehead. His sharp eyes moved from me… to Jace.

My breath stopped.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

He didn’t answer at first. He walked in slowly.

“I followed you,” he said and his voice was quiet but cold. “You ran like someone was dying.”

I stood, trying to stay calm. “I had an emergency.”

He didn’t blink. “Clearly.”

He stepped closer and his eyes didn’t leave Jace’s face.

“Who is he?” Lucien asked, and his voice was hard.

I swallowed. “My friend’s son.”

Lucien raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because you told him he is your whole world.”

I froze.

He heard that?

My mouth opened, but no words came out.

“I help take care of him,” I said finally. “My friend works night shifts.”

He stared at me. Then he looked at Jace again.

Without warning, Lucien knelt beside the bed.

He leaned in.

I held my breath.

He reached out and brushed Jace’s hair gently, like he had done it before. His hand lingered.

“His hair is soft,” Lucien said quietly.

Jace stirred.

His small eyes opened, blinking sleepily.

He saw Lucien.

A smile spread across his tired face.

“You look like my dream daddy,” he whispered and my heart nearly stopped.

Lucien’s hand froze and his whole body tensed.

He stared at Jace.

He didn’t move, he didn’t speak.

Then, slowly, he stood.

The warmth disappears from his eyes.

“You lie too easily, Elena,” he said, he was cold as ice.

I wanted to speak, to explain, but my throat was tight. He didn’t wait.

Lucien turned and walked out of the room.

The door closed behind him with a soft sound.

I sat down in the chair beside Jace. My hands shook and my vision blurred.

Tears fell and I felt  like I was falling apart piece by piece.

__

Later, the nurse brought me a blanket and a small cup of tea.

“You can sleep here tonight,” she said kindly. “We will keep a close eye on him.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

The lights dimmed and the machines hummed. I pulled the blanket around me and leaned closer to Jace.

He slept peacefully now and his tiny hand was still in mine.

“I love you,” I whispered and brushed his cheek. “I’m sorry for all this.”

I rest my head on the bed beside him and closed my eyes

But then…something woke me.

It was a soft sound, it wasn't too loud. It was like a door.

I sat up quickly and rubbed my eyes.

The lights were off., and it was dark outside the window.

I saw a shadow in the corner of the room and my heart jumped.

“Hello?” I whispered. But there was no answer.

Then I saw a figure move.

Before I could scream, someone grabbed me. Strong hands shoved me to the side and I fell hard and hit the floor.

Pain shot through my shoulder and I cried out.

“Jace!” I screamed.

He woke up, confused and crying, but someone was already pulling him from the bed.

“No! Don’t touch him!”

I tried to stand, but my legs wobbled.

I ran after them, but the door slammed open, and the figure disappeared into the hallway with my son in their arms.

“Help!” I screamed, my voice broke. “Someone help!”

Nurses rushed toward me, but Jace was gone. He was gone.

One of the nurses found a piece of paper on the bed.

She handed it to me with shaking hands.

I opened it slowly and the words hit me so hard in the chest:

“Stay away from Lucien Stone… or the boy dies.”