Where Secrets Lie

He laid her back down and looked at her lifeless body. The light in his life was fleeing from him and there was nothing more he could do. He laid his head on her chest in defeat. This time he heard a faint thumping. Hope came flooding into Michael as tears dropped from his eyes. He took a deep breath of relief, then picked her up and moved her to the bed.

All night long, he sat with Kara, watching over her. By the time the sun finally rose, she still hadn't woken, but her breathing and pulse had returned to normal. He felt safe to leave her to deal with the traitor. He covered Kara with a quilt, kissed her gently on the forehead and left the house.

***********************************

Back at the Caswell mansion, it was another beautiful and happy morning. Everyone sat around the large table in the dining room, having the typical breakfast of fresh eggs, pancakes, and blood.

Hannah and Kate entered, side by side, in cheerful moods. "Good morning, family," Hannah greeted them.

Everyone simply stared at her coldly. The Caswells and their servants hated the fact that a Powell was going to be joining their clan, and they would never accept her as one of their own. However, that did not detour Hannah's good mood. She had dealt with Kara without having to get her hands bloody.

"Fine, ignore me," she said, "but you're going to have to get used to me sooner or later because I'm not going anywhere."

She pulled out a chair and was about to sit down when the door flew open and Michael rushed into the room. Without hesitation, he grabbed Hannah and pinned her against the wall. The urge to kill her almost overtook him, but he managed to refrain himself. "Did you send vampires to kill Kara?" His voice was much too calm.

Logan and Alyssa exchanged horrified looks across the table.

"Of course not," she replied.

Michael furious at her lies punched a hole through the wall. Blood dripped onto Hannah's shoulders as he pulled it back. "I tasted his blood, Hannah. I saw his memories. I know it was you."

"Shit. I forget you have that little special ability. She was a human, nothing more, get over it." She walked away as if nothing was astray.

Michael appeared in front of her before she could leave the room. "That's the thing, she is something more. She's the woman I love." He looked at all the faces of his clan staring back at him then back to Hannah, "This marriage is off."

"You can't do that," Hannah whined.

"Yeah!" another member of the clan said. The entire room rose to join him and voice their approval of Michael's decision.

Hannah looked both scared and angry. "This won't stand and you know it. I'll be back. So enjoy it while you can." She marched out of the mansion, leaving Kate standing alone, unsure of who she should follow. She loved Michael, but she feared he knew she was involved. Everyone in the room began applauding.

Logan and Alyssa approached Michael. "You don't know how long we've been waiting for you to stop this merger," Logan said as he patted him on the back.

"You've never mentioned it before, brother," Michael replied. He sat down in a chair and began nursing his wounded hand.

"You were ruthless. No one could talk to you, but now you are back to the Michael we recognize; Alex's son and heir to the Caswell clan."

"You're right, Logan. I haven't felt like myself in centuries." He stood back up and faced everyone. "I let the pain and bitterness of betrayal change who I am, and for that, I am truly sorry. From now on, this clan will be ran the way my father intended it to," he announced. Everyone clapped and shouted in joy.

Alyssa finally managed to ask the question she didn't want to ask. "Is my sister okay?" Tears filled her eyes.

"She is doing fine. I'm going back to her now." He hugged them both.

Alyssa let out a sigh of relief. "Just bring her home."

Michael smiled back. "Don't worry, I will."

*********************************

Kara woke, feeling a bit groggy. She tossed the quilt off her and stretched. As she looked around, it became alarmingly clear she had no idea where she was.

"How did I get here?" she thought. "I don't remember coming here."

She sat up and swung her legs so her feet touched the floor, but as she tried to stand, her legs felt like wet noodles. They failed her, and she dropped to her knees. After a few more tries, she finally managed to stand and keep her balance. She walked out of the bedroom into a cozy living room, hoping to find someone she knew, but it was empty, and she still didn't recognize the house.

"Ouch," she muttered as a dull pain ached in her side.

She lifted her shirt and inspected the area to find a slowly healing wound. Suddenly, the memory of the previous night returned to her. She had been stabbed and left for dead. So how on Earth did she end up alive in a strange house?

She continued inspecting the manor, looking for any clues and ended up in the kitchen, which was just as cozy and darling as the living room. The black and white checkered floor and floral décor looked like something out of a storybook. Two white French doors caught her attention and she passed through them into a garden that must have once been quite beautiful. Even with the dying grass and weeds, it was still quite lovely.

"Maybe I died and this is heaven," Kara said. "Not really what I imagined, but it's very nice." She knelt down and plucked a buttercup from the ground. As she sniffed it, the pollen tickled her nose, and she decided she was alive after all. It felt good because while she still wasn't sure where she was, she knew she was in a safe place if nothing else.

The crunching of dead grass sounded behind her. "It used to be my mother's garden."

Kara turned around, startled to see Michael smiling down at her, his hair gleaming in the sunlight. She was lost for words, and she knew in an instant that he was the reason she was alive.