Chapter 4

                                    

                                          


                          


                          
His home had been invaded by pretentious men in black suits.  Representatives from every branch of the military was forming perimeters around his property. It was a full scale invasion. So, maybe he was exaggeration. But if he didn't know better, he would think that the president himself was coming for dinner.
                          
            Two days sleeping beauty had lain undisturbed in the left wing of the mansion not a sound and no movement emanated from her direction.   The only proof of life was the slow rise and fall of her chest.  He had doctors brought in to run test in hopes that they could bring her out of her sleeping state.  
                          
            A nurse was in the room with her at all times keeping him aware of any changes.  Nothing was helping and now his uncle was here with most of Washington.  
                          
"Son, I have spoken with the president about our situation, and he has opened up a facility with some of the country's best scientist and doctors.  The lab is in Boston about twenty-two miles from here.  They are getting a room ready for the girl now," Uncle William cheerfully informed Edward as if he was discharging his nephew of an unwanted burden "We should leave within the hour."   
                          
Because Edward carried no trust for his uncle's motives, he wondered what his uncle got out of this act of kindness.  
                          
"I think she has seen plenty of great doctors already.  Nothing seems to be working, but I feel it would be better if she stays here with us."  Edward knew if she left this house they would never Elizabeth again.  He really didn't know why that bothered him so much.
                          
"You know the twins aren't going to let her out of their sight.  I really think all of this is over kill and melodramatic.  We should let her wake on her own time after all she has been in that cave for nearly two hundred and fifty years."  
                          
His uncle's face went from jovial to chilling in the span of a second then he moved closer, tilted toward his ear, and in an intimidating whisper reminded Edward of his place.  
                          
"I wasn't asking for your authorization.  She is a hazard to the state and my job is to protect the people."  
                          
Edward wondered if his uncle really found him that much of a fool.  What kind of danger could a sleeping person cause?  Was she going turn into the sleeping dead and start killing people? 
                          
Edward knew it was useless to argue with his uncle because the man was obstinate and besides Edward sensed that his uncle was hiding something.      
                          
                             ᵠᵠ
                          
Edward stood at the end of the bed that Elizabeth had spent the last few days of her endless slumber laid out like a vision.  A low light from the lamp on night table highlighted the face that would forever dominate his dreams.  He wondered if part of her knew that her location had changed and that she was now in a soft warm bed.  Would she even know when they put her in that cold, isolated bed at the hospital?  
                          
It didn't matter because she wasn't going.  His mind was made up.  For the first time, he was going to defy his uncle's will and it kind of felt invigorating.  
                          
He was jolted from his thoughts when the room's door was flung open and slammed against the wall.  In the door jamb two shadowy figures were outlined by light coming from the hall.   Yea, just how he thought they would take the news.  
                          
"What were you thinking?  All your claims to be nothing like your father and uncle, and the first chance you get you jump on that bandwagon.  You cannot let them take her.  This is her home just as much as it is our home.  You have to stop them."  
                          
Edward flinched at her words.  He didn't know if Rebecca's words hurt or made him angry, maybe a little of both.  What they didn't know was that he would rather have been shot than let them take his enchantress.  He didn't understand the connection developing between him and this witch and he would he would evaluate his feelings later because now he need to form a plan.    
                          
"I have no plans to let her go and it really hurts that you think so low of me," Edward replied and shame drifted across their face.  
                          
After hearing that Edward wouldn't be obeying his uncle, his cousin's seemed to visually relax in front of him.  Ironically he didn't have a plan, but something was telling him that she was better off with him.  Some caveman part of him felt as if he needed to protect her.  
                          
Bridget moved to the bed where Elizabeth was arranged like snow white after eating the poison apple.  Edward watched as the girls slowly shifted closer until they were practical touching her. Funny how that is the first time he saw either sister that close to her.  
                          
Other than the doctors and nurse, he was the only one who had touched her.   Bridget caressed the back of her hand down Elizabeth's exposed arm, and he saw a tear fall and land on Elizabeth's cheek.  Rebecca moved to sit on the bed opposed of her twin.  The two girls were completely different in looks and personalities.  People always argued that they were not twins but sisters. 
                          
 Rebecca was personal, honest, driven, but compassionate and loyal to a fault.  Her long bright copper hair vivid and intense and her fair, peach colored skin tone matched her personality traits.  Her hazel eyes changed colors with her mood.  She seemed to stand out in a crowd.  She was the beauty all the guys in school wanted to get in their beds and he spent most of his time keeping them away from her.  
                          
Bridget, on the other hand, was a quiet and shy girl that lived in her sister's shadows.   She never seemed to mind because she spent most of her time in the woods and working with the animals.  She appeared to be uncomfortable associating with anyone outside of the immediate family.  Her timed, tomboyish ways covered her girlish curves and her golden blonde ringlets concealed the face of an angel.  
                          
With all three girls together, Edward compared them as a group.  At first sight the girls were as different as their black, yellow, and red hair made them seem, but with a closer examination of the girls together similar traits began to emerge.  
                          
They had the same short stubby nose and those bright hazel eyes were the same shape.  Although different shades of red, their lips were carbon copies.  The closer he looked, more things began to surface.  
                          
He was cut off from his comparison by a rattle in the walls.  A light crescendo from a vibration to an earthquake made its way over the property with the focal point his house.  When he looked over at the girls he could see that the twins were holding hands with Elizabeth.  Blue lightning was dancing around the room.  The bed had become Tesla's coil with the fingers of the light feeling its way around the room.  
                          
Edward was mesmerized by the show and he wondered why the scene didn't scare him.  Quite the opposite, he felt a peace come over him much like he imagined entering heaven will feel like.  
                          
The twins jump away from the body on the bed losing contract with the witch.  They grabbed the posts at the end of the bed, and it stopped shaking.  
                          
As the room settled and the shaking stilled, Edward witnessed as Elizabeth began to move.  First, her eyes blinked a few times then a leg moved.  He wanted to laugh when she stretched and yawned like she was just rousing from a good night's sleep.   
                          
Her delicate hands ran through her coal black hair and something in his stomach reacted and his pants felt too tight.  This is what she will look like when she wakes in his bed.  Where did that thought come from?  He blinked away the inappropriate thoughts and gave his libido a stern lecture.  
                          

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