Chapter 19 Jealous Fury
Iris woke up to the sound of someone crying softly. The clock on her nightstand said 4:47 a.m. She got out of Luciens arms. Walked quietly to the kids room. The night-light made everything look a little blue.
Lila was sitting up in bed hugging her knees and tears were running down her face. Elias was already next to her trying to comfort her like a brother.
"Mommy " Lila said when Iris came in. "I had a dream. I saw a car on fire. You were inside. You wouldn't wake up."
Iriss heart felt tight. She got on the bed. Hugged both kids. "It was a dream sweetie.. I know it felt real."
Elias looked up at her with eyes. "I had the dream. There was a man laughing. Daddy was trying to get to you. The man had eyes like yours Mom."
Iris thought of Marcus, her uncle. He was still causing trouble, in their dreams. She rocked the kids gently. Sang a soft song. When they fell asleep again she stayed with them until the sky got a little lighter.
Lucien found her like that at 6:30. He was standing in the doorway looking clean and fresh. He had a bandage on his shoulder. His sleeves were rolled up. He looked soft when he saw them all tangled up together.
"They're having dreams " Iris said quietly. "Marcus is not just talking hes really doing something."
Lucien came over. Knelt down beside the bed. He touched Eliass hair. Then Lilas. He was being very gentle. It made Iris feel happy.
"We're meeting Dr. Amara Soto at 9 " Lucien said. "She's an expert in genetics. She used to work with me. Then she disappeared. She contacted me this morning after hearing some rumors."
Iris raised an eyebrow. "Do you trust her?"
Lucien said, "I don't trust people right now.. She sent me proof that she helped Lila two years ago under a different name. She might be our hope."
By 8:30 their room was busy with people moving quietly. Dr. Amara Soto. She was very pretty. In her mid-thirties with nice cheekbones and smart eyes. She was wearing a coat but she also had some silver bangles and a little nose ring, which made her look a bit rebellious.
"Mr. Graves, Ms. Vale " Amara said with an accent. She smiled at the kids, who were watching her from the couch. "You must be Elias and Lila. I've been waiting to meet you."
While the kids played with a psychologist in the room Amara looked at some blood samples. Lucien stood behind Iris holding her shoulders and being supportive.
"The bad things in their blood are active " Amara said, looking serious. ". There's something else. A special code in their DNA. Its not just making them have dreams. Its getting them ready to remember things that didn't happen. If it happens they might wake up one day. Think they had a completely different life."
Iris felt like the floor was moving. Lucien held her tighter.
Then Amara said something that surprised them. "There's another kid."
The words were like a bomb. Iriss legs felt weak. Lucien caught her.
"What?" Luciens voice was very low and angry.
Amara showed them a file. "I helped a five-year- boy two years ago. He had the bad things in his blood. His name is Noah. He might be your kid too. Made before the accident using special baby-making technology."
Iris was. Lucien looked like he had been hit. They had three kids. They didn't even know it.
Before they could even think about it a new woman came into the room. She was tall with hair and green eyes like Iris but her face was sharper. She was wearing a suit and looked very confident.
"I'm Sophia Vale " she said. "I'm your sister, Iris. Marcus is my dad too. I've been working against him for four years. I helped Amara hide so she could stay alive and help you."
Sophias arrival made them feel a little hopeful. She had papers that proved she was telling the truth. Iris saw something in her eyes when she looked at Lucien. It was a bit of jealousy.
Later when the kids were sleeping Sophia told Iris "Lucien was supposed to be mine before he met you. Marcus wanted us to meet. Lucien only loved you."
This made things more complicated. Lucien said he never loved Sophia. Their families past was darker than Iris thought.
As the day went on things got more and more suspenseful. Amara found a signal in the kids blood. A countdown. They had to go to the Vale family vault to stop it. Marcus wanted Iris to go alone.
Lucien got jealous when Sophia offered to go. "She knows the codes better than anyone " Sophia said. ". Marcus still thinks I'm on his side. Let me do it."
Lucien put his hand on Iriss waist. "No one uses my wife as bait."
Iris felt happy when he called her his wife even though they weren't married.
That night after the kids were asleep and Amara and Sophia were watching them Lucien took Iris to their bedroom. He locked the door. Pulled her close.
"I need you " he said, his voice rough with desire. He kissed her hard. Took off their clothes.
They made love fiercely. Lucien kept saying, "You're mine. Not Marcuss, not Sophias. Mine."
Iris felt the way. She wanted to be his. She wanted him to be hers.
Their peace didn't last long. They got a message that Sophia had left the building alone taking some of the kids blood with her.
Then Amara came in. Said, "Sophia is not just your half-sister. She's also a clone, made by Marcus using your genes. She's not stable. The jealousy you saw is part of her programming."
Luciens face got dark with anger. "Shes going to the vault to make her deal."
Iris got dressed quickly her heart racing. "Then we'll follow her. All of us. We can't wait anymore."
then they got a video call from Marcus. He was, with a boy who looked like he could be their son. Noah.
"Hello family " Marcus said smoothly. "Sophia already gave me the blood sample. You have to come to the vault as a family. I'll give you Noah. If you come without Lucien I'll keep the boy. Make the bad things in their blood happen tonight.. One more thing. If I die the kids minds will die with me."
The call. Iris looked at Lucien. She was scared. She was also determined. They had three kids to save. They would do whatever it took.
They got the kids ready. Amara said she was coming with them. As they prepared to leave Iris held Elias and Lila close.