The Others Soul (novel form)

[jeh]

No reason, huh? Now there is, after Steven dig up the 2 burials. Ooh, I feel the story is going to end soon. I hope Annie will be okay? Why is she so cold?! Update soon.

[zzzbeauty]

Omg, it's amazing how much action there are in your chapters. It's a good thing "teddy" was by my side throughout those chapters.

I thought that Annie was gonna lose the baby when B-Jai couldn't feel any connection to it. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0"> I was ready to grab my tissue box.

Lol...i think i'm gonna join Jeh and kill Stephen.

<IMG SRC="smilies/smash.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/smash.gif" border="0">

I think Steven might be in trouble from what you wrote....i don't know, i mean he's there in the woods with stephen.

Thanks for the update Yak.

[Em]

Just touching base with you Yak - still catching up (on about Chapter 20ish) but you're certainly keeping me occupied on my lunch breaks! hee hee

<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Yak]

Warning, next chapter is a bit graphical. <IMG SRC="smilies/starwars.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/smash.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/guns.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/yikes.gif" border="0"> kekeke...have fun! And don't forget this is just a fanfic <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

jeh: Yes, it coming to an end very soon. I felt sad... Well, after this is done, I'm going to bring in my next fanfic here either Forbidden Affection or Trusting You With My Love. Hope you will support me!

zzzbeauty: lol, maybe I should add you and jeh into the fanfic to kill Stephen, hehehehe. Glad you enjoy this fanfic, more action on next chapter and the rest of the fanfic. It's the climax. Have fun! Please support my other fanfics too okay? Well, post after TOS is done.

Em: great you are still reading! Are you enjoying the fanfic so far? But isn't it not healthy to read while you eat? kekeke

<font size="1">[ May 29, 2003: Message edited by: Yak ]</font>

[Yak]

Chapter 55: No Return

Meanwhile in the deep end of the wood, Steven continues to dig the mud and finally hit something. His eye darted at the hard piece of elongated substance that his fingers strike. He pushed the mud around the hard rod like structure and his eyes widened seeing it connect to something else and the next thing he notice was that he has dig up the skull too. He immediately scooted back couple feet. His heart pounding against his chest cause he is a bit daunted by the finding. It's not Annie alright, but it's a skeleton of someone else! The thunder roared with a flash of lighting brightening up the sky for a split second letting Steven has the clearer view of what he dug up. He has a hint on what he will dig up earlier, but he didn't know that he would feel this spooked after really digging up human bone.

Droplets of cold rain rolled down his numbed face and over his pale purplish lip due to being out in the cold for too long. Steven wetted his lip and couldn't control himself from panting a bit as he kept reminding himself to stay calm and focus. He quickly got himself upright and headed to grab his oil lantern, he beamed the light source closer to the skeleton and million of idea flashed into his mind. Who the skeleton belongs to? Who killed the person? Why? When? Does this have to do with Louis? Does this have to do with the boy that haunted him last night?

His eyes beamed at the skeleton and followed it bone. Clearly, Steven could see three bony hands in the mud instead of two. Meaning that there should be two skeletons, one is still bury under the other half of the mount. Steven heart slowly calmed down after getting use to the idea of the skeleton. Now he is certain that Louis has killed someone. It must be him, since he seen the blood in that locked room. One of these skeletons must be the boy he thought, thinking that the one he hasn't dig up must be a child skeleton, since this looked like an adult. Then whose is this adult skeleton belong to? Who else did Louis kill?

It didn't matter, his mind told him. He is relief that he didn't find Annie body, but these skeletons that he found might help him proof his theory of Louis being a killer. This is the kind of proof he has been looking for in order to show Annie. With that in mind, Steven bravely pulled himself together and decides to dig up the rest of the skeleton, he could bring this back to show Annie.

While Steven is digging with all of his attention focus on the skeleton in front of him, he suddenly heard a crackling sound from his left. He alertly and swiftly turned to carefully look deep into that part of the wood. It was empty and hollow, with column after column of wet trees. Rain are still pouring making what seem to be curtains of crystal beads everywhere. Steven closely studies that part of the wood longer. "Annie?! Annie is that you?!" he hollered out to the empty dark wood that returned his echo along with a gust of chilling wind. He shivered and returned his attention back to the skeleton.

After seeing Steven's mind is occupied with his new finding, the butler stepped a step toward his right to gaze his eyes toward the man that is digging up the grave. Steven is too caught up into wanting to proof himself, that he is putting himself in danger and didn't even know it. Louis's butler silently watches Steven from behind the tree the entire time; he has wanted to get rid of this pesky visitor for a very long time already. Tonight and this spot seem to be the best to do so. Steven somehow has reminded him of Julian, and it get on his nerve to see Steven keep sticking his nose into his business. He knows that sooner or later Steven will cause trouble, so to him Steven must die. But before he kill, he wanted to play with Steven for a while first and let Steven continue to dig his own grave.

To Stephen this is a game of the mind, a game that he won't allow Steven to have a chance to tell other about. Like a cat playing with a mouse before he devour his toy, Stephen is the cat in this scenario while his victim is the mouse. He wanted to let Steven have all his fun before he end his life for good. An evil cold grin slowly curved his lip as he watches Steven with amusement. His attention turned toward the distance sound from behind along with barely audible voice. He saw a light source is heading toward them from a distance away. He can't wait any longer or else there won't be a chance to kill.

Therefore he carefully stepped out of his hiding spot and made his way closer toward Steven with his unlit lantern in both his hand. His eyes kept on Steven head with both of his hands grabbing each end of the lantern with greater force. Just one hit on Steven head with the lantern, Steven will certainly pass out. Then he could burry Steven alive, along with the past. His twisted mind played his plan over and over as he quietly step toward Steven with a set of cold emotionless eyes.

The butler stood silently behind the oblivious Steven with his pair of arms slowly rising up into the air holding onto the lantern about to whack Steven. But a sudden lighting flashes the sky with a thunder. The massive shadow of the servant with the lantern up in the air cast on the mud ground in front of Steven with warning sign of danger. After seeing the image on the ground Steven swiftly turned toward his back and his eyes widen with redden vessel, seeing Stephen lantern rushing down toward him. He quickly rolled out of the way and forcefully kicked Stephen at his ankle causing him to suddenly lost balance and jerk ahead, landing face down.

Steven used the time to quickly gotten himself off the ground. "I knew you and Louis are killer!" Steven shouted with definite eyes, but he has seen the wrong side of the truth.

Stephen icy cold gaze swiftly darted at him with narrowed dark eyes. Evil seem to have invaded those set of eyes and Steven could tell that this devil possessed man will eliminate him. He gulped and swiftly grabs his lantern and forcefully whacked toward Stephen who is getting up at that time. Stephen swiftly blocked the lantern with his right arm almost like a reflex. The sound of shattering glasses echoed into the wood and fragment of sharp glasses are on the mud ground. Instead of getting cuts, Stephen sleeve was caught on fire by the burning flame inside. He quickly swings it in the air and vigorously shaking his arm and patting it. Steven quickly used this time to get himself away and to safety. The pouring rain quickly extinguished the small flame on Stephen hand and he was safe again.

The butler looked around his area and notice his mouse has disappeared totally. The surrounding was so quiet, other then the natural sound of the rain and wind. Stephen knows that there is no way for Steven to run without making noise, which mean he must be here somewhere hiding. There are column after column of tall trees, his prey could be hiding behind any of them. Stephen cold steady eyes gazed here and there with his devilish mind thinking, where he would hides if he is the mouse himself.

Stephen walked toward a tree and break one of it thick branch down making a sharp pointy end. His hand wrapped tightly onto the tree branch, holding it like a knife. It not as sharp but with force, it will do the trick.

Steven, who is just a couple trees behind Stephen, saw Stephen shadow from the deep darkness of the night, he could kind of figure what he is doing. He gulped while he plans a way to free himself. He knows that he is not as strong as Stephen, and it wouldn't be wise to just go out and fight him. He knows that Stephen will easily detect him if he starts to run. What should he do now? He can't just stay put and wait tell Stephen find him. Good thing that the wood is dark enough since both of their lantern is no longer lit, the only light source is from lighting.

Steven turned to his left to peek at Stephen again, his heart dropped when he notice that his killer is no longer there. Steven nervously pressed his lip together and his heart starting to messily beat as he tries to brainstorm an idea as fast as he could! A lighting flashed brightening the wood for a few second, Steven thought he saw a shadow to his right. So he quiet as a mouse and headed toward his left. He stopped when he felt some bushes in his way in front. He quickly squatted down and squeezed himself into the bushes with tiny net like twigs that scratch him, but those pains don't bother him comparing to the condition he is in now.

On the other hand Stephen swing the tree branch that he is holding in front of him to guide him walking like a blind in the middle of the dark night. Steven can hear his footstep coming close to him and he could see his shadow when the second flashes of lighting brighten up the pitch blacks wood once again. A smile slowly creeps on Steven lips when an idea occurs to him. He waited silently until Stephen stepped closer and closer toward him, and once he stepped in front of him. He swiftly pulled on Stephen ankle with all his strength causing a big throbbing sound echoed into the wood when the butler body fallen flat to the ground. Steven swiftly gotten himself out and grabbed the tree branch of the butler from the ground and was about to stab him, when suddenly a forceful shove thrown him a couple feet back.

Darkness settled in again, both of them can't really see each other, all they can see is darker patches compare to the dark surrounding. They can't be sure, so both of them didn't dare to make their move. The voice of Bobby is heard from a distance away shouting for them and Louis. The butler attention was switched to his brother, which gave Steven the chance to get away. Steven quickly gotten up and starting to run toward Bobby voice, but a strong hand grabbed his shoulder and jerked him back. Lighting flashes again and the two men are eyeing each other with hatred and their pupil quickly constructed cause of the sudden excess of light.

Grinned coldly, Stephen asked with his empty soul, "Going somewhere?"

"HELP!! BOBBY!! JOE OVER HERE!" Steven shouted the loudest he could to get attention.

The firm hand of the butler smothered him. His head coldly shook at Steven, "Why would my brother help you?" he asked with chilly tone. "They would only stand on my side."

Misunderstanding, Steven eyes widen in disbelieve, "All of you are into this...all of you killed together...or you are just trying to cover up for Louis!"

Stephen chuckled at him with disbelieve, "You're wrong again. Yee Seeu had nothing to do with this. Even though he has always thought he do."

Struggled with the servant, Steven punched him and felt his body being slammed against a tree. He forcefully pushing Stephen away with his hand under Stephen chain and shoving him as far as he could manage. "Who does those skeletons belong to?!" Steven asked with his eyes stare straight into Stephen eyes in the dark. "You must be the one that kidnapped Annie! Where is she?!!"

The butler strong grips are on Steven neck too. "You are right. I'll give you a hint," Stephen wickedly grinned, even though Steven couldn't see his grin, but he could sense his icy bloodless mean. "She is in a grave, but you search the wrong grave. Too bad you don't get a second chance to search again. But don't worry, I assure you that she deserve to die," his voice gotten deeper and chillier, "Just like you and your wife." He paused and sense Steven tended up with anger making him chuckled bitterly, "But I'll promise you that I won't kill her yet."

Steven eyes widen with disbelief on what he just heard. He suddenly had all the energy in the world. With a forceful shove on Stephen, he freed himself. He grabbed Stephen collar and jerked him forward to face him, "What do you mean my wife?!"

Sternly, the butler grinned with his eye gaze at Steven, "Oh come on, you can't really believe that she trip and hit her head, could you?"

Forcefully, Steven shoved cruel cold hearten servant to the ground and struggling with him. "You bastard! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ADA?!!!" Steven shouted so loudly that his voice echoed into the wood. "How could you?!"

Stephen forcefully pushed Steven off of him. Steven immediately charged over to his wife murderer and thrusting against him with all his might slamming Stephen body against the tree. "You give Ada back to me!" Steven demanded.

Fearlessly, the butler laughed at Steven and swiftly swings his fist over to punch Steven, but Steven dodged in time and punched him instead. Stephen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth like he didn't feel a single thing at all. "You want to know how I killed her?" the butler merciless voice vibrated into Steven ears.

Flame is boiling like forest fire in Steven eyes. He swings his hand over to punch Stephen again but Stephen hand grab his fist and twisted it. "AHH!!" Steven shouted with pain.

Grinned with a smug on his face, the devilish servant grabs Steven neck and forcefully squeezed it lifting him a bit off the ground. "I squeezed her neck just like this. Like you she stare at me with fear..." Steven spitted on him. The butler wiped off his face with his free hand and bitterly stated, "Killing you is easier then killing an ant, I was just letting you have your last fun before death arrive."

Steven felt huge amount of pressure on his throat and it made him felt sorry that Ada went through this herself. He fiercely gazes at Stephen, "I'm not going to let you go this easily!"

The cold hearten beast throws Steven body across the wood. Steven fallen and hits his head on the tree trunk. Steven moaned a bit and rolled to his left, noticing that they had gotten back to the grave area again. He felt a sharp cuts on his hand, it was because one of the broken glass from the lantern cuts him. The butler walking toward him, "How are you going to do so?"

Steven hand grab onto that sharp piece of glass tightly that it cuts deep into his hand, but he don't care. He is going to kill Stephen for Ada. He swiftly shot up and charged over to push Stephen and his hand thrusting toward Stephen abdominal, Stephen saw it and quickly blocked it with his arm. "Ahh..." the butler finally felt enough pain to make him groaned when the glass stabbed deep into his arm. Steven continue to push him heading toward the tree with a sharp broken branch sticking out, where Stephen has broken the branch earlier. He wanted to forcefully shove Stephen body into the broken branch and stab him to death.

With revengeful anger, Steven is pushing Stephen while he shouted loudly with rage, "How dare you kill my wife?!" Since Stephen body much denser than him, Stephen was able to stop himself and stood in place while Steven tries to push with all of his strength, but still couldn't move him.

The voice of Joe and Bobby is heard from a couple feet away, Stephen knows that he must finish off his job now. He turned around so suddenly that Steven lost balance and strength. The butler pushed Steven over toward that broken tree branch with a fast charge and shoved Steven against that sharp broken tree branch. "AAHHHHH!!!" Steven screamed in pain and dropped his head to see himself being stabbed by the tree branch. His eyes glanced up toward Stephen and within minute his body was limp. His hand is still clenched tightly on Stephen shirt. Stephen yanked it away and pulled out the glass that is still on his arm. He is bleeding but it nothing fatal.

Joe eyes widened at the vision, he and Bobby just got there in time to see what happen to Steven. "Why did you kill him?!" the driver shouted with disbelieve while his hand that is holding to the lantern started to jigger with fear. He sees blood, lots of Steven blood being washed by the rain.

Stephen turned to the voice with his cold eyes. His face is covered with the splash of Steven blood. "He asked for it," the empty voice replied. Joe felt his knee weaken seeing how dark and soulless Stephen eyes has become. He stepped back and tripped over a rock. "I'm only doing this for Yee Seeu goodness. If you are a loyal servant to Yee Seeu, you would understand," Stephen stated.

Bobby heart seems to be stopped after seeing Steven body still hanging on the tree with blood dripping out. And to know that his brother is so cold blooded, made him felt fearful, like he don't know Stephen at all. "Stephen, how could you kill him?! Why? It's a crime Stephen! Are you out of your mind?!" Bobby rushed up to Steven and slapping Steven face trying to see if he is still alive. "Mr. Ma?! Mr. Ma?!" he shouted repeatedly. Bobby know it a capital crime to kill, he don't want his brother get sentence to death by the government.

Joe shook his head and quickly stood up, "You are crazy!"

Stephen quickly jerked Joe back, "He deserve it, you heard me?!! Don't make me kill you too!" he warned.

"Stephen, are you nuts?!" Bobby dauntingly scolded his younger brother. His eyes caught the skeleton on the ground. "What?...what...what?" he almost fainted in disbelief.

With nervous heart, Joe followed Bobby eyes, his face immediately drained. "This is not your first time killing...who? Who?" his trembling voice asked.

"They all deserve to die. They have all betrayed Yee Seeu," the unreasonable butler stated.

Bobby stepped back away from the skeletons. "Who else did you kill?! Did Yee Seeu told you to do so?! How stupid can you be to listen to him and kill for him?! Is a capital crime to kill!! The punishment will be death if the police find out!" screamed the elder brother who has always loved and cared for Stephen.

Stephen shook his head and he start to pull Steven body out of the tree branch and put him into the dug up hole along with the skeleton, he begin to push the mud over them again. His face is emotionless, like it was no big deal to kill at all. "Yee Seeu didn't tell me to kill. But they all deserve to die. Saam Seeu Jie has been having an affair with the bastard father behind Yee Seeu back for over three years! Both she and that Mr. Cheung deserve to die! He was the one that knocked Yee Seeu unconscious, when Yee Seeu is teaching Saam Seeu Jie her lesson. I'm just finishing up Yee Seeu job," Stephen steadily stated still thinking that he didn't do anything wrong at all. He believes that Louis would of kill them if he weren't unconscious that day. Stephen quickly grabs Joe shoulder when he sees him wanting to run away.

The elder brother is trembling, "That two skeletons belong to Saam Seeu Jie and Mr. Cheung? Stephen, how could you kill them? We grow up with Saam Seeu Jie! She is like our sister! Do you remember how we use to play together? She never treated us like servant! She even teaches you how to read and write! How could you?!" his voice softened with disappointment and overwhelmed, "I thought you love her..."

Stephen shook his head, "She's not the same person anymore! She has changed ever since this bastard arrived! She used to be sweet and kind, but ever since that Mr. Cheung came along, she has changed! She is a **** that changed her heart and wanted to dump Yee Seeu out like cold liver and run away with that heartless betrayer of Yee Seeu so call buddy! And she even had a child with him! Seeu Yeeh Jai is the seed of that traitor, he is not Yee Seeu son!"

He chuckled coldly, "Talk about true love. She stated that she loved Yee Seeu with all of her heart when she refused me. I accepted cause I believe her, but she lies! She wouldn't do this to Yee Seeu if she really loved him! She is the one, who made me kill her! She is unfaithful to Yee Seeu! She deserves to die! She is no longer the one that I love. She doesn't deserve Yee Seeu love either!" Stephen darted at Joe warningly, "Did you hear me?! They all deserve it!"

He shoved Joe hard as a warning sign, Joe who fallen onto the muddy ground and quickly scooted back while Bobby continue to scold his brother. Joe hand felt something and he pulled up seeing that it was two books. He finally remembered why they were out here in the first place. His eyes dilated, "Where is Yee Seeu Lie?! Did you kill her?"

Nodded, Bobby stood angrily in front of his brother wanting to know the answer too, "Where is she?! She is pregnant Stephen! This is not a game!"

Stephen coldly returned to burry the skeleton and Steven as he informed, "She is not dead."

Bobby shake his head in disbelieve to how his brother has changed into this. "So you did capture her! Stephen! Yee Seeu is going mad cause of her being missing! Where is she?! She didn't do anything wrong! Let her go now!" he demanded.

His younger brother bitterly replied, "Somewhere very save until her child get born."

Anger is starting to boil up in Bobby eyes, "This is not a game Stephen! We are talking about human live here! If anything happen to Yee Seeu Lie and the baby we are in very deep trouble! Did you remember who has taken us in and take care of us and buried our parents when we were young?! We can't do this kind of thing to the Koo! We owe them our lives!"

"I know!" Stephen shouted back, "That's why I didn't kill her yet! And I have remembered all my life, what the Koo's has done for us. I have given up everything for Yee Seeu! I've even stepped away from the one I once loved for Yee Seeu. So don't you dare said I forgotten it!"

Joe sneakily scooted himself farther and farther back with his hand holding to the two books. He saw the front cover of the books with Helen name on it and knew that his master would probably want to see them. And when he thought it was save enough, he quickly shot up and run heading toward the mansion. Stephen quickly ran after him but is stopped by Bobby, while Joe running as fast as he could like his life depends on it.

Frantically, Bobby yelled at his brother trying to straighten Stephen mind, "ENOUGH ALREADY!! Let him go! You are not going to kill anymore people! If you still think of me as your older brother tell me where Yee Seeu Lie is and go turn yourself in to Yee Seeu!"

Gazed at his brother, Stephen felt nothing but being betrayed. "I'm doing all of this for his owns good. I don't have to turn myself in! I didn't do anything wrong," he stubbornly said.

"What you mean you didn't do anything wrong?! You killed three people!" Bobby scolded.

Stephen shoved Bobby away, "Don't make me..." he murmured.

Bobby heart felt stiffened with tears welled in his eyes to hear his own brother threaten him. "What is that suppose to mean?" Bobby softens disheartened voice asked.

The younger brother gulped with his still eyes on Bobby, "I can't turn back now. Once he get everyone know about this the police will get involve. You don't want me dead do you? Do you understand? I did everything to just protect Yee Seeu. You don't have to do anything, just stay out of my way."

Not wanting his brother to step any further into his sin, Bobby rushed up to block his way. "So are you going back to kill everyone that is there?! What about Yee Seeu? You are not protecting him! You are hurting his wife and the unborn child! What will Yee Seeu think when he know that it was you who has kidnapped Yee Seeu Lie?! He will want you dead Stephen!" Bobby yelled clearly.

"Yee Seeu will understand that I did it cause of him," the stubborn butler cold calm voice said.

Bobby is shaking his head, "You are going insane." He grab Stephen wrist firmly, "You are not going anywhere but to clear thing up with Yee Seeu and release Yee Seeu Lie wherever she is!" he dragged Stephen along.

Stephen forcefully jerked Bobby back and shoved him to the ground. Bobby couldn't belief that his own brother would do this to him. Stephen quickly grabbed a rock nearby and Bobby tries to dodge but Stephen manages to hit Bobby on the back of his head when Bobby tries to get up. Bobby quickly felt dizzy and everything seems to spin really fast. Stephen gazed at his brother with a bit of guilt in his heart that he has injured his brother, but he know that it shouldn't kill him. It'll just keep him away from standing in his way.

Bobby lies back down seeing Stephen leaving him behind and running toward the mansion. Bobby reached his weak hand toward Stephen image, he pleaded with worry eyes, "Don't Stephen...don't step any deeper...pull yourself back out Stephen...." he fainted.
******

[ccsakura]

Oh... so steven found out the real reason for Ada's death, Poor Bobby he is so nice and thinks so much for his brother! Keep on updating!

[jeh]

Evil Yak, killing Steven off. He wasn't that annoying <IMG SRC="smilies/angrystick.gif" border="0"> jk <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Anyway, man, that Stephen is evil. Poor Bobby, he is so nice. I hope Joe will make it to the mansion. I don't want to see anybody else get kill anymore. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0"> Update soon.

[Yak]

<IMG SRC="smilies/newangel.gif" border="0"> hehehe, I know I'm evil. Lot more things to make you guy want to kill me, but before you do just remember to read all the way to the end until I said the end, kay?

[Yak]

Chapter 56: Forbidden Affection

Meanwhile in the mansion, Kevin crying elevated with his fist struggling to get more attention by pulling and yanking. He wouldn't calm down no matter what Nicola has tries. Nicola is pacing back and forth in front of the master bedroom with Kevin in her arms. Both Frankie and her heard Annie screaming and they are getting really anxious and worry at the same time. Frankie stood up from his chair and started to pace around too, something is very bothersome to his heart making him not able to stay put. Other then worrying about Annie, he is also concern about Steven. It concerns Frankie to see that he and Louis had returned an hour already, but Steven and the rest still hasn't return.

Frankie sighed with a bit of frustration from hearing Kevin screaming cries. He reached his hands toward Nicola. "Let me tries," he offered, "Your arms probably numbed and tired from carrying him." Nicola manages to slip a soft chuckle and handed Kevin over to Frankie. "Shhh...is okay, your daddy is returning soon," Frankie told the seven months old.

The maid hammered her arm as she sat down on the chair. "I hope Yee Seeu Lie is doing okay," she said. The old grandfather clock echoed loudly from the living room downstairs signaling another hour has passed. "It's four already," Nicola said with a sigh, her eyes gazed toward the master bedroom.

Worriedly, Frankie nodded. Kevin continues to cries from the top of his lungs while his arms swings around distressingly and his face is turning beets red. "Is he sick or something?" Frankie suggested seeing how distressed Kevin is.

Walked up to them, Nicola placed her hand on Kevin forehead. "His temperature felt normal. He ate already. Probably sleepy, but he wouldn't sleep," she shrugged with no idea to why Kevin is screaming from the top of his lung.

While they were chatting about Kevin, they didn't notice a transparent image of a young child pacing back and forth in front of the door. The temperature of the surrounding has cooled down a bit but they didn't notice that either, since everyone heart is too occupy with too much thing to worry about. B-jai spirit drifted back and forth in front of the door waiting, and waiting. He is waiting for baby Annie to be born, but he don't know why. It just this strange guts feeling that something extraordinary will happen cause of the baby. He just knows that he suppose to be here for her.

Annoyed, B-jai grumpily growled loudly at the crying Kevin. But of course no one could hear him since he is just a spirit. He is also irritates by Frankie and Nicola nagging worry about Kevin. "He is not sick! He's just scare of me!" B-jai angrily shouted with irritation and the door to his nursery opened and slammed shuts again loudly cause of his frustration.

Both Frankie and Nicola jumped to the sudden slamming of the door at the far end of the hall. Their eyes swiftly darted over to the locked room with puzzled expression and an eerie feeling making the cold night suddenly seem so chilling to them. B-jai face stare at the door blankly, he didn't know he have that much power to control the door even with so many people around. He was amazed himself, did he really did that?

Gulped, Nicola shaky voice asked, "What was that?"

Frankie shrugged, "Probably, just the wind. Shh...don't cry Kevin." Suddenly another crying sound loudly filled the air crying along with Kevin. It was coming from the master bedroom. Frankie and Nicola turned to gaze at the door in front of them with a joyful smile glowing on their face. B-Jai face brighten up too hearing the sound of the baby he been waiting for. "Did you heard that?! Annie's baby is born!!" Frankie excitedly announced as he jumped in excitement, with Nicola nodding and smiling widely in relief.

B-Jai quickly walked himself through the wall and once he step in he saw Kenix wrapping up the baby with a blanket. Louis was still in bed sited behind the tired Annie and hugging her cozily in his arms, allowing his wife to rest on his chest. Louis is rubbing his head on Annie forehead and pecked her lovingly. Both of them have the biggest smile in the world while their eyes met with a twinkle of joy and gratefulness to have their first child born. They turned theirs concentrating toward the end of the bed to peek at the bundle Kenix is wrapping.

Seeing the small arm reaching out from the bundled up blanket that Kenix is cuddling made Louis grinned ear to ear with excited eyes. "You did it, honey!" his joyful voice said. His hand cupped Annie face and pecked her multiple times while Annie chuckled to his silliness and his overexcited state. He embraced her cozily. "Thanks Annie, thanks for everything," his sincere voice warmed Annie heart.

Even though it was painful, Annie still thinks that it was worth it when she saw the twinkle in Louis dark eyes while he is curiously gazed toward the baby at the end of the bed. Annie tilted her head up and smiled at her husband sweetly, she felt really drained now, but she could feel the warmth and hope of the new family. She snuggled her head on Louis upper chest. "Louis, I love you," Annie whispered. She glance at him with a smile making Louis automatically smiled back and kissed her lip softly. Annie glimpsed over toward the moaning baby. "Is it a girl? I want to see her."

Excitedly, Kenix covered the baby up into a bundle. "It a girl alright! A very healthy one too, she's so chubby!" Kenix cheerful voice echoed in the room making it warm.

Louis chuckled excitedly, "Did you heard that Annie? We have a daughter." He sighed, feeling a bit overwhelm. "I'm a daddy," his sweet voice stated and he glances down at Annie, who feels like shutting her eyes to rest. "You're a mommy," he whispered to Annie who feeling really sick and weakened. She smiled weakly and nodded. He rubbed her cold hand with his hands. It worries him seeing her face turning really pale white like this. "Honey, how are you feeling? You are really cold," his voice saddens a bit with worry.
.
Weakly, Annie beaming toward Kenix, her eyes starting to wearily open and close. "It just cause the night is cold," she assured her husband. "Can I hold her?" her eyes shuts again, she felt so tired.

Her husband eyes were cautiously staring at her with worry. She doesn't look too good. Louis nudged her gently, "Annie. Annie, wake up honey, don't sleep..." he is very afraid that she will not open her eyes again once she fallen asleep.

Annie weakly smiled with a very weak chuckle. "I'm okay, I'm just tired..." her soft voice murmured weakly. And she is feeling very cold and numb. "It's cold in here tonight. Is she cold?" she asked with a motherly voice.

Carrying the baby over to them, Kenix closely study Annie. Annie looked really pale and restless. Kenix sighed softly; she knows that Annie has lost a lot of blood, so it worries her to see Annie so pale and almost lifeless. "She is fine Annie, here she is," Kenix gentle tone said.

Louis received his daughter and a bright smile immediately illuminated his face. He quickly held the baby in front of Annie and let her cuddle their first child. He pulled Annie hand out to place on top of the baby. It bothers him to feel how icy her hand is becoming. "Why are you so cold Annie? Tell me how you are feeling. Are you in pain?" he asked while quickly pulled the blanket closer and tighter around Annie body.

Annie could felt the soft texture of the baby blanket and the soft moaning sound of her daughter. Annie forced herself to open her eyes up and because of her lack of strength she could only open a slit. A smile spread on her face with a soft giggling right when she is able to see the baby. "She is chubby. Her eyes look like yours Louis," her weak hand gently felt the baby face. "Is she having a fever? Why is she so warm?" Annie asked, it was her that was cold instead of the baby having a fever.

Caressingly, Louis felt the soft skin of his daughter and shook his head at Annie with his concern growing stronger. He felt his heart heavy being weighted with fear of losing his wife. His eyes are quickly reddened with tears that he stubbornly won't let go. He embraced Annie tighter trying to warm her up with his body temperature. His head lean against her and softly kissed the side of her head. "She is fine, Annie." Louis told her in his whispering voice, he don't want to show Annie his fear, cause he don't want to make her scare. "You'll be fine too," Louis assured more to himself then Annie. He sniffed a bit to get rid of his tears not wanting to scare Annie.

He turned to look at Kenix with his pair of watery dark eyes. "Could you get me some hot water?" Louis requested. Kenix nodded understandingly and headed out to fetch some hot water. "Honey, why don't you rest for a while? It'll help you gain some strength. I'll be here with you," Louis told Annie. Suddenly, he stares up to the ceiling trying to blink his tears away before he return to Annie. He felt his heart stirred unsettlingly and his breath became deepen with concern. How could he not worry seeing her like this? What if he loses her forever? He hugged her tightly and pulled the blankets closer tugging it tighter around Annie. His hands are rubbing against Annie upper arms, while Annie arms are cuddling the baby. "Annie you need to rest," his gentle voice demanded again.

Chuckled weakly, Annie glances up toward Louis, "I'm fine, don't worry too much. Isn't she cute?" she holds the baby up higher to rub her cheek on the baby forehead. "Eve Koo. Louis, you'll still love her, even though she is a girl right?" Annie asked with her barely audible voice. Louis nodded quickly like a reflex, he is speechless cause he can't control his concern for Annie. Annie could felt a drop of Louis tears soaked into her bangs. She tilted her head up and smiled reassuringly at her husband. Her cold fragile hand reach toward Louis cheek and wiped his tear away, "I remember that I promise you, I'll be fine. I never break a promise yet, have I?"

Silently, Louis shook his head and shuts his eyes with a deep breath before he reopen them. "You better keep this promise too," his thicken deep voice lingered in Annie ear. Annie chuckled at him just to lighten his emotion. She moved his hand to place on the baby cheek. He gently strokes his daughter soft creamy cheek that is a bit rosy. "She is beautiful, just like her mommy," Louis said in a soft tone.

A motherly smile spread on Annie face after hearing what her husband said. Louis softly chuckled at the expression of the baby with protruded lip like a bud of a rose. "She even learns how to pout like you already," Louis teased with his deep voice. Annie giggled slightly and pouted with her elbow slightly elbowing Louis, which made Louis chuckle more as he admire the baby rose bud like lips and round button nose. The baby eyes are closed peacefully with thin eyelids that have wavy long lashes.

Tired, Annie sighed and closed her eyes. "Honey, can we not have another baby? I think one is plenty," Annie murmured tiredly while Louis chuckled to her request.

Embraced Annie, Louis pecked the side of her forehead, "Anything you said, as long as you keep your promise." He gathered Annie hands into his and held it tightly, "Have some rest Annie, I'll be here next to you."

Annie nodded and relaxed herself to take a short nap. She was so exhausted and drained that she could fall asleep within three second. Louis gently stroked her arms soothingly while his eyes beamed toward his daughter that seems to be sleeping too. Kenix stepped in with a shallow bucket of hot water. "Thanks," Louis whispered.

"Is she feeling better?" Kenix concernedly asked. Louis nodded reassuringly. "That's good, I'll leave you three alone," Kenix said and walked out to give her husband and Nicola the full report of Annie condition.

Gently, Louis removed Eve from Annie arms and places her on the bed, Eve moaned and started to fuss a little. "Shhh...let's mommy sleep now, he told the new born with his fatherly voice. B-jai, who has been trying to take a look at the baby finally get a chance to see her. Louis scooted away from behind Annie back, in order to lies her down comfortably, so she can rest. Annie body jerked to the sudden movement, Louis grabs her hand reassuringly, "I'm still here...go back to sleep." Annie body relaxed again and fallen back to sleep. Louis rinsed a towel into the hot water and wiped his wife hands and face with it repeatedly, hoping to help her warm up a bit.

Meanwhile B-jai climbed onto the bed and sited next to Eve staring at her curiously. A wide smile spread on his face brightly seeing the cute cuddly baby in front of him. But he still don't understand the feeling he has been getting the entire day. The feeling that something big is happening today and the feeling that he had to be here to sees the baby. But what is all this feeling about? And he couldn't explain why he could communicate with the baby all along.

Smiled, B-jai reaches his hand out toward her face. Instead of having his hand go through her, he could actually feel her. This is odd, since he couldn't touch any matter before. "Huh? I could touch you," his surprised voice said. His eyes widen with amaze while his childish mind is confused and puzzled, but the feeling of being able to touch someone again was magical to him, he has forgotten how it felt like to really touch someone in reality. He swiftly turned toward Annie who is sleeping next to him and Eve. He reached to touch Annie shoulder but his hand goes through Annie like always. He is even more surprise to why he couldn't feel Annie but he was able to feel the baby. He turned back to the baby again to test it out, and indeed he could feel her warm soft skin. "Wowww..." he said with a bright smile of aw.

The baby turned to her right where B-jai touches her cheek, making B-jai smiling excitedly. She slowly opened her eyes to the new world again, she blinked couple time trying to get use to the bright light and the fuzzy image. B-jai leaned closer toward her making her eyes beamed at him stilly and started to cry. Her hand swings around trying to reach B-jai face. B-jai quickly scooted away, feeling a bit guilty for making her cry. She cried louder after not seeing him around. Louis quickly tugged Annie hand back under the blanket and pick up Eve to cuddle her in his arms rocking her a bit. B-jai eyes followed Louis and the baby as he sits there with an interested grin.

"Shhh...is okay, daddy is here," whispered the new father as he patted her steadily at a soothing rhythm. Having a newborn in his arms again made him remember how B-jai was when he is a newborn. Louis sighed with a bit of regret, only if B-jai is still alive now. "He would be a great brother," he murmured to the baby who is calmed down.

Eve silenced and moaned instead as her eyes beamed at her daddy shirt with curiosity. Her arms moved aimlessly, Louis chuckled softly seeing her expression and redden face cause of the cries. "Eve Koo," Louis gentle voice called out. He smiled with joy from just saying his daughter name. He gently stroked her cheek, "Beautiful, just like mommy, huh?"

He slides his finger toward her small hand and she quickly grasps it tightly squeezing it. Louis smiled widened as he gently jigger his finger to play a little tug a war with his daughter. His eyes caught the red marking on Eve right wrist. His eyes swiftly widened alertly and pulled her right arm out more and turned it to clearly reveal the mark. With his shocked eyes on the mark, his finger gently traces the red mark. "B-jai?" his eyes grew with confusion, how could this be? He tries to recall B-jai right wrist, he remember B-jai having the same birthmark as Eve, on the same position too. He stares at Eve with puzzle and a bit of fear cause he couldn't reason this unexplainable mark. Did B-jai reincarnated to be Eve? Eve fussed and trying to pull her arm back, Louis let go of her arm and just stares at her like she is a ghost.

Meanwhile B-jai couldn't see what Louis was staring at, since Louis is standing up with the baby held in his arms, a bit too tall for B-jai to see what's going on. He is wondering why Louis called out his name. Annie moaned a bit making Louis eyes quickly snapped out of his thought and turned to give Annie his full attention. He quickly sat down on the edge of the bed right next to his wife.

Opened her eyes a bit, Annie smiled before she shuts them again. Her hand sneaked toward her husband lap and he held on to it. Her round eyes opened to beam at Louis and the baby, she felt a bit better. "Could you handle her? Let me take care of her," Annie said.

Louis patted her shoulder with his free hand, "No, I want you to rest more. You'll get to see her tomorrow. Come on close your eyes. I'll be here." Annie nodded and snuggled toward his lap to sleep. Like always Louis lean down and softly pecked her eyelid. He smiled with warm and lean back on the head broad with Eve in his arms. He looked at Eve again and sighed not knowing what to think.

B-jai is standing at the edge of the bed peeking at the baby curiously. A bright smile shinned on his face, and he felt something strange. Like he has know the baby for longer then what met the eyes. He nodded agreeing to what Louis said about the baby. "Daddy you are right, she is pretty," he said to Louis, even thought he know that Louis couldn't heard him. B-jai reached his hand out and gently run it along the baby cheek. "Hi Annie, I'm here," for some reason he still insist that the baby be called Annie instead of Eve.

The baby moaned and cried loudly with her face wrinkled distressingly. Louis gently rocked her in his cradled arms, "Shhh...don't wake mommy up." Eve arm swings out and her eyes opened to her surrounding. Her round dark eyes beamed at Louis almost like she is alert to this new world. She stopped fussing and just looked ahead on the blurry image of her father. Louis couldn't help himself from chuckling at her expression and her round eyes on him. She is different, he told himself, she couldn't be B-jai. "Hello," Louis whispered to her and pecked her soft forehead. "I'm your father," he informed then he turned the baby slightly to face the sleeping Annie, "And there is your mommy, isn't she beautiful?" He chuckled at himself and sighed happily, "Everything will be fine from now on. I won't allow anyone to harm both of you."

Curious to the newborn creature, B-jai scooted closer wanting to have a better view of the baby. He chuckled when he see Eve with her eyes open too. She seems to see him and turned to look at him curiously. Eve arms stretched a bit and the birthmark on her right wrist flashes into B-jai eyes. B-jai stood there like a stone while he felt flashes of images rushing through him so fast. He felt the strong rush of energy through him and image of the past flooding into his mind.

He could see himself with her, they were grown up, she looked exactly like Annie while she runs in the middle of the streets. But she is dressed differently; she is in Shanghai school uniform with a pink cloak. The dress code, the streets, the surrounding, all looked very old fashion, it was a period before the present time. The surrounding is covered in white snow while the sky is brighten by the thin layer of snow it shedding. B-jai is totally mesmerized and he couldn't control seeing image like flashcard loading into his mind. He could hear her laughing and shouting for him as she ran toward the street filled with people.

B-jai vigorously shakes his head trying to get rid of those images but his mind has changed the surrounding and situation. B-jai felt the strong rush of emotion, pain, and old memories all given back to him as the surrounding spin so fast that it blur out all image. He could hear loud voices of people shouting and yelling with hatred. A bit confuse to what is happening to him, B-jai quickly covered his ears and shuts his eyes tightly shouting from the top of his lungs, "AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

The candles in Louis and Annie master bedroom flickered violently and all the doors to the rooms in the second floor open and shuts loudly making the mansion shook a bit. Louis cautiously darted at the door, wondering what's happening. Eve was crying loudly too, which make Louis panic. And finally the glass to the balcony door cracked loudly and shattered into million of pieces. Wind gusted in wildly rippling the curtain violently like haunting soul. Annie moaned to the noise of the slamming doors and the broken glass. She weakly opened her eyes to see the candlelight of the room flashes.

"Louis?" Annie called out with fear panicked into her heart.

Hugged her, Louis grab hold of her hand tightly with the baby in front of Annie. "I'm here," he assured.

"What's happening?" Annie asked while protectively hugged her crying daughter.

Her husband shakes his head with confusion, "I don't know..." he silenced, he could hear the very faint sound. "Annie did you heard that?"

Concentrating to listen, Annie could hear Frankie, Kenix, Kevin, and Nicola in the hallway wondering the same thing. Her eyes suddenly widened to the faint scream in the background. "It's B-jai," her shaky voice confirmed. Louis nodded. "Is he here for the baby?" Annie started to stress out and panic. "He said the baby belongs to him before...Louis don't let him have Eve..." she pulled on Louis sleeves.

Louis embraced Annie tightly while Annie holds the crying Eve tightly too. "Don't worry, I won't let him do so." He looked around, he is a bit relieved that the baby is not B-jai cause he could hear B-jai screaming. "Benny stops it now!" he demanded. The screaming immediately stopped and the door calmed down, the flame on all the candles has also settles down. Both Louis and Annie consciously studying theirs surrounding. The baby have also quieted down and moaning instead.

Meanwhile B-jai stood by the bed staring straight ahead blankly, his spirit has froze in place while he could see those vivid image that he has just receive. It's all slowly creeping back to him. B-jai could see the older version of him running after the girl that looked like Annie while she is being carried by a pig cage. "Saam Seeu Jie! NO!!" he shouted with his eyes immediately shuts tight and he is trapped seeing himself dressed like a servant boy trying to protect his mistress from the crowd of people that is throwing rotten egg and food at her.

B-jai could see and repeat every word that happened in the past. "It not her fault! Saam Seeu Jie tells them! He is not worth it! Tell them the truth! They'll send you to death if you don't!!" his past shouted toward the young girl. He could see his mistress refusing. B-jai could feel his heart rushed with panic as he searches for the one that is able to help. "Daai Seeu! Please, it not Seeu Jie fault!" he pleaded his mistresses eldest brother. He then ran distressingly to another man that has a darkened face. "Cheung Seeu Yeeh, please let her go! I beg you please, it's not her fault!"

He swiftly turned back to his mistress who stares at her brother with cold stubborn eyes. B-jai could see himself angrily shouting at the crowd of citizen that is throwing rotten veggie at them. "Stop it! Don't do this to her! It my fault!! Leave her alone! Punish me instead!" he could see her tears while she shook her head at him.

B-jai shook his head with his mind snapping out of his daze. His eyes widened and he finally knows why he is waiting for her. They have something that they didn't finish up during theirs past live. He remembered everything from his past live before he became Julian and Helen son. B-jai gulped with his eyes at Eve, he couldn't believe that this is real. He lifted his right hand and pushed the sleeve up a bit revealing the same birthmark on his right wrist.

Another flashback rushed into him. He sees both of them kneeled in front of the Shanghai government while being shouted with rude comment coming from the citizens who stood behind them. He could hear the judge tell them their sentence for a forbidden mistress and servant relationship. Their punishment is to get scar with a symbol that will let everyone sees their sin. They were pulled apart and each got burned with a hot iron leaving them with this mark on their wrist.

B-jai gently felt his own red mark and tears were in his eyes as he remembered everything. Every little detail of their past, how he has protected her and taken care of her during her worst period, how he ended up scarifying his own life cause of her. He recalls what she has promise him even though she don't truly loved him. Tears washed B-jai cheeks and he murmured at Eve, "You came back for me...like you promised...but you don't have to. I never wanted anything in return." He looked at Eve for a long time and turned to walk away, he disappeared with a broken heart from remembering all the painful memories again.

After B-jai spirit has left, the room when back to it silent calmness except for the gusting wind and rain outside. Annie eyes is wide open as she drawn herself upright and leaned into her husband. Both Louis and Annie eyes are cautiously studying their surrounding and trying to listen to B-jai voice again. But instead of hearing his scream, they hear nothing but silent, it was so silent that it actually felt icy. Annie hand clenched on Louis shirt nervously, Louis squeezed her arm reassuringly.

Annie is still holding Eve protectively. "I think he left," she whispered. Louis nodded while Annie voice lingered into the cold room, since no other noise is here to interfere. Suddenly a loud repetitive pounding sound of something made Annie jumped with fright, she hold the baby tightly while clinging to her husband for protection. "What's that?" her shaky voice asked while her lip paled even more.

Embraced her, Louis reassuringly pecked her forehead. "I'm here," he turned to gaze toward the doorway, "I think that came from the front door."

"Stephen is back!" Annie shouted with fearful eyes.

"Don't be afraid, he won't get a chance to hurt you again," Louis seriously looked into Annie eye, "Annie, you stay put here with Eve, I'll go get the door." Annie shook her head and grab onto Louis sleeves so tightly like a child not willing to let go. "I'll be careful, alright?" her husband comforted her. They can hear Frankie and Kenix debating outside about who at the door.

Frankie rushing down the dark stair, "Kenix stay upstairs, I'll go open the door, it probably Steven."

Rushing behind her husband, Kenix interlocked his hand, "I'll go with you!" Frankie nodded and they disappeared.

"They got the door already. You promise, you won't leave my side," Annie stare at her husband with round hard eyes that only show how much she care and worry about his safety. Louis nodded and smiled to reassure her. Annie sighed, "I just wish everything bad can go away."

Louis nodded, "It will, I'll get thing straighten up and back to normal."
******

[jeh]

Wow, interesting, a love story that is continue in the next life. But how can Benny be able to? He is a ghost and she is a human. Will he be reincarnated? I know you won't answer my questions so update soon. I wonder who is at the door. Is it Joe or Stephen? I hope it is Joe so he can show Louis the diaries.

[Yak]

actually Benny and Eve relationship is not going to get cover in this fanfic. They are actually in my other fanfics called "Forbidden Affection" and "Eyes of the Beholder." Will update "Forbidden Affection" after this is done <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Yak]

Chapter 57: Childhood

The hammering of the front door was so violent that it echoed loudly throughout the mansion. Annie nervously huddled into her husband arms while both of their attention is toward the bedroom door and their ears are tracing the footstep and movement of Frankie and Kenix who has volunteer to answer the door. Frankie urgently rushed down with flickering candlelight shining from behind him, casting his shadow ahead of him. Kenix right hand is holding onto the long red candlestick as she followed close behind her husband lighting their way and heading toward the front door.

A loud clap of thunder shook Kenix with a bit of fright. She quickly slipped her hand into Frankie hand and held it tightly. "Wait for me," her voice echoed into the emptiness of the main floor.

Frankie squeezed his wife hand to reassure her. He hasn't seen Kenix jumped cause of a thunder before, since she is always the strong one that never fear about anything. "It's okay, it just the thunder," he assured.

Kenix nodded, of course she know it was the thunder. But everything about tonight made her felt eerie, especially with the thought of the killer being outside and what just happened upstairs with all the bedroom doors slamming wildly and window shattering. Frankie walked to the front door where the noise continues to pound like crazy and he could hear Joe shouting and yelling for someone to answer the door. Frankie impulse quickly wanted to open up the door, but Kenix held him back. "Check first!" she blurted out with anxiousness. Frankie nodded and quickly drawn the curtain away from the small longitudinal window to peek out. He saw Joe fearful face stare at him with arms that seems to be hugging something.

Joe is pounding on the window as he frantically shouted, "Mr. Lam let me in!!"

Cautiously, Frankie looked behind Joe to make sure that Stephen is not around. His face drained a bit with concern after noticing his best friend Steven is not with Joe. He quickly cranked the lock to unfasten it and opened the door for Joe. Joe quickly rushed in with his body trembling like he just seen a ghost. Kenix quickly locked the door again while Frankie grab both of Joe shoulder firmly. "Where is my friend Steven?! Did you and Bobby found him?" Frankie impatiently asked with his heart starting to heavy with worry and a sense that something horrifying has happened, cause he didn't like what expression Joe's eyes is showing. "What happen to him?" he weakly asked with Kenix pressing her lip together nervously as both of them stare at Joe for an answer.

The horror image of how Steven body looked like, drowned Joe mind again and made him felt a bit weakened, "He is dead... Stephen went mad! He has killed Mr. Ma!! There is blood everywhere..." Joe voice was loud enough that both Louis and Annie heard what he said.

Annie expression went blank; she is daunted by the new. Tears rushed to her pair of eyes making them stained red. "Steven is dead?" her barely audible voice sounded as tears rolled down her cheek. "Steven is dead," she repeated her sentence with her heart aching. Louis warmly wrapped his arm around her. Annie leans into Louis for comfort. Louis soothingly ran his palm up and down Annie back. "How could he kill Steven?" Annie teary voice asked with anger.

Louis eyes are getting heavier with disbelief that his butler could change so much. Annie continues to sob with grief, he whispered to her with a soft peck on her forehead, "I'll make sure he will get his punishment."

Frightened, Annie shakes her head, "I don't want you near him. I just want to get out of here Louis," she held the baby closer, "I don't want any of us hurt."

Her husband nodded repeatedly to calm her down, "I won't let him harm both of you."

Meanwhile back downstairs, Joe voice speeded up and panicked as he recalls what happen in the wood. He finally stopped for a pause and gasped, "Where is Yee Seeu?! I must tell him that Stephen has captured Yee Seeu Lie!"

Nether Frankie or Kenix answer Joe question, both of them are shocked after the news that Steven is dead. Frankie suddenly felt like his heart has jumped out making his body so light. He stepped back a step and slightly swing his head back and forth with disbelief. He couldn't take it that his childhood best friend is no longer alive. Frankie could hear his wife soft sobbing starting to gain momentum. He automatically gently swings his arm around her shoulder. "Dead?" Frankie disbelievingly said the word like it was a new vocabulary.

Joe nodded with a frown. But he is more worry about his mistress safety now. "Where is Yee Seeu?! Mr. Lam did you find Yee Seeu?! He needs to know about Stephen! We need to somehow force Stephen to tell us where Yee Seeu Lie is!" he suggested.

"Annie is fine, we found her. Louis is upstairs with her now," Frankie finally answer Joe question with his empty tone. Joe face shows a flush of relief to know that his mistress and master are safe and sound. He quickly rushed upstairs without another words.

Kenix whispered between tears, "Kevin is fatherless and motherless now, how is he going to coup with this?"

With hand tightened into a fist, Frankie pounded it against the door. His eyes are filled with anger and a flame of revenge mixed with confusion to why Stephen would want to kill his friend. Kenix gently grab Frankie fist that is on the door, just a way to ease her husband frustration and anger. Frankie hissed and let out a breath, "I'm fine. Lets go upstairs and see what we should do. When the storm stop, I'm going to get the police to take care of this. That Stephen needed to put to jail or sentence to death." Kenix has never heard Frankie voice being so deepened with emotion before. She nodded to him and they headed up.

When they reach the second level they could hear Joe voice explaining to Louis what has happened in the forest. Joe arms are hugging the two diaries as he rambles on and on. Annie sob begin to mix in with her hatred of the butler as she listen to how Steven has gotten killed. Louis embraces Annie to comfort her sobbing, "Enough Joe," he warned cause he doesn't want Annie to get anymore depressed. Joe stopped what he was saying and let out a breath of sympathy as his eyes spotted Kevin who is in Nicola arms. Louis recognizes the handwriting on what Joe was holding. "What is that?" his alerted voice asked.

The driver finally remembered the two diaries and quickly hand it over to Louis. "I found it on the ground. There is mud all over it, I think Stephen has buried it in the woods," Joe explained.

Louis hand delicately runs over the ink writing on the cover. He remembers Helen penmanship well. "Helen write diary?" Louis softly said more to himself.

Stopped her sobbing, Annie turned to look at what Louis was holding. She recognized one of them being the one that she has read and somehow lost. She pulled 'My Husband Diary' from Louis hand. "How did he steal this from me?" Annie asked in a bit of surprise to see the diary again.

Her husband turned his undivided attention toward her with two dark pupils waiting for her to explain what she just said. "You know about this?" Louis surprise and confusedly asked, his eyes are kept at Annie wondering why he never know of it.

Weakly nodded, Annie felt a bit guilty for reading this diary behind Louis back. "I found it in the sewing room and read it before. Its' written by Helen when you parted her for schooling oversea. She wanted to share with you, what she feels and what has happened when you were gone by writing it all down on this diary," explained Annie in a steady voice that show her respect for Helen love toward Louis.

"How come she never shows me?" Louis wondered out loud as he flipped through one of the diary.

"You never had time for her to do so," Annie sadly said, she felt a bit of sympathy for Helen. Both Frankie and Kenix show a surprised look, they never know that Louis have a first wife.

The room was silent. Louis continue to skim through the diary reading what Helen has wrote about their past. He missed Helen more as he skims through pages of what Helen has write about their pure loving relationship since childhood. Annie could see and feel Louis emotional state changing as he continue to read. She couldn't help herself from feeling a bit discomfort seeing her husband tears beginning to glister as he read. Annie is afraid that Louis will not let go of the fact that Helen is dead. But most of all Annie didn't have enough confident in herself, she fear that her husband will miss and love his former wife more than her.

"Why didn't she just tell me?" Louis finally murmured with a sigh after a long moment of silent. Annie hand sneaked to grab his and held it securely. Her round eyes is on him wanting his reassurance. Louis shut the diary and his eyes met Annie when he turned toward her. He could see the insecure eyes of Annie staring into his. Seeing Annie just made him remember how Helen looked like. A drop of tear rolled down his dry cheek. He gently touched Annie face and cupped it. "Don't worry, I know what I need to let go, compare to who needed me now," he assured making his wife slipped out a smile of relief hearing what he just said.

Louis sighed softly with regretful eyes. "I just regret that I didn't give her the time she needed from me. I'm not a good husband to her," he paused with curiosity, "Why would Stephen want to bury these two diaries of Helen?"

"Yee Seeu Yeeh, there are two burial mounts in the wood that Mr. Ma has dug up showing two skeletons. Stephen mentions that they are Saam Sui Jie and Mr. Cheung skeletons," informed Joe, whose eyes still show it shocked stage from witnessing what happen in the wood.

"Helen and Julian?" Louis asked with bewildered eyes, "Julian is dead too?! How?" Louis concentrated on recalling what happen. He shut his eyes and tries to remember, he felt a headache coming up. "What happen? I killed Helen..."

With fear, Annie immediately shook her head and corrected him, "No, you didn't. Stephen did! Stephen did!" Louis shuts his eyes tightly but he couldn't recall much of what happen. He shot up and rushing out of the bedroom. "Louis where are you going?!" shouted Annie with concern. She wanted to follow him so she quickly get off bed too, but cause of her weakened strength, her knees wouldn't allow her to walk or stand up, so she quickly fallen down right away. Eve cried to the sudden fall along with her mother. Annie panicked and quickly cuddled her crying daughter while her eyes is toward the hall where her husband has disappears to.

Kenix helped Annie back onto the bed, "Annie, you're too weak to walk."

Annie didn't listen to a word Kenix is saying, her heart and eyes are darted toward the direction her husband has disappeared to. "Louis!!" she called out wanting him to return to her. Annie quickly handed Eve to Kenix and wanted to get off the bed again.

"Annie stay put!" Frankie ordered as he is running out of the room heading toward Louis. "I'll get him back for you!" Frankie ran after Louis, who has run into his study room. Frankie stopped at the doorway and stepped into the study room, seeing Louis frantically searching his desk and opening drawls.

Unable to find the key to B-jai nursery room, Louis heart started to beat with frustration. "Where is the key?!" his distressed voice questioned. He couldn't find the key to B-jai nursery anymore. He wanted to go back into the room, cause it has always helped him remember what happened that day if he could be in it again.

Frankie is standing close to him looking everywhere for any kind of key. "What key?" Frankie asked wanting to help.

Frustratingly slammed the drawl to his desk shuts, Louis pounded on the desk. "HE TOOK THE KEY!!" Louis angrily shouted thinking that his butler has stolen the key to the room, since he thought only Stephen and himself know about it. But in fact Steven has taken the key and opened the room last night, where B-jai retrieved the key from him.

Can't find the key, Louis rushed back out to turn the doorknob to B-jai nursery but it was lock like always. Frankie trailed after him puzzled to what he is doing, "What's in there? Why do you need to go in?"

"I want to remember what happen! I need to remember if I killed Helen or Stephen did," exclaims Louis as he stare at the door, "How come I remember, I was the one that kill her? But why would Stephen tell Annie that he killed Helen?" Louis is trying really hard to recall, "I don't understand. I was in there holding to Helen neck very tightly, she passed out." He paused cause he can't remember what happen next, his mind is like a piece of white paper. "Stephen came. But Helen has die already," Louis remembered seeing his butler just rushing in the room from the hallway when he woke up that day.

Gulped, Frankie gave Louis his strange scared expression, "You killed someone? Who?" He curiously asked.

"Helen, my first wife. I didn't mean it. I was going to let go but it was too late she is dead already," Louis slide down to sit with his back against the door of B-jai nursery. His head buried under his folded arms and knees. "How did Julian get kill? I didn't see him at all, I don't remember seeing him that day. Why would he be buried with Helen?" Louis is lost to how everything fit together.

After begging Kenix for so long to let her get off bed, Annie is now walking slowly down the hallway toward Louis, with Kenix help balancing her weak body. Nicola followed behind holding both babies. Annie sat down next to Louis once she gets there. "Louis you didn't kill Helen," Annie keeps on correcting his conditioned thinking. "Stephen did, he said so. There is no reason for him to lie to me. He confesses to me because he was sure that I won't live to tell you. He probably killed your friend Julian too."

Her husband shakes his head, "How? When?"

Nicola handed Eve back to Annie, cause Eve kept crying. Eve stopped crying once she is in Annie arms again. Annie just loved her daughter so much, but seeing her so vulnerable and dependent worry her a bit. She wetted her dry and nervous lips, "Louis, it doesn't matter anymore. What matter now is that we get Stephen turned into the police. I don't want him anywhere near Eve."

Nodded, Louis gazed at Eve. His eyes beamed out toward the office window seeing the big storm and typhoon still wildly occurring outside but the sky has lighten up a bit. "We should be safe in here. All the doors and windows are locked downstairs," Louis told Annie.

"But the window is all shattered upstairs," Kenix pointed out the fact.

"There is no way he could climb up here. But he could break the main floor window easily," Louis stated what his mind is thinking.

Frankie nodded agreeing. "We need to be prepare for him then. At least we need something to protect ourselves with," suggested Frankie, he is thinking about knives.

Suddenly, Annie shivered to the thought of Stephen getting into this house no matter what they do. "He could still come in, I think he have the key to the kitchen door. Cause I locked all the doors this afternoon before I search his room, and he got in from the kitchen door," she told her husband.

They all turned toward the hallway near the stairs cause they thought they heard something. Annie gulped and scooted closer to Louis. Being a protective husband, Louis patted her hand, "He couldn't do anything to us. I won't let him kill again."

Frankie is heading down the hallway toward the stairs as he offered, "I'll check downstairs again."

"Wait, I'll go with you!" Louis called after Frankie. Annie pulled on his sleeve not wanting him out of her sight. "I'll be careful," Louis gentle reassuring tone comforted Annie. He is worry that Stephen has break into the house already. Louis looked at his wife, Kenix, and Nicola along with the two infants, he is worry about their safety. "Lets hide you guy first," he suggested in a whisper. He suddenly hear a click from behind, Annie heard it too.

They darted at the door of B-jai nursery. The door slightly cracked open. Everyone face was daunted with puzzled eyes at the door. Both Louis and Annie looked at each other. Louis whispered, "B-jai?" of course there was no answer. He didn't have the time to figure out what happen. He opened the door and helped Annie into the room. He told Kenix and Nicola to walk in, but the door slammed shut loudly right when they wanted to step in, making them jump back. "Are we locked in?!" Annie panicking voice asked.

Louis helps her sit down first and checked the door. He could open it with no problem, "No." He signaled Kenix and Nicola to come in again, but once they step close he could feel the force of the door wanting to shut. "Hold it, don't come in," Louis told them, worrying that they will get hurt if the door slammed on them. He has a feeling that B-jai is not allowing anyone else into his nursery. He stepped toward Annie and the baby. "Annie stays right here with Eve, I'll be back," Louis directed.

Annie nodded, "What about Kenix and Nicola?"

"They can hide somewhere else. Just stay here, I'll be back right away after we check downstairs. You should be safe here," Louis told his wife. He then gave Annie a quick hug and pecked her forehead. Then he stood up and walked out of the nursery with it door automatically shuts and locked. He opened the door to the sewing room and had Nicola, Kenix and Kevin stay in there.

"Lets go," Frankie impatiently urged. He ran downstairs with Joe quickly followed behind holding a candle to light the way. Instead of following them, Louis walked down the hallway shutting and locking every single room including the master bedroom that is filled with candles. Just in case Stephen is in the house, it will at least slow him down on knowing where Annie and the rest are hiding. He then ran downstairs to catch up with Frankie and Joe.

When Louis caught up to Frankie, he notice Frankie is putting a chair slanted against the lock. "It's still lock?" Louis asked.

Frankie nodded, "Yeah. He is still outside. There is no water puddle on the floor." Louis nodded in a bit of relief.

Joe headed back to them and informed, "The front door is still lock and all windows are lock and hasn't been broken in." Frankie hand him a knife and Louis one too. Joe eyes widened, "We're not going to kill him right?"

"Not if he want to kill us. It could be handy," Frankie said, but he actually wanted to kill the cruel butler that killed his best friend. Louis sighed. Even though he is mad at Stephen, he still has no intension to kill him. They basically grew up together. Frankie patted Louis shoulder and wrapped Louis hand around the handle of a sharp knife. "Just to protect yourself and Annie," Frankie reminded Louis, Louis nodded.

Pulled a key out of his pocket, Louis hand it to Frankie, "This is the key to the sewing room. Lock the door once you get in and stay quiet. Don't use the candle for light. Just hide there till morning come or the storm stopped, then we'll get out of here and report to the police." They nodded to the plan. "Lets go up," Louis said.

Once they are at the second level, Frankie and Joe gotten into the sewing room and did as Louis said. They locked up the door and blow out the candlelight. Luckily Kevin was a sleep, so he shouldn't cause any attention by crying. But just in case, all four adults decide to hide in the walk in closet in the sewing room with Kevin. At least if he did cry, hopefully the sound will muffle down enough.

Meanwhile, Louis stepped back into the master bedroom to retrieve Helen's diaries, he wanted to read and find out more to why Stephen would bury the two diaries. After relocking the door to the master bedroom, he headed back into B-jai room and locked the door from inside. Annie smiled in relieve to see him back again.

Warmly, Louis smiled back at Annie as he sat down next to her, which is by the window with some light shining in. "Like I promise," his gentle voice just gave Annie the secure she needed at this time. Annie nodded and leaned her head tiredly on her husband shoulder. She is still exhausted and worn out from childbirth. "Why don't you rest for a while? You needed to sleep and rest more. Let me have her," Louis requested, he took Eve from Annie arms.

Annie snuggled close to Louis in the dark with some light from the lighting. The sky is a lighter indigo now, meaning morning will arrive soon. "He hasn't breaks in yet?" Annie asked. Louis shakes his head. Annie arms snaked around Louis right arm with her head on his right shoulder. "I just wish all of this would end soon," her weak lingering voice hoped.

Caressingly, Louis turned to peck her bang, "It will, only two more hours till sunrise. The storm wouldn't last forever." He beamed out the window, "See the sky is not as indigo anymore."

His wife nodded with her eyes looking at the sky. Annie then turned back to her husband, "Louis, do you still remember how we first met?"

Turned to her, Louis slip a warm smile, "Of course. I thought I saw a ghost." He manages to slightly chuckle even in this situation. Annie did too. She felt so secure and warm being with him. Even if they have to die today, she would be happy knowing that Louis is by her side.

With mind conjuring up old memories, Annie remembered how dark it was when she went to feed the pig back then before the sun even rise. "It was about this time that day too," she reminded her husband. Louis nodded. Annie sighed wearily, "Wouldn't it be nice if we live in a remote farmland of our own?"

Fatherly, Louis is stroking his daughter cheek as he replied to Annie, "Isn't it remote enough here?"

Annie rolled her eyes up to look at his shadow, "I don't like it here. It too isolated. Or else we wouldn't have to be here hiding from Stephen, instead of getting help." She sighed dreamily, "Ever since when I was six, I have always wanted a house in the middle of the yellow fields of flower. Have I told you about the flower field in my village?"

Her husband shook his head, "No." Louis sighed with guilt, "I'm never around to let you share things with me. I'm sorry Annie, I'm not a good husband. Not to you or Helen."

"You are. At least to me, you are," Annie sincerely reassured her husband as she smiled sweetly at him. He is right, they never have a chance to really just talk and listen to each other. Especially with him kept avoiding her earlier. But Annie understands the purpose for him to avoid her earlier.

Louis gazed at Annie sparkling eyes that made him wanted to kiss her. He leaned toward her and shared a kiss until Eve fussed. Both of them chuckled and ended their kiss. He sighed at Eve, "No wonder people don't want to have baby too soon." Annie chuckled and elbowed him. He cleared his throat and seriously, "Annie, I'll be here to listen to you from now on. Tell me more about the flower field."

"I love you," Annie suddenly said with sincere eyes at her husband. Louis grabs her hand and squeezes it, showing her his love too. She leans on his shoulder again and shut her eye to rest as she chats with him and shares her childhood. "I had always loves to spend time in the flower field that is by the streams. It's actually up toward the foot of the mountain, it really quiet and beautiful there. One of my chores is to take my uncle water buffalos out for a walk and to let them drink water and cool down in the streams."

Teasingly, Louis couldn't help himself from chuckling, "My wife actually take care of cows?"

Annie pouted at him with her eyes popped open gazing at him, "They are water buffalos not cows. And I'm still taking care of one that is right in front of me now."

Her husband laughed. "Go on," Louis encouraged. He listen with all his heart, while he is also alert to any sound from outside the room that might signal him that Stephen has enter the house. But so far it has been peaceful.

Recalling her days with Frankie family, Annie sighed sadly to her childhood life, "I never told you how my parents die huh?" Louis swings his right arm around her, she lean against his chest instead as she goes on, "I use to have an older brother too. My Dei owns a fishing boat, where we basically live there when I was young. I remember us being really happy. Leung would always help Dei out with the fishing net while Gor play with me," she softly chuckled at the fuzzy memory of her older brother, "he would teach me how to grab onto those slippery fishes in the bucket." Annie sighed sadly cause she missed them, "They loved me a lot and spoil me, especially my Gor. He is like you, being eight years older than me." Annie lip slowly curved downward making a frown as she snuggled closer to Louis, "He gave up his own live for mine."

Louis could feel Annie sorrow and sadden voice, he gently asked, "What happen?"

"It happen when I was five," Annie paused trying to recall the blurry memories of hers. "I only remember that we were out fishing like usual, but this time a typhoon hit us. Our boat was torn into pieces. It was in the middle of the night like now. All of us are in the ocean, I don't even know how to swim. It was dark and cold. I couldn't see my parents anywhere. Gor is the one that spotted me and swim toward me. He helped me onto a piece of floating wood that he was holding to. But it wouldn't support both of our weight, so he let go..."

"It in the past now Annie." Louis whispered.

"I know," Annie said and nodded, "I haven't talk about this with anyone before. Not even Frankie or Steven."

A smile painted on Louis expression, "I'm glad you're willing to talk about it with me."

Annie smiled too, "It would only be fair since I did read about your childhood from the diary."

Louis curiously asked, "How did you end up being in a farm?"

"I was save by another boat after drifting for a very long time. They helped me locate my aunt, which is Frankie mother. She is really nice to me, but my uncle, her husband didn't like me much. My uncle considers me as bad luck, since my entire family die. He didn't really want to waste his rice to keep me, but because of my aunt and Frankie, he allows me to stay and work for him. He never treats me like family. I hardly smile when I live at his house, especially when Frankie is not home. The only place that I felt safe and free was the yellow flower field that I get to spend half an hour at each day. I don't know, being surrounded by a field of flower taller than me, kind of made me forget about my life for a while and live in my dream. It made me felt like I'm with my family again too," Annie sniffed her tears away.

Annie could feel her husband hand gave her an encouraging squeeze. She cozily leans on Louis. Louis gently pecked her forehead and suggested, "If you want, we can build a house there and move there to start our family. Eve could be the one riding on cow," he chuckled to lighten Annie emotion.

Giggling, Annie reminded him, "It's water buffalo." Annie wishfully looked at Louis, "Are you sure you could leave everything behind and move back to a remote farmland area with me?" She frowned thinking it impossible, "You have business here Louis."

Her husband shrugged, "To tell you the truth, I'm tire of business. It weren't even what I like to do. It's just something that I took up for almost ten years cause of my father. I could always sell everything and end the business. We could use the money to buy several plots of farmland to collect rent from farmer."

Smiled at him with brighten eyes, Annie questioned, "Seriously?"

"Yes. Dad actually owns some farmland in your village, that's why I was there when we met. He sends me there to collect rent, but instead I got splattered with pig slop," Louis tone became flatten. Annie giggled and pressed her lips together as she remembers what happened. "If you really like to have a house there, I promise you that I'll build a house there with you. It'll be nice and simple. No more working, we'll have enough income from just collecting rent. Then we have all the time to ourselves. And you can teach Eve and me how to ride on cow." He grinned at Annie teasingly while she murmured 'water buffalo'.

Feeling loved, Annie snuggled closer on him, "You promise. I just wish the sun would rise faster or..."

"Shhh..." Louis hushed with eyes anxiously turned toward the window.

"Is he back?" Annie whispered nervously. Louis stood up and looked out the window. "Do you see him?" Annie asked with a hint of fear. Her husband nodded to answer her.

Louis hand Eve, who is sleeping, back to Annie. "He is coming. We need to stay quiet," he warned Annie. Annie nodded and scooted closer to Louis. Louis hugged her and the entire mansion became so quiet that they could hear the rain again. Louis hand reach out toward the knife handle and wrapped his hand on it tightly. He won't use it if he doesn't have to, but if Stephen makes him, he will.
*******

[jeh]

It is so interesting. They're all hiding. I could feel the condition they're in right now. The whole mansion is quiet. It feel so mysterious. Stephen is outside. I can't wait till the next update.

[Danielle Lin]

Wah! So suspenseful I really hope Stephen gets <IMG SRC="smilies/smash.gif" border="0"> !!!

Eyes of the beholder? Forbidden Affection? I didn't know you wrote those! Can you tell me the url?

Update soon! ^_^

::+Danielle Lin+::

Side Note- I'm joining tennis, this year!Wish me luck! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> I hope I can get the ball over the net this year! Isn't this blinkie cute? Jenni made it for me! Best of luck to any one with exams, they truly suck! I know because I have them! <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">


$this->handle_bbcode_img_match('http://users.domaindlx.com/huixin89/ellie1.gif')

<font size="1">[ June 01, 2003: Message edited by: Danielle Lin ]</font>

[Yak]

Chapter 58: Burning Rage

Stephen rushed out of the wood swiftly with pounding heart cause of his running. His darken eyes gazed up toward the second level, where he saw candlelight flickering in the background of the master bedroom balcony. That was the only light source he could detect out of the entire mansion, so logically he thought that everyone has gathers there.

If his guess weren't wrong, he would suspect that Joe has already told everyone about what has happen in the wood. To Stephen, there are only two kinds of people in the mansion now. One that wants him dead while the other that is smart enough to not barge into his business. Of course, to him, who ever wanted him dead deserve to die.

Stephen is wondering what Louis reaction to his secret would be and what category Louis would fall under. He also wonders if Joe has rattled on him and told Louis about him capturing Annie. In his twisted mind, he believes that Louis would understand his purpose of killing and even his reason for capturing Annie. Stephen thought that all he needed is a chance to explain to Louis that he did it only for Louis wellness sake. With confident in his master, Stephen stepped toward the mansion ready to head in and explain his reason for killing.

He paused his movement right when the corner of his right eye caught a vision of something unusual. He swiftly turned his entire attention toward the direction of Gilbert's wife grave that is a far distance away. What unusual to him, was that the marble flab of the grave compartment being wide open now, showing the stood up rectangular marble facing him like a short thin wall, instead of being flat to the ground like always. The thought of someone already found Annie and saved her strike him like a cold block of ice. His legs automatically ran toward it, with the pupils of his eyes dilated in disbelieve. He don't understand how anyone can find Annie, it was the greatest hiding spot, isn't it?

His darkened hard eyes gazed into the marble compartment, seeing a small puddle of blood staining the floor of the coffin compartment. Stephen heart begins to pound with anxiety cause the thought of Louis saved Annie, which allow Annie the chance to tell Louis what happen. The thought of that made Stephen worry that he couldn't persuade Louis to listen to his explanation. He knows that Annie is considered as everything to Louis. He knows that Louis will always listen to Annie and probably wanted him dead by now. No, his master wouldn't do so, Stephen reassured himself. Not after all the things he has done for Louis. His master will understand him, Stephen told himself again. But if Louis don't accept his hard work, then what should he do?

Stephen didn't want to think about it, all he knows is that it too late to turn back now. And deep down in his sick heart, he still thinks that Louis will understand and accept his hard work gratefully. All he ever did was intended to help Louis anyway. All the ones that he killed deserve to die, he told himself again to gain confident.

He quickly rushed up to the front porch and started to pound on the door wildly as he shouted out loud and clear, "YEE SEEU!! Open the door! Don't listen to her! I could explain!! Listen to me! They all deserve to die! They all wanted to hurt you!" he loudly shouted from the top of his lung. Thinking that what he did is not a horrible crime. To him, it was only a way to protect his master. In his mind, he still think that he done everything just cause of Louis and not because of himself.

Shivered to the voice of Stephen, Annie automatically cuddled Eve protectively. While one of her hand clench tightly to the tip of Louis shirt, making sure that he wouldn't leave her side. Louis eyes are darted toward the locked nursery door; his mind is lost to what he really wanted to do. At first he was ferocious and wanted Stephen dead cause of what he has done to Annie, but his heart is starting to weakens a bit as he listens to the voice of Stephen yelling. It made him felt guilty to what Stephen has become. After hearing Stephen repeating that he did it all because of him, made Louis blame himself for misleading Stephen. Stephen is one out of a few people that Louis has ever trusted. But now, everything has blurred out.

Annie could see Louis eyes showing uncertainty. She understands what is going through Louis mind but she couldn't accept it. Annie sighed softly and looked at Louis. Louis heard her sigh, so he turned his attention to her. He saw the bloodstain that is still on her dress and remembered the pain and horror Annie has live through tonight cause of Stephen. He saw the disappointed eyes of Annie on him, and knows that Annie wanted justice for Steven death too. He silently embraced Annie and whispered into her ear with his deep and soft voice, "I'll keep my promise and turn him in." Annie nodded and stays close to her husband as they listened to the sound Stephen is making.

The butler heart grew a bit more sour and frustrated as he continues to wait and pound on the front door. He couldn't believe that his master would not even give him a chance to explain. He couldn't believe his master would only listen to Annie words and has labeled him as enemy this soon. He stopped pounding on the door, knowing that he won't get any attention anyway.

Anger and disappointment on Louis was evident on Stephen stern cold face that is now expressionless, like a body that has no soul. His hand slowly clenched into a tight fist while hatred begins to boil up in him. How could Louis not even give him a chance to explain, after all the things he has done for him?! After all the things he has scarified to ensure Louis from getting harmed! How could Louis treat him as a outsider?! How could Louis not understand his purpose?! How could Louis turn on him like this?!! Stephen hissed his anger with his devilish eyes rolled up gazing hard toward the light of the master bedroom.

Stephen hiss again with a dishearten soul slowly turning bitter. Why would Louis put him as an outcast? He doesn't understand at all. He wanted an answer from Louis! He wanted Louis to understand why he did what he did! And he expects Louis to be grateful and thankful! Angrily he stormed toward the backyard instead. His hand slipped into his pocket wanting to pull the key to the backdoor out, but it was missing. He frustratingly searched his pant pockets again cautiously. But there is nothing. He must has dropped it in the wood when he and Steven was struggling, he thought.

With rage he picked up the flowerpot and throw it toward the glass kitchen door making it shatter loudly. Annie slightly jumped to the sound of it and gulped nervously, knowing that Stephen is breaking in. The rhythm of her heart begins to speed up anxiously. She is grateful that Louis is next to her. "He is coming..." she weakly whispered.

Her husband nodded with cautious eyes toward the door, "Shh...he shouldn't be able to find us if we keep quiet. He wouldn't think that we would be in here." Annie nodded. And they became silent again. Louis gazed out the window to check on the storm. The rain has settle down drastically, sound like the typhoon wind has stopped too. This is a good sign, now they could drive out of here, once he finds a chance to get himself and Annie out of this mansion.

Meanwhile in the sewing room closet the four adults that were hidden inside with Kevin, all tries to pause every movement and sound. The tension of fear and state of anxiousness to what will happen next was so high that they didn't even dare to breath louder then the buzz of a fly. All of their face shows great sign of tenseness, especially Nicola and Kenix. Frankie hand tightened on the knife handle, his heart has a burning flame of revenge on Stephen for killing his best friend. If he could have a good chance, he will take the honor in killing Stephen.

Kenix notice her husband hatred eyes and the tighten muscle of his hand on the knife made her worry about him. She don't want Frankie to struggle with Stephen, she just want to find the best way to get out of this place unharmed. She snaked Frankie arm with hers to get attention. Kenix stare into Frankie eyes with her harden one, signaling and demanding him to not even think about going after Stephen or killing Stephen. Frankie expression relaxed a bit and slightly nodded to his wife demand.

Unlike Frankie, Joe didn't really want to hold onto the knife. He never did anything unlawful or wrong in his life before. And he has no intension or purpose to kill Stephen. The only scenario for him to use the sharp object on Stephen is to protect him self and other. Joe could sense Nicola trembling in fear as she cradles Kevin in her arms. He turned to look at her and wrapped his arm around Nicola reassuringly, just to calm her nervousness down. Nicola felt like crying at the moment, cause she is so glad that Joe is caring for her, especially in a situation like this. Joe smiled at her warmly making her felt protected and safe. His arm is kept warmly on her shoulder as they stay quiet and continue to listen to the sound that is outside the room.

With icy cold flame eating up on his soul, Stephen stepped into the kitchen. His steady calm eyes scanned the dark quiet surrounding. Even though the sky is slowly brightening up, but the light is still too minimal to light up the mansion. Stephen headed to the stove and squatted down to pull out a stick of firewood from it. He lit it up with a match that is always kept by the stove. The firewood immediately brings a bright yellowish-orange flame to light up his surrounding. He notice the clock in the kitchen stating it being a quarter to six now.

His eye gazed toward the rack of knife and he notices that all the knives are missing. His mind immediately knows that they has weapon, so he too needed something to hold on to. He knows exactly what he could use, so a wicked smile lit his face and his eyes glistered with evil.

Annie has been paying close attention to the sound and footstep of Stephen. Even though it was barely audible, but she manages to know that Stephen has stepped out of the mansion again. She doesn't understand why. Annie turned to look at Louis, and saw the same confused expression in Louis eyes. "What is he up to?" she whispered her question to Louis, who shrugged and trying to calculate Stephen plan. Louis has a feeling that this is going to be a horrible nightmare. He felt a bit insecure worrying about Annie and Eve safety. He wanted to stand up but Annie holds onto his arm firmly. "Where're you going?" she asked with eyes that definitely show she needed him.

Louis shakes his head at Annie signaling her to keep quiet. "Eve is an easy target for him to get to, if he knows she is born," Louis wisely stated. "You are weak and vulnerable too. What if I couldn't protect both of you at the same time? I don't want any chance of him getting a hold of Eve. It's safer for her if she is not with us."

Nodded sadly at her newborn daughter that is soundly asleep, Annie agrees to her husband suggestion. Her forehead wrinkled in worry to where they could of hide her, the room is basically four walls without closet or bathroom. "But where?" she softly asked."

Both Louis and her conversation stopped cause they hear Stephen entering the mansion again. They also hear something metallic being dragged along the kitchen floor. Annie bit her lower lip nervously as she tries to imagine what was the object Stephen is dragging. Louis quickly took Eve from Annie arms. Annie pulled him back. She wanted to see her daughter one last time. Annie pecked Eve cheek and let go so Louis can hide her.

Silently and swiftly Louis looked for a good hiding place for his daughter to rest on. An idea came to him after noticing all the white drapes he had used to cover all the furniture. He could put Eve in the crib and have the white drapes over it, but would that be too obvious? His eyes then saw the small cubical space created at the corner where B-jai toy chest and the sofa of the room aligned up.

He quickly walked over and stood in front of it with a relief expression, this is the perfect spot. He looked down at his sleeping daughter and a strange sensation of missing her already builds in his heart. He pecked Eve forehead and places her down on the floor sleeping in that cubical space, than he pulled the white drape from the sofa over to the toy chest creating a tent like covering of the gap. Annie smiled to her husband genius idea, cause looking at the area where Eve is at now, it really looked just like drapes over furniture. Now all Eve need to do is not make any sound.

Louis returns to Annie and helped her up, moving her to sit by the sofa right in front of where Eve is. He settles down next to her with the knife on his lap. Louis pulled a white sheet to cover Annie and himself up to camouflage them to the surrounding. They stay still and quietly listen to the sound outside of the room while pondering what Stephen is doing.

With the burning flame shinning his way, Stephen calmly headed toward the master bedroom. His footsteps are solid and heavy as it stepped up the stair making thudding sound echoing down the hallway to every anxious ear. In his right hand he tightly hold the handle to an ax that he has retrieved from the shed outside. His eyes are steady and coldly calm darting at the master bedroom door ahead.

Nicola felt her heart skipped a beat as she scooted closer to Joe. Kenix gnawed on her lower lip absentmindedly while she stays close to her husband. Both Annie and Louis motionlessly hide under the white sheet looking like a ghost, their expression aren't too far off either, since both of their face are pale white with enlarged eyes.

The butler stopped in front of the master bedroom door and stood there gazing at it. "Yee Seeu," his deep empty voice chilled the atmosphere even more. There was no answer. Stephen eyes motionlessly glue to the door while his ears listen to every single sound. But other than the soft rainy background, there is nothing he could hear. He knocked on the door. "Yee Seeu! Open the door!" he shouted loudly with angry eyes bulged out. "You can't just listen to her! You have to let me explain! They all deserve to die! I'm doing this just for your own good!"

Louis sighed softly, he don't understand how Stephen could change so much. To Louis, it seem like Stephen just suddenly turned into this monster, since he has always thought Stephen being normal. Annie held Louis hand tightly, letting him know that she will be by his side. Both of Louis hand is holding onto both of hers as they wait and listen closely.

The anguish shout of Stephen has paused making the entire mansion settle down into emptiness. It was so quiet that both Louis and Annie could hear the scratching sound of tree branches scrapping against the window. In Louis mind, he tries to anticipate what Stephen is thinking about. Why did Stephen stop shouting? It seem like he is not moving either.

Suddenly, a loud sharp sound of metallic object colliding to each other is sounded making Annie nervously tightened her grip on Louis hands. The sound continues repeatedly then it suddenly changed into a dull hammering and cracking of wood, sounding like wood is being chop. Stephen was trying to break into the master bedroom by chopping on the doorknob with his ax, but since it didn't help him open the door he now begin to break into the door with his ax.

Once he opened a hole with his ax, he sticks his hand in to unlock the door. His eye is burning with flame while his heart is bitterly cold. A puzzled expression swept across his stern hard face when he notices that the room being empty. He stepped into the room with his right hand tightly wrapping around his ax while his left is still holding on to the burning firewood. He calmly walked toward the bathroom to check, and there is no one there either. His heart started to deepen with anger after noticing that he has been tricked! This was set up to fool him, his frustrated mind told him.

His eyes stare into the dancing flames of candles that are burning around the room. Somehow the wildly waving flame of each candle seem like they are teasing him for being such a fool to fall for this trick. His heart pounded with frustration and anger. He hissed his frustration out and with a forceful sweep of his ax he knocked all the candles off the makeup table. The burning flame of the candle quickly ignited the carpet bringing smoke, then within second fire begin to roar and spread to anything that is burnable. Stephen has no intension to extinguish the fire. Why should he?!

Irritated, Stephen bitter heart has blinded his mind, he no longer cares anymore. Since Louis has chosen to trick him and probably wanted him dead, there is no reason for him to be kind and show concern for his master anymore. Stephen is enraged for Louis to not consider him as a loyal servant or family anymore. How could his master do this to him? After all the things he has done for Louis for the past twenty-five years! Since Louis betrayed him, he too don't have to consider Louis as his master, Stephen angrily told himself.

Now his only purpose here is to make sure no one get a chance to report him as a murderer. No way is he willing to get punish by the law for killing people that he believe deserve to die, especially since he is still convince that he did it to protect his master.

The fire climbed quickly burning and heating up the bedroom rapidly creating smoke. Stephen inflamingly throws the firewood, which he was holding earlier, toward the bed since he no longer needs to light his way. Furiously, Stephen stormed out of the room with his ax firmly gripped by his right hand. Tendon popped out evidently on his right wrist showing how mad and hateful he is feeling at the moment. He felt betrayed and used by Louis. How could Louis turn against him with the rest of the outsider?! How could Louis not understand that his purpose for killing Helen, Julian, B-jai, Ada, and Steven was only to protect Louis reputation?!

His mind is beginning to numb with bitter anger and he is turning really mad with his revengeful heart. Stephen no longer could calm himself down and reason what is right from wrong. All he knows is that he didn't do anything horribly wrong. His eyes gazed down the hallway of closed bedroom doors. "HOW COULD YOU TURN ON ME?! Everything I ever did started cause of you! I have been your personal servant since I was five! I have to take care of you, play with you, even take punishment for you, and to always give everything to you first! Even Helen! Did I ever complain or even get angry with you?! NO!! Cause I know that you are my master, and that your parent has saved Gor and me, I'm supposes to repay you. I could swear to God that I did everything I could to repay you already! I'm now sick and tire of doing everything for you! Yes, I killed Helen and Julian, but only because they wanted to kill you!" Stephen exclaimed. He yanked his ax from the door and swing at it again.

Louis was surprise to know that Stephen had affection toward Helen and also to hear him admitting that he killed Helen, but how? Never in Louis mind has he ever suspects Stephen to love Helen too. He has always thought that Stephen treated Helen as a younger sister, like how Bobby is. When did he start to fall for Helen? Did Helen even know about this? Louis heart deepen with a bit of guilt, he never know that Stephen has kept this much pressure and stress inside. How is he supposes to know? Stephen never shares his thought or complains about anything before.

Meanwhile in the closet of the sewing room, all of their heart is pounding and their mind is blank, not knowing what to do. "Could all of you smell the smoke?" Kenix asked while looked at them, Joe and Nicola nodded. "We need to get out of here," her panic whispering voice said.

Frankie firmly place his hand on Kenix shoulder to signal her to stay put. "Wait, he is coming our way," he looked at Kenix and Nicola, "Both of you stay put in here." He looked at Joe, "We need to get ready, with the two of us, I think we could stop him when he come near." Joe nervously nodded. Frankie squeezed his wife hand, "When we are struggling with him, both you and Nicola run out of the mansion with Kevin okay?"

Joe pulled out the car key holding it toward Kenix, "Mrs. Lam, this is the key to the car."

Kenix eyes enlarged, "I don't know how to drive."

Quickly, Frankie grab the key from Joe and firmly place in Kenix hand, "At least you three could get in first, and we'll come right after. We need to get Annie and Louis too. Just hold on to the key first." Kenix nodded. The two men scooted closer to the door with their hand tightly holding to a sharp knife. They are ready to struggle with Stephen if he enters this room.

Meanwhile, back in B-jai nursery. Annie could smell the smoke too. "Louis, something is burning," she urgently told her husband. Louis quickly pulled the white sheet, which is covering them, off. The bright light coming from the slit under the door daunts both of them. "The house is on fire," Annie whispered with concern, "What should we do now?" she still speaks in a soft tone worrying that the manic Stephen would hear her.

Louis is starting to feel that all of this is somehow his fault. "We need to talk," his serious tone suddenly said.

"What do you mean?" Annie confusedly asked.

Her husband is heading toward the door, "Stephen and me."

Swiftly, Annie pulled him back and urgently scolded, "No!" she quickly pressed her lip together, hoping that Stephen didn't hear it. "He is not very stable now. There is no use talking to him now, he won't listen to you. I don't want you to get hurt by him. Please?" Annie begins to cry cause she is under a lot of stress and causes she have the gut feeling that Louis wouldn't listen to her plead.

Louis embraced Annie, "Annie, we have to get out of here before the fire get to us. We can't just kept hiding here and wait for the fire to come." He sighed and released Annie, "Is okay, I think he'll still listen to me."

A loud bang hit the door of their room. Both of them paused and swiftly darted their eyes toward the door. Annie heart begins to pump like crazy making her really fearful and anxiously worrying. They were able to see the corner of the ax indented into the wooden door. Stephen was able to locate them cause of their voices. He pulled the ax back out to swing another blow.

Fearfully, Annie scooted back with Louis. "What should we do?!" she started to panic.

Louis looked right into Annie eyes seriously, "Listen to me, Annie. I'll try to reason with him, he will listen to me. At least I could distract him and get him away. I want you to take Eve and get out of the house. Get Joe and the rest out too, have Joe drive all of you away to get the police," Louis calm and steady voice instructed. Annie kept her head swinging 'no' the entire time. "You have to do as I said!" Louis ordered with a harsh tone.

Tears are flooding Annie pair of watery eyes, "No! I'm not leaving you here alone! We could get out together!" she clenched her fist tightly on Louis shirt while her eyes is at the door seeing that the ax is making an opening very soon.

Seeing the door cracking apart, Louis knows that there is no time. Cause the smoke is getting thicker too. He quickly ran to pick up Eve, who started to cry loudly cause of the sudden movement. Louis places her into Annie arms. "Don't worry about me, honey. I'll be careful," he tries to ease Annie worry. Annie leaned into his chest and kept shaking her head stubbornly, while she cry with her baby. "Listen to me!" Louis demanded with his harsh voice to force Annie to be strong.

Weakened, Louis sighed with his melted heart seeing Annie worry and concern for him, he pulled her in for a tight embrace, "Annie, I love you really much, you know that. I can't let you get hurt. I can't let Eve get harm, she is too vulnerable and weak, she can't take in too much of the smoke. She must get out of here as soon as possible."

"You promise me, we'll be together. You promise me to build a house and move back to my village! How are you going to do that if you can't get out of here safely too?! I know you wouldn't kill him or hurt him! He is not going to let you go. He will kill you like how he killed Steven! I don't want to lose you too!" Annie rambled on and on with her arms tightly wrapped around the baby, while Louis hugged her tightly. "You promise..."

"Annie, we don't have time to argue, more smoke is coming in; very soon the fire will spread to here too. I promise you, I'll get out safely, I'll keep my promise and return back to you as soon as I could," Louis voice became serious and weighted with emotion while he squeezed a tighter hug, wanting to feel the present of Annie in his arms. Tears were in his eyes, cause he know he can't guarantee that he is able to keep his promise. "If you love me, you would listen to my words. Don't you love me?" he asked with emotion.

Annie sniffed and nodded with more tears cascading down her redden cheek. Louis cupped Annie face and pecked her several time on the forehead. He released Annie and grabs the knife that was on the floor. "Remember to run out of the house as soon as you see a chance to," Louis firmly directed.

Sniffled on her tears, Annie hesitatingly nodded, "You promise, you'll return to me..." Louis nodded and wiped her tears away for her. Annie hand anxiously interlocked Louis hand while her eyes darted at the door where she saw Stephen hand sticking in, to unlock the door.

Squeezed Annie hand before releasing it, Louis stormed toward the door. Stephen just breaks in. The two men faced each other with still eyes darted at each other sternly. Louis has never realizes until now that Stephen could look this inflamed. "Stephen stops it now. You're only digging a deeper hole to burry yourself!" Louis yelled.

His butler hand tightened even more around the wooden handle of the ax. His eye slightly shifted seeing the second diary of Helen on the floor. He thought that Louis has already read what is written inside it. "She was the one who ask for it," his cold empty voice filled the room. Louis didn't catch on to what he meant. All he could see is that the fire is burning down the hall heading toward them. Louis is getting more impatient knowing that both Annie and Eve must get out of here now.

Calmly, Louis is trying to not tick Stephen off, "I don't care what happen anymore. Just let all of us get out of the house now, before the fire became unstoppable." Stephen has no intension to move out of the doorway. Louis cold voice spoke up, "This is wrong Stephen. Go turn yourself in..."

Stephen immediately cut in and shouted with rage, "They all deserve to die! You were the one who wanted to kill Helen anyway! I just finished your job for you, what so wrong about that?! You are the one who wanted her dead! And you are right, she deserve to die! She is a **** to sleep with that bastard behind your back! You made the right decision on wanting to kill her! I just followed your decision, what so wrong about that?!" he angrily grabbed Louis collar and shoved him toward the wall.

"Louis!" Annie tries to get herself up. But she is still weak and standing wobbly. "Let go of him!" she angrily demanded. Stephen turned to her, he finally notice Annie. His eyes bulged with hate, if it weren't for Annie and her friends, everything would be normal. His eyes lowered to what in Annie arms. He couldn't believe that she actually has the baby already. Good, he told himself, now he could just finish her off.

Louis saw Stephen evil stare at Annie, his fist clenched onto both side of Stephen shirt tightly, he forcefully swing Stephen toward the left and pushed him against the wall and pinned him there. The knife that is in his right hand made a small indent into the wall, since he was holding to it on his right hand. Stephen saw the knife that is now just to the side of his left by the abdominal region, Louis is still holding to it. Stephen gotten more flamed up seeing that Louis mind has wanted him dead.

"Run out now, Annie!" Louis shouted to his wife while pressing his entire body against Stephen to make sure he won't move. "NOW!!" he angrily screamed.

Annie listened and quickly ran with all of her energy heading toward the doorway. She kept looking toward Louis to check on him. Louis hand grabbed his knife that is on the wall firmly trying to pull it back out so he could use it. Stephen saw what Louis wanted to do, so he quickly shoved him away with full force causing Louis to fall backward and to his left colliding the back of his head really hard against the window breaking the glass.

At this point, Annie has gotten to the door. She swiftly turned to look back, after hearing the sound of broken glass. Her pupil dilated with concern seeing blood running down her husband head. Her heart pound against her ribcage rapidly, she don't know what to do. Looking back and forth between Eve and Louis, she has to go back for her husband!

Everything seems a bit blurry and darkened to Louis while he felt large amount of pain in the back of his head. Stephen angrily swings his ax toward Louis so quickly that Louis dizzied mind has no time to dodge. Instead, out of reflexes Louis quickly rise his arms to block his head. Annie heart felt like it has stopped when she saw the blade of the ax coming down on her husband, a sudden input of energy rushed into her body, she dashed over to them and pushed Louis away with her body. From the corner of her eye she saw the ax coming right down on her...

To be continue...
******

[Yak]

Danielle Lin: I haven't start writing "Eyes of the Beholder" yet. It a fanfic after TOS, and it about Benny and Eve. As for "Forbidden Affection" I do have it post up on Winglin, but not complete yet. I'll post it up here after finish posting TOS =o)

[Yak]

Chapter 59: Regretful Action

Continue from last chapter...

Everything seems a bit blurry and darkened to Louis while he felt large amount of pain in the back of his head. Stephen angrily swings his ax toward Louis so quickly that Louis dizzied mind has no time to dodge. Instead, out of reflexes Louis quickly rise his arms to block his head. Annie heart felt like it has stopped when she saw the blade of the ax coming down on her husband, a sudden input of energy rushed into her body, she dashed over to them and pushed Louis away with her body. From the corner of her eye she saw the ax coming right down on her.

With her arm protectively cradled Eve close to her body, Annie eyes shut tightly cause she isn't brave enough to see what will happen to her next. She knows she has no time to move out of the way with her numbed mind. Her heart stiffens with fear as she waits for the sharp pain to hit her. Eve cried in distress from being discomfortingly holds.

Louis, who is lying down on the floor cause of Annie push, his heart skipped a beat seeing his wife and newborn daughter in danger. Swiftly, he forcefully sweeps his leg to kick Stephen hard on his lower calf. Stephen lost balance to the sudden impact and falling forward toward the wall ahead of him, with his ax slice right into the wall instead of on Annie, who is just right below. Annie heart jumped to the sound that the ax made when it hit the wall, her subconscious mind thought she was hit. So her expression was blank and frozen motionlessly expecting pain.

While Stephen tries to stand himself upright again to yank the deeply indented ax out of the wall, Louis quickly gathers his strength to pull Annie out and away from danger. He quickly checked Annie with his eyes scanning her body like a speed of light. "Are you injured?" his urgent and worry voice asked, but he know the answer to it already, since the ax didn't get a chance to hurt Annie. Eve continues to cries, Annie checked on her daughter with blanked lost face from being over shocked. Louis brushes his hand across Eve to see if she gotten hurt, but she is fine and just crying because all of those sudden forces applied on her earlier.

Annie is too speechless that all she could do is shake her head to her husband concern. Her frightful face shows how disoriented and lost she is now. She leaned her trembling body onto Louis chest with stressful tears flowing freely; she is so relief to know that Louis is safe. Louis gave Annie a fast embrace before he quickly stood up and firmly pulled Annie up. Annie arms are tightly cradling Eve at all time as she tries her best to calm Eve crying down.

Louis know that there isn't time to spare, the fire will be too wild to escape from with every minute passes by. His hand dragged Annie along as he rushed toward the doorway. Louis could see the waving fire down the hall quickly rushing it way down the hall with crackling sound of wood being burn. The walls of the front half of the hallway are all on fire and slowly inching closer to this end of the hallway. Louis didn't let himself pause to think, he know that time is crucial. He pulled Annie closer to him and running as fast as he could. Stephen seeing his victims getting away, he gave up on the ax and decides to run after them instead.

The heat of the mansion increased with rage, it begins to feel like an oven, but that doesn't bother Stephen at all. With his powered run, he was able to catch up to them and yanked on Annie elbow, forcefully jerked her back, his force was so great that it break Annie and Louis interlocked hand apart. Stephen swung Annie back and shoved her toward the room. Annie lost her balance and fallen down on the hallway hardwood floor instead. Her heart pounded with her eyes scanning the flamed area then to her daughter. She knows that it could be fatal for a newborn infant to inhale too much smoke. Stephen quickly turned to Annie wanting to drag her back into the room. To him, Annie is the person who is responsible for shattering his every plan and making Louis not trusting him anymore. He wanted Annie to die, just like how Helen has.

Quickly turned back, Louis yanked Stephen arm to pull him away from Annie. He swiftly punched Stephen across the face. "Don't you dare touch her!" Louis warned with cold empty eyes that carry a flame of anger. Stephen glared at Louis with betrayed anger, he rubbed the corner of his lip. Louis fist is heading toward Stephen again. But Stephen rapidly clenched his two hands tightly on Louis neck, he forcefully banged Louis head against the wall several time. Louis vision became blurred again cause of the pain making the surrounding spin. Annie pushed herself off the floor and tries to separate them with one hand while her other arm is occupy with Eve.

"Let go of him!" Annie demanded, "Why are you doing this, you insane monster?!" She hammered her fist hard on Stephen arm trying as hard as she could to make him let go of her husband.

Meanwhile in the sewing room, everyone hear Annie voice loud and clear. "That Yee Seeu Lie! She is in trouble!" Nicola worry voice concluded. She wanted to rush out, but Joe pulled her back.

"Stay here. I'll go help!" Joe bravely offered.

Frankie nodded agreeing that the lady should stay behind where it safe. He looked at his wife seriously, "Honey, you stay here with Nicola and Kevin, I'll go help them." He opened the closet door and gulped at the fire that is beginning to frame the door to the room. "No, you three can't stay here, the fire is coming. We need to get out now!"

Kenix hear Annie voice in the hallway, "We need to help Annie! Sound like they are struggling with Stephen. With all of us, we can control Stephen!"

Frankie hand firmly holding to the knife, "Kenix is right." He stormed toward the door to grab the handle but quickly jerked away with his hand redden by the hot doorknob.

"You are burn!" Kenix quickly grab his hand.

"I'm fine, we have no time, we need to get out of the mansion fast," Frankie clear mind know what is more important at this moment. He removed his hand and dropped his knife to quickly take off his shirt. Wrapping his shirt on the doorknob he gotten it open and seeing the hallway brightly lit by roaring fire. He saw Stephen holding on to Louis neck.

Seeing Frankie and the rest getting out of the room, Louis felt relieved, "Get Annie and Eve out of here..." Louis weakens voice commanded, while his palms are against Stephen chest trying to push him away.

Joe eyes widen at the sight of Stephen trying to kill their master, "Stephen let go of Yee Seeu!"

Stephen just ignores the rest. Frankie try to push Stephen away. Joe hand tightens on his knife and he forcefully rushed it toward Stephen and stabbed his arm, while Kenix pulled Annie away from them. Joe quickly released his hand from the knife, he didn't really wanted to hurt him. Stephen moaned in pain and released Louis. Louis dropped to the floor and started to gag and cough. Louis shook his head trying to clear his vision and mind. Everything seems like it spinning to him cause of his head injury by Stephen constant banging it against the wall and also cause of his history of head injury. Frankie and Annie are helping him up.

Annie cupped her husband face with her free hand, "Are you dizzy?" She run her hand up and down Louis backs trying to sooth his horsed cough.

Meanwhile Stephen angrily darted at Joe, making Joe gulped. Stephen pulled the knife out of his arm making blood spurted on the wall. But Stephen is not showing them any sign of his pain. His hand tightly held on the knife, he darted at Annie who is closest to him, cause she is checking Louis out.

"Annie watch out! Get away, quick!" Kenix voice startled Annie she swiftly turned around to see the blade in Stephen hand coming her way. Frankie quickly grabs hold of the blade stubbornly with both of his hands. He screamed loudly in pain, but he is not willing to let go.

"FRANKIE!!" Annie shouted in disbelief, she felt pain seeing Frankie gotten hurt just to protect her.

"Frankie!" Kenix worriedly shouted and rushing up to her husband, who is stubbornly not letting go of the blade. Blood is dripping from his hand onto the hardwood floor.

Louis woozily wanted to pull Annie away, but Stephen was faster than him and has swiftly pulled his knife back from Frankie hands and swings his arm around Annie neck with the blade against her throat. Eve is still in Annie arms with her hand quickly gasping something as a reflex to the sudden jerk while she continues to cry under distress. Kenix anxiously holding onto Frankie wrist tightly trying to stop the deep cuts of his palms from bleeding. Their fearful eyes are on Stephen and Annie now fearing that Stephen will seriously cut Annie throat. To them there is nothing that Stephen wouldn't do in this stage of mind.

"Stephen, don't do anything rash. Let go of Annie, Stephen," Louis tries to calm his servant down. He shook his head trying to ignore his growing headache, while his hand is still tightly holding to Annie wanted to jerk her away from Stephen, but he didn't dare to, cause Stephen can easily slice the knife across Annie throat. Annie gulped, she could feel the cool sharp edge of the knife against her skin. Her eyes are on Louis concerning about his head injury, cause she could see Louis drained weary expression.

Stephen grinned with his steady cold voice, "No, you let go of her hand now or I'll bleed her." Louis listened and released Annie hand. He didn't want Stephen to cut Annie throat. Louis weak and unstable body causes him to stumble out of balance and back to the floor again. He tries to sum up his strength and shake the lightheadedness away in order to focus on saving Annie. Stephen gazed at the rest. He knows that he couldn't kill all of them, himself. He stepped backward heading toward B-jai room again.

"I want all of you to back off and don't come close! Leave the mansion now!" Stephen stressfully ordered, he knows that they can easily gain up on him if they stay. "NOW!! Everyone except Louis!" It was the first time he called his Yee Seeu by name. Frankie and the rest didn't move, they didn't want to leave them behind.

Nodded to anything Stephen wanted, Louis turned to look over at Frankie and the rest, "Go! Get out of here, before the fire spread uncontrollably."

Frankie is uncertain, "We can't just leave you two here, he is not going to let you go!"

Louis saw Stephen blade inching closer against Annie throat. "JUST LEAVE!!!" Louis angrily ordered.

Annie wanted them to leave too, before the fire became more wilds. Her eyes met Eve face, "Take Eve!" she shouted with her arms holding Eve outward.

Stephen jerked her closer and sliced her neck a bit like a razor. Annie body quickly stiffened and didn't dare to make the slightest move, her arms automatically held Eve close to her body. Stephen angrily demanded with his knife tensely on Annie neck, "NO! She gets to stay too!" he darted at those that suppose to leave. "Do you want me to kill her right now, Louis?" Louis darted at Frankie with stern face, Frankie got the idea and quickly headed down the hall with Kenix, after he took one last look at his only cousin, Annie. Nicola and Joe followed behind.

Jerked Annie to face him, Stephen gazed at her with hatred, "Did you know that everything was perfect before you came?" Stephen firmly grab Annie arm dragging her back toward the room. He swing Annie into the room and against the inside wall. The side of Eve head bumped onto the wall slightly making her cried louder in pain. The poor newborn face is turning tomatoes red from crying cause she felt the pain from the bump.

"Ahh..." Annie moaned too cause of the impact of the wall.

Louis forced himself to get up while his angry dark eyes are motionlessly on Stephen back with hatred. With the moving surrounding that his mind interprets, he shakes his head again and wobbled behind Stephen trying to catch up. Once he is close enough, he leaped toward Stephen back and locked Stephen neck from behind trying to pull Stephen away from Annie. With his other hand, he firmly holds onto Stephen wrist that has the knife and bang in repeatedly on the wall forcing Stephen to drop the knife. Stephen dropped the knife, but his other hand manage to firmly grab hold of Eve leg, which is under the blanket and forcefully yanked on Eve while Annie held Eve tightly not willing to let go no matter what. Eve cried louder cause Stephen is hurting her by pulling so hard.

"LET GO OF HER!!" Annie distressingly demanded as she turn and twist her body trying to make Stephen release his grip.

Louis is tightening his arm on Stephen neck, "Let go now! How dare you touch her?!" His eyes saw the knife only a couple feet away from his foot.

Stephen angrily replied, "I'm not going to let any of you go! All of you wanted me to die! If I have to die, all of you will come along too!" he forcefully yanked on Eve making her cried louder in pain. Annie heart ached hearing and seeing her daughter cry with face that turning beet red and almost purplish. She still holds Eve tightly but she didn't dare to pull in the opposite direction of Stephen, fearing that it will only make Eve suffer more.

"Please let go of her! You are hurting her, please let go Stephen!" Annie pleaded with her unsettle heart and busy mind. Louis punched Stephen with his other hand, Stephen limped downward to the punch, but he also tightened both his hand on Eve and jerked her out of Annie arms. Annie quickly ran after him. He held Eve high in the air with one hand just holding to the blanket at the position where Eve chest are. Annie automatically shakes her head seeing how insecure Eve is being held. Her shaky voice shouted at Stephen with stress, "Give her back to me!"

Anger is boiling and steaming up Louis pair of hard icy eyes that is darted at Stephen like sharp knife. "You bastard! If you dare to hurt my daughter, I'll make your life a living hell!" Louis warned with hatred. Louis gathers all of his strength to swing Stephen toward his right and swing his right fist upward toward Stephen jaw. The punch knocked Stephen head back. Louis grabbed both side of Stephen collar and firmly holds him in place right in front of him.

Annie heart is racing like a roller coaster as she walked back and forth rights under Stephen arm that is holding Eve. She worry that Stephen will drop Eve with Louis shoving him like this, so her arms are held out ready to catch her daughter. Stephen is still heartlessly holding Eve up in the air with two hands now. It seem like he don't care what Louis is doing to him, it almost like his body is made of steel that is numbed from all pain. Eve continue to cry distressingly with her arms swinging in the air trying to grab anything.

The crying of Eve finally got B-jai to show up. At the corner of the room by the crib, B-jai stood there with eyes darted at Stephen with anger. He has tries to use his power to lift Stephen up in the air, but somehow his power seems to be blocked by Stephen. B-jai concentrated again to gather his power, but it was no use. He run up toward Stephen wanting to try it at a closer distance, but a great force shoved him across the room and he felt weakened. He don't understand, why Stephen has this force against him. B-jai shook his foggy mind, his eyes are at Eve. He don't know what else to do.

Eve cried louder cause she is uncomfortable with Stephen grip becoming more tight. It gotten Louis more inflamed to see that Stephen not even budging or having any intension to listen to his warning. He shoved Stephen against the wall creating a loud bang when Stephen hit the wall, the wall shook a bit too. The side of Eve body is also bumped into the wall, making her scream sharpened with pain.

Annie quickly pulled on Louis arm to stop him after seeing how that shoves affected Eve. "Don't Louis! You are hurting her too!" she tries to calm her racing heart down. "Stephen please hand her back. You are scaring her! She didn't do anything to you. Please give her back to me." Stephen just grinned a bit and tightened his grip on Eve.

"Hand her over," Louis bitter and flat cold voice commanded while his eyes gazed into Stephen with darkens soul. His hands grabbed on Stephen again and jerked him away from the wall. Louis forceful pull has torn the collar button of Stephen off, revealing his upper chest. B-jai eyes widened on the yellow triangular paper with the red string around Stephen neck. It's igniting a bright golden ray that is blinding and burning B-jai eyes.

B-jai swiftly covered his eyes with his arms and screamed cause of the pain, "AAHHHHH!!!!!" The door to the room shuts tightly with a loud bang. Stephen eyes quickly turned back seeing the door with the hole has closed. Louis seeing him distracted, he quickly pulled on Stephen arm trying to force it down to grab Eve.

But Stephen turned back to him again and gazed into his eyes, "You want her back?" He grinned wickedly and turned toward Annie, "Only if you would kills her and the rest that is just outside of the mansion." Stephen icy flat voice chilled Annie.

"Why did I even trust you before?" Louis asked with a dishearten spirit, seeing this soulless being in front of him, the one that he has trusted for more than twenty-five years. "Just give her back to us. I promise, I won't kill you or harm you," Louis saw the waving fire through the hole of the door. "The fire is coming very quickly. We need to get out now Stephen, unless you want to die here."

His butler smiled, "It's fine with me. What's the different does it make? You are turning me in anyway, and those people outside probably had drive to get the police already. You know that the government will sentence me to death. I'll end up being a ghost either way, but this way is better cause I have all of you to keep me company."

Louis grabbed Stephen collar with his bulged eyes stare into Stephen, "Are you insane?! What have we ever done to you?! I have never mistreated you before. And don't forget I'm still your master. If you hand Eve back to me now, I'll try to convince the judge to give you a second chance."

B-jai quickly ran himself across the room so the yellow triangular paper of Stephen no longer facing him. He opened his eyes and rubbed it. His eyes are purplish with dark black realm, his red stained eyes widened even more when he saw his arm and leg becoming more bluish and purplish instead of flesh like. He knows that it was cause by what Stephen is carrying. He knows that the yellow paper could shatter his spirit and even take away his privilege of being a ghost. B-jai gulped, how is he going to save Eve without hurting himself?

Annie could see the devilish heart of Stephen being blackens and cold. She knows that he is not going to release Eve. She saw the knife on the floor, she quickly rushed over and picked it up. Her eyes are filled with concern for Eve safety, she would do anything to make Stephen let go of Eve. Seeing Stephen back facing her, her mind told her that this is the best chance to stop this psycho. Her hand firmly clenched to the wooden handle of the knife, she stood back up. Her dark round eyes fiercely aimed at Stephen.

Meanwhile, Stephen continues to coldly talk to Louis, "Why should I? You wanted my life to be a living hell, remember? You don't trust me anymore. You don't even consider me as your servant anymore. So why should I let this child get a chance to live?" his devilish mind forcefully throws Eve across the room, like she is just a rag to him.

"NNOOOOOO!" but parents screamed together in bewilderment. Annie felt like fainting to witness what happen. Louis mind frozen in disbelief to what Stephen just did. The attention of his eyes quickly followed Eve body, which is flying across the room with her cry. Annie screamed with her wide opens mouth while her eyes are drowned with tears of shock. Both Louis and her eyes are wide open following the pink bundled up blanket. Stephen is watching too, but with an amused and satisfied grin. He don't care, his mind has prepare to kill everyone in here anyway. There is no way to turn back now.

B-jai seeing Eve flying across the room and about to collide onto the wall, he leaped toward the baby trying to reach for her and grab her, but cause of his power being suppressed by the charm Stephen is wearing, he was unable to grab Eve. He quickly used his other method and focused his eyes at Eve. B-jai screamed loudly, "AAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" his facial expression has intensified with his eyes widened but focus on Eve the only thing his mind concentrate on is stopping Eve movement.

The window to the room quickly shattered with the room shaking a bit. The door slammed open and shut repeatedly, he is creating so much energy and force that the furniture of the room started to shake violently. Eve movement has stopped in mid air right before she hit the wall. Stephen is a bit taken back by what he just experience and seeing how Eve just flow in the middle of the air like this, made him felt a bit fearful.

B-jai smiled in relief and stopped screaming when he saw Eve movement stopped. The room immediately settled down and became so quiet that the burning flame outside was audible. Eve body quickly dropped toward the floor due to gravity. B-jai eyes quickly darted toward the cushion of the sofa, he concentrated hard and able to direct the cushion to slide off the sofa and rapidly across the room to lie on the floor where Eve body will drop onto.

All three pairs of eyes are glued to the flying cushion with amazement and shock. Both Louis and Annie got the idea that it must be B-jai while Stephen is daunted confusingly. His eyes swiftly darted back and forth around the room with his heart fearfully pounding. B-jai then used his mind to control and ease Eve to gently land on the cushion safely, Eve cries has stopped since she didn't feel the fall at all. B-jai quickly rushed to her and smiled when he saw her being safe and in front of him with her arms extended toward him. B-jai smile widened and he finally let out a breath.

B-jai turned with his hatred eyes toward Stephen, his eyes narrowed trying to use his power to lift him up and throw him across the hall, just to let him taste his own medicine. But instead B-jai swiftly turned away and didn't dare to face Stephen, he felt like his entire body is burning from the bright golden light coming for Stephen necklace, B-jai begin to tremble. His expression became fearful when he saw himself turning from purplish-blue to transparent now. He gulped and know that he has used too much of his power and weakened himself even more to Stephen protective charm.

After seeing Eve safe again, both Louis and Annie are relief. Annie felt like her heart has popped out and landed on the floor, she felt like she is going to faint. Thanks goodness that Eve is safe again. Louis fist tightened really hard as he hissed his anger out, he jerked Stephen back and punched him on the eyes. "YOU ARE A LIVING DEAD MAN NOW!! You are right, I wanted you dead!" Louis punched and kicked Stephen on the stomach. "Don't you ever dare lay hand on my daughter again!" he shoved Stephen against the wall. Stephen hissed and pushed Louis back, he swing his arm to punch Louis, Louis dodged making him punch into the wall instead. Both of them struggled on the floor.

Holding the knife, Annie dashed over wanting to kill this monster that almost killed her daughter. Seeing Stephen on top of Louis, she sees it as the perfect chance to stab Stephen on the back. So with both hand tightly on the handle of the knife she raise her arm and thrust the knife downward. Louis, who couldn't see Annie because Stephen totally blocked Annie from behind, he pushed Stephen toward his right and away from him, so the incoming blade of Annie knife stab right toward him instead of Stephen. Louis eyes widened surprised he quickly rolled away but Annie was too quick and stabbed him right on the side.

"AHHH..." Louis groaned in pain when the sharp blade pierces into his left lower abdominal....

To be continue...
*******

[zzzbeauty]

hi yak <IMG SRC="smilies/wave.gif" border="0">

Omg, <IMG SRC="smilies/shocked.gif" border="0"> I guess, at least Steven will be reunited with Ada.

I'm glad that Bobby didn't cover for Stephen or else...i'll have to add him to my hit list. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

Actually I just finished the chapter that Steven got kill; still trying to catch up.

Thanks for the update Yak. I will comment as i catch up. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Lol...yeah, you have created a quite a monster. <IMG SRC="smilies/laugh2.gif" border="0">

<font size="1">[ June 02, 2003: Message edited by: zzzbeauty ]</font>

[jeh]

Oh no, Louis!!! I hope he will be okay. What will happen to him?! That ******* Stephen <IMG SRC="smilies/angrystick.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/mad.gif" border="0">He will die a very painful death <IMG SRC="smilies/smash.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/crash.gif" border="0">Glad Eve is okay. What will happen to B-jai. Can he reincarnate? Hope you update soon.

[Yak]

okay have fun with the next chapter, but remember don't try to kill me afterward <IMG SRC="smilies/naughty.gif" border="0"> Give me a chance to finish first <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">