╭──╯Previous chapter: 9.18 ╰──╮
Dear Diary, it was a normal day with nothing standing out as peculiar or worrying. During the past few weeks, our little family had been lulled into a routine that fit us well, one day blending into the next, my heart never happier.
Sebastian and I were planning our wedding, Amy seemed like a typical child, and the hardships were in our rearview mirror for good.
Or so I thought.
“Mom, I’m ready to have horses now.”
I smiled softly as I paused what I was doing to give her my full attention.
“You know, we spoke about horses once you’ve completed your first riding class. You still have three weeks left.”
Amy put her palms together, and I knew she was about to build up to an over-the-top pleading that could win an Academy Award.
“Oh, please, oh pleeeeease. I’ll do anything! Anything! I’ll make my bed every morning and bring all my dirty clothes to the laundry room. And I’ll make sure they’re not all inside out ever again.”
“You know very well those are things you are supposed to do anyway already. Now, go wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon.”
Of course, that didn’t stop her from taking a deep breath.
Before she could start in again, I said, “Why don’t you play on your swing set until dinner? I’ve already set the table, but we can eat outside on the patio instead.”
And just like that, her gears changed. “You know, I’m pretty good on the swings now. If I lean back really hard while my feet are going up, it looks like I can touch the clouds.”
I glanced at the living room briefly when I heard Seb stifle a laugh.
“All right now, Missy, go play so I can finish dinner.”
Amy disappeared through the sliding glass door, and I watched her skip across the patio toward the swing set. Right on cue, the buzzer went off, and I pulled the Cheesy Chili Mac Casserole, a favorite of Amy’s, out of the oven, setting it on a trivet to cool.
“That smells delicious,” Seb said.
There was a knock at the door. Seb leaned forward, glancing back at me, then turned the TV off. I started pulling ingredients from the refrigerator to make a salad when I heard him swear from the foyer.
Rushing through the living room, I entered the foyer, too, and it’s a good thing I wasn’t carrying anything, or I would have dropped it when I saw him.
“What are you doing here?” There was both anger and worry in Seb’s voice.
So far, I hadn’t found my voice at all.
There was a vampire in my house! Not any old vampire, though, he was the head of what used to be Seb’s clan, Seb’s sire himself, Gerrard McCalmont.
“I realize my presence is most unwelcome,” Gerrard said, his voice slow and measured, “however, I have news of great importance you will want to hear.”
I tore my eyes away from his shining vampire eyes and to Sebastian, who looked frozen in his tracks. He motioned for me to stay back, but he needn’t have worried. I wasn’t planning on coming any closer.
“I’m done with that old life.”
Even after hearing Seb’s words, Gerrard didn’t back down.
“Well, it isn’t done with you. You have left some loose ends, S-” he stopped himself from calling Sebastian “son,” I assumed.
“Loose ends?”
“Tilly Thompson,” he answered, drawing her name out as if he was feeling the words in his mouth. “She will taste so good when I get my hands on her.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “Tilly is harmless. I left her a screaming pile of human flesh, no longer able to hurt anyone.”
The corners of Gerrard’s mouth turned up into a cruel smile. “What you left her was angry and full of revenge. My spies tell me she has recruited some vampires, promising them the child as a way to hurt you.”
It took me a moment to understand what he meant, then suddenly, all my senses came alive in fear.
“No!” I gasped.
Sebastian raced for the door with Gerrard and me on his heels. We bolted around the side of the house to where Amy was playing on the swing set.
Except she wasn’t there.
“Where is she?” I screamed. It was all I could do not to fall to my knees, wailing. Instead, I turned to my fiance, my eyes wild, my thoughts scrambling to keep up.
“I am too late!” Gerrard growled, his hands balling into fists at his sides.
“Where would she take her?” Seb asked. I could tell he was trying to stay calm, but he was on the edge of that precipice.
Gerrard paused a moment where I assumed he was doing the same thing Seb used to when he was a vampire, using that Spidey-sense-thing.
“My spies are following them now.”
Without another word, we ran back to the front of the house where Gerrard’s car was. He drove like a maniac through streets I wasn’t very familiar with until we were far out from everything, across the river from the city. When he stopped the car, he pointed toward thick woods.
“Beyond those trees is a clearing. I believe that is where the child is.”
I could hear Gerrard and Sebastian calling for me to wait, but I’d already leaped from the car and was racing through the trees, needing to find my child before anything could happen to her.
“Oh, my darling!” I gasped as I saw her. Panting from my sprint through the woods, I stopped running but quick-walked up to her.
“Mom! Look out behind you!”
But Amy’s warning was too late. Tilly held a blade to my throat and spun me around hard, making me trip on the heels of my boots. She clinched me, not allowing me to fall. Three almost feral-looking vampires came from behind the enormous boulder, standing inches behind us.
Amy covered her ears, and I tried to tell her to be brave, nothing would happen to her, but the knife at my throat stopped me.
The men weren’t too far behind me. When Tilly saw Gerrard, she let out a shrill scream.
“What are you doing here? No, no, no!
Gerrard had to be held back by Seb, who realized Gerrard had thrown a huge wrench into Tilly’s plan by being present.
“Tilly… Tilly, what are you doing?” Seb asked, his voice calm.
Gerrard’s lips were a thin line on his face, and I was afraid he would jump forward to grab us. If he did, I understood I would be killed right then. These vampires were looking for a feast as well.
Tears escaped the corners of my eyes as I thought of the dangerous predicament my baby was in.
“Stay back!” Tilly yelled. “Or I swear I’ll slice and dice her, then sic my vampire friends on you all!”
“You can try,” Gerrard said, Sebastian glaring at him for a second before turning back to Tilly.
Gerrard folded his arms in front of his chest like a pouting schoolboy.
“I know what I did made you angry, Tilly, but you don’t want to do this.”
“Angry? Angry? I had immortality and power at last and you took it away!” she screeched then took several deep breaths, all the while holding me in place with the knife. “Well, see, you’re wrong, Sebastian. I want to do this very much. Do you know what I found out? I can’t be turned again! You’ve ruined everything and all I ever did was everything you said! You double-crossed me!”
“It’s-it’s better to be human, I promise you.”
“Is it, Seb? Is it? Because right now you’re human and don’t have any control over what’s happening to you. Just. Like. Me.”
Sebastian frowned as he realized what her words meant. As a vampire, she never would have dared do this to him or his family.
“If you want to hurt me, okay, I get that. But let Sophie and Amy go. You have no quarrel with them.”
Tilly gripped the stiletto harder, pinching the tender skin on my neck with the blade. Her nostrils flared and she spoke through gritted teeth.
“You’re kidding, right? If I let them go, your daddy there will just kill me and these guys. So, no, that will not happen.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Amy sit up more.
Her face was contorted with anger as she stood to her feet.
In my mind, I willed her to sit back down so she wouldn’t draw Tilly’s attention.
But the child, fists at her sides, glared at Tilly, and yelled, “Let. My. Mom. GO!”
Suddenly, she floated straight up from the ground, a yellow light covering the top of her head.
Tilly let go of me so fast, I nearly fell. She dropped the knife and said, “OMG, she is just like her mother!”
The light turned from yellow to a blinding white, growing stronger by the second, until I fell to my knees, covering my eyes.
At first, it covered us all, and I could feel my skin growing uncomfortably hot.
Then, although still blinding, it seemed to concentrate mostly on Tilly, who fell to her knees, clutching her throat.
Then she was gagging, gurgling, gasping for air.
The vampires around her fell to their deaths.
Tilly was clawing at her throat, there was no longer any sound coming out of her. All at once, she fell over, as unmoving and dead as her vampire companions.
The light seemed to rise above her now, turning a brilliant gold.
Gerrard ran to her…
…cradling her in his arms until all traces of the light ebbed away.
Finally, he gave her to me, and I had my child in my arms, warm and safe again.
Sebastian put his arms around us, gripping us.
For a time, I basked in the moment, never wanting it to end. But then, Gerrard’s worried expression caught my eye.
Amy had powers that were perhaps more powerful than either of her parents. We were not safe, not really. This was merely a reprieve. There would be others looking for the child of Laris Bloodgood and Georgia Noble.
The question then was, what would we do about this?
Three weeks ago, a very close member of my family was hospitalized and nearly died. They underwent emergency surgery and luckily, the surgeon was able to pinpoint the problem. Afterward, they spent two weeks on a vent, fighting for their life. It was harrowing, but they pulled through and although still hospitalized, they are getting better every day and going to be fine.
As you can imagine, I was beside myself. Many of you know that Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) does a lot of work here behind the scenes, editing chapters and cheering me on. She was kind enough to make tons of poses for this chapter, assemble them in the order they would need to be for the chapter, and basically organized this entire scene for me so I wouldn’t have to worry about it. My sincerest thanks, Bee.
Other poses used in this chapter by Bee are from these sets: Lost – Children, Family Baking, Just Standing, and Convo/Emotion Poses – Set 2.
Thank you for reading, lurking, liking, and commenting,
Other Credits:
World: St. Claire
Lot: Barbara Estate
Stiletto: Set “Stiletto”
I knew it, I just knew Amy would do something in that situation. Good! But what are her abilities exactly? And how well-meaning is Gerard, really?
Those are really good questions! More on that in the near future! 🙂
HUGS HUGS .. I hope that by now all is better with the fam <3
Hugs right back at ya’! Everything is much better now. 🙂
So sorry to hear of your family member’s predicament, Kymber. Sending my best wishes for their full recovery and good health ❤
Oh no, of course Sophie and Seb’s newfound happiness was too good to last 😢 This gave me flashbacks to when poor Kara was kidnapped from her own house… Tilly has truly gone off her rocker since her days as Gigi’s best friend, what a brutal end to her story. At first, I thought Gerrard was the “decoy” while Amy got kidnapped, but it seems he’s really there to help his son and his family, which makes me wonder if he’s there because he actually does care in his own twisted vampire way or to take advantage of Amy’s powers. And boy are those powers frightening!
Thank you, Lila. ❤
This chapter definitely had Kara-kidnapping vibes. You’re right about Tilly; she’s really gone and had the ending Gigi first warned her about years before while they were in school.
I like your first thought about Gerrard being a possible decoy. We’ll learn more in the near future as to motives he may or may not have regarding Amy’s powers. 😀
Sorry I didn’t comment on the previous chapter. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the title of this one was ‘Oh no! Another kidnapping?! This legacy gets crazier and crazier……. And I love it!’ LOL! I hope you’re doing okay. <3
I love that you love it, Hilly. I’m doing fine, thanks. I hope you are, too. ❤❤
I am. Sadly, I can’t play Sims 3 anymore so I removed it from my computer. But I still have Sims 4!
Awww I’m so sorry about TS3. That’s so not cool. I’m glad TS4 runs well, though. Happy swimming!
It’s okay. 🙂 Even after that ordeal with the error code, I’m farther along into the save than I’ve been in a while! They’re expecting a daughter and her name will be Ryan, after Daddy. Nickname Rya.
Oooooh, I like that name a lot! Congratulations on getting further along in this save. 🙂
Thanks! I’m actually happy where I am now. Though I didn’t actually count this as a re-start since I had my founders pick up from where they left off before the bugging happened.
I’m sorry to hear about all the problems you’ve had with your game. I hope your tower gets fixed soon.
The HP company is supposed to send me a box to ship them my tower. Personally they should have just sent me a replacement tower instead. I hate my laptop. I haven’t spent more than a few hours playing. Not long enough to take pics to share.
I think they should have sent you a replacement, too, Hilly. I’m sorry you’ve been having such a rough time playing.
I’m back on my laptop with sims 3 versions of my Cole founders. They’re also witches. I forgot how fun the Alchemy skill is. Something I wish was in Sims 4.
Still writing great stories on this beautiful new site that I love and bookmarked.
Thank you so much, Tangie. I appreciate your kind words!
I don’t know what part made me cry more, Amy being kidnapped or your update on your family member – it bought so many memories back. I really hope they are okay and wish them a steady recovery Xxxx
Thank you so much, Ami. I’m glad my writing touched you, I’m sorry to make you cry. xoxoxo
Oh boy! We haz very special child.
Don’t I know it! lol Although it’s great she saved the day, it comes with lots of problems.
What a nail biter! Everything was picture perfect, then BOOM! Here comes Tilly the Terrible. Lol. And then, it got even better when Amy was pushed and her powers came out as she protected those she loved. And now…. There is that. Great chapter. And on another note, saying prayers for your friend. So happy things are turning around for them. ❤️
Thank you, Audrey! ❤️ I appreciate it so much.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the chapter. Things for the little family are crazy once again! lol
Wow. That was exciting, Kymber. I thought Amy was in big trouble when she disappeared and then she ends up saving the day. Great installment to the story. 🙂
Thank you, Diana. 🙂 I’m so glad you liked it. Amy’s parents were both very powerful and Sophie was hoping beyond hope Amy wouldn’t exhibit anything like this. But there you go. lol
Thank goodness she did!
So true. Without what she did, I’m sure it wouldn’t have ended well.
Good grief that was frightening! What a last line–what will they do now??
That is a good question, Jacquie. They’ve got a lot to work through and figure out, that is for sure.
I’m sorry your family went through this, Kymber- praying for those affected. Bee does amazing work that brings your thrilling story to life. I had a feeling we were going to see more of Tilly the Witch, lol. I’m glad Seb’s father is showing himself to be supportive- for the moment, anyway 🙂
Thank you so much, Jacqui. It’s been quite an ordeal.
You are so right. Without Bee, I don’t know what I would do. 😀
Tilly the Witch has returned. lol Gerrard will be supportive for now, but why? Seb is probably wondering.
Thank you Jacquie!
Thank you for sharing!!… liked the story, will be interested to see what comes next and how they evolve and what the future may bring!.. “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” ( Maria Robinson )…. 🙂
Hope family is on the mend and until we meet again..
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
Thank you so much! It’s good to see you and to read the beautiful quotes you leave. 🙂
I’m glad your family member is doing better! All my best wishes to them.
I liked Tilly when she and Gigi were teens. She helped her in many ways and they seemed like a great team. But after they finished high school she was becoming more and more insufferable. And in the end she even became a threat to the family. So I’m glad she’s gone. But Sophie is right, there definitely will be more people after them.
This scene reminds me a lot of the one you did with Jarrah and Otto during Kara’s gen. Come to think of it, Amy must have some strong magical genes, since these powers run in the Noble family since Holden and Rosetta, I think. And then she also has Bram’s genes and Laris’ genes. Oh my. She must be powerful.
Can’t wait to see where this goes.
Thank you for your kind wishes, Jowita.
Tilly and Gigi were something else when they were teens, it’s true. I liked them as a team, too. Gigi predicted if she continued down that path, she would end up in a dark place, but my thought is that Gigi kind of took Tilly there. She was always asking Tilly to do things that were unsavory.
You know, this scene reminded me a lot of the Jarrah and Otto scene, too. There certainly is a lot of magic running through this family now. lol
First and foremost, I’m glad to hear that your relative is on the road to recovery. I can’t imagine what a horrific experience that was for you. What a great friend Lisa “Bee” is – her help towards you warms my heart. I’m always in awe at how welcoming Simmers are in the Sim community.
Whoa this story!
Sophie just wanted an ordinary life, and here comes Seb’s ex-vampire-daddy knocking on their door, warning them about Tilly and her cruel plan to kidnap Amy.
I can’t help but feel a little bad for Tilly. Although I realize why Seb “took” vampirism from her, it was still non-consensual, and I can see from Tilly’s POV why she felt used. I mean… she WAS. The terms were Seb’s and not hers. I’d feel betrayed too.
Holy Taco Stand! What Amy did. DAAAAAAMN. Tilly kidnapped the wrong … uh… person? Like, WHAT is Amy?!??! Hahaha, I think Amy made an excellent case at the end of this chapter as to WHY she should get a horse, or a whole bunch of horses. Saving Sophie’s life is somewhat bigger than folding laundry…. right, Soph? I know Seb would think so anyways lol.
Fuuddddge crackers. I can’t wait to see what’s in store next. I’d throw in some emojis, but Idk how to do that on a desktop (sigh). Super awesome, Kymber!
Thank you so much. xo There are two “Bees” in the community (probably more, but I know two of them.) lol Lisa is one, and BMIT (or jessesue as some know her) is the other. BMIT Bee is the one who did this kind thing for me. I so agree with you about the Sims community and how they pull together for each other. I don’t know what I would do without the friends I’ve made here. xoxo
I can see why you feel badly for Tilly considering Seb definitely used her as a means to an end. I feel kind of sorry for her, too.
I love your “Holy Taco Stand!” hahaha Amy’s parents were super powerful, and Sophie was afraid that Amy might manifest powers, too. This is a nightmare for Sophie, although, you are so right, Amy deserves all the horses for saving Sophie’s life! LOL
I can’t wait for you to see what is next, too. 😀 😀 😀
That was very kind of BMIT (thank you for the correction – I had no idea there was more than one Bee here).
Oh, no. Poor Soph. I don’t think she was destined for normalcy, or at least living a “normal/typical” life.
Haha yes! ALL THE HORSES!
I think you’re right about Soph. Normal/typical is not really in the cards for her probably. 😀
You know Amy is going to be all about getting those horses now. haha
Thank you Ninja! I’m actually the first “Bee”, Lisa started calling herself that sometime after Sims 4 came out, I believe. i can’t really remember when it started. I’ve been Bee since I began playing the sims game. Have you heard of posesbybee? Cause that is me. and before that Storiesbybee.
Kymber and I have been good friends for quite a long time now. She is very special to me! I’m glad you liked the chapter.
Hi, BMIT!
I have heard of “Poses by Bee, but to be honest, I haven’t been part of a Sims community since 2009-2010 (Myspace). I just got into Sims 4 this past October, and looked for a platform to write.
I think it’s wonderful how close you two are. I have been blessed with friendships that I made in the Sim community, so I understand the special relationships that can grow ☺️
Oh, goodness. What a hard time to go through, Kymber. I’m so grateful that you have so much support around you, and it’s still super hard. Wishing you a time of calm and health. This was quite a chapter! I love how Amy is pulling together the whole series. Great work!
Thank you, Cathy. I appreciate your kind words.
I’m glad you see Amy that way. I am really hoping that’s the case. 🙂
Prayers!
Thank you so much. xo
It’s the very least I can do.
❤️
So many things to say about this chapter! First off, thank you for the shoutout! I was very happy to set this chapter up for you while you cared for you family member. So happy they are on the mend finally!
Tilly! I was happy Tilly got an ending in this story, even though it meant her death. It made complete sense she would want revenge after losing everything she worked her whole life to get. I often wonder, if Tilly hadn’t met the girls, would she simply have ended up in jail someday with her character traits. Perhaps she would think this is the better bargain and what she truly thought would happen once she began the plan to kidnap Amy. Revenge before ultimate death, seems like her.
I wonder how Seb will handle the feeling of being helpless in this situation and the realization a normal life is not what they are destined to have. Will he regret his decision to become human? Sophie I’m sure has been dreading this moment since the moment Amy was born. Although I would bet it came a lot sooner than she believed it would.
Great chapter Kymber! Gripping! I’m sure the following ones will be quite similar till this gets worked out.
You’re so welcome, and thank you again for all you do.
I think it was good to show Tilly getting her comeuppance. It’s been a long time coming. Remember way back when Gigi told Tilly if she kept going on the path she was on, she would end up somewhere dark? Well, here we are.
I think that’s a good and valid point about what would Tilly’s life had been like if she’d never met Gigi in the first place? Or if they remained enemies instead of becoming friends?
That’s a good question about Seb and will be addressed in the next chapter. As for Sophie, I think this was indeed way sooner than she expected. Plus, a lot was revealed to her in this chapter. More on that later. 😀
Thank you again, I’m so glad you liked it.
Huge gentle hugs, wishing your family member a very strong recovery and you all the strength for all the little moments.
As always Bee’s posses are fabulous.
Long distance air hugs to both of you.
Thank you so much, mama dragon. The hugs and good vibes are most welcome.