Clan of Redemption (34 page)

"Ok...I'm going to be
totally honest regardless if you think I'm a nerd, but what
the heck is this? I started to stand up so that I could
hold it up to my body and really take a gander at it.

"You don't like
it," Blake said with disappointment.

"No, no, I mean yes I like
it, I've just never seen anything like this before." I
said as I found a mirror on the back of one of the old wooden
closet doors.

"This is a traditional
tartan sash from our clan. The sash's are worn by those in
high power in our clan and I know that this will impress the
council," he said as he helped me slide the sash over my white
blouse that I wore underneath my torso and before I knew it he had
put this pin to hold it. 

"Blake this pin is
beautiful," I said as I held the pin a little closer to take a
better look at it.

"This is a Celtic design
that means long life." 

"Long life, are you trying
to tell me something?" 

Blake started to laugh,
"Yes, I guess I’m trying to tell you that I hope you have a long
life. You need to start to trust people.”

“
Well my mother…..I just
don’t trust people," I said as I turned away. Blake took the hint
and didn't talk to me about what I'd just said.

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

"Jayden, did you know that
person?" Blake asked me as I squished the paper into my jeans
pocket.
"No, I guess they thought I was someone I wasn't. Let's get
going on the meeting, I have some question and I'm sure you boys
have come up with some sort of strategy plan."

For the first few minutes
I was staring at the men at this somewhat of a round table, but my
thoughts were nowhere near the table. I couldn't help but
wonder who that person was, how they knew that we were here, and
what the note actually meant. There's this feeling in the bottom of
my stomach that I just can't seem to shake, but I know that it's up
to me to get Sully back and if I don't do it fast, well she's going
to be really pissed at me. I've had Sully mad at me before and
I swore that I would try really hard not to go there, unless of
course she fully deserves it.

"So, I think we should all
try really hard to not show that we are on Jayden's side, and I
might throw a few harsh things her way to try and throw off
suspicion with the council. If they suspect that anyone is coaching
her in anyway, they could encroach the dueled and we want to avoid
that.

"I'm sorry what did you
say about encroaching?" I said as
I
tried to focus on the
conversation.

"The dualada, it's one of
our oldest tradition. A member of the royal family can ask for
a battle with another family member if their throne is being
challenged," Xavier said as he looked at Logan and not at
me.

I screeched without
realizing I was doing it.

"Did you say battle, as in
fighting, as in hurting one another." I absent mindedly touched my
hand to my face. I really didn't like the idea of someone punching
me in my face. I've watched plenty of MMA fighting with Logan and I
don't get it, especially someone punching me in the face. I didn't
think that would feel good.

I looked around and
realized that no one had answered my question.

Welp, that was my
answer.

"Why would my Grandmother
think that I would be challenging her, it wouldn't normally be my
time to rule anyway, doesn't she need to die or something like
that?" I asked wondering how I would fight an old lady, well
she doesn't look old, but still, fight my own flesh and
blood. My Dad always taught me to try and handle things
peacefully, not with fighting. I usually try to avoid
fighting.

"Jayden, you need to
understand something, now that you have the ring and necklace you
need to take over, you need to push your grandmother out, our
people need a change, and you're the hope we've all been praying
for. Most of our clan has left, exposing the ones that are
left, and the ones that are here haven't had any successful
matings."

"Are you seriously going
to put that kind of pressure on me, I'm an 18 year old girl who
still needs to find herself, and you want me to put a clan of
people back together again like humpty dumpty," I said with
much sarcasm.

"Jayden, don't be like
that, we just want you to be as prepared as you can going into
this, the decision you're making affects all our people regardless
if you grew up around them or not, they are your
family," Logan said as he reached over to grab my
hand.

"Logan, listen to
yourself, you are putting as much pressure on me that your Dad is,
and just a few days ago I thought you were dead, when really you
were pretending to be a dog that just showed up. How am I
supposed to make these kinds of decisions when I don't know what is
the truth and what are lies? You all need to keep in mind you
are taking to a girl that was raised in a town where she was just
another girl, not a bird, or a dog, or anything else I can change
into. I made this decision to come to find my family and what
I found was a whole lot bigger than I had expected, and I need some
time to take it all in, but don't assume that I'm the one that is
here to recue your people. I have the right, just like my
mother did to turn this position down and I'm starting to see why
she did."

"Please forgive us.
It has been a long term for your grandmother and
we are all eager to get our family back to where it was, but if
it's not you than we will find another way. Let's get back to
discussing the council and how they are going to handle the news of
your arrival? Then when the time comes, Jayden, you and only
you will be the one that needs to make that decision for yourself,
but keep this in mind when you make your finally decision, it's
final. Once you decide to take your place in your family, you will
need to be strong, deal with issue that seems of no importance to
you, and make decisions that could kill a close friend. What
you are going to be asked to do is rule our clan and to do that
takes balls of steel," Xavier said as he looked away from
me.

"Ok, I think we've scared
the poor girl, we don't want her running right out that
door. So, what can we tell her about what can she be prepared
for?" asked Thornton who winked at me. 

The wink make me feel a
little at ease, but not much. I'm use to stress, at least the
sports stress, school finals stress, but it's not like you find out
every day that I'm a princess in a shape shifters
clan. 

"To be honest, I don't
know how this is going to go, some of the council will want proof,
some won't believe us, others won't know what to do. This is
going to fall on your Grandmother and what moves she wants to
play. I am glad that you are wearing that sash, it's tradition
and will put some of the members at ease. By the way, Jayden,
how did you know to wear that?" Xavier asked.

"I gave it to her,
sir," Blake said trying to hold back his pride.

"Very impressive. Ok,
so Jayden, you need to remember that you are not to speak unless
spoken to, never raise your voice to any of the members and please,
please don't make your Grandmother mad," Xavier said while
checking his watch.

"So basically I'm suppose
to stand there in front of strangers and just be," I said with
a swift salute like I was the good Army girl.

I got up from the table
full of anger and rage, but I quietly pushed out, "I'll meet you at
the car, Logan, Blake," and walked away.

How could they not be
concerned about Sully, they didn't even mention her. Am I the
only one that wants to get my friend back? For a group of men
that keep talking about family and how important they are, they
seem very one track mind. Well we shall just see how this goes,
maybe I have a few tricks up my sleeve that they don't know
about.

I was leaning on the car
when a cat came up to me and started to rub my leg purring. I
hadn't seen a cat like this....well ever. He was pitch black
with...what I would say was dark purple stripes and spots, so dark
that it almost blended into the fur. I reached down and rubbed
my hand down his silky fleece fur. As I started to pull my
hand away I could see the spark fly from his fur to my hand and it
that moment time seemed to stand still, except for me, I could move
around but nothing else did.

"What is going on?" I
asked out loud.

The cat that I had been
petting, transformed right in front of me.

"I thought I could wait
until the meeting, but I needed to talk to you and I saw no other
way." Sydney said as she stood tall and lean in front of
me.

"Sydney, but...how...is
time really still,"  I asked still in shock.

"Yes, you did this, not
me. I had hoped your powers were growing, but I wasn't sure
that you could do this. That's why I showed up in my spotted
cat form. It is one of my favorites, I was thinking about
coming as a squirrel, and then I changed my mind and thought maybe
a dog, but I hadn't changed into a dog in awhile and wasn't sure
that I still could..."

"Sydney, stop...was there
something you needed to talk to me about, I don't know how long I
can hold this time thing," I said as I took a deep
breath.

"Oh, yes, you're
right. So...I wanted to tell you that you can't talk about
Sully at the council meeting. It's very important to just
leave that alone and I will help you with it when the meetings
over," Sydney said as she dung in her overalls, not sure what she
is looking for.

"What?  Why..., Sully
is more important to me that anything else that seems to be going
on. I need to make sure my friend is safe."

"She's safe, trust me,
Clint wouldn't want a death sentence on his head, but he needs
leverage that's the only reason why he took her. Have you ever
heard of rival clans in the highlands of Scotland. That's pretty
much what you've got goin' on here. I know none of this makes much
sense to you, but trust me, you don't want to bring it up. I have
to go know, I can feel your magic is fading and you need all your
strength, so when you need me I'll be around," Sydney said as
she leaned in and kissed me on my forehead.

I haven't had anyone kiss
me on my forehead except for my Dad, that was his signature move.
When he would check on me at night he always leaned in and kissed
me on my forehead. I would pretend that I was sleeping, but he
knew that I was awake, or at least I think he did.

"Before I could say
anything, the purple spotted cat was back and strolling away from
my car. As it walked away time seems to start like it had
never stopped.

"I'm not sure that was
me," I yelled as the cat crossed the street.

"What wasn't
you?" asked Blake as he walked up to me.

“Oh, I was just thinking
out loud...It helps me think sometimes," I said as I tried not
to look at him, he would know I was lying.

"You are the worst liar I
have ever met Jayden. Turning away doesn't help your
cause," Logan said as he opened up the passenger side
door

"Just because you're the
best liar in the world doesn't make it ok," I said as I got in
and started the car.

"Is your Dad and Thornton
riding with us?" I asked as I noticed they hadn't come out of
the restaurant.

"No, someone might see
them. Let's go, Blake you can sit in the back," he said
with conviction.
"Sure," Blake said as he climbed in rolling his eyes at
me.

I leaned over the towards
the passenger door. "You don't have to bark orders," I glared
at him.

Logan just rolled his eyes
at me and got in the car. The drive to my Grandmother's house
was quiet and uncomfortable. I can't imagine learning that you
have a brother by your fathers betrayal of your Mother, and that
your father is alive but never told you. I would love to be a
fly on the wall when they discuss what happened there. In all
the years that I had known Grace and Logan, the talk about his
father was always noble and kind, never anything of an angry
notion. 

"Right, stick up for
him......" Logan mumbled almost unintelligent able.

Blake, Logan and I drove
in silence, each one of us not wanting to start a conversation that
might get hostile.

When we pulled onto
Grandmother’s property, I started to feel a tingling sensation
throughout my body, almost like I might pass out. There were cars
parked up and down her long driveway, which seem to intimidate me
more.

“Jayden, you might want to
park here. It looks like all of the council showed up,” Logan said
as he sat forward.

We parked in a open spot
near the entrance of the driveway and all got out, not really
saying much until we got closer to the front door. Logan grabbed my
arm and I flinched.

“You’ve never flinched
when I’ve touched you before, what gives?” Logan asked with a hurt
look on his face.

“Give the girl a break
Logan, she’s going up in front of a bunch of people that she
doesn’t know. She has to defend her right to be queen; she is under
just a wee bit of stress,” Blake said.

“Blake, it’s ok….Logan,
I’m sorry, I’m really just trying to keep my mind focused. If I
don’t I might puke before I even step through the door,” I said as
I bent over to take a deep breath. "Could we stop using the queen
title, it’s not helping me to relax.”