Destiny's Revenge (Destiny Series - Book 2) (10 page)

As I opened my eyes, Max was again looking at me, but this time not shaking me or yelling. Peanut hadn’t left his post the whole time. “I need to call Seth.” I stood up and walked toward the phone, but Max stepped in front of me.

“That isn’t a good idea. Remember we’re here because we needed a place to hide out. As soon as Seth knows where you are, so will your parents, Rachael, and Amanda. We have to assume something might be watching them.”

“I just heard half of a telephone call. My mom has already called the police looking for me, and the only comforting words they had for her was that I had bought a bunch of handguns. Seriously Max, I need to call and let them know I’m fine. I won’t tell them where we are.”

Max blocked me from the phone with his body, “Your family is just going to have to worry a few more days. I’m sure they’ll forgive us later.”

I could understand his reasoning, and it was infallible, but I also knew that after everything that had happened, the last thing I wanted them to do was worry. I had told them I was going to Max’s place in Ridgeville. My mom must have called to check on me.

I offered a compromise, “If you’re worried about someone or something finding out where we are, why don’t we go drive into Columbia and call from your cell. It would only be about an hour’s drive, and if anyone were checking phone records, that’s a pretty big haystack to be looking for a needle in.” Max didn’t look as though he were going to agree, so I added, “Please Max, it’s the least I can do. It isn’t fair to any of them to disappear without a trace after two years – they just got me back.”

With this last plea, Max agreed. We walked through the living room and saw Joe sitting in front of the television. We told him we were going in town to grab some more groceries. Peanut followed us out to the truck and took his place in the back seat.

We were just about to the Columbia city limits when I dialed the phone. Seth picked it up on the first ring, “Max? Is Lauren with you?”

I made my voice as deep as possible in an effort to sound like Max and replied, “No, I haven’t seen her in a week.”

Dead silence echoed back at me through the receiver when I let out a giggle, “Sorry, Seth, I couldn’t resist. Of course I’m with Max. What did you think, I was out wrestling bears again?”

Max winced at my poor attempt at humor, and Seth nearly growled into the phone, “Where the hell have you been? Molly has been worried sick. It never occurred to you to pick up the phone?”

“Easy Seth, I think I just did. Everything’s fine, Max and I are just…getting to know each other again.”

“You need to hang up and call your mom. She’s already filled out a missing person’s report. The police told her you bought a bunch of hand guns. Lauren, what’s going on?”

Though the conversation was not on speaker, I was sitting right next to Max and Seth was nearly hysterical, so Max heard. He shook his head as if reminding me that I needed to be vague. “Nothing is going on. Max and I were target practicing, and I decided I wanted a gun, you know a little fearful of the wildlife these days. I couldn’t decide so I bought two, and Max didn’t have his identification on him and he decided he wanted a new one. I guess it does sound a little strange, huh?”

“You’re lying, Lauren. I’ve known you your whole life. What the hell is going on?” Panic in Seth’s voice was a foreign concept. I wondered what had him so worried; my mom’s phone call couldn’t have gotten him this crazy.

“Seth, take a pill. Nothing’s going on. Max and I are just spending some quality time together. I dropped off the grid for, I would think, some obvious reasons – like wanting to spend time with Max. Can you call my mom and let her know I’m fine? If she got you this wound up, I know I don’t want to talk to her.”

“Lauren, call your mom, right now. She’s worried sick, and she won’t believe me if I call her and tell her I talked to you and you are fine. She needs to hear your voice for herself.”

Max shook his head at me again, but I said, “Okay, I’ll give her a call.”

Seth and I disconnected and I started to dial my mom, when Max said, “Lauren, she is going to want to see you, and when you tell her no, what’s she going to think?”

I shrugged my shoulders and dialed her number. It must have been my lucky day because I got her voice mail. “Hi Mom. Max and I have been camping again. This is our first trip back to civilization. I didn’t want you to worry so figured I’d call and let you know I’m fine. We’re stocking up on supplies and will be out of cell range for a week or so. Tell Dad I love him.” I disconnected and turned to Max, “Well, that was lucky.”

I could see the relief on Max’s face, but he kept quiet.

Over the course of the next few days, I really practiced using my sight thing. I got to the point where I could look in on people no matter where I was, lying down or seated – and I could do it for just a few seconds. I got over whatever issue I had with Max being in the room. I had checked in on Rachael, Seth, Mom, Dad, even Seth’s girlfriend Amanda, all in the course of less than ten minutes.

I decided to check in on Rewsna. As soon as the tunnel cleared my vision, I could see her conversing with an extremely large man. He had a snow white beard and hair. He looked as though he was a slimmer version of an ideal Santa Claus: rosy red cheeks, bright blue eyes, an aged but not overly wrinkled face, and a bright red button down shirt with dress slacks. I had intruded into conversations enough times that I had kind of gotten over the fact that I was eavesdropping. The two were in mid-conversation.

“I don’t care what you say, Renny, you and I both know it’s coming. The time is upon us.”

“She’s in hiding. They won’t find her as long as she stays smart. She’s broken contact with everyone. She won’t know of his plans and she will not try to intercede.”

“You forget what it is like to be young and invincible. She doesn’t even understand her mortality, and she has already stared it in the face. She will let her guard down, he will spring, there will be nothing any of us can do. Once he has her, no one will be safe. You must contact her to tell her the whole truth. He’s found her twice, do you think he will give up?”

“She is stronger than you give her credit for. One of his demons tried to possess her, and she shut him out. She wasn’t tired afterwards - she was angry. Each time he comes in contact with her she gets stronger and he becomes weaker. Trying to keep them apart may not be in our best interest. If she can destroy him…”

The man cut Renswa off and nearly yelled, “Our best interest? She is a child. No matter how strong she is, what happens if she fails? We need…”

Just like that I was pulled back to my body. Max’s eyes were watching me and nonchalantly said, “So where’d you go this time?”

I relayed what little I had heard, but it seemed like a whole lot of nothing. This was the first time I was prematurely pulled back, and I wasn’t sure why. We had pulled into Joe’s driveway when he stepped out on the porch and met us.

“Where have you two been?”

“Just for a drive. Why, did you miss us?”

“I’m not going to be at the mercy of your company for much longer. Rose called. School’s out and Benny wants to come visit for a while.” I was a little confused until Max explained Benny was his twelve year old cousin. Rose was his dad’s sister who lived in Georgia.

“When does he get here?”

“Rose is going to bring him up today. Should be here by dinner time.”

***

The afternoon dragged on slowly, everyone doing their own thing. I got Benny’s room ready for him with Peanut shadowing my every step. Max was uncharacteristically upbeat, and Joe was digging out fishing tackle that looked like it hadn’t been used in years.

Around five o’clock a Mercedes pulled into the driveway. Out stepped the frumpiest looking woman I had ever seen. She looked tired, her skin was wrinkled well beyond her possible age, she was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, both faded and well worn. She didn’t look overly thrilled to be here. In a cordial voice she called, “Hi, Dad, good to see you.”

The child who climbed from the other side of the car was in stark contrast. He screamed, “Hi, Grandpa! Hey, Max!” and all but sprinted to the front porch.

I stood at Max’s side with Peanut lying at my feet. As soon as Benny set his foot on the porch, the hair on Peanut’s neck stood up straight and he bared his teeth. Max turned his attention to Peanut, and said, “Stop it, you be good,” in a firmer than required voice. Peanut stood in front of me and ignored Max’s warning, still showing his teeth, his haunches mirroring the fur on his neck.

I reached down and petted Peanut, doing my best to calm him. This was the first bit of aggressiveness I had seen since we picked him up. I imagined he was so used to just the three of us that having visitors was throwing him for a loop. When I was unable to calm him, I decided it would be better just to stick him in the house until he got used to having Benny around.

Benny was clearly excited to see Max and Joe. As I stepped behind them both to shush Peanut into the house, Rose finally made her way to the porch asking, “Who are you and what’s wrong with your dog?”

Manners were obviously not her strong suit. I stuck out my hand in an effort to introduce myself and said, “I’m Lauren, it’s great to meet you.”

Rose looked at my hand and put hers in mine but didn’t really shake it. It was more of a wired hand gesture than a typical greeting. Although strange, I didn’t want to rush judgment on her; she had just come off of a four hour drive and was probably exhausted. “So what’s wrong with the dog? Should it be tied up or something?”

I couldn’t answer the part about Peanut. I’ve always heard that dogs have a great sense for people, and my first impression of Rose wasn’t all that great. I think Peanut must have clued in on her vibe or something. “I don’t know. He must not be accustomed to strangers. Max and I just got him last week.”

“So Max, why are you and your girlfriend staying at Dad’s house? Did you squander your inheritance and now you’re sponging off of him?”

Clearly irritated with her directness and her tone, Max’s response was just as acidic, “Great to see you again, Aunt Rose. We’ve just been keeping Gramps company since his surgery. I’m sorry you weren’t able to help him with his recovery.”

“Well, isn’t that nice of you. Here I thought you were freeloading. I heard you were back – I imagine you have flashbacks from the war and can’t hold a job now, right?”

I
really
did not like this woman. She had been here less than two minutes and her demeanor had my blood boiling. I was not a part of Max’s family, so it wasn’t my place to correct his ill-mannered aunt. I touched Max’s arm, and said, “I’m going inside.”

Joe, I think, was so surprised at the exchange that he was absolutely speechless. Max was mortified when she followed with, “Lauren, was it? I imagine you are as accomplished as Max, right? Floating effortlessly through life with no responsibilities? I’d like the two of you to stay clear of Benny. He is here to spend time with his Grandfather. He doesn’t need any lessons on life from either of you. His good-for-nothing father does a great job teaching him that crap.”

I was convinced I had never met a more vile individual in my life. I looked to her son who seemed oblivious to the entire exchange. The dynamic of the conversation was so strange that I hardly knew whether to hug the boy and pull him inside to get him away from her, or pull Joe and Max inside to protect them from her.

Joe finally found his voice when he asked, “Rose, do you want to come inside and get Benny settled in?”

“He’s not a baby, Dad. Point him to the computer and the television and he’ll be fine.” She started back for her car, and as she reached the door said, “I’ll be back next weekend to get him.”

She got in the car and drove away.

Peanut was still growling through the door even after she had left. Joe, Max and Benny seemed to have taken her rudeness in stride while I was still reeling. She was horrible. She found a way to insult everyone, including me, and she’d never even met me before. The others stayed on the porch socializing while I went into the house and sat on the couch. Peanut leapt on to the couch and lay across my lap. I tried to remind him that at ninety pounds he wasn’t exactly a lap dog, but Peanut didn’t budge.

Max opened the door and said the three of them were going down to fish for a little while and asked if I wanted to come along. I politely declined in favor of watching television. No sense braving the bugs and the heat to sit on the side of a creek and try to catch fish that wouldn’t bite in the heat of the day. I thought it would be a good idea for the three of them to catch up. I could see Max was torn. He and I hadn’t been separated by more than fifty yards since the first day he came back. Sensing his apprehension, I said, “It’s fine, Max. Peanut and I are just going to hang out in the house and watch television. You guys go have a good time. We’ll be fine.”

He stepped inside the door and made his way to the couch. Max knelt down in front of me bringing the full force of his eyes on mine, “I really don’t want you here by yourself. Why don’t you come along and just get to know Benny. He’s really a great kid in spite of his witch of a mother.”

“You go ahead. Peanut and I’ll be fine.” Peanut was still draped across my legs as if settling in. Max looked at him and looked pleased with his protective posture. Max reached down and scratched Peanut’s ears, “You’re going to take care of her, right?”

Max took my face in both his hands and kissed me deeply. Like every other time, this sent my libido into orbit, and I wished that Joe and Benny would go fishing by themselves. Max’s lips moved from mine long enough for him to whisper, “I love you, Lauren. Be careful while I’m gone. I’ve got some plans for you tonight.”

I blushed and asked him to hurry back.

The hour and a half since their departure had flown by. I had started dinner, banking on the fact that they wouldn’t catch any fish. I had thrown a load of clothes into the washer and was contemplating giving Peanut a bath when I heard Max’s truck pull up outside. I glanced out the window from the kitchen and noticed him walking toward the house while Benny and Joe made their way to the garage. I knew Max needed to know I was fine. He had probably been preoccupied the entire time.