Redemption (Waking Up Dead) (4 page)

CHAPTER 3

As soon as we were back in the passageway to the house, Alice started asking questions about what was going to happen.  The only thing that I could tell her was that we might be leaving this place and that everyone needed to be ready if that came up.

I didn’t think that she wanted to know the rest of the story.

“Try not to forget anything” I told them.

This was the only way that I could think of to distract them from the goings on above us.  Their opinions had been formed about Alzar before they could even realize that it was wrong and I didn’t want anything else to weigh in on that.  They needed to know that he was not what Aden had told them that he was.

Honestly, I had more questions than answers myself and I wasn’t in a position to be handing out false hope to any of them.  From here on out, life is going to get harder for all of us.  The tranquil life that we had here was not going to be like what was coming.  I am almost certain of that now.

Separating from them, I went and gathered all of my belongings first.  I took everything that I could, right down to the hairbrush.  I had no idea what was going to happen next and who’s to say that Alzar and Max wasn’t going to come down here and kill the rest of us as soon as he was finished with Aden?

Shaking the thought from my head, I tried to regain my focus on what I was doing.  When I was sure that I had everything that I needed, I moved on to the room that Max had been staying in.

Everything was already in place, packed up and in his bag.  He had put the bag on the bed.  There was no denying anything now.  Max had known that we were leaving even before all of this had taken place.

When I touched the handle of his bag, a vision as clear as it would have been of I had seen it with my own eyes played in my head.  Max was standing at my father’s side.  Something about him made him look like a tank in that moment.  But even with his strength, I could feel his sadness as well. 

My father took a small knife from the sheath that he was wearing on his side and held it out in front of him.  I didn’t know any other way to kill a vampire except for silver.  I guess that it is safe for me to guess that the blade is silver.

I watched as he plunged the knife blade into Aden chest. Aden fell to the ground and started shaking violently.  His body twisted and convulsed.  There had been no question in my mind that the pain that he was feeling was pure agony.

My father went to his knees on the ground beside Aden’s now still body.  Red tears started falling from his eyes as he chanted another spell.  This time I recognized the words clearly, although they were still not in English.  It was as if the vision had translated them for me.

I had thought that he was casting another spell, but I soon found out that I was wrong.  He was praying for forgiveness for taking yet another life.  He had called to the higher power again, but this time his heart was filled with grief.  The only thing that I could hope for was that he would receive the pardon that he so desperately wanted.

The vision disappeared as quickly as it had appeared and for that I was thankful.  For me to be able to see what had really gone on up there eased my worry and allowed me to have a better understanding of my father’s true nature.

Now that the deed was done, I knew that I was going to have to make sure that Alice and Caleb were ready to leave. 

They were both waiting in the living room when I came down the hallway.  Each of them had their bags in hand.  They looked relieved and happy to be leaving, but I knew that they were unsure of what was about to happen and how their lives were born to be from here on out.

I smiled at both of them trying to reassure them that everything was going to be okay, saying anything.  Alice smiled back whole heartedly and I knew that this was going to be her new beginning, a chance for a life without having to worry.

Caleb is a little more reserved and cautious than she is.  He wants to know the details about everything, no matter if it is a simple matter or something complex.  I can say that I will blame him.  If it were me, I would want to know as well.

He is her protector, her love and I had no doubts that he would do anything in his power to keep her safe.

I could feel my father getting closer to us.  He and Max had just entered the passageway.  My father’s sadness with still a strong as it was in my vision.  I could hear their footsteps getting closer to the door I did know whether I wanted to open it or wait for them.  If they were born to say anything before entering, I did want to be the one to interrupt.  They could be discussing something that I did need to know about until the decision was made to tell me, but I was sure that my father knew about my vision.  How could he not?  I am directly linked to his power.  I am his daughter.

The door opened slowly and Max came in.  His face stained with tears.  I could tell that he had done his best to try to erase the evidence from his face, that that was a hard thing to do when a person cried as hard as he had.

I ran to him, wanting to comfort him as much as I could.  He needed me right now and all wanted to console him, to make everything okay.  My arms held him in a tight embrace and he began to cry again.

Alice and Caleb must have thought that we needed privacy because they left the room as quietly as they could.  To be the monsters that we are, their hearts are full of love and kindness everything and everyone.

Max tried to gather himself enough so that he could be able to talk, but I wasn’t in any hurry.  I could stand like this with him forever.

“I’m so sorry Laynie.”

“Don’t be.  I knew what was going to happen.”

“You knew?” Max asked, confusion sweeping over his face.

“Yes, I knew.”

“How?”

I wasn’t sure if now was the time for me to explain my vision.  He had a right to know that I was experiencing my power for the first time.  Maybe that would be something that he could do to help me.  The only thing left for me to do was to tell him everything.

Max listened quietly as I told him about my vision.  I went through it leaving no details untold.  If he was going to be able to understand what I saw I could not miss any anything, no matter how small a thought it was.

The more that I said, the water his eyes became.  He had an astonished look that made me proud.  It was like I was only a witch and not a vampire witch.

When I had almost reached the end of my vision, my father walked in the door.  He closed it gently behind him and turned to me.  The red stains and the look on his face were only a reminder to me that Aden was dead.  No longer would he be able to cause anyone any more harm.  Still, I couldn’t help questioning if his tirade was truly over.  I remembered him telling me that his maker spirit had still the earthbound, forcing him to make good on the promise that he had made.  It is only reasonable for me to question whether or not Aden’s spirit had moved on.

My father came over to me and hugged me like he hadn’t seen me in years.  The truth of the matter was he hasn’t.  For the biggest part of my life I had believed that another man was my real father, but somehow none of that mattered now.  I returned the embrace with vigor.

When my father finally let me go, I could see that he had, once again, began crying.  Being close to him allowed me to feel the true intensity of his emotions.  They were genuine in nature and I no longer had doubts about him.  I had found my place with him and that was where I wanted to be.

“Are you ready to leave?” he asked me.

“As ready as I will ever be.”

The only question that I had left was if he was going to allow Alice and Caleb to come with us.  They had nowhere else to go and I was all they knew.

“Of course they can come.”

I called for both of them and informed them that we were leaving.

“Where what are we going?” Alice asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m sure that it will be better than this place.”

o0o

My father had a car waiting for us right outside of the woods.  We all got in after placing our bags in the trunk.  I had no idea where we’re going, but I knew that this would be the fresh start than I had dreamed of.

“We have to make one more stop before we leave” my father announced.

I took a moment to think about where it was that we were going, but not one single idea came to mind.  And the fact that he wasn’t one to tell me made me anxious.  Could this be the moment that he betrays me?

I watched out the window and noticed that my surroundings were very familiar.  This was to street that leads to my mother’s house.  Before I knew it we were already parked in the driveway.

Her front door opened and she walked out carrying luggage.  The only thing that she did on her way to the car was smile.  She had known about my father’s plans all along, but there wasn’t any way for her to tell me without alerting Aden.

Could it really be that my mother had saved me, but just not in the way than I expected.  She had no hate in her heart for me.  It was only pure love, true and as clean as the winter snow at Christmas.

Everyone rearranged their seating in order for my mother to have room.  She sat beside Alzar and rested her hand on his knee.  I never thought that seeing my mother with another man would be this easy, but it was.  He is my father and she is my mother.  The only thing that mattered now was that my family is complete.

The child inside me wanted to ask a million questions to both of them.  I’m sure that there was going to be plenty of time for that in the future.  As I sat there and stared at them I could feel the power growing.  It’s welled in me, threatening explosion, but I remained calm.  There was no need in worrying my mother about what I was going through.

Max looked at me with sympathetic eyes and I knew that he could feel what I was feeling.  I wish them there was a way that I could protect him from my confusion.

“Don’t worry Laynie.  I know what you are going through” Max whispered to me.

I took his hand and rested my head on the seat.  Maybe it wouldn’t be much longer until we would arrive in our destination.  Getting out of this car would definitely help my situation.

Almost an hour had passed before we had come to a stop.  In my desperation for relief I had not noticed where we were going.  I opened my eyes, looking around to make sure that this was really happening and that it was not a dream.  This cannot be a dream I told myself.  Vampires don’t sleep.

Someone from outside of the car opened the door and my father helped my mother out of the car.  Each of us followed the person in front of us until we were all outside of the car.

Through our bond, I realized exactly how much Alice hated enclosed spaces.  She stretched her limbs and breathed a sigh of relief.  After taking Caleb strand she looked at me with eyes filled with wonder and amazement.

I was not sure what she had seen, but I knew that it had to be something incredible.  She just doesn’t get excited over anything.

I turned to survey our surroundings.  We were all standing in front of one of the largest mansions that I had ever seen.  This must be my father’s house.

“Welcome home” Alzar said to all of us.

I couldn’t believe it.  This was really our new home, a place to be safe and loved.  Somehow in the tight confinement of the car, we had become a family.  The things about Alzar were not all true.  He did not want to eradicate all the day walkers.  He just wanted everyone to do the right thing and live without harming others.

My father walked up to the front door and welcomed us to our new home again.  Alice had become so excited that she hugged my father hard enough to cause him pain.  I had realized it just in time and pulled her back.  As soon as she realized what she had done she began to apologize repeatedly.

My father’s laughter rang in my ears like bells.  He was truly a good man so far.  I cannot help but to still be watchful.  In my experience it pays to be careful.

He had given us a tour of the house, which had taken about an hour, but it was extremely enjoyable.  All of the rooms were decorated tastefully and screamed comfort and all of us.  This house projected a homelike feeling and I could no longer imagine being anywhere but here. 

After the tour, my father walked me up to my room.  We both remained in silence, but I had so many questions that I wanted to ask.  My mother had never told me anything about Alzar and that made it harder for me to understand how all of this happened, how I was his daughter.

There was a story behind this and I was desperate to know all the details

Alzar opened the door to my new room and as I walked in the glowing of the bright walls stunned me.  The room looked magical in ways that I was sure that was by my father’s hands alone. 

Something about the room made me feel more loved than I had ever felt.  It screamed a welcoming to me that was unlike any other and I could feel my power growing again.

“Do you like it?” my father asked.

How could I not like it?  Every detail of the room was perfect.  The queen size canopy bed that sat in the middle of the room was my favorite thing of all, not to mention the oversized window that fills the entirety of the outside wall.

The sunlight felt great on my skin and I can’t imagine what it would be like to live life as a night walker.  That way of life had to be miserable.

“I love it!”

We talked, mainly about nothing that mattered, but I was trying to work up the courage to ask the questions that I needed answers to.  I guess there’s no better time than now.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked my father.  I can only hope that he would be willing to have this discussion with me.

“Sure.”

I swallowed my pride and thought hard about how ask him about how he had met my mother.  The only thing that I could do was blurt it out and I felt foolish after I had.

He smiled and I knew right then that this would be a subject that he would not care to tell me about.  And for that I was thankful.

As he started telling me about the night that he had met my mother, I felt a weight lifted from me.  It was like he had taken a large load than I had been carrying and allowed me to take a break.

I listened carefully to ever word that he told me.  The more that he spoke, the clear the picture became in my mind.  I could see everything.  I could see my mother, young and jubilant and Alzar shy and cautious in her presence.

They had been at a circle meeting when they had met.  All of the Elders had been talking about arranging a marriage and the two of them were frightened that it would be them.  Thankfully, it wasn’t.  They had chosen a couple witches that were a few years older than them.

My father spoke of this time like it was the happiest times of his life and the most nerve wracking.  He told me that he always had a crush on my mother and that he was certain that she felt the same way, but he couldn’t be sure.  Everything back then was so complicated and the majority of the time the coven members arranged their children’s marriages.

I sure hope that that’s not the way it is now, I thought to myself.  The idea of being forced to marry someone without loving them is like a death sentence in my mind.

Two years after my father and mother had started seeing each other; they had gone to the Elders and as to be married.  They had both been excited and could hardly speak the words during the meeting, but my father managed to speak for the both of them quite well.

The Elders agreed and declared that they would be married by week’s end.  My mother could hardly contain herself from all the excitement she was feeling.

I could see her flowing dress moving the tall grass as she danced in the moonlight at the festival.  To see my mother that happy made me want to cry.  The tears came before I could do anything about it, but my father remained calm.  The sight of my bloody tears didn’t seem to bother him at all.  Or he just wasn’t going to act like they were.

I cleaned my face as best that I could and continued to listen to his story.

Later that week he and my mother were married and getting settled into the house that the coven had built for them.  My father’s tone changed and I knew that he was going to tell me what had happened that they could not be together.  This was the part that I needed to hear the most, but there had been something in Alzar’s voice that changed my need for information on the subject.  However, I no longer had a choice in the matter as far as I could tell.  He was going to tell me whether I wanted to hear it or not.

It had been raining that night and the clouds covered the moon keeping it much darker than normal.  My mother had asked him to fetch more firewood.  It was cold and she was worried that it would become too wet to provide them heat throughout the night.  My father never questioned what my mother asked of him and he went right to work on her request.

There was a storm brewing and it was causing my father trouble in his endeavor.  The wind was strong and it was making it hard for him to see.  By the time that my father had gotten to the door with the bundle of wood, something had gone terribly wrong inside.

The front door was still open, but he had been certain that he closed it on his way out.  As he walked in the door, he heard my mother scream.  Dropping the wood, he ran to where her cries were coming from.

There was a man in the room with my mother, one that my father could not recognize.  He was holding my mother by her throat and telling her that if she made one single move he was going to kill her.

My father yelled out, “Stop!”

The man turned around, surprised that my father was in the house.  He took my mother and placed the knife that he was holding to her throat.

My father, instantly, stopped.  The last thing he wanted to do was to startle the man and cause him to hurt my mother.

“Take whatever you want and leave, but please don’t hurt her.” My father said as calmly as he could.

The intruder smiled and released his hold on my mother.  He instructed my father to stay right where he was and if he didn’t want any harm to come to her he would do as he says.

The only thing that my father could do was nod his agreement.

The man began searching for the house, looking for anything that was a value.  The sounds were very clear in my mind as my father told the story and I could feel my fear growing with every word.

After few short moments, the man had gotten all that he’d come for and was making his exit from the house.  My father knew that if he did not do something now that this man was going to do this over and over to more people.  I could feel his determination ran through me like it had been myself standing there watching the man leave.

Without saying a word, my father pursued the man.  I watched my mother run to the door, consumed with fear.  She watched as my father struggled with the man.  Before any of them had realized how quickly the situation had turned terribly wrong it was over.

I heard the man gasping for air and in between those gasps he would scream out in pain.  The knife that he had been using against my parents had somehow been plunged into his chest.  It wasn’t long before the stranger had taken his last breath.

My mother ran outside to try and offer the man any assistance that could help him.  Neither of them wanted for this man to die, even though it seemed to them that it was going to happen sooner later.  She quickly found out that there was nothing worldly or magical that she could do to prevent his death.

My father had been standing beside her chanting spells trying to revive the man as well.  But nothing was going to work.  He was gone.  The only thing that they could do was to call the Elders and explain what happened.

My father took my mother in his arms, holding her like it was the last time he would ever be able to do it again.  She began to whisper in his ear and she cried.  What she was telling him was not something that he expected to hear after such a dilemma.

She had announced him that she was carrying his child; the child that would soon turn out to be me.  My father looked back at the man lying on the ground.  His sorrow soon turned into feelings that he was justified in what he had done.

o0o

When the Elders arrived and heard both my parents’ stories and walked around the house looking at the damage the man had caused.  They checked his body and found some of my mother’s jewelry in his coat pockets as well as other things that he had taken from the house in a bag near his body.

The coven leader approached my father, but was not in approval of what he had done.  He reminded my father that it was against coven laws to take a life.  He asked my father to come with him.  He thought that it was necessary to have an immediate trial regarding the matter.

My mother cried as she followed the Elders to their meeting place.  Everyone that belongs to the council was in attendance. 

My father led her to the first seat and asked her to sit down and remained quiet no matter what she heard.  Walking the tears from her face, she kissed him and tried to reassure him that everything was going to be okay.

However, that had been a false promise on her part because she knew that this was not want to go the way they wanted.