Author's note: hey my cousin wrote this and im uploading it for her. I Hope you all enjoy it.
My knuckles were white as my hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. Anger and grief pressed down on me as I drove away from the house. How could my birth mother not want to know me? She created me and she had screamed at me before slamming the door in my face. I just didn't understand. My curly red hair was sticking to my cheeks as tears rolled down them. I took a shuddering breath that turned into a racking cough as I tried to concentrate on my gps that was leading me to the only other family I knew of from the adoption records. I hoped with all my heart they would want something to do with me.
I turned down a packed dirt road following it all the way down to a stone house with large windows shaded by two large oak trees. The sight of the two expansive lavender fields made me smile, my grandmother had a lavender farm. I parked the car and took a deep breath before climbing out of my beat up pickup grabbing the file. I stared at the house for a moment before climbing up the wooden steps towards the door. I hesitated with my hand in the air to knock, what if she rejected me like her daughter? Before I could question it anymore I knocked on the door quickly and stepped back to wait. When the door opened i was taken aback by the woman before me. Long silver hair hung around her shoulders, her wrinkled face was warm and welcoming. Russet skin that differed from mine tremendously, but what we did have in common were our eyes, deep brown. She smiled at me gently and I smiled back.
"Can I help you dear?" Her voice wrapped around me like a comforting blanket.
"I think I'm your granddaughter." I blurted out. Damn my word vomit. Her eyes widened in shock as her hand flew to her chest.
"You-you're- oh my goodness!" She pulled me into her arms with tears in her eyes. "oh u-we-tsi-ge-ya, I prayed for the day you would come home."
I didn't know what that word she said was but it felt right in my heart. I hugged her tightly and let the tears run freely down my cheeks.
"Come in, come in!" She pulled me into the house and we settled on the couch and she stared at me for a few moments. "Oh my darling you are radiant. You took after your father with this beautiful hair."
"I tried to find him, but I couldn't." She held my hands in hers as she spoke again.
"Have you spoken to your mother?" Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought about what Linda had done when I went to her house. "Oh my. I see. I will not defend her u-we-tsi-ge-ya, but I will tell you that your mother has strayed far from the woman she used to be. When she gave you up she was heartbroken over it, but I'm afraid that the man she has married has her under his thumb. She won't listen to anyone. I will tell you that you have three younger siblings."
I grinned when she said that, I'd always been an only child, knowing I had siblings made my heart swell with joy.
"I hope I can meet them one day, but with the way Linda acted I don't know that I will."
"Only time will tell my darling." She patted my hand as another cough overcame me. "Are you all right?"
"Yes just a cold. My name is Georgia by the way!"
"You can just call me Grandma. My name is Sylvia Redbird though." I smile.
"Redbird, I like that."
"I was just getting ready to go into Tulsa to do some shopping. Would you like to come with me?"
"Yes!" I shrieked throwing my arms around her. She laughed and hugged me tightly.
"I was planning to pick up my Zoeybird on the way, but I want some time to get to know you."
"Zoeybird?" I question standing as she did.
"Your youngest sister Zoey. I love all my grandchildren, but I will say that I am closest to her than any of them. Yet we shall see as now I have another grandchild present. You must know Georgia, there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. I love you my u-we-tsi-ge-ya."
"What does that mean?"
"It means 'daughter' in the language of our people. The Cherokee." I smiled as we exited her house to get in her car. The entire way there we talked about everything and anything. We both wanted to know everything about the other.
When we got to Tulsa she parked the car at a place she called Utica Square. We laughed and shopped for a few hours before I pulled her into Starbucks for coffee. We ordered and then sat down at one of the outside tables. She pulled a book out of one of her shopping bags and passed it to me with a smile.
"I thought you might want to know more about your ancestral culture." I looked down at the book in my hands and grinned, 'Cherokee Culture and Mythology'.
"Oh thank you Grandma! I can't wait to read it!" I smiled up at her brightly, but it slipped from my face as a racking cough over took me. I grabbed my chest as I coughed my head off trying to catch me breath.
"Georgia are yo-" Grandma had moved to stand beside me when a voice cut her off.
"Georgia Baker! Night has chosen thee; thy death will be thy birth. Night calls to thee; hearken to Her sweet voice. Your destiny awaits you at the House of Night!" He lifted a finger to point at me and pain exploded across my forehead. I shrieked closing my eyes tightly as I gripped my head crying as Grandma held me close.
"Shhh my u-we-tsi-ge-ya. All will be well. We must get you to the House of Night." I sobbed in her arms as she whispered encouraging words in my ear. "Georgia, the sooner we get you to the House of Night the better it will be for you dear. I know you're scared, but it will all be okay."
"Grandma I-I just found you! Now I have to leave! What about my parents?" I cried looking up at her and her eyes traveled to my forehead.
"I will always be with you. I will love you regardless. I will come visit you, you will not be alone."
I nod slowly sniffling as she pulls me to my feet. I keep my eyes down as she leads me to the car, avoiding the prying eyes of the people standing around me. I knew they would be staring at me with disgust and hatred. She eases me into her car and I pull my knees up to my chest. I stare out the windshield as she drives, my eyes widening as we come up to the House of Night. It looked like a castle straight out of Dracula. It was incredible, and intimidating. I sniffled again as Grandma pulled up to the gate. I watch as a Vampyre walks towards the car. He leans down to the window as grandma rolls it down.
"May I help you?"
"My granddaughter has just been Marked." He looked over to me, sympathy spread over his features when he saw my red eyes and gross snotty nose.
"Welcome Fledgling. The Goddess has chosen you as one of her children. Rejoice child. I shall open the gate and alert the High Priestess." He said and Grandma rolled up the window as he went to open the gate. I took a deep breath as we pulled through the gate and towards my new life.
I stood next to Grandma in the parking lot waiting for whoever this High Priestess person was. I reached out for Grandma's hand and she held it in both of hers.
"It will be okay u-we-tsi-ge-ya." She whispered rubbing my hand with her thumb. I looked up as a tall woman swept into the parking lot a smile on her face. Her auburn hair waved past her shoulders. The green dress she wore brushed the ground as she walked towards us. Her smile, which was brighter than the sun, was reflected in her moss green eyes as she held her hand out to me.
"Merry Meet, I am Neferet. High Priestess of this House of Night." Her voice was incredible it washed over me wonderfully as I stared at her tattoos. The filled in sapphire crescent moon in the middle of her forehead was accompanied by a series of swirls that framed her eyes and made her high cheek bones look even higher. She was exquisite. "What is your name?"
"Uh, Georgia Baker." I stuttered holding out my hand. She gripped my forearm which was weird, but it felt right.
"Welcome Georgia. It brings me great joy that our Goddess as welcomed you into her fold."
"Um thanks." I wasn't really sure what to say so I looked to Grandma.
"I am her grandmother. Sylvia Redbird." She released my hand holding hers out to Neferet. She gripped Grandma's forearm like she did mine and Grandma smiled brightly.
"Merry Meet Sylvia Redbird." She looks back to me with a smile. "Georgia first of all, upon entering the House of Night you are officially emancipated. You may change your name to whatever you would like."
I glanced over at Grandma and smiled. I know that I haven't been her family long, but I feel more accepted and loved here than with the people who raised me.
"Georgia Redbird." I said with a grin to Neferet. She smiled knowingly and nodded.
"Well then Georgia Redbird, say your goodbyes to your Grandmother. We must get you settled and ready to begin classes. It's only 5pm so classes don't start for another 3 hours." I sighed and turned to grandma. She smiled and pulled me into a hug.
"Be strong u-we-tsi-ge-ya. I wrote my phone number in the book I gave you. I will get you a bed set and some things until your parents can bring you things from home. I love you."
"I will grandma. Thank you." I hesitated for a moment and whispered, "I love you Grandma."
She released me and kissed me on my forehead right on top of my Mark making a chill run through me. She turned and climbed in her car waving to me as she drove away. I turned to Neferet clutching my purse and book to my chest.
"Come Georgia I will give you a tour of the grounds my dear." She waited for me to walk towards her and lead me towards the center of the grounds. The dwindling sunlight made my skin itch as we trudged down the sidewalk. "This is Nyx's temple. This is where we have all of our rituals and worship our Goddess. It's open at all hours."
I looked at the temple and it was beautiful, there was a statue of the Goddess in front of the building and I felt at peace.
Welcome home my daughter. A sweet beautiful voice drifted through my mind and I inhaled sharply. Neferet looked at me and smiled.
"It's breathtaking isn't it?"
"It is." I whispered. A smile found it's way to my face when I realized that my Goddess had spoken to me. A newly marked fledgling and she spoke to me. I was grinning the entire time she was leading me around the campus. We finally arrived at the dorms and she opened the door leading me inside.
"You do not have a roommate right now so I will lead you to your room. I took the liberty of having some bedding and a few things brought until you can get your own." I nodded as I followed her to my new room. I stepped inside after her and sat down on the navy blue down comforter that was on the double bed that was pushed against the wall. "Your class schedule is on the desk, and there are class uniforms in the dresser along with some shoes in the closet. I've asked another fledgling to come by to show you to your classes."
"What fledgling?"
"Her name is Aphrodite. She will become a 4th former in a few months. Everything is explained in the fledgling handbook that is on your desk." I nodded. "You will also have a mentor while you are here, your mentor is Professor Lenobia. She teaches equestrian studies."
I grinned widely when she said that. I absolutely adored horses, I grew up raising and riding horses. I loved animals.
"I love horses. I've been around them my entire life."
"Excellent! Well then I believe it will be an excellent fit. Your mentor will be available to answer any questions and will guide you through the changes that await you. I will leave you to get ready for classes. I wish you the best here Georgia. Blessed Be."
She left the room with a swish of her dress closing the door behind her. I fell back on my bed with a huff and stared at the ceiling wondering what this new life would bring me.