TALES OF A UNFORGIVABLE SINNER

CHAPTER: ONE

PART: ONE

Chapter: 1

Nighttime: 4:00am.

Location: Luin, the city of hope/ Lake sinoa.

Anna woke up to the sounds of voices coming from downstairs of her grandfather's home. She looks at her older brother who is still sleeping on the other bed with his back towards, and hand underneath his pillow. "Ryan... Ryan... Did you hear that?" She whispered. He didn't respond to her question, obviously still in a deep sleeping like a log.

Anna sighed and undid her blankets that were tightly tugged and getting off the bed. Her bare feet touched the cool hardwood floor, forgetting about her slippers as she stood to tiptoe her way towards the door. Anna kneels down on the floor and presses her ear against it trying to listen but the voices were coming more muffled that way; making it harder for her to hear anything on the conversation going on downstairs. Anna looked at her older brother once again making sure he didn't suddenly woke up and see her leaving their room at this time of night. Luckily he was still asleep, she got up from her position on the floor and open the door as slowly as she could. Knowingly that the doors in this house has a history of squeaky hinges. Anna exit the room quickly but quietly made her way down the steps.

She stopped at the door and sat down on the last step, pressing her against the door.

"Are you sure?" Said the voice that she recognized as her grandfather's voice. "I wouldn't have come all this way if I wasn't certain... They're regarding your son-in-law activities before his disappearance." Said another voice that she had never heard before. His voice is deep as her grandfather; it makes her wonder if he'll be good at telling bedtime stories with how deep his voice is. He could make a lot of different tones. Anna was getting a little carry way with the unknown man's voice and how many bedtime stories she could have him read to her if she ever meets him. She quickly realizes that conversation without her listening to them and press her ear back on the door.

"So the rumors were only rumors after all," Orion stated.

"What rumors?"

It was quiet for a few minutes before her grandfather replied to the man. "A few years ago rumors were started around town. People were saying that he had something to do with the Desians activities here. They'd say he was working with them; which it's weird because Desian doesn't usually associate with humans. Hannah, My daughter she never believes that her husband would do something like that. She always knew he was doing exactly what these paper suggested." She hears him toss the papers down on the coffee table with the slight up from the weight. "Thank you for showing this to me. I can let my daughter know that her husband wasn't part of this." Orion said.

"Orion, giving you these documents was only partly the reason I am here." Said the stranger.

"What do you mean?" Orion asked.

"I found something else. But I will only tell you if you want to hear it." There was a long pause before Orion told him to continue.

"Tell me," Orion replied.

"Along with my investigation, I found this piece of jewelry in the forest." He said putting down on the table. "It was laying next to a body... And judging on the description you gave me a while ago it matches that man in the forest. The conditions of his body had already decomposed, I will say a year or two at most. I could only tell it was him because of the description of his clothing." Orion took the neckless from him a taking a look at it. "I would assume that it belongs to your daughter right." He asked.

"No, my granddaughter actually."

"Your granddaughter?"

"Yes. She gave this to him when she was 4-years-old before he left in order to search for some work because he lost his last job." Orion replied.

"Anna wanted her father to take this with him she said; 'It will bring him good luck and return to him safely back... But now I have to break it to as that her daddy isn't coming home the way we're hoping for." Orion said clutching the locket in his hands.

"Do you need my help to bring him?" He offered.

"No thank you. You did so much already, and I have some buddies in town that can help me out. Come to the shop sometimes and I can make you another sword if you are interested?"

"I'm fine with the sword I have now. But thank you for your generosity, Orion. But there's something else I have to ask you? Said the stranger.

"Sure go ahead."

"Is it true that you were the..."

"Anna Irving what are you doing up!? Didn't Put you to bed over three hours ago?" Hannah said from up the stairs. Anna jump when she heard her mother called her name but not only that she full name her but she also caught listening to her grandfather's very private conversation. "Umm... It isn't what it looks like mommy I promise." Anna said.

"Oh really? Then tell me what it looks like, Anna."

"Well... I-I heard s-something downstairs that w-woke me and I went to see for myself and I didn't want to wake you up." Anna explained while shutting. Hannah motion for her to come upstairs which Anna reluctantly did what she was told. Hannah held out her hand for her daughter to take and lead her back to her room. She opens the door and went towards her bed to remove the blankets and fluff up the pillows. "Okay sweetheart get in..." She said motioning her daughter to come inside the covers.

Anna climbing into the bed as her mother place the blankets up to her chin. "Alright, little one. Do you want to tell me the whole truth this time or are you going to continue on with your story?" She asked raising an eyebrow. "The truth will be nice..." Anna mumbled.

"Let's hear it."

Anna sighed. "I was in bed and I did hear voices downstairs... I was being careful to not wake Ryan when I left the room. When I was coming down the steps I heard people talking and instantly knew that it was grandpa's voice the other one never heard him before." Anna explained.

"And why were you eavesdropping on your grandfather and his guest?"

"Because I was being nosey, I guess?" Anna replied.

"You guess? Anna you were eavesdropping on your grandfather and you know how much we don't like it when you kids do something that sneaky.." She said out loud but making sure to keep her voice low to not wake Ryan. "I wasn't trying to be sneaky... I was just curious that's all." She argued.

"Curiosity is what killed the cat, Anna. The bottom line eavesdropping on someone is very wrong and you shouldn't do it and justify your reason for doing so doesn't make it right." Her mother added. "You're lucky that your grandfather didn't catch you this time around."

"Does that means I'm not in trouble?" Anna asked sweetly.

"Oh, you are... I just haven't decided on a punishment yet." She replied leaning over and kissed her on the forehead. "But for tonight is time for to get some sleep, my little girl." Hannah tugged in the blankets tightly but not enough to suffocate her. "No more adventure for you young lady," She whispered to her and lean over again to give her another kiss on her forehead. "Love you, sweet dreams sweetheart." She whispered.

"Night mommy, love you too. " Hannah smile and stood up to go over to her son's bed. She picks up the blanket that was on the floor and covers him up to his shoulders he leans over to kiss him on the back of his head. Hannah was walking towards the door when she heard her daughter called her.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Can I ask you a question?" Anna asked voice growing tired by the minute. Noticing this Hannah head back towards her daughter's bed and sat down at her side knowingly that Anna will soon fall asleep so she decided to let her speak what's on her mind.

"What it is sweetheart?" She replied stroking her daughter's hair.

"Is Daddy working for bad people?" Anna asked.

Hannah was caught off guard with her daughter's question. She would often ask questions regarding her father but it was never about him working for bad people? "Bad people? Where did you to hear that from, Anna?" Hannah questioned.

"From grandpa." She replied. "I heard him talking to that man, He was saying people were making rumors about daddy saying he was working with the Desians and bandits. Is it true Mommy? Was Daddy doing bad stuff with those mean people that come here a lot?" She asked.

"No baby, Your father isn't working for the Desians, and neither is he working with bandits as well. You shouldn't worry yourself about adult situations Anna, that's why you shouldn't listen to other people private conversations; you might hear something you weren't meant to hear." Hannah tells her and poke her on the nose. trying to erase the frown from her face.

"Okay... Is he ever going to come back home?" Anna asked voice slowly becoming even more tired as she continues to speak. Hannah gives a sad smile but tried to answer her daughter question anyway. "I don't know, but I'll hope he does one day." She said.

"Mommy... How long does it take to get to Palmacosta? I would like to go there so I could meet him and bring him back myself because I miss him so much." Anna spoke softly. Hannah looks at her little girl wanting nothing more to tell her the truth but she couldn't. Not because she doesn't want to but she doesn't have all of the answers right now. "Do you remember when your father came down for you 4th birthday and give you a shining golden oval-shaped locket with little green vines over the top?" She said suddenly. Anna replied with a nod. "You were so happy that day and quickly show your gift to everyone at the party. And you tell your daddy that you will never take it off with a smile on your face. Until the day he had to go back to work and that smile turn into sadness."

"You didn't want him to leave without his family, and obviously he couldn't take us cause he works on the ship and has nowhere to place us. That's where you got the idea of giving him your necklace with a picture of his family so in a way were are still with him." She reminded Anna while smiling as she recalled the memory.

"So I want you to remember that whatever your father is now that he still has it with him." Hearing her mother words put a big grin on her face. Hannah glance at the clock and it reads; 4:48 realizing that they spend a long time talking; she decided it was time for her little girl to close those eyes of hers and get some sleep. "Well, you manage to stay awake past your bedtime. It's time for you to get your rest because someone has an early day at school tomorrow." She whispered leaning down to give her another kiss on the forehead. Anna turning over on one side and close her eyes, letting sleep finally take her for the second time that night into dreamland.

Hannah slowly walks out the room taking one more look at her kids and whisper another goodnight to them as they slept. She closes the door behind and presses her forehead on the door for a moment before turning around to lean her back against the wall sliding down towards the floor.

"Please. Let me be good news. Whatever that my father found out tonight please let it be good news so we can bring him home to his family. I miss him, the kids miss him especially Anna. She asked a lot about him whenever the opportunity shows. Ryan looks and acts just like his father when he was his age. They're growing up so much since the last time he'd saw them and I hate the idea that he has to miss so much of these two perfect children lives." Hannah said keeping her voice low so not to wake the children. Tears trailing down her cheeks as she wipes them away with her 3rd finger. "But I am begging you. Bring him home to us; however how that may be that fine with me as long as he's home." She mumbled.

She heard the faint sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. Hannah didn't have to look to know it was her father. She wiped the rest of her tears trying to make it look like she wasn't crying and lifting her head to look at him as he appeared up the top of the stairs and said; "Dad... we need to talk."

Yeah... Didn't mean to take that long to post an updated version of this chapter. I was working on chapter 7 and it took a lot of my time and I can't exactly do both so I had to pick & choose which will have my attention so as in Sunday morning Virginia time I decide to finish this one and hurry with the last two chapters.

Thanks for the fav/follows/reviews they truly do make my day and is my reason to continue moving forward. I don't know how often I will update but I'll try to make it at least every month with a new chapter but don't hold me to it. I am a turtle when it comes to speed. And I am looking for great beta readers that can look at work and have a good quickly respond back.

Anyways, I'm going to rewrite chapter two and once that is done I will post that as well. And please do let me know how I did in the reviews below.

Until then, see ya next time.