A Vengeful Heart Sees No Love
By Alisa Joaquin
Part 3
Once out of Paul Blaisdell's study, Peter raced off to the outside and headed for the wooded area out behind the Blaisdell home. Why didn't he tell Paul what had happened? Why did he hold back? He argued with himself, saying that Paul would only pity him more, if he knew what actually happened.
'He'd probably send me back if he knew.' He thought to himself.
'Maybe Paul could help you find the guys that murdered Pop?' One side argued.
'No! I am a Caine. My great-grandfather would not allow something like this to continue. He would seek out those who would do his family harm. He did once. And if he did, I can.'
'But where will you go?' the other side argued once again.
'Home!'
The argument ended there. He would return to the temple and find what clues he could. He would talk to the people of Braniff, especially its Mayor. He had been a monk and would understand. Then he thought of another monk, a monk who admired his father and loved old Ping Hai. Brother Lowery had been kind and understanding. He had been able to do something that not all of the monks were capable of doing. He had been able to humiliate Vance Cavanaugh. Maybe if he could find Brother Lowery, he might be able to help him. Then there was Master Kahn, the weapons master who took over from Master Dao before that fateful day. Master Kahn had been another monk that Peter could turn to when he needed advice. Where was Master Kahn now?
Too many unanswered questions and too many friends gone, gone and split from a destroyed home that could never be, again. Peter broke down at that moment and cried out his anguish in the grove of trees that had become his second secret place. Peter discovered this place shortly after the Blaisdells fostered him in their home, the day after to be exact. He had explored the property and found this hidden grove, out of sight from the house, but not out of earshot. The birds and the sounds of nature drew him to this place. It reminded him of when he and his father would take walks in the wooded area that surrounded the temple. It was a place of refuge to hide from the world until he was ready to face that world again.
It was two hours before Peter crawled from his hiding place and headed back to the house. He was surprised that Paul hadn't come after him. Of course, if he had, Paul would learn about his secret place and Peter did not want that happening. It might thwart his plans that Peter needed to put into action.
Peter thought about the punishment that Paul had decreed. It really wasn't much of a punishment to have to face. At the temple there was no television set. It really wasn't something that Peter watched much of anyway, except maybe Starsky and Hutch, and that show was no longer on the air. Even in the orphanage Peter didn't get to watch much television having to catch up on what was being taught in the regular public schools since the education that Peter had received in the temple had been rather unique.
So, missing television for a week really didn't matter to Peter, it was the fact that he was being punished for something he had not done that angered him. He had merely defended himself, something that he had been taught to do since as far back as he could remember. If he had told Paul the truth, maybe it would not have been so bad, but he had held back, uncertain as to what was going to happen if he had. With this punishment in place, it was going to be difficult for him to leave without causing more problems. Then again, this could be the perfect time to do some research and discover the whereabouts of those whom he wanted to find.
The vow would still be there, it was just going to take a little longer to carry it out.
Continues with Part 4