Chapter 32,
Crossroads~ Two realms touch a place literally. Neither here nor there; linked in between them. Used to summon a demon. In order to broker a supernatural deal with the devil.
Part 3 of 4
Most have told me they didn't get notifications for the last chapter, I posted a couple of weeks ago. If you didn't make sure to read it too. xoxo
"It's impossible."
"You can see the results for yourself, Dr. Knowles."
"It is medically impossible for Abel's heart to be self healing."
"We call it a miracle. I will still want Abel to come to my office every three months for a checkup until I am certain he is headed in the right direction. Here is a prescription of a lower dosage of his medication if he needs it."
"Thank you, Dr. Ryan."
To my office, I went with my head in medial books. I found nothing that could explain the turn around my son had. In only a couple of days it went from devastation of the heart to perfect health almost.
Since I couldn't explain it medically. I looked up the medication I gave him on a hunch when I had no choice in Mexico. Searched through group study records, no one had that kind of improvement or reaction from it.
"Thomas."
If he truly was Thomas Teller, the son of John and Gemma, he was healed from the same heart condition that Abel was. But what could have changed so drastically for the both them.
"Is this the sign you are giving me to believe in you and keep my faith you are with me?"
Of course, I felt sort of silly talking to myself and hoped God would answer me somehow. So many times, when I was young, I talked to him and I never once knew he was even listening. But then again, I had talked to fucking crows and believed it. Really this wasn't that farfetched to believe.
"Come in Dr. Knowles. Is a patient in need of my services?"
"I'm sorry for just dropping by without an appointment. Actually, I am the one in need of your services. I have a strange question for you, Father. It will show my ignorance in the bible and I apologize for it."
"There is never a need to apologize. What would like to know?"
When I explained it without a full explanation why I was in search of the information. His answer was astonishing. "Thomas was one of the twelve disciples, he was considered an apostle. They scribe and preached God's word. He spoke the first time in the Gospel of John. When they attempted to stone Jesus. Thomas said; Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then, he spoke again in this passage."
John 14:5 There, Jesus had just explained that he was going away to prepare a heavenly home for his followers, and that one day they would join him there. Thomas reacted by saying, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
"Thomas was doubting his faith, the words of his Lord. Skeptical from the first when he heard Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to the other apostles by saying; Except, I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side. I will not believe until then."
John 20:28, But when Jesus appeared later and invited Thomas to touch his wounds and behold him, Thomas showed his belief by saying, "My Lord and my God".
John 20:29, Jesus then said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
"I have to go. Thank you, Father."
"I hoped I answered your question."
"You gave me a new outlook. Thank you."
This sent so many mixed signals and messages. It also sent me off on another mission. One I had to get answers to. I would not stop nor allow anyone to get in the way of me from doing it either.
"Come in." Margret was sitting at her desk typing away when I went in her office.
"Have you had a chance to get the death certificate yet?"
"It got here this morning. Is everything alright? You seem upset or maybe different somehow."
"I don't know what I am anymore. Abel and Cody can't get released from the hospital today."
"Why?"
"If I tell you, you will be as guilty as I am for what I'm about to do. It's best you don't know the truth Margret. I am just giving you a heads up, they need to stay here tonight."
"Alright. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"You can't help me. Nobody can help me now."
The piece of paper was folded up and put in my pocket. I had one stop to make before I left. Nicole and Kyle were with the boys. Just like they always were.
"The boys are not getting released today. I just wanted to let you know."
"What's wrong?" Nicole was in an instant panic.
"Nothing. It's a precautionary measure. They can go home tomorrow." Nicole seemed relieved from it. Kyle didn't. He even followed me out of the room.
"What are you doing, girl?"
"What I have to. Can I get a cellphone number for Thomas?"
"I guess so. Are you going to tell me what is going on?"
"Have you ever noticed anything strange about Thomas?"
"You will have to be more specific. Thomas is a whole lot of strange." Kyle gave me his number and I had to go. "Hey, what is wrong and where are you going?"
"I know what you wouldn't tell me. Jax told you he would hurt me if he caught me with you again. I also understand why you didn't tell me. I want to know exactly what he said."
"How did you find out? Did Jax do something to you? Has he threatened you?"
"Kyle, I want to know."
"Well, I won't tell you. I'm sorry Tara, I can't. It will only hurt you and I don't want to do that. Where are you going?"
"Watch over Abel. You are the only one I can really trust." The elevator door closed to end the conversation. Yet the journey had just begun for me.
Once I got to the car I made calls that had to be done. "Gemma, you can see Abel. He will be here for another day." It was the easy I had to make. The other one was the most important for all.
"Are you busy?"
"No. What's going on?"
"Abel and Cody are running a fever. I am very worried about them having a relapse. They are going to stay here tonight. I just wanted to let you know so if you want to you can come by to see him, Jax, I'm afraid for our son."
"I'll come by later. We will get through this. No matter what you think of me. I love you, Tara and our boys. I will never give up on us or let you go."
"Me too." Quickly I closed the phone before I lost my nerve to carry on with the plan. Honestly, I wasn't sure where to find the person or if he was still alive now. So, I started with the last known address the hospital had on file for him.
"Can I help you?"
"Does Dr. Michaels still live here?"
"No, he doesn't. I am his daughter. Can I help you with something?"
She was very helpful. Her father had suffered a series of strokes. With the constant care he needed, she put him in a retirement home.
"I am here to see Dr. Michaels. I mean Robert Michaels."
"He is the activity room. I will show you the way."
"Jesus Christ." When I saw his face, it was deja vu. The old man that I saw in the cemetery sitting on my grave surrounded by the crows. The same one who spoke to me at the park then disappeared in the woods. With the crow flying high in the sky afterwards. The same man at the church I had associated with being Opie Winston.
Only he sat in a wheel chair. Unable to move about without it. Frail and ill from his health problems. The nurse reassured me many times Robert could not standup on his own anymore.
"Dr. Michaels."
"No one has called me that in a long time."
"You signed a death certificate for Thomas Teller. I am wondering if you can tell me what happened to him." I took the paper out my pocket to hand him. Refresh his memory from the past. The old man's face turned cold and sour.
"I don't remember."
"Will you at least look at it and try?"
"No. Now, if you will excuse me. I'm not feeling well and need to return to my room."
He pushed on the wheels of the chair with all his might to make them turn slightly. But, he wasn't going to get away from me that easily. I blocked the doorway and he was going to hear me out.
"I'm a doctor at St. Thomas. Here is what I think happened to Thomas Teller. You signed a fake death certificate so John, his father, could get him out of Charming away from his mother. John was going to divorce Gemma, he had you do it."
"You're wrong."
"Then tell me what happened."
"I will take the truth to my grave. Now leave me alone. Nurse, nurse. I need a damn nurse in here."
Of course, the nurse came in and I would have to leave without the answers I came for. At least for now. Then I thought about, it was worth a shot.
"Dr. Michaels, I found Thomas Teller. I know it's him. He is in Charming. My husband is the President of the Sons of Anarchy, Jackson Teller, his brother."
With no more resistance or defense left, the doctor admitted guilt when he invited me to come to his room with him.
"I will tell you the truth but you won't believe it anyway."
"Try me."
"Thomas was on his death bed, knocking on death's door. Barley registered a heartbeat when I left him that night. I got a call I needed to get to the hospital because he went in to cardiac arrest. When I arrived, John Teller was with him at his bed side. There was a woman there too. They were praying over his body. According to the nurse Thomas had died. The life support machine he was on was already unplugged. He had no pulse or heartbeat. I checked for myself. I signed the death certificate based on that fact. After I signed it I went in to talk with John. Only they weren't alone when I returned. Nine crows flew above his bed in a circle while they continued to pray. I witnessed that little boy come back to life. He set up in the bed like a healthy normal child would. His heart had healed itself overnight with no explanation."
The good doctor answered many questions for me. John had made his way home before Thomas ever died and Gemma never knew. Also the reasons Dr. Michaels went along with the lie. But were both baffled and dumbfounded at the healing of the heart.
"When is your husband coming to kill me for what I've done?"
"If he finds out, I won't be the one who tells him you did it."
"I don't have that much longer on this earth anyway. It doesn't really matter now."
"I may not either Dr. Michaels. I know how you feel."
When one door closed another one was supposed to open. But this time I hit the mother lode of opened doors. The questions were, what was hidden behind each one that would come our way. Once a secret was unlocked the beast from it was released and hard to put it back in its cage.
On the way back to the hospital, the thumping on the highway just played another part of this crappy day. I pulled over to the side of the road. I called the garage and Jax wasn't there. One of the prospects were coming to change my tire for me.
When I opened the back door to the car, I flipped up the carpet and there they were. In the same spot, I hid them in months ago. "I bet I owe a small fortune in late fines to the library."
They were tucked away like gold inside the tire. I had nothing but time on my hands. I flipped through one while I waited on the Prospect. But, what I came across was priceless.
Oh, Crow Goddess come!
"Lady of the reaping, lady of the ravens and crows.
Light of darkness, giver of rebirth.
She who walks the warrior path,
Great Morrigan, Red Queen!
I greet your beauty, your shadowed jewel.
At the height of your powers.
I greet you with a rite in your honor,
Lady of many forms."
"I end so that I may begin. Life and death go full circle." What Kyle and I had read before about Morrigan. Was nothing compared to what this book contained.
The Goddess Morrigan is a Priestess of the old ways, a healer with knowledge of herbal medicines. She is a shape shifter and sorceress as well as a Priestess of the enchanted Isle of Avalon where she presides over a sisterhood of nine healers. Morrigan is a triple Goddess, she is a Goddess of battle, fertility and sexuality. Her name represents healing magic.
The Goddess Morgana (also known as Morrigan). She was a half sister to King Arthur whom she hated from the day of his birth. There are many legends telling of her attempts to bring his downfall. Like Arthur, she was also a student of Merlin and an accomplished sorceress. She is a goddess whose origins seem to reach directly back to the megalithic cult of the Mothers. The Mothers usually appeared as triple goddesses and their cult was expressed through battle ecstasy and regenerative ecstasy. They used magic and incantation in warfare rather than physical strength. To the Irish Celts she was Morrigan the Phantom Queen. If a warrior saw her before battle, he knew that he would be killed that day. Another guise of the Morrigan is "the Washer at the Ford". The Washer is usually found washing the clothes of men about to die in battle. In effect, she is choosing who will die. Offerings to all aspects of this powerful Goddess can include blood mixed with brine, crow or raven feathers, and red ribbon to represent the Washer at the Ford. She is truly a shape shifter, who was transformed from a dark warrior Goddess to an Arthurian witch to the Queen of the faeries. Her animal form is the Raven/Crow and when she arises from her fairy mound she sings.
I have a secret that you shall learn.
The grasses wave. The flowers glow golden.
The Goddesses three, low like a kine.
The Crow Morrigan herself is wild for blood.
Out of all that information I just took in. What stood out was blood mixed with brine. It was used in the old days for meat soaked in salt water to preserve it. Was this a way to preserve the human blood? Also, it would draw out the blood while the meat cured. Was it a way to draw out blood for a reason? In essence, she could preserve and cure human blood with her magic. The knock on the window made me jump like I'd been shot.
"Sorry Tara, I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay. Thanks for coming, Phil." He went to work on the tire. I went back to work on reading about her.
Morrigan, is the transporter between life and death; a birth Goddess and a death Goddess in that she moved the soul through these cycles. Parts of her seems hidden, then appearing, so as one looks at the pottery artifacts there is more and more of her to piece together. She is a bird goddess, an earth goddess, and her breasts not only nourish the living, they also regenerate the dead. On vessels depicting her there is a symbol for the number three. Sometimes three lines are connected and depict a triple energy that flows from her body, as she is giver and sustainer of life. In Newgrange, Ireland, is her grand megalithic tomb-shrine. Within it are three stone cells, three stone basins, engravings of triple snake spirals, coils, arcs and brow ridges. Her signs appear on spindle whirls, altars, sacrificial vessels, vases, pebbles, and pendants. She is the inverted triangle, the earth element. She is the triple source of power needed to regenerate cycles, to take one from life to death and from death to life. Figurines often pair sprouting seed and vulvas, fish in the ocean, and the female body as a passageway. Her circles transmit energy by the increased powers of stone, water, and a mound of circling motion.
The roles of women at the time depicted in the Arthurian Cycle have become less universal. When men and women defended their land together as they did earlier, strong survival bonds probably existed between men and women. By the time of courtly King Arthur, tales only of men who went to war, sometimes for years, so those strong bonds formed in war existed only among men. Women are more likely seen as someone to protect, and admire for innocence and youth. Arthurian times are idealistic and inward, but they are more patriarchal. Often, Morrigan is seen through the eyes of frightened men. It has been theorized by some that it is men who most fear and sometimes disrespect older women. She represents the loss of power and finitude of lifespan, a realization not easy even for men to see. She represents her own power, reincarnation, rebirth and a point of view from wisdom in age. Which can't be banished by any man.
"Gemma."
Phil stopped my thought process when he interrupted my reading. "Come by the garage. The tire looks a little low, I'll put air in it for you."
"Yeah, I should do that. Thanks."
In fact, it was what I should have done. But it wasn't what I did. I had to get to Gemma. It was history repeating itself from another angle, another realm and another time.
Out of breath I ran up her stairs beating on the door. "Hey Tara. Come in."
"Where's Gemma?"
"She went back to sleep. Is something wrong?"
"Everything is wrong in this world."
Gemma was on their bed in a gown of fine black silk. Her arms near her sides and no movement came from her. The Queen was stretched out and more vulnerable than she ever had been before. In the silence, she laid in a peaceful sleep. But peace wouldn't be hers for much longer.
"I need a knife." To the kitchen I went until I found one.
"Tara, what are you going with that?"
There was no time to spare. I ignored what Nero said as I rummaged through my bag. When I found it I was met by an awake Gemma in the hallway.
"This is going to sound strange, but I need for you to let me cut you."
"You come at me with that knife and an ass kicking is all you're gonna get, sweetheart."
"I thought you might feel that way." The surprise was on her. I had the needle in her neck and it plunged in her vein before she knew what was going on. She became weak as expected. I helped her limp body down to the floor.
"I don't wanna hurt you, mama. You need to step away from Gemma now."
"I'm trying to save us both. I know you don't understand but you have to trust me. If you don't, then pull the trigger now."
It was a serious gamble to see if Nero would carry through or not. I cut my own finger glanced over my shoulder and grabbed her hand. With a slice of her skin, I joined them together.
"We bleed in the name of the sacred Mothers, in the name of the great Goddess Morrigan and in the name of our savior Jesus Christ. And whomever in the hell us we need to." The last part I just threw in the for good measure, a just in case.
Quickly I put a band aid on her finger and on mine. "I can't tell you what you should do, Nero. But I would tell Gemma she passed out and hurt her finger in the process. Whatever you do, do not leave her alone with Jax. If you love her, you won't."
"Are you gonna tell me what the hell is going on?"
"I can't. You just have to trust me. I love you and Gemma. I mean you no harm. You have to believe that. Don't look at the obvious to be a believer; be blessed to have not seen it and still know."
There was more than one person who would get the trust speech today from me. Only, some wouldn't be as easily convinced. I started where I needed to first.
"I need one more favor from you, Margret."
"What?"
"I have to get all of Thomas Teller's medical files. They are so old they are not in the hospital system."
"You are asking me to evade patient privacy laws. I can't take part in it."
"I understand. I will get them one way or another way. But I will get them."
"However, if you should steal my pass and do it on your own. I can't stop you. But I will not have anything to do with it." Before she opened the door of my office to leave. "Oops, I think I dropped it somewhere. I will have to report my pass lost this afternoon if I don't find it soon."
With her pass in my hand I headed to the basement of the hospital. Scanned it to open the door. No one used this area much. I found the section I needed. Although it was a huge disappointment. There was nothing in there for me to compare with except Thomas' blood type. It wasn't as if I could prove anything with it. I grabbed all his files and left.
I made a stop by the cafeteria to get a cup of coffee on the way back to see the boys. But not before I tossed the lost badge in the trash. One more time Margret had helped me out today.
"How are you boys feeling?" They were full of life and energy. The way all children should be. "Nicole, can you get our patients an ice cream for me?"
Once I was certain she couldn't hear me. "Baby, I need for you to listen to me and answer my question carefully."
"Okay, Mommy."
"Since you have been in the hospital. Have you seen any kind of birds? Maybe a black bird?"
"No." Abel's answer put my mind at rest. But what came out of his mouth next didn't. "We saw them when we were with the bad people."
"We?"
"Yeah, we seen them outside our window every day." Cody had now been dragged into this as well. He saw the crows too.
The bond Abel and Cody had between went above the experience they had endured. The more they told me about their time with the crows while they were away proved it.
Nicole came back and gave them their ice cream. I left them alone to eat it. Enjoy it, be happy children like they should be.
"Kyle, I need to talk to you." He was on his way back to the hospital when I called him. If I smoked, I would have smoked a bunch of them today as nervous as I was.
With the book in my hand I paced out in front until he got here. I handed it to him with pieces of paper to mark the pages he needed to read.
"I have a very important question."
"What?"
"At any given time did Thomas touch Abel?"
"Thomas and Tig found the boys. He handed Abel to Jax. Why?"
"I'll tell you after you read all that."
This was the one I would have to convince I wasn't totally insane. I waited for him in my office until he arrived. There wasn't a simple approach to take with the subject.
"Come in, Thomas."
"So, you can't stay away from me, can you, honey?" He was the most persistent male I've ever seen. I'd say he was great at adverting the conversations when he was involved. "Once you admit you want me, we can talk about anything you want to."
"Fine, I want you. You are the greatest man. Now, tell me about your mother."
She was Julia's sister. She passed away a few years back. His father was a solider too and died in action. There was a lot of substance to what he had to say. I knew enough about his parents. It was time to go on to the next thing.
"Do you have any scars from when you were a kid?"
"Only one. I fell and had stitches. Why?"
"Let me guess, it's on your chest."
"No."
It threw me for a loop for a second. Since he was so young, the scar would have stretched on the skin and went to a different spot when he got older.
"Your stomach."
"Lower." The big grin on his face told me the approximate location. But, it had to be done.
"I need to see it. I need you to show me."
"You show me yours honey and I'll show you mine."
"You know what, I don't need to see your scar to believe. I believe, I believe. Okay, lets approach this from another angle. Will you let me take a sample of your blood?"
"I might be persuaded with a kiss from you to do it."
"Fine, but no tongue and don't touch me or anything."
"Not much for romance. Are you honey?"
This was awkward. Like kissing a brother and the encumbrance of it. The door to my office opened wide. I thought the kiss was awkward before but, oh no. With my head tilted back on the desk. His image was upside standing in the doorway. "Hi."
"After Thomas gets off you, I need to talk to you."
This probably looked bad from his perspective. Thomas had pushed me down to the desk. His body pinned mine.
"Hi, Kyle."
"Fuck off, Thomas." Then Kyle slammed the door shut.
"I wonder what his problem is?"
"Yeah, can't image what he is upset about. Can I get that blood sample from you now?"
"Well, a deal is a deal. But try to control yourself while I get naked."
"You don't need to be naked to give blood."
"Sure I do, honey."
As soon as the vial was full. I left Thomas naked in my office. I thought perhaps he could figure out on his own he needed to get dressed and leave.
"You said you wanted to talk to me."
"Did you finally get done with Thomas?"
"It's not what you think, Kyle."
"Uh huh."
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
"I gotta go."
Of course, I followed after him talking away, but he just wasn't listening to me. So, I got his attention the best way I knew how. When we got in the elevator I pushed my body in to his. After our lips parted, I had his full attention.
"Here is a sentence I never thought would come out of my mouth. I've kissed three of John Teller's sons."
"What?"
SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA
"It's impossible for Cody to see the crows too. How?"
"I don't know."
"You are certain Abel's heart has healed. Did the medicine do it?"
"I don't know."
Kyle and I played many rounds of questions and answers. Most of the time I really didn't know what the answers truly were. Others were much simpler.
"The doctor faked Thomas' death certificate. I will know soon if it is him or not. All I got is the blood type to compare to. There are no records of his genetic makeup or John's available."
As soon as it came out. Both of our reactions were the same. We hustled to my office to search the backpack from Mexico. The paper was there. We had Gemma's blood break down, everything I needed to know. This would be enough for me to determine if Thomas was her son or not.
"I agree with the doctor. We take this to our graves. You have to promise me, Tara. We never tell Thomas the truth. Look at the lives we have already shattered because of John Teller's secrets and lies."
When we compared notes with each other. There were more secrets than either one of us expected to come out. Also enlightening information came to the surface we might have missed without the other.
"Morrigan is the medium in between good and evil. The transporter of heaven or hell. I found in the book she is the most controversial Goddess ever known. Some tales say King Arthur was taken to Avalon by Morrigan to suffer his fate. That as a transporter she is neither good nor evil; others think she is a particular corrupt spirit. I don't believe that at all, she is not corrupt. She only transports them to the place they are meant to end up at. Like the crow takes the soul to it's final resting place, she is the keeper of the crows. The only one the crows listens to and obeys."
"I think you're reach Kyle, at least a little bit. God is suppose to decide if we go to heaven or hell on our judgement day."
"Just hear me out, girl. God does decide. The bible speaks of the final destination of the spirit or soul after our vessel bodies pass on being heaven or hell. But, how do we really get there? Crows do not make people dead, they eat and transform bodies, they carry the soul. Morrigan is not death itself, she is the keeper of death. The white pure crows defied God's word on Noah's Ark. They were told to scout the area find dry land during the flood and return. They kept flying. After that, their feathers turned black to symbolize death. They only obey her."
The flood of reality was about to wash the town of Charming away with everything we came up with. But one more piece to the puzzle emerged. Kyle was to smart for his own good and maybe my good too.
"This book was written in Ireland and this information dates back to before B.C. time. Odin was the ruler of Germanic people. Before countries were established and he would have ruled over what is Ireland now. John has ties to Ireland."
If I had doubted it all circled around John Teller, there was no shadow of a doubt left for me now. From the beginning to the end of us, he held the keys to the locked doors, the secrets that could save or kill us all.
"So, now what?"
"I pack up Nicole and Cody, then move on. There are no more choices left for me, girl. I only have one regret from this, I have to leave my best friend and the kids behind."
Don't ever shut down your emotions because you stop existing then. They are the internal compression telling you what to do. The one thing you couldn't hide was when you were crippled inside. Yet it was what I done. I just let Kyle walk out the door and my life without a word uttered to him. It was easy to believe he knew what I felt and was thinking or I tried to convince myself of it.
The first place I looked for him was in the boys' room. He wasn't there. "Looking for Kyle?"
"No." The boys were sleeping and I covered them up. Nicole had left with Kyle to do some packing. They left Thomas behind to watch over them.
"Sure honey, you keep telling yourself that. Have you ever heard the expression, tomorrow may never come. So live in today. All the time we have is now. What is right in front of us."
"I've heard something similar before. I'll see you later, Thomas."
"If you change your mind and want to live in the now. See Kyle later, just let me know. I can get you out of here and no one will be the wiser to it. I'm not only sexy, I'm a stealthy bastard too."
It didn't escape me what he had said. I chose to ignore it and go on about my business. Part of it was going to see my children. I worried about them only having the influence of the club around them daily and all the whores who went along with them too.
There was one child who could never be influenced by the club or swayed their way no matter what they did or offered to her. Ellie was a young woman transformed in front of my eyes, really no longer a child. Everything she had experienced in life made me wonder if she was ever a child at all.
She had Thomas in her lap and Kenny by her side. Someday she would be a mother hen as she cared for her young. A strong independent woman. She would accomplish this before the age I had. I felt a proud mommy moment with her.
"You're here early."
"I have to go back to the hospital. I wanted to check on you guys."
There were a bare minim of the club members around. When I found out Jax and some of the others went on a run to patch over another club, I decided I needed to take my stance here and now.
"Tara, you are not allowed to take the kids out of the clubhouse alone."
"Watch me Rat. They are my children and I am taking them with me. Are you going to stop me?"
"I'm calling Jax."
"Call him then. I am taking them to get something to eat. Then to see Abel at the hospital. If you are going to follow after me, you better hurry up."
Rat did what he needed to while he was on his cell. I did the same by strapping the kids in and leaving here. He parked beside me when we stopped for food. I let the kids get what they wanted along with what I was taking to Abel and Cody.
When we went back to the car, I even tossed a bag with a burger in it to Rat. "Thanks, I'm starving."
"Go ahead and eat it. I'll be at the hospital when you get done."
There was no need for him to hurry on my account. It was where we were really headed to. The boys couldn't contain their excitement when they seen the other kids. They had a little reunion of their own. I kept reminding them they were in a hospital and had to keep their voices down.
"Can I hold him?"
"Sure." I handed over my baby to Thomas.
"Thomas is a great name kid. You have all that dark hair like me and blue eyes. A lady's man in the making."
"Yeah, something like that. I have to finish my rounds, can you keep an eye on them for a few minutes?"
When I held out my hands to take my baby. Thomas told me to go do my doctor thing. He would watch all the kids. I passed Nicole in the hall on her way back. I knew the kids would be fine.
On my desk laid the results. It was time to know the truth. I ripped open the envelope and compared Thomas to Gemma. "It's him." There was no turning back now, he was the son of John Teller. "What other secrets do you have John we don't know about yet?"
After I took a copy of it for my bag, I put the original in a medical book and closed it. But this problem was far from being closed. Far from over.
Once rounds were finished I went back to the boys' room. They pushed the beds together to make it one giant bed. All of them were on it except Thomas. Nicole had him.
"Can we stay with Abel tonight?"
"It's not a good idea, honey."
"Okay." Kenny couldn't hide his disappointment. They all couldn't.
"If you promise to be quiet, we will stay here tonight."
Nicole thanked me, this was all the time Cody would get with the kids. We hadn't told our children they soon would be separated and see each other no longer.
The nurse found some cots to accommodate us all. She was a kind person in general. She even brought in a crib for Thomas. He had been a sleep since I got back. The kids played with him until he was worn out.
We didn't have to ask them what they wanted for dinner. Thomas handled that part for us. "Look what I brought." He carried in four pizzas for them. This was a more serious and softer side of him than I had seen before. Or maybe he just wouldn't allow everyone to witness this about him.
He also brought them a couple of dvds to watch. I was amazed he knew anything about what kids liked. But, he made some good selections. They ate all the pizzas except for one. Found a spot on the bed or a cot to watch movies.
"I'm gonna go flirt with the nurses for a while. I'll be around if you need me. Kyle feels better knowing I'm here with the boys when he's gone."
In most ways I felt better knowing Thomas was near by too. There was also someone else staying close to us that wasn't so welcomed.
The door opened and I knew he would be there. Rat was leaned up against the wall. "The kids are staying here for the night." I opened it wide for him to see them.
"Jax won't like that."
"Jax runs the club and you. The hospital is my domain. You need to get off of hospital property. If you want to hang out here all night to watch me, do it from the park across the street. Or I will call security and you can do it from the police station. The choice is yours."
"Is everything okay, girlfriend?"
"No, it's not okay."
"Why don't you take a break. I will be here tonight with the kids. Ellie is the only one still awake. Get a good nights rest. You haven't had one in a while."
"Thanks."
There was no rest for me. I tried to relax and read some more about Morrigan. It brought more questions than answers. They say when your soul became restless inside you, your heart was dying. It could be just the drumbeat in my chest of madness before a storm swirling of restlessness took me over.
You could feel every bump in the leather book covering. The raised gold letters beneath your finger tips. It made me think more about him. There were moments I was sure I drove Kyle crazy with the answers to questions I gave. Tested his patience with my stubborn ways. It still left the time we shared together as precious to me though.
From here on I wanted to breathe in life, stop second guessing myself in every aspect. Try to relax and live in the moment. It was all we've got to believe in. The future was only a promise that we could change with the weather. Survive the storm of it. The past was just a photo book. Engraved in our minds of what we experienced to get this far in what we call life. All there was in the present was now.
When overcast of sad and rain came, there was still a chance for sunshine left. Fear made me scared to show the fragile feelings we all lived on, fed from. With the frustrations and the high expectations, I took it as it came. I didn't want to look back at the missed chances and have only regrets in my heart. I wasn't a prisoner to my emotions, I was here on my own free will.
"All I have is now."
The book was tossed in my bag to finish later. It was time to live in today and worry about life tomorrow. "Thomas, I need your help. All the time I have is now."
With a smirk on his face, he took out his cell to enlist some help. "Boomer, where are you? Get your ass here, there is a covert operation in progress. The secret operation is driving Miss Tara."
If Thomas used his capabilities to fight the bad guys in the military the way he done this, he truly was a bad ass. He used a napkin to map out the route, planned the distraction and had an alibi already to go too.
"Why are we doing this again?" Boomer had reserves about the plan. Of course, he wasn't as crazy as the rest of them were.
"Just put your damn mask on and do what you're told."
Boomer done just that. He pulled it down over his face. It blended well with the other dark clothes he wore. Revved up the engine on the bike and burned rubber as he took off.
Rat never seen it coming. Boomer pulled up beside his bike in the park across the street from the hospital and fired shots at him. "I bet you can't catch me." Then fired a couple more rounds for effect. Rat would have trouble catching him on a fast street bike.
"Let's go, honey." He pushed my head down in his lap before we existed the garage. To keep me out of sight.
"So, they don't see me."
"Sure, we will go with that." Then Thomas laughed, reached over and cranked up the radio.
When I was certain we had drove miles, I raised up my head. Only for him to shove it back down again.
"Are they following us?"
"No. I just like you being there. While you're down there…"
"Thomas." He laughed even harder when I got as far away from him as I could.
But Kyle wasn't laughing when we pulled in the garage. "What the hell are you doing?"
"The right thing, brother."
"You are going to get Tara hurt. Don't you understand that."
"It's all handled. I will be here in the morning to pick her up. No one will ever know. If Jax comes back early, I will call you. The kids are taken care of and we will watch over them. Your brothers are in position for the secret operation of driving Miss Tara. We got your back."
Kyle finally gave up trying to rationalize with Thomas. More so, Thomas just pulled out of the garage and left. When we went through the kitchen door, the house no longer looked like the happy home it once had. Boxes were stacked around. It would it be cold and empty once again.
"I should take you back to St. Thomas."
"If I said, I don't want to go back."
"Why are you doing this to me? You know I gotta leave Charming in a couple of days."
"Do you really love me, Kyle?"
"You know I do. Or you won't be here tonight if there was even a doubt in your mind."
"You're probably right about that." My hands roamed freely over his chest. But he stopped me by taking my hands in his.
"If you stay with me tonight. You know where this will go, girl."
"I am more afraid you will leave and I will never feel again, like I do when I'm with you. Than the consequences I might suffer from being with you, Kyle." I put my arms around his neck. He still wouldn't look into my eyes, denying what we both felt. So, I did it before I lost my nerve. "I love you. I know we can't be together and it's not right. But I do."
"I don't have the strength to stay away from you anymore. I don't want to. Love me tonight, girl."
There were no doubts, no barrier in between us. Only me and him in the moment together, the time was now. After I undressed, Kyle's lustful eyes gazed up and down my body. From across the room, I could feel his passion coming to the surface and mine was running wild for him. Tonight, there was no holding back from each other.
Kyle laced his fingers with mine. Our hands were held together as one. He placed a kiss on the back of my hand before his lips went on mine. When he entered me, I broke our kiss to catch my breath.
With my head thrown back in the pillow. I felt his mouth and tongue on my neck. It wasn't all I felt at that instance. His cock stretching me and filled me. The stud in it rubbed against my walls on both sides. Teased me with each movement inside me he made. It was pure pleasure in motion.
It could have been the excitement of being with someone new. The incredible way Kyle moved his body because he used all of it to love me with. Even his peck muscles flexed against my hands placed on his chest. When he lifted off me slightly to push himself into me harder. My body just knew how to respond to his and we moved in perfect rhythm. The rhythm of a beautiful sexy dance we were tangled up in and I have had with no other before. The kind to leave you completely breathless and still yearning for more.
Our mouths did the same. His lips pressed to mine which brought out emotions that I couldn't keep buried any longer. My tongue traced the outline of his lips before he sucked my tongue completely in his mouth. Both of our movements ceased at the same precise moment. Stared into each other's eyes until I was lost in his.
"I love you, Tara."
"I love you, Kyle."
It was said, put out there and it couldn't be taken back nor denied now for either one of us. The bond was there and formed between us. It was felt throughout my body not just my heart. This was where I belonged as wrong as it was.
The sex became even more intense after. Sensitivity heightened as Kyle's hands roamed over my body then down to my sides and he lifted my leg up over his hip. Wrapping his arm under my leg, he brought it up almost to his shoulder. It made me shiver when he pounded into me so hard. His cock had my wet pussy quivering around it; squeezing it hard, gripping it each time I came on him. Until I had the orgasm of my dreams.
Moans turned to screams of delight quickly. More so, I fucking needed and wanted more of him. He held me so close to his hot sweaty body. The warmth we shared with each other and fed from one another. My nails racked down his back when I met each thrust, moved under him like a second skin. He most certainly didn't disappoint either. The more I screamed the better he fucked me to ecstasy.
It was slower but more forceful movements he made inside me. I let go of him to grip the sheets in the fists I made to hold on. He inched my body across the bed with a rocking motion. Our arms linked together so he could hold on to me as well. Which made me only feel the excitement of sensual passion even more. The explosion I felt when we kissed was nothing to when he finally did.
"Fuck girl. I'm gonna cum." Almost breathless Kyle stopped. Pulled out of me for our sweaty bodies pressed so tightly to continue to move against the others. His warm creamy cum shot all over my pussy and stomach.
But we were far from being done yet. We laid just kissing and touching for such a long time. Not in any hurry, just to enjoy the time we shared. Round two was already in progress. If we wanted it to happen or not. We couldn't get enough of the other. Only this time, he wasn't as passionate and loving with it. It was needy, raw and one hell of a hard, rough fuck.
The way Kyle took me. I've never been taken that way. With my body pushed up on the back of the chair in the bedroom. Hands braced on it, waiting and wanting him. My ass wiggling with anticipation as the length of my hair was pulled slightly wrapped up in his hand. So I followed it until my head was bent back as far as I could go. Stretching out my body to connect with his any way possible. A kiss to my forehead before his other hand massaged my throat. Pulled my chin over for a long, wet kiss from him. It wasn't the only thing wet at this point.
When he let go of my hair his hand slid down the entire front of my body from my throat. The warmth of his chest was felt on my back as I was yanked into it. Strong inhaled breaths but it came out as panting especially as his finger circled over my swollen clit. I rode on his hand when he stuck a finger inside me and used his thumb to please my clit.
His cock was just as swollen as it rubbed through the cheeks of my ass. I couldn't resist rubbing back against him either. Bent back over the chair, the tip of his cock entered me. The sting of his large hand coming down on my cheek over and over. Where he smacked my ass, his fingers tips barely brushed over it. Soothing the burn, yet to satisfy the burning he created inside me. To extinguish the fire of desires growing for both of us.
It didn't take long though. For either one of us with hard, long thrust he made. I was as close as he was. Soaked as I was already, it ran down my leg as I begged him for more. I knew he wasn't going to last much longer when I clamped down hard on him, stroking him with my extreme wetness. I was right as he came on me, shooting his load of warm cum up my back.
Some things were more understood in silence. It was peaceful bliss surrounding us. Speak only when the words were more beautiful than the silence you had. We laid holding on to the moment this way. The time was now for us because tomorrow would come eventually. My eyes were losing the battle to stay open.
We woke up with Kyle's body snuggled up around me. The sun shone so brightly through the window. The slight breeze coming in moved the curtains around. I was laying on his arm when I lifted my head up to see what time it was. It made me smile as our hands were still joined together just the way we went to sleep. The bed moved slightly when he stretched his legs out.
"Good morning." A kiss on my shoulder came from him. He moved my hair out of the way and then laid several more on my neck.
A slight moan escaped my lips when he placed his hand on my hip and I felt him grind his hard cock against my ass. "He wants to say good morning to you too, girl."
After a proper morning greeting to each other. We took a quick shower. Well, it wasn't that quick because it was a hot, soapy, fun one. Kyle went to make us breakfast while I vast in the glow I had going on. When I went to brush my teeth using my finger, the image staring back me in the mirror was different. I couldn't explain how or really, why even. But it was a good kind of different.
I picked out one of his button up dress shirts from the closet and I put it on. Combed my wet hair then applied makeup I had in purse even. I've never been much of a prissy girly kinda girl. Fuck if I wasn't acting like one today and wanted to. From my makeup bag, I took out the bottle. I misted some perfume in the air then walked through it. The smell of it lingered in the bathroom when I shut off the light.
"Here's your coffee, girl." Kyle set the cup down in front of me at the table and wouldn't let me do anything to help out. It was nice for a change. Relaxing without a worry. To be waited on without expectation of giving something back in return. For once to be without a shadow of a doubt in your mind.
Playful is as playful does. I was in a very sexy playful mood too. "Perhaps, this is what we should have for breakfast."
When I got up on the table, unbutton the shirt and covered my breast in syrup. He turned the burner off on the bacon. "Hell yes."
We were enjoying this sticky treat. So much, we didn't even notice he had joined us. "Morning kids. Can you pass the syrup when you all are through with it?" Thomas nibbled on some bacon. Just staring at us.
SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA~SOA
"I'm not telling Cody. You are."
Nicole had to take her stance on the issue with Kyle too. The boys were getting released and I couldn't put off the dirty deed any longer.
"Baby, I need to talk to you."
"Okay, Mommy."
"Cody and his mommy are moving away. After today, you probably won't get to see him much."
"Why are they moving away?"
With children, they mostly wanted answers of why. Not the details that led up to the event. I tried to be gentle when I explained to my son several times. He still wasn't getting it or simply didn't want to.
"We can't see each other anymore." Cody had apparently been told the same. I never seen my son be so sad as he was today from the news.
They had to be separated when we got to the car. "You will always be my brother, Abel."
"You will be my brother too."
Kyle finally picked up Cody and carried him screaming to Nicole's car. Abel didn't scream, he didn't make a peep. He crawled in the back seat and looked forward. I think it worried me more that he didn't express his emotions. He was just like me.
"Abel, do you want to stop for ice cream on the way home?"
"No."
"Play at the park?"
"No."
The other kids knew what the score was. They remained quiet for the ride. With four children in the car, this was the most silence I'd ever experienced with them.
"Jax wants the kids at the clubhouse."
"Phil, I want a million dollars. We all have wants. Abel just got out of the hospital. He will be more comfortable here, at home. This is where we are going to stay."
There wasn't an argument about it. Phil of course called Jax and told him. But I didn't care. My concern was my children. The one who worried me the most walked in the house. Went to his room and plopped down on his bed without a word spoken.
Thomas went in his crib, he was tired and needed his nap. Kenny went to the couch to watch television. Ellie, she seemed out of place. Unsure of where or what she should do now. She roamed around the house. I grabbed my book and sat down beside my son.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"Okay, when you're ready. I am here baby. Mommy will always be here for you."
Abel leaned against me and I wrapped my arm around him. I put my back against his headboard when he closed his eyes. I missed when he was a baby and laid in my arms. This was as close as I would come to having that moment with him today.
At some point, I must have dozed off too. My neck felt twisted when I woke. I stretched the muscles to relieve the pain. Abel was still sleeping. I covered him up and went to see what the others were doing.
Ellie was reading with her brother engrossed in the movie. Thomas started to stir but wasn't fully awake yet. I set in the chair to get some reading done before he woke up.
"Morrigan is the light. The great Goddess is still powerful, as well as the way of the light." This contradicted what I originally thought.
For hours, I searched through medical books, mythology books and reread Thomas' medical history. Nothing clicked with me. Until I realized something he and Abel had in common.
"Fuck, I'm wrong. It was never Abel, he was always meant to be saved. The bad brother is Thomas, my sweet baby."
Thomas and Abel were both self healed. Thomas was meant to be saved from following the life of his father, just as Abel was. My sweet baby Thomas, just like Jax. Was left behind to suffer.
"Oh shit. The bible."
Since I didn't have one of my own. I went to the one who did. "Ellie, can I use your mother's bible?" She rummaged through her bag and handed it to me.
When I looked up the passage. I got the biggest shock yet. "Where did this come from?"
"Mommy wrote if before she died." The hand written notes in the bible should have stood out to me before. If I had just looked in here. Taken the time to read it like I should have over the years to grasp a better understanding.
Donna had prior knowledge before she died. She stumbled in to the world of chaos and destruction of the club. Was it the real reason she was killed? Did Clay discover she was on to the secret of evil? The answers to those questions, made a difference of the life and death complete circle.
"I am going to ask you to do something for me. I shouldn't ask."
"Cover for you while you're gone. I will watch the boys." That little girl would be a powerhouse when she grew up. Through the door, I heard her yelling at Phil. "Tara, has a headache and doesn't want to be bothered. Now, get my dinner made. Hurry up."
Out the same bedroom window I slipped out. From the same window, I found out many secrets by leaving through it. At the same window, I discovered more of myself. "I still need a better escape route."
This was the drive that would change it all. The direction of the path taken would change as well. It would conquer the evil or bring hell down upon us. Either way, my boys would still be saved and survive it.
"I hope this works Donna. Because if it doesn't, I am all out of ideas."
With her bible in my hands. I stood over John's grave as I said the words, I believed the words. Everything was coming around full circle again. It all started with him and his children. The circle broadens to capture John's grandchildren now.
"Leviticus 17:7, And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they've gone a whoring. This shall be a statute forever unto them throughout their generations." The bible was laid on the top of his tombstone. I no longer needed it to finish what I came here to do. "I do not offer his grandchildren to be sacrificed like his children were to the evil. John Teller, may your soul finally rest in peace. For the evil will feed no more from you or the generations created by you."
Leaves were rustling in the trees as the wind increased. The howling sound of it blowing was unmistakable. You could not adjust the direction the wind blew but, you could adjust the sails to get you to the destination you wished to arrive at. That was exactly what I was doing. The bible page remained still of movement on the tombstone, untouched and untainted as the wind increased even harder. "If this is not a sign of your presence and you walking this with me, I don't know what is."
The next part was harder, even scarier. But it had to be done. Standing in front of Donna's grave, I opened the mythology book and spoke the words loudly.
"Great Morrigan I call on thee, three times three. Hear the words I ask of thee. Grant me vision, grant me power, cheer me in my darkest hour. As the night overtakes the day, Morrigan light my way. Yours my body, yours my heart. All my trust I place in thee, Morrigan be with me..."
When the winds completely stilled, my heart sank. It didn't work. "You have walked with me many times during this. Don't stop now. Oh, Crow Goddess come. Lady of the reaping, lady of the ravens and crows. Light of darkness, giver of rebirth. She who walks the warrior path. Great Morrigan, Red Queen. If you truly are the light, show yourself to me." Nothing changed, nothing was happening. But then, the lightening lit up the blue skies. Swirls of clouds banged against each other.
"I have a secret that you shall learn…" The rest of what was said, became deafening with the roar of the thunder and the lighting strikes. As quickly as the storm came, it abruptly disappeared. "The secrets and knowledge of the crows will save them. It shall be yours at a price to be paid…"
Her words were repeatedly echoing in my ear. My body was frozen in place, suspended in motion. I tried to move, my muscles paralyzed beyond my control. I was overpowered by her.
"Girl, we are taking this crow thing to a whole another level."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I followed them here." Kyle glanced over to Donna's headstone. The white faced crow, the white crow and the large black crow were perched there together. But, the fourth one wasn't around to be seen. This was the first time they had been in our presence since we returned. "I know who she is." He appeared pale, his breathing increased rapidly as he grabbed a hold of my hand.
"Kyle, who is she?"
"My mother."
"Oh shit..."
I hope you enjoyed reading me!
The facts about Morrigan in this story are true. Legends are told she was King Author's most impalpable foe, he was no match going up against her. He set at the head of the round table with his trusted men and only men could set at the table or be heard. She was summoned to bring the King to his knees of surrender. Sounds familiar doesn't it.
We are approaching the grand finale. Thank you for staying with the story and showing your support for it.