Pirate Disclaimer: Zzzzzzzzz.
Nova
Chapter 34: Delivering the letters, and a fight.
-Kestrel-
After we had been shown the ships I returned home and retrieved the stuffed envelope that Theo Redwinter had given me. It was time to deliver it.
It wasn't hard to find Harrison Redwinter's address. All I had to do was look in the residence directory and there it was. Redwinter, Harrison E.
And it didn't take me much longer to locate the street and house. The house sat at the end of Penelope Lane under the shadow of a huge willow tree.
Slowly I walked up the cobblestone step, knocked lightly on the door, stepped back and waited.
I heard a lock on the other side being unlocked and then the door opened. A middle-aged man peered out, "May I help you?"
"Are you... Harrison Edison Redwinter?"
"I am. May I ask who you are?"
"My name is Kestrel Bluesummers. You see... your father asked me to deliver these letters." I held the envelope up and out to him.
He didn't take it but smiled, "Young lady, you must have the wrong house. My father has been dead for years."
"He didn't die, he gave me this less than a week ago."
"If this is some sort of cruel joke--"
"No! No it's not a joke. Please... hear me out."
He stared at me for a few seconds, considering it.
"Please." I said. "I assure you, I am telling you the truth. He just gave me this."
"Very well. But if I find out that this is a farce--"
"You wont. Because it's not." I insisted.
He grunted and backed up to let me inside. He closed the door and waved to some chairs in the living room.
I sat down and waited till he sat down to hand him the envelope. He took it, opened it and pulled out one of the many letters.
His eyes scanned the letter and in doing so his eyes widened, "I can recognize my father's handwriting anywhere." He looked at me wonder in his eyes, "Where did you get this?"
"I told you. Theo gave it to me."
"But... how. The expedition--"
"He survived." I whispered.
"The blood that they found…"
Quickly I explained to him about the Hidden City and their problems with people who wanted to steal from them.
The edges of Harrison's eyes rimmed with tears as he listened, and his mouth opened and closed soundlessly, until finally he managed, "Why didn't he return?"
I looked down at my hands, "I'm sure everything is explained in the letters. But I think... that he was afraid to face you."
Harrison laughed disbelievingly, "What? Why... why would he be afraid of his own son?"
"You two had a big argument, right?"
"Yes. It was... it was something stupid. I can't even remember what it was about."
"I think that he thought that if he returned that he would only make things worse between you two. He probably thought it best just to let you live your life. And that you didn't need him."
"Didn't need him? No... I needed, we needed him. My sister didn't have her father to walk her down the aisle when she got married. He wasn't there for my marriage. He wasn't there to help me when my first son was born. "
Harrison stared down at the envelope, "I was a stupid young man. I let things get out of hand. I didn't see... I couldn't see... the truth in my father's words. I know now that he was only doing what he thought best for my sister and me.
"After everyone thought he had died. I knew. I knew I had made a mistake not talking to him before he had left. But it was too late. Mother broke down. She couldn't take it."
"I'm sorry."
"No. Don't be. I want to thank you. For giving me this." He looked into my eyes hopefully, "Tell me... is he... is he still alive?"
"I don't know. Before we left he said something about feeling that his time here was coming to an end. He may still be alive... but I'm not certain."
"If I hurry I may be able to... see him again."
I smiled, "I'm sure he would love that."
----------------
Before I left I'd gave Harrison directions to the Hidden City. He seemed so happy that he would be seeing his father again. I just hoped that Theo hadn't passed on yet.
Finally I had accomplished my promise to Theo. And somehow I felt... lighter. I let out a sigh, stared up at the sky and headed back to the hanger bay where everyone would probably be still working on the ships.
I yawned as I entered the hanger bay, and noticed that the place was devoid of life.
Except for Knives.
I glanced at him about to ask where the others were when I noticed his face.
He was staring up out of the hanger bay door, with an odd look in his eye, like he had something weighing heavily on his mind.
I don't know what made do it... but I suddenly wanted to make that look go away. I wanted to comfort him. Slowly I approached him, but he didn't even notice me till I lightly touched his shoulder.
"What?" He snapped.
I took most my composure to keep from stuttering, "Oh. Um... you just looked like something was bothering you. I wanted to know if there was anything I could do--"
"Bothering me?" He sneered, "Nothing bothers me, woman."
"I just thought--"
"Well you thought wrong. Even if I was bothered by something I wouldn't look for help from one of your kind."
"Well excuse me." I said, "I've just never seen you look even slightly happy--"
"Why should you care?"
"Why shouldn't I?" I retorted.
He didn't answer that. "The only thing that will make me happy is the day that the human race is gone. You and your entire race are a disease! And the sooner the disease that is humanity is eradicated then I will be happy." he snarled.
"We aren't a disease--" I started defensively.
"Yes. You are. A parasitic disease to be more precise."
"Oh really? Where do you get your information, huh? From what I understand you've spent most of your god dammed life secluded from most everyone! How can you know us?"
"I learned all I needed to know the first year of my life."
"And what? You based everything you now about humans from... five people? Do you now how stupid that sounds! There are what... a good seven billion people on this planet? Five people can hardly represent and entire species. Hardly."
"There are also the history records. Five world wars! The last of which destroyed half the planet. A complete utter disregard for the welfare of the planet. You sucked it dry then when there was nothing left you set out to find a new world to infest! I couldn't just sit and let another hapless world get ravaged."
"What made you think that we hadn't learned from our mistakes?"
"Learned?" He barked out a laugh, "Oh that's just ripe! You humans never learn! All the signs were there when you planets ecosystem began to fall apart but did you see it and learn? No! You just kept squeezing and squeezing till nothing was left."
"We aren't like that anymore! Look at Lanoth! It's a thriving with life! We care for it. We sustain it."
"That obviously has nothing to do with you humans. It's my people who must have done all that!"
"That's not-- "I stamped my foot, "You just wont listen will you? You're so set in your ways. You stubborn, pigheaded--"
Suddenly his hand lashed out and he slapped me. I stumbled back, shocked. I stared into his fierce eyes as he spoke, "Never speak to me like that. Ever. Don't ever think that you will know more than me. Because you don't. And you wont. I will destroy every one of your pathetic race. Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. I don't care about you or your stupid people. I only want my people to be free. Now leave me alone."
I didn't reply I just tuned and ran out of there as fast as I could, nearly running into Legacy as I did so.
-Knives-
I continued to stare at her as she ran out, brushing past her cousin.
Her cousin watched her go then turned to look at me, a sharp look in her eye. She set the bag she was carrying on the ground and stalked towards me.
"What was that?" She demanded.
"It's nothing to concern yourself with." I said dismissively.
"It's everything to concern myself with if she's crying!" The woman clenched her fists.
"You--" I started.
"What the hell did you say to her?" She interrupted.
"Just stay out of it." I snapped. I had already had enough, without having to deal with Kestrel's cousin.
I suddenly found myself up against the side of the ship five feels off the ground. I felt a strong pressure against my chest. Legacy had her hand out, palm facing me, an angry look on her face.
"If you hurt her you bastard--"
"Release me human!" I ordered her.
"She'd better be alright or I will personally make sure you never have children!" She threatened.
"You do anything to me and I'll kill you! Release me!"
She flicked her hand back and let it drop to her side. I immediately fell to the ground.
I pushed myself to my feet and stared down at her, but she didn't seem intimidated at all. She merely glared menacingly up at me, "If you hurt her, in any way, I will not hesitate to hurt you back." She strode away, and then stopped and turned to me, "I'll deal with you later."
I adjusted my shoulder and said nothing. She grabbed her other cousin, Aria, by the arm as she was coming in, "C'mon we've got to find Kes'."
"Did something happen?"
"I'll explain on the way."
--------------
-Kestrel-
I leaned against the tree and watched the sun make its slow descent towards the far off Red Mountains. I closed my eyes as a breeze of warm wind brushed the grass below me, swayed the branches of the tree and caressed my face.
I clutched my knees tighter and let the ache in my heart out, tears flowing freely.
I was a fool. I was a fool to ever think that he would ever see me as something more than a... a disease. Why did I even let myself hope...? I knew from the beginning that I would get hurt. I knew that I what I was getting myself into. Why did I let myself fall for him...?
I opened my eyes and stared out into the orange sky. What was I supposed to do? I felt drawn to him from the very moment I met him. Those shadowed blue eyes.
The sound of someone approaching from behind broke me from my thoughts.
I looked back and saw Aria and Legacy.
"Is something the matter?" I asked.
"You tell us," said Aria as she and Legacy sat down on either side of me.
I looked down at my arms clutching my legs close. I loosened my hold and stretched my legs out. "Nothing."
"You ran out with tears in your eyes, it's most definitely not nothing." Legacy snorted.
I sighed and whispered, "It's nothing. Really. I just made a mistake... that's all."
"I take it that this mistake... is Knives?" asked Aria.
I nodded closing my eyes again.
"You love that boy." Legacy said with surprise in her voice, "Don't you?"
Again I nodded, saying nothing. I didn't know what to say.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Legacy giving Aria a look that asked something.
"Does he know? Have you told him how you feel?" Asked Aria.
"No."
"Why not?" Legacy prompted.
I clenched my fists tight digging my nails into my palms, "I-- I couldn't. I was... afraid."
"Afraid of what?" Asked Aria.
Legacy answered for me in a soft voice, "Rejection."
I choked as I started crying again. Aria wrapped her arm around my shoulder and held me close, making soft shushing noises like a mother would, "It's alright."
"Yeah," said Legacy who leaned on my other shoulder, "Don't worry. We're here. We'll always be here."
---------------
Carri: 5 cans! Oh my. You have gone over the top. Hehehe, luckily for me I have updated SOON! So no undead minions today! awwww, I like undead minions.
El Hustino: The truck was a possibility... but due to the fact the oil hadn't been changed in A YEAR(I blame the minions) we had to go with the ships... sad I know. As for sanitary... no, I don't thnik it would be... ANYWAY, on to ther things...
Rosebud: Why thank you! Your feelings serve you well! We are on the brink... of something I hope will be a great ending. As always I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
Neptune Butterfly: Hehe, I'd like to see Kuroneko take him on! That would be cool! It's okay that you review late. I don't mind at all. Aww. THE SUFFERING ONE MUST ENDURE! -MANY HUGS-