This chapter is dedicated to those of you who have given me inspiration and encouragement to write more. To sk8erchick124 for wanting more family time and casstella for always pushing me to keep writing. Thanks for reading. To everyone else... reviews make me write faster XD. Good and bad. Enjoy!
Chapter 21
Girl Interrupted
As I lay inside myself I start to feel heaviness within my soul. It was trying to overtake me or… become a part of me? I wasn't sure what was happening, but I wasn't scared. There was a voice inside that heaviness but I couldn't hear it, or name it. Then the dark void appeared in front of me and something came out. As I watched it emerge from the raging darkness that resided in my soul, I knew what I had to do… I knew what it's meant to be. So I reached out with both hands and the matter of the darkness wrapped its essence around me, latching onto my wrists and pulling me in. My eyes burned red as they widened and when I opened my mouth, my vampire power rushed in. I felt the inferno flames burn down my throat and flow throughout my body and into my being. I thought it was over when the last flames caressed my tongue… but it wasn't. The darkness had followed.
I watched myself from the inside to see that I was in the mansion bathroom. I was in a bathtub filled with soapy water with only my head and shoulders above the water level. Lexy was in the bathroom kneeling next to the tub and talking to someone. I looked to see whom she spoke to and I could see a faint light hovering next to her.
"Alexandria," Alexander came in, "I have been looking for you… you shouldn't be in here. Your mother needs her rest." He came and knelt next to her than looked at the ghostly light. "Bunicuță, va vă păstrați mica mea prințesă ocupat în altă cameră? Nu vreau Raven să fie deranjat." Granny, will you keep my little princess busy in another room? I do not want to be bothered Raven.
"Daddy," Lexy gasped in surprise, "You can see granny too?"
"You and your brother have inherited my gifts. I promise to discuss them more with you when your mother awakes."
"But I need to stay with her. Mommy always stays with me when I'm sick or scared, so I have to be there for her too."
"Would you feel better if I promised to stay with her? I'll call you when she wakes. Deal?" Lexy solemnly nodded and got up to leave. "Before you leave, when were you sick?"
"Whenever I was scared of the ghosts I stayed in my coffin and didn't want to come out to eat. So I got sick. Mommy tried to feed me but I couldn't. The animal blood wouldn't fill me up, so mommy let me drink from her wrist. She stayed with me till I got better. I'll be in my room, granny says she's gonna show me the secret door inside of it."
Now Alexander was alone in the bathroom with me. He locked the door after Lexy and rolled up his sleeves. He started to bathe me and once in a while say something in Romanian that I couldn't hear. I reached out to him with my thoughts. Alexander.
'Raven? Can you hear me, dragul meu, my love?'
Yes, I can hear you, and I can see you… I can see myself too. It's weird… I'm not dead, right?
'No my love, you are not dead. If you were, you'd be a pile of ashes right now. What you are going through is called astral-projection. It's when you can leave your physical body during unconscious state and travel in your metaphysical body. I'm very amazed to know you can do it.'
Is that my power? Astral-projection?
'Not exactly; it is an ability that any vampire can learn to do. Granted not all succeed, but it is a taught ability. Like shifting into a bat and flying. You'd want to practice at it to be able to do it while conscious.'
Can you do it?
'Yes, do you want me to join you?'
YES! I watched Alexander lie down on the tiled floor and close his eyes. A few seconds later, I watched a ghostly image of Alexander rise from his body. He looked at me and then back at the physical us, and an idea came to me. Is that how vampires see themselves?
'Only the ones that can do this… I learned how while I was away. It's also one of the ways, we can watch our surroundings during the day and if someone has trespassed into our territory.' Alexander explained the benefits of astral-projection to me and I am amazed at my new-found ability. But we were both aware of the elephant in the room, about what happened with the intruder. 'Raven,'
Are you ever going to tell me about why you left eight years ago and what you've been doing since, or are you going to leave me in the dark? Alexander walked… or hovered, over to me and lifted his hand to caress my face. Instead of contact, it felt like static electricity. There was sadness and loneliness in his eyes. Why won't you tell me anything? I've opened up to you about everything and yet you won't be open with me. Am I still unworthy to you? I'm not good enough to be let in on your secrets am I?
'What happened to you, Raven? What did that bastard do to you to make you kill him? Did you know whom it was you killed? Because I do… I see his ghost, and I will gladly continue to make him suffer for what he did to you. Tell me.'
So, you'd rather brush off my questions to discuss my latest events? I looked at him in wonderment. Screw you, Alexander. With that said, I walked… hovered… over to my physical body and settled inside. When I felt my consciousness return, I opened my eyes and took notice of the lukewarm water I was sitting in. my body felt stiff as I tried to raise myself to get out. Alexander woke up as well and rose from the floor to help me up. "I got it," I bit out and ignored his hand. As I stepped out of the water, Alexander wrapped a towel around me. "Thank you, but I don't need you help." He remained quiet and I walked out of the bathroom and started walking down the hall. When I heard the kids in their room, I stopped by remembering Lexy's concern.
"MOMMY YOU'RE AWAKE!" Lexy exclaimed with a big smile. Alex looked over and got up. Together they came towards me and I met them half way and wrapped them in my arms.
"Mom?" Alex looked confused.
"I'm fine my little darlings, I'm sorry if I worried you. Have you behaved well while I was resting?"
Lexy spoke first. "Yes! Granny was showing us the secret room in our room and hidden pockets everywhere. Mommy it's so cool here, can't we stay here and live like a real family like on TV. Our house is so boring compared to here, but we could still visit. PLEASE!"
"Lexy, we'll all talk about that later." I assured her, but she still looked unsure.
"Mom, are you really okay? Before, when you came…"
"Alex, I'm sorry for worrying you honey. But I promise I'm fine right now. I feel fine. Thank you for always wanting to make things better sweetie. I love you so much, and later we'll all spend some time together as a family and go over everything that will change and be a little different. But first, I'm still naked under here and need to get dressed I'll be back down and we'll get started. Okay?" they agreed and went back to what they were doing. I walked out of the room, and saw Alexander standing across the hall outside of the room. When I looked at him, I could feel the barrier that he put up against me. It hurt. I didn't say anything, just kept walking towards the attic room until he called out to me.
"Wait! Raven, Jameson has set up the master bedroom for you. Billy brought over some of your things for now. You're free to make any changes you'd like. Just make a list of anything you need during the daylight hours, and Jameson will have them ready for you when you wake. Billy will return tomorrow night with some more of your things. We'll get you and the kids moved in as soon as possible." Without another word he pushed off the wall and showed me to my room. I couldn't believe he was doing this to me again! He opened the door to the room below the attic and gestured for me to enter with a wave of his hand. Tears burned behind my eyes and I fought them. I walked in quietly and he followed behind. He turned on a light switch, that I didn't need, and came up behind me. I looked at the oversized room with large windows draped with thick curtains, an old armoire with a matching dresser set, night table, and four-poster bed and my coffin from the house in front of it. A tear escaped and slid down my face and refused to fall from my chin. I felt Alexander's hands rest at my sides. "I figured you'd want your own space, what do you think? Do you like it?" I felt Alexander kiss my head and embrace me with my back to his chest. Another tear dropped from my eyelids to fall on his hand.
"Get out…" I whispered. Alexander stopped moving. As if he hadn't heard me I said again. "Get out!" Alexander let go of me and stepped away. The emptiness that settled where he once stood couldn't have been colder. Alexander closed the door as he left, and I could feel the power within me rise. I dropped down onto the bed and released the pain and sadness in my heart. As I burst into tears, the mattress had burst into black flames.
I felt the heat surrounding me and started to panic. What did I just do? Alexander and Jameson burst through the doors from the scent of smoke. "RAVEN!"
"Oh my word…" Jameson gasped in surprise with a hand clutching his chest.
"Mom?" Alex's voice called.
"Alexander stay back," Alexander ordered his son, "Stay with your sister, my son!"
I continued to cry, though now it was for fear. My parents died in a fire. I know what happens now when a vampire catches fire. I'm going to die.
"RAVEN, STAY WITH ME!" Alexander yelled through the roaring sound of flames. I looked around me for a way out of the black flames. Then I realized, the fire isn't spreading from the mattress. It's not burning me… why isn't it burning me? As I pondered this new revelation, my tears ceased and I felt water being thrown onto the bed. The fire was never disturbed. An instinct urged me to put my hand into the fire, so I did. I watched in amazement as the black flames steadied in my hand. I closed my hand around it and felt it's warmth solidify. A collective gasp sounded from the door. "Raven, you need to get out of the fire love, I need you to stay with me…" I tuned out whatever he was saying because something inside told me to stay focus. As I held the flame like a handle, I twirled my wrist around the length of it. It wrapped itself around me and gathered into the center. Holy, hell! This is awesome… this is my power! I'm a Pyromancer! Like a child with a brand new toy, I wiped my tears away and sat up straighter. I crossed my legs and experimented with the fire in my hands. The fire still surrounded me and when I looked up, I saw Alexander on the phone yelling in Romanian, and Jameson trying to escort the kids away. Crap the kids!
"It's okay everyone, I'm not in any danger!" they all looked up at me. I wasn't sure if they could see me so I stood up above the flames so they could see me with a smile on my face. "I just found my power! Isn't that great!" Then Jameson's eyes opened wide and his mouth dropped before he fainted. Alexander stopped yelling into the phone and looked at Jameson's relaxed form then checking his pulse before looking up to see me. "What happened? Is he okay?" Alexander looked at me with relief and exhaustion in his expression. The kids looked scared and confused.
'I think you gave him a heart attack, my love. Jameson hasn't been around many women that lack modesty.' Understanding dawned on me and I realized the towel I wore was long gone. Sorry, I thought out to him. 'He'll be fine.' "Are you alright, my love?"
"I'll be fine, you might want to lay Jameson down somewhere so he can recover from his shock."
"Alright. My children, go into the family room and your mother and I will be there shortly." The children left obediently and Alexander lifted Jameson with an arm around his neck and carried him out. I watched after them as I wound the rope of flames I had created into my hands. I looked down at my fireball and tried to focus on it being put out. As it got smaller, I closed my fingers around it and squeezed. The fire was out. And my mattress had disintegrated except for the part I stood on.
Once I finally got dressed and started brushing my hair, Alexander came back into the room. "Pyromancer? Is this the first time using your power, my little fireball?"
"Yes, no thanks to you…" then quickly remedied that, "Actually, it was because of you, so thanks. You know I felt my power awakening just before I went all astral-projection. But it was the painful reminder of you locking me away in some room away from you because I wasn't good enough that triggered the fire from me." When I turned around to look at him, he looked confused as his eyes moved around the room and back to me.
"Raven I didn't mean for you to be locked away," he started. But I had enough of that speech.
"You NEVER mean to do anything but what YOU want to do. Nobody talks to me about anything to see if I have a say, an opinion, or whatever. THAT ends tonight!" I was so pissed at Alexander's selfish resolves so I had to try to cool my temper as I walked downstairs to the family room where the kids are seated. Lexy was brushing her new doll's hair, and Alex was drawing in his new sketchbook with new art pencils. I sat down across from them and Alexander sat next to me.
"Is Jameson going to be okay?" Alex asked.
"Jameson is fine, I gave him the night off to relax. So it's just us. We have many things to discuss tonight. There are many things that I want to change, but your mother and I will have to compromise and decide together. Who wants to start?" Alexander led the talks and allowed the children to speak freely. He also took into consideration what I thought of each matter and I was glad he listened.
"I want to live here in the mansion like a real family." Lexy whined.
Alexander nodded in understanding. "I would like that very much as well. We are a family and it is only natural to live as one. Alex, Raven, what do you to think or feel on the matter?"
"If we live here with dad, can I have my own room?" Alex asked me.
"I think that would be fine. I also want everyone to be together. But I need to pack up our things at the house properly. Jameson and Billy wouldn't know what I want to bring back here or how I want things separated. I'd feel more comfortable doing it myself." I looked over at Alexander and he nodded his approval.
"Then that's settled, you'll all be living here with me as a family." The kids cheered and got up to give us hugs before sitting back down. "Alexander, my son, there are many rooms to choose from. Later, you and I will explore them together so I can check their conditions to see if any repairs need to be made." Alex beamed at his father.
"Mulțumesc tată." Thanks dad.
"Esti binevenit, fiul meu." You're welcome, my son. "And as for Alexandria, if you would like to choose a different room, after your brother has found his, then you may do so as well.
"YAY! Thanks, Daddy!" Lexy was now bouncing in her seat with excitement.
"You're welcome, princess." Alexander moved on to the next topic. "Your mother and I have spoken on your educational needs…" he went on explaining the new curriculum they would be studying and the new study schedule. The kids are excited about learning more about vampires and the supernatural world they were born into. But the thought of tests and homework made them slump a bit. "Do not feel discouraged. It is in your blood; you will pick it up naturally. Not to mention you are very smart, both of you. There isn't a doubt in my mind that you would excel." Next topic. "The next time your mother is off, I will be teaching you to fly…" Lexy's squealing and Alex's shouting about how awesome that was going to be and all the places we could go interrupted him.
Once they were settled from their excitement, I fake coughed into my hand and Alexander raised his brows. "Any objections?"
"Only on my part, I don't know if it would work for me… would it affect the baby." Alexander furrowed his brows as he thought about that.
"What baby?" Alex asked. They didn't know? 'So much has come up that we haven't mentioned it yet.' Then it's time now.
"The baby that your mother is carrying. She's pregnant. Which means you're going to have another brother or sister." Alexander explained.
"Or both," I added. The kids were silent as they stared at my belly. "What's wrong, don't you want another brother or sister? Or both?" I asked worriedly.
"But we already do! We have Zander…" and cue the fainting. Nope… no fainting? Well then…
"What do you mean you have Zander? Lexy sweetie, how do you know about Zander?" I asked her but she bit her lip and looked down. I looked over at Alexander who looked as shocked as I was. "Alex?"
"Lexy sees him and he speaks to us both. He isn't a part of the Ether; he's wandering and waiting. He's our little brother that didn't make it. He told Lexy not to say anything to you two. But he didn't tell me. He said he was going to come back. That mom and dad had to make him again."
"When did you last speak to Zander, where is he now?" Alexander asked.
"We used to speak to him all the time," Lexy explained, "even if I couldn't see him, but he stopped talking to us when daddy came home. I'm sorry, mommy."
"No sweetie, it's okay I understand. You did nothing wrong. But how was he able to talk to you both?" I asked almost knowing what the answer would be but still surprised at the knowledge.
"He's telepathic," Alex answered, "and he was living as an astral projection before his physical body died. That's how Lexy could see him." Alexander…
"So let me guess… all this time, Zander has been waiting for a physical body to be created so he could settle his soul before a new one forms within it. Am I correct?" Alexander asked as if he was familiar with the process.
Alex answered him, "Yeah, dad, how'd you know?"
Alexander answered him, "Because that's what I did."