I drove over every speed limit there was to get to the Emerald Bed & Breakfast. It was a bright colored Victorian styled house at the other side of town. The house was in business ever since the 1930's, when the family of the house lost their fortune in the stocks. First, the Emerald family rented their twenty room mansion to strangers who lost their homes or to out of townies that were searching for work. After World War II, they made their home into a hotel and quickly gained popularity with soldiers. Then when the Quake hit; the house became an infirmary for the injured.
Now it has gone back to being a hotel and it was ran by a sweet elderly woman named Margaret Emerald and her grandson Liam.
I parked the jeep in the visitor's parking spot and ran up to the lobby. Liam was managing the head desk; he was in his early thirties with blond hair and dark eyes. He pushed up his glasses as he turned to look at me, "Hello, may I-," then he recognized me. "Amy? Well, look at you," he smiled, "I think the last time I saw you, you were working here for the summer."
"Yeah, it's been awhile Mr. Liam," I nodded to him.
"What's with the mister? You're old enough to call me Liam, besides it makes me feel old."
"You're thirty-two," I remarked.
He clutched his chest, "Still stings."
I got down to business, "Listen Liam, I need the room number for Arthur Kirkland."
He lifted his brow at me, "I can't give guest room numbers to just anyone Amy."
I nodded, "I know, but he's my half-brother."
His eyes lit up, "Oh, right. Your grandmother told my grandmother the whole story. How could I not see it before, one of them looked so much like you." He glanced to the clock on the wall, "Are you sure you want to talk to them now? It's about to be three in the morning."
"It's an emergency, Melissa's in labor," I lied.
Liam gave a small gasp and smiled, "Congratulations! Oh, let me call them." He picked up his office phone and dialed a number. The dial tone was busy, "that's strange," Liam mumbled.
"Just give me the room number, I promise not to disturb other guests."
"Very well," he checked his computer, "Arthur Kirkland and his friends are in the master suite, number: sixteen, that's on the third floor."
I nodded and ran up the steps. I quickly walked down the hall and stopped at the room door with the golden sixteen written on it. I slammed my fist on the door, "Arthur! Wake up! We need to-"
He answered the door; his dress shirt and pants were wrinkled, his tie was missing, his hair was disorganized and his eyes were drowsy and sleep deprived. "What?" he hissed.
Before I could answer, his smart phone ringed and he cursed. He checked the screen and groaned, "Germany," he forced himself to sound polite, "I believe this is the fifth time you called me-yes," he paused, the German's voice was screaming on the other line. "I know, I know, but-" Arthur was cut off and he rubbed his temple, he glanced at me and gestured me to enter. "Yes, yes, no I-" he was cut off again as he paced throughout the room.
I stepped in and closed the door behind me. I found Francis, his clothes were wrinkled as well and his hair was tied in a low pony tail. His eyes were tired as he held the room phone in one ear and his smart phone in the other. "Gilbert, please hear me out. I went along with this because Amy-" Francis then turned his attention to the room phone, "Relax Antonio, these people care for Amy, they won't do anything to hurt her or us."
On the other line of his smart phone, a voice was shouting at him and Francis sighed. "Gil, I am not in the mood for this, you just have to trust-" a loud beeping sound echoed from his phone. "Hold it, there's someone else on the line. Oui, oui, I know, I know, hold on." He answers the other line, "Little Italy, what a surprise," his voice was dripping with sarcasm as Feliciano was panicking on the other line.
I turned to the couch, where Matthew was sitting as he and Kumajirou were drinking hot coco. "You two seem cozy," I proclaimed.
Matthew was wearing a t-shirt and jeans as he sat cross legged with a mug in his hands. He shrugged, "Not many countries remember me during times like these. Being invisible has its perks. Do you want some coco?"
"No, I'm good. What's going on?" I nodded to Francis and Arthur, both whom were still talking on their phones.
"The nations are scared, I can sense it," said Kumajirou.
"Uh-huh, well I need to talk you guys, so," I walked over to Arthur and grabbed his phone.
"What?! Amy!" he exclaimed, but I ignored him and hanged up on Ludwig. Then I strolled over to Francis and pulled the room phone from his ear and slammed it on the receiver.
"Amy what are you-" I cut him off as I grabbed his phone and pressed the end call button.
"You know the best thing about phones is that you can disconnect whenever you want and turned them off whenever you want." I turned off their phones and placed them in a hallway table drawer. Then I disconnected the room phone line from the wall, "Ah, blissful silence."
Both Arthur and Francis sighed and sat themselves on the couch; with Matthew and Kumajirou between them. "Damn Russia," Arthur mumbled under his breath.
Francis leaned his head back and stared up to the ceiling, "In times like these, I wished I didn't quit smoking."
"You've been saying that for last ten years," Matthew proclaimed as he rose from his seat and walked over to the small kitchen area. He grabbed two mugs and poured coffee in one and tea in the other.
"Besides, smoking is a filthy habit," said Arthur.
Francis snorted, "You're one to talk."
"O-kay," Matthew exclaimed, trying to lighten the mood. "I got tea for you, with one lump of sugar." He hands the mug to Arthur, "And coffee for you, with cream, milk and two lumps of sugar." He hands the other mug to Francis.
"Thank you Matthew," Arthur said as he sipped his tea.
"What would we do without you," Francis smiled.
I took my seat on the armchair next to the couch and gave them a few seconds to collect themselves.
Arthur quickly noticed my leg shaking impatiently, "Oh yes, Amy what do we owe the pleasure of you being at our door at three in the morning," he said sarcastically.
I ignored his tone and proclaimed, "Melissa had her baby."
All three of their eyes widened but their mouths quickly curled into smiles. "Congratulations!" Matthew grinned as he sat down between Arthur and Francis.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Francis asked.
"Boy, his name is Raiden," I said.
"Raiden," Arthur repeated, "That's different."
"We need to get Melissa a gift," Francis said, "Do you think any stores are open around this time?"
"No," I said, my irritation was building. "Listen guys, I need to know what's going on. What are the nations going to do about this? Continue to run around and panic?"
Arthur sighed, "No, that's the thing Amy they're still arguing about it. Most of them are calling in an emergency meeting and I'm certain that it will take place in less than week."
"And what will this meeting be about?" I asked with a mean tone. "Which crimes they could frame my family with?" My voice was rising with rage I didn't even knew I had. "Or skip all that nonsense and kill them all, even an innocent baby!"
Francis's eyes widened in shock, "Amy, they would never do something like that."
"Really?! Arthur sent Joan to the stake without a second thought!"
Arthur grew pale, "That was long, long time ago things have changed."
"Yeah instead of being burned at the stake, they'll get a needle in their arms," I glared.
Matthew shook his head, "They still wouldn't do that, the meeting would most likely be about your family being a threat or-"
"They're not a threat!" I screamed.
"They could be!" Arthur exclaimed, "When a nation stays too long with a certain type of people, it could change their views."
"Like it did for Germany in the 1930's," Francis added.
My eyes widened, "My parents have raised me to value people for their hearts, not for their skin color or their religion or their sexual orientation!"
Arthur nodded, "that;s all well and good, but it's also your down fall. You side with your parents, what if they wanted to over throw the government?"
"They wouldn't!"
"But what if they did? Would you side with them? Throw your country into a civil war?"
My anger was rising, "But they wouldn't do that!"
"But that is what the nations will be thinking," Francis proclaimed.
"Then they're idiots!"
"No, they're cautious," Arthur said, "They have seen good nations fall to manipulative humans."
"You've seen my family! Do they look like they're trying to control me? Believe me, they barely mention politics around me and when they do, they always ask for my opinions, for my views!"
Arthur sighed, controlling his temper. "Do you really think this will last?"
"What do you mean?"
"He means you and your family." Francis said, "Amy how long do you think you have till people start to notice you don't age."
"I'm sure your parents, siblings and friends know and don't care, but what about your extended family? Neighbors? Classmates? The people of Summerland," Arthur said. "We've seen the photos hanging around the halls," he gestures to the door. "Pictures of you and Jessica volunteering as nurses for the sick and wounded; you and your friends taking summer jobs here. Hell, we checked the rec-center and found more pictures of you with members of the community."
I narrowed my eyes, "When the Quake hit, hundreds of people lost their homes. Most of us had to retreat to the rec-center. Where dozens of families had to live and sleep at, most had to camp outside. We helped each other plant food, cook, clean, and build new homes. All this lasted for six months; let's say it makes a town close."
"That's just it," Matthew added, "The townspeople know who you are, who your parents are, don't you think they'll question how you haven't aged in the next twenty, thirty years?"
"Then I'll move away, have my family and friends come visit me. It's not that big of a deal."
Arthur shook his head, "How long would that last? Fifty? Sixty years? Your friends were get married and have children. Your family will focus their attention on the new generation to come. They will grow old and one day they will die."
I was stunned, did he just go there. My anger boiled, "You think that hasn't crossed my mind," I hissed.
"Maybe, maybe not; but this could be just the push you need."
"What kind of push," I gritted my teeth as I dug my nails into the armchair.
"We could make a deal with the nations; you can leave Summerland and cut all communications with your family, friends and anyone else from this town. They will then have no complaints when we ask for them to leave your family and friends alone."
I rose from my seat, "Not going to happen. This is my life! They have no right to control it!"
"If it involves our secrets, yes they do," Arthur exclaimed as he rose to his feet.
"I don't give a flying fuck about your secrets!"
"They are your secrets too!"
"Enough," Francis stepped between us and turned to face me. "Amy, he's right your family won't last forever, at least with this deal, you and your family can leave on good terms."
I shook my head,"I'm done! Clearly you three won't help me," I turned to the door.
"Amy," Matthew's voice made my hand stop on the door knob, "we're not the enemies here. We're family."
I turned to them, "Then start acting like it." I slammed the door as I stomped out into the hall.
I arrived home around three-forty; I parked my jeep in front of the house and walked to the door. But my legs wouldn't operate and I ended sitting on the top step of the porch. I took in deep breaths as Arthur's words resounded in my head.
"We could make a deal with the nations; you can leave Summerland and cut all communications with your family, friends and anyone else from this town. They will then have no complaints when we ask for them to leave your family and friends alone."
"Never," I hissed.
Then Francis' voice followed:
"Amy, he's right your family won't last forever, at least with this deal, you and your family can leave on good terms."
"Good terms my ass," I said through gritted teeth.
Matthew's words came in last.
"We're not the enemies here. We're family."
I slammed my fist into the pole that held the porch roof up, "Family doesn't do shit like this."
"You better not break that, or we all will face your mother's wrath." I didn't flinch when I heard Dad speak. I turned to him as he sat himself next to me, "Melissa called me, said you had nation business. Is everything okay?"
I closed my eyes and felt frustrated tears threatening to fall. "Yeah, everything's cool."
His dark eyes analyzed me, his gaze burning a hole into my soul. He wore a white tank and pajama bottoms as his long hair fell around his shoulders in messy waves. He must have heard me pulling up; he was always a light sleeper. He could also read people and I was definitely an open book. His continuous gaze made my muscles twitch and I couldn't make eye contact with him. He sighed as he placed his hand on my head and gently pulled me to his shoulder.
"Tell me all about it," he whispered.
My tears fell as I told the events of Ivan sending out my files to the other nations. How Arthur and Francis believed it was best that I leave and cut ties with everyone I love. Then I quickly recapped the story about Joan knowing too much, and how our family might suffer the same fate. "For being arrested for crimes they didn't comment, not being killed," I took in a deep breath, "But I wouldn't put it pass them," my tears wouldn't stop as the images of my nightmare came into full view. "The nations are demanding answers, and I-" I sobbed, "I don't know what to do."
Dad soothed me with comforting words as his hand brushed through my hair. I wrapped my arms around his mid-section as he held me close to his chest. He continued to hold me, even when I stopped crying and fell asleep in his arms.
I woke up in the living room, with the sun blazing from the windows. I was on the couch with a blanket spread over me. I yawned and rose to sit up, finding a note on the coffee table next to a cherry danish and a glass of milk. The danish was cold and the milk was warm, but I still ate them as I read the note.
Amy,
Your cousins had to catch a morning flight back to Texas, along with Alex and Emily. My parents also have a plane taking off in the afternoon. Johnny and Celine have left for their hotel in San Francisco, and Sanjay and the kids are with Melissa and Raiden.
We'll be back around seven, there's leftovers in the fridge and if you go out send me a message.
Love Mom.
I placed the note back on the table and turned on the Saturday news. A woman was displayed as a banner was broadcasting below her. It said: Child Abductions Escalated.
"Child abductions have increased over forty percent in the last two months," the woman said. "Inspectors believe that these abductions first began in Africa and Southern India, and it quickly spread throughout Asia, into Russia, then to the Middle East, and into Europe. International investigators believe these children are part of a human trafficking-"
I turned off the TV, "Man that's depressing. Now that is what the nations should be dealing with, children that are being taken and sold as sex slaves. Not harassing my family, who are good, hard-working people, I might add." My voice was rising and before I knew it, I was on my feet and yelling at the ceiling. "They taught me to be a good person, to not discriminate against others and now they're being punished! God! Stupid nations, ya'll can go fuck yourselves in hell!"
I panted and fell back into the couch, "What will yelling at sky do Amy? Nothing. Nothing at all."
After I took a shower and changed into a pair of jeans and a graphic t-shirt. I spent the morning and afternoon watching TV in my room. I was hoping that the kids left it dirty so I could distract myself with cleaning, but my room was spotless. After five re-runs of Law and Order SVU, I curled into myself and fell asleep with Lady by my side.
My door slammed open and I jumped to my feet as Russia practically strolled in.
"What the hell?! Get out of my house!" I screamed but he ignored me as he wrapped his hand around my arm and started to yank me out of my room. "Let me go!"
Lady rose up and attacked him with fur flying and teeth flashing. Lady bit into his forearm, blood was dripping from his arm but he showed no pain. He simply ripped Lady off his arm and her head made full contact to the wall. She fell to the floor and stopped moving, "Lady!" I cried.
I glared at Russia, "Let. Me. Go!" I kicked and punched, but he paid no mind and pulled harder.
At the bottom of the stairs, Mom and Dad were being tied to chairs in the living room by Lithuania, Latvia and two other men I barely met at Austria's party. One of the men had green eyes and jaw length blood hair. The other man had dark blond, bowl cut hair and square glasses. They all wore dark clothing and their faces were expressionless. Mom looked up, "Amy, what's happening?!"
"Are you all idiots?!" Russia shouted, "Gag them!"
The nations flinched and Lithuania's hands trembled as he tore at the gray duck tape.
"Toris!" I cried, "What's going on?!"
But he wouldn't look me in the eye. He walked towards my parents with the tape ready, but Russia stopped him, "Never mind, I want her to hear them."
I threw another punch, but he caught it and twisted my arm in a painful hold. I gritted my teeth so I wouldn't give him the pleasure of hearing me cry. He pushed me through the front door as my parents called out for me. I was about to scream a new range of curse words at Russia till I caught the scent of gasoline.
Oh God, no!
"What the fuck did you do?!" I screamed and kicked, but my attacks showed no effect. Once we were on the front yard, Russia turned around and forced me to my knees, so the house would be in full view.
"Did you set it," he turned to the man with glasses.
"Yes sir," he glared at him but did nothing.
Russia pulled out a pack of matches from his pocket, "Who would like to do the honors?" He turned to Latvia, "Raivis?" Latvia flinched and began to tremble. Russia smiled and turned to man with green eyes; "Feliks?" the man glared and looked away. "Oh wait, I know," Russia grinned like a child on Christmas morning. "Toris," he tossed the matches at him, but Toris didn't catch them. Instead, they hit him in the chest and fell to the ground at his feet.
He shook his head slightly and took a step back.
"Pick. It. Up." Russia ordered.
Toris wound his hands into fists and slowly, he crouched down and grabbed the box.
"No!" I wailed, "Please, Toris don't do it!"
His eyes found mine and for a split second he was considering it. Till he found Russia glaring at him, fear won over in the end and he pulled out a single match.
"Stop!" I begged.
He closed his eyes tight, lit the match and threw it behind him. The house caught like a torch as flames engulfed the bottom floor and quickly spread to the second. The cries of my parents resounded as the fire burned and sparked out from the windows.
I screamed as I rose off the bed. Lady was ready and alert, her brown eyes set on me. I panted for breath and wiped off the sweat from my forehead. I quickly found that tears were running down my face.
God. I am really sick of crying.
Lady whined and placed her head in my lap. I sighed and petted her head, "I'm okay girl; I'm okay." The TV was still on and I checked the clock, it read two-fifteen a.m. I sighed, annoyed and placed my head back to the pillow, but I couldn't go back to sleep. I turned off the TV and grabbed my riding boots, I needed some fresh air. I tip-toed down the stairs and checked my parent's room. Dad was out, most likely thinking the TV was still on, and Mom was snoring. She was out cold.
I sneaked out the back and slipped on my boots. Lady barked and I hushed her, "stay," I whispered. She whined but obeyed.
I sprinted to Midnight's stable and saddled him up. He was always game for a late ride. I pulled his reins so he would follow me out of the gated field. I swung myself over his saddle, gave a light kick and he leaped into the forest.
I rode in circles, allowing my vision to grow stronger in the dark and the cool night air to seep into my skin. When Midnight showed signs of ware, I guided him to our secret spot so he could rest and I could think.
Once we were at the cliff, I jumped down and Midnight took his chance to rest and graze. I walked out to the edge and looked up to the stars completely covering the dark skies.
"A beautiful night is it not," a strangely familiar voice spoke from behind.
I turned to find the same native man I met last month. He still wore khakis and a dress shirt, with the same eagle feathered head dress. He even had his campfire burning in full blaze.
I was too frustrated to be frighten, "Oh great you're here. Come to give me another message."
He stayed quiet and stared into his fire. Which only pissed me off even more, "If you're trying be a wannabe Yoda, lying down some mystical wisdom on me. Well guess what?! I'm not in the mood for your vague advice crap! So you should just pack up your magic campfire and hit the road!"
"Are you done?" he asked.
"No! I'm not done! And frankly I'll never be done! Once I think everything's okay and my feet have finally found a solid surface to stand on, some person or event decides to fuck that over and leave me without a paddle! My family is in danger, my friends are in danger! The nations are coming and I have no fucking idea what to do!" I panted for breath as my rant came to an end.
He looked up, his dark eyes found my blue. "What do you want to do?"
"Have you been listening?! I don't know." I paused, "Maybe, just-just make it all stop! It's happening too fast."
"That can't happen, what is happening now is all up to you."
"What the hell does that mean?!"
"It means, you have a choice, you always have a choice," his voice rose in harshness.
I sighed, my temper cooling, "Well I don't see it."
He shook his head, "You really are a stubborn one, just like your father."
I froze, "You knew Alfred?" Then gritted my teeth in annoyance, "Why should I be surprised, everyone else knew him."
"Yes, but 'knew' wouldn't be the word I'll use, he's still alive but just as a spirit through."
"He's alive, but a spirit. Doesn't that mean you're dead."
"The afterlife is a strange thing," he gave me a sad smile. "But the main reason why I'm here is to help you. Your father has asked me to lend you my assistance."
"If he's alive, why can't he help me? Why doesn't he visit?"
"He can't. There are laws he must follow."
"What kind of laws?" I demanded.
"A successor cannot meet with their predecessor," he answered.
"That's stupid," I deadpanned.
"That is their laws. I am simply a human spirit; I can't really change anything."
"Then you're not much help, are ya."
He raised his brows, "Well, first off I can answer any questions you may have."
"Okay," I nodded, "can I send a message?"
He blinked, "uh-well-"
"Here's my message," I snapped. "Tell Alfred to get his ass down here and fix all this!"
"That is not how this works," he stated.
I shook my head, "then we're done here," I turned away, heading straight for Midnight.
He continued, "I can tell you who your birth mother is."
I stopped as long awaited questions began to resurface. Don't get me wrong. I've had the pair of the most wonderful parents that anyone would be lucky enough to have, but there was always a sliver of curiously to who my birth parents were.
I've found my birth father. I got his hair, his eyes, his coloring but what about my birth mom? Do I have her nose? Her lips? Do act like her? Is she a dancer like me?
Even new questions formed as I began to know Alfred.
Can nations have children? If so, can they only have babies with other nations? Can they have babies with humans? Was my mother a human or nation? What about that girl Alfred wanted to marry, was she my mother? And what was this whole successor and predecessor thing?
I turned and walked back to the old man. I sat on his right, both of us were around the campfire. I took in a breath, "who is she?"
He smiled and pointed over my head, "there she is."
I followed his finger to a star in the far right corner in the sky, it was small compared to the others and I had to squint to see it. "A star?" I questioned.
I turned to him and repeated to make sure I had it right. "My birth mom is a star?"
"The star is your mother and the sky is your father."
"Back up, Alfred is not my dad?!"
"He gave birth to you as a nation but-"
"He gave birth to me?! Like an actually Virgin Mary sort of thing? But where the hell would I pop out of- never mind, I don't want to know."
"No, not like that." He sighed, "Let me show you." He waved his hand over the fire and the flames burst up towards the sky.
I crawled away, but the old man gestured me to stay. The flames swirled formed into a spiral; making colors in its flames to reveal a picture of the dark emptiness of space.
"When a star is born," the old man begins, "the particles and elements from the universe combine with a sudden burst." A bright light explodes and I shield my eyes. When the light dims, I looked up to find the star has settled, "The same particles and elements that made that star are also used to give you life." From that bright star, a small bright golden orb of light drips out and floats about.
"Is-is that me?" I asked.
"Yes," he nodded, "this was your birth some five hundred thousand years ago."
My eyes widened, "I'm how old?"
"Five hundred thousand, six hundred and twenty-seven years, that also includes your Earth years."
"Why don't I remember any of this?"
"To be bounded to the Earth, you lost all memories of your spirit life and begin anew. That is the deal you made when you become a nation."
Then the golden spirit orb (hash-tag: me) dives into Earth. "Why would I leave the Spirit World?" I asked.
The old man shrugged, "curiosity, compassion, I don't know for certain. But you are about to see your birth as a nation." Then he waved his hands over the flame and vision changed to Alfred clutching his sides as he coughed out blood.
My jaw dropped, "is this-"
"The day of Alfred's death, yes," he answered.
The image displayed Alfred on his knees, muttered under his breath, "no, not like this. I can't leave everyone like this." He hissed out as another wave of pain crashed through his insides.
"What's happening to him?" I asked.
"The people's cries and agony have reached him, and it's tearing him apart." He waved his hand over the flames again and this time it displayed me as a golden orb falling into Earth. The atmosphere tried to block me but I pushed through, taking the heat that came with it.
"At first you felt nothing but the warm sensation of the flames. Before long they grew too hot and burned you," the image showed the golden orb being engulfed in fire. The orb screamed. It sounded like angels roaring out a battle cry. "The fire became your heart." The old man said.
"Then once you hit the ocean, you were thankful for the refreshing cool of water to nurse your wounds. The water pulsed and seeped into your soul, sinking you to its depths. You found that you could not breathe," the images in the fire followed his narrating. "The water was filling your lungs and the pressure was crushing you. Once you believed it was the end, the ocean shot you up into the air. You were thankful for the life giving air, your lungs were cleared and you could breathe again. But you could no longer fly, and you fell towards Earth, sped pass clouds and birds and slammed into the dirt. By some miracle, you're alive but the Earth gripped its hold on you and pulled you into its dark embrace."
Then the pitch black vision in the fire exploded in a white blaze. A baby's cry echoed and I tensed as the vision went back to Alfred on the floor of his apartment, with my infant-self beside him.
I was still crying and Alfred was blinking several times, making sure that his eye sight wasn't playing tricks on him.
"At first he had no idea who you were," the old man continued to narrate. "He thought for a moment that you were nothing more than a delusion but deep down he knew you were his successor. He knew he had to leave, just as his mother did before him, but he didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave you. But if he forced himself to stay, he knew that would mean death for you."
"I would've died?"
"No, that's what Alfred thought, you would have simply returned to the Spirit World. You see that strong golden light around you; you were not completely a nation and could be sent back home with no harm done. But Alfred didn't know that, so he was left with a choice, stay and watch you disappear or go and let you live."
We watched as Alfred lifted himself up and with his remaining strength, nestled me into his arms. He slowly wrapped me in a quilt from his bed and soothed me with a lullaby. Even with pale white skin and blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, he was able to look gentle and fatherly. He closed his eyes and muttered a curse, he rose to his feet and limped to his desk and sat himself in his chair. With one arm he began to write on a single piece of paper.
"What's he doing?" I asked.
"I believe he's leaving a will," the old man answered.
Alfred finished, folded it and labeled it with a name I couldn't read. "Can't you zoom in?"
"This not a TV," he said.
Alfred then coughed out more blood into his spare hand and I awoke in a crying fit. He wiped the blood from his mouth and cleaned off his hand on his pants. "Hey kiddo, it's okay," he began to rock me back and forth. "Everything's going to be okay," tears were falling from his lashes as he lifted my head up to face him. "You're going to have a long road ahead of you," he sucked in a shaky breath, "I'm sorry I won't be there for you. Heh, look at me, here I am always saying I wanted to be a dad and now here's my chance," he paused as his blue eyes blurred with more tears. "And I'm already screwing it up."
My baby self finally stops crying and my small hand reached out for his face. My palm softly touches his cheek and he smiled, "yeah I know, you're mad. But don't worry, if I'm going to do one thing as your father, it sure as hell will be the right thing." He kissed my forehead and muttered, "I give my title as America to you."
The vision disappears in another ray of light and the fire dies down, back as a small campfire.
"What happened?!" I exclaimed.
"You already know, Alfred took you to John Senior Hawkfeather for his family to raise you."
"Yeah, but why did the fire vision stop?"
He shrugged, "I got tired. That kind of magick uses a lot of energy."
I was annoyed that he cut off from the best part, but I let it go. "So I get how the Earth is my mother as a nation, but how is Alfred my father?"
"He gave you permission to take America, in some ways he gave you life. The Earth only provided a body, it was Alfred's choice if he wanted you to stay or go."
"Where is Alfred now?"
"In the Spirit World, when he died as a nation, all his memories of his spirit life came back to him and he was also able to gain back all of the knowledge and powers he lost."
"Okay," I brushed my hands though my hair, "so he-he," I tried to get my thoughts together. "He thought he was gonna die but he didn't. He just returned to the Spirit World but spirits that become nations don't even remember that they were spirits to begin with but they get it all back when they return?"
"Yes," he nodded.
I closed my eyes and a moment I had nothing to say but, "what?!"
"It is a lot to take in, yes."
I rubbed my eyes, "ok, so if I die, all this so called knowledge and power will come back to me?"
"Yes. If you return but also when a living spirit is born or when a human dies, the universe's knowledge is open to them and they can truly see that there is a higher power to it all."
"You mean," I glanced to the sky, "the big man upstairs."
He laughed, "No, but the force that drives the universe and all the worlds involved connect us all in the big scheme of things. This force might be what humans call God, but it is only the force of energy that comes from us."
"It kinda sounds like Star Wars."
"It's more like the circle of life, it cannot live without us and we cannot live without it."
"So there's no heaven or hell?"
"In some ways yes, you see when a human was indifferent in their lifetime here on Earth, they lose their human shape and take the form as an animal. They are then assigned a human to guide and protect."
"Spirit animals were once bad people?"
He nodded, "They also lose their memories of their human lives, only using their true nature to guide them. When their human succeeded in having a long, happy life; they would be given the chance to return to Earth and start with a clean slate. Hopefully they give out better karma in their new life."
"That doesn't seem so hard," I proclaimed.
"Oh but it is, some spirit animals have to help their person for a hundred lifetimes before they could get their chance back on Earth."
I rubbed my temples, "This is confusing and a lot to process."
"That's why your memories of your spirit life were taken away, to hold that type of knowledge in your state now would lead to insanity."
I nodded, "And yet you're still telling me all this. Shows how much you care, huh?" I said sarcastically.
He was about to say something else but quickly noticed his hand flickering and losing shape. "My time is up, I must go."
"Hold on, I didn't even get an answer to my most important question!"
"If it was that important, why didn't you ask it first?"
Before I could respond with a snappy comment, the old man slammed his fist on top of the fire and the flames cloaked him in it's embrace. I screamed and scrambled to my feet, backing away from the heat.
"Find the eagle," were his last words as he disappeared in fire; leaving nothing behind but a burnt out campfire.