Chapter 20

Chapter 20: The way it’s going to be

 

 

 

When I got to James house I parked my bike in full view, so that he would know that I was there.  I opened the door and sat at the kitchen table and waited.  I knew that the house was being watched and that he would be home within twenty to thirty minutes.  I heard his truck slide to a stop in the driveway, the truck door slamming shut a few seconds later.  The front door flew open and James looked at me with relief, anger, frustration, agony and joy all at once.

“Where have you been!” he demanded “I’ve been worried sick, no one was able to find you, it was like you fell off the face of the planet, do you know what you put me through, what you put Alex through and Lizzy” he bellowed at me. 

“I’ll drop off the face of the planet again if you don’t calm down.” I retorted and took a deep breath.

“I missed you too.” I said gently.  He sat down at the table gruffly glowering at me.

“Now that I have thought things through, this is how it’s going to be.” I said in a confident tone.  “I want to know everything, and I mean everything.  I overheard Will, Lizzy and Alex arguing so I’ve managed to piece a few things together but when it comes to my father and his goon’s getting as close as they have, YOU had better tell me.  I’m not a child and I won’t be treated as one.  As for what Alex and Lizzy have gone through, well their old enough to realize that someone like me needs some space to figure things out.  As for what I put you through, I’m sorry but I was in no state at the time to be around you or them for that matter I could have hurt you quite easily and it was in the best interests of everyone for me to remove myself to protect you the ones I love so dearly.” I stated in a tone that exuded authority.  James sat quietly for a moment as he took in what I had to say.  I knew that he was processing a lot of information and trying to decide what he was going to do about it.

Finally he said “where did the bike come from?”

 I laughed “I always have contingency plans set up in case of an emergency James.  I’ve been on the run a lot.  It’s in my best interest to be able to escape quickly without you or anyone else for that matter to be able to follow, although Alex sure gave me a run for my money.  It’s only when I stop moving that I have to worry or when I take money out of the bank or make a phone call.  That’s when someone could trace my movements if you knew what names I went by.  There are a few that you know but many more that you don’t.  I have enough money on me to disappear for a couple of months before I would need to get more cash and by then I would have established a new identity.” I said matter of factly.

He whistled. 

“Then why did you come back?” he asked confused but relieved.

“Because I love you and Alex and Lizzy, I won’t be separated from any of you, I’m ready to fight for that.  I don’t know if any of you will forgive me for leaving but I had good reason and you know it.  I don’t like being lied to and ALL of you have done that.  Now I understand why you said what you said the day of the Christmas party.  One perfect memory can make all the difference in the world.  That memory helped me to decide what I wanted, what I knew had to be. I will not fight for my freedom, I am willing to die for it.” I stated.

“Well I guess you’ve made up your mind.” James looked at me with wise eyes.

“The question is, are you going to support my decision and keep me in the loop or should I pack my bags and destroy all traces of my existence here?” I asked.

“I will support your decision, I don’t think I could handle not knowing where you are or if your safe.” he said quietly.

I smiled warmly “Thank you but what about Alex and Lizzy, were do they stand?”

“Alex has been an absolute mess.  George called me as soon as you pulled in, I told him not to tell the twins or the others until we could talk.” he said.

“Can he hear me?” I asked.

“Yes, they have very good hearing” he laughed dryly.

I relaxed and reached out with my mind.  I hadn’t tried to find anyone before but I could sort of feel that George was sitting in a tall pine tree almost completely hidden from view, I smiled.  My second sight and mental capabilities were working together in an interesting fashion.  I would have to experiment with it more later. I turned and looked directly at the tree he was in.

             “George would you please come in to the house, hiding in the tree won’t solve the issues at hand and I would rather speak to you openly” I said.

James looked at me with an awed expression.  A few seconds later George was at the kitchen table.

“How did you do that?” he demanded.

I just smiled. 

He waited.

I sighed. “I can do more than any of you realize.  I’m just starting to figure out how to manipulate both my abilities at the same time.  And I have a feeling that if I wanted you to do something I could make you, but I can’t seem to figure out how to do that yet.  That may be the part that I get when I turn eighteen but I’m not sure.  This gift is more complex than I can discuss right now.”

“I see.  Do you want me to inform the twins and the other’s that your back?” he asked.

“How long before the shift change” I asked.

“A couple of hours” he replied.

“Ok, then they can wait.  I need to get some answers from you first and I want honesty please” I said almost glaring at him.

“Ok” he said flatly.

“You’re a vampire correct?”

“Yes”

“And Stephan, Max and Katie are also full vampires correct?”

“Yes”

“The others are half vampire and half human?”

“Right”

I contemplated for a few moments and I nodded to myself.  The truth was on the table and that’s all that mattered.

“What is Max’s and Katie’s position on all of this?” I asked.

“They want you to be free but all the research that we’ve done in regards to one like you states that a claim must be made by someone.  For good or bad you will be claimed and when that claim happens there is nothing any of us can do” he said sadly.

“I see. What of Alex and Lizzy then?” I looked at him with piercing eyes.

“They love you.  We all do.  They are willing to do whatever it takes to make you safe” he replied.

“Even make the claim?” I asked.

“That I don’t know.  Lizzy would if she had to but I don’t think Alex would let her.  He loves his sister but he wants you to be free to make your own decisions.  He doesn’t want you to be controlled by himself or his sister” he looked down at his hands with a sad look on his face, he almost looked anguished.

I looked at George and James thoughtfully.  “How close is he to finding me?” I kept my expression blank not wanting my fear to show.

“They got into town about seven or eight days ago we managed to lure them away but I’m sure they’ll be back, it’s only a matter of time.” George said slowly.

“Okay.  It’s what May fifth right?  That means there’s only a few weeks of school left.  Is it safe to finish off the school year?” I asked a plan forming in my head James and George both saw that I was up to something.

“It should be safe. Why?” asked James eyeing me with concern.

“If they haven’t found me by the end of the school year, then I think we should let them know where I am.” I replied looking from James to George.  James looked furiously at me and George looked at me with disbelief.

“Are you out of your mind?  Anna we’re trying to protect you from them not give you to them.”  James bellowed.

“Anna be reasonable, if they find you they’ll do everything to take you away.” George looked grave as he spoke.  I could see that they were both concerned for me but I needed them to hear me, to listen to me just for a few seconds.

“Here me out, if they haven’t figured out where I am by the end of June then we leave hints as to where I am.  That way we can get them to do and go where we want them too.  We could ambush them.”

“She’s crazy” George said. “But she does have a point, why hide when you can draw them out”

“We need to think about this, it has to be a group decision.  Alex will flip when he hears this.  You have no idea what he’s been like since you took off.” George said shaking his head.

“What has he done exactly?” I looked at George concerned.

“I shouldn’t say, he’ll be pissed, he’s been miserable to everyone, and he tried to follow you but the rain washed out your scent.  None of us could follow you.  He’s been pacing for a week and getting moodier all the time.  He’s going to blast you when he sees you, ya know.” he shook his head.  “If you think his reaction at the Halloween party was bad....”

“You’re editing, I can tell but I also understand.  Thank you for telling me what you could.  What about Lizzy how angry is she?” I asked.

“She is more angry with herself.  She, Will and Alex messed up big discussing you at school.  She feels very guilty about that, that she forced you to leave.  None of them have spoken to each other since that afternoon.” he said matter a factly.

“I see” I looked at my hands deciding what to do next. 

“Call Lizzy, tell her to come over.  Don’t say that I’m back.  Tell her whatever you want.  I need to deal with them one at a time.” I said.

            Lizzy arrived about half an hour later.  When she came in the door she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me.  Her mouth fell open as she looked at the three of us seated at the table.  It felt like an eternity since I had seen her.  There was nothing but relief washing over me as she stared into my eyes.

“Hello, Lizzy” I said as I stood up from the table and walked slowly to her.  She just stared at me on the verge of tears, not something easy to do, to a half immortal being. 

“I’m ok Lizzy.  I just needed time to process everything.  I understand that you were trying to protect me and that you were worried about me.  I think of you as my sister as well and yes I love you like a sister too.  Please don’t beat yourself up about me leaving.  It’s what I’m used to doing.  When I get scared I run, that’s my nature but once I’ve made a decision I face things head on.  Please don’t be angry.  I’m sorry I worried you” I put my arms around the beautiful girl and hugged her lightly.  She hugged me fiercely back. 

“Don’t you ever leave me like that again you silly insolent brat.” she cried. 

“Well I’m glad to see you too.” I chuckled.

She looked at me and then to George and James. “Does he know she’s back yet” she asked with fear in her voice.

“No” I replied.

“He’ll never forgive us for keeping this from him.  He’s been insane with worry. We have to tell him.” she pleaded.

“George would you ask him to go to the clearing, don’t tell him why just tell him to meet you there.  I’ll deal with that meeting in private if you don’t mind.” I looked at all of them with a hard expression on my face.                                                                           

“Are you sure you want to do that one alone.  He’s a lot stronger than you think Anna.” George said.

“I can handle it, besides I guess I can’t deny my feelings anymore.  He needs to know how I feel, just as I need to know how he feels.  It’s not the same hearing it second hand.” I looked meaningfully at Lizzy and George. 

“Lizzy I have one question, well several really but only one I want you to answer right now.” I said.

“Shoot” she replied.

“You and your brother communicate directly don’t you, it’s a two way thing isn’t it?” she looked surprised when I said this.

“How did you know that, most people don’t pick up on that at all” she was taken aback.

I smiled “you said something once and I happened to remember it while I was away deliberating what I was going to do.  Oh are you really 125 years old?”  She nodded sheepishly.

“Damn you look good, I’m so jealous.” I teased.  She giggled happily.  It looked like things were good between me and Lizzy.  Now it was time to fix things between me and Alex.

“George can you get him there in an hour it’ll take me that long to get there.” I asked.

“I can get you there in less than 10 minutes if I run you there and I could get him there in half an hour so you have time to figure out what you’re going to say” George replied.

I nodded. “Let’s get this over with.  I want things fixed.” I smiled.

 

 

To Be Continued June 5th