The Sacrifice (The Alexandra Denton Chronicles Book 4) (8 page)

              Cleo stared at me as if I were about to explode but she knew better than to say anything.  She didn’t want my wrath to turn to her.  The expression on her face made me calm and instead, I swallowed over my anger.  My father tensed as he glanced at me with his eyes wide in worry. 

              “It’s because of mom, right?” I asked frowning as my nostrils flared.  Felicia hated my mother.  I was never sure if it was because of jealousy or just plain snobbishness.  Still, she went out of the way to make my mother seem bad.    

              “Alex, they’ll be safe,” he said even though I could see the doubt plain in his eyes.  I raised my eyebrows but he ignored the expression and began to pace.  He stopped in the middle of the floor clearly wanting to say something but was unable to.  Matt stepped forward and took my hand. 

              “Dad really did do everything that he could,” he said, frowning.  He shrugged, “He did make sure they were safe.  I promise.”

              I nodded my head but my anger was still hot in my veins as I narrowed my eyes and faced my father, “If anything happens to them, I’m going to blame her,” I said, frowning,

              My dad pressed his lips together and nodded once, “I will too,” he said with a sigh. 

              “Me too,” Matt whispered and then, got up and stared out of the big picture window. 

              Silence stretched thick until Matt pointed outside while pointing his chin in the direction of the driveway, “Daniel is back with his cousin, Cally.”

              “How is she?” I asked, frowning as I stepped forward.  I had a vague memory of Daniel telling me that she was only thirteen.  It would be hard on her to accept but not impossible.  After all, I had been far younger.  So had Daniel. 

              Matt winced, “She’s been crying.” 

              My heart sank as Daniel’s voice coaxing the girl inside reached my ears.  The door opened a moment later and she stepped inside followed by him.  Immediately, he found me and gave me a strained sympathetic smile. 

              “Ky is right behind me with his sister,” he said, shifting. 

              I nodded as Daniel quickly left the room.  My heart clenched because I realized he did that for me.  He didn’t want to cause me anymore trouble. 

              Ky stepped into the room moments later, avoiding my gaze.  Aubrey followed behind him.  She glanced at me with tear stained eyes. 

              “First, I find out that you and Ky aren’t together and now this,” She said, trembling uncontrollably.  She sniffled and then, glanced around the room with red puffy eyes.

              “I’m so sorry, Aubrey,” I said and then, sighed, “It’s been hard for all of us.”

              She nodded as she sat beside me and laid her head on my shoulder, “It’s okay,” she said, sniffling, “It’s just so much.”

              I nodded, “It is,” I said as the heaviness in my heart became even more weighted, “It always is.”

              Aubrey lifted her head and gazed into my eyes, “How do we live like this?” She asked. 

              I blinked in shock because I had never really thought about it.  Finally, I shrugged and gave her the best answer I could, “We just do.”

**********

              It took a while before Clyde and Will came in followed by Clyde’s sister, Espy and Will’s nephew, Terrin.  Espy was only ten with brown hair and freckles.  Terrin was a boy of eleven with light brown hair and hazel eyes.  Both were terrified.  Both glanced around the room as if afraid that they would be attacked at any moment.  My heart sank as guilt flooded me.  I didn’t want to frighten them.  I wanted to keep them safe. 

              Cleo had gone to the other room to rest after Jonathon told her what the shaking of the earth had meant but she had finally returned well rested but worried.  Her eyes were wide as she realized that the room was steadily filling with both the Appointed and the descendants.

“Who else is left?”  She asked, glancing around the room again.

              “There are quite a few,” I said with a sigh, “Of course you know my sisters will not be with us.”

              She pressed her lips together as if she wanted to protest but must have seen the expression on my face and just shook her head.  A moment later, Lynne entered holding Caleb close to her chest.  Bastian stepped in next, followed by Brady who glanced around the room finding me.  He was an African American eighteen year old with black hair and warm brown eyes.  I smiled at him affectionately as he made his way to me because he was also my friend.

              “I guess those nosebleeds were from something else,” he said, raising his brows.

              “I’m sorry about that,” I said with a sigh, “I would have told you if I was able to.”

              “It’s okay,” Brady said patting my shoulder, “I know now and I don’t want to.” 

              I nodded once, “I understand that,” I said and then glanced around the room.

              “Is there anything I can do to help?” He asked, frowning.

              “Just help keep an eye on the children,” I said, “We can’t lose track of them.  It would be bad.”

              He nodded, “I can do that,” he said and then, walked away. 

              I glanced around the room again finally realizing who was absent, “Where is Gloria and Drake?” I asked, frowning.

              “They are right behind us,” Lynne said, glancing around and wincing as her eyes landed on Ky.  She gave me a sympathetic smile before hugging me and sitting in an empty chair.  Ky was her cousin and I was her best friend.  I’m sure our break-up was awkward for her.

              The door opened and Gloria entered with Drake on her heels.  Drake’s cousin, Marrick followed.  I gave the boy who was only thirteen a small smile.  His beautiful mocha skin had darkened with fear as he glanced around the room.  Still, his chin was raised and he refused to cry.  The boy moved to the back of the room silently.  Drake glanced at him worried. 

The door opened again and Leighton came in followed by his cousin, Libby.  Sarah was behind him holding the hand of her four year old niece, Nikki.  Just behind Sarah, Jenna walked in cradling her cousin, Leslie, who was only two. 

              Finally, my cousins, Darren, Blake and Evan walked in followed by my brothers.  Kelly walked into the room and glanced at the boys before giving them a weak smile. 

              “Who’s left?” Daniel asked, walking into the room.

              “Only Everly,” I whispered, “She should call any minute but she’s always late.”

              “I guess it’s going to be hard for you to tell her,” Daniel said, frowning concerned.

              I winced, “Yes, because now I have to tell her that we were destined to meet.  It wasn’t an accident and our friendship was just a bonus.”

              Daniel winced, “That will be hard.”

              I nodded as I glanced at my phone again.  She hadn’t called yet but when she did I would discover whether she was the type to put faith in things that a lot of people believed were myths.  I gave a short bitter laugh.  Even if she believed only a little, I was going to make her a total believer by the end of the day.  Hopefully, she wouldn’t need another vacation at Running Rivers Mental Facility when I was done.

              Everly finally called from the square in town.  Waiting for her had been a torture in itself as every possible reaction she could have floated through my mind.  The drive to meet her was worse torture because it meant that I would find out if any of the reactions were true and I would find out soon.  Worse, I had a very bad temptation to force a vision to see what would happen.  I refused to do that.  It would either make me chicken out or calm.  Since it was a fifty-fifty shot it wasn’t worth the chance that I would chicken out because the end result was the same.  I’d still have to tell her.  So, instead of giving into the temptation, I listened to World Famous Johnsons Dig you up as I drove toward her and calmed myself as much as I could.

I met her allowing her to follow me back to my house.  As we walked into the living room, she glanced around confused.  Aubrey who had met her during her last visit smiled and waved at her and she gave a half-hearted wave back but it was the rest of the people who filled the house that confused her.  

              “Are you having a party?” She asked, frowning as she glanced around again and then, turned to me. 

              I shook my head, “No,” I said, biting my lip, “Actually, we need to talk about why all of these people are here.  It concerns you.”

              Everly opened her mouth to ask the million questions on her mind but I glanced at Raina, stopping her before she could, “Will you come with us?” I asked and then, shrugged, “After all, she is your replacement if something bad happens to you.”

              “What?” Everly asked, even more confused than before. 

              Lynne glanced up from her spot on the couch and then, gazed outside.  Her eyes widened, “Alex, you’re going to have to tell her quick.  That cloud is coming our way.  We have to get out of here.”

              “Tell Daniel to start transporting everyone,” I said and then, grabbed Everly’s forearm and pulled her with me to the deck.  Her face was clouded in sudden worry as her heavily lined dark eyes stared into mine.  I glanced up seeing the cloud and then, moved my gaze to Raina who nodded.  I turned back to Everly and sighed. 

              “Everly, I’m sorry.  I would do this a different way but I don’t have time,” I said raising my hand so that I could control the direction of the memory.  Her lips formed an o and she looked slightly amused before I blew out the memories.  Everly’s eyes widened as the amusement faded and she backed away as she saw the swirling white mist. 

              “Alex, what the hell is that?” She asked as her dark eyes widened.  The wind whipped around her as the black cloud moved even closer, causing her black hair to move back from her face.  The memories hit her and she gasped taking them into her mouth and nostrils.  Her eyes began to glow as they entered her mind.  Minutes passed but she was able to see my whole history.  Then, the light began to fade and she stared at me in shock. 

              “You’re in danger,” I said stating the obvious as I glanced up into her face before gazing into the sky and pointing at the dark, ominous cloud moving toward us, “That black cloud is holding fallen angels called legion.  They are coming for us but they’re coming for you and those other people that you saw in my house first.  We have to get out of here.”

              “H-How?” She asked, frowning.

              Daniel walked out onto the deck, “You three are the only ones left,”  He said, stepping beside me.

              I nodded as I grabbed Everly’s hand, “Can you transport three?”

              “I’ve done it before,” he said, nodding as he grabbed my other hand.  The wind picked up around us but this time it was because of Daniel’s gift.  A moment later we were in Drake and Gloria’s living room and Everly fell to her knees in shock. 

**********

              “T-That did not happen,” Everly said, cringing away from me, Daniel and Raina. 

              “Yes, it did,” I said, gently refusing to let her sink into a lie, “Everly, you witnessed it.  You weren’t hallucinating.  You really did see everything.”

              “I’m going crazy then,” she said as her eyes filled with tears and her breathing quickened. 

              “No, you aren’t,” I said, making sure to keep my gaze on her face, “This is happening…Really it is.”

              She stared at me for a few moments and then, took a deep breath, “So, you didn’t try to kill yourself?” She asked, trembling as she crossed her arms over her chest and began to rock back and forth.

              “No, a demon named Jezebel made everyone think I did,” I said, calmly. 

              “And we met there because I’m supposed to be next in line to receive a gift?” She asked and then, glanced at Raina, “But I only get it if you die?”

              “That sums it up,” Raina said, shrugging, “Though I really must say that I don’t want to die.”

              “Wouldn’t you rather stay away from me?” Everly asked, glancing from me to Raina as she stopped rocking, “Doesn’t it make you more in danger of dying if I’m near you?” 

              Raina grinned, “Regardless of where you are, you would get the gift,” she said, “Besides, most people don’t want it.  It comes with too much responsibility and your life is threatened constantly.  It’s usually not worth the perk.  You know the saying, ignorance is bliss.  I wish I was ignorant sometimes.”

              Everly frowned, “The fact that I don’t have a gift doesn’t matter when it comes to me or the rest like me,” She said and then, laughed scornfully, “The demons are coming for me anyway and I can’t protect myself.”

              “Well, it’s not like I chose you,” Raina said and then, shrugged again, “I didn’t even know who you were until recently.  I hope you know that.”

              “I got that,” Everly said and then, turned to me, “I understand everything but why.  Why me?”

              I shook my head, “No one knows why we were chosen.  The only thing we know about is it’s always someone from our bloodline.  I realize there are other reasons but we really don’t know what they are.”

              Lynne walked into the room and raised her brows as her eyes landed on Everly, “Has she lost her mind?” Lynne asked pulling the baby close to her chest and glancing from Everly to the rest of us, “Or is she going to be okay?”

              I rolled my eyes about to chastise my best friend but Everly broke into a laugh, “I suppose I’ll find out soon,” Everly said and in that moment the shock of what had happened seemed to fade. 

              Lynne grinned, “Until then, you know everything that’s going on,” she said, “You might as well jump right in.  It’s not like you have a lot of time to adjust.”

“Tell me about it,” Everly said as she rose, slowly.  She swayed for a moment and then, she faced Lynne.  Lynne smiled at her sympathetically. 

“Let me take you around and meet everyone,” She said and then glanced at me scrutinizing my face, “Alex, needs to rest.”

              “I do not,” I said, frowning at her and cringing away from the thought of having another dream with Lucifer in it. 

              “You so do,” she said, laughing, “You can pack things in the bags beneath your eyes.”

              I narrowed my eyes at her but she just laughed.  Finally, I nodded, “Maybe I will lay down for a minute or two.”

              “I’ll take care of your friend so she doesn’t lose her sanity,” Lynne said as I laid down on the couch, “We wouldn’t want her to take another vacation.” 

              I glanced at Everly as the worry darkened her gaze again.  She forced a smile at me, “Get some rest,” she said, “I’ll be okay.”

              I sighed knowing a lie when I heard one.  Being a descendant had ruined any chance of normality that she would ever be able to have.  The truth was that she would never be okay again.