Chapter 9 #2
“You can fix it. Just concentrate and keep control.” Her tone is reassuring but stern. “Reach out to it with your mind. Get closer to it outside if you have to. Put everything back in its proper place.”
I get out of the car and walk towards the rubble scattered across the road.
I reach out to it mentally and picture the rock lifting up in my mind.
They hover in the air seemingly suspended by nothing.
I feel the weight of the boulders in my hands and lifting my arms I will them to go back into the cliff face.
It all slots together like an enormous vertical puzzle until finally the crater in the cliff is smooth again.
Next, I turn to the trees that were damaged and I feel the pain of the huge fractured branches.
This time much more gently I use my emotions to sooth and heal them.
It takes a bit of time but eventually I manage to right the wrong I caused in my anger.
I feel fatigued but as I turn back to the car, I feel the power from the forest around me trickling back into me like a small stream.
Replacing the energy I used to fix it. It's a bottomless fountain of power. A battery that's constantly recharging.
When I get back into the car, my mum smiles at me as she turns the engine on and continues driving.
“Now you can see why Nymphs don't come into their powers until their 18. Can you imagine the carnage of a toddler tantrum if we were born into our powers?” She laughs and it has me laughing to.
“Don't worry, what you’re going through every Nymph has gone through. The only difference is your much stronger than most new Nymphs.”
“Why though? Why is it different for me?”
“I don't know. Gaia must have big plans for you for her to bestow such greatness on you. Try not to worry I know you'll do fine.”
Her confidence in me is like a warm blanket and it helps me to relax.
My mum and I can get through this together.
We've done fine so far and besides it looks like we'll have some supernatural friends to help us soon.
Which reminds me I need to check for the next full moon.
I whip my phone out and that's when I see my text to Cassey has sent.
Dread drops like a weight in my stomach.
It must have been a dream when that bastard stole Cassey's phone right?
I'm sure it was. Cassey will text back in no time. If I ever get signal again that is.
The longer we drive the more this feels like a road trip holiday than a run for our lives.
My mum tells me all about her and dad. I realise me and him have a lot in common.
Like our love of reading and drawing. Most of the time I have my head in a book.
Apparently, because werewolves don't need to sleep much, my dad used to while away the midnight hours by reading.
My sketches on the other hand are more like doodles but I find it therapeutic and enjoyable.
My mum tells me that dad can see a landscape he liked, take a seat and draw it until it was near enough identical.
I'd love to see some of his drawings one day but those chances are slim to impossible right now.
She tells me how they met and became Moira when she was starting a small gardening business in Hampshire.
She knocked on dads’ door to drop off a business card and since that encounter they started sharing dreams. The rest is history.
It sounds like love at first sight. My mum looks so happy as she takes a walk down memory lane.
It's like when I was younger and she'd read me stories before bed.
This one is hands down my favourite. The flood gates have opened and now mum won't stop telling me about her and dad.
It's wonderful and I don't want the story to end.
The next hour flashes past and we turn down a long dirt side road.
Either side are a couple of wooden signs.
One saying 'private property' the other saying 'warning dogs loose'.
I chuckle to myself. At least werewolves seem to have a sense of humour.
Despite that I feel nervous and I become aware of my dishevelled appearance.
My pretty peach skater dress is covered in dried blood.
Alistair's blood. My stilettos are destroyed and my legs are covered in mud.
Not the best way to make a first impression. Nothing I can do about that now though.
The lane is long and the woodland around us closes in tightly.
Through the thick branches I begin to make out a large building up ahead nestled tightly between the trees.
The bottom half is made from rock and the top half from wood.
Like a modern log cabin. The closer we get the more is revealed.
There's a wooden stair case that goes up the side of the house.
The banister is broken and the door it leads to on the second floor is hanging by one hinge.
I feel mum tense beside me and we drive around to the front of the building on an overgrown gravel drive way.
There used to be large double doors but now it’s a burnt out hollow.
Above it there's a big black graffiti mark of a three-headed dog with red eyes.
Mum stops the car but doesn't switch off the engine.
Her eyes are staring up at the mark above the doorway.
“That's the mark of Hades. The Cerberus. He must have wiped out the pack. By the looks of things, they've been gone for years.” Her voice catches and she rests her head on the steering wheel.
I look back up at the house and aside from being broken into and in disrepair it doesn't look like a ruin. No one has been here for ages and it’s probably forgotten about so it can't hurt to have a nose around. See what they left behind because I'm seriously hungry.
I open the door but mum grabs my arm. “Where are you going?”
“I'm just having a look around. You wanna come with?”
She sighs and after a short pause gets out the car. I follow her into the house.
The large open entrance hall is weather beaten from the gaping hole where the front door used to be.
Snow has blown in and leaves and twigs are scattered all over the floor.
There are several rooms coming off this one and I look in the first one.
It's the kitchen. It doesn't look too bad actually.
All the windows are closed so its stayed relatively dry.
Aside from dust and cobwebs it looks alright.
I start opening cupboards and find loads of tinned food and other stuff.
On the off chance, I try the tap but unsurprisingly no water comes out.
I spot a kettle and try my luck. Nothing.
Electricity was a long shot anyway. I go back to the entrance hall and see a stair case going up the left side.
It's dark up there and the entire place is damp from being so long without heating.
Although, strangely, I don't feel cold. Must be another nymph perk.
I start up the stairs. By the sounds of things my mum is already up there.
Walking along the landing I see mum sitting on a bed in one of the bedrooms. It's all pink inside with blue flowers on the walls. She has tears in her eyes.
“Mum? You OK?” I sit on the bed beside her. She looks exhausted.
“This room belonged to a young girl called Sapphire.
She'd be a bit older than you now. Her mum was a Nymph called Callista. Her father, Andreas was the alpha of the pack. She was just a baby when your father and I stayed here. I just hope she got away.” Her voice catches and a tear rolls down her cheek as she clutches a small pink bunny teddy in her hand. Her eyes are hollow and exhausted.
“Do you wanna look around the house to see if we can find them? You could get some closure?” My stomach tenses at the thought of finding their bodies.
“No, they won't be here. We have to keep supernatural existence a secret. Even Hades follows that rule. They would have taken any bodies and burned them.” She wipes her eyes and composes herself.
“There's a small village a couple of hours down the mountain.
There might be a B&B there. That's our best shot for now I think.”
I recognise that as a deliberate change of subject and go along with it. “Right let’s go then. The sooner we get there, the sooner you can sleep.”
We walk back to the hallway and I spot a dark smeared hand print half way up the wall.
Then another on the banister. There's no mistaking it.
Blood. Looking down I see my shoes have kicked up the dust revealing dark bloodstains on the floor as well.
The more I look the more I see the details of the horrific attack that happened here.
Unbidden I imagine the panic of the family that lived here as they fought for their lives.
Claw marks are everywhere showing the struggle they faced.
As we turn to go downstairs, I see another door has been kicked in but the room is too dark to make anything out inside.
Thankfully. I can't bear to see any more of this house.
My mum seems to feel the same and we swiftly get back outside to the car.
As I open the car door I get the feeling of being watched.
I look around me then back at the house, seeing nothing. I just wanna get as far away from that hell house of death as possible. Must be the horror scene in there giving me the heebie geebies.
Mum starts driving back the way we came and we make our way down the mountain.
I can tell my mum is rattled. She's putting on a strong front but I can see she's scared.
She's just found out her friends could be dead.
Murdered by the same people chasing us now.
Hades and Alistair. The more I learn the more I hate him.
It's astonishing how much feelings can change in such a short amount of time.
I feel like I'm living a different life now.
I am though. How did my life go from college to running for my life from Greek Gods?
We drive in silence until a few houses can be seen between the trees.
They get more and more frequent until we reach a small village.
Mum pulls into a petrol station and starts to fill up the car.
Looking around I see a charity shop, post office, pharmacy and a large stone church in the centre.
All the buildings seem to be built mostly from stone.
Once mums finished and back in the car we drive a little way down the road until we see a sign saying B&B and mum pulls up outside.
She pulls up the handbrake then turns to me.
“Take my coat. You can't be walking in there covered in blood.” Her tone is all business but I can see the strain in her face.
I follow her instructions without question.
We go into the B&B. It's got exposed beams on the inside.
The ceilings are low and there's a welcoming fire crackling away in the fire place.
Mum rings a bell and after a moment a man in his 50s comes down stairs.
He greets us and says his name is Hamish.
He has a kind face and is wearing a tweed suit.
Mum responds. “Hi we would like a room with two beds if you have one?”
“That'll be ￡40 fer the night.” His Scottish accent is thick but understandable. “Are you jus' passin' through or sight seein'?”
“Just passing through thank you.” Her voice shuts down all chances of making small talk.
Hamish looks affronted for a moment but quickly composes himself. “Very well. Follow me.”
We are shown to our room. It's just as rustic as the rest of the building with two beds and an en-suite bathroom.
“Breakfast is at 8am and checkout at 10am. Enjoy your stay.” He gives us one last quizzical look before closing the door behind him.
I poke my head into the bathroom and the shower is calling to me. I'm also dying for a pee. Mum seems to read my mind.
“Sweetheart, have a shower I'm going to nip to the charity shop across the road and get you some fresh clothes. I'll be back as quickly as I can.” She kisses the top of my head and leaves.
I strip and notice His blood has soaked through my clothes and stained my skin.
I throw my ruined clothes in the bin and get in the shower.
The feeling of the warm water on my skin is heavenly.
I look down and see the water running red around my feet and down the drain.
I see a loofa and body wash. I scrub my body but the stains are stubborn.
I scrub harder. My arms, stomach, chest. My skin is red raw from the effort.
Even once the stains are gone I still feel dirty.
Memories of kissing Alistair flash though my mind and I hate it.
I hate what I did. He tricked me so easily.
I try and rid myself of those thoughts by washing my hair.
There's small bottles of shampoo and conditioner on a shelf to the side.
Once I'm done I stand under the cascading water enjoying it massaging my skin.
I close my eyes letting the tears flow. The hurt, frustration and terror of the last couple of days comes out in floods.
I never thought I could be so gullible. I'm just as angry with myself as I am with Alistair.
I wish I could change so much but what's done is done.
I can't change any of it now. For my own sanity, I need to forgive myself for my moment of weakness and move on.
The tears stop flowing and I feel renewed, refreshed and ready for what lies ahead.
I hear the door to our room open and close, so I turn off the shower and grab a towel. There's a knock on the bathroom door.
“I'm back. You OK in there Krista?” It's my mum.
“Yeah just coming.” I wrap the towel around myself and poke my head around the door. I smell fish and chips from the chippy making my mouth water.
“I got you cod and chips once your sorted. Lots of salt and vinegar on top.” She smiles knowing it’s one of my favourites.
I'm easy to please. “They didn't have much but I found underwear at the pharmacy and a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and jacket in the charity shop. The jacket is a size too big but it looks alright.” She hands me a larger bag with clothes in and a smaller bag with what looks like toothbrushes, toothpaste and a hair brush.
“It'll be perfect either way. Thank-you so much!” I close the door.
“Put your old clothes into that bag when you’re done. We can’t leave them here.” She thinks of everything that woman.
I brush my teeth and hair then get dressed.
The bra and knickers are a perfect fit. The jeans are dark blue and skinny and the t-shirt is dark green with 3 ⒈／⒋ length sleeves.
It exactly something I would wear. The jacket is brown leather but nice.
There's even socks and a pair of black biker boots.
My mum is a miracle worker! I leave the boots and jacket off for now and put my destroyed clothes in the bag then join mum in the other room.
I grab my rolled-up paper filled with greasy goodness and take a seat at the small table to the side of the room.
Mum's sat across from me. Her hand hovering over her food deep in thought.
I wonder if she's talking to my dad? I don't want to interrupt her so I tuck into my food.
It doesn't take long till I've pretty much cleared it.
After a while Mum breaks out of her reverie and enjoys her dinner as well.
“How are you doing?” Her voice is soft and concerned.
“Much better after that shower. It's just what I needed.” I lick my fingers clean and scrunch up my empty paper and throw it in the bin. After grabbing us both a glass of water I join her back at the table. “Were you talking to dad just now?”
She smiles. “Yeah. Just giving him an update. It’s not so much talking. More like images and emotions. You'll experience it someday.”
It's hard to understand my feelings about the idea of my dad being able to see me grow up whilst I thought he was dead.
He knows so much about me and yet I don't know him at all. Mum has talked about him quite a bit since yesterday but it’s not the same.
I want to know him too, but chances are I never will.
Not all the time Hades and Alistair are alive.
I go around to the back of mum's chair and wrap my arms around her. Resting my head on her shoulder. “Thank you for everything. I love you.”
“I love you too. So much. I'll always be here for you.”
We stay there for a moment until the silence is broken by my mum yawning. “I'm gonna take a shower. There's a kettle there with tea and coffee. I won't be long.” She kisses me on the head then takes a small bag of clothes with her to the bathroom.
By the time I've made myself a coffee and mum a tea she's come back out looking refreshed but no less tired. I decide to be the caring one now. I pass her the tea.
“I put extra milk in so it’s pretty much drinkable now. Then your gonna have a good long sleep OK?”
She takes the tea and flashes me a smile over the cup with a small nod.