Sight

by Chrystal Blue

  “If it gives you peace, I will let him try to help,” said Arel reluctantly.

  “Thank you,” he replied, kissing her forehead. A smile framed his worried face as he turned back to Dr. Weaver and Kerry. His arm wrapped around her waist as he sat intently waiting for the doctor to begin.

  Dr. Weaver sat down on the soft beige couch next to her, reaching his aged hand out for her wrist. Hesitantly she placed her palm in his as he began his examination. Pulling a small device from his bag, he checked her pulse and vital signs.

  “How are you feeling,” he asked.

  “Scared,” she honestly replied. It was more like a mix of emotions all blended together for an uneasy feeling that overshadowed her joy.

  “Why is that,” asked Dr. Weaver.

  “Aren’t you scared about what he will do to you when you fail? Sebastian can lose the child, but my death will result in yours. You don’t know the first thing about us. There are no medical books you can consult, no peer opinions, you are stumbling in the dark,” she paused.

  Sebastian watched her sternly, a slight frown forming across his face. Ignoring the looks he was given her, she continued to pry the minds of the doctor and his daughter. Although she knew they were indeed loyal to the Cadell family, she remained suspicious of them like all doctors.

  Arel could tell the doctor was looking for the right words to say to her to ease her fears. Peering through their minds, she knew that Kerry did not share the same devotion as her father to the Cadell family. Kerry would never betray them but followed in the family profession only to please her father.

  "I can read your thoughts," she said. "I know Sebastian didn't tell you that."

  Dr. Weaver immediately released her hand, subconsciously pushing himself further away from her. Stumbling up from his seated position on the couch, he stood, slowly backing away from Arel. Kerry stepped closer, standing in between her father and Arel as if to shield him from any danger. Sebastian stood next to Arel and Kerry acting as a buffer between his wife and the doctor's daughter. Facing Arel, he looked down at her disapprovingly.

  "It was not important enough for him to know," replied Sebastian.

  "Fear, you can smell it, can't you. It radiates from both of them, it's intoxicating," said Arel as she smiled over at the pair. Parting her mouth, she licked the edge of her lips.

  "Arel," scolded Sebastian. He stood, blocking the doctor and his daughter from her view. Arel could still read their thoughts and feel their distress though they were barred from her sight.

  “That's new, my sense of smell is increasing. I noticed it last night as I smelled the fear radiating from Isis. I can understand Viktor how he plays with his food, its powerful, exhilarating. Is this how it is for you?"

  “She won't harm either of you. Although she is Darken, she doesn’t drink blood," replied Sebastian trying to ease their fears.

  “I didn’t know any Darken lived outside of their cities,” whispered Kerry. The new information piqued Kerry’s interest as she stepped closer towards Arel. The ends of her coils brushed against Sebastian’s shoulder as she peered around him. Dr. Weaver worked on calming his fears looked meekly at his new patient.

  She ignored the fear that crept into the doctor's mind as he quickly tried to push it away. His mind raced as he tried to think of other thoughts, and then ways, he could keep her from knowing his thoughts. Panic sunk in as he tried to remember if he had thought of anything embarrassing.

  Questions over how much Arel had learned from him, and how far away he had to be before she could read his thoughts. His mind raced fearful about, trying to concentrate on the task before him. Dr. Weaver compared all the things he learned of the Darken to the woman standing in front of him. She chuckled at his thought process.

  "I tell you what, you can pretend I didn't say that and get on with your exam. Or I can take away your memory, and you won't remember what I said. I'll let you choose."

  "You can do that," Kerry asked, horrified.

  Arel ignored her, waiting on the doctor to make his decision. To her, removing someone's memory was unthinkable, especially since she had lost her own for all those years. Arel had no problems implanting memories, especially when it came to protecting herself. There had been only one time she removed a memory, and that was at the person's request to give him peace.

  "It's okay William," Sebastian reassured him. "Please continue. You will have to excuse Arel, she has not been behaving like herself lately."

  Turning, Sebastian placed his hand on the doctor’s shoulder. Immediately the doctor’s fear subsided, replaced by calm. As the doctor relaxed, Sebastian approached Kerry, placing his hand on her as well. Both tranquil, he faced Arel, his eyes raised.

  "Of course, Master Sebastian," he responded. "I'll be quick."

  "Arel," Sebastian scolded. "You promised to let them help."

  "I'll behave," she replied, smiling coly up at him.

  The serenity that came over the pair was not natural. Arel knew Sebastian had brought about that feeling in them. Though she had never witnessed it before, she wondered if she experienced the same under his touch. Taking a seat, she leaned back on the cushion of the couch.

  "I'll need some information from you," said Dr. Weaver.

  "I don't know what normal is for my kind, so you'll just have to go with what you take. Hospitals and doctors have always been a…danger to me."

  "I'll have to take your blood pressure, weight, height, and a few other. . ."

  "No blood," interrupted Arel.

  "It's important to test the blood and take samples from you and," Dr. Weaver replied.

  "No. No samples from the baby or me" demanded Arel.

  "It's," he contested

  "I said, no! You're not even sure you'll be able to get a sample from her, so let's not try," she replied defiantly to the doctor's suggestions.

  "Arel, one sample," Sebastian pleaded.

  Shaking her head vehemently in disagreement, she looked towards Sebastian sitting next to her on the couch. Arel pulled her arms out of reach of the doctor standing in front of her. Forcefully, she placed her hands in her lap. Ignoring the other two in the room, she pulled Sebastian’s hands into hers, clasping tightly.

  "You know what I am and what you ask of me. If it got in the wrong hands, what it would mean to everyone."

  "He is trustworthy," Sebastian replied.

  "I never said he wasn't. I know he would die before he betrayed you. He's also weak. Anyone could find it and take it. What if it got in the wrong hands?"

  "There are two of my men waiting in the hall to escort the doctor to his office. They will make sure it stays secure even after it is processed. The office is extremely protected, there is nothing for you to worry about."

  "After he runs his tests, what will he do with the sample?"

  "I'll make sure it's destroyed," replied Dr. Weaver.

  "Can Kerry promise the same?"

  "Of course, she can. We have sworn a duty to protect the Cadell family. As a member of the Cadell family that includes you and the new Cadell heir you carry." His voice was angered at the suggestion that his daughter was less than willing to follow their oath.

  "I need to hear it from Kerry," said Arel looking at the still silent woman standing across from her.

  "I promise."

  "You need to promise to protect the sample from anyone that could use it to harm the Cadell's."

  "What do you mean," inquired Dr. Weaver.

  "Your loyalty is unyielding to the Cadell's. Kerry is not so devoted; her devotion begins and ends with you. Had she not been the eldest child, she would not be your legacy, a mother's dying wish fulfilled," explained Arel.

  Looking at the doctor’s eldest child, she had relayed part of the vision she had seen.

  "I would never betray my father's trust."

  She knew she spoke the truth; Kerry would die before betraying her father or his wishes. After her mother's death a few years ago, Kerry devoted more of her time to her
aging father and the family business. Her younger brother had willingly spent hours in their father's footsteps while she rebelled against him in every way possible. It was only after her mother's sudden departure did, she experiences a change of heart.

  Yielding, Arel unclenched her fist, extending her arm towards Kerry, allowing the young woman to draw her blood. Watching the needle pierce her flesh, disappearing under her skin, she waited to see the first droplets fill the small container. Intently she watched looking for the color, texture, or something that would give her a clue as to how her blood could be poisoned.

  To her dismay, it looked no different from the blood of others she had seen. It bore the same vibrant red color she had seen before. Kerry removed the single vial of Arel's blood from the needle before closing up the container. She placed a bandage on the spot of blood on Arel's arm before placing the vial into a small locked box. Closing up the single tube of blood along with the notes in a black briefcase the pair headed towards the door.

  Stopping briefly, Dr. Weaver turned towards them, briefcase clutched in his hand. "I promise no one will have access to this," he said patting the top of the case with his palm.

  Sebastian closed the door behind them before walking Arel to the bedroom. Stopping before the door, she turned and faced him. Stepping in close to him, Arel slid her hands around his waist, pulling him into her embrace. The apartment felt quiet, mounting the isolation she felt.

  Instead of feeling like home, a safe haven, it felt like an intrusion. Memories of Winter and Sebastian hung on each corner of the apartment. An invasion of their time and space, they were an unwelcome intruder. No matter how much she thought of being Winter again, she knew that time had passed and she could no longer go back. Her ignorance gone, free of the power of her forgotten memories, knowledge of the chaotic world she was blinded too for so long. Winter was no more, but she still had not decided if she wanted to be Arel.

  Resting her head on his chest, she inhaled, closing her eyes, allowing the memories to fill her mind one last time. Sebastian's arms wrapped tightly around her as he inhaled her scent. His chest moving with the rhythm of his breathing, in sync with her heartbeat.

  "This will always be Winter's and Sebastian's place, it should be our last time here," whispered Arel.

  "What do you want to do with it?"

  "I can't sell it, it was James. It should stay in the family; Lucas should have it."

  They had never spoken of Lucas or the fact that she had given him a new memory, replacing his pain with happiness. He bore no memory of her, and she kept her distance from him, as it had been after the passing of James. She would have her lawyer draw up the papers leaving it to James to run and maintain with the stipulation it could never be sold.

  Releasing him from her embrace, she walked into her room, into the closet. Looking down at the floorboards, she waited for Sebastian to come into the room.

  "Help me open the floorboards and remove the box," she whispered.

  Sebastian dutifully bent down, lifting the light beige wood boards revealing a secret compartment with a hidden black box. It was one of four chambers James had built into the apartment, each holding a chest with identification and money.

  "There are three more, one in James' room, one in the study, and the last one in the hall closet," she explained. Turning from the closet, Arel walked to the study, opening the door to the still full wardrobe. Her hand brushed against the unworn outfits created when she knew herself as Winter before her memory had returned.

  "There, in the floor," she said pointing to the opening of the hidden space. She had forgotten them, the numerous designs she had spent hours over. It was a passion when she was naive in the world, innocent.

  "I'll give them to Sandy, she always loved raiding this closet. Winter would have wanted her to have them."

  Sebastian stood outside of the door, the boxes in his arms. Arel looked around the room before turning to leave. Closing the door behind them, she paused sighing before heading to James' bedroom.

  Slowly she opened the door, walking over to the closet. Parting James's clothes, a tear swelled in her eyes. Removing a panel from the wall, her fingers traced the hidden safe. Placing her thumb on to the keypad the safe beeped before the lock clicked and the door swung open. Moving the identification to the side, she took the fireproof bag from the safe, leaving the stack of money behind.

  "It was James' money. I never needed or used any of his money. I thought if I did, I would be admitting that he was really gone. I know he won't return, but I couldn't bring myself to believe he was really not coming back. Lucas always thought I was living off James', but I didn't," she explained.

  "Arel, you don't have to explain anything Lucas mentioned," said Sebastian.

  "I want to tell you."

  "It was our wedding day, and he upset you, that's why I have not mentioned him since," he replied.

  "As children, the four of us found we had special talents, like all of the children at this particular home. We used our gifts to provide a way of escape, once we had enough money, we used it to make more,” said Arel.

  Sebastian knew James and Lucas were close to Arel, but she had not mentioned Doran. The details of their small family secreted away. They were more than friends; they provided a means of escaping the state-run home. In their town, they knew the fate of the kids that age out of the program would follow the path of James’ inscription into the Darken armies, war. It was James’ that promised to keep Arel from seeing battle, and the way to do that was money.

  “I saved, James saved, Doran saved, and Lucas spent it faster than we made it. We weren't enough, he was never satisfied and the constant failures to attain what he sought most left him finding comfort in a bottle. The drinking only made it worse. When he was sober, the memories of his past misdeeds haunted him, forcing him to seek forgetfulness in another bottle. I blamed him for a long time for Doran's death, James never blamed him."

  "Arel," interrupted Sebastian.

  Closing her eyes, she inhaled, determined to tell the rest of her story. Her eyelashes fluttered open as her eyes rested on the picture on the mantle place.

  "James loved me from the moment he laid eyes on me. He protected my secrets, he protected me. I only loved him as a brother, but if I had let him, James would have happily been more. When I heard he was going, I tried to stop him, I told him he would die there, and it would break my heart. The last time we saw each other," her voice broke off.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks; her eyes fluttered closed. Deeply Arel inhaled, slowly she left the breath escape past her slightly parted lips.

  "The last time James saw me, he told me he knew I could never love him in the way that he loved me. He knew I would always see him as a brother. For him, it was okay going to fight, James would die because he was fighting for me.”

  “He didn’t have a choice but to go and fight,” said Sebastian.

  “He kissed me on my lips, and although I didn't feel the same way, I pulled him in close and kissed him back, hoping he would change his mind. He wiped the tears from my eyes, told me he loved me and walked away. I watched him walk away, yelling that I loved him. He turned back to me and smiled."

  Sebastian pulled the now sobbing Arel into his arms, wrapping his arms tightly around her.

  "It's okay to cry," whispered Sebastian.

  There she stood in his arms crying, she had never mentioned to anyone the last moments between her and James. After a few minutes, Arel wiped her tears and walked over to the neat desk where Sebastian had placed the boxes. Opening the container that had been in her room, she removed a brightly colored journal, bringing it to her lips where she held it for a moment. Arel walked over to the safe still open in the closet wall, placing the journal in it before closing it back.

  "Every day from the day he left, I wrote to him. I knew I could never send him the letters directly, so I wrote in the journal. Even after he was gone, I wrote in the journal, up until the day I left with you."<
br />
  "Are you sure you want to leave it?"

  "Winter loved James, and I can never be Winter again."

  Touching the picture on the mantle place, she picked it up, looking over the picture one last time. Arel traced the image of Lucas standing on the end before stopping at Doran next to her. She smiled as she looked at James, his arm wrapped around her shoulder as he pulled her slightly next to him. Removing the picture, she placed the empty frame back on the mantle.

  Arel closed the door behind them, heading towards the apartment door. Sebastian followed, stopping at the closet. Opening it, he removed the last box from the hidden compartment, handing it to Arel. She looked down at it absent-mindedly before tracing the lid of its top.

  "Thank you for remembering this one," she said as she placed it on the nearby table. Lifting the top, she looked down at the drive, removing it and placing it in Sebastian's pocket. Leaving the rest of the contents in the box, she replaced the lid and handed it back to Sebastian. She waited for him to return the chest to its hiding spot.

  Looking around once more, she wanted to make sure all of her personal items had been removed from the apartment before she left. Aside from the picture with the four of them, there were no other pictures of her in the penthouse. She left little evidence of herself, read to flee at a moment's notice if the need arose.

  "Sandy gets the clothes, Lucas the apartment. I have someone that can come and clean out the rest of the rooms. Have I left anything of mine behind," she asked him.

  "Nothing identifiable in the cases?"

  "James' identification, money. This is one of a few pictures ever taken of me and the only one in the house. Lucas may never find the compartments, but if he does all he will find is some money and James' personal items."

  "Arel, you don't have to do this."

  "Winter is long gone, and when Lucas gets the apartment, there can't be any trace of someone who never existed for him."

  If there were no trace of Winter, there would be nothing leading them back to the people she was leaving behind. The Darken knew she lived among the Vampires, Teraya would be able to quickly locate her, but of the ones she left behind, they would have no protection, and she had to protect the ones she loved, even Lucas.