Tearful Reign

by V L Friends

  What had my mother seen in this man? I thought to myself. Thank God I grew up with a good person like Shane as a father figure. My mom and Shane were just friends but I still felt like he was a father to me. I missed him. Sure, he was stuffy, boring, and overprotective but I admit he was starting to look really good right now.

  I needed to get out of the house for a while, so I went to the stables and decided to saddle Chester. A short ride on a trail in the woods would be good for me.

  George, the stable hand, was there and saddled the horse for me; otherwise, I probably would have ridden Chester bareback. Bareback is the way I used to ride in Africa.

  Things seemed so much simpler in Africa. I smiled to myself, remembering the wild jungle and animals. Julian and Caleb reminded me of the two tigers my friend Malek raised from babies. They would fight roughly and violently even when they were just babies. When they got older and very big they would knock down huts and break big trees apart fighting with each other, but they were also each other’s best friend. If one of them got lost or went missing, the other would get sick. Suddenly I felt closer to Caleb and Julian, like I understood them better.

  The ride was too short but it was enough to explore the woods a bit and I felt better. I hadn’t told Caleb or anyone but the stable boy I was leaving, so I thought I should keep it short.

  When I found Caleb back at the house, he was in the study putting all the books away that I had thrown at Julian.

  “Let me help you put those back. I am sorry; I hope I didn’t ruin any of their values,” I said.

  “That’s alright, Anaya, I am just happy you are okay,” Caleb said.

  “Hey, how about coming with me into town for dinner?” I asked.

  “I would love to,” Caleb said, turning to face me. It was then that I noticed him wearing glasses for the first time. He normally didn’t look any older than 20, but these made him look a little older.

  He smiled, noticing my reaction, and said, “These make me look older and smarter, don’t you think?”

  I grinned. He always had this ability to put me at ease.

  “You look very nice.” I figured I would give the safe answer since I could not be sure what he wanted to hear.

  “Are you ready to go?” he said.

  “Almost; it’ll just take a minute for me to change,” I said as I started to rush out of the room to go change.

  In the car, Caleb said he had a meeting to go to first but would meet me at the Loft, a popular restaurant lounge combination in the middle of town, in an hour for dinner. I didn’t mind because I had some places I wanted to check out in town.

  As I walked down Main Street, I had the odd feeling that eyes were watching me. The town itself seemed full of cute little shops, some with art and hand-crafted items. This was a town with many artisans and craftsmen. I passed a furniture store called Amish Furnishings and had to stop and look in the window to admire the craftsmanship of the furniture inside. As I stood there looking through the window, I caught a glimpse of a reflection of a church building across the street. This white church piqued my interest so I went inside. It had been weeks since I had been in church. As I walked in and sat alone at a pew, I felt this longing. There seemed to be no one here, but I felt peace and tranquility being there, so I stayed awhile.

  When I finally stood up to leave, I noticed a man sitting in one of the pews several rows behind me. He had a long beard and long hair and seemed to be dressed like a farmer.

  He looked at me with what seemed like sad eyes.

  “Good evening, ma’am. Pardon me, but are you new in town?” he asked.

  “I am,” I said. “Do you live here?”

  “I live just 15 miles out of town. I live in the Amish community. So, are you staying in town and shopping for a church to go to?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, welcome.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “Pardon me for being nosey, Miss, but I can’t help but notice you seem a little sad; is everything okay?” he asked.

  For no reason at all I just started pouring out my heart to this stranger. I told him how much I missed my mother and how I had run from Shane and that I had come here in hopes of connecting to family but they turned out to be… well, not what I expected. Of course, I omitted the supernatural part of the story. He just sat there listening and asking a few questions here and there. Finally, he got up and put on his hat.

  “Miss, I would sure love it if you would come over to our house Friday for dinner. We have a service in our barn just after. Will you come?”

  I had to say yes.

  When I went in to the restaurant to meet Caleb, he was already seated.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you had stood me up,” he said with a smile. “Did you get held up at the candy store?” he asked with a sly smile.

  I let out a nervous laugh. “I just got held up talking to one of the locals.”

  “I am glad to hear you are getting to know the locals. I hope that means you will be staying awhile. Did you know that we also have an art gallery and a community theatre? We should check out the park later,” Caleb said anxiously.

  He chatted on about the town and its colorful characters, but my mind was wandering. I noticed that Julian had wandered in and was at the bar flirting with a few ladies. Why did he have to be here right where we were having dinner? I wished he would go away.

  “Listen, Anaya, you really shouldn’t pay too much attention to Julian. He is just not accustomed to being… well… human. Don’t let him get to you.”

  He did get to me and I wished I didn’t care.

  After we ate we decided to go for a walk. Caleb insisted that I sit on the swing while he pushed me. He was so easy to be around.

  “Caleb, I was wondering something. Why is it that you aren’t with someone?”

  He looked confused, so I elaborated.

  “Why aren’t you married or at least dating anyone?”

  “Oh!” He seemed surprised.

  “It’s just that you are such a charmer and I noticed women are attracted to you. Are you not aware of this?” I said, teasing him a bit as I enjoyed having the upper hand for a split second.

  He looked nervous and embarrassed.

  “Um… well, I did have someone not long ago but it didn’t work out.” He looked rather sad and he seemed to be avoiding my eyes.

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Speaking of that, I have made some pretty good friends here in town. They saw us together and actually thought we were a couple. I told them you were my cousin,” he said.

  “Oh, then your friends are human and they don’t know you are a walker?”

  “That is correct,” he said, nodding.

  “Interesting; this entire lifestyle of deception is very new to me. I was actually going to ask you what I should tell people about who I am. Now I know,” I said. “I am curious about something, though: why would some of the locals be suspicious of you and your brother? I ran into some before I met you and they suggested I steer clear of you.”

  “Many of the humans here suspect things, but we have managed to keep them from knowing about us, so far,” Caleb said.

  “How do you manage to keep them from knowing about you?” I asked.

  “Well, some of us walkers are gifted in persuasion and hypnotism. I know, it hardly seems fair, but it is better they don’t know what we are. It is our experience that most humans are better off not knowing about us. They don’t handle it well.”

  “Are you and Julian both gifted in that way?” I asked.

  He nodded, confirming my suspicions.

  “There are walkers that carry that gift and abuse it. That is also how Julian has made his way into the town council. I am not comfortable with how much control he has gained over the humans of this town. Julian’s ways are not mine. I guess if he was not also appointed leadership of some of the supernatural groups in the area, I would likely insist he leave. For now, he has actually been the one
keeping the peace.”

  “So why do you and Julian think I am in danger?” I asked, remembering some of the brothers’ conversation I had overheard.

  “You are incredibly rare, Anaya. Humans and walkers do not have a physical compatibility, so they cannot make children; at least that is the theory. Once in a great while it happened and usually for a specific reason. It mostly had not turned out to be a good thing for the covens and walkers. There are stories of half breeds long ago destroying witchcraft and dark walkers. It is up to Julian and me to convince them that you are not a threat.”

  He seemed to be anxiously looking around.

  “We should go now… it’s getting late,” he said, nervously getting up from where he had been seated on a park bench.

  I tossed and turned most of the night, unable to silence my thoughts. It was disturbing what I felt. I felt like my presence here was causing so much conflict. Maybe I should go away from here.

  In the morning, when my eyes opened, I was suddenly aware of someone lying next to me in my bed. I turned slowly to see Julian lying there on his side, facing me, calmly waiting for me to open my eyes. I couldn’t believe the nerve!

  “Are you lost?” I whispered to him sarcastically.

  “Hmm, funny… but no,” he said with a dismissive tone. “I need to tell you something,” he said.

  I studied his expression, trying to assess what Julian was up to now.

  “This couldn’t wait?” I raised my eyebrows at the walker just a few inches from my face with his head on the pillow next to me.

  He looked a little nervous, vulnerable and I admit he had me curious, so I decided not to lecture him... yet, anyway.

  “I owe you an explanation about your mom and I,” he said, sitting up in bed.

  “Okay.” I sat up and waited with curiosity. Was this another test? I thought, watching him carefully.

  “Sarah was the only woman I have ever really loved. Despite her being a weak little human, she was extraordinary. Not only was she incredibly smart and intuitive, but she had a giant heart. She saw potential in people and never gave up on them. She was working for a secret society that hunted down walkers and studied them. They were trying to find their origin. I was caught by them myself. Your mom was a scientist and a doctor who worked with them. She saved my life and helped me escape when she found out that this society was trying to use us to make some kind of super-humans. We became good friends after that. We were together as a couple for a while but she saw us as too different and we agreed to end it. I was an agent of darkness and she was this friend of God. She saw me for what I really was but never looked at me as a monster. She was the only one. Well, anyway, when I found out she was pregnant I tried to hang around more but it became difficult for me. I realized that I did not belong with the two of you. Did you know that she actually has been called ‘one who is friends with angels’? I did check in on you from time to time. I would slip into your room at night and hold you when you were a baby. You were the sweetest, gentlest tiny being.” He let out a chuckle. “Not sure what happened to you.”

  I gave him a push and smirked.

  “I knew that I would do anything to protect you, even if it meant leaving you. Do you understand?”

  “Yeah.” Tears were filling my eyes

  He looked over at me with a look of such fondness it could almost be interpreted as love.

  “I really miss her,” I said.

  “I know; me too,” he said, lifting his hand to my cheek. If he was testing me I would really hate him now.

  “Darling, do you know what happened?” Julian asked.

  “Shane said it was some kind of accident, but I know she was killed,” I said.

  “Who? Did you see?” Julian asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said. I wanted to tell him the truth that some vile demonic creature had killed her but I refrained; not sure why.

  “Come here.” He pulled me to him in an embrace and we sat there silently for a little while. Okay, this was confusing how he was suddenly so affectionate and concerned for me when just a little while ago I had been wrestling to get away from him and calling him a monster.

  “Julian?” I finally broke the silence.

  “Yeah?” he said.

  “Thank you for telling me that,” I said.

  “You’re welcome,” he said and then kissed my forehead.

  “Oh, and I am sorry I said all those mean things to you earlier in the library,” I said.

  “That’s okay; I deserved it,” he said, chuckling.

  “Ya, you kinda did,” I chuckled with him.

  “So … truce?” he said as he pulled out of our hug and held out a hand for me to shake.

  “Truce,” I said, taking his hand.

  “There is one more thing you could do for me though,” I said, sitting up.

  “Oh, really?” he said with a smirk. “So, baring my soul is not enough for one day?”

  “Well, I was wondering if you could work on boundaries? I mean really, Julian, us humans need our personal space.”

  He chuckled.

  “Well, I have been meaning to ask you if you would work on your boundaries as well,” he smirked. “Not having them. You humans really are amusing,” he chuckled as he got up, shaking his head.

  “Oh, yeah, one more thing I need to tell you…” he said, turning back but dodging a pillow I had just thrown at him.

  “We have been invited to a fancy party in a few weeks to introduce you to everyone.”

  “By everyone, you mean…?” I asked.

  “The entirety of walker clan in the area,” he said and then added. “And some others. It is important that you present yourself as a non-threatening, well-poised member of supernatural society.” He gave me a look up and down before saying with another smirk, “I guess we need to work on that.”

  A few minutes later I listened carefully for his voice in the house. I zeroed in on it. He was conversing with Caleb in the library.

  “There you go, brother. That wasn’t so hard,” Julian said.

  “So, you made up?” Caleb questioned.

  “It was like taking candy from a baby,” Julian said.

  “Is that so?” Caleb’s voice sounded irritated.

  “I think I got this bonding thing down. I’ll have her eating out of the palm of my hand,” Julian said smugly.

  I cringed at his reference to me as if I were a wild animal needing to be tamed by him. He had played me… and I fell for it!

  “You scum!” I screamed, clenching my fists and pacing the floor of my room to channel my rage.

  My attention drew back to the library. I could hear Caleb laughing hysterically.

  “What the hell are you laughing at?” hissed Julian.

  “I think you are mistaken about that,” Caleb barely got out through his now-uncontrolled laughter.

  “What the… How do you…?” I heard Julian’s cursing and, shortly after, the front door slammed loud, as Caleb called out. “I would run too, if I were you!” And more laughter.

  I made my way to the kitchen and was grabbing some orange juice from the refrigerator when Caleb sudden appeared next to me.

  I let out a shriek and dropped the glass juice container but Caleb snatched it with his super reflexes.

  “Sorry, my bad,” he said.

  He watched me closely as I poured myself some juice without a word.

  “Are you okay?” he said with eyes of concern.

  I shook my head. If I spoke I was afraid I would cry.

  Next thing I knew I was in his arms listening to his soothing voice.

  “Julian told the truth about his relationship with your mother; I just want you to know that. I understand what you are going through. I make no excuse for his behavior. I wanted a brother too and it took me awhile before I realized that he is so far gone. It is not any reflection on you. He spent the last 17 years as a monster who took what he wanted from humanity and left destruction everywhere he went. He was friends with
the darkest walkers and only recently made the decision to try the family thing. He never told me why he suddenly changed but I suspect he somehow saw that he was missing something. He doesn’t know how to feel, Anaya. I am sorry that he hurt you. I don’t want you to get hurt by him. Don’t expect much from him.”

  Tears flowed from my eyes and I could only nod as I let myself be hugged by Caleb. At least I had him.

  “So this is what you meant when you said you felt alone until I came along,” I said with a soft chuckle.

  “Yeah, you are my only real family. You’re stuck with me now.” He grinned down at me as he held my head between his hands to look at him. “I am not going anywhere and I won’t let you go from my life.”

  His last comment made me wonder if he knew about my running away from Shane, but I decided not to open that can of worms just yet.

  Dressed in sweats, a tank top, and sneakers, I went outside for my morning run. This was the first time I had the opportunity to resume my exercise routine since coming to America.

  As I did my pre-run stretches on the front porch, a voice interrupted my train of thought.

  “And where do you think you are going, princess?”

  I winced at the sound of Julian’s voice, not to mention his pet names for me. It gave me a sick feeling. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from lashing out at him.

  “I am surprised you are so quick to show your face around me,” I said, not even wanting to look his direction.

  He chuckled softly. “You are such an easy target. I can feel how badly you want a daddy. Your pull is just too hard for me to resist, my little lamb. You reek of neediness.”

  I swallowed hard to relieve the lump in my throat as I bit back tears. He was so mean. I hate him. I wanted to punch him right in his smug face. I turned to face him.

  “You know what I think, Julian? I think you are blinded to your own neediness. Some part of you came looking for more in your life and that is why you came here. Some part of you knows you want to feel real love, but you can’t stop yourself from screwing it up so you make excuses,” I said.