by Robyn Steele
Chapter 17
We had been over the map a dozen times and were pretty sure where they had my dad at. The map was meant to be disguised so there were no towns or cities or roads named. However, I could tell by the roads that were on the map and it did have the landmark of LDHC. I knew this place! Little Dead Horse Canyon. I could tell that the interstate on the map was I-70 by the way it was positioned. I could see the little road going off from I-70 was state road 24. I noticed the topography of the map was correct for that area. I knew this area like the back of my hand! This was one of nature’s masterpieces and I had been there often.
We took a large motorhome and two jeeps. We needed the conveniences of the motorhome since this was a remote area. Because there was mostly sand in this area, we needed the jeeps to get around to the areas where my dad might be. We drove the motorhome to the camping area at the state park and set up camp there, then left in the jeeps to explore around to see if we could find any clues.
We started with Little Dead Horse Canyon. I knew exactly where it was. I loved this place and hiked there many times. We parked the jeeps at the base of LDHC. There is no vehicle access past that. We hiked up the canyon, looking and listening for clues. We hiked up through the narrows that were sculpted centuries ago by water. The waves of sandstone swirled around us creating a beautiful encasement of several hues of orange, beige and brown. The smooth, shear walls that enveloped us were over a hundred feet tall. In some places the sky was not above us, only the overhang of sandstone cliffs.
“This place is beautiful!” Lissandra commented.
“It’s breathtaking!” Clariee added.
“We will have to come back with a camera when we are not looking for your dad.” Cruz told me.
“You can count on it.” I told him. “This is one of my favorite places to hike. I think one or two pics won’t hurt or slow us down, though” I paused, took out my cell phone and snapped a picture of Cruz and me against nature’s canvas. Then I took one of everyone else.
Cruz and I continued hiking, holding hands to intensify my abilities. We let go only at the places rock climbing was necessary and it took both hands to maneuver the rock, or it was narrow and we had to go single file. I couldn’t believe how easy these rocks were to climb now. It was going to be difficult to find challenging hikes now that I had my abilities. We hiked up the canyon on one trail and came back on another trail, making a full circle of the slot canyon. There was no sign of dad.
They probably just hid someplace near there. They wouldn’t likely hide him in LDHC because there are too many tourists going through there and that would be a risk of getting seen. I just wanted to get it out of the way first thing and to see if any clues were here. The LDHC on the map must be a marker of the path to take.
Next we went to the picnic area by the goblin formations. Sandstone had been eroded to look like goblins. Hundreds of tall and short and varied sizes were all around. Pure sandstone rose up into goblin-like creatures. Goblin upon goblin. When we hiked over a group of goblins, all we could see was more goblins. This was a vast area that could not be seen as the whole. Someone could be hidden anywhere here. We hiked around the formations for a few hours but didn’t find anything. This area was so big I almost didn’t know where to start. However, I could tell he wasn’t there. Something just told me he wasn’t there.
We took the jeeps on a dirt road that was in the area. I was familiar with this road too. There were lots of rock formations and old dirt roads that prospectors had made and abandoned. There were also lots of dirt roads sheep herders used. We were driving along one of the dirt roads and grandpa suddenly said to stop. We pulled over and got out.
“I see something right there.” Grandpa said as he was pointing to an overhang about 500 feet off the road we were on. “That is a camouflaged underground bunker. I bet he’s in there.”
“Can you see anyone?” Alessandro asked.
“Not yet. I need to get closer.”
We carefully and stealthily moved toward the base of the hillside. Then we decided to climb to the top and grandpa could see into the bunker from that direction. When we were on top he had a clear view of everything in the bunker. He told us that my dad was sitting on the ground in a corner spot. The opening was small and it had several little rooms that branched off of the main room. It was a pretty good sized bunker.
“The sandstone is perfect for people to carve into. Many people have made homes in the sandstone. I should have looked here first.” I told the group. Serious self-doubt crept into my mind.
“Sometimes the obvious is hardest to see.” Momma said. “Don’t blame yourself, Talli. It was a mistake anyone could make with the clues you had.”
We decided to go into the back of the bunker, dig our way in and grab my dad that way. Grandpa saw about ten guys in the bunker up front guarding him. We decided to get him out and then deal with the captors after.
We went back to the jeeps and got some tools we had brought. Then we began digging the sandstone out. Those of us who were gifted with super strength were digging because we could move the sandstone easily and quickly. The others kept a look out for unexpected visitors.
Cruz and I held hands and I told my dad our plan so he would know who was digging there. I barely heard him answer okay. Something was wrong. I was glad we were getting him first. It only took us a few hours to dig down to him.
I couldn’t believe it! There he was…in person! This was my dad! It seemed surreal. It only took me a second to climb down to him. With apprehension I put my arms around him. This was the first time I had ever hugged my dad. The tears behind my eyes broke free. I couldn’t help from releasing them. So much emotion burst in me. He was almost unconscious so he did not recognize me or anyone else. Or maybe he did but couldn’t respond. We needed to act fast.
When we pulled him out he was semi-conscious and weak. He appeared to be drugged with something to alter his consciousness. Cruz put him on his back and carried him out. Our jeeps were hidden down the road about a mile so as to not cause suspicion near the bunker. We hiked back to our jeeps and went back to the motorhome. This was not good. I couldn’t get much response from my dad. His pupils were dilated. Dark purple skin underlined his eyes. His skin was dry, thin and blotchy. It looked as if death were right on his heels. I was so worried. Momma was crying.
“We need to get him to a hospital, fast!” I demanded.
“I know you’re worried, Talli, and rightfully so.” Grandpa began.
“Then let’s go! We need to hurry!”
“We are going pretty fast, honey. Just stop and think for a minute. Have you ever been to a doctor or hospital?” Grandpa asked me.
“I don’t care! I don’t want my dad to die!” I was inconsolable. “Okay, I’ve only been to the doctors to get immunizations so they would let me into school. But we have to…..okay, I get it. I can do something. I hope it will be enough.”
“It will.” Grams said. “Just do it, fast.”
I placed my hands over my dad and called the elements to heal him. I concentrated hard and prayed it was enough. It had to be! I concentrated and called on the elements continually until momma stopped me and said to look. It worked! This was the best thing my abilities had ever done for me.
By the time we reached the motorhome he was sitting up and looking good again, just amazed at the sight of everyone. Momma and grams were hugging him so much I thought they would smoother him. And he definitely recognized them. I was speechless. The happiness of having my dad, the amazement of healing him, and the shock of seeing him in front of me left me astonished. This was by far the happiest day of my life.
Although the healing made it possible for my dad to talk to us, his words were slow and unsure. He had been locked up for so long. He gave us as much information as he could.
It seemed like the kidnappers infu
sed my dad with drugs to keep him controlled. He also was mal-nourished from obvious lack of food. This is what had made it so hard for him to contact us. I’m sure the kidnappers knew he would try. I was grateful my healing ability had undone the damage. “I’m your daughter.” I reluctantly told him. I wasn’t sure how he would react to that information after being held captive for so long. My concern was soon extinguished as he grabbed me and looked intensely at me and then just hugged me so tight. I couldn’t believe I was with my dad. This was a dream come true!
“I can’t believe you’re so grown up. I’ve missed so much. I had no concept of time. They kept me doped up most of the time. That was to keep me from sending messages. I got your messages, I just couldn’t send messages most of the time.” His eyes were shiny from tears and he couldn’t stop hugging all of us.
“Demetrio, we need to make sure you’re okay, get you rested, and then we can attack these guys.” Grandpa said. We decided not to go after the kidnappers until we were sure my dad was okay. We drove to the nearest town to check into a hotel. Green River town was about a half hour away. When we checked into the hotel I refused to leave my dad’s side. I had just met him and I couldn’t leave him alone. Grandpa was filling dad in on all the details of looking for him and the people we had encountered.
“Talitha, I am so proud of you.” My dad said. “I don’t know how you did it but you have completely healed me. They had me in such a weakened state that I couldn’t send messages. I was afraid the drugs they pumped in me where going to have a lasting effect. Sometimes I even felt like I was losing my mind. I can tell you have taken that away. Thank you.”
“I’m just so happy to have you back.” I hugged him again for the hundredth time. Momma never left his side. She was crying so much her makeup had smeared. I took a Kleenex and wiped the smear off. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Yes we do.” Dad replied. “I have been out of civilization for a long time. I’m sure I’m up for some culture shock, too. You will have to help me with that.”
Just then my cell phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket. “Hi Cruz.” I answered. “Idk. I think we’re all hungry too. We could all go to the restaurant by the river. They’re not half bad. K, we’ll meet you there.” I put my phone back in my pocket.
“For crying out loud!” Dad used an old expression I don’t think anyone uses anymore. “They have cordless phones that are small enough to fit in your pocket?”
“It’s a cell phone, dad. We all have one. We need to get you one too.” I enlightened him. “We’ll be getting you caught up on a lot of things, looks like.”
“I think I remember now. Cell phones…that’s right. Some things are a little fuzzy still. I was remembering the great big cordless phones but now I remember the small cell phones.”
“Yup. They kept getting smaller all the time. And then they came out with the smart phone and got bigger again.”
“A smart phone?” Dad was puzzled. “It must work like a computer. I broke into a room with a computer and I was trying to figure it out. Those have changed a lot too. I have a lot to learn being kept in the dark all these years.”
“That was the vision I had of you! The vision was of you at a computer. Your mind must have been clearer then and you sent me that vision.” I realized.
“I’m glad that’s all behind us and we can all move forward now.” Dad said.
“Amen to that!” Momma affirmed.
“Let me see one of those ‘smart phones’.” Dad said. I handed him mine and he examined it. “There is a lot of things on here that don’t make any sense at all to me. It does look like a mini computer with all these icons on it. Wow, this is going to take some time to learn all the new things that have been invented since….how old are you Talli?” Dad wondered.
“I just turned 18.”
“So that means I’ve been gone for…about….a little over 12 years. Is that right?”
“Yes my dear. It has been that long.” Momma affirmed.
“The last thing I remember about Talitha is teaching her to ride a bike. Then they took me. I’ve missed so much!”
Wait a minute. Ride my bike? That’s when I was around five. “If you taught me to ride my bike, why don’t I remember you?” I have other memories from when I was five.” It was my turn to be confused.
“When your dad was taken,” momma began reluctantly. I could tell she was hesitant to say what she was about to say. She squirmed around and then finally gave me the whole truth. “You refused to eat or sleep and all you did was cry for your dad. We tried everything to help you but to no avail. After a long while we couldn’t let you go on like that. You were making yourself sick from heartache. We spelled you to forget all memories of your dad until he came back. You should be getting those memories back a little at a time now. If you don’t, we will have to do another spell.”
“Holy deceit! You kept all my memories! I can’t believe you did that!” I was furious. “You can’t just go around playing with people’s lives like that! You can’t mess with my life like that! How could you?” I was infuriated with them. I could have grown up with memories of my dad. That was so unfair!
“Talli, we had no choice. It wasn’t like we could take you to a doctor and say: she isn’t eating can you help her. If we ever went to a doctor they would know we aren’t human. Don’t you see? We couldn’t let you die. We had to do something. Maybe it was the wrong something, but it was all we had at the time. We didn’t have a healer. Grams people would not help us because you are part Teletrian.” Momma pleaded for me to understand why they did that to me. “We also didn’t think it would be this long. We thought it would be a year at the most.”
I was still angry they had robbed me of my memories. I tried to calm down because I didn’t want to ruin my dad’s happy reunion. I thought about how I spelled Nate and his family. Was that any different? Maybe they did do the right thing. Or maybe I did the wrong thing. “Okay, I kinda get it. I did something like that to Nate. I couldn’t stand hurting him at the same time his mother died. I thought that would be too much for him to bear at one time. I spelled him to forget his feelings for me.”
“Talli, you took something from Nate that belonged to him; his feelings for you. I don’t know what the consequences of that will be. I can see why you did it. However, with these abilities comes great responsibility.” Grams deliberated.
“You think I did something wrong?” I asked her.
“No. It’s not for me to judge. I don’t know if it was wrong or right. I’m just saying that interfering with lives can have consequences we don’t want. I just want you to know that you need to be cautious when using your abilities. We knew there might be consequences from spelling you. We thought a lot about it. We came to the decision that taking your memories to keep you alive was our best option, even if there were consequences.”
“I get it, grams. Just so you know, I didn’t spell Nate without thinking it over. In fact, I agonized over it.”
“I’m sure you did, Talli. I’m very proud of you. You have grown up to be a very responsible young woman.” Grams gave me a big “grandma” hug.
“Well, I don’t know about the rest of you but I am famished! I have not had a good meal in 12 years!” Dad exclaimed.
“Oh my goodness! Why didn’t I realize that? We were so excited to see you that we forgot about what you have been going through. Let’s get some good food into your dad, Talli. Shall we go?” Momma said.
We met up with the DaMonicos and Caio for dinner at a restaurant nearby. Dad was so happy to see his old friend Alessandro. They were catching up on old times. Dad realized that the young man sitting by me was Cruz, the DaMonicos son, my betrothed. He was very pleased to see that we were together, since he was the one to design the plan along with Alessandro.
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��I don’t think we could have found you without Cruz.” I told my dad. “It seems that when he touches me my abilities are magnified. That’s how I heard you telepathically.”
“It doesn’t surprise me.” Dad said. “We’ve always had a special connection with their family. Actually, that’s how Alessandro and I communicated through the years, most of the time. We could communicate telepathically with each other very well. We have always had strong connections with the DaMonicos.”
“Except for the feud.” I said.
“That would be our fault.” Grandpa said. “Mine and Leonardo’s. It’s a good thing our sons kept in touch.”
“Who is Leonardo?” I asked.
“That is my grandfather.” Cruz answered. “He still isn’t on board with us. He doesn’t agree that we should be betrothed. Luckily it isn’t his decision.” He squeezed my hand.
“Well I am certainly happy that you found your way here, Cruz.” Dad said.
“And I’m glad he was persistent.” I said. “He almost got chased away. Right grandpa?”
“Okay, I admit I was wrong to try to keep you apart. I thought I was doing what was best for you. I can see now it wasn’t.” Grandpa said truly repentant. How could I be mad at grandpa? He was always there for me and took care of me while my dad was gone. I loved gramps. I knew he had done what he thought was right. I knew he wanted to protect me. He thought the DaMonicos had something to do with kidnapping my dad since Leonardo DaMonico was angry with him. Sometimes people do the wrong things for the right reasons.
“I forgive you gramps. You know I love you. How could I not forgive you? Anyway, you brought grams into our lives, and mom. That’s why I went with Cruz in the first place.” I told him.
“Sorry Talli. You lost me there.”
“I think that grams and mom passed on the ability to be intuitive to me. When I saw Cruz, I didn’t know him at all. He was a complete stranger to me. However, I kept getting these feelings that he was okay and that I was safe with him. I don’t know how to explain it but it was like someone telling me to go with him and that it was okay. You know I normally would never have even spoke to a stranger, yet alone go with one. Pretty much out of character for me.”
“You’re right Talli. It is an ability you get from us. I’m glad you followed the right feelings. You are showing great responsibility and good decision making skills. We are very proud of you.” Momma said as she squeezed me.
“Well I am certainly glad it all turned out the way it was meant to turn out.” Mr. DaMonico said.
“It’s not over, yet.” I said. “They can’t get away with this. We need to make sure the kidnappers pay for what they did and are stopped.”
“We will, Talli. We will stop them.” Momma assured me.
“For now, let’s just celebrate that I’m home!” Dad announced.
“Great idea!” Alessandro agreed.
I could definitely celebrate that.
The next day I rode with my dad and mom on the way back to our house. I didn’t want to let him out of my sight. Cruz wanted to ride with me. He was still very protective of me. Cruz drove the motorhome while momma and dad did some catching up sitting in the captain chairs in the back. They were so happy to be together. Momma told dad about all the years he missed. She told him a lot about my growing up, which was pretty boring to me so I rode up front with Cruz. Grandpa and grams took a jeep and The DaMonicos took the other jeep.
“They seem really happy.” Cruz said.
“Ya. I am too. I never thought this day would happen. It probably wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t come into my life. Thanks.” I said.
“It might have happened. You’ll never know. But this is destiny that I am here and your dad is here. It feels right. Like everything is in place.”
“I still don’t believe in destiny.” I said. “But I agree. This does feel right.”
We had about an hour drive home. It was nice just riding there with Cruz listening to the Goo Goo Dolls greatest hits. Cruz and I held hands all the way home so we could feel that zing. Life was good. I was one lucky girl.
Just as I entered my room when we got home, my phone rang. It was Nate. What could he possibly want? Maybe the spell didn’t work, after all. “What’s up, Nate”
“Just wondering how you’re doing?” Nate replied.
“Well now I feel stupid. Shouldn’t that be my line? You’re the one that lost his mother. I’m sorry, Nate. How are you doing?”
“I’m great. Just thought I’d let you know things are looking up. I’ve come to terms with my mother’s death. I still miss her, but I can handle it okay now. I think it was probably her ‘time.’ Also, I didn’t want you to hear this from someone else; I’ve been seeing Brielle. Before you get upset let me finish. We didn’t plan it that way. It just happened. We really have a lot in common and I think…..we’re in love.” Nate finished and waited for my reaction. I’m sure he thought I might be upset by this revelation, or shocked. I, however, took it as great news.
“That’s wonderful! I love that my two best friends are together! You and Brielle both mean a lot to me. I hope for nothing but the best for both of you.” I sincerely responded.
“Hi Talli. I’m glad to hear that! We were worried that you would be mad at us.” Obviously Brielle grabbed the phone from Nate.
“Of course I’m not mad. I’m crazy happy for both of you! It is going to be great that my two best friends are together. I couldn’t be happier for you both! That’s all I ever wanted. We’ll have to plan a few double dates, you know. Do some things together.”
“Absolutely! That would be awesome!”
“I have some news for you two also. I found my dad! He’s here with me now.” I told them.
“Oh Talli, that’s terrific news! We’re so happy for you. Where was he?”
“I’ll tell you later. I have to go now but I’ll call you when I get back.”
Oh great! What am I supposed to tell my friends where my dad has been? I can’t tell them the truth. I really can see why we have had to be so secretive all my life. Talli, this is going to be tricky, I told myself. I need to get some help. I finished packing for Italy and went downstairs.
I told my mom about my conversation with Brielle and Nate and my dilemma about telling them where dad was. She and dad told me to tell them that mom and dad had separated years ago and were now back together. Tell them it had been a mixed up fight and that is why they hadn’t stayed in touch. They said it would be better to think my dad had been a dead-beat dad rather than giving them the truth. It didn’t matter to dad what people thought about him as long as he had us. It bothered me what people thought about him because they wouldn’t know what a great guy he is. However, it was more important to keep the secrets. I understood that.
All my life I had been taught to tell the truth. It was agonizing trying to incorporate this new ‘code’ into my well-established beliefs of integrity. Although it wasn’t as much lying as it was omitting the truth, I had always been taught that they were the same, omission and lying. How did they manage to do both keep integrity and keep the secret? Momma explained to me that keeping this secret was only necessary to preserve our race. Otherwise we would not keep the secret. That keeping our secret did not infringe on anyone else, it did not hurt us or anyone else, and it protected absolute truths. I could understand that but it still felt contradictive to me. Lying to Brielle and Nate just felt unethical to me. It caused a great dissonance in my soul. I wasn’t sure how to remedy this.
“Look at it this way, Talli.” Momma said “you aren’t keeping secrets from others as much as you are keeping something personal to yourself. There will always be things in your life that you don’t share with everyone. Like the things that you only share with your closest family members. Some things are just too personal and sacre
d to share with others. Does that make it any easier?”
“I get the ‘keeping our ancestry private.’ I get that we can’t tell people we’re Teletrians or whatever. But now I have to make up a story about why my dad was missing for most of my life. That’s the part that is a real lie and it’s killing me to tell it.” I complained.
“I understand. It might have been easier to omit the news about your dad being back. Am I right?” My dad asked me.
“But that’s just it! I want to share that news with my best friends. They are a big part of my life and they are really happy for me.” I protested.
“Then maybe it is time for you to share the whole story with your friends.” Dad proposed.
“No! She can’t do that!” Grandpa exclaimed. “She would bring down the whole Teletrian people on us. Not to mention Sophia’s people!”
“Point taken Dad.” I resigned. “I get it. I will just have to learn to reconcile my feelings with keeping the secret. I will work on that.”
“I knew you would figure it out. After all, you are my daughter.” Dad gave me a big hug. “And Natalia’s daughter. You have great genes.” He was right. I looked like my mom but I was more like my dad. Now that I knew him I could see how much we were alike.