Discern (Discern Saga, Book #1)

by Samantha Shakespeare

  He feared at first that this change might have altered her soul, but was relieved to know that it had not. Her soul was just as pure as it had been from the first day he laid eyes on her. His touch had not altered such beauty, but only marked it for the others to know she was his. This pleased him, as he wanted none of the others to touch his beautiful mortal love.

  He spoke of the excitement of seeing her face with his return, and his plan to pay a dowry to her parents for them to be wed, as this was the custom for commitment during that time. His kind was not accustomed to setting such limits to their love life, but he was ready to make her immortal, and spend eternity loving only her.

  He understood his family would be disappointed, especially Abrielle, as she still desired for them to be close with one another on special occasions. But his desire for her had died, and he wanted nothing to do with her anymore. She was one of his only supporters, but he knew it was only because of the lust she felt for him. His father would not approve of his mortal love, but his father rarely approved of any of his decisions, so this would be no different.

  He recalled the moment he entered the small village where she resided and quickly felt the presence of one of his kind. He raced to her stone house, which sat right inside the main gates of the village. He pushed open the gates and hastily knocked on her door. He rarely used his abilities in her presence, as they seemed to frighten her. There was no answer. Not a sound came from her home. He decided to use his powers and enter the home undetected. He walked into the hallway and heard a muffled sound coming from the bedroom.

  He threw open the door to witness his sister and father standing over Alexandria, holding a sword atop her chest, near her heart. His father called for Abrielle to stab the sword, and before he could push them both off her, Abrielle pushed down, instantly puncturing Alexandria’s heart.

  In a fit of rage, Andrew threw both of them off of her and grabbed Alexandria’s body before they could consume her soul. He quickly withdrew the sword from her bleeding heart and disappeared into a field a few miles from the village.

  She was still breathing, but gasping for air. He tried desperately to heal the hole in her heart, but it was too late. The wound was too deep. Blood began gurgling from her mouth and she said her final goodbyes as she took her last breath.

  “You’re my one and only love. You are my God, and I’ll see you in heaven and we’ll meet again,” Alexandria gasped.

  “No, no I am not your god. I am not a god at all,” Andrew cried.

  Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. He cursed those who had caused him so much pain and plotted to avenge her death. He watched as her soul departed, safe from harm.

  He did not move for days as he sat beside her decomposing body, watching death destroy the once beautiful, young woman that he adored. His thoughts raced back and forth as to what he planned to do to his father and sister, but he knew those attempts would fail, as they could not destroy one another.

  He eventually took her body to a place atop a mountainside, far away from his family. He dug a grave to properly bury his love. As he picked up her body, her skin began to tear, bringing the realization that his one and only true love was never going to return. He vowed to never love again, because no other soul would be as pure and beautiful as hers. He placed the last speck of dirt over her grave, leaving it unmarked so no one would pillage it.

  He spent hundreds of years away from his family, unable to cope with her death or their hand in it. He searched far and wide for a soul as beautiful as hers, but could never find one that even came close.

  He saw many souls that were pure, but nothing called to him as hers had. Her soul had been made especially for him, he was certain of this. His journeys brought many sexual encounters with mortals, but not one of them compared to the experiences he had with Alexandria. Nothing compared to the touch of her hands or the scent of her skin. It was a high he was certain to never obtain again.

  He was eventually forced to return to his family. The creator believed it was time to move on and fulfill his destiny once more. He knew there were roles to be played, and he also knew that keeping his enemy close was a must if he ever planned to avenge her death. He was hopeful one day he would find a weakness and be able to penetrate it.

  His family apologized for causing such pain, but he knew it was not genuine. They only did it so he would use his ability of leadership and hatred to benefit their cause. He could not deny the hatred he felt was more intense than it had ever been. He was ready to fulfill his duties as Ares, and the opposing armies of Greece would feel his wrath of destruction.

  He went on to explain throughout his many changes, from Ares to the Roman God Mars, that he never once forgot her death and never found another soul like hers. His pain was intensified as he watched his siblings go on with their lives, never to be haunted with the loss of true love.

  He was certain of his destiny—to be alone for eternity. He could only assume this loneliness was needed to fulfill his role as a hated leader, one not afraid of anything, who would shed blood for no reason but to cause harm to those that opposed their leadership.

  I closed the journal with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I imagined her reaching for him as she bled to death, thinking he was her god and believing she would be reunited. He knew that he would never see her again, and the pain it caused for him to watch her take her last breaths. I thought about him sitting with her decomposing body, hoping somehow she would return to life.

  Andrew had been right to allow me to have a glimpse in to the pain her death caused him. His persistence with this mission now made sense. He was determined to continue the charade as long as it took to keep me safe. He would never sabotage their plan if it meant that death would come to me, which scared him, so how could I expect him to be so brave? He had been through the pain once before and did not plan on it occurring again. For I knew my death would cause more outrage and pain than hers.

  I set the journal aside. It was now three in the morning. I had been reading for nearly twelve hours. I was pretty sure Andrew had expected this journal to last more than a day, but I was proud of myself for even opening it up.

  I had expected the book to be more upsetting, but I was pleasantly surprised by how I had become more understanding of his behavior and actions. He was a complex creature, but his love for her and his love for me proved how human he could be at times. He understood how it felt to love and would never do anything to jeopardize that love. This realization was reassuring, as I had bad experiences with others that had put my love in jeopardy for selfish reasons.

  Braden came to mind. He hadn’t attempted calling or texting me today, as my phone had been silent. Maybe today was the day he finally accepted that it was over and hopefully was moving on with his life. I wanted him to be happy, as happy as I was.

  Braden had wounded me, but Andrew had come along at the right time and healed that wound. Not one trace of his infidelities bothered me anymore. The past two weeks with Andrew had been amazing. Not to say it hadn’t been a roller coaster of emotions or events, but what he was and what he did didn’t seem to matter.

  I looked past all of his flaws, which weren’t many, and saw something so stunning that I could now understand how humans once believed they were Gods. I doubted that if they revealed themselves to man as they had done years ago, man would not fall victim again to the same beliefs as they once had.

  Their abilities were impressive and something right out of a fiction novel—a fiction novel where I held a supporting role, and he would always be the main character.

  My head softly hit the warm, fluffy pillow. My eyes could hardly stay open as I drifted off in thought about Andrew, hoping he would safely return, and soon.

  23

  Displaced

  I awoke to the sound of the doorbell frantically ringing and fierce pounding on the front door. I quickly cleared my eyes to reveal yet another gloomy, sunless afternoon sky, which was rare for Boulder. It was two-thir
ty according to the clock. I had once again slept right in to another October afternoon. I looked in my dresser mirror and was horrified by the sight.

  I quickly pulled my comb through the knots and raced downstairs. I peeked through the small peephole to reveal who had disturbed my sleep.

  “Hey,” I said surprised.

  “I’ve been calling and knocking for like thirty minutes,” Ryan said worried.

  “Sorry, I was in a pretty deep sleep.”

  “Can I come in or do you have company?” he said, gritting his teeth as he prepared for the answer.

  “No, I’m alone. In fact, I’m alone all weekend long,” I pouted.

  “Really?” He seemed surprised as he stepped through the door.

  “Yes. My father is in Vegas and, well, I didn’t really have any other plans,” I shrugged.

  He seemed a little irritated. “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “I’ve been really busy reading this book for Literature class,” I lied.

  “You had me worried.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Well I can’t stay long. I’ve got to get ready for the dinner tonight,” he sighed.

  “Have fun with that,” I teased.

  He rolled his eyes. “I wish I had better plans.”

  “Me, too.”

  He placed his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small, brass object. “Here’s the key to the shelter,” he said, handing it over.

  “Thanks,” I said, taking the key from his hand. “What’s the alarm code?” I asked, remembering I would need it to close down properly.

  “Oh, yeah,” he said surprised. “Do you have a piece of paper?” he asked as his eyes searched around the room.

  “Yes,” I said, pulling open the drawer of the console table and retrieving a pen and paper.

  He began scribbling a few numbers down and folded the paper in half. “Don’t forget to only alarm the front office, not the shelter—the attendants have that area secured. I wrote the code to the office and which buttons to press, but if you have any trouble, just give me a call,” he explained.

  “I think I’ve got it. I’ve locked down my dad’s dealership before,” I smiled.

  “I know you’re competent enough to do it, but really, call me if you need anything.” His voice begged.

  “I will.”

  He headed to the front door. He turned around before turning the doorknob. “Thanks for doing this,” he smiled.

  “No problem.”

  “Hey, I almost forgot to tell you that Braden’s dad came into the shelter this morning.”

  “For what?” I gulped.

  “He made a small donation, but it seemed a little odd. He spoke with my mother for a few minutes and then left.”

  “Did you ask your mom what he wanted?” I pried.

  “Yes, but she said he was just making small talk, nothing significant.”

  “Braden isn’t coming to town is he?”

  “No. I asked, and she said he hadn’t mention Braden at all.”

  “Thank goodness,” I said relieved.

  “It was a little strange, but then again he does make a donation once a year,” he shrugged.

  “Okay, thanks for telling me.”

  “No problem,” he smiled.

  “I’ll lock the place up right at eight.”

  “Call me if you need ANYTHING,” he grinned widely.

  “I will,” I said, shaking my head.

  He made his way off the porch and into his truck. I waved one last time before closing the door and locking it. I leaned up against the front door, wondering why Mr. Mitchell would make a donation to the shelter today of all days. He didn’t seem like a very generous man; at least that’s how Braden made him sound.

  I pushed myself off of the door and headed upstairs. A thorough cleaning of my room was definitely overdue and a load or two of laundry wouldn’t hurt. Maybe take a shower and then get ready to lock up the shelter.

  Clothes were scattered all around my bedroom floor. I scooped them all up and headed out into the hallway, making my way to the laundry room. I hated doing laundry. The sound of gushing water loudly filled the tiny room. I shoved a load of clothes inside the washer and poured in the detergent.

  I began straightening out the bed and neatly stacking the pillows atop the comforter. I noticed the empty bowl of cereal and Andrew’s journal on top of my nightstand. I grabbed both and headed over to my bookshelf.

  Setting the bowl down so I could place his journal right next to the infamous golden journal, I scanned the shelf and could not seem to locate the book that had caused so much pain and confusion. I remembered placing it on the top shelf in its usual place.

  I panicked as I searched the three bottom shelves. Briskly walking over to my nightstand, I pulled out the drawers. I lifted up the bed skirt and frantically searched under the bed. I looked in all the drawers of my dresser and chest with no luck.

  The book was gone. There were only two people that had come and gone from my house.

  I began dialing my phone.

  “Hello,” my father answered.

  “Daddy,” I said breathlessly.

  “Haley, are you okay?” he asked alarmed.

  “Yes. Did you take Mom’s little golden book from my room?” I asked frantically.

  “Calm down, sweetie.”

  “Did you?” I asked hastily.

  “What book are you talking about?” he asked calmly.

  “Mom’s book about Ancient Greece—you know the little gold one?” I described it hoping this would jar his memory.

  ‘Yes. I do remember that book, but why would I take it?”

  “I don’t know. It’s gone, and I know I didn’t take it,” I said flustered.

  “Are you by yourself?” he asked worried.

  “Yes. I’ve been here alone all weekend, and I haven’t left the house much,” I muttered, frantically continuing to search my room up and down.

  “Is being alone bothering you? Because if it is, I’ll get on a plane right now and come home.”

  “No. I’m fine, but I just can’t find that book, and I-I was using it as a reference for one of my papers,” I lied.

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll find it sweetie.”

  “I better get back to my search,” I said agitated.

  “Okay, call me later.”

  “I will.”

  I slammed the phone down. Andrew was going to be upset. This book meant everything to him. This was the key to our happiness. Tears began falling—everything he had hoped for would never come true.

  I wiped away the tears and glanced up at the shelf one more time. There was an open slot where the book usually sat. If my father had not touched it, then there was only one other person who had access to it.

  My body froze as I realized Andrew had been carrying an unusual black bag with him when he left. Why would he have taken the book with him on a mission? His behavior had been unusual. I was a little confused, as I thought about the timing of his departure.

  I suddenly grew angry. He had lied to me. There was no mission for the government. It was just a cover so he could show the book to his other siblings. I stared at the empty slot on the shelf for several minutes trying to rationalize his thought process.

  His insistence on me staying inside my house while he was gone made sense now. If the others found out about my existence they could not penetrate these walls. This gave me little solace as I worried now for Andrew’s safety. His love for me had driven him to make this rash decision. I only hoped that Alec and Holden were by his side, united in their confirmation of the book’s authenticity.

  Pulling a towel from the cabinet, I hoped a nice, hot shower might console me. The warm beads of water did nothing to soothe. I was feeling more and more betrayed as the minutes passed. I unwrapped the towel from around my head and ripped a comb through my wet, tangled hair. I slammed the comb down on top of the vanity.

  The ringing from my phone startled me as I walked back int
o my bedroom. I sprinted over to the nightstand. To my dismay it was only Braden calling. I declined the call, sending it straight to voicemail.

  Braden’s call reminded me of the betrayal I had once felt from him. But somehow his deception, even though more severe and hurtful, did not feel as harsh as Andrew’s had. My safety was Andrew’s only concern, but I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t at least left a note explaining the truth of his whereabouts.

  There was no one to impress this evening, so I decided against primping myself any further. I had a simple task to complete before returning home. The trip now seemed a little less innocuous as it had hours ago. There could be an immortal creature waiting right outside my door, but I was fairly confident that my abilities would keep me safe. At least I hoped.

  I finished a few more chores before checking the clock. It was almost seven-thirty now. I hopped in my car, slightly on edge, but the ride to the shelter was short and, thankfully, uneventful.

  Two staff members were impatiently waiting behind the front desk.

  “Hi,” I said casually, walking toward them.

  “Are you Haley?” the shorter woman with dark hair asked.

  “Yes, I am,” I smiled.

  “Good. It’s been a long day,” the taller, gray haired woman sighed.

  They both seemed like nice women. I couldn’t imagine why Ryan’s mother did not trust them with this simplistic task.

  “Will Ms. Scott freak out if we close a few minutes early?” I asked, aware they were ready to leave.

  “A few minutes won’t hurt anything,” the shorter lady smiled.

  “All right, let’s close up,” I smiled back.

  They both retrieved their personal items from behind the gray door and whispered between themselves. I opened the door for both of them.