Ascended (Fallen Guardian Saga #2)

by Debra Ann Miller

  Carter stopped, having almost forgotten about Katherine and Sarah. “Hey, there’s someone here I think you really need to see,” he said, excited to reintroduce Vie to the woman who had helped bring her into this world. He took her hand and led the way.

  The reservation looked festive; they were indeed ready for the fake ceremony being held in honor of Vie’s return. Katherine was standing with her overnight bag in hand, smiling at the children frolicking about. Then she turned and looked their way. She continued to smile, but the closer they got to her the more her smile changed. By the time Carter and Vie had reached her, Katherine’s mouth was hanging open, astonished by what—or rather, whom—she saw. Her bag dropped from her hand and her eyes filled with complete bewilderment.

  “Mom, this is your surprise,” Carter said, moving Vie forward.

  Katherine’s eyes filled with tears. Her hands began to shake as she raised them slowly to her face, holding them to her cheeks and shaking her head in disbelief.

  “It can’t be,” she said, looking at Vie. She took a step toward her, immediately flashing back to the little girl with the violet eyes she’d helped bring into this world. Vie’s eyes were unmistakable; the closer Katherine got, the more she realized that it was she …it was Violet, standing in front of her.

  “Is it really you?” Katherine asked, her voice quivering.

  “It’s me, Violet.”

  Katherine grabbed her and held her tighter than Carter had ever seen anyone clutch another being.

  Vie didn’t seem to mind. Being wrapped in Katherine’s arms suddenly returned the lost memories of her short human existence. It confused her; she couldn’t grasp the idea of forgotten memories, because her memory was photographic—and yet, until now, she’d had no recollection of her human experience. It was the same as her experience with the Chief earlier. Vie didn’t understand why these memories were flooding her mind, but they were, nonetheless, and they were bringing to the surface a range of tender emotions oddly familiar to her.

  Vie was no different than Carter. His suppressed memories had kept him from his powers; and until now, Vie’s lost memories had kept her from her emotions. But having these emotions suddenly made her feel weak and vulnerable. Guardians did not have these types of feelings; they were dangerous and unwelcomed amongst the elite warriors at the Gates. Feeling overwhelmed and fearful, Vie dropped her arms and removed herself from Katherine’s grasp, stepping abruptly back.

  Carter could see Vie had become very uncomfortable and he stepped in. “It’s time to let Vie come up for air, Mom.”

  “I’m sorry, Violet, I just—” Katherine stuttered.

  “No, it’s fine, really,” Vie said, feeling guilty for pulling away.

  “But how did you….where have you…?” Katherine tried in vain to figure out how this was possible, and where Vie had been all these years. “We looked for you, all of us, for weeks after the…the attack,” she cringed at the thought of the bear, with Carter and Vie at his mercy at the Tower all those years ago.

  Vie was silent, not knowing what they were supposed to say about where she had been all this time. They hadn’t really thought that far ahead, and now Katherine was looking at them, anxious for an explanation. The tense moment was interrupted when Sarah ran up to them and grabbed her mom’s hand.

  Katherine knelt down to her and said, “I’d like for you to meet someone, Sarah…someone very special. This is Violet,” she gave a warm smile.

  “I already know who she is, Mommy,” Sarah replied with the typical candor of a small child. “Carter brought her to the ranch, remember? And we saw her sing like an angel at church,” she said.

  “No, Sear Bear,” Carter used the special nickname he’d given his little sister, “that was Vivian; this is her sister, Violet. I know she looks a little bit like Vivian, and that’s because they’re sisters. Twins, in fact.”

  “No, it wasn’t Vivian. I met her. Vie,” she said, pointing directly at her.

  Vie looked at Carter and then walked over to Sarah, knelt at her side and whispered in her ear, “And I remember meeting you, too, Sear Bear. I’m still waiting for you to show me your secret place,” she said with a smile and a wink, before kissing her cheek and standing back up.

  “So where have you been all this time, honey?” Katherine asked, still wanting details.

  “Mom, we can talk about all of this later. For now, let’s just celebrate that fact that Vie is here, alive and well,” he said, pulling off another quick save.

  Vie kept thinking about how magnificent Carter was with deflection.

  “I’m sorry; forgive me, Violet,” Katherine said tearfully.

  “Please don’t apologize; it’s fine. Really, I understand,” Vie said. “If you’ll excuse me, though, I want to check on Henry.”

  “Oh, my gosh!” Katherine shouted. “Henry!” She suddenly realized what Vie’s return would mean to him.

  “It’s all right, Mom,” Carter said, calming her down. “Henry knows. He knows everything.”

  Katherine was relieved that Henry had finally been told the truth about Lily and the twins. She had carried Lily’s secrets around with her for so long, it was a burden she was more than happy to unload. She knew she would eventually have to answer to Henry for those secrets, and she was not looking forward to it at all.

  “Violet, would you mind if I got your father for you?” she asked.

  Vie was aware that Katherine needed to speak to Henry about everything, and she also knew Henry loved Katherine, no matter how many secrets she’d kept for Lily. She was a good, honest woman who had been there for the Thorne family every single day. Henry wouldn’t blame her, not one bit.

  “Sure, Katherine, I think he’d like that,” she said, hoping it would ease her guilt regarding Henry and his ignorance of the twins’ birth.

  Just then they heard the beating of drums. The ceremony was about to begin.

  Sarah was excited; she grabbed one of Carter’s hands and one of Vie’s and started running toward the dancers who had just appeared around the giant fire pit.

  Vie couldn’t help but wonder how Sarah knew it was her, not Vivian, all along, but then she remembered something Gabriel had told her about the humans. He’d said children see the world through innocent eyes—eyes that see the unique beauty in even the most unimpressive puddle. To them, a tree was not just a plant, but an entire jungle of adventure; a small plot of pines was not just a barrier between yards, but an entire forest full of mystical creatures; a day at the beach was never simply sun and sand, but the search for pirate treasure and lost shipwrecks. Sarah had always known exactly who Vie was, no matter what vessel she was hiding in. Just like Carter, her innocent eyes saw right through to the soul.

  Knock, knock. Henry heard someone at the door of his cabin, and he called out for the person to enter.

  Katherine walked in. She saw Henry sitting on the cot with a rosary in his hand, and hastily apologized for interrupting his prayers.

  He quickly placed the rosary in his pocket, saying, “You’re never an interruption, Katherine.”

  Katherine told him she had seen Violet. “She’s beautiful, just like Vivian.”

  Henry just nodded and smiled. “Actually, I thought Violet looked more like Lily.”

  Just hearing Henry say Lily’s name sent a wave of emotions crashing down on Katherine. She fell to her knees and began sobbing uncontrollably at the mention of Lily’s name.

  Henry raced over to her, bending down to lift her from the floor. He grabbed her arms and guided her up until their eyes met.

  “Don’t you do that, Katherine. Don’t you go blaming yourself,” he said, scolding her. “Nobody is to blame here. Do you understand me?” Henry asked, forcing her to look at him while he continued to hold her up. “By some divine intervention, my daughter has been returned to me and I thank God for that. I also thank God for you, Katherine. You were there for Lily when she needed a friend, and although I don’t understand why she couldn’t come to me w
ith any of this, I am thankful she had you. I don’t know exactly why my Lily left one of our baby girls here at this reservation all those years ago, but there is one thing I am sure about. She did it out of love.” He said this last bit with conviction.

  Katherine was nodding her head in agreement as if she needed to tell Henry he was right on target. “You know, Henry, Lily loved Violet; so much so, she placed her with the only man she believed could keep her safe. At the time, I remember thinking Lily was afraid of the baby, but as time passed, I knew I’d been dead wrong about that. Her only thoughts were of Violet’s safety and well-being, and being with the Chief on the reservation took care of that.

  “I remember driving to the reservation on the weekends when Carter was young, and seeing Lily standing across the street, watching Vie run and play on the grounds. There wasn’t a day I visited there that I didn’t see Lily watching over her.

  “But Henry, I also noticed sadness in my friend’s eyes after that day. Lily was never the same after that. She had left her daughter on the reservation, that was true,” her voice caught on a sob, “but she’d also left a part of her own soul. Her inner light burned out the day she walked away from her baby girl.”

  As Henry listened to Katherine’s story, he thought about the love his wife had shown for their daughters—each of them—and realized she’d done the best she could under very difficult circumstances. He didn’t want Katherine to carry her burden any longer.

  “Come on now, we have a celebration to get to,” Henry said to her while wiping the tears from her cheeks. “Tears of joy are all you’re allowed!” he joked, bringing a smile back to Katherine’s distressed face. He took her hand, held it up to his lips and kissed it. “Let’s go watch my baby girl get welcomed into our lives.” He led Katherine out of the cabin and over to the ceremony, already in full swing.

  Drums were beating; the powwow had commenced. Usually dances were associated with one of four occasions: religious ceremonies, honoring successful war parties, celebrations of new or reaffirmed alliances, or homecoming celebrations. The last was what was being shared this particular evening: Vie’s homecoming.

  The singing—more like ancient Indian chants—began for the guests, who were arrayed in a circle around the large drum. The accent patterns of the drum known as “Honor Beats” blared between the verses as the tribe danced around joyfully in full traditional Indian garb.

  Carter sat down in the circle next to Enapay, the friend who was more like a brother to him. Sara climbed into her big brother’s lap, transfixed on the tribal dancers. Vie sat between Carter and the Chief, with Cici perched like a baby bird in her lap.

  Carter watched adoringly as Vie leaned into little Cici, pointing at the dancers and laughing with her. Then Cici pulled a flower out of her pocket; the way she presented it to Vie looked like she was returning something.

  Vie took the flower, a vibrant purple violet, and placed it gently behind Cici’s ear. As Carter watched, a radiant look came over her face, like a sudden burst of sunshine on a cloudy day. Vie caught a glimpse of Carter looking her way and she reached her hand out to take his. Their hands met and they locked their fingers together, both mouthing the words ‘I love you’ as the drums beat on.

  Finally Henry and Katherine made it down to the celebration already in progress. The two were holding hands and smiling with joy. It feels good to see a smile on Henry’s face, Vie thought as she saw them coming down the trail. She knew Henry, and she had known he wouldn’t be angry with Katherine for not telling him about the twins. That secret had been Lily’s to tell; even Vie understood the predicament Katherine had been placed in.

  Still, she couldn’t help but wonder why Lily had been afraid of her. What was it that had been terrifying enough to cause a mother to abandon her innocent newborn child? Someone had to have those answers, and Vie was pretty sure that person was walking right toward her now: Katherine.

  Henry took his rightful spot next to his daughter, sitting between her and the Chief.

  Vie noticed the Chief glance at her with an approving nod. It was as if he were telling her it was all right to accept Henry as her father. Vie tilted her head, gently resting it on Henry’s shoulder.

  The gesture melted his heart. He looked up to the stars, saying his silent thank you to the Ruler of the Skies. This reunion was bittersweet for Henry. He had just said goodbye to one daughter, laying her body to rest in a cemetery next to his beloved wife, Lily. Thoughts of Vivian were still resonating in his mind and an almost unbearable ache was lingering in his heart. Then he looked at Vie, radiantly glowing just like her mother, and the sight of her instantly eased the ache in his heart.

  The drumming slowed to a stop, and the Chief stood up to welcome everyone onto their land. He talked about the return of their songbird, Vie, and explained that the purpose of the ceremony was to unite the families as one. He lit the traditional peace pipe, inhaled its smoke, and then exhaled, a hazy cloud hovering around his head.

  The Chief handed it to Henry next and said, “This pipe represents the essence of our little songbird, Violet. This pipe ceremony is a sacred ritual for connecting physical and spiritual worlds. The pipe is a link between the earth and the sky; nothing is more sacred. The pipe is our prayers in physical form: smoke becomes our words, goes out, touches everything, and becomes a part of all there is. The fire in the pipe is the same fire in the sun, which is the source of life,” he continued.

  “The reason why tobacco is used to connect the worlds is that the plants’ roots go deep into the earth, and its smoke rises high into the heavens. Native Americans consider tobacco to be a sacred and powerful plant because of this. If help was needed from the spirit world, sometimes tobacco would be offered in return for help. It was believed that the smoke from the Native American peace pipe carried prayers up to the heavens.”

  The Chief knew Vie and Carter were going to need their help, and very soon. The pipe continued making its way around until it was back in the hands of the Chief.

  Again he spoke. “Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the Earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves. Our tipis were round like the nests of birds, and these were always set in a circle, the nation's hoop, a nest of many nests, where the Great Spirit meant for us to hatch our children.

  "With us, the circle stands for the togetherness of people who sit with one another around a fire, relatives and friends united in peace, while the pipe passes from hand to hand. Once, long ago, all the families in the villages were circles within a larger circle, part of the larger hoop of the nation. The nation was only part of the universe in itself; circular…circles within circles within circles, with no beginning and no end. To us, this is beautiful and fitting, symbol and reality at the same time, expressing the harmony of nature and life. Our circle is timeless, flowing; it is new life emerging from death—life winning out over death,” he concluded.

  He invited Carter and Vie to stand beside him. He placed a talisman, a highly polished arrowhead pendant, around each of their necks. He told them it would deflect negative energy, protect them from their enemies, and absorb their power. This particular talisman, the evil eye, was thought to protect those who wore it from evil spirits and demonic forces. Some believed it offered its own elemental powers to those worthy of it. Both Vie and Carter felt a shield around their souls as he placed it around their necks. The Chief looked at them and nodded, as if he, too, could feel what they did.

  “Now let the celebration commence!” he shouted, signaling the drums to play once again.

  The
celebration went on for hours, with everyone laughing and dancing. For a few short hours, Vie and Carter watched the people they loved, removed from the anguish of losing Vivian—or so they thought.

  Henry approached Vie and told her he was feeling tired and wanted to turn in for the night. Unlike the others, Henry was unable to break free from the despair inside him. He apologized to Vie, but of course she wouldn’t have it.

  The truth was that she, too, was having a hard time celebrating, knowing that Vivian’s fate was sealed in Hell. “Go on to bed, Daddy. I’ll be up shortly to say goodnight, okay?”

  He kissed her head, as always, and said goodnight.

  Carter took advantage of Henry’s early retirement to the cabin. Watching Vie all night had slowly but surely driven him crazy. All he wanted to do was to get her alone, just for a little while, and hold her in his arms. He tugged her hand, and then off he whisked her to a quiet, remote spot he had arranged for them at the top of the plateau, looking out to the beautiful western sky.

  Carter had asked Enapay to arrange their romantic rendezvous and he’d done a perfect job of it. There was a quaint little tipi set up for their sleeping quarters, and a blanket under the stars, all surrounded by tiny little tea lights.

  Vie was speechless, but her eyes said it all: it was flawless.

  “Carter, how did you manage all of this?” Vie said, pleased by what she saw.

  “I have powers that you have not seen yet, Princess,” he grinned mischievously.

  “I thought you’re unable to tell a lie,” she challenged him.

  “I’m not lying, Princess! I have many powers that you have yet to witness,” Carter said, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her tight to him. They immediately felt the rise of heat between their bodies. Carter led Vie over to the blanket, where he guided her down and sat beside her. He touched his lips to hers and paused for a moment, still locked into her eyes.