“How matters not! Why matters not! She is no longer a concern of yours. You gave her up multiple times. She will be raised by very good friends of mine. They can protect her. Don’t look for her you will not find her.”
Then before I could say or do anything else he struck me and my world went black.
XLIV~~ Ulric’s Perspective
“Nan, I know you know the truth. Either tell me it or I will seek her out myself. If you just tell me then I will make myself content knowing that someday her heart may call mine. Please Geho, I know you know everything. Pau has never done anything that you weren’t part of. Please if it were your eternal heart you would want to know.”
I watched as my nan took several deep breaths and looked around the room. Then to my surprise she put her hand out towards me. I placed my hand in hers and she slowly walked us outside and down the hill behind the house. We walked silently along the edge of the lake until she finally said in a quiet voice.
“Ulric, I have always considered you my own grandchild though in truth you weren’t really born of my blood. Taini was like a sister to me. I always knew she was broken but I loved her just the same.”
I watched a small tear slip from my nan’s eye. She reached up and wiped it quickly with her free hand before she continued
“When we found Taini without her body we searched high and low for a way to save her. Finally we found an old Vaettir spell in a museum in France. We had friends from the war break-in and steal it for us. Once we had the spell we knew we needed to find a body to place her heart in.”
I watched her take a deep breath as she turned towards me and took my other hand into hers. I saw pain and anguish written on her face before she continued
“The spell was not what we hoped for. It was a brutal spell that was unpleasant no matter how we did it. In order to perform the spell we had to have one of two requirements. Option one was that one of the spell casters would be required to kill one of our own children in order to perform the spell. Meaning that either Waylon would have had to kill one of his natural children or that Pau would have had to kill me or I would have had to kill Emilio. None of those things were ever going to happen.”
More pain crossed her face. She let go of both of my hands and wrapped her arms around her own waist before she said
“Sit this is not going to sound good. But you need to allow me to finish before you ask any questions.”
Nan looked at me and I nodded as I lowered myself to the ground. I cleared my throat and said
“I need to know. I will let you have your say. When you are finished if I have more questions you must promise to answer them.”
Nan winced then nodded her head. Then she too slowly lowered herself to the ground. I could now see tears dripping from her eyes. She used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe at them roughly before continuing
“The second option required the sacrifice of an infant born of sin. Now, you might think that when Seraphina gave birth to the baby our prayers had been answered. But that could not be farther from the truth. You know our family treasures the life of children more than any other race. Even Taini would have gladly sacrificed her own life to save the babies.”
I watched my nan take several shaky breaths before continuing.
“You know that the Chief awarded Waylon and my pop custody. They brought her here to stay with me until Waylon finished Seraphina’s treatments. It was only going to be a few hours.”
More tears slipped down my nan’s face before she finally wiped them away again with her sleeve and continued her voice now broken and not much more than a whisper.
“While Waylon was treating Seraphina, the baby got sick. You know the baby was born with a bad heart and severe brain damage. I tried everything I could think of. I even gave her some of my blood but her heart just stopped. I knew the damage was done and nothing anyone could do would save the baby. I made a decision and I helped her heart move from this world into the next.”
I know that I’d promised that I would allow my nan to finish. But I also know that she just admitted to killing the baby. My mouth dropped open and I stuttered out
“Nan, you killed the baby?”
I watched my nan’s head drop into her lap and her shoulders shook as her crying increased. Then she sobbed out
“She would have died in vain. What I did gave her tiny life purpose. I was able to perform the spell and save Taini. The baby was going to be dead anyway. Please understand I made a logical decision.”
I could tell that my gram was trying to convince herself with her words more than she was trying to convince me. Then she took a huge shaking breath and continued between sobs
“That decision is tearing what I have left of family apart. Your pop and mum refuse to speak to me. They have made it very clear they no longer want me or my pop in their lives. Waylon and my pop allowed me to finish the spell but they took Taini away and have sworn to keep her hidden even from me.
It seems because of the brain damage they expect that Taini will be unable to recall her first life. According to Waylon it will be a complete and fresh start. This time she will be raised without me. She won’t even know that I love her. I have sacrificed my family’s love to do what I thought was right. Now, I am alone and full of pain and shame. Please don’t decide to hate me for my decision as well. I need to know that somebody understands what I did.”
I was so torn by what my nan said. Part of me understood completely why she did it. But I was still very torn. In some respects it sort of made sense. I wanted to believe that all the anguish that Seraphina and I have endured for the past several months was worth it. It gave a purpose to the pain we’ve all endured.
The other side of me knew that there was something morose even morbid that one of my eternal heart birthed the body of my other eternal heart. I felt something crawl up my spine and knew that I would need time and distance to come to terms with this. I pulled my nan into my arms and said nothing. It was the best I could do. I allowed her to cry in my arms and I just held her. When she cried herself out I said simply.
“I love you and will always love you. You are the most caring person I know. You are my nan and this changes nothing between us.”
I paused for a moment then realised I knew what I would do next. I felt a small smile blossom on my face before I said
“Gather your things. We are going to Hawaii. Before all this happened I was offered a position in Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu Hawaii. I will have full rotations and be able to train with some of the best specialists in the world. This can give us all a new start.”
Then before she could say anything else I pulled us both to our feet, smiled brightly at her then said
“According to Waylon, Seraphina is totally healed. That means babies. Come on Nan, you know you love babies and Seraphina and I are sure to have several over the next few years. Skinwalkers love to procreate. Come to Hawaii and stay with us. I can’t think of anyone I would rather have helping raise my children. Let’s forget about the rest for now and live for today.”
XLV~~Ulric’s Perspective
I looked around the empty room and smiled brightly back at Seraphina. It was amazing how despite all the things that happened in between life had almost gone back to normal in just a few weeks. I’d expected things between Seraphina and me to be awkward or in the least difficult but our skinwalkers had made it so simple for us.
The first night I came home Seraphina and I never spoke. We looked each other in the eye and shifted into our skinwalkers and took off for a run. We ran and played as fox and coyote for hours. Our animals somehow knew how to cut through all of the emotional and intellectual crap and get to the root of the issue.
Seraphina and I loved each other. We had been sweethearts through my entire childhood. We were more than lovers we were best friends. We’d both made mistakes and the price for our errors had been very steep. We’ve paid the price and it was high time we found peace with each other.
�
��Hey honey. You nan called and she’s ready for us to pick her up. I’m going to head out to the car and wait for you there.”
I turned around and looked at Seraphina. She had a bright smile on her face and both of her eyes sparkled with joy. I reached out and place a soft but sensual kiss on her lips. I felt her body give a small quiver and I heard my skinwalker growl in pleasure.
“I’ll be right out. I’m going to make a call. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Seraphina nodded in understanding and headed outside. We had a silent agreement that we never spoke of my mum or pop. I wasn’t angry at either one of them but I was having a hard time seeing things their way. My mum had a way of being very hard headed and once she made up her mind getting her to see reason was damn near impossible. It didn’t matter how anyone else felt. It only ever matter how my mum felt.
Mum just wasn’t happy about how things worked out with Seraphina and the baby. My mum is pro life and anyone that sees things differently than her becomes the enemy. Instead of being tolerant my mother becomes overly forceful with her opinion. She doesn’t allow for anyone to disagree. My mother doesn’t bend with the wind she breaks.
My pop on the other hand is incapable of having his own opinion. He just takes my mum’s side. Right or wrong he agrees with her. It has always been that way, and I have to assume it will always be that way. For that reason I have had to tell both of them that I was leaving and that I would call only when it was convenient to me. I love them both but I can’t allow my mother to dictate my life and how I should feel or behave. She needs to do what’s right for her and I need to do what’s right for me and Seraphina.
Unfortunately because of my mum’s attitude Seraphina wanted nothing to do with my mum or pop. It seems during my absence Seraphina felt as if my mum and pop had been almost cruel in their judgment of her and their behavior towards her. They wanted Seraphina to accept the baby and all the consequences of her actions. Seraphina was sick, alone and scared. She didn’t want the baby and she knew I felt the same way. That didn’t matter to my parents they tried to force their wants and beliefs onto Seraphina.
“Hey mum, we are heading out. I’ll call in a few weeks just to let you know we are fine. I love you and pop.”
I heard her take a deep breath then just as I expected she launched into her argument again. She was going to berate me again for choosing to leave without telling her and pop were we were going. She was also pissed off that I was taking my nan Geho with me. Mum and Pop felt Geho should be punished not rewarded by getting to live with Seraphina and me. Mum was also a mess because she believed we would keep any babies we had away from her. According to my mum all she ever wanted was lots of babies and grand babies and now Seraphina and I were ruining that for her.
I listened to her cry, whine and demand for a few minutes before I felt myself losing patience. Then she shifted the conversation to the baby again. She actually blamed me for what happened. As if I called my nan and said ‘kill it’ so I can have a chance with my other eternal heart too. My mother was twisting things so that she could get me to buy in with my guilt. Finally I’d had enough of her guilt trip and I found myself growling into the phone at her.
“Mum, you are a spoiled bitch. Just because pop hangs on your every thought and gives in to your every whim doesn’t mean you are a god. You are just a woman with an eternal heart that thinks you walk on water. You need to step off and live your own life. Not everyone sees and believes everything you do.
If you keep pushing this with me things are going to go bad. Think about what you said to me. Why should I want to be here or have you in Seraphina and my life? I love you mum but you need to start having a more open mind. Tolerance is something that you really need to work on. I’ll call in a few days. Maybe things will go a bit smoother than.”
I hung up the phone and slipped it into my back pocket. I took one final look around the room and headed out the door locking it behind me. I slipped the key under the mat knowing that the tribe would probably have someone move in within the next few days. Empty apartments didn’t stay empty long on the reservation.
The moment I turned towards the car I knew something was wrong. I was assaulted by the scent of fresh blood. I swung my head left and right trying desperately to identify where the smell was coming from. I looked at the car and saw the passenger side door open. Seraphina however was nowhere in sight.
I moved over and looked into the empty seat and saw her cell phone blinking on the floor. Nan’s number flashing back at me. I slid my finger over the answer button and was just about to tell my nan to something was wrong when I heard the whimper.
I knew the sound was coming from the master bedroom of the apartment. I’d forgotten the phone I was holding in my hand and turned back toward the apartment. My coyote howled in my head and forced himself to the front of my mind just as we smashed through the door and bolted towards the bedroom.
They had her tied to the bed by all four of her limbs. She was gagged and her eyes were covered with a bandanna. Her head was shaking from side to side and I could feel her terror. I tried to speak to her through our mind link but the fear was too high for her to have any kind of comprehensive thoughts.
Her mind and body were already shutting down to protect her from the horrors she expected to happen. I swallowed hard and tried desperately to let her know it wasn’t going to happen again. I wouldn’t let her relive that pain. I tore my eyes away from Seraphina so that I could assess the real situation.
There were nine members of NOFS crammed into the tiny space of the master bedroom. One was positioned very closely to Seraphina and had a large buck knife located over her throat. I moved towards them and the one next to Seraphina tisked at me then said roughly while holding up two fingers
“You have two choices. Choice number one. You submit to us. Drop to the floor with your hands behind your back and allow us to chop off your head. If that happens we will let your eternal heart go without harming her in anyway.”
The moment the words left his mouth the other eight men moved towards me. When I growled and showed them my jaguar fangs and claws they took a quick step back and the one next to Seraphina shouted
“Or choice number two. I slit her throat wide open in front of you, then we all shift into our skinwalker animals and tear you apart limb from limb.”
XLVI~~Ulric’s Perspective
I finished paying for my coffee and moved to the back of the cafeteria. I let a tear slip down my cheek and I slowly wiped it away with the back of my hand. Today was the tenth anniversary of Seraphina’s death. I looked down at my watch and knew that I still had another hour before my shift started.
January was always such a hard month for me. I took a deep breath and forced myself to push Seraphina from my mind. I learned the hard way not to allow myself to dwell on the past. It would make me sick again and I was just finally getting my act together. I felt a shiver go down my spine thinking about the amount of time I’d spent in various mental facilities.
If it hadn’t been for my Nan taking care of me and getting me constant help I would never have survived Seraphina’s death and the death of my skinwalker. I felt a shiver go down my spine and again reminded myself to let the past go. Things were finally coming together for me. I was back to practicing medicine and was even living on my own for the past two years. I took a swallow of my coffee and considered heading into one of the empty rooms and taking a small nap when I heard them call for me over the PA.
“Dr. Natani to the ER Stat”
I looked down at the piping hot cup of coffee in my hand. I took another fast swallow and allowed the hot liquid to slip quickly down my throat. Then I tossed the cup in the nearby receptacle and mentally thanked god for the distraction. I walked out of the cafeteria and pushed the button for the elevator.
The moment the door opened I stepped in. I watched the door close behind me and realised there was a chupacabra now in the elevator with me. I turned slowly and allowed myself to tak
e in his appearance. He was vaguely familiar. I was sure I’d met him when I was very young. I opened my mouth to speak but he shook his head no. So I remained silent. Then to my surprise when the elevator opened he motioned for me to step out with him.
“Dr. Natani to the ER Stat”
I tried to decide if I thought the chupacabra posed any danger to me. With today being the day it was something inside of me was unsettled and more than uncomfortable. I heard the announcement again on the PA and was about to decline joining him when he said
“My name is Quopil Chēchitl. I have a child, her name is Taini and she was born with the blood of a skinwalker and chupacabra within her. All she needs is to share blood with another nagual to finish the process. My wife and I have raised her from an infant. She has a bad heart. We’ve done all we can to keep her alive this long. She needs to finish being converted and comingle her essence with her eternal heart, or she will die in the next few weeks.
We all knew this time would come. I tried but the part of her that is skinwalker is poisonous to me. Pau is missing and, only a nagual like Pau or yourself can finish the process. Her blood is poisonous to all chupacabra. We know your history, and we know that you have rejected her in the past, but… we are desperate to save our daughter and we are convinced that you are her only chance. Please leave with me now and come save my child.”
XLVII~~Taini’s Perspective
“Mum, where did pop go?”
I tried hard to take a deep breath but my lungs refused to obey me. I was used to the pain. I knew that my heart and lungs were failing. I knew even know my lungs were full of fluid that’s why every time I tried to breath my chest rattled. I knew that it would be any day now.
I know my parents had tried everything to save me. They think I don’t know or understand but they are wrong. I’ve heard it all when they think I’m sleeping. I know they can’t finish converting me because I was born with something very wrong with me. I know that my blood is like poison to my pop and with Pau missing, I don’t think there is anyone else left that can help me.
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