“Look mom, I understand where you’re coming from, I really do, but I have to go. I am well aware of how pissed off she might be when I get there, but she will get over it.” He was trying to convince himself more than his mother.
“Shep, stop and listen to me,” she spoke in her firmest tone. He didn’t turn to her, he only said, “I can’t mom. I have to go. I can’t stay here without her. I love her.” He choked out the last three words. He had never quite admitted to his mother his strong feelings for Lilly.
He felt a light touch on his back. Her words were so soft. He had to strain to hear her. “I know you love her Shep. I have always known, but there are things you just don’t know, things that might change your mind. Please, stay until morning. Let me explain. If you still want to go I will not stop you,” she paused. “I think I know why Annie left.” This stopped Shep. “You know why? Please tell me,” he begged. His mother grabbed his hand, leading him to the picnic table in the yard. It was spring and the air was crisp but dry.
“Wait here,” she ordered before disappearing into the house. Shep was feeling anxious. She really was taking a long time. Finally, she returned with an old hat box in her arms. “What is that?” He asked.
“Photos Shep. They tell a magnificent story. One you may have a hard time believing but believe me son, all I tell you is true. If you truly love Lilly, you will listen and believe.” He had never seen his mother act so strangely. She sat down, across from him and gently lifted the lid of the box.
The inside was full of photos. Most were of their family and pictures of Shep through the years. After digging through the many photos she came up with just three. She laid them out before him. She pointed to the first one. “This is Annie and me. We took this before coming here.” Shep gently picked up the wrinkled photo, and was taken aback by these two women. His mother was so young and beautiful. Her black hair cropped short, exposing her elf like ears. And Annie, she looked so different. Though her hair had not changed, it was still long blond with a slight wave, and her face was not unfamiliar, but something made her look different. Both women were smiling, yet there was fear in both their eyes. Heartache was reflected in Annie’s eyes. That was it, he thought. He remembered her as always being so happy and carefree. This photo portrayed her as frightened and broken.
He set it back on the table. His mother pointed to the next one. “This here is Annie and me pregnant with you and Lilly.” Both women had the familiar look of contentment and happiness he saw every day. There was only the faintest trace of sadness left in Annie. “And this one,” she said as she slid the paper closer to Shep. “This is a man who Annie and I knew as Jax Androni. I understand he now goes by Jax Bane, meaning ability to inflict tyranny and fear. He is an evil man son.” Shep picked up the photo, holding it as if it could catch on fire at any moment.
“What does this Jax Bane have to do with Annie or Lilly?” Shep set the man’s photo back on the table, somehow just holding the photo made his skin crawl. His mother took a deep breath and stood. She was pacing back and forth, deep in thought. She looked as if she was fighting her own internal war. This worried Shep, clearly whatever she had to tell him was terrible. He had never seen his mother in such turmoil.
“Just tell me mom, please. I have to know if Lilly or her mother is in danger.” He was begging now and his mother stopped and looked straight into his eyes. “Tell me this Shep, was Lilly going to Newberg?”
“Yeah, why?” He was getting more worried by the second, and if he was being honest, rather annoyed. “Mom, please, I love her.” The pleading was back.
“Okay Shep, I will tell you, but what I have to say will be hard for you to accept. Please keep your mind open. I promise what I’m about to tell you is true, and I can prove it.” She looked at him, searching his eyes for validation he would absorb all she had to say and believe it.
“I promise mom,” he said simply. She drew in a deep breath. “My name is Akayleah not Leah. Eighteen years ago Annie or Annika, as she was formerly known, and I, traveled through a portal that connects this world to another world. The other world is called Neveah and it is where Annie and I are from.” She paused searching him. He sat still, a look of shock on his face. She continued, “Neveah is much like earth in that there is Royalty, or a family that keeps peace in the land. That was the family of Annika. Her family had been very close to the Androni family for many years and promised each other that one day their children would wed, making them family. Annika, though she loved Jax dearly, was in love with someone else. Her refusal to marry him caused a chain of events that led Annie and I here in search of a life away from Jax Bane.” She cleared her throat, waiting for Shep to speak.
He didn’t, but he did start to laugh hysterically. “You expect me to believe there is some secret portal to another world and you ran away from that world with Annie?” He laughed a little more now, with slightly more madness. His mother had expected this and was prepared to make him believe. She shushed him. “Now you listen Shep, what I have told you is true. It may help for you to know the difference between this place and Neveah. In Neveah, they call the people of Earth, Ordinaries. People of Neveah look very similar to Ordinaries only we possess special abilities. Most have different abilities, though some are passed through generations of families. I lost my family at a young age and lived on my own in the Dark Forest. I can’t tell you if my ability was inherited or not. We are not supposed to show our abilities while here, we want the secret of Neveah kept. But I will show you, if you like.”
Shep sat still, in complete astonishment. Before he could reply, his mother disappeared. He stood, panicking. What the hell was going on? He was frantically looking for her when he heard a giggle. “Shep, I am here. I am not invisible just able to blend into the things around me. Look for my eyes.” He found her eyes in the tree she had been standing next too. He reached a hand out and touched the tree only to feel his mother’s skin. She looked like one with the tree. He jumped back, amazed. “What is going on?” He murmured, more to himself, though the words were audible. He wasn’t afraid, nor was he angry. He believed her now. It was all a little much to take in.
“What about dad. What is his power?” Shep was curious more than anything now.
“Well, your father is Ordinary. We met shortly after my arrival. It was love at first sight and we married soon after our meeting.”
“Does he know about all of this?”
“Yes, I trust him completely with this secret. No one else knows.”
“Do I have an ability? I mean, if dad is Ordinary, would I inherit from you?” His mother took a deep breath before continuing.
“Your father is and will always be your dad, but son, he is not your biological father.” She stopped, waiting for his response.
Shep was confused, though not entirely shocked. He didn’t look anything like his dad, but had always passed it off as genetics skipping a generation. He assumed he looked more like his mother’s family. The confirmation though, that Michael was not his real dad, stung a little. “Does he know?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Who is my real father?” He asked quietly, almost too afraid to hear the answer, but knowing he had to ask.
“He was a man back in Neveah. It was not love between us, and you are better for not knowing him. Shep, your father is here, that doesn’t change.” Her voice was firm, warning him from pressing the issue any further.
She had confided precious secrets to Shep, and he decided not to push.
“Okay, so what about my power? Do I have one?”
She laughed a little before going on. “You were a very rambunctious boy, and we should have had multiple trips to the ER, but you always got better so quickly. I believe you can regenerate Shep,” she said the words quickly and they hung between them.
“You mean, like I can heal myself?” He asked.
“Yes, I think so. Shall we see?” Her brown eyes were dancing as if she was on the verge of discovering some great sec
ret. She was. Shep pulled his pocket knife from his pocket and ran the sharp end across his palm. The cut was deep and blood immediately flowed out of the gash. They both stood, watching the blood flow. Within seconds the blood stopped, and the wound began to close. Right before their eyes the cut healed and his mother giggled. “Yes, son it appears you are more special than I thought.” She was smiling at him and Shep laughed.
This was unbelievable. His heart was thumping hard against his chest. He could feel adrenaline flowing through his veins. “Holy shit, mom! This is freaking amazing!”
“Yes, it is Shep, but you have to remember never to let an Ordinary, other than your father, know about this. Understood?”
“Yeah, I understand. But wait, what does this have to do with Annie leaving and Lilly having to follow?”
“Well, I can’t say for sure, but I think Jax Bane found Annie.”
“You think he kidnapped her?”
“No, your father said he saw someone coming down the road driving a car much too fancy for this area. The man he described to me fit the description of James, Annie’s love, Lilly’s father.”
“So you think she left with this James? Why did Annie never tell Lilly of him?”
“Because she was told he was dead. Jax killed him, right after he raped Annie. She had been so scared the child she carried would be the seed of Jax, but Lilly was always too gentle and kind. She is a healer Shep, like James.”
“Ok but that still does not tell me why Annie ran off with him.”
“Well, I followed Jax to James’ home that night. I heard the torture. I heard screams. Jax came out covered in blood. I was so sure he killed James. No, I am positive he killed him. Jax is a skin walker and can transform himself into anything. Not like me where he becomes one with something, camouflaging. He actually embodies his shift.” Things were falling into place now.
“Wait, you think this Jax character showed up here pretending to be James and coaxed Annie into following him?” Shep asked in disbelief.
“That is exactly what I think,” his mother replied. Well this was quite a predicament Shep thought.
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” He demanded. “I didn’t place it all until your father told me about the visitor to Annie’s. She left without a word to me, which if I am being honest pissed me off a little. I mean I came here with her, helped her, was her best friend and she took off without a word. I really thought she would come back with Lilly and some fantastic story of adventure. I was naïve and stubborn. I am afraid for her now Shep.” His mother’s eyes welled with tears. He could see worry written in the faint lines of her face.
His brain kicked into gear as he started to formulate a plan. He had to get to this house in Newberg as soon as possible. Then he had to find the portal, make it through, and find Lilly. Easy enough he reasoned, only he had no direction to the house, no idea how to find a portal let alone travel through one, and once in this place how the hell would he find her? His mother spoke as if she had read his thoughts.
“I will go with you Shep. I know you love Lilly, but Annie is my closest friend, I have to help her. I should have followed her a week ago.” Shep started to protest when she held up her hand.
“I know where the house is, where the portal is, how to transport, and where to find Lilly. You can’t do this without me. You may be special Shep, but you have been raised an Ordinary.” He mulled this over. He could see the benefits, yet was terrified for his mother’s safety. He had to consider she would be safer than him, after all she knew this place. He turned to his mother and asked, “What about dad?”
“Your father will be just fine. We have discussed this already and he knows I have to go with you. He will wait here for us.” Shep thought this over as well. He felt like an ass, leaving his dad behind. It was one thing for him to go, another altogether taking his mother away. Who knew if they would return? He had no choice, and her mind was made up. He knew well enough there was no changing her mind. “okay, let’s get going.” She smiled and hurried into the trailer to ready herself.
Seven hours later Shep and his mother were pulling into the driveway on Crystal Way. Lilly’s truck sat in the driveway, and Shep felt his heart skip a beat when he saw it. He was still holding out that she was still there, not yet gone through the portal. He was still having trouble wrapping his mind around this. He couldn’t imagine how Lilly was dealing with it all. He tried to tell himself she was in that house and would be beyond excited to see him, running into his arms. Maybe she hadn’t figured out the truth yet. Maybe she was still searching. Something inside him squashed his hopes telling him that she had indeed figured it all out and was long gone to some parallel land. At least he had his mother there, to explain, to soften the blow, to help him understand the impossible. Lilly didn’t have that, she was going in blind, and having to trust the first person she came upon. He hoped against hope it was not that Jax Bane guy.
“Are you going to sit there, staring at the house all day, or are we gonna go in?” His mother’s words interrupted his thoughts. How had she gotten out and around the truck so fast, so quietly? He didn’t bother asking, he knew it would be some supernatural answer. “Yeah, I’m coming.” He slowly exited the truck, still weary of what he was coming upon. He followed his mother to the front door and she was chattering out of control, “Wow, this place has not changed a bit. I can’t wait to see inside. I wonder if she is here. I wonder if Shep will have the ability to travel through the portal.” Her out loud thoughts were grating his nerves.
“Mom, please? I am a little nervous and your spoken thoughts are not helping. Can we just get to the door?” She giggled a little. She knew how serious her son could be. She also knew his belly was in knots with anxiety and worry. She really had dropped a bomb on him, sort of information overload. She was asking him to believe the unbelievable and trust in something unknown.
“Shep, come on, the door is open.” She was coaxing him in, but he just stood on the porch. An improvement from the truck she supposed, still he wore shock in his eyes. She took him firmly by the hand and led him through the front door.
“Lilly honey, it’s Mrs. Wagner and I brought Shep,” she was hollering through the house but no reply came. Shep realized he had been holding his breath, waiting for a response. He let it out, releasing his hand from his mother’s. “She’s not here mom, come on, show me to this portal,” he demanded, setting off deeper into the house.
The house was the largest house he had ever been in, and he knew it would’ve been the largest for Lilly too. He couldn’t stand the thought of her being alone here and cursed himself again for letting her go without him. Though the house was decorated nicely and well kept, apparently someone had a hand in interior design; the place was unsettling to Shep. He showed himself around, only staying a few seconds in each room. His mother stayed in the entry way, quiet for a change. He could feel Lilly in this house yet knew in the pit of his belly that she was not there. In the kitchen, on the table, he found a letter to him. Hands trembling, he picked it up, excited to read her thoughts, but for some reason afraid to know them. He read anyway.
Dear Shep,
Something has come up and I must leave this place. I can’t tell you where I am going, because I am not sure myself. I have learned some things here that would blow your mind, but it’s much too unbelievable to tell you in a letter. I’m still unsure I believe it all myself. I have to find out the truth though, it involves my mother. I don’t know when I will be back, or when I will have a chance to write again. I love you Shep, and the thought of coming home to you is a driving force for me to get back. Please try not to worry. I will be back before you can miss me.
Love you always,
Lilly
There were tear stains on the paper, old and new. Shep had not realized he had been crying, but he had noticed the tears left behind by Lilly. He wiped his tears away, folded the letter and tucked it safely in his pocket. An envelope on the table caught his eye. It was addres
sed to him, with postage, and appeared to have been sealed and reopened. Strange he thought. Why, had Lilly changed her mind about sending the letter? He didn’t think about it long, because it didn’t matter at that point. All he cared about was finding her. He walked back to the entryway where he had left his mother standing.
“Well, I found a letter and you were right, she has gone off to find Annie. How do we get there?” He was more than anxious to get going.
“Well, first we need to unload the truck and pack some smaller bags to bring with us. Come on and help me.” And with that she walked out the door and headed to the truck. They hadn’t brought much and were able to carry it in with only one trip. They set their bags in the room to the left of the entryway, and Shep’s mother started to give him direction. “Pack a change of underwear, a shirt and socks. Leave the rest of your clothes here. We will need room in the bag for other things. Hopefully we won’t be gone too long anyway.”
She was ruffling through her own bags. Shep watched as she emptied the contents of her small bag, and repacked it with her own change of under things and a shirt. She removed her jacket from the larger bag tying it around her waist and changed her flip flops to hiking shoes. She carefully pulled her black hair on top of her head creating a bun, securing it with a rubber band and bobby pins she pulled out of her pocket. She picked through her things until she found what she was looking for: a flashlight, a pack of batteries, a water bottle, her pocket knife, and a picture of Shep’s dad. She placed all the items in her small bag and looked at Shep. “Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!” She was heading to a different room, leaving Shep to his own devices.
He grabbed his backpack and dumped the contents on the floor. He picked up the flashlight and put it back inside. He decided two was better than one, and he would rather not be unprepared. He also packed a bag of beef jerky and some protein bars inside. He filled his bottle with water and secured it in the mesh pocket. He did as his mother said and packed a change of underwear and shirt, as well as a flannel and his father’s hunting knife. He knew his mother had her own little pocket knife, but doubted it would protect them if needed. His knife would protect them. He would protect them. Shep also thought it was wise to pack a lighter, or two, in case they found themselves sleeping outdoors. The thought of outdoor nights prompted him to pack his camping blankets. He would have to remove his extra clothes and wear the flannel but he thought it would be worth it.
Neveah Box Series (Neveah Box Set Book 5) Page 7