The Awakening: A Witch-Vampire Romance: Feel the Heat.

by Anastasha Renee

  I start to relax in my seat, accepting the inevitable as we pull into my parent’s drive. I am stunned at what I see. There is a huge plume of smoke coming from the back yard.

  Uncle Dan turns to me with a puzzled expression.

  “I wonder what they’re burning at this time of night,” he mutters more to himself than to me.

  I don’t have the heart to tell him, but I have a pretty good idea. My things. Everything that made that hell hole of a house my home. All gone. Nothing but tar and ash to remember me by. Talk about knowing your place within your family.

  Okay, I have to snap myself out of this. I am not the whiney little bitch that I am currently playing. I’m strong. I’ve survived this long. I can cope with this also.

  Uncle Dan slowly exits the car as if he dreads going to the door. I think on some level he knows what is happening out back. I can see the front door perfectly from my perch in the front seat. My mother answers the door and I see her start to scream at Dan. Then Dan shakes his head, yells something at my mother, and stomps back down the walk toward me and his car. Dan opens his door, trying to keep a pleasant face. As if I don’t know what she’d said or what she and my father had done.

  “Welp, kid. Looks like shopping it is, after all. Might as well play hookie from school tomorrow while you are at it, it being so late and all. We can make a day out of it. I’ll even make you your favorite strawberry waffles in the morning.”

  I smile.

  “That sounds great, Uncle Dan, a perfect day, just like we used to do when I was younger,” I throw some fake enthusiasm into my voice so he won’t think I don’t appreciate everything that he is doing for me.

  Until I was about thirteen, Dan used to pick me up and spend the day with me every Saturday. He never liked my father much, but he had always loved me. I could always count on him to be there. So I keep a pleasant façade on my face, all the way to his home. He really is trying.

  When we pull off the main road in town, onto a dirt track that leads to Dan’s cabin in the woods, I start to perk up. It has been forever since I’ve been here. It is a happy place for me. Just what I need after a night like tonight.

  Dan’s home is a two story log and rock cabin. It truly is gorgeous. As we stroll through the front door we are bombarded by his mutt, Chewy. Chewy is short for Chewbacca. He really is an ugly thing, but I have always loved his hairy ass.

  “I have the guest room all made up for you. That’s what took me so long to get to you earlier. I was trying to find the clean sheets. Why don’t you go on up there and turn in, Ella girl. You look plum tuckered.”

  I couldn’t agree more. I am more than ready to get off this rollercoaster of a night. I hug my Uncle goodnight. “Night, Uncle Dan. Thanks for everything. I really mean that,” I say. “Love you!” I call over my shoulder as I trudge up the steps.

  “Don’t worry your pretty little head, Ells. You are still my little blackbird. Everything looks better in the light of day.” I can hear the faint smile in his voice even though I’m not looking.

  When I reach my room I realize that I feel like I had been hit by an emotional freight train. All I want to do is take a shower to rinse the funk off of me. I walk through the bedroom I often used during my visits when I was younger. Everything still looks the same, out-dated posters hanging on the walls, the same wrought iron white bed that Uncle Dan must have made up with new sheets, there is even a case of old make-up sitting on the dresser that he bought me in secret for my thirteenth birthday.

  I see all of the familiar things and smile as I drag my feet across the thick carpeting. When I reach the small in-suite bathroom I turn straight for the shower and turn on the water as hot as it will allow. The pipes clank and squall as the water begins to rush through them. When the water reaches its steaming point, I quickly shuck my clothes and climb in. I stand under the hard spray of the water, just reliving the day in my mind as I start to wash and rinse my hair. I make quick work of it then I grab the new bar of soap from the side of the shower and start to wash. There are some definite high points. But most of the day had been pure shit.

  I quickly rinse the last of the soap and suds from my body and turn the hot water off. I step out of the shower, shivering as the cooler air hits my goose-pimpled skin. I quickly reach for the first towel I see and half ass dry off. Before I know it I am diving for the covers of my bed, snuggling deep between the blue sheets and down comforter. I am out before I remember my head hitting the mounds of pillows.

  Chapter 3.

  I wake with a start. Disoriented at first, not knowing where I am. Then I recall last night and everything that had happened. I remember my promise to myself. No more being anyone’s doormat. I don’t have to answer to my mother anymore. No need for me to hide myself behind a docile, meek façade. My ever present mask can finally melt away.

  I can hear Uncle Dan banging pots in the kitchen. The smell of salty bacon beckons me to go and enjoy. I sweep the blankets off of me slowly. I don’t remember covering myself up before I crashed. Dan again. You can see why he has always been my favorite. I stretch and feel the stress of the last days fall away. This house has always been home to me. My parents hadn’t always let me visit as much as I would have liked.

  I grab my bag off the night table beside the bed in search of my phone. I can just guess how many angry texts and rants I got from Jessa. While I was fumbling in my bag, I find something warm to the touch. I gingerly pulled out the gorgeous necklace that I’d found last night. Holding it up to the sun streaming through the window, I notice that it did indeed sparkle from within the stones. It feels like home. While holding the necklace, a calmness sweeps over me. Like a hug from someone who loves you completely.

  So lack of sleep, stress, or just the complete drama of the last couple of days has driven me nuttso, I think. Straight jacket anyone? Nope not me. I carefully place the necklace under my pillow. Out of sight, out of mind, and all that jazz.

  I get up off the bed and go in search of something that doesn’t smell. I am not a fan of day old undies. Searching through the dresser in the room I have currently taken over, I find a pair of boxers and an old Brave’s t-shirt. After using the toilet and doing what personal things I am able to do without my normal toiletries, I skip down the staircase and find my uncle singing to an oldies station and swinging his ass as he stirs the bacon. I try to stifle a giggle, but don’t even remotely succeed.

  “Practicing for American Idol, Uncle Dan?”

  “Ells, you know I still got it, kiddo. Hell, I have to beat ‘em off with a stick every time I leave the front door.” He makes motions with the spatula like he is whacking hopefuls left and right.

  “Dork, you better be glad I love you,” I chuckle.

  “Sit down, Ella girl. Breakfast will be ready in a jiffy and then we are going to talk about what happened last night. And what we are going to do about it.”

  I slump down in the first chair I come to. “Uncle Dan, I don’t have any sort of plan. I wasn’t expecting this. What she did wasn’t warranted. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “I wasn’t blaming you for my sister’s mental break, darling. I just want to work out some kind of plan so we know what to expect from here on out.”

  He dishes me a plate of hard scrambled eggs and bacon. The food that smelled so good a moment ago, tastes like saw dust in my mouth as I spoon the first bite.

  “Now why don’t you start from the beginning and tell me everything that happened after you got home and what led up to it.”

  I told Uncle Dan about the words my mother and I’d had yesterday morning. I told him about being targeted by a bully at school and the vile shit written on my locker.

  “Hold on there, missy. What did you mean, they won’t do anything about what someone wrote on your locker?”

  “This girl Sabrina has the school locked in. Her mom is the head of every board there is. There is just nothing I can do about it. It scares me a bit to be honest. The last person she targeted ended
up in a continuous comma after a freak car accident.”

  Uncle Dan shudders at that news. “Well I’m still going to have words with your principal and then after we get you something decent to wear, we are making a trip to the police department. Now, on to more pressing matters. What exactly did my mental sister tell you last night before she left that lovely mark on your face?”

  I raise my hand to my right cheek at the mention of the slap.

  “She said she wasn’t my mother. That she never wanted me. That it was a mistake to ever let me into her home. Under her roof. Then she threw my purse out the door and started shoving me out the same way.”

  Uncle Dan’s skin is ashen by the end of my rant. “Well, sweetie, I know this will be hard for you to hear, but you are adopted.”

  I’m pretty sure my jaw hit the table.

  “Ella, you have to listen to me. What she said to you, your mother I mean-”

  “SHE IS NOT MY MOTHER,” I pretty much scream.

  “Calm down, Ells. What I meant was that when she told you that you were adopted- No, stay there you need to hear this,” he makes a staying motion with his hand as I am about to bolt from the seat. “I found you when you were about three months old. You were wrapped in a pretty little pink blanket, just lying in a basket in the cold November weather on my front porch. I went out for the morning paper and I found you there just cooing at me. Shaking your little fist. I picked you up, basket and all, and rushed inside, afraid you were going to get sick from the cold. When I got you inside, I actually got my first real look at you. God, you were so beautiful. The prettiest baby that I had ever seen. I fell in love with you on the spot.”

  “Then why didn’t you keep me, Uncle Dan? Why did you have to give me to them,” I fairly spat the last word.

  “Ells, you have to believe me. If I could have kept you with me, I would have. I wasn’t equipped to take care of a baby. I was only eighteen. The same age you are now. My father had just passed and I was struggling to take care of myself. So I called my married sister and her preacher husband. They had a stable home. I thought it was the right choice. I was wrong on so many things. I will never forgive myself for the things they did to you growing up.”

  “Dan, it wasn’t your fault. I can see that now. I’m sorry I yelled at you.” I get up and hug him into my arms. The tears I see in his eyes tear at my heart. My uncle never cries.

  “Ella, I promise I will make this right, but first I think you should see the note that was left with you when you were placed in my life.” He gets out of his seat and strolls over to the locked cabinet against the far wall of the dining room. He retrieves an old, sealed envelope. “Here, Ella girl. I don’t know if this will help, but it’s yours. I think you are old enough to have it now. I haven’t ever opened it. It didn’t seem to be my place. I just wish my sister hadn’t thrown out the other thing that was left with you.”

  He hands me the fragile piece of my past. I gently open the seal with trembling hands and pull out a folded piece of paper and begin to read.

  My Dearest Arabella,

  My darling girl, you have to know that if there was any other way I would have found it. I have to believe that I’m doing the right thing for you. For myself also. It might seem selfish to you that I chose to give you away, but one day you will understand. I hope that you will understand. I want so many happy and joyous things for you, my darling. I will always love you. I have loved you since you were first put into my arms. I will continue to do so until my last breath.

  So many changes are going to be coming your way. I pray that you have the strength of your father to withstand them. I’m a weak woman. For I fell in love where there was no love and there was nothing but trouble waiting for me in return. I was wrong about so many things so far, but never you. My life is yours. Always will be. When the changes start to happen keep an open mind. Don’t turn away and run. Open your arms, your heart, and yourself. Please heed my words. Your soul is bright, so full of light and happiness. I can see that, even now when I look into your jade eyes.

  Please find it in your heart to forgive me. There is danger coming for me. Someday it will come for you also. You have to be careful with whom you trust. Keep your secrets close. I know that you don’t understand all that I have written. I’m sorry that I’m not there to prepare you for the trials ahead as a mother should. Again, I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me this also.

  Just know that I love you. I have faith in you. Have faith in yourself. I’m always with you. I pray one day, if I’m still on this plane of existence, that we will find one another again.

  You have a brother, Gavin, born just four minutes before you. Watch for him, for he will find you. You are twin souls. You are never far from one another.

  I have left a talisman with you, tucked into your blanket. It will guide you. Keep you safe. Wear it always. Don’t forget that you are loved.

  Blessed be my daughter.

  Your loving mother,

  Ezmera

  I look up at Dan with tears streaming down my face. I am reeling with confusion and sadness. I have a brother? Dangers are coming for me? What the hell? Thoughts and confusion swarm my brain. I feel like I am suffocating, drowning in everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours. I must be hyperventilating because Dan shoves my head between my knees and yells for me to just breathe. I try to take slow breaths and repeat to myself that I am strong. I can handle anything. Everything else will come in time. I don’t need to know everything right this minute. After about ten minutes I get my breathing back under control and stop freaking out. I sit up and have only one question on my mind.

  Where is the talisman that my mother had left for me?

  Dan gets up and gets a glass of tap water for me to drink. He hands it to me as he sits himself in the chair close to mine.

  “Are you feeling any better, Ells? What was in the letter that had you so upset?”

  “I really don’t want to talk about it right now, Uncle Dan, if that’s okay?” I try to smile at him to soften my words.

  “Sure it’s okay, sweetie.”

  “But I do have one question. You mentioned earlier that my mother threw something out when she took me in. The letter also mentions some kind of talisman that was left with me. Do you know where it is? Or what happened to it?”

  Dan runs a weary hand over his face. “Sweetie, I really have no idea what Barbra did with it. It was beautiful though. It hung from a rope of silver. Had stones the color of your eyes and smaller moonstones mixed in with it.”

  I just about fall out of my chair. That sounds just like the necklace that I have stashed under my pillow upstairs. I decide to keep quiet about having it. I really don’t know why, but it feels right, like it is a secret between me and my birth mom.

  “Uncle Dan, I’m going to head up to my room for a shower, if that is okay? I just need some time to process. Thanks for being honest with me. And for everything that you did for me last night.”

  “Ella girl, you know I would do anything for you. You are my little blackbird. I love you to pieces, girl. You just go on and shower and I’ll be here when you are done. Don’t forget to call your little friend now. The loud one has been blowing up my landline all morning,” he chuckles as he leaves the table to start on the breakfast clean up. I feel even worse as I notice that I never even touched anything on my plate.

  The first thing I do when I get to my room is retrieve my necklace from under my pillow. Jessa will just have to wait for me to call her. This is so much more important right now. How can this be the same thing that my mother had left for me to wear? To protect and guide me? I think with confusion, which seems to be the running theme this morning. I decide to start wearing it. I don’t really believe anything about danger coming my way, but better to be safer than sorry in my book. I slip the necklace around my neck and snap the closure on the back. I look at myself in the mirror and I am surprised to see that it still seems to be sparkling from within when i
t touches any part of my skin. I am going to take the letter’s warning to heart and wear it from now on. Besides, it feels like I am home when I am in contact with it. I need all the comfort I can get right now. So many changes, so much new information to process and still the cyclone in my brain swirls on and on. I need a distraction, I think.

  I ring Jessa and she answers on the first ring. “Where in Hades have you been, woman? I have been worried sick. I called your house, but your mom started squawking out scriptures at me. Have I told you lately that she is cray, cray?” When Jessa is excited she rambles. Case in point.

  “Jessa, I’m fine. I had to call my Uncle to come and pick me up last night because the bitch kicked me out and told me I wasn’t hers.”

  “Wait! What, do you mean she disowned you or something?”

  “No. She told me that she never gave birth to me and she was damn glad for it because I have a terrible soul. Can you believe that shit? It seems that Sabrina called my house before we got there last night and decided to spew a bunch of bullshit to my mother about me fucking someone in the Caf yesterday during lunch. Of course she believed Sabrina over me. Her Highness is never wrong. Not ever when it comes to my mother.”

  “Who did you fuck and where was I with my camera?”

  I chuckle. Jessa always has a way of wanting to make me laugh when I’m getting myself worked up.

  “You know damn well I didn’t do anyone. I’m still the only eighteen-year-old virgin you know. Don’t worry, but that’s not even the half of it. The crazy heifer kicked me out and burned all my shit in the back yard. My Uncle Dan had to come and get me. I’m at his place right now.”

  “She burned your stuff? Even all of the things people have given you and the stuff you bought yourself?”