by KT Webb
Kerr dodged the pillow and closed the door behind him. He made his way down the hall and down the stairs. At the base of the stairs, Romulus was waiting for him. He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face when he saw his many times great grandpa.
“Congratulations, son. I am so proud of you,” Romulus said, slapping him on the back.
“Thank you. I think I’m in shock. She actually wants to marry me,” Kerr said, then he smiled slyly. “By the way, it’s going to be a girl.”
Romulus let out a whoop and hugged Kerr. This would be the first girl born to his bloodline. Kerr knew it would mean a lot to him, especially when he found out what her name would be. But Kerr decided to keep that a secret. Nora didn’t even know yet. The doorbell rang, and Kerr knew it was time to introduce his mother to his new life. He opened the front door and was surrounded by the hugs of his mother and stepfather.
“How are you, son?” his stepfather asked.
“I’m doing great. I can’t wait for you guys to meet everyone,” Kerr said warmly.
He loved his stepdad, Andrew, but he never called him dad. His mother remarried shortly before he turned ten, and while Kerr knew this was good for her and could see the happiness surrounding them both, Andrew wasn’t Cole. He knew Andrew never tried to take Cole’s place, and he always respected the traditions and family heirlooms that kept Kerr’s real father alive for Kerr and his mother, Melanie. He still hadn’t told them about the Evolved or his own ability. He felt like telling his mother would somehow tarnish his father’s memory and lead her to worry about Kerr. Now that he was expecting a child of his own, he needed her to believe he was strong and stable.
“Mom, Andrew, I want you to meet Romulus,” Kerr said, gesturing behind him. He winced slightly when his mother stared open mouthed at Romulus, no doubt recognizing the similarities between him and her late husband.
“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Hodges,” Romulus said with a slight bow. “Kerr has told us so much about you both.”
Kerr led them into the dining room where they were greeted by everyone but Nora and Thatcher. He knew Nora would be down soon, but Thatcher would probably remain by Malcolm’s side. Once he’d made introductions all the way around, he was pleased to see Nora coming down the stairs.
“Oh, Nora!” he said excitedly. “Mom, Andrew, this is Nora, my fiancé.”
He heard a sharp intake of breath from Hadley and Whitley as they attempted not to squeal with delight. Tahlia smiled warmly at them, with Eric at her side. Dorian nodded approvingly. Kerr had already obtained his blessing. His mother had tears in her eyes as she looked at the two of them, and Andrew smiled proudly.
“It’s nice to meet you, Melanie and Andrew. You have an amazing son,” Nora said shyly.
Kerr was pleased to see his mother rush forward and gather Nora into her arms.
“I’ve always wanted a daughter,” Kerr heard her whisper.
Nora blushed. Andrew approached her and gave her a tight hug. After the introductions were complete, everyone sat around the large table. Thatcher had not appeared, but no one wanted to draw attention to that while Kerr’s parents were visiting. They enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal together, then everyone retired to the sitting room for coffee and tea.
“Tahlia, the meal was delicious,” Melanie said politely.
“Thank you. Eric and the girls helped me. It’s been a long time since I made a feast for so many people,” Tahlia replied warmly.
“We really must be going, dear,” Andrew told his wife apologetically. “We promised to make a few other stops this evening, and we don’t want you to feel the need to entertain us.”
Kerr had expected them to stay a little longer, but understood why they would say their goodbyes. He hadn’t been forthcoming with the reason why he moved into this house with all these people he had only just met. Kerr decided his mother only came to make sure he was alright. Both she and Andrew seemed satisfied that there was nothing to worry about, so they were ready to take their leave. It was better for them to live in ignorance than to know that Kerr was preparing for a prophesied battle with a group of other people with special abilities. He had a feeling they would have locked him up for that.
He got up and led them to the door, motioning for Nora to follow. Once they were in the foyer, he took Nora’s hand and shared the rest of his good news.
“Mom, Nora and I are expecting a baby,” Kerr said gently, unsure of how she would react.
His mother was silent for a few moments, as though it was too much to process in one day. She looked at the two of them, assessing the situation as he had seen her do so many times before. Kerr prepared himself for the onslaught of questions he was sure were about to come.
“Okay,” she replied. “You’re young. You’ve only known each other for about two months. But I can see that you love each other deeply.”
Nora let out a cry of relief. “You have no idea, Melanie. Your son is the most amazing person I have ever met. We have spent a lot of time together, and I know it sounds crazy or naïve, but Kerr is the man for me, and he would be even if it weren’t for the baby.”
Kerr squeezed her hand and kissed her hair. She smelled amazing, as always, and he couldn’t wait to give her everything she ever wanted. His mother smiled at the two of them.
“So, I’m going to be a grandma,” she said happily.
“Yes. And Andrew is going to be a grandpa,” Kerr said simply. He noticed the sentiment took his stepdad by surprise. He probably hadn’t expected that Kerr would encourage his children to call him grandpa. The truth was, Andrew had never been his father; he had known and loved his father with all his heart. But from the day his daughter is born, she will know three men as her grandfather. Andrew, Dorian, and Romulus. What a lucky little girl.
Chapter Thirty-Four:
Malcolm
When he woke up he looked around the room. At first, he didn’t know where he was. He started to panic. Malcolm opened his eyes and saw Thatcher staring at him.
“Hey,” Malcolm said weakly.
“Hey kid,” Thatcher replied.
“I’m sorry,” Malcolm told him.
“Malcolm, it’s alright. You didn’t know any better,” Thatcher reassured him.
“He’s my father. He told me about how much he loved my mother, then he tortured me. How could he do that? How could someone be so awful?” Malcolm asked.
Thatcher just shook his head at him and shrugged.
“He’s evil,” Thatcher said.
“I know. I guess I’ve always known. But I thought it was okay. He had convinced me that my parents died because of the Evolved. He had convinced me that the only reason I was alive was because he was protecting me. I know that was a lie, but I still don’t know the truth,” Malcolm said sadly.
Malcolm kept reliving the last month in his mind. The pain he had endured was more than he could handle. Absalom and Silas made a game out of torturing him. Each time he begged for death, they would leave him to heal so they could start over. He tried to sit up, but the air mattress was making a lot of noise, and he was in a lot of pain.
“Hold on, Malcolm. Let me go get Kerr. He can help you,” Thatcher said as he got up to leave the room. “I’ll be right back, don’t move.”
Malcolm lay in the bed waiting for Thatcher to return. He told him not to move, but Malcolm wasn’t sure that he could move on his own anyway. He was trying to keep his emotions under control. He had made some awful decisions in his life, but he couldn’t help but feel like some of those decisions were made for him. Absalom raised him for a specific reason; to infiltrate the Evolved and eventually help him take over the world. He choked back a sob and closed his eyes. Now that he knew the truth about why Absalom let him live, he knew he could help the Evolved gain the upper hand. Despite his ruthless behavior, he had a weak spot. Cassandra was his weak spot. He opened his eyes to see Thatcher and Kerr file into the room.
“Kerr’s ability has advanced. He can sens
e pain and heal whatever it is that is causing the pain,” Thatcher told him.
“Just my body though, right?” Malcolm asked apprehensively. When he saw the confusion on Thatcher’s face, he continued, “I’m dealing with some emotional pain too, but I need to keep that. I need it to help you.”
Kerr stepped forward and smiled at him. “I don’t think I can take away emotional pain. But I will make sure to only focus on your physical pain, okay?”
Malcolm nodded his head. He watched Kerr place his hands on Malcolm’s abdomen. The pain came to the surface and Malcolm cried out, but his hurt was soon forgotten as he saw the green light wrap its way around his body. Soon his whole body was glowing and his pain was intensifying. It felt like every injury was migrating toward the center of his body as the light drew back to Kerr’s hands. Malcolm clenched his fists and yelled out in agony as the pain reached its peak, then it suddenly dissipated. Kerr stepped back and sat on a chair in the corner, the look on his face unreadable. Now that the physical pain was gone, the emotional turmoil he was in resurfaced and Malcolm let out a sob.
“Why?” he asked Thatcher and Kerr imploringly. “Why me? Why did he do this? How could someone be filled with so much hate?”
Kerr gave him a sympathetic shrug. Malcolm could tell he had no answers. He had probably asked those same questions ever since he witnessed Absalom murdering his father. That realization brought on a new wave of sadness. His father had taken away so much from each of the Evolved. He looked up at Kerr and shook his head.
“I am so sorry, Kerr. I’m sure it’s hard for you to help me. I’m his son, and he took away your dad,” Malcolm said.
“It wasn’t your fault, kid. Absalom has been a psycho for a long time. Long before any of us were even thought of,” Kerr answered.
Malcolm got up and looked down. The first thing he noticed was that he was covered in large ugly scars. They would serve as constant reminders of the torture he lived through. They would serve as symbols of the last time he ever let Absalom use him. The next thing he noticed was that he was wearing nothing but boxers. He glanced up at Kerr and Thatcher and gestured to his current state. Kerr chuckled and told him he would go find him some clothes. He left the room, leaving Malcolm alone with Thatcher.
“So, what day is it?” Malcolm asked.
“It’s actually Thanksgiving. We missed the big meal, but I’m sure there are plenty of leftovers for us to dig into once you’re dressed. You’ve got to be hungry,” Thatcher said.
“Thanksgiving? But when I left it was the middle of September. How has it been that long?” Malcolm asked, trying to wrap his mind around the time he lost.
Kerr returned with some clothes, apologizing that they were likely to be too big. Malcolm shrugged his shoulders and put on the oversized t-shirt and sweatpants. He followed Thatcher and Kerr out of the room and started down the stairs. They heard laughter coming from the kitchen, telling them the rest of the group was cleaning up after the Thanksgiving meal.
As they entered the kitchen, Malcolm made eye contact with Dorian. More memories came crashing back to him. He remembered the stories Absalom had told him the night he returned. He knew there were some important details he had to share.
“Thatcher!” Malcolm exclaimed.
“What?” Thatcher asked in surprise.
“I have to tell you about the night your parents died,” he said seriously.
Chapter Thirty-Five:
Thatcher
Thatcher looked at Malcolm in disbelief as he told him what Absalom had shared with him. Thatcher didn’t know how to react. He was angry at first, wondering why Malcolm had even brought up such painful memories. When he started his story, Thatcher felt like he couldn’t breathe.
“It wasn’t my fault,” Thatcher said quietly.
Malcolm shook his head slowly. “No, he killed your family because of me. He killed them because I killed my mother.”
“Malcolm! You did not kill your mother,” Tahlia said firmly. “Every child of an Old Immortal born to a mortal woman has been motherless. You are no more responsible for that than you are for the actions Absalom took toward Thatcher’s family.”
“I know that in here,” he said, pointing at his head. “But that’s not how it feels here,” he said, indicating his heart.
“Dorian, did you know my mother was your descendant?” Thatcher asked him.
“I found out a few years after they died. When I took Nora in, I thought she was my last descendant. She was nine when your parents died,” Dorian said, lost in his thoughts. “I remember her coming to me during the night sobbing. She told me she had a dream about a fire. She said she saw a little boy all alone watching his house burn, and knew his parents were inside. At the time, I thought it was just a dream.”
“How did I know?” Nora whispered.
“I think she told you,” Dorian said simply. “You kept telling me you saw a woman. The woman took you there. You had dreams after that, and you always saw the same little boy. You would tell me he was sad and lonely. I could see how much it hurt you to see him that way. You told me your mother wanted you to find him.”
“My mother? I don’t even remember her.” Nora appeared to be in shock.
“I know. You saw a picture of her in the newspaper clippings I kept from your accident. The day you found it, you came running to me and told me that this was the woman from your dreams. I didn’t know what to think of that, so I started to investigate,” Dorian said.
“I’m trying to wrap my head around this,” Thatcher said. “How did Nora see me?”
“Your mother had the ability to project herself into others’ thoughts. I’m not sure how she managed to linger for so long, but she made a connection with Nora, and didn’t break it until we found you,” Tahlia explained, then her face softened. “Your mothers were sisters.”
Thatcher looked over at Nora. He hadn’t really noticed the similarities before. Of course he thought her defined cheek bones and round eyes resembled his mother, but he hadn’t really noticed anything else. He smiled at her when she caught him staring. Everyone in the room had come to feel like family to him. He and Whitley acted like siblings, always teasing each other and trying to get the better of one another. Kerr was definitely the big brother he never had, just as Malcolm seemed like a little brother. Tahlia, Romulus, and Dorian all seemed like kindly aunts and uncles, and even Eric had taken on the guise of a distant relative. His feelings toward Hadley were different, but their connection had been instantaneous. That left Nora. She was just there. He liked her all right, but she was more disconnected. He didn’t feel as close to her as he did the others.
“So, Nora is my cousin?” Thatcher asked carefully. “My real cousin.”
Nora nodded at him and came over to his side. “I guess we’ve both had real family all along.”
Thatcher put an arm around her and gave her a small squeeze. He was still in shock, it was a lot to take in. But the most important thing that stood out to him was that his parents didn’t die because of him. It had pained him to hear that Absalom killed them and enjoyed watching them die. He was angry that he’d gone his whole life blaming himself, but his anger was no longer directed inward.
Absalom had unknowingly created the very force that would destroy him. Thatcher felt his chest tighten at the realization that they had gained the upper hand. His anger towards Absalom was intense. He killed his parents, he killed Nora’s parents, he killed Kerr’s father, and he tortured Malcolm. All the doubts he had about his destiny disappeared in an instant.
“Your heart and mind are at odds. You must learn to accept the differences and choose the path that honors both. Do not be led astray by the appearance of innocence,” Thatcher said out loud.
He was greeted by confused looks when he began laughing. He had figured it out. His heart had told him it was all his fault, that he deserved everything that happened to him because he killed his family. His mind told him there was nothing he could have done. His heart and
mind were at odds. He had not let himself be led astray by Malcolm. But the part that really mattered was right now. Thatcher smiled widely as he realized he had chosen his path.
“I know what I’m going to do,” Thatcher said simply. “And I know we’re going to win.”
He looked at everyone and realized how crazy he must seem, which only made him laugh again. This time, his laughter brought something else with it. He felt a vibration in his chest that continued to intensify as he laughed. He stopped laughing when he realized the vibration was making him glow. White light was bursting from his hands and feet. The shock on the faces around him told him they were just as clueless as he was. He rose in the air a few inches, feeling power surge through him. In his mind, he saw Absalom fall to his knees, grabbing his chest and screaming in anguish.
As quickly as it began, it ended. Thatcher found himself standing in the kitchen, facing everyone. They all wore shocked expressions, except Malcolm. Malcolm looked satisfied—maybe even happy.
“Do you feel it?” Malcolm asked him excitedly.
“He’s weaker,” Thatcher said, still trying to catch his breath.
“He’s angry,” Malcolm replied.
Thatcher nodded his head. When he saw Absalom on his knees, he felt a surge of power enter his body.
“What just happened?” Hadley asked in awe.
“Thatcher has claimed his prophecy with absolute certainty,” Romulus answered with respect and amazement.
As all eyes landed on Thatcher. He wasn’t sure how to tell them what this meant. But he had to tell them, they had to be ready. He took a deep breath.
“We need to be ready. He’s coming to us. The battle will happen the day after tomorrow.”
Chapter Thirty-Six:
Whitley
It took them all a moment to register what Thatcher was telling them. Whitley thought they still had time. She reached over and took Hadley’s hand. Her twin squeezed her tightly. Thatcher’s words sent chills through her body that she couldn’t explain. She glanced at her parents. Her father looked worried. He was still so new to all of this. He had jumped back when Thatcher began glowing. Tahlia took his hand to calm and reassure him. Whitley wasn’t sure how Eric would adjust to all this.