The Gathering

by S L Dearing

  "Of course, Captain."

  Sean could feel the malice she oozed as he took a step towards her. She turned and Todd and Quinn moved aside to let her pass. Sean walked up to them.

  "Watch her like a hawk, Boys. I don't trust her as far as I can throw her."

  They both nodded and followed her out. Sean had a bad feeling about Rona. He had never liked her.

  He watched them walk off, and then closed the doors.

  32

  Sara sat bleary eyed at the kitchen table. Her brothers and sisters had kept watch over her until she fell asleep, but her face was puffy and pink from crying and her eyes were swollen and red, but remarkably blue.

  Coeli was biting the inside of her lip.

  "Sara?"

  Sara looked over at Coeli.

  "He's not going to give up, Sara."

  "Stop it!"

  Alisha was watching as she leaned against the counter. She took the last bite of grits from her bowl and placed it in the sink.

  "You weren't the only one who lost them, Sara."

  Sara turned and shook her head, tears falling from her eyes. Rebecca stroked her hair and turned to Alisha.

  "Leave her alone."

  "I think we've left her alone for too long," Kaley said, as she walked into the kitchen and sat down.

  "Listen, Sara,” Kaley started. “We all lost Dad and Frank and Colleen. We all died a little that day. But they weren't the first. You don't remember Cassie do you? You didn’t know Gail and Steven. Hell, I barely remember Gail and Steven, but every day I see that pain in Mom’s eyes, and every day she gets up and every day she takes chances. Every day, Sara."

  Coeli took Kaley's hand and they turned to smile at one another. Alisha stepped forward, her arms crossed in front of her.

  "The point is, Sara, we had them. It wouldn't be all of us if mom and dad hadn't taken a chance after losing Gail and Cassie and Steven and decided to become parents all over again, not just once but…a lot."

  The twins nodded in agreement. Tanner leaned forward.

  "But first they had to take a chance on each another."

  Chris leaned forward, too.

  "You know what mom always says," Chris added. "If you never take a chance, you'll never find amazing."

  Tanner looked at his brother and smiled.

  "That sounds so puss comin' out of your mouth."

  Chris pushed his brother's face without even looking at him. Rebecca looked at him.

  "Wasn't it dad who said that?"

  Sara looked around her, shaking her head.

  "What is this? Some kind of intervention? Look, I almost killed Scott Forrester last night. I tried to read the signs and I failed. I can't like anyone, let alone love them. I'll just end up killing them."

  Sara buried her face in her hands and began to sob. Tanner leaned over and took her hands away, despite Rebecca's objections.

  "Is that what you think? That you had something to do with dad and Frank and Colleen getting killed?"

  "Oh, Sara," Kaley said. "We all loved them. None of us had anything to with that. Loving someone doesn't kill them.”

  "And for the record, Sara," Tanner started, "you saved Scott's life. That thing was in his head. If you hadn't sensed something, then chances are that thing would have eventually killed him. What was it called?"

  "Mrs. Petrulengo called it an imp," Chris answered.

  Tanner let go of Sara's face and Alisha sat down next to her and began to wipe away her tears with a cloth.

  "You have a bond with him, Sara. You can't deny that. We all see it. Trust me I know, besides, it's time you took a chance."

  Kaley smiled.

  "It's time to stop hiding, Sara."

  Sara looked around the table at her family. Coeli leaned in and took her arm with her free hand.

  "He said he's not giving up, Sara. He said he won't let you run away from him like you have with every one else."

  Alisha hugged Sara.

  "I think I like Scott Forrester. You're not running from any of us any more, Sara Stark."

  Rebecca looked at everyone and started to cry. Kaley looked over at Rebecca.

  "What's wrong with you?"

  She shrugged and continued crying.

  "I love my family."

  That caused every one to laugh, including Sara, who reached over and grabbed her little sister into a hug.

  Sean walked into the room.

  "Everything alright in here?"

  The kids looked over at Sean and smiled.

  "Yeah," Sara said. "We're ok."

  "Good, cause there's a bunch of guys waiting for you girls outside."

  The older girls got up and started to walk to the main foyer, thanking Sean as they left. Rebecca looked over.

  "Not all of us."

  Sean looked at her and took her hand as he knelt on the floor.

  "You're right. There are no boys for you outside, but David Levine is in the sitting room. Said he wanted to know if you wanted to go to breakfast with him?"

  "Really?"

  "Yeah."

  Sean smiled as Rebecca screamed and looked at her pajamas.

  "Oh My God! Tell him I'll be ready in a minute, no five minutes. Oh My God!"

  She jumped up and ran up the stairs. Sean looked over at the twins who were still recovering from the high-pitched scream, and laughed.

  "You two have breakfast plans?"

  The twins looked at each other and grinned.

  "Lunch."

  Sean smiled as he left the kitchen and walked out to the foyer to see the other girls walking out the door.

  Sara walked outside holding hands with Kaley and Coeli. Waiting on the steps were Ian, Vance, Sam and Scott, who all stood up when the girls appeared from the doorway.

  Kaley gave Sara's hand a squeeze and let go. Alisha, who was behind Sara, rubbed her back and nodded as she walked over to Vance.

  Coeli took a deep breath and also squeezed Sara's hand, but Sara squeezed back, not wanting Coeli to let go. Coeli gently let go.

  "No more running, Sara."

  She left Sara to stand on the steps of the main entrance as Scott walked up the steps and held out his hand.

  Sara looked down at his hand and then into his eyes. She saw his fear. He was afraid she wouldn't love him, afraid she would run. She was afraid. She looked over at her sisters who were waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

  She bit her bottom lip, fighting the urge to run away, to run back inside and lock herself in her room, when she heard her father's voice.

  "The things that are most worth having are the things with the highest risk."

  She was staring at Scott's hand, lost in her thoughts, when she felt her hand reach out and their fingers touch. She looked into his warm brown eyes and he grabbed her hand firmly.

  "I'm not letting you go, Sara Stark."

  She felt her breathing ease and she felt warmth spread across her chest.

  "Ok."

  He leaned up and kissed her, as she blushed.

  "Hey, Bud, can we eat now?"

  Sam was smiling at him.

  "Yeah, we can eat now."

  They all walked off towards the main Dining Hall. From the door Sean watched it all. He turned around and closed the door and saw that Alia was watching him. He motioned that there was someone in the next room.

  Rebecca came bounding down the stairs and almost knocked Alia over.

  "Sorry, Mom."

  She burst into the sitting room and just as quickly as she had run in; she and David Levine came running out.

  "Nice to see you, Mrs. Stark, Captain Lantry."

  "Later, Mom."

  They both ran out the main door. She looked at Sean.

  "Did I miss something?"

  "Don't you always?"

  "Very funny. Did you eat?"

  "Nope, not yet."

  Alia motioned for him to follow her into the kitchen and he did. They sat at the table and proceeded to have breakfast. Sean was happy he had wo
ken up early.

  33

  Stephan Merganser sat quietly rubbing his forehead as he processed what he had seen the night before. He thought it might have been a dream, save for the others who had also witnessed the event. It had been real. He had watched Alia Stark pull some sort of creature from the young atheist's head. He sighed heavily, knowing that Satan was afoot in this heathen village and only he could stop the dark prince.

  He had prayed for guidance and waited for the Lord to send his instructions. He knew he would need assistance, but to whom could he go? He admired Justin's faith, but he was not sure Justin would understand the magnitude of evil they would be dealing with. Stephan had seen the tiny creature, black as night. The old gypsy woman had placed something in its mouth and she undoubtedly sent it to a containment area so she could call on it at a later date to do her wickedness. He thought to himself, "Poor Alia, she's so misguided."

  Stephan dropped to his knees and prayed for answers. In the middle of his prayers he glanced at the note on his bed stand. It was from that woman healer, Rona Mason. She wanted to meet with him. Perhaps she would have some insight to this horrible event. He needed assistance and information.

  Yet as he prayed his thoughts wandered and he saw Alia as his goodly wife. The thought of her naked and waiting for him in their marriage bed was more than he could bear.

  He raised his head and looked to the heavens.

  "I know, Lord, you wish for me to save her by making her my wife, but how do I cleanse the evil from this place? Help me, Heavenly Father! Help me!"

  Stephan, who had been holding up his hands in anguish, now brought them to his forehead and continued his silent prayer as he rocked back and forth.

  From the balcony ledge, a falcon had been watching. He screeched quietly and flew off towards the center of the village.

  34

  The main Dining Hall was humming as everyone spoke about the incident of the previous evening and when Scott and the others walked into the hall, all heads turned and the room went silent.

  Coeli looked around and shook her head. She stepped up and grabbed a plate and then nodded at Sam and the others to come with her. Kaley and Ian had walked to the other side of the village to get breakfast from the vendors, but everyone knew they just wanted to be alone.

  The foursome collected their food and walked to an empty table, avoiding the suspicious stares from some of the other diners.

  Elian Merganser was sitting with Brittany Roberts and some of the other young people from Crystal Shade, but he stared intently at Sara Stark. He narrowed his eyes and thought to himself.

  "Now she's eating with that mammoth atheist, who is most probably still possessed by a demon. First he steps in where he isn't wanted on the opening night and now this."

  He took a deep breath and got up, excused himself and walked over to the table where Sara and the others now sat.

  Sam looked up from his plate and saw Elian walking towards them. He nudged Scott.

  "Check it out, Bud. Your main competition is on his way over."

  Scott, who was busy eating, looked up and saw Elian approaching. He wiped his mouth and nodded for Sara to see. She and Coeli turned and saw Elian walking towards them and grimaced. Coeli sneered at him.

  "I really…really dislike him."

  "I don't have the strength to deal with this right now," Sara said.

  Scott smiled and took her hand. He then pulled it towards him and kissed the back of her hand at the tips of her fingers, making her blush. She almost forgot about Elian, until she heard him clear his throat. She rolled her eyes and put on her best fake smile, which caused Sam to almost choke on his food. Sara turned around.

  "Good morning, Elian."

  "Good morning, Sara. May I sit for a moment?"

  Before she could answer, Elian sat down next to her.

  "I came over to ask you a question."

  "Yes?"

  "Well, I was wondering if you might do me the honor of having lunch with me."

  Sara looked at Scott, who was eating his food. He glanced up and winked at Sara, which made her smile. She looked back at Elian, who saw the wink and started to turn red with anger.

  "I'm sorry, Elian, but… Scott is going to be my escort for the remainder of the Gathering."

  Scott looked up and smiled at Elian, which only fueled the fire already raging inside of him. He turned back to Sara and slowed his breathing.

  "But, Sara, he is an atheist."

  Scott raised a finger in objection and drank his coffee to wash down the bacon, eggs and potato he had just put in his mouth.

  "Actually, I beg to differ, my mom's the atheist. I'm an agnostic, but I'm thinking I may actually be a pagan."

  "There you are, Sara, a heathen."

  Sara raised her eyebrows.

  "I'm a pagan, Elian."

  Elian looked at her and could see he was losing her.

  "Yes, but you're baptized."

  “Yes, I know. It was my dad's idea."

  Elian began to twitch and change what he was saying.

  "I understand, but you must have some…"

  "Thank you for your kind offer, Elian, but I really must get back to my food. It's getting cold."

  Sam and Scott were smiling and looking at Elian, who was now red with anger and humiliation.

  "I'm sorry if I offended you, Sara. Perhaps you will at least allow me the opportunity to dance with you later this evening."

  "Perhaps."

  Elian took a deep breath and stood up and walked away from the table. Scott started to laugh. Sam shook his head and looked at Coeli, who was now smiling as she watched Elian leave. She then looked at Sam and the two of them looked at Sara and laughed. Scott was smiling at Sara, as well.

  "That was awesome."

  Sara couldn’t resist letting a smile cross her lips. Scott took another gulp of coffee and nodded at Sara.

  "Can I ask you a question?"

  "Sure."

  "Last night you said you were kind of psychic. When you felt my pain could you also see what I was thinking?"

  Sara shrugged and then nodded. Scott smiled at her.

  "Can you still see what I'm thinking?"

  Sara looked into his eyes. Almost immediately, images flew into her head with lightning speed. She looked down at her food, turning a bright crimson. Scott again smiled.

  "I guess you can."

  Still smiling, Sara looked up from her food as Scott looked back down and started eating again.

  "Ok, can I ask you a question?"

  "Sure."

  She thought, "Can you still read my mind?"

  Scott shrugged still looking at his plate.

  "I don't think so."

  Sam looked over at Scott.

  "You don't think what, Bud?"

  Scott looked up and motioned towards Sara.

  "What, you didn't hear her? She asked if I could read her mind."

  Coeli looked up at Scott and then at Sara. Sam looked at the girls and then at Scott.

  "Uh, Sara didn't say anything."

  "Sure she did, I heard her."

  "No," Coeli responded. "She didn't say anything, Scott."

  Scott stopped chewing and looked at Sara, who was grinning back at him. She shook her head.

  "I thought it, but I didn't say it."

  Scott took a deep breath and folded his hands in front of him. He looked at everyone at the table, and then shrugged his shoulders.

  "Well, then I guess I can read your mind, can't I?"

  Sara smiled.

  "Yeah, I guess so. Don’t you think that’s weird? I mean I can’t read anyone else’s mind."

  Scott shrugged.

  “There’s lots of stuff we can’t explain. Hell, I've seen more weird stuff in the last twenty-four hours than in my whole life. I get attacked by air and lose my sight, temporarily, go to a party and spend the night hanging with this great girl I've been wanting to get to know for a long time. Then when I get to kiss this girl, all hell
breaks loose and I ultimately get some sort of weird creature pulled out of my head, lose the girl and then get the girl back a few hours later. Then it turns out that that the great girl is my girlfriend and I can read her mind and she can read mine? That’s a busy day and it's still early.”

  The table sat staring at him and Sara smiled and blushed. Coeli and Sam looked at each other and Sam leaned forward.

  "Can you read my mind?"

  Coeli shook her head.

  "Can you read mine?"

  Sam shook his head.

  Scott and Sara laughed as Gordon Hutton brought more meat and bread to the table. Vance and Alisha walked over to the table. Vance was carrying two large plates of food. He set them down and pulled out a chair for Alisha. Coeli looked over at her sister.

  "I thought you already ate?"

  Alisha sat down and smiled.

  "I did."

  Vance pushed his long hair back and pulled both plates over towards him and started to dig in as Gordon looked at him and shook his head, then turned to leave. The girls thanked him and he smiled.

  "What did you guys do to Elian?" Alisha asked.

  Sara and Coeli looked over at Alisha. Coeli took a bite of food and looked away.

  "Well?"

  Alisha was looking directly at Sara now. Sara revealed what had occurred. Vance started to laugh, along with the already smiling Sam and Scott. Alisha turned to Vance.

  "It's not funny."

  Vance just looked at her and nodded and continued to laugh.

  "It's not, Vance, he's gonna feel slighted. Mom’s not going to be happy."

  "Good," Coeli said.

  The table went silent as all eyes were on the raven-haired girl.

  "What? He's spoiled and selfish and obsessed with my sister and it's creepy. And really his dad is just as bad as he is. He does the same thing with mom. Sara was polite, but firm. She let Elian know that she's with Scott and that's how it is and he got pissed and embarrassed because he wanted Sara to be his girlfriend but she's with Scott now, so he left."

  Everyone but Sam was looking at her strangely. Sam was smiling. Alisha leaned towards him.