Kathrine drove as fast as she could, early in the morning there were very few cars and luckily no police. When she finally got home she pulled up right in front of her dad’s house and honked the horn as she fell on it.
Sarah rushed down the stairs.
“Mark! There’s a car in front of the house!” Sarah yelled.
Mark knew they weren’t supposed to bring cars to the town but he didn’t have the same urgency as Sarah.
“Get ready!” Sarah yelled as she opened the door and crept up on the car. Mark followed her ready to fight if necessary.
When Sarah got close to the car she saw Kathrine.
“Shit! It’s Kathrine, hurry!” Sarah screamed as she nearly tore the door off its hinges.
Mark struggled to get by Sarah but it was no use, she had already grabbed Kathrine and headed to the house. Apparently, Sarah must have been speaking to herself.
Sarah gently placed Kathrine on the couch.
“I need some hot water and some clean towels and some needle nose pliers it looks like.” Sarah was quickly inspecting Kathrine while shouting out commands. “Oh and some alcohol.”
Mark hurried to the kitchen and got everything Sarah asked for.
“Now I need Agnus! Hurry!” Sarah shouted.
Mark ran out the front door and didn’t bother closing it. Within minutes he was back with Agnus. Agnus and Sarah worked on Kathrine and soon they had the bullet out of her leg.
“We just need to clean her wounds and then she’ll need to rest,” Sarah said to Mark when she and Agnus were finished.
“She’ll be ok?” Mark asked. He looked like he might have a heart attack, if Asuune could have them.
“Yes, she’ll be ok. She lost A LOT of blood, but she’ll make it,” Agnus said.
Sarah gave Agnus a death stare.
“It’s ok Sarah, I’d rather hear the truth,” Mark said. “I appreciate the thought though.”
“I thought you were gonna have an aneurism there for a minute,” Sarah smiled.
“Now, for the real question. Since when do vampires use guns?” Agnus asked.
“Azazel…” Kathrine mumbled.
“Kathrine?” Sarah was next to her in a flash but she had passed out again.
“Let’s move to the kitchen and let her get some sleep,” Agnus suggested.
“Ok.” Mark was barely speaking, he wasn’t handling this well after all.
“Don’t worry, honey. She’s strong. She’ll be fine.” Sarah put her hand on Mark’s shoulder and ushered him to the kitchen. Sarah gave Agnus another death stare. She was right, Mark was not ready for this, not with Kathrine.
The three of them talked while Kathrine slept. By supper time she was awake, still very weak but awake. Sarah made her some soup and Mark waited on her hand and foot until Kathrine was worn out again and ready to go back to sleep. In the morning Kathrine was ready to talk. She sat at the kitchen table eating breakfast with Mark and Sarah, trying to figure out how to explain her stupidity.
“I’m really sorry,” Kathrine started.
“Sorry? Why are you sorry,” Mark asked.
Kathrine stared at Sarah.
“You damn well better be sorry, little miss,” Sarah scolded.
“I was just gathering information, I didn’t expect to get caught,” Kathrine explained.
“Gathering information? What were you doing?!” Mark was getting upset, he had figured out that there was a secret.
“I…I…” Kathrine stammered.
“She met her partner, dear. And miss, I can do everything by myself, decided it was a good idea to go find him. Even though I warned her about Paul.” Sarah stared at Kathrine with disapproval.
“Who’s Paul?” Mark was completely confused.
“The guy that saved me. He’s my one,” Kathrine explained.
“Oh, and you knew about this Sarah?!” Mark was getting upset. He couldn’t believe they had kept this from him.
“Kathrine and I are allowed our secrets,” Sarah scolded. Then Sarah turned back to Kathrine. “But only if you can keep your word and not to do anything stupid!”
Mark didn’t say a word, he knew the rules. It had always been the rule that girl talk was off limits and none of his business.
“Can I talk to Sarah?” Kathrine asked.
Mark looked angry. He wanted to say no but the look on Sarah’s face told him otherwise.
“I guess, but you listen to Sarah. She is gonna tell me if it’s dangerous,” Mark said as he stood up and headed to the living room.
“Yes, dear, I’m sorry. I really thought it was settled. I had no idea she was gonna go do something so STUPID,” Sarah apologized and Mark’s expression got less angry.
When Mark was out of earshot Kathrine leaned in.
“I have a message from him,” she whispered.
“For me?” Sarah didn’t sound interested.
“Paul said the truth is in the picture. He is not who you think he is. He tried to save me but my stupidity fucked that up.” Kathrine stared at her plate. She had really screwed up this time.
“The picture? Think he means the one that I showed you?” Sarah asked.
“Probably, not sure what other picture he could have meant,” Kathrine replied.
Sarah got up and walked into the other room, after a few moments she returned with the photo she had shown Kathrine before. She was staring at it as she sat, trying to figure out what ‘the truth’ meant.
“I don’t see anything,” Sarah replied. “Maybe he was just trying to confuse you.”
“No! He saved me. He threw the fight just like he did with you. My own stupidity got me shot. I had to drown myself to escape. If I had not been so dumb…” Kathrine reached over and reached for the photo and Sarah handed it to her.
“I’m sorry Kathrine, I don’t see anything.” Sarah was sad for Kathrine, she was one of the few people who could understand what Kathrine was going through.
“Who is this in the background?” Kathrine handed the photo back to Sarah.
“Umm…Wait…I know him. That’s Franklin. Well that was his name after I took him to America. Franklin Cole.” Sarah stared at the picture more intently now. “He lives like two hours from here.”
“S’pose that’s what he meant?” Kathrine asked, she needed this to be true.
“It has to be. We need to take a road trip. I wouldn’t mind visiting Frank. Haven’t seen him in years.” Sarah actually sounded a little excited.
“Cool, think dad will let me go today?” Kathrine asked.
“I think I can persuade him,” Sarah winked.
Sarah walked into the living room, kissed Mark on the cheek and then whispered in his ear. Mark looked excited and uncomfortable at the same time. Kathrine really wished she had turned her head. She didn’t need to hear what Sarah said to get the idea of what she promised Mark.
When Sarah returned she plopped down in the chair arrogantly.
“We can go,” Sarah smiled widely. “Your dad is so easy, I was gonna do that anyway.”
“Sarah! I don’t wanna know!” Kathrine was smiling. She was happy that Sarah and her dad were together.
“Let me change. Don’t want too many questions about my injuries,” Kathrine said as she stood up.
“Good choice,” Sarah replied. “And we’re gonna return that car.” Sarah raised her eyebrows, she knew the car was stolen.
“Yes, Aunt Sarah,” Kathrine whined.
Kathrine headed back to her new home and changed. In about twenty minutes the two of them were headed to Frank’s house.
Chapter 22
Sarah drove while Kathrine sat in the passenger seat. Kathrine’s leg was still not completely healed and neither was her shoulder. After a while Kathrine turned on her favorite station. On the program a woman was asking what it took to get into heaven. This worried Kathrine. She turned off the station and turned to Sarah. She knew what she wanted to ask but figured she should start out slowly.
“Why did yo
u heal so fast and I’m still hurt?” Kathrine asked.
“It has to do with age. The longer you are Asuune the stronger you become,” Sarah responded.
“So I’m still too young to be doing this?” Kathrine pondered.
“No, not at all. You’re very strong. I’ve never seen a new Asuune heal as quickly as you did. If you were a normal Asuune and got as hurt as you did, you’d be dead now. I’m proud of you, honey. Even if you weren’t completely honest about what you were up to,” Sarah pried her eyes from the road to give Kathrine a scolding stare.
“Sorry.” Was all that Kathrine could think to say. She knew how much she had disappointed Sarah.
“Oh, don’t go getting all depressed on me. I know why you did it, I’d have done the same thing. Only I wouldn’t have lied about it,” Sarah scolded.
“You, wouldn’t have let me go if I had told you what I was going to do,” Kathrine explained.
“You do have a point, I still treat you like that teenage girl who was scared to ask a boy out,” Sarah laughed. “I’ll try to do better from now on.”
“I will also,” Kathrine replied.
“I can see it on your face, what’s up?” Sarah asked as she peered away from the road again.
“Well, you might think it’s stupid, but…” Kathrine paused and looked at her lap.
“I probably won’t think it’s stupid. You don’t really say stupid things, not like your father.” Sarah was trying to cheer her up and it was working.
“He does say some pretty stupid shit when you’re around,” Kathrine smiled back. “I want to know, I mean, do you think mom is in heaven?”
“Oh Kathrine, that is far from dumb. And yes, if anyone deserves to be in heaven, it’s your mom,” Sarah replied.
“What do you mean?” Kathrine asked.
“This is a story I haven’t had the guts to tell your dad, so this stays between you and I until I get up the nerve to tell him, ok?” Sarah again looked at Kathrine to make sure she was paying attention.
“Yes, you kept my secret, I will keep yours,” Kathrine responded.
“Ok…when I first met your dad I had no idea that Jen was my sister, I didn’t find that out until after you were born. Anyway, I became friends with your mom and your dad. Gave your dad a job with me. Did everything I could to be around them because I was determined that your mom was no good for your dad, he was to be mine. I deserved him for all that I’d been through. Well after I had known them a while, I think they had been married about six months. It was almost Christmas time and your mom asked me to go Christmas shopping with her so I saw it as a perfect opportunity to plant more seeds of doubt. Get them to break up.” Sarah looked at Kathrine to judge her attitude toward her story but Kathrine wasn’t upset.
“So anyway, we had finished our shopping and I had said some very vague unkind comments in hopes of getting Jen to reconsider being with your dad. On the way back to the car we passed a homeless man. He was asleep and looked very cold. After we passed him Jen turned around and without a word she took the coat she bought for your dad and put it over the man. Then she put the gloves on his lap and what I think was twenty dollars in the jacket pocket. Your mom didn’t wake him up, didn’t say a word, she just turned back to me and kept walking like it was nothing.” Again Sarah looked to Kathrine but she was just listening very carefully without judgment.
“When we got home your dad was waiting. Jen gave him a big hug and then without taking a breath she told him she had found the perfect gift for herself. He didn’t need to buy her anything else for Christmas, her birthday, anniversary. He would have a free pass all year if he would just get her this one present. You know what it was?” Sarah asked.
“No, I’ve never heard this story before,” Kathrine replied. She was mesmerized by this story, she knew so little of what her mother’s life was like before she had a baby.
“She told your dad that if he would buy her a store front, that was all she would want. Not rent it, not lease it, buy it. Your mother never did anything half way. When she decided to do something she just did it. Well anyway, your father bought it for her and she spent the next four or five months fixing this place up and turned it into a soup kitchen. She then spent every weekend and some week nights serving food and handing out free clothes to anyone that came in. So while I was selfishly scheming to break them up your mother was hatching a plan to help thousands of people. So I decide to end my selfish scheme because I realized…she deserved your dad way more than I did. So, to answer your question. If your mom is not in heaven, none of us are getting in.” Sarah looked over at Kathrine and saw the tears coming from her eyes.
“I see why it would be hard to tell dad that story. Thanks, I needed that.” Kathrine wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up and saw a small town.
“This is the place,” Sarah said.
After a few wrong streets and a couple U-turns Sarah finally found the right street. They pulled up in front of a two story house. It was moderately sized and a little old but to Kathrine this looked like the perfect place to raise a family. As they pulled up to the house Kathrine saw the hooded man in a trench coat at the end of the block. This had to be more than a coincidence, it was way too warm to be wearing such a heavy coat. She had seen this man several times in the past, who was he? Was he following her? Just as Kathrine was about to ask Sarah about him the man disappeared behind a house.
“This is Frank’s house,” Sarah stated as she got out and headed to the door.
Kathrine quickly forgot about the hooded man and followed behind Sarah up to the door. Sarah rang the doorbell then waited patiently. Inside Kathrine could hear someone shuffling around then the sound headed toward the door. Soon a younger looking man in his early thirties opened the door.
“Can I help you?” the man asked.
“I’m sorry, maybe we have the wrong house. I’m looking for Franklin Cole,” Sarah replied courteously.
“Sorry, Grandpa Frank passed away a couple years ago.” The man looked sad as he said it, Frank had meant something to him.
“Sorry to bother you,” Sarah said then turned to walk away.
The man got a strange look on his face then it turned to excitement.
“Are you Sarah?!” the man asked.
“Yes, has your grandfather told you about me?” Sarah asked kindly.
“I thought he was making it up, please come in,” the man looked around like he was afraid someone was looking so Sarah headed inside followed by Kathrine.
“And who is this? Another angel person? You’re daughter?” the man asked excitedly.
Before Sarah could answer Kathrine pushed her way in front of her.
“I’m her step-daughter Kathrine,” she said holding out her hand.
“Not yet, you’re not,” Sarah replied.
“Soon,” Kathrine winked at the man.
“My name is Alex, Frank was my grandfather. He spoke of you all the time. I was sure he was making it up or just telling me stories.” Alex led them from the entryway to the dining room and waved his hand toward a picture over the fireplace. It was a beautifully painted portrait of Sarah walking through a field at night, her long red hair flowing behind her. She held a lantern which was out in front of her and children followed behind her.
Sarah was speechless, but not Kathrine.
“Did your grandfather do this? It’s amazing!” Kathrine was in awe at the craftsmanship. It looked just like Sarah.
“Yes, he had an eye for painting. Sadly I never did.” Alex looked sad at this fact.
“He spoke of me?” Sarah was still in shock that Frank had created this beautiful work of art and she was the focus of it.
“He just told you he did,” Kathrine whispered to her.
“Oh, right.” Sarah was a little disoriented by the fact that she had meant that much to Frank, she barely knew him.
“Grandpa Frank told me all the tales of how you and the other angel person, Dante, helped get him and countless others
to safety. He thanked God for bringing you two into his life. He called it a miracle.” Alex loved talking about his grandpa.
“Dante was just a man,” Sarah corrected.
“No, Grandpa Frank was sure. He even painted one of Dante.” Alex took off walking excitedly toward the living room. Over the couch was another beautifully done painting. This one of Paul. It was exactly like the photograph that Sarah had of him only more beautiful and in color.
“But…” Sarah was speechless.
“Grandpa Frank made me promise that I would give you a letter if you ever came. It was from Dante to you. Grandpa said he forgot he had the letter until you had already disappeared. He searched for you for years before giving up. He even met my grandmother while searching for you. In his mind, it was just another way you blessed his life,” Alex explained while he lifted up the portrait of Paul and retrieved a letter hidden behind it.
Sarah took the letter, still confused by the whole ordeal. Dante was Paul? She was to meet Dante to pick up prisoners and ferry them the rest of the way to America. She had done three transfers before Dante finally agreed to meet but on the day they were to meet Azazel came. Sarah quickly opened the letter and read the contents.
My dear Ceralin,
Please forgive me for my absence. I have been given my mission from God, I cannot refuse. I had not seen you in so long that I barely remembered your face until I realized it was you I was to meet. My mission is to keep my father from destroying the world. I undermine his efforts as subtly as I can but it doesn’t seem enough. I’m sorry for endangering you but I had no idea it was you and I can’t do this alone. These poor people are being persecuted for their beliefs, I can’t sit idly by and let them die. I hope you understand and know that I had no choice. If I do not make it to you then perhaps I’m caught. In that case be warned. My father says that soon Samael will be returned to heaven and he will be free to create chaos.
Love,
Your brother Paul
“So he is one of the good guys!” Kathrine exclaimed with far too much enthusiasm.
“Yes, Kathrine, he’s one of the good guys after all,” Sarah conceded begrudgingly.
Curse of the Asuune Page 16