“Mia brought you here to the Sanctuary. When I found you a couple of nights ago, you were bitten by a soldier demon.”
“You killed it?” I pushed out.
“Yes. We were fighting those creatures, and that one jumped dimension before we could kill him. So when he jumped, I followed behind, as did Mia and Gordon.”
“But I died?”
Jacob’s eyebrows rose as he sucked in a deep breath, then released it slowly. He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “Jessie, there are things in this world you might not understand, but you soon will. The world around you is not as it appears. There are layers outside what the normal human eye can see.”
I pursed my lips together in frustration, then shook my head. “I don’t understand. Did I die or something? I was bitten by a demon?” I suddenly realized what he’d said. “Wait—three days ago?”
“Oh—okay, calm down. Yes, you kinda died three days ago.” He gave me a halfhearted attempt at a smile.
“Wha—just start at the beginning where you found me and fill in the blanks, “I demanded in a firm tone. “Grams! She must be worried, sick! I gotta talk to her.” I tried to get out of the bed, but Jacob lightly touched my arm.
“She’s okay. Bernice got in touch with her, and handled it.” He sucked in a deep, hesitated breath.
I laughed. “You don’t know my Grams. She’s not going to let it be handled. What about my mom and dad? My family needs to know what happened.”
“Jessie, just trust me on this, please. Your family has been told what they need to know.”
“Which is what exactly?” I frowned and placed my hands on my hips.
“Okay, let me start at the beginning—” He held his hands out, palms down and gave me that ‘settle down’ motion with his hands.
Jacob’s account of what happened sounded a bit cray-cray. The beautiful girl who was with them was his sister Mia. The bigger or, rather, buffer guy was Gordon, Jacob’s older brother. Which made sense why they all looked alike, but different at the same time. They all, except for Jacob, had the white hair and crystal blue eyes.
Jacob claimed that he, Mia, and Gordon were in a battle with demon-like creatures when one escaped by jumping dimensions. He had been the first to land near me at the campground. Jacob said they usually didn’t jump into this realm unless they were following a familiar’s scent. When he first noticed me lying on the ground, he thought I had been another victim it killed. In my case, Jacob heard the gurgling noise that came from my labored breathing and knew I was still alive. When he looked into my eyes, he knew I had been poisoned and didn’t have long before I died. That was the reason that he was in such a hurry to have Mia take me to the Sanctuary.
As I listened to him explain all these things to me, I felt drained—anyone else’s mind would have been warped by now. Not mine, though, I wanted to know more—everything. I was just naturally nosey like that. Instead of answering all my questions, he put it on hold for later. Perhaps his way was better without the plethora of information dumped at one time.
“Oh!” Jacob’s eye’s widened. “There’s much more you need to learn about yourself, Jessie. And I can’t explain everything in one sitting. But I need to tell you that you have changed, and please don’t freak out when I show you. Okay?”
I couldn’t help myself as I let out a laugh. I mean, how much could I have changed? Apparently, I died at some point, and now I was alive again. Jacob stood, then walked over to a dresser where he opened a drawer and retrieved a mirror, then returned to my side.
“I can explain,” he said as he handed me the mirror.
In my confused state, I took the mirror and turned it around to see this girl who kinda looked like me, but really didn’t. Her expression showed shock, but she was amazingly beautiful. My hair was just past my shoulders and medium brown—her hair was like bleached blonde white. My eyes were green—her eyes were crystal blue, and she looked like someone you’d see on a magazine ad. There was no way this was me.
I laughed again and handed him the mirror back. “Okay, so what’s the joke with the trick mirror?”
“Jessie, this is no joke. This is you. You have seen my mom and my sister Mia, right?”
I paused and considered the possibilities. Yes, both Jacob’s mom and sister had the same features in common. Even Gordon had the white blond hair with crystal blue eyes. “What happened?”
“You were, what we call, Awakened. This is when your soul is touched by a pure force. Most people must be trained to get to that point. Some, like in your case, very rarely happen during a near-death experience.”
I frowned. “Wait. This white hair? Blue eyes? I don’t even look like me.”
“I know. I know—but it is you.” He released a low growl. “Okay, look—while you were out for those three days, the power that touched you was so strong it changed a few things about you. Your eyes and hair are the visible changes. But you have become stronger, faster, and your senses are heightened. So—yeah, you’re not you, but you are.” He gave me a look of trying to explain something so complicated it didn’t even sound right to yourself.
“So-oo, what am I now? I mean—what, the walking dead, vampire, or something?”
“Well, see, now that’s where it gets interesting. We, my family and I, are called Bloodbornes. Our line comes from an ancient bloodline of people who are trained to fight evil creatures. You’re apparently a Bloodborne, but we don’t know where you came from. Our Elders have a record of all Bloodbornes since the time of their existence. Just recently, we started tracking them using DNA.”
“But you said I died?”
He gave me a half-twisted nod. “Yes—you did. Which is why you confused us. Honestly, we think you are a Bloodborne, but we’re not sure. Your DNA doesn’t really match up, but we think it’s because of the venom.”
At that point, I just stared at him for a very long moment. “What’s a Bloodborne?”
“We’re each a spirit who has been borne into an ancient bloodline of people.” He spoke distinctly and firmly as if he had repeated what was taught to him.
I shook my head and tried to climb off the hospital bed. “I don’t buy this one bit. I’m outta here.” Nothing made sense to me, and I didn’t like what I heard.
“Jessie, you can’t!” Jacob pleaded.
“You can’t hold me hostage. Where are my clothes? I’m going home now.” I looked around the room until I spied a closet.
“Jessie, you’re not well enough to leave yet. Besides, you can’t leave—at least not yet.”
I turned around quickly—at least someone had dressed me in white pajamas and not a hospital gown. It would have been more than embarrassing to show Jacob my bare ass. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t leave.”
“Because your people believe you’re dead.”
I froze, and everything in the room fell into a dead silence. My heart sank lower than the Titanic. The deep, icy waters of fear consumed me, freezing my heart and soul into a lake of glass and then shattering it into a thousand pieces.
“I’m not dead! What the f—” The words scrambled out from my lips. A certain amount of fear and anger swelled inside me, and I moved so unbelievably fast toward Jacob. Before I realized what I’d done, I had Jacob pinned against the wall with my right hand under his chin. “YOU TOLD THEM I WAS DEAD?” I seethed through gritted teeth.
That didn’t go as well as I thought it would. Before I could blink, Jacob grabbed my hand from around his throat and somehow twisted us around, then pinned my back against the wall. I wouldn’t lie, the move was a bit invigorating, and at the same time, I felt more alive than I’d ever felt in my life. As his face neared mine, his breath softly feathered against my skin, and there was this warm, spicy masculine scent that intoxicated me. Before long, a sense of calmness had taken over, and I relaxed.
“I said to wait. You have no idea what you really are, Jessie. If you leave now, you could put the lives of those you love in danger.” Hi
s voice was low and thick. “Is this what you want?”
Okay, I had to admit I almost lost it—Jacob was definitely the most handsome guy I’d ever met. Everything about him drew me in like that damned moth to the flame. Jacob would probably be my second death at one time or the other. His face and those lips were only inches from mine. His hard, muscular body pressed firmly into mine as he held my hands down by my sides. My heart suddenly beat a little faster, followed by my massive, ragged breaths. Nothing I had previously thought or felt before this moment didn’t matter anymore. All I wanted—was his lips on mine. My gaze left his lips and stared into his eyes for a long moment. I couldn’t answer his question.
Jacob was so close to me that his heart drummed against my chest; it felt good and alive. Everything about him made me high me like a drug, and I wanted more of him. I’d never felt this way in my life—ever. For that case, I’d never kissed a boy before either. If this was going to be my first kiss, I wanted it to be unique. Aside from my thoughts, it felt as though I was driven, or guided, by some unknown force as my lips parted slightly and leaned in closer to his.
There was a knock on the door, then it opened, and we both jumped as we turned to see who it was. Dr. Wester walked in, and immediately her eyebrows rose as she looked from me to Jacob, then back to me again. I hated to be caught in this compromising situation, and the fire on my cheeks probably indicated my face was very red. Jacob cleared his throat, let my hands go and backed away.
“Jacob, Gordon wanted to remind you that you have training.” She gave him a warm smile, and her voice was very calm and collective.
Jacob nodded to his mother, then headed to the door, but not without turning around and giving me one last look before he walked through and closed the door behind him.
Dr. Wester’s gaze followed her son until he was gone, then she turned to me.
“Jessie, how are you feeling?” She patted the bed for me to come and sit down. Her soothing voice was so calm, inviting, and almost compelling. It made me feel as though I could tell her anything.
“I feel good, I guess,” I replied a bit slowly as I walked over to the bed and sat down.
She slipped out a pin light and examined my eyes, then checked my pulse. “Your pupils are a little more dilated than normal, and your pulse is running a bit higher than usual.”
I felt alarmed. “What’s wrong with me, then?”
She chuckled, then patted my hand. “I think it’s just a case of hormones. Now that you’re Awakened, your senses are heightened. Even your sense of smell—you can detect the most integrate changes in anyone or anything’s body chemistry. Did you know that pheromones can influence the behavior of the same species?” She gave me a wink.
A sudden heat burned my cheeks. “So you’re saying that attraction is related to pheromones?”
“Most definitely.” She patted my leg. “Aside from that, are you experiencing any pain at all? Nausea?”
“No, I mean the pain I experienced earlier is gone. I feel fine.”
“Then it looks like you made a remarkable transition, Jessie. I’m quite impressed. It seems your body has adapted rapidly to the changes. For most Bloodbornes, it takes longer for their physical bodies to become accustomed too, if not reject some of the changes. Only a rare few complete the full transition to become Awakened.”
“I don’t quite understand everything. Jacob mentioned the Bloodbornes, ancient bloodline, spirits—I’m confused.”
She lifted her light color brows, inhaled a deep breath then released it. “I can understand what you’re going through, Jessie. We’ve all been there at some point. Most Bloodbornes are borne into a family with other Bloodbornes. Meaning, their parents are Bloodbornes as well. From what I can gather by your DNA is that one of your parents is a Bloodborne and the other isn’t.”
I shook my head in confusion. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a Bloodborne. So I highly doubt that—wait, I don’t know who my birth mother or paternal father is.”
Dr. Wester lifted her brows and folded her arms across her chest. “Well, this is interesting, too say the least. So the parents you have now adopted you?”
“Yes. They can’t have children, so they adopted me from an orphanage as a baby.”
“I see. Well, for the time being, it’s a good idea that you stay here with us. We can help you, Jessie, you are after all one of us now. The Sanctuary was built for Bloodbornes to help teach and train them to exist in this world, along with a few other things.”
“But my real family. I can’t just let them believe a lie. I’m not dead.”
“Jessie, sometimes our lives change, and with that change comes new responsibilities and challenges. This life comes with all those things and even danger. Think of it as leaving one world behind and walking into a new world. A world that is full and alive. We are your family now, no matter what you might believe at this very moment. Now get some rest, and we’ll see you in the morning. Oh, if you are hungry, I’ll have someone bring food for you.”
I gave her an awkward smile, then nodded. “Thank you, but I’m not hungry.”
“Alright, then.” She gave me a broad smile and softly squeezed my shoulder before she left the room.
I picked up the mirror where Jacob had left me and studied the reflection. This wasn’t me. I touched my face and watched the beautiful girl in the mirror as she touched her flawless skin. I opened my mouth and examined my teeth—just double checking that I wasn’t a vampire, something unnaturally or unholy. No fangs or other fanged teeth, so vampire was ruled out.
Pain swelled in my heart, followed by a tear that burned its way down my cheek. I didn’t want to be here, alone without my family. I looked around the small room, it seemed nice for a hospital, more like the private ones you see in the hospitals. It wasn’t soon after that those walls caved in around me and in a small way, I felt trapped, like a prisoner of my own demise. But it wasn’t my choice to be here, or even being attacked by that creature, demon or whatever it was. I honestly regretted taking that walk down to the lake at the campground. Maybe if I hadn’t considered that late-night stroll, I wouldn’t be here now.
I looked at the mirror again, examining the white hair that used to be a medium brown. My outward appearance changed, but still, there was still some resemblance of the old me left. I watched as another tear fell from those crystal blue eyes. Suddenly an overwhelming sense of pain took control of my heart. I thought about my family, my mother, and my father, how I wished I was there with them now. To talk to them. To have them tell me everything would be alright. To give me some words of hope that all in my life didn’t suck.
As more tears came, one by one, they dropped from my cheek down to my pajama top. I tried to wipe them away on my sleeve, but there were too many of them. Instead of being with those I love, I was stuck in a place where I didn’t really know anyone. I had thought that my previous life, the one before this change, that it was miserable in most ways. Now, I looked back and seen that it really wasn’t that bad, at least compared to now.
I crawled up on the bed, pulled the sheets and blanket around me, then silently cried. I didn’t know how to force myself to continue to live in this life. Everything around me had changed. For some freak of nature, I had changed. The family I loved, and who protected me—lost. The worse part, I couldn’t even tell them goodbye. They had a right to know I loved them, and I was okay. The thought my parents, and Grams worrying or even morning over me—hurt.
Perhaps the unknown is not to be feared, but accepted as a challenge. I wiped the last tear from my face, sniffled a few times then considered my options, and knew there was no turning back. Whatever happened from this point forward, the choice I made would affect my outcome—my happiness. Maybe life as I knew it had died, but reborn in some way to start new. Even though the darkness of the unknown clouded my heart with pain, a small glimmer of hope shined through to give me strength.
“From the ashes of your despair you will rise, my Phoen
ix,” a voice spoke softly in my head. I’d never had voices in my head before, other than my thoughts. It was as though the audible voice I heard was with my ears like I was in the same room with someone. Maybe my very being, my soul or spirit had connected to a powerful being. It unnerved me to think these auditory hallucinations were real, perhaps I did need to seek professional help. Maybe, the entire incident of my death happened, and this is my hell. Probably, this is just a dream, and I’ll wake up at any moment. I closed my eyes tight as the last drop of tears slipped through, and I welcomed the sweet arms of sleep. Maybe—hope had not abandoned me.
CHAPTER FOUR
∆
Even though sleep came quickly for me last night, I was not a morning person. I had no idea what time it was, but a knock on the door literally had me crouching in the middle of the bed, ready for battle.
“Oh!” Dr. Karina walked into the room. “Jessie, it’s okay.” Her voice calmed my sudden, ragged breaths.
“I don’t know why—” It seemed to take a few moments for my nerves to uncoil my tensed muscles. I couldn’t believe my reflexes—I was in a dead sleep, and to jump up and spring myself into a fight position bewildered me.
Dr. Karina’s pleasant smile soothed me further as she walked up to me with a stack of clothes in her hands. “It’s okay, Jessie. It will take you a little time to get used to your new body. I just wished we would have received you earlier. You would have at least a chance to prepare yourself mentally and physically. But nevertheless, here you are, and we’re happy to have you with us. I’ve taken the liberty to find some clothes I think will fit you.”
I took the clothes she handed me— a pair of jeans, a pink and white t-shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes. There was a brown paper-wrapped item that felt soft. I gave her a precarious look.
She chuckled. “Oh, those are undergarments. I hope you don’t mind. If you need anything else, just let me know.”
“I—I don’t know what to say. ‘Thank you’ seems so small for what all of you are doing for me.” I realized that even though I didn’t want to be here, it could be a possibility that I was imposing on them. I was totally dependent on them as if they were my family now, and I didn’t like that. “Maybe I can find some way to pay you back. I can get a job, or—”
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