Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 1 (Afterlife saga Book 7) by Stephanie Hudson
“Yes I understand, it is indeed very last minute and I can appreciate all you are saying.” He listened some more to what was being said and then replied,
“My sister is planning it and if you could have all the names and contact details ready for her I am sure we will have no problem getting everyone there.” Again I watched as he listened, adding only the occasional…’yes’ and ‘but of course’ here and there. He had yet to notice I was awake as he still had his back to me.
“And I will of course be arranging all the transport and accommodation for guests…no, no I assure you that you could not convince me to do otherwise.” He was obviously getting an earful from someone and it was only when he replied with,
“It may seem impulsive giving us no time to plan, but to be honest with you Joyce, I just can’t wait any longer to marry your daughter and each day that passes is always a day too long.” At this I broke out into a huge ‘cat got the cream grin’, knowing my mum wouldn’t have anything more to say against that. In fact, I bet all the teabags in the world that she would be teary right now.
“Yes Joyce, I will of course look after your little girl, she is my life and I would gladly give my own to do so.” He told her and this was when I slipped out of bed, wrapped the sheet around me and walked up to his back to put my arms around him. He put his free hand over where my hands only just met at his belly and he took a deep breath as if trying to inhale the scent of me.
“Alright Joyce, I will let her know. See you in a few days,” he said before ending the call with my mother.
“How did you know I was going to ask you to do that?” I asked him and he huffed a laugh, saying,
“I didn’t know.” I let him go and walked round his large frame to face him.
“Then how?”
“Your dreams told me.” I frowned for a minute not understanding until he elaborated,
“You were talking in your sleep, sweetheart.”
“Ah.” I didn’t say anything more but now the new worry was what else had I said and what’s more, what if I did it again?!
“Don’t worry, little dove of mine, your words were sweet and comforting,” he said obviously reading the wrong fears from my expression.
“How so?” I couldn’t help but ask. He gave me soft dark eyes, a half smile and gently tucked my hair behind my ear as he said,
“Because I like knowing when you dream of me.” Then he tapped my lips once with his index finger before walking away from me, leaving me embarrassed and wondering what I had said while dreaming.
After this Draven excused himself to go and speak with Sophia about travel arrangements. I kind of felt a bit guilty leaving all this wedding stuff to other people to deal with, but I was sure glad they didn’t seem to mind as I don’t think I would have known where to start.
I hadn’t even seen my dress yet, but considering that everything Sophia had ever dressed me in I had loved, then I didn’t think there was much chance of me being disappointed. Speaking of clothes, I had no idea how I was going to tell her that the outfit she had put me in last night didn’t really make it through the Draven test and now lay somewhere in his gym, mainly in pieces. At least the dress must have survived. In fact, it might be better for all future outfits if I did the striptease first, that would save a fortune on clothes shopping.
I decided whilst Draven was gone I would grab a hot shower and get ready for the day…or at least the half of it I had left. We were all leaving early the next day for England and the day after, my sister, Frank and Ella would be joining the wedding party.
I had asked Draven if there was any word from Vincent and Ari but he just shook his head, looking disappointed. I was getting worried as no-one had heard anything from them. I knew Ari was on her own mission to discover who she really was and Vincent had told her about the Oracle and how she might have some answers for her. Well, if she would just come home, then I might be able to help in that department, considering I was one of the only few who knew where Pythia was.
But this wasn’t my only concern. As heartbreaking as it sounded, I feared that through Vincent, she had heard that Katie was gone and this was why she hadn’t yet come home. It pained me to even think this way, but what else could I do. I was left with the memories of a having a sister who wasn’t my own but just because I knew this, it didn’t mean that the love I felt for her simply disappeared.
As far as my heart was concerned, she was my sister and I missed her. Now all I needed was the opportunity to tell her this but even then, I wasn’t sure how she would take it. In her eyes she had lost everything and was walking in the shadows of someone she couldn’t reach. To not know who you really were was something I had only had a taste of, so I knew what it could do to a person’s mind and it was a dark place to live.
I knew how lucky I was to wake up from Katie’s life and find myself with a mother, father and a sister who all loved me unconditionally. To have a lifetime of happy memories and not the feeling of being ripped away from life and forced to live one of oppression, control and the threats from a cruel hand. I didn’t want that for Ari. I wanted her to find her own happy ending and if that meant another family was out there waiting for her somewhere, then I hoped she found it. But I wanted her to know that she would always have family here, in Afterlife with me…that was, if she wanted it.
But again, I would actually have to see her in person to tell her these things. Which got me thinking, why exactly did the Oracle tell me that Ari was needed on this journey to the past? Because if everything was happening for a reason, then that meant Ari’s path was set, just like the rest of us. This then begged the question as to why…why Ari?
There must be something the Oracle knew about her that no one else did and it wasn’t just that she was Vincent’s chosen. No, she was needed for this prophecy to work the way we planned but the question was once more, why Ari?
It was maddening, having all these questions rattling around in my head with no way to find the answers…but wait, why couldn’t I get the answers, for I knew where the Oracle was, therefore all I needed to do was go and ask her.
Which was exactly what I did.
After my shower of course.
Once ready and looking less ‘sex pet’, I left a note for Draven as well as telling Ragnar, who was posted outside our door, that I would be back soon. He didn’t look happy about it so of course he rang Draven to confirm this was okay. In the end I grabbed the phone off him, realising my note was a wasted effort.
“Let me drive you.” Draven tried to convince me and I had to think of something fast.
“It’s fine, I wanted to spend a little time with Libby anyway and she wants to ask me about a dress she’s seen online and I have some stuff I want to pick up before we leave tomorrow.” He didn’t sound happy and I couldn’t blame him as it didn’t sound as convincing as I had hoped.
“What are you up to, Keira?” He came right out and asked me, making me sigh. Then a genius reason hit me and I told him,
“Look, it’s part of a surprise I have for you, so please don’t spoil it.” I told him, which was when he finally caved.
“Alright love, you get your way but you will have to take Ragnar with you.” I rolled my eyes wondering how I was going to get out of this one.
“I’d rather not.” I whispered ‘no offense’ behind my hand, making Ragnar smirk down at me.
“Look it’s just to my sister’s and back. That’s it. And besides, do you really think now I have all these powers that anyone is going to get chance to mess with me?” I could tell by his groan he didn’t like it so I added the last guilt trip, that wouldn’t just affect him when I said it.
“You have to trust me sometime, Draven.” And I hated myself once more for saying this.
“Fine! But come right back here Keira, I mean it.”
“Sir yes Sir.” I joked back knowing that I was really pushing my luck with this one. I could actually hear him shaking his head at me, so I said,
“Se
“It’s the only thing I look forward to, sweetheart,” he replied and then hung up leaving me grinning like a loon down at Ragnar’s phone.
“What are you up to this time, Lille øjesten?” Ragnar asked me and I gave him a coy look as I gave him back his phone, saying,
“Nothing. Why, what are you up to, big guy?” He ignored my quip and said,
“Will you at least promise me that it isn’t dangerous?” I gave him a smile, hit him on the arm and said,
“You worry too much my large Viking friend, and besides…when have I ever got myself into trouble?” I asked him as I walked backwards down the hallway. He grunted a laugh and said,
“I don’t know for I would be too old by the time I finished counting,” he replied making me laugh out loud.
“You’re already old!” I shouted back before I waved my goodbye and started jogging the rest of the way. Thankfully Afterlife wasn’t in full swing yet so I easily made it through to the main doors and out to where my car was parked in record time.
I got behind the wheel of my good old faithful and started her up, stroking the dash and smiling when she started first time.
“That’s my good car.” Then I checked my fuel dial and said,
“Eeek, bad mommy owner, when was the last time I filled you up?” Looking at the gauge I still reckoned I had enough to get me there and back. I could have stopped to fill up but that would mean going back in and trying to find my wallet and at the minute all I had on me was my phone stuffed awkwardly in my jean’s pocket.
I decided to chance it and drive off anyway, heading in the direction of my old college. Obviously I still hadn’t graduated from there due to my little forced field trip to the Amish war camp. I had of course intended to go back, giving it food for thought. Well that was before all the ‘end of the world doom’ which also equated to me getting shafted by the Fates… in the killing sense rather than the baby making, having sex sense.
It was a sad thought really and driving closer to it only made me realise once more how simple my life had been back then. I couldn’t believe how much I had changed in these few years since meeting Draven and how much stronger I had become in myself. But then again, it wasn’t really that surprising considering all that had happened to me in that time. I mean, there was only so many times a person could get kidnapped before saying ‘look guys, this is getting old now’.
Long gone was the girl who ran away in fear just from seeing demons. Long gone was the girl who didn’t fight back or stand up to those bigger and more powerful than her. I finally decided that the reason had to be that the Supernatural world in which I now lived had rubbed off on me in a big way. But what else could I expect given the numerous bad asses I had been hanging around with. If I had never met Draven or my supernatural family, then I would probably still be that same gloved, shy girl walking around campus trying to find where her next lesson was. Looking back on it all, Pythia was right, everything in my life so far just seemed to be adding to the Fated list labelled ‘Everything happens for a reason’.
On many levels it seemed like such a cruel statement, especially when one person had to endure so much hurt and sacrifice just to get to glimpse the end. Because no-one ever said that statement when good things happened. No, it was only ever used for comfort in the bad times and with most of those times, you never actually got to find out what those reasons were. You just had to hope that blind faith was leading you down the right path, which was precisely what I was doing now.
And where did it lead me exactly,
To where fate was waiting for me…
At the Library
Chapter 23
The Way I Play
I arrived at the Library, now believing there was a reason I had worked there. Not only did I know what time the first shift started and the last one finished but I also still had a key to the place. Needless to say this had come in handy when trying to figure out the best place to hide Pythia. Although she had hidden quite well at Afterlife, we knew that her time and luck was bound to run out at some point. We also agreed that it was too important to send her too far away in case anything went wrong or the Fates showed her any new information. So we had to hide her somewhere no one would go looking for her as we couldn’t allow any possibility for her to get caught.
Hence, why I thought of the library.
I waited in my truck for the last of the students to come piling out as they usually did around this time.
“Booo,” I hissed at the window and made the sign of the cross with my fingers as my old boss appeared ready to lock up.
“Well it looks like old Jabba flappy tongue still works here then,” I said out loud to myself, referring of course to Mr Cox, who should actually be named ‘Mr Cock’ due to the one he usually had attached to his head. I reminisced back to when Draven had turned up at my work, even though we weren’t back together at that point. I had been so excited when Draven had put Cox in his place that I had been bouncing with happiness. It was also when Draven asked me to have pity on him for I was being too cute at the time for Draven to control himself. I was definitely thinking that Draven had a thing for cuteness as he proved last night after my drunken dance to Al Green.
These sweet thoughts of Draven lasted me until the walking penis was in his car and out of sight. I did have to snigger though when his car door got stuck and then bashed into him when he finally got up enough strength to open it.
“And that’s what you call Karma, matey.” I said as I got out of my car and locked the door. The Library was next to Wakewood Hall and I was just glad that at this time of day there were enough places to park as I knew I wouldn’t have much time here. Thankfully it wasn’t exam time so there weren’t a lot of people still milling around the entrance steps. I hung back a bit as two friends made plans for drinks later and as soon as they left I walked up to the double doors and unlocked it. Stepping quietly inside I found it to be a bit eerie without the sight of bodies hunched over the large desks.
“Hello?” I whispered making myself known and walking further inside to where she would hopefully hear me. I had told her that as long as she kept out of the way, back with the encyclopaedias of insurance, taxation and tax policy, then she should never be found as that place gathered as much dust as under Draven’s bed.
I walked towards that section, only barely remembering where it was.
“Pythia?” Again I called out and finally I saw her emerge from the back with a book in her hand. I almost laughed when I read the title and asked her,
“Research?” nodding to the copy of ‘The Time Machine’ by H. G. Wells.
“I thought it couldn’t hurt,” she said, placing it back down on the shelf, no doubt for later.
“Did you know that I’d come here?” I asked and she nodded.
“I wasn’t sure when but I foresaw our conversation.” I looked around the corner to see that she had her makeshift bed already set up for the night, which was simply a sleeping bag and a small pillow.
“I know it doesn’t look very comfy as you have to hide it every morning but is it...”
“It’s fine, quite a bit more comfortable than an empty cell in the Temple, I can assure you.” When she said this I realised just how rough Pythia had been living, at least for the last few weeks.
“And your food supply, do you need any more?” She smiled at me and said,
“Ranka continues to look out for me. Now I know you are not here to talk to me about comfort, so why don’t you ask me what you really came here for…ask me about Ari.” I took a deep breath and just came out and asked it,
“Who is she…really?” Pythia released a sigh and motioned with her hand for us to take a seat at one of the tables.
“You’re asking the wrong question, Electus,” she informed me and I couldn’t help but frown at her.
“Think back to how she came to be in your life…where you and she started.” I did as she said and gave it some thought, knowing sh
“Why did they need her?” I asked instead and Pythia’s eyes grew wide and she slapped her hand down on the table, saying,
“Now that’s the question isn’t it?”
“But I don’t understand why they would…”
“No but now you’re thinking about it and you should be.” At this point I wanted to scream in frustration. Pythia put her slim, henna painted hand on my arm, no doubt to try and calm me.
“Remember, there are some things I can’t say.” I released a pent up sigh and said,
“I know, I’m sorry, it’s just I came here for answers but all it looks like I am going to leave with is more questions.”
“It will all come to light in time.”
“Unfortunately time is something I don’t have Pythia, you know that.” She gave me a small regretful smile that in some way eased my weary mind, for at least she was telling me with one look that she understood.
“Will she at least be back in time for when we have to leave, we know now that we have to use the…” She held up her hand to stop me before I finished my sentence.
“You cannot tell me what you have planned, Keira.”
“Why not?”
“Because it might then alter what I am allowed to tell you and in this case knowledge isn’t power, it is simply another hurdle to jump over.” Well, there wasn’t much I could say to that, other than to shrug my shoulders in defeat and say,
“Well that’s a bit shit.” She laughed once and said,
“Yeah, very.”
“Well on that disappointing note, I will leave you to your book, may you have better luck with it than I did.” She gave me a confused look and I elaborated,