Birthrights (30 page)

Caislyn rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous
Gregore, you know my parents don't practice the dark arts."

"Yea, until their only daughter decides to run off
with some boy to a rave and then they will change their mind."

"Greg, come on," she pleaded again, "I don't have a
car." She put her special pouty face on that she knew always
cracked Gregore's resolve. "You can't let me miss the party of the
century!" She batted her eyelashes a bit, just for good measure.
"Besides, who are you going to dance with if I'm not there? You
know I'm the only one from school with any moves that come close to
matching yours!"

Gregore was faltering. He couldn't take it when she
looked at him like that. His heart was hammering in his chest and
he was about to break. If he didn't know any better he would think
Caislyn put a spell on him years ago, in fourth grade. Caislyn was
only in second grade, but when she saw another witch trying to hex
him behind his back she stepped in and caught the spell. The girl
trying to hex him was upset because he wouldn't take her to the
school dance Friday. Caislyn threatened to turn her into a toad if
she messed with him again, then she ran off to catch up to her
friends. He had been in love with her ever since. He knew that she
hadn't put a spell on him though, because she definitely never felt
the same way about him. Still, he couldn't find it in his heart to
be upset with her about that.

She was the most upfront person he ever knew. Aside
from her sly little stunts to get out from underneath her way too
overprotective family's sights he never knew of her to lie, to
anyone. She would find ways to sugar coat the truth, but she would
never outright lie. Even when her parents found her she was
compelled by some part of her to tell them the truth about what had
happened. It was one of the things he truly admired about her.

"Alright Case, but this is really the last time. And
I am not going to take the fall for this one. You are only 14, your
dad will kill me if he finds out I'm the one that took you there."
He gave a sheepish shrug of his shoulders and a crooked sideways
smile as she began to jump up and down.

"I love you Greg, you're the best." Caislyn was so
ecstatic that she was going to be attending her first rave that she
completely missed the shocked, excited, and then hurt reaction of
Gregore as he went through the motions of hearing her proclaim a
love for him and then realizing that it was a friend kind of love.
Caislyn continued on with her excited little dance before she
remembered that she had to go get ready. "I'll meet you at your
house in like two hours. I have to get something else on." She
plucked at her dingy T-shirt and her abused jean shorts as she
looked up at Gregor. "I owe you big time!" She dashed a quick kiss
on his cheek and ran off towards Hidden Dimensions, the bookstore
her parents owned down the street. They had moved in the apartments
over the shop seven years ago because they claimed they didn't like
the commute from their country cottage. They still visited the
cottage over summer vacation and for her birthday, and while she
missed it, opportunities like tonight's rave did not present
themselves so readily to country girls, so she had to be happy with
the outcome.

For Catriona the nausea grew worse as she was flung
forward through this young girl's continuing life. The moment she
stopped the fast forward cycle she was hit with the overwhelming
sadness that seemed to consume the child. Caislyn and a short pale
brunette girl were standing on the rooftop of what looked like an
abandoned building. Fear was intermingled now with the sadness
Catriona had first picked up on.

The two of them backed themselves up to the ledge of
the building looking to see if they could make the jump to the next
rooftop. The brunette looked across to the adjacent roof top and
then back at Caislyn, “Uh Uh! There's no way I can make that jump,
do you see these heels?” She pointed to her boots and then looked
back up accusingly at Caislyn, “what do they want anyway? What have
you done?”

“Nothing,” Caislyn began as the roof top door burst
open and out flowed an angry looking clan of vampires. “Shit!”
Caislyn grabbed hold of girl's arm and looked over the edge of the
building to the alley beneath them wishing there was a way down. No
sooner than she thought about needing a way down than she blinked
her eyes open and the two of them were standing in the alley.

“You can fly,” the brunette shouted, “what was in
those drinks?”

“What the hell?” Caislyn looked at the girl wondering
if maybe she had something to do with the unusual form of
transportation that had just placed them in the alley. “Let's worry
about the details later, we need to get out of here.”

Caislyn lead her through the alley and out to the
street. They turned right and began to head to Caislyn's apartment
over the book store when the brunette chimed in, “but my apartment
is the other way.”

“Trust me, we will be safer at my place.”

“Uh, I hope it's not much further because they are
right on our ass!”

Caislyn turned to see how many of them were following
behind...

Catriona's vision blurred and wavered, she saw a
familiar face in the shadows dispatching one of the vampires
chasing her Great-Great Granddaughter. She would have to remind him
one day about his obligation to her family, but that wasn't what
she had come here to see. Catriona had the answers that her family
requested. There was something special that happened when those two
girls touched. A veil was lifted and each had powers that were set
free. After seeing the previous glimpses into Vesta's life though,
Catriona understood that she would have to keep that to herself or
doom the future. She would report back to her family that Vesta
would get well and grow to have a child, a daughter, of her own.
She would keep the rest hidden from them for fear that they would
all remember the prophecy that was produced so long ago about the
two great powers who would change the world in unimaginable
ways.

***

Into the World a Secret is Born

The slight breeze rustled the leaves of the old oak
tree as Meriwyn stood by the river bank. She had taken a walk to
think and try to calm her mind. Communing with nature was the best
way to find the answers she needed. Even though she was from a line
of some of the most powerful witches of all time, her glamor would
not hold much longer. Disguising her body was one thing, but it
would not be able to hide the birth of her baby. She knew the
rules. The different supernatural species were never supposed to
breed. It was strictly forbidden and when the council found out
about the baby there would be nothing she could do to prevent her
fate. Meriwyn was determined to save her daughter from the
inevitable death that would she would find at the hands of the
council.

Darren and Meriwyn had broken the laws one too many
times. So far they were able to manipulate things to their favor,
but this child would not be accepted. She had not even told Darren
that she was pregnant. He had already gone through so much and she
refused to allow him to take the burden upon himself any longer.
The laws claimed they were not allowed to be together, a witch and
a vampire, but they had found ways.

The Old Seer's prophecy did more harm than good in
her eyes. The Seer's rantings had all the supernatural leaders
terror-stricken. They were not fearful because they were worried
about their existence, or if their world would change, but because
they each wanted to be the most powerful. Greed and power corrupted
indiscriminately. Meriwyn didn't have time to debate the politics
of the lands. She needed to save her child and hide her away from a
world that was on the brink of war. The non-humans were coming out
of hiding and the humans were running scared. Some humans chose to
fight back and Meriwyn had heard tales of what they were doing to
people just like herself. The experiments were fast becoming
legend. Tears fell from her cheeks, running in fast hot rivulets as
she pictured her daughter growing up in the middle of this mess.
Her only goal now was to find a place for her unborn child where
she would be safe, loved, and accepted. That place seemed to not
exist anywhere any more.

Meriwyn stopped walking. 'Humans,' she thought to
herself. 'If she's raised human by people who don't know any
better, maybe,' As soon as the thought occurred to her she knew
just what to do. The one human person she had trusted in the world,
loving, kind, and warm who never feared her, even knowing what she
was. The plan started forming in Meriwyn's mind, the plan that had
to work in order to save her daughter.

****

"I'm going to put the dishes away and then I'll be
right up," Inez told her husband and then she kissed him on the
cheek as he turned to walk down the hallway towards the
bedroom.

"Alright, but babies don't make themselves you know,"
he said over his shoulder.

Inez sighed and shook her head. "I know. I'll be
there in a few minutes." She walked into the kitchen and turned on
the light. She busied herself with the task of putting away the
clean dishes as she pondered the thought of having a baby. It
wasn't that she didn't want children, she did, very much. They had
been trying for a couple of years now, and it just wasn't
happening. Lately, Inez began to wonder if Fate had another plan
for her. She believed that things happened for a reason, and
sometimes those reasons didn't fall into the plans people made for
themselves. Her husband wasn't ready to give in yet. He was ready
to be a father. 'And a fine one he would make,' she thought. She
could try again, for him, maybe this time it would happen.

Inez wiped down the stove and turned off the kitchen
light. As she went through the house checking the locks she paused
for a moment to look out the paned glass door at the sky beyond. It
had been a rainy and windy night but the clouds seemed to be moving
out. She turned and started down the hallway when the front
doorbell chimed.

"Who in the world could that be at this time of
night?" she called out to her husband, who emerged from the
bedroom.

Joe's brow was furrowed with concern, "I'm not sure,
but nothing good comes unexpected late at night." He walked past
her headed for the front door.

Inez followed him, curiosity getting the best of
her.

Joe looked through the peephole. "Its a woman," he
said, "she's soaking wet and looks light she might be
pregnant."

"Well, don't just stand there Joe, open the door! She
might need some help. Maybe her car broke down or something." Inez
fussed as she moved him over to open the door.

"Can we help... Oh My Goodness!" she exclaimed.

The woman was doubled over holding her belly and her
dark brown wet hair had fallen out of her hooded cloak that was
covering her face.

"Oh dear, help her Joe. Bring her inside. She's
soaking wet, the poor thing and obviously she's having
contractions."

Joe's eyes widened for a moment as he took in the
fragile pregnant visitor. It was apparent that his wife expected
him to move her since she wasn't doing so herself. So he swept her
up in his arms and carried her into the living room. He placed her
gently on the chaise lounge and moved back to allow Inez to tend to
the woman.

The stranger took a deep breath and stretched out on
the lounge a bit more, making herself as comfortable as she could
get. She turned to look at Inez with a softness in her expression.
Inez was busy putting towels behind her head to help with her long
wet hair and covering her with a small throw blanket. "I'll fix us
some warm tea, that should help take the chill off of you dear. Go
get some water on the burner Joe, while I try to get her more
comfortable." Joe scurried off towards the kitchen and let his wife
take the lead on this. He knew better than to get in her way when
she was trying to care for someone. It was her nature to be
maternal, which is why he wanted to give her a child so badly. She
would make a wonderful mother. Inez lifted the woman's feet and
began to put a pillow under them.

"Please, sit for a moment" the stranger said softly
as she grabbed hold of Inez's arm. "I need your help."

Inez immediately stopped and knelt by the woman's
side. She looked into the woman's face and could see the fatigue
and strain wearing on her. "Is there someone I can call? Do you
need to go to the hospital?"

"No, I came here to you, Inez. I need your help. Only
you can help me."

Inez leaned back from the woman apparently startled
that this strange pregnant woman knew her.

"What do you mean? Who are you? Why do you need my
help?"

"Look at me Inez, really look at me," the woman said
weakly. "Don't you recognize me? We were inseparable when we were
young. You were the only person I could trust, and my closest
friend."

"Oh my God.” Inez said as the realization dawned on
her. “Meriwyn?" Inez leaned closer and took her hand. Meriwyn
smiled her answer just before another contraction seized her.

"Just breath Meriwyn. Clear your mind, push the pain
out. Breath through it. That's right," Inez coached and wiped the
wet hair from her old friend's face.

Meriwyn took in the soothing calm that radiated from
her dearest friend. They hadn't seen each other in years, but
Meriwyn had always held her close in her thoughts. Once the
contraction subsided, Meriwyn took the chance to explain as much as
she could.

"I'm sorry for coming to you like this, but there was
no other way. I need your help Inez. I don't have much time, and I
must be gone soon before they find me here."

"But Meriwyn, you're in labor. You're going to have
this baby soon. You can't possibly go anywhere, but maybe a
hospital." Inez protested.