Clan of Redemption (17 page)

“Wow that is a massive
house,” Sully said with awe.

“It sure is a big house, a
little intimidating if you ask me,” Blake said.

Jayden, you need to be on
guard while you’re here, I won’t leave your side, but there isn’t
much I can do once we are inside. I know that your emotions are
high right now, but try to keep a level head.

“I will,” I
said.

“You will what?” Blake
asked.

“I was just telling myself
not to get my hopes up,” I said as I realized that I was answering
someone that no one else could hear.

Whoops.

We parked the car and
walked up the staircase to a front door that was a beautiful candy
apple red. My favorite.

“You have to knock on the
door for anyone to know that you’re here,” Sully said giving me the
eye brow raise.

“I know, I’m just getting
my thoughts together before I knock,” I said as I decided to knock
on the door. It only took a few seconds.

The door opened and a man
was standing there, but I was sure he wasn’t who I was looking for,
he looked to stiff, and you could tell that he was a part of the
house because of his clothes. He was dressed in a suite, but not
the kind you would find in an office, more like a butler
outfit.

“Can I help you?” The man
said with a stone expression.

“Yes, I was wondering if
Mrs. McCormick was home,” I said.

“Can I tell her who is
asking?” He asked.

“Tell her it’s Jayden,” I
said as I realized that I was fidgeting with my hands.

“Would you all please
follow me. You can wait for her in the study. She will be with you
shortly,” he said as he walked away. As we walked inside the door,
it was like being in a museum. The ceilings were over 20 feet high
and most of the decorations looked old but beautiful and well
preserved.

“Have you ever seen so
many books in a home before, there amazing,” I said with awe. It
was a huge library.

“No, but it would be
better if all of these books were music CD’s I would be more
impressed,” Sully said as she went and sat down in one of the
winged chairs sitting in the middle of the room. It looks like a
mini living room arranged, I guess for you to sit at and
read.

“The ceilings are
definitely tall,” Blake said as he looked up and around.

Jayden, come over here
an sit next to me in this chair, try to keep your distance it makes
it easier.
 
I was standing by a desk and I head Logan call to me, I turned
around and he was lying next to a chair. Sully had gotten up
and joined Blake who was looking at a collection of books on a
shelf across the room. 

Try not to let them
know that you are talking to me, but I want to tell you
something.
"Ok, what's up?" I whispered.

Jayden, before your
grandmother comes in I want you to put your necklace under your
shirt. Giving away too much information to soon might not be the
best idea. 
 
"What about my necklace, why is it so important?" I
asked. 
You will find out
its importance later, but for now, I don't want anyone knowing
about the two pieces being reunited.
 
"So my ring and my necklace are a set. Sully and I saw that
painting in my attic and a young girl was wearing the necklace,” I
said as I put the necklace under my shirt. 
Look, let's not get into this right now, we
can talk about it later.
 

“So it’s ok for her to see
the ring?” I asked Logan

"Jayden, who are you
talking to?" Blake asked. 
Blake had come up behind me and I hadn't noticed. 
"Oh she's just crazy like that, she's been talking to herself since
I've known her,” Sully said as she came across the
room. 

"I'm sorry; I talk to
myself when I get nervous." I realized how strange that must
look. 
"Are you nervous?" Blake asked. 
"Yes, a little bit, I have never met my grandparents. What if
they don't want anything to do with me. I should have read
those letters that grandmother wrote to my Mom,” I
said. 
"Who ever told you that we didn't want anything to do with you?" A
voice accused.

I turned around and saw a
woman standing in the doorway.   
"Mom?" I cried and stood up as did Sully and Blake. Logan was the
only one who remained laying at my feet like he didn't have a care
in the world.

We all turned to look who
was talking; a lady was standing in the door way and for a split
second I thought it was my Mom. She was tall and slender with the
same red hair that my Mom and I have.

Jayden, you and I haven’t
had much of a chance to talk about this, but please don’t get
caught up in your emotions, you need to focus.

Logan was sitting at my
side and all I could do was look down at him and glare. How could
he say that to me when I’m meeting my grandmother for the first
time.

“Hi…I’m Jayden, you must
be Catherine,” I said.

“That would be me, but is
that all you have to say to me,” she said as she walked into the
room farther and sat down on the sofa.

“No, I have a lot of
things I want to talk to you about, but you’ll have to forgive me,
you look so much like my Mom,” I said, as I couldn’t take my eyes
off her.

“Well that does happen,
since she was my daughter, and I must say you resemble the family
line as well, even with your mixed blood” she said with distain as
she crossed her legs. She seemed so regal and portrait like, I
wanted to go up and touch to make sure she was real.

“I am real, if that’s what
you’re thinking,” she said as she cocked an eyebrow at
me.

Jayden, listen to me,
don’t think just listen. You need to close off your mind or at
least try not to think about things that you don’t want her to
know. Remember that barrier you put up to protect yourself, you
need to do that in your mind.

“Ok” I said.

“Ok, so you know that you
resemble our line, how is that when you’ve never been introduced to
anyone?” she asked.

Great, I sound like an
idiot.

Jayden, I know this is
overwhelming, but you need to keep your wits about you. This
isn't a reunion of a normal family. We have magic that you don't
understand yet. Please, don't get caught up in the emotional
stuff.
 

“I wouldn’t be so hard on
yourself dear. I know you’re just nervous,” she said as she just
stared.

Jayden, come over here
an sit next to me in this chair, try to keep your distance it makes
it easier.
 
     
I felt
like I was stuck in a daze. 
"Jayden, you ok chick, you look really pale,” Sully said as she
came over and rubbed my arm. 
"She'll be ok, she's just nervous about meeting me, right dear." My
grandmother said. 
"Right, right, yes, sorry,” I said as I tried to shake it
off.

Her hair was the same
shade of red as mine and Mothers, almost like a
strawberry. Her face has a long and slender look with
cheeks that looked chiseled out. Her eyes were the same shade
green as mine, but with a dark that seemed to pull you
in. Her dress was full length with several layers, giving it a
ball gown feel. 
"Well why don't we all have a seat, with you all standing up like
that you're making me nervous,” she said.

Two leather over stuffed
wing chairs capped the ends of a long leather sofa.

I went towards one of the
chairs. 
"Why don't you sit next to me, so I can take a good look at you?"
Grandma said. 
"Ok." I walked over to the couch to sit next to
her. 
Jayden, I want you to
sit over here on the chair.
 
I stopped for a
minute not sure what to do.
 
"What's wrong dear,
do you have a reason why you don't want to sit by my?" She
asked.
 
"Umm, no, I just thought." I couldn't talk,
it was my worst case of stage fright I have ever
had.
 
"Well make up your mind, I don't bite,” she said as she patted the
cushion next to her. 
If
you sit with her, just be cautious.
 
"I don't mind sitting by you,” I said as I made the move to sit
next to her. 
I sat down next to her, but couldn't stop staring at her, she
looked so much like my Mom, and her age, she didn't look over
40. Will I age that well, would my Mom have aged like that
too? 
Sully coughed. 
"Oh, I'm sorry, these are my friends, Sully, Blake and my dog
Saska,” I said as I realized that I was staring at her. 
"It's very nice to meet you all, please make yourselves at
home. Any friend of Jayden's is a friend of mine. Would
any of you like something to drink?" She asked. 
Everyone shock their heads no. 
Just then, a man in a butlers outfit came into the room with a
tray 
"How about some tea and biscuits." She asked as the butler sat the
tray in front of us on a coffee table.

"Thanks that would be
nice,” I said as I reached and grabbed a cup of tea. 
"Would you like some cream or sugar?" She asked. 
"Some cream would be great,” I said as whisked my cup towards the
hand with the pouring cream. 
I wasn't sure what to say so I took several sips of my tea, trying
to think of something to say. 

“I see that you got your
birthday present from your Mom,” she said as she stared at the
ring.

“Yes, I did,” I
said.

“Is that all she gave
you?” Catherine asked.

“I got a letter too, if
that’s what you mean,” I said as I tried not to think about the
necklace.
"How was your drive over?" She asked as she looked around at Sully
and Blake. 
"It was a little rough, but we made it in one piece,” Sully said as
she put her tea down. I was wondering why she picked it up in
the first place; she has never liked tea. 

"Blake, would you prefer
something else to drink?"

"No, thank you, I'm really
not that thirsty,” he said as he sat back. 

I can't believe I'm
sitting with my grandmother. She's alive and right in front of
me. 

Jayden, focus,
your letting your emotions get in the
way.  

"How would you feel?” I
said as I realized that I said it out loud. 

"I'm not sure what you
mean, Jayden."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought
you said something to me,” I said as I realized that everyone was
looking t me funny. 

"Jayden, are you feeling
ok?" Sully asked as she stood up. 

I looked over at Saska and he stood
up as well. 

Jayden, are you
feeling funny? You look like you’re going to pass
out. 
 

"I don't think I'm feeling very
well, these last few days have taken a lot out of me," I said
as I tried to stand up. 

Don't drink anymore of that
tea, Jayden
.

"I guess I'm still not feeling
well from yesterday. I think I need some fresh air,” I said as
I realized that I couldn't keep my eyes open
anymore. 

I hear Logan throw out a bark
before I went completely out. 

"Sully, Blake, why don't you help
Jayden to one of the bedrooms upstairs." Catherine said as she got
up and moved aside. 

"I think she'll be ok, once we get
her outside,” Blake said as she put his arm under
mine. 

"I really need to insist that she
stays, she is my granddaughter and I would feel better if she was
in my home especially is she's not feeling well," she
said. Out of thin air strolled in two large
men. 

"Blake, I really don't like to be
told what to do, and if this broad thinks that she can push us
around she's crazy," Sully whispered to Blake. 

"Sully, we can't take on those two
guys,” Blake said. 

"I need you to put her down Blake
or hold her for me. I need to be able to get to my knife,”
Sully said as she let her side drop. 

Logan trotted over and perched
himself in front of Sully. 

"I need to teach these guys
that intimidation doesn't work.  If Jayden was awake, she
wouldn't want us to be held here against our will,” Sully said as
she tried to move around the dog. 

Logan barked at
her.

 
"I don't understand
what you are trying to say. You are ok with us leaving her
here in a unfamiliar place?” Sully asked Logan like she could
understand what he was trying to tell her. 

Logan
barked. 

"The dogs right Sully, she is
really heavy and how are we going to get her back to the car with
two very large guys trying to stop us?" Blake
said. 

"Ok, ok fine,” Sully, said as
she gave up. 

"My men will take her
upstairs." Catherine said. 

As the two men came towards
Blake and Sully, Logan leaped a few feet in front and growled so
deep that it made Sully and Blake jump.