Clan of Redemption (35 page)

“You don’t have to do
this; we can turn around and go home. You can forget all about this
life.” Logan said as he waited for me to respond.

“If I did that, would I
still be a shape shifter?” I asked. Was I actually contemplating
giving up and going home to a safe place?

“Yes, you were born a
shape shifter, that will never change, but you don’t have to be
brave. No one would think less of you,” Logan said as I took a deep
breath.

“You can do this Jayden, I
know you can, you were born for this. You were meant to lead our
people to be better to do better,” Blake said as he walked over and
started to rub my back.

“That’s enough from you
Blake, don’t try to talk Jayden into something she doesn’t want to
do. This is her life, and she has been through enough.” Logan said
as he grabbed Blake by the arm.

“If you guys can just curb
your testosterone for just a minute, I just needed a minute, I’m
fine now. Let’s go.” I said as I started walking to the
house.

I think listening to them
fight was giving me strength, I can’t handle people bickering. That
was the hard part about being friends with Sully. She always had to
tell people how she felt and it seemed to get her into constant
fights with people. I was always the diplomatic one that would stay
neutral between Logan and Sully.

“I can’t think about Sully
right now, or I’m going to get upset,” I told myself as I whispered
quietly.

My body was starting to
shake all over, is this what it felt like to have a panic attach. I
was having a hard time breathing, my chest felt like someone was
standing on it and I couldn’t seem to see straight, it was like I
was seeing through a tunnel that was closing up.

“Ok lady you need to get a
grip, this isn’t going to help you, or me. If you can’t pull this
off, I’m not sure that I will be around for much longer.” I heard
Sully talking to me.

“Sully? Oh my god I’m
going crazy, this must be a psychotic break.” I had to sit down on
the ground, I was afraid that I might pass out.

“I’ve been trying this all
day and I finally got through, I don’t know how long this
connection will last but you need to shut up and listen to me. This
Clint guy doesn’t seem to be the enemy; he just really wants to
have justice for the people of this clan. When you go up in front
of these old geezers you need to use that shield that you threw up
before or someone on that council is going to try and kill you.
Someone is coming and I’m feeling really drained from this so I
have to go, but don’t worry about me, I don’t think they want to
hurt me.”

“Sully, Sully, are you
still there?

“I stood there for what
felt like an eternity, I closed my eyes took a deep breath and made
my way up to the front door. I didn’t even look behind me to see
what the boys were doing, I couldn’t handle trying to maintain and
wonder what the heck were they doing. We were lead into the same
ballroom that I had been to earlier but now it was set up a
meeting, with many faces staring at me as I made my way to the
front to stand before a panel of people.

Logan and Blake came and
flanked either side of me which I didn’t realize at the time, but
my shoulders let go just a wee bit of tension. Logan always had
that affect of my especially during anything that would stress me
out.

“Stop messing with your
sash, you look great. Just stand your ground and make the right
decision.”

“Oh and what decision is
that, what is the right one?” I could tell that I could at any
moment just run the opposite direction and that would solve
everything. Everything except for how I get Sully back. She sounded
like she was ok where she was and that they didn’t want to hurt
her, maybe I could choose not to be a part of these people and
still get her back

“Hello everyone..I am
Jayden McCormick, my Mother was I guess I am related to Catherine,
and I well…I’m here because, well I thought my best friend had died
and then this dog showed up so..”

Logan elbowed me in the
side.

“Ouch, that hurt,” I
yelled it at him.

“Jayden, they don’t need
to hear a blow by blow, you need to tell them that you have come to
take your place with your family,” Logan whispered.

“Oh right, but I
just.”

“Jayden!”

“Ok, so I am here because
I found out that I am part of your clan, a shape shifter I guess.”
I looked at Logan and glared at him, I tried to give him a look
that said I couldn’t do this any other way then my way.

“Jayden we all know why
you are here,” Catherine said with no facial expression.

Just when I thought that I
wouldn't be able to face these strangers and say anything, it just
started to flow. “Actually, do you all really know why I am here,
have any of you really stopped to think about why I am here and
what it means to me. Some of you up there want me to become part of
your clan, to be family, but have any of you thought about what I
want or how this makes me feel. I grew up without my mother, not to
mention my grandparents of my mother. It has been Dad and I for
many years without any of you to help me or be a part of my family,
but here you sit wanting me to be this person that you have in your
mind. Maybe that isn’t what I want, maybe it is, but I don’t think
that I can make that decision right now,” I said as I was thinking
about Sully and what this would mean to her.

Before my grandmother
could say anything, the doors to the large room bust open and in
walked a man that I hadn’t seen before.

“I evoke my right to
participate in today’s events,” said the strange dude.

Who is this guy? Is this
man that is holding Sully. He stomped in like he owned the place,
with his crazy mangled black hair and a beard that almost touched
his chest. It was hard to see the features of his face because of
the beard, but he had huge brown eyes that seemed soft and loving,
but you wouldn’t know that from his stance.

“Clint you were banned
from this clan, you have no rights here,” Grandmother stated as he
pounded her fist on the table.

“Actually I do, we have
someone else here that has the same bloodline as you and she can
make that decision just as you have.” He looked at me and my mouth
dropped open. Was this guy really looking to me to fix his
problems, I don’t even know this man, I don’t know what he had done
to deserve to be banned.

“Clint is right,
Catherine, she can restore Clint’s position in the guard if she
wishes,” Grandfather said as he gave me a wink.

Was that wink supposed to
mean something to me, and a guard position, what the heck does this
mean to me? I felt like I walked into something that I have no
right to be involved in.

“Clint broke the rules
many years ago and he was punished for that. She cannot undo what
I’ve done, and she’s already made it clear that she doesn’t want to
be part of this clan.” Catherine stood up which made me feel like
this meeting was over.

“Sit down you old twit,
Jayden has every right to be here and she deserves to be given some
time to make this kind of decision. We all need to take into
consideration that she has lived apart from us her entire life and
it’s not fair to ask such a large task without some time.” The
medicine woman had come out from the crowd of people that had
walked in with this Clint guy.

“Sydney I should have
known you were the one behind this, always interfering where you
don’t belong,” Catherine said as her face became more
hardened.

“I am behind nothing
Catherine, just trying to fight for our clans survival, which you
seem to want to destroy. I am here to stand beside our clansman and
ask the council for the right to more time, time to help Jayden
figure out what she wants for the rest of her life. She deserves
that, and I would think that her own grandmother would want that
for her granddaughter, or are you so wrapped up in our own power
that you can’t see that.?”

A few other council
members started to bicker back and forth and before I knew it the
whole room was louder than a concert. I looked around and saw
anger, tears, hate, but I knew that I couldn’t handle this. I
started to wonder if this was the reason that my Mother had left
these people. All the anger all the fighting, who would want to be
a part of these people.     
"We have gathered here as a Clan to recognize my granddaughter
Jayden. She has come here of her own will. She is in line
to be the queen when I step down, but to become a part of our clan
we need to put her to the trials that are set forth in our
bylaws," Grandmother Catherine said as she stood in front of
all the members.
"Before we start the trials, I have something to say," I said
as I pulled my hand up to my throat to make sure I could still
breath.
 I almost felt like I was going to pass out, but I knew that I
had to do this, I could do this. 
"Jayden is here to claim her birth right in our clan; she is the
daughter of my daughter and is one of us. I ask this council
to hear what she has to say and see her as princess Jayden." 
 
My Grandmother sat down and I could hear people whispering behind
me, it made the hairs on my neck stand up. I wasn't sure what
I was supposed to do, was there something I needed to
repeat. Would all these people just leave me standing here and
not help me out? 
"I would like to see what she can shift into, how do we know that
she is really your granddaughter?" A council man had stood
up. I didn't recognize him, but I had a feeling he wasn't on
my side. 
"We will get to that my friend, but right now we need to ask Jayden
some important questions. Jayden, I am Zera I have been on
this council for many years and I would like to ask you one
question." 
"Ok,"  I said even though I wasn't sure I was actually suppose
to respond to her. 
"I would like, and I'm sure so would many others here, to know if
you are planning being a part of this clan?"   
This woman that stood up reminded me of my biology teacher in high
school, she had a bowl cut that shaped her face and she looked like
she could blow you over if she sneezed too hard. I couldn't
tell by the frown on her face if she was upset or if that was just
her poker face. 
"I..I, I really don't know what you want me to say. I just
found out about a week ago that my grandparents are still alive,
which was a big shock for me. I just graduated high school and
had planned on attending the UW, but that doesn't seem to be on the
top of my list. The note from my Mom really put a whammy on my
heart, and oh did I mention that I'm a shape shifter that seems to
have more powers that most. So if you asking me to make a
decision then I'm going to have to decline," I said as I bent
over and took a deep breath. 
My grandfather stood up fast, faster than I imagined was
possible. 
"I think what she is trying to say is that she's needs some more
time to think about things."
Before he could finish my grandmother stood up.
"Stewart, I think Jayden knows what she is giving up and I don't
think that this is the time to pressure her. She didn't grow
up here, she doesn't know us as her clan, her mother made the same
choice. It is part of our bi-laws that she has one opportunity
to become part of this family and she has clearly stated that she
does not want this life." 
"I agree with Stewart, this is much to take in especially when she
has grown up without her Mother to show her the way. I believe
it's in the council’s best interest to allow Jayden to take more
time to make such a vast decision." A man that I didn't
recognize but one that clearly was on my grandfather’s
side. He was a shorter man that didn't seem to have much hair,
but his glasses stood out to me, with think black rims that made
his eyes beady.

“I’m not saying that I
don’t want to have you all as family, but this is a huge life
changing question to ask me when I’ve just learned of it. I need
some time to come to grips with, and if I could have some time to
get to know this life I could make a better decision.” I stared at
my Grandfather who was giving me an approving look. I really wanted
to get to know him, but I wasn’t ready to make this kind of
commitment without more information.

“Jayden, you have had your
chance to speak and I have made my final decision. You have chosen
to leave here today, which means that you are no longer welcome
here, and if you ever return or tell anyone about us it will mean
death for you,” Grandmother Catherine said as she raised an eyebrow
at me and took her hand and straightened her hair.

Was she stressed about
something, I’ve never seen her so meek before, not that I was that
I knew her that well but she’d always come across like she was
always in control. I could even see some sweat building up on her
forehead and it wasn’t particularly warm in this room. Is it me
that made her nervous, no, I was just a girl with no real stance of
importance.

My Grandfather stood up
and started to speak but before anything came out, he was shoved
back in his seat by a force that I could see but only
just.

“You dare challenge me and
my authority, this is our way and our laws unless someone here has
something else to add my decision has been made.”

“Forgive me Queen
Catherine but the council isn’t just here for looks, we have been
added to your thorn to protect our people and the world and for you
to just toss her aside like she doesn’t mean anything is pushing
the limits just a bit,” this came from Sydney.