Clan of Redemption (37 page)

“I really appreciate the
help, but I’m confused, who are you and why do you want to help
me?” I said as I kept my eye on the cat, its mouth was pulling back
to show me it’s large teeth, or a smiling.

“I am the goddess Artemis;
I am the one that made your clan what they are.”

“I…you’re a god..like in
Zeus?” I said as I saw her forehead start to wrinkle. “Wait, I
think I remember some of the stories…” She cut me off before I
could finish, I think I might have insulted her again. This is
usually Sully’s job, to be the instigator.

“Please stop before you
sound like a complete idiot.” She walked over to a table that
hadn’t been there a minute ago, picked up something, and walked
over to me. “Open your hands; I have a gift for you.”

I opened my hand and
slowly moved it closer to her. “These belong to you, never take
them off. It holds the power that allows your people to change
shapes. With it, you are protected from most evil.”

I yelled. “I remember who
you are.” Or least I think I did, I seemed to be stuck on her
calling herself a Goddess and not anything else.

“Jayden, let’s try to get
past the goddess part, I know it’s all exciting and stuff but you
have things that you have to do. Let’s not worry about that right
now, you will one day study all you need to but for now, just
listen.”

After I closed my mouth, I
sat on a chair that just appeared behind me. “I’m really thirsty
all of a sudden, do you think that I could have a glass of water,
it’s not like being in front of a goddess wouldn’t make anyone a
little freaked out.”

Was it ok to ask a goddess
for something to drink?

Artemis walked back to the
table, picked up a challis, and handed it to me. “Maybe before you
drink this you should put that jewelry on. I did mean what I said.”
I put the jewelry on, took the cup, and drank from it,
reluctantly.

“You have a chance to take
over your clan and make a difference in the world, unlike your
Great Aunt,” Artemis said, as she seemed to be so comfortable with
her surroundings.

“My who? You mean my
Grandmother Catherine,” I said as I gulped the last of my drink
down. Sometimes when you’re nervous, you forget how to
swallow.

“No, I mean your Great
Aunt Dolly, she was your Grandmother’s twin.”

Oh shit.

“So that’s where that
picture came from. I saw a picture of them when they were little.
One of them was wearing this same necklace and ring set.” I said as
I rubbed my fingers.

“Yes, they were twins and
your Grandmother Catherine was born first which gave her the right
to be clan chief, but when your Grandmother met and married your
Grandfather it drove Dolly to take revenge of the greatest kind.
Right after your mother was born; Dolly murdered Catherine and
claimed that Dolly disappeared. She took on Catherine’s identity
and raised your mother as her own.” Artemis waved her hand, a stone
throng appeared and she sat down.

“Did my mother know all
this?” I asked as I tried to absorb what she was telling me. I had
wondered why my Mother wanted nothing to do with her parents but
never figured that would be the reason. She never talked about her
family, let alone that twins run in the family tree.

“She knew, it took her
many years to come up with her own suspicions but it was her
father, your Grandfather that confirmed it for her. I approached
your mother in her 16
^th
year and wanted her
to come be one of my warriors, she was special, but she turned me
down saying that she wanted to have a family one day. I still think
she would have been better off with me, but that is the past and
she made her choice.” She looked like she really wasn't talking to
me but remember things she wished were different.

“You knew my Mother, I
mean you talked to her?” I asked wondering what my mother was like
back then. My memories of my mother are far and few between, but to
think that she could have chosen an eternity with the gods but
turned it down shows me that the memories I do have of her mean so
much more.

“Yes, I came to your
mother a few times and we had many meaningful talks, she is a kind
hearted forgiving soul.”

“Is, what do you mean is a
kind hearted soul. Do you still talk to her, in
what…heaven?”

“This is not what I
brought you here to talk about, and I can’t keep this room hidden
forever, you need to make your life choice now,” she said, as she
seemed to be talking to herself.

“Life choice?” What
exactly does that entail?

“It means you can walk
away and let your Aunt destroy your family clan or you can take the
power that has been past down to you Jayden and remove your Aunt
and take your place as clan chief of the Mackenzie clan. I could
have let your family die in the massacre, it sure would have caused
me less headache, but I’m getting off track. Your family’s people
have been given a gift that no other humans will ever receive, and
if you let this family be run by your Aunt, your family will cease
to exist.”

“Are you saying that if I
don’t give up my life to be these peoples ruler, then you will kill
them?" I said, as my face started to get red, I couldn’t seem to
unclench my fists. Please don’t cry, I could feel the tears
starting to swell.

“I could cook something on
those rosy cheeks. You really need to work on that temper, stupid
child. I have already been punished for interfering in your clan’s
life many years ago, and I don’t intend to let that happen again.
Zeus will step in if your Aunt isn’t dealt with,” she said as she
studied her nails as if they were a piece of artwork.

“You don’t know what
you’re asking me, I…I had plans for myself, I’m only eighteen. I’m
not ready to lead a group of people, I’m still a child,” I said as
I kept shaking my head. Did I really feel like a child? No, after
my Mom died I grew up rather fast, not that my Dad didn’t try his
hardest, but he was always the quiet one in the background, with my
Mom running the show. Dad was known for his off handed jokes, or
his lengthy stories that would have my Mom rolling her eyes, but
for the most part my Mom was the one that kept the home alive with
laughter, good cooking, and love.

Did I really just call
myself a child?

“You are young, but your
heart is that of your mother’s. You will be good to your people and
show them the way of old. To embrace what gifts I have given them,
to help them help the world. Everyone has to grow up and you might
think you’re a child but you are ready, even your mother
agrees.”

“My Mother! You’ve talked
to my mother, how, when?” I said frantically.

“Remember who you are
talking to, I am a goddess and I talk with whomever I
want.”

Goddess Artemis stood from
her stone throne and walked up to me.

“I forget myself sometimes
Jayden, your mother has taught me more about being human than
anyone ever could have. She wants you to embrace your gift as well
and stop your grandmother before she destroys all of your clan.
Take a moment, think about it, but I need your decision soon. This
room can only be hidden for a while and I was forbidden from ever
interfering in your clan’s affairs, but I couldn’t let you die, not
yet anyway. Apollo would be upset with me that I didn’t listen to
his oracular future that he sees for you. Enough talking, decide.”
She threw her hands in the air, as if to throw me aside.

“If I said yes, would I
have to live here, I mean in Ocean Park; could I finish my goals, I
really want to go to school,” I asked.

It was hard for me to
concentrate looking at this beautiful glowing essence of a girl,
who could kill me with a look.

Artemis laughed. “You
think that I am going to make all your decisions for you, you are
so young. If you decide to lead your people, and take your place as
clan chief, you make all your own decisions. I have helped you this
once, but it can’t happen again. Your life is yours to lead and the
lessons learned are yours and yours alone.”

“I can’t believe I’m
saying this, but ok, ok I will take the job, but what about Sydney,
can you save her?” I pleaded.

“I’m glad to hear you say
that, and I’m sorry girl, once death has touched you I cannot take
it back.”

I felt my face get hot
again “But you saved me, you are a goddess, you can do anything
that you want,” I screamed the last part at her.

Artemis took a deep breath
“Grace, your daughter is not as much like you as I thought. Jayden,
I saved you before death had touched you. Your friend Sydney, well
it was too late.”

“I need her, she knows
more about our magic then I do, she was our healer. I know nothing
about what she did, I can’t…she was the closest thing to my mother
that I have left.” I couldn’t help but start to cry and put my
hands over my face. Why does this goddess get to talk to my mother
and I don’t? I know it sounds childish but I have wanted to talk to
her for so long.

I felt a warm hand on my
head and one on my chin.

“I miss you more than you
can even imagine.”

“Mother,” I sobbed through
blurry eyes as I lifted my head.

“Yes dear, it’s me. Oh
Jayden, it’s so good to hold you,” My mother said as I grabbed her
even tighter.

As the sobbing started to
recede, I pulled away from her to look her in the face.

“So, your dead but I can
touch you? I want to stay with you; I want to be dead
too.”

“Jayden, don’t say those
kinds of things. You have a long life to live, and I’m not truly
dead.”

“Not dead, you’re not
dead….but..but you were killed.”

“I was saved my Artemis,
and kept here until you turned of age. If she wouldn’t have saved
me, my Aunt would have found a way to kill me and I worried that
you would have been in the cross fire.”

“Grace, I think this is a
mistake,” Artemis said as she started to pace.

My mother let me go and
walked over to Artemis.

Is this some sort of
goddess crushing on my Mom?

“You have been so good to
me, please don’t be upset. I told you this is what I wanted many
years ago. I have enjoyed your company for many years and I
consider you a good friend, but this is my daughter, I have to take
my place beside her. If you wouldn’t have saved me those years ago,
well I would be truly dead now.”

“Grace, you make me forget
myself, I am a goddess, not a sniveling girl who should care about
feelings, but I do so care about yours. I know it’s time for you to
go, it’s just…hard to let go. Enough of this!” She seemed to be
having an inner struggle, I wasn’t wanting to hang out much
longer.

It looked like Artemis was
crying, but she turned her back to both of us, quicker than I
thought possible.

“You daughter has chosen to
lead your people, so go before I change my mind and keep you both
because I can.”

My mother winked at me and
walked up to Artemis and hugged her from behind.

“Thank you for all that
you have done for me and mine, and you are welcome to invade my
dreams anytime you want, my friend!”

With that, my Mother
walked up to me and opened her hand to me. I took it and stood with
her.

A life for a
life

“So, what happens now?” I
asked, wondering if Blake and Logan were anywhere close.

“Now we face your Great
Aunt,” my mother said as she intertwined her fingers with mine. The
thought of seeing that retched women again gave me a quick dash of
goose bumps.

“You must follow the law
of your clan. Your Aunt has to be put to death for her crimes.
Those are the rules; there is no prison for your kind. The rest of
the world cannot know of your existence. We are out of time, take
your daughter Grace and be gone from here. Now I must go, please
cherish each other,” Artemetis whispered but wasn't visible.
Suddenly we were thrust into the black abyss once more.

I knew that look, I was
going to lose my breakfast or at least come close to it. I was
really hoping the return trip would be easier on the body, at least
my stomach.

****************************

I can’t just kill a
person, even if she was the epitome of evil. She might deserve it
but I’ve never killed anyone. I can’t take her life, any
life.

I could see before we
completely reappeared, it was like looking through my bathroom
mirror after I showered. The council was arguing, Aunt Dolly was
pacing around yelling at whomever she could. The rest of the people
were still in shock and awe. Artemis had dumped us right next to
Sydney.

As soon as I could breathe
again without losing my breakfast I scooted over to Sydney. Several
people were trying to help her, the knife had been pulled out, and
someone I didn’t know was putting pressure on the wound.

“Sydney, can you hear me,”
I asked as I wiped a few pieces of her hair out of her
mouth.

“I thought I told you to
leave, what are you doing….she will kill you,” Sydney said through
gasping breaths.