Clan of Redemption (5 page)

“Jayden, wake up, are you
ok?” I heard Sully ask me as she shook my shoulders trying to wake
me.

“Huh, what, where are we?”
I said while trying to get my bearings.

“We’re at the vet’s. They
went to get a stretcher. Are you sure you’re ok, maybe we need to
take you to the hospital too.” She jumped into the back of the
truck.

Just as she did that,
three people ran out of the building with a stretcher and came to
the back of the pickup.

“So what happened to the
dog?” One of the people asked.

“He was shot in the
chest,” I said, still not completely coherent.

One of the girls jumped up
into the back of the truck and started to check out the
dog.

“I see lots of blood, but
I can’t find a wound,” she said as she looked at another one of the
people.

“Let me take a look.” The
one that jumped into the back of the truck was the doctor, I could
she her name with a DVM on the end.

The vet looked and looked,
but finally looked at me.

“Are you sure he was shot,
are you girls trying to play a prank, because it’s not funny,” the
vet sounded anode.

“Hey, now just back off
doc, we aren’t playing around. I saw the wound myself when we
loaded the dog into the back,” Sully said with anger.

“Well then young lady, you
climb back here and you show me where this supposed gunshot is.”
The vet said as she scooted over to give Sully room to climb
in.

Sully climbed into the
back and went through the dog’s fur, while I tried to regain my
composure. I heard Sully and the doctor talking but I couldn’t
focus my eyes yet. I started to sit up a little and that’s when I
realized that I had something cold and metal in my hands. I slowly
opened my right hand and there lay a shiny piece of metal I could
only figure is a bullet. I quickly closed my hand.

“Well I guess the blood
must be from my attacker, because the dog bit the guy. Sorry to
waste your time. Sully we should probably get going it’s getting
late. I’ll stay back here with the dog while you drive. I knew I
wasn't going to be able to move much yet.

“But Jayden, he was shot, I
saw…”I didn’t let her finish.

“It was a mistake, let’s
go,” I growled.

“Ok, ok,” she said
quietly.

“Sorry doc, I really
thought the dog was shot, we weren’t trying to play games.” Sully
helped the two people out of the back of the truck and closed the
gate.

She hoped in to the truck
and took off down the road, but she pulled over a few blocks away,
and got out.

“Ok Jayden, what the hell
is going on here.” Sully sounded really anger.

“Look, Sully.” I opened my
hand to show her the bullet.

“What is that?” Sully
asked as she reached and grabbed to take a closer look. The bullet
and squished and didn't look much like a bullet, but not having
seen one after it comes out I really didn't have anything to
compare it to.

“It’s the bullet that was
in the dog, I guess.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“So where did his bullet
hole go?” Sully asked while she still stroked the fur trying to
find the entry point.

“I have no idea, this is
all a little strange, those two guys wanted my ring and necklace
and they said a few weird things to each other too.”

I sat and told her the
whole story.

“I’m totally confused.
When I saw you leaving with those two guys, that guy we were
playing pool with us tried to stop me.” Sully just sat in the back
of the truck.

“We should probably get
going, it’s getting late,” I said as I started to get
up.

Even though the dog wasn’t
hurt anymore, he still seemed exhausted.

“Do you think they knew
where you live?” Sully asked me.

“If they knew my name, and
your name I’m sure they do, but why are people after me and what is
it about my necklace and ring that they want?” I was hoping for an
answer, but I knew she didn’t have one.

“Hey Sully, how did you
find me?” I asked as I started to get into the truck.

“When you tossed the keys,
I went to the truck and the dog jumped out and barked at me, he
started to run in the direction that those guys were taking you, so
I got in my truck and followed. "He did loose me but I knew you
were in the general direction.” Sully stared at me then started the
truck.

“I feel so sleepy. I just
want to curl up in my bed.” My eyes were starting to burn a
little.

“Sully, would you feel
comfortable staying at my house tonight, it would make me feel
safer. I have a blow up mattress in my closet.” I would offer her
to sleep in my queen bed with me, but I was a restless sleeper and
had a history of punching her in the middle of the
night.

“Sure, I don’t want you to
be alone tonight anyway,” she told me as she drove towards
home.

We drove back home in
silence, neither one of us knew what to say, from what had just
happened. When we pulled up to the house, the dog was still laying
in the back of the truck. I got out hoping that he was ok, but he
was still sleeping.

“Sully, we have to figure
out a name for this dog, I can’t keep calling him dog!” I shook the
dog a little and he popped up as if nothing was wrong. He jumped
out of the back and trotted up to the front door.

“So, what are we going to
tell your dad?” Sully asked before we walked in the
door.

“Nothing, if he finds out,
he’ll never let me leave the house again.” I opened the
door.

As I opened the door I
remember the letter my mother left for me, I was so excited to read
it, but I had to get cleaned up first, I had blood
everywhere.

“I’ll get some towels from
the downstairs linen closet, if you will take the dog upstairs to
the bathroom and run some water in the tub,” I said as I looked
toward the credenza.

I went and got some towels
and brought them upstairs, the dog was being so good for Sully,
just sitting in the tub while she washed him off. Thank goodness my
Dad was a heavy sleeper. Not sure how he'd take it seeing this much
blood on his daughter.

“He just jumped right in
the tub when I turned the water on. I’ve never seen a dog that
likes to take baths, he’s pretty cool, for a dog,” she said and
then frowned when he shook and soaked her with water.

“He defiantly knows how to
make friends,” I chuckled.

He jumped out of the tub
and I towel dried him off. He has so much hair it will take a while
for it to dry.

“Now I have to clean up,
the blood probably won’t come out of this shirt, not that I would
ever want to wear this again. I guess I’m going to have to go
shopping with you Sully, my hooker shirt is thrashed,” I said as
the dog licked my face.

“Yeah and maybe even get
you a stun gun,” Sully said.

“I need to take a shower,
so the blow up mattress is in my closet and the pump is next to it,
I’ll be done shortly,” I said as I started to undress.

“What about Saska?” Sully
asked as she was about to shut the door.

“What’s Saska?” I
asked.

“A name for the dog, I
just thought of it,” Sully said. I thought about it too, and the
dog did look more wolf than domestic dog.

I thought about it for a
moment, and I liked it.

“That’s a great name for
him, Saska it is. It’s nice to have a name for him.” I smiled as
Sully shut the door.

The shower felt so good, I
just stood there and let the water pound on my shoulders, I could
tell that I was going to be sore tomorrow and more so the next day.
At least I’m still alive; this whole night could have turned out
way different. I washed out the scraps on the palms of my hands,
making sure to pick out any small rocks that got
impeded.

I started wondering about
that guy that showed up and helped me, who was he and why did he
help me? My head was starting to hurt again with questions. The
thought that kept coming back to me was Logan, and how much I
missed him. The way he would smile at me as soon as I opened my
door in the morning when leaving for school. He had that smile that
would make you feel like whatever was going on in my life was going
to be ok. Even though we spent so much time together, I never grew
tired of him, I always wanted him around. He always seemed to know
exactly how I was feeling and what I needed to make me feel
better.

I wonder if I would have
been at the lake that day with him, could I have saved Logan they
way it seems that I saved the dog. I’m still not sure that I saved
that dog, but how else would that bullet have ended up in my hand,
and where did all that blood come from? I need to rest my mind for
the night, but not before, I read my mother's letter.

I got dressed put some
ointment on my hands, covered them with bandages and went
downstairs to retrieve the letter. I was so nervous I stopped in
front of the credenza and just stood there staring at it like it
was a rare artifact that was to never be disturbed. Would the
letter tell me about my mother’s death? I won’t know until I open
it, but can I open it. I think I stood there for almost an hour,
until I felt something wet on my hand. Saska had come downstairs
and was sitting next to me. When I looked down at him, I could have
sworn that he was smiling at me. I felt a smile creep from my
mouth.

“Ok, ok, I’ll open it and
stop procrastinating.” I told the Saska. He rubbed his head on my
hand.

I took the letter and
headed up stairs. I crawled into bed and Saska jumped up and curled
up next to me. I didn’t mind that he was sleeping next to me, but
he was still a little damp, but he didn’t smell like wet dog, his
smell was something familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I
sat in bed for a few minutes, shaking, not sure how I was going to
actually open the letter. Sully was already passed out on the
floor, snoring loudly. I’m so glad she’s here with me, I felt fear,
fear that things were changing, fear that something big was
happening in my life and I couldn't stop if I wanted to.

The Discovery

I wish that I could be
there with you now. I know that you have been through a lot in your
life, I mourn the things I know I’ve missed, every birthday, every
Christmas, the first boy that you kissed, your prom and graduating
high school. All of the things you were without me, I’m sure that
you managed, but I’m sad that I missed them. You were such a bright
and curious child, always finding trouble where there was none.
Always wanting to right the wrongs of the world. I know that you
will fare well in your life, it’s in your blood, you are my
daughter. There are things that I need to tell you so listen
closely. The ring that you have now is a very special ring, be sure
that you never take it off . This ring has been in our family since
our clans were changed. It has passed on through generations so
keep it close. There are people in your life that mean you harm, so
do not trust as easy as you have in the past. Your guardian will
protect you as he has done since my death. He will protect you so
keep him close. There is a family that you must search out, I
cannot tell you their names but I can tell you that they come from
the east and they have something that you seek. I’m sorry that I
cannot be more descriptive in this letter, but it is against their
laws. I can tell you that things will happen to you that you don’t
understand, but trust me, it will be ok and you need to search deep
within yourself for them to be clear. Remember that not all help
comes in the form that you are use to, so open your eyes and look
around, help is always with you. You are a very special girl and
you have destiny like no other so choose wisely in your life for
you are my princess and I am always with you.

I want to hold you right
now and tell you how much I love you, but since you are reading
this letter, I was careless and died before my time. I do not want
that to happen to you so be careful in your life and try to see
ahead if you can. My dearest Jayden, I love you so much and please
tell your father I love and miss him too, but do not show this
letter to him, for he has been kept in the dark about our lives and
it will put him in danger to know anything. I was not supposed to
marry your father, but he was my soul mate and one cannot risk
everything without love. I know that this letter did not give you
the answers that you were looking for, but that will come in time.
I will always be with you, so open your heart and I will help you
through your journey. Some of the answers you seek can be found in
the chest in the attic.

Take care, my Jayden. I am
so very proud of you.

The tears rolled off my
face, I want my mother back, I want to hold her and have her tell
me I’m going to be ok. I want her to explain this letter to me, now
my questions are too much for me to even think about. What did this
letter mean, how dare she leave me to deal with this all by myself?
Why was I feeling anger towards her, I had never been angry with
her before, why now? I reached over to grab some tissue and Saska
got up and rested his head on my lap.