Redemption (Waking Up Dead) (12 page)

My body and soul reconnected and I felt like all the life had been drained out of me, leaving me feeling like gelatin.  It reminded me of having the flu.  I was weak and really didn’t care for anything.  The exhaustion made it hard for me to open my eyes and the only thing that my body wanted was sleep, but there is no time for that.  I have work to do.

When I finally opened my eyes, Alzar was on his knees on the floor beside me.  I moved my arm to try to attempt getting up, but as soon as I did, I felt Laynie’s arm.  Her skin wasn’t as cold as it had been right before I set out on my journey to her.  That was a good sign. 

The strange thing was that I had been in the kitchen when I connected with her, but, somehow, I had been moved to her room and put in the bed beside her.  The comfort that I felt for her body to be near me gave me enough strength to motivate myself to do what had to be done. 

Alzar helped me to the side of the bed and my head started spinning.  It wasn’t a bad feeling.  It was just weird.  I had used so much power that it had taken effect on my body. 

“Is she coming back?” he questioned me.  The hope in his eyes made it even harder for me to explain what had happened while I was with her.  In his state of mind anything that I will say to him would either break him or lift him.  It was my choice to make, but I couldn’t imagine myself not being completely honest with him.  He deserves that much.

I opened my mouth to begin telling him what had happened, but I saw something move out of the corner of my eye.  It looked like a shadowy kind of fog, but it made no sense to me that it was in the room with us.  I jumped up, startled and ready to defend us at a moment’s notice.

Alzar placed his hand on my shoulder and it was odd because it was like he was trying to stop me from advancing on the figure.  I looked at him and he shook his head disapprovingly at me.  What in the world is going on, I asked myself silently.

I heard a voice come from the darkness of the thing.  It was Aden and I couldn’t believe that he was still here.  Alzar should have taken care of him as soon as I crossed the barrier that was keeping us from Laynie, but he hadn’t and I was becoming angry at him without knowing what was going on.

I turned to look at him and he had that look on his face that I hadn’t seen in such a long time.  It was a mixture of guilt and surprise and that told me that he had done something that he thought I wasn’t going to approve of him taking part in. 

Before I could start questioning him, he spoke to me tenderly, “I didn’t have a choice.  I had to help him.”

His response confused me and I’m sure that the look that I was giving him wasn’t the one that he expected because he exhaled loudly.  “What are you talking about?  I don’t understand what you mean. 
You
had to help
him
?”

The thought of Alzar helping Aden do anything other than helping him with his exit from the world was absurd.  He has lost his mind, I thought to myself.  This was a big deal to me and I wanted answers.  The longer that Alzar made me wait for his explanation made my beyond furious with him. 

I wanted to reach out and put my hands around Aden’s neck and choke him to death, but there wasn’t a way for me to do that.  In his present state, I can’t even touch him.  I stopped thinking rationally and my anger had gotten the best of me.  Before I could think, I had already grabbed Alzar at his shoulders and began yelling at him.

“Why would you do anything with him?  He turned your daughter into a monster, for goodness sake!”  I screamed as I shook him with more force than I wanted to use.  It wasn’t my intentions to hurt him and as soon as I heard him grunt, I let him go.

Thoughts flooded my mind and everything that Aden had ever done was right there for me to see again.  The scars that his past destruction had left on my heart reopened, leaving me sore and livid.

“Max, you have to listen to me before you do something that you don’t want to do.”

How could he even say that to me?  He knows how I feel about Aden and why he has allowed him to hang around is something that I can’t take lightly.  My actions had turned slightly precarious, but I could tell that Alzar really wanted me to know the reasoning behind his decision.

“Okay, I’m listening.  Spill it.”

He told me about the barrier and the spell that had been cast on Laynie to keep us from getting close enough to her to bring her back.  Every word that he spoke just made me hate Aden more.

“Why would you do that to her?  Think of everything that you have put her through!  You just can’t quit can you?”  I roared at Aden.  I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and the heat from my resentment burned at my skin.

His dark figure moved closer to me and I felt desperate to cause him harm.  In all honesty, it really wasn’t going to help the situation, but it would sure make me feel better.

“I don’t want to hurt her anymore.  I never wanted to hurt her.  I just want to help you save her before it’s too late.”  Aden had more hurt and desperation in his voice than I had ever heard a person have.  Something about it made me want to listen to him.

I knew that his time here was about to be cut short because with every moment that passes his aura lessens more and more.  It wasn’t going to be long now.  He’ll be gone and then the spell blocking us from Laynie would never be broken.

My desperate attempt to convince her to come back hadn’t worked and when I returned here I felt as if my entire world had crumbled into tiny bits that I was never going to be able to pick up.  “I just left her there.  I didn’t know what else to do!”  I yelled, grabbing my head.  My frustration was mounting and fogging my mind.

Aden moved closer to me and I could feel his sorrow.  His words had become whispers and I worried about him having the strength to continue what he is trying to do for Laynie.

“We can do this, but it’s going to take all three of us to break the spell.  I don’t have the power to do this on my own and I am sure that neither of you can accomplish it either.”

Alzar looked at me with guilt stricken eyes and I knew that Aden was telling the truth.  I had no other choice but to join him.  Laynie’s life depends on us.

Alzar began the chant and Aden joined in.  I listened to the words and let the power run through me.  Soon the words came easily and I felt empowered through the connection between all of us. 

I could feel us getting closer to the barrier, but I didn’t let that distract me.  I have to keep my mind open and ready for anything that could happen.

That’s when I heard her.  Her sweet voice flooded my ears, almost breaking my concentration.  I could feel Alzar’s reassurance even through the chant.

“Max?”

CHAPTER 14
LAYNIE’S STRUGGLE

I called out his name the moment that I felt him come back.  His presence was warming and it soothed all the fears that I had since he left.  It had only been minutes, but his return felt like hours. 

When he left, I felt like my heart had gone cold and my spirit began to shake.  I had wanted nothing more than for him to stay with me, but in the same sense, I wanted him to go away.  This was no place for him.  He is truly a gentle person.  His heart is pure and I knew without a doubt that he was good and he loves me.  The worst part about this was that I love him too, but there wasn’t a single thing that I could do about it at this moment.  All I wanted was to be alone; away from the constant pressures of my life and the sorrow that Aden was putting me through.

I realized that in his own way, he had loved me too, but that love that I had thought that I had for him was more of a forced love.  It wasn’t a love that grew on its own.  It was a love that was based completely on lies.  Everything was wrong.  Every detail from the beginning was a fictional story to get me to be at his side and now that I knew it I absolutely refused to stay by him.

The air around me began to stir.  Right then I knew that something was about to happen.  My guess is that it was going to be something major.  I couldn’t wrap my head around what it could possibly be.  Searching the area around me the thought entered my mind that Max might be trying to come back.

Why would he come back? The thought bounced around in my head for what seemed like hours but it had only been seconds.  There was no doubt in my mind that he would find a way to get me to go back to the outside world, but what he didn’t know was that I was planning on putting up one hell of a fight.

I like being here.  The silence is what appeals to me the most.  Not to mention the time to myself.  Out there I had no time to actually think about anything.  All I had time for was war and trying to start an army.  One that I hadn’t known was going to attempt to kill my real father.

Aden is such an idiot for thinking that I was actually going to keep playing along with him in his horrible games.  He had gotten me to turn two innocent people before I had knowledge of his intentions.  I can’t say now that I believe that I had really made a mistake when I had picked Alice and Caleb.  They had been living a life that was not fit for any human being to live.  Neither of them had a real house.  They lived under bridges and always slept outside.  In order for them to even have a meal, they had to steal or beg to get the money that they needed to buy food.

Their hearts are pure and I knew that they both were, beyond a doubt, innocent.  I had taken them out of a very dangerous lifestyle and given them a life that most people would kill for.  Whatever that means to them is solely their opinion, not mine. 

I know that Alice is glad to have the life that had been given to her.  She no longer had to worry about being out in the cold or going hungry and her appreciation was easy to see each time I looked into her eyes.  She was proud to have me at her side; proud that I was her maker.

I had released her before all of this happened and I am glad that I had made that decision.  There is no way that she could’ve handled the separation with our bond being so strong.  It would have driven her completely crazy.  She probably would have done everything that she could do to prove to everyone else that she could be strong through this whole deal, but it would have been impossible to survive without me.

A piercing sound startled me.  The feeling that came with it was a familiar one.  I knew in an instant that it was him.  My one and only true love, my heart’s desire…Max.  I could tell that something was wrong with him.  It felt like he was having to struggle to get to me and that it was taking every ounce of strength and magic that he had inside him.

The thought of how exhausting that had to be on him was heart wrenching and I could feel myself slowly wanting to remove myself from this place that I had once thought was so great and peaceful and go back to the real world.  In all reality, I don’t want to stay here.  It had just taken more time than it should have for me to realize it.

There is no doubt in my mind that I should be with Max.  He is the most wonderful man that I have ever known.  Each time that he looks at me or even touches me, I can feel the power of his love for me flowing from his body.  That feeling is true and strong and I have noticed that it grows stronger with every day that passes. 

I could tell that he was growing weaker as he got closer to me.  I had to do something to strengthen his powers or he was not going to make it.  I gathered everything that I had and cast a strength spell. 

My words came softly but quickly. 

Courage and strength is what he needs,

Give him the will to see.

Protect him and guide him.

Let him be with me.

A little time is all we need.

His shadowy figure instantly became more visible.  Instead of looking like a ghost, he looked almost like he was really here in physical form.

Just as I’d thought he wasn’t going to speak to me, he did.  His voice was just as perfect as I remembered it being the first time I had ever heard him.  It flowed from his lips with grace and certainty; making me remember how much I really do love him.

Seeing him standing before me brought back all the feelings that I had about being away from him.  The empty feeling in my stomach hurt so much that at that moment I wanted to die.  Tears came to my eyes as the tearing and ripping of my heart continued until I was so weak that I could hardly stand.

Before I had realized that I had spoken to him, words raced out of my mouth and even I wasn’t sure as to what I was saying.  None of it made sense to me, but the look he was giving me told me everything that I needed to know.

“Laynie?” He called to me as tears rolled down his cheeks.

I looked into his eyes and it was clear that he was in pain despite my efforts to help him.  If we didn’t do something soon there wasn’t going to be a possibility of me returning to them.  The drain that is being put on Max is more than he can handle and there is no doubt that his life is in jeopardy.  I can only hope that some way we will make it back to the other side safely.

The time is now,

The place is here.

Let us return,

Without fear.

Help us cross,

With each near.

The air around us stirred and it was the most amazing thing that I had ever seen in my entire life; both natural and supernatural.  Colors infused as smoke creating a rainbow effect encircling us.  Amazed at what was happening, I hadn’t realized that Max was on his knees. 

The transport here was ending his life as we waited to be taken back to the other side of this unnecessary journey that I had taken.  I began to panic as Max clutched at his chest.  His body wasn’t strong enough to withstand the amount of power that it was taking him to be here.

All of this is my fault.  If I had just been stronger and stayed with my father none of this would have happened.  Max would be going about his usual life instead of giving his life to get me to come back.  How could I have been so stupid? 

I could feel the pull on my body as the magic begun to pull me back to where I belong.  If I can make it to him before I get placed I can help him.  Without me shielding his body there is no way that he was going to make it back and his death would be on my hands. 

As soon as I touched his hand, we were in motion.  Everything was going fine for a second, but the force was just too much for him.  His shrieks were deafening and I could hardly keep my hold on him.  His body was shaking so violently that he was moving faster and harder than we were being transported.  I was beginning to question if I was going to be able to make it back with him.

His color was turning a sickening stone color and I had seen that before.  It was the color of death.  I put my lips to his cheek and the coolness of his skin was shocking.  Max was barely hanging on to life.

I know that my father will know what to do, but there’s no telling if we were going to make it back to him in time to save Max.  All I could do was hold onto him and pray that we will.

Seconds passed, but to me it felt like an eternity.  Max was now lifeless in my arms and I’m not even sure if he is still alive. 

I could see a figure in the distance and I knew that it was my father, but something was strange about him.  He was hover just above the floor and underneath him I could see Max’s body lying crumpled on the floor. 

Panic set in and a rush of anger flooded my body.  All of this is my fault.  If I had thought of someone other than myself and my foolish pride none of this would have ever happened.

Finally, I could feel the floor under my feet and when Max and I were back in the safety of my father’s presence, I felt a fraction of relief.  The problem is that Max’s spirit had made the journey, not his physical body.  The body and spirit being separated for any length of time wasn’t a good thing at all.  The longer the spirit is out of the body, the harder it is to return it.  Most of the time the spirit never returns and the person died. 

“Please help me father.” I whispered.  Everything that had happened had taken so much from my body that I was utterly exhausted.  I fell to the floor. 

I’m not sure how long I was out, but it couldn’t have been long at all because my father was still working to get Max’s soul reunited with his body.  I tried to get up, but I couldn’t yet.  My head is still spinning from being back and everything seemed to spin with it.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of something.  It looked like smoke or fog.  I wasn’t really sure which one it was, but after I got a better look at it I knew exactly what it was.  Or should I say who it is.

“How could you!” I screamed at my father.  He had fallen for Aden’s charm just like everyone else had.  I have to give him credit; he is good at what he does, but that is no excuse for my father to be joining forces with him.  There has to be more to the story than what I’m seeing.  I know that my father is not that stupid.

Aden’s vaporous form was in front of me before I could even think of what to do.  I could hear my father’s voice telling me that it was okay, but I had enough experience with Aden to know that it’s never okay with him.  Everything that he does benefits him in one way or another.  It always has.

“Baby girl” my father called to me, breaking my focus on Aden. “I need you.”

For my father to ask me for help was something new, but I knew that it was a major thing for him to do as well.  With his powers one would think that he wouldn’t need to ask for help, but obviously this is a far greater deal than I had first thought that it was going to be.

As I got up from the floor and staggered over to him and my love’s crumpled body, all I wanted to do was vomit.  The sight of Max lying there was sickening and it was almost more than I could bear.  Now isn’t the time for me to be weak.  His life rests in our hands and I will stop at nothing until I have him back.

My father’s feet returned to the floor and he looked at me and I knew in that moment that this was the time for me to prove myself.

There was something else.  The look he was giving me was enough.  Determination covered his face as he walked over to me.

I felt like a little girl again.  His steps looked larger than possible. It’s almost if he had been a giant all this time.

“Laynie, now is the time that u must decide your path.”  His words were very clear and pointed.

“What do you mean?”  His statement confused me.  I had thought that I was on the right path already.  I guess I was mistaken.

“You must choose.”

“Choose what?” I asked him.

“You have to choose between being a vampire or a witch.”

This is the moment that I had always wondered about.  The chance to be with Max like we should be was right in front of me.

“What about Caleb and Alice?”  I wanted to be sure that they would be okay on their own. 

Aden is, obviously, dead.  With his spirit being here, or should I say, ghost, they would have no mentor without me.  I can’t just leave them alone.

I explained to my father about Alice and Caleb, but he seemed not to think that it was as important as I do.  The only thing that he did was smile at me.

What in the world is going on, I asked myself.  His lack of concern for them angered me, but I tried not to let it show.

Standing there in front of him in complete silence, I wanted to hit him.  My own father had pushed me to the point of physical violence, but I refuse to let it take over.

His hand gently moved a few strands of hair from my face.  “You don’t have to worry about them anymore.”

I didn’t know what to think.  Had something happened to them while I had been away?  Had my carelessness for their well-being led to something that had caused their ends?

“They are fine.  A little different, but still fine.” My father said to me with his voice filled with admiration.  “Here I’ll prove it to you.”

He called for Alice and Caleb and it was only a matter of seconds before they walked into the room.  Instantly, I knew they were different.  Everything from their smell to their general presence in the room wasn’t like it had been.