Chapter Nine

We drove off campus in Aimee's white BMW...whichs makes me wonder what her job is. Or did her Mom and Dad foot the bill for this beauty. 

Regardless we headed off. There were no words being exchanged and honestly I appreciated the silence. Leaning my head over against the cool of the glass, staring at the trees and houses we passed and thinking to myself. How nice it must be to have the normally of going for a jog, playing in the yard with the family pet, planning what to have for dinner and then sit down to eat with your family.

All of that has been far fetched from my reality. There hasn't been a steady family life. No family pet. Nothing. And did I long for that...absolutely. The reality is that that was one of the things I wished for growing up. Sitting alone on my birthdays, I just wished things would change, wished that one day I would have that family. That reason to want to come home. Something to look forward to. But I found myself working at a job that will get me nowhere, living in an empty apartment and now not even knowing who I actually am.

That last part may be recent. And hey, maybe this is all just a silly dream and I'll wake up anytime now to the beeping alarm clock and all will be rigth with the world.

I was snapped back to reality when the car came to a slow stop. We were in the drive thru and Aimee was about to order. She looked over at me and asked "Is there anything specific you want or anything? I'm paying.''

"Honesty, that coolatta sounded really good. Do they do it in caramel?''

"How about a vanilla one with coolwhip and caramel drizzle? It's amazing." she replied.

"Sounds good to me.''

 She proceeded with the order and pulled up the window to pay. Once we were given our drinks with straws, we were off once again. She seemed like she knew where she was going so I didn't ask. I took a drink of my beverage and I couldn't hide the moan that came excaped my lips. 

Aimee laughed "That good, huh?"

"Oh. My. Gosh. I work in a cafe that has specials with something similar to this and let me just say, they don't even come close. This is fantastic!"

"Yeah, I wung it one day and tried it and my response was pretty much similar to yours. Now I'm addicted. Like it's bad. I get at least one every day. I'm just waiting for the pounds to start showing on the bathroom scale."

We laughed and she continued "It's worth it though. I have zero regrets. Nope. Nadda. None." She punctuated that sentence with a big old gulp. Proceeded by a brain freeze. 

As she drove for about another fifteen minutes or so I notice we are pulling onto a small dirt road.

"Have somewhere particular you are driving us to?" I asked.

She continued driving not bothering answering my question as she was paying a little extra attention to the bumps and dibbits in this off beaten path. We came to a stop to what just looked like the end of the dirt road and she unhooked her seatbelt, grabbed her drink and hopped out of the car. Walking around the front of the car and heading for the woods she yell out to me "Are you coming or what?"

Deciding to get on the move I headed out of the car and followed her into the trees. We seemed to walk forever, but soon I heard off in the distance the babbling of a stream and before you knew it it was within sight.

Aimee walked up to a large boulder half nestled into the water, sat down, removed her socks and shoes and slowly put her feet in the rippling water.

Walking over myself I followed her lead. Placing my feet in the water was a welcomed feeling. I couldn't say for a fact, but this very well may be the first time I have ever done this. 

We continued to sit in silence watching the water fall over all the rocks. Spreading our toes in the water and swishing our feet back and forth. It was calming.

Aimee broke the silence. "So, what kind of questions would you like answered?"

I thought for a long moment. Trying to think on where I would like to start in this. "What did you mean about it not really being my decision alone to move all the way here?"

She turned her head a stared straight ahead when she spoke back to me "You have pretty much been watch throughout your life. We knew at some point not long ago that you were determined to move. You didn't know where you were going. You didn't know how you were going to do it, but you were relentless in your thinking. It was planted in your mind about Tennessee, absolutly random at the time, but still away. You were persuaded to apply for a scholarship to this particular college. Everything has been arranged for you.'' She sighed.

"We didn't want to leave you alone, so you were left with protecters to discretely watch and make sure you remained safe and to also make sure your thougths were protected." 

I'm confused at the 'we' part but I let her continue.

"We then arrived here and intergraded ourselves into this area while you were pretty much preparing for your trip.'' She reached out and laid her hand on mine. "You need to know that you have always had your freewill and please know that everything that has been done has been done for your safety."

I think it may be time now to ask a few more questions before she continues. "I know you have a lot more to say, but who is the 'we' that you keep referring too?"

"Well, Belikov for one. Myself and a few members of the court."

"Ooookay. What court?" I asked

Her face kinda scrunches up and she lowers her eyes. "I think thats one of those questions that should be answered by someone else."

Deciding to let it go. For now atleast.

Tilting my head up and watching to light cloud cover move slowly beyond the tree cover we are in. I sigh. Thinking to myself that I may never fully understand the complexity of what new world I seem to be stepping into. And that's just it...a new world. Because people don't have this kind of persuasion in their lives unknowingly like this. Also, whats with the protectors part! Where were they years ago when my family and I were being attacked. When my only living relatives where taken from me. Where were they then?!

I go to speak and she interrupts me. "I know what you are thinking and the answer is simple. We weren't there. You aren't the only one who suffered casualties that night. We lost several members of the court. They were there to protect you, but were attacked by the very ones that murdered Marissa and Nathan. Apparently they were supposed to just surrender you, but they decided and changed their minds. That's why they were murdered."

Thinking on my newest nightmare and how that collaberates with her story. Goosebumps scatter along my skin and it's not due to the chill in the stream.

"Why were they supposed to surrender me? I'm so confused and I have the feeling this is only the tip of the iceberg. Am I right?" 

Afraid of what she might say, I close my eyes and brace myself.

"The man and woman that raised you weren't your actual parents. They were being provided for as long as they raised you like any normal child and made sure you were safe until it was time you were called upon."

Tears forming in my eyes, trying to process this information. If they weren't my blooded family who was? And honestly why did I look like them? Especially my mom, we had the same color eyes and the same hair.

Aimee spoke up. "They were glamoured to share some of your features. They looked nothing like you, but needed to resemble to part."

"Are you literally reading my mind right now or what?!"

She gave an apologetic smile and apologized "It's one of my gifts. Usually I stay out of minds but you are practically screaming your thoughts.'' She shrugged. "It's elevated by emotions and you, girl, are feeling all types of ways."

"Well, what do you expect! I'm basically finding out that my life was nothing but a lie!"

"I'm not critizing you! I was just answering your question. One of my gifts is mind reading. Sometimes it's a blessing others it's a curse. I'm sorry if I offended you." She looked at me with sad and apologetic eyes and I just brushed it off. I mean really, that is the least of my problems right now.

Getting back on topic. "So, my parents weren't my parents. Whom of which was supposed to raise me and then give me away. I also moved here with the idea to do so placed in my head, along with the idea to apply for that particular university. All because what?" I was getting worked up. Along with all the questions coursing through my head a pounding headache was forming in my temples and behind my eyes. Reaching up to massage my fingers in to relieve some of the blossoming tension that's increasing there. I see Aimee tense up a bit. "Are you getting another headache?" She asked. Concern written all over her face. It was more than your typical worry. It was borderline panic. Which alarmed me and confused me, but I couldn't think on it long because a roaring pain radiated through my skull and I find myself falling back on the stone and screaming. 

Everything became a blur. Aimee on her phone screaming frantically. Her sitting beside me rubbing my back whispering "Its going to be okay. Help is coming. Just hold on."

The pain threatened my senses, my vision and the sounds around me. The roaring of the water disappeared into the pulsing sound that was attacking my eardrums. The sunlight peaking through the trees were too much to bear. 

I woke up screaming in a bed that wasn't mine. Sitting up quickly to scan my surroundings I notice that my head no longer felt like it was in a vice and that my throat was on fire. There was a glass of water and a note on the nightstand next to me. Reaching over I grabbed the water and gulped it down. Setting the glass down and picming up the letter. I noticed the formal handwritting and knew it was Viktors.

"My Dearest Brenna,

I got to you as quick as I could and brought you to my home. Aimee filled me in on what you already know. So, once you are ready for me to answer your questions you can find me downstairs.

Yours Always,

Viktor"

Once I am ready. Will that time ever come?  Did I really have a choice at this point? Nope. Not at all.

Laying back down on the bed I wonder if just curling up to die in these white satin sheets is the way to go. I mean theres worst ways to die, right? But knowing that will solve nothing and that I really do want all the answers. And most of all....when it's all out in the open and after the shock, fear and anger wear off. Will I finally know, after all this time, why I never felt like I belonged anywhere? 

Theres only one way to tell...