by SF Mazhar
“Alaina,” Chris greeted.
She – Alaina – gripped the door tightly, and Aaron was sure she was going to slam it in their faces. Instead, she swung the door open wider, letting her hand fall to her side. She didn’t look away from Chris as she spoke.
“Come in.” Her voice was soft, but her tone wasn’t. “It’s about time.”
***
They sat in awkward silence around Alaina’s small coffee table. The two-seater sofa had Sam and Rose, while the bigger sofa had all three Adams. Alaina sat on the ground next to the table, making tea. She handed each person a cup and saucer. They all took them but no one spoke a word.
Alaina finished making the last cup, pushed it towards Chris and sat back.
“I didn’t know you had returned,” she said at last.
“We had an incident,” Chris said.
“Oh, so you were forced to come back?” Alaina said. “Makes sense.”
Aaron glanced at his dad, but Chris didn’t look annoyed. If anything, he seemed abashed. Finding something to do, other than stare between Alaina and his dad, Aaron picked up his cup and took a sip. He almost spat it back out. His spluttering caught Alaina’s attention.
“It’s Horehound tea,” she said. “It’s bittersweet.” She looked back at Chris. “I thought it would be fitting.”
“Alaina.” Chris’s voice was no louder than a whisper. “Please. Don’t make this harder than it is.”
“I’m making this hard?” Alaina asked. “I’m not the one who ran out on everyone, Chris. I’m not the one who abandoned their family.”
“Alaina–”
“You left him!” she snapped. Her eyes, which already seemed too big for her thin face, bulged out with anger. “You left both of them. Everyone who died that day were buried by their kin. Everyone except Alex and Ben. Your name was called three times.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “Three times, Chris. On the fourth call, Neriah stepped forward and buried them. That wasn’t his burden to bear.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Chris asked and this time, his eyes were just as full of anger and pain as hers. The ground trembled a little, rattling the furniture. Kate put her hand on Chris’s knee.
“Chris–”
“You think I don’t regret it?” Chris continued, ignoring Kate. “It was my right to bury my own. A right that was taken from me.”
“Taken from you?” Alaina asked, either oblivious to the faint earthquake or bravely dismissing it. “You left and didn’t come back.”
“I came back,” Chris said.
Every eye turned to him in shock. Chris let out a strained breath and the shaking ceased.
“I came back,” he repeated quietly. “The next night, I returned, but they had already been buried by then.”
Alaina stared at him. She shook her head slowly. “Then why didn’t you stay?” she asked and for the first time since arriving there, Aaron heard the pain in her voice instead of bitter resentment.
Chris met her eyes. “Raoul was looking for me, for the rest of my family. He had set a bounty on my head, on any Adams his Lycans could find.” His fists clenched into balls. “He said he’d enjoyed the taste and wanted more.” He dropped his head and took a few moments to gather himself. When he looked up, his eyes had hardened, his jaw set. “I stayed in the human realm to keep my family safe.”
Alaina didn’t say anything.
“That doesn’t mean we don’t know what we did was wrong,” Kate said.
Aaron turned to look at his mum with surprise. He didn’t think either of his parents would ever admit they did wrong by hiding in the human realm.
“We left you by yourself,” Kate continued. “After everything that had happened, you needed us just as much as we needed you.”
Alaina didn’t speak but her eyes brimmed. She looked away, reaching up to brush her eyes dry.
“I’m surprised you still live here, to be honest,” Chris said. “I was hoping you’d be married by now, with a kid or two to run after.”
Alaina smiled, but there was no joy there. “You only have one heart,” she said. “And I already gave mine away. I don’t have anything left to give to anyone else.”
“Alaina,” Chris said softly, “Alex wouldn’t have wanted this for you.”
“I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have wanted to die when he did, either,” Alaina replied.
The room quietened, tension hung in the air, making it difficult to breathe.
Alaina closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
Chris waved a hand, but his inability to talk told of how much her comment had hurt. Alaina turned to look at Aaron, before glancing to Sam and Rose. She reached over and waved a hand at Aaron’s cup. It began steaming instantly. She did the same to the rest. She smiled and this time, it was genuine.
“I’ll just get some honey for the tea.”
***
Aaron studied the photos on Alaina’s wall. It was apparent by the numerous framed pictures that Alaina had been an unofficial part of the Adams family, and a part of the Elementals group, for some time. The area above her fireplace had many photos, most of the people Aaron didn’t know, but there were a few faces he recognised. Alex was in countless pictures. Aaron spotted Ben in a few, along with his mum and dad. His mum’s friend Jane was in one or two photos with Neriah. There was even one of Hadrian, standing with Alex and Chris on one side and Neriah and a woman on his other. The woman seemed very familiar, but Aaron didn’t realise why until Sam let out a splutter and pointed at her.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered. “How much does she look like Ella?”
As soon as he said it, Aaron saw the resemblance. She had Ella’s long dark hair, minus the electric blue streaks, Ella’s grey eyes and even her nose.
“Maybe she’s her mum,” Aaron said.
“Or her twin,” Sam offered.
“Her twin?” Rose asked. “Look how young Neriah is in the picture.”
“Maybe she’s Ella’s older twin.” Sam grinned, messing with his sister.
“Shut up, Sam,” Rose said, annoyed.
Sam chuckled. “Whoever she is, she’s damn beautiful.”
Aaron glanced behind him to see Alaina in the kitchen with his mum and dad. They seemed a little calmer now, talking in quieter tones as Alaina prepared some snacks for them. The photos proved Aaron had been right. Alaina used to be stunningly beautiful, but the loss she suffered sapped the glow of her beauty, took the light from her eyes and the warmth from her smile.
“Looks like Alaina was with your uncle for a while,” Sam said from Aaron’s side.
Aaron turned to see the frame Sam was staring at. Alex looked to be not much older than thirteen, maybe fourteen years old. An equally young-looking Alaina was wrapped in his arms.
“They were childhood sweethearts,” Aaron said.
“Teenage sweethearts, by the looks of it,” Sam corrected.
Rose, Aaron noted, was making an effort not to look at any pictures of Alex. Aaron didn’t blame her.
“I can’t believe she never went with another bloke,” Sam said. “It’s been how long?”
“Fourteen years,” Aaron murmured, staring at a picture of a laughing Alaina, with Alex at her shoulder, his tongue sticking out at the camera.
Reading the story told by the pictures, it didn’t seem very likely that his uncle would cheat on Alaina. They seemed happy. Seeing the devotion between Alex and Alaina made it clear that Kyran, despite the way he looked, could not be Alex’s son unless Alaina was his mother.
Aaron turned to study Alaina. She didn’t look old enough to be Kyran’s mother. Aaron rubbed at his head. He had to stop doing this. Kyran wasn’t family; his dad’s inability to sense him in the bloodline chain proved that.
“I feel so sorry for her,” Rose said, coming to Aaron’s side, looking at the collage. “She seemed so happy.”
Aaron stared at the main picture, a large framed photo sittin
g in the middle of the cluster of smaller frames. It was of Alex and Alaina, sitting on the porch of this very house. Alex had his arm around Alaina, holding her close, while Alaina rested a hand on his leg. They looked like a newly married couple on their honeymoon. Alaina even looked like a beaming bride, in a simple white flowing dress. Something caught Aaron’s eye and he moved closer, staring at the picture.
“Aaron?” Rose called. “What is it?”
Aaron narrowed his eyes. Around Alaina’s neck was a thin silver chain, holding a small pendant. It was difficult to tell in the picture, but Aaron was sure the pendant was a small glass dome with a white rose inside, in full bloom...
Aaron turned around to see Alaina in the kitchen. His eyes sought out the thin chain, still around her neck. He couldn’t see the pendant; it was hidden under her dress. The story he heard from the Peregrin girl came back to him.
...it’s the story of a girl, rumoured to be the prettiest in all the realm. She had hair as dark as night, skin that glowed like the moon...she lived by herself...she had fallen in love with a mage – a daring, brave warrior...
Aaron turned back to look at the photos of his uncle, a Hunter.
...he couldn’t take her despair and worry, so he gifted her with a pendant, one he had created himself, representing both of their elements…
Aaron looked at the picture of the pendant. A rose, to represent his element, floating in a pool of water, to represent hers.
...she knew her lover was dead, but she believed her love wasn’t...he was gone but she believed she could still see him – find his shadow in the house they lived in, hear his voice in the whispers of the wind...
His dad said he was surprised she still lived here. There were enough pictures to show she stayed here when she was with Alex. Is that why she was still here? Waiting to see Alex’s echo?
...she kept the pendant, with the belief that one day it would bloom again, the moment his echo finally reached her...to this day, she sits and waits for him and that is why we call it the Tale of the Waiting Bloom...
Aaron could hear Sam and Rose calling him, he even felt Rose’s hand on his arm, shaking him, but all he could do was stare at Alaina. The intensity of his gaze made Alaina stop and turn around, to meet his eyes with a questioning look.
“It’s you,” Aaron breathed. “You’re the Waiting Bloom.”
Alaina didn’t say anything. Sam and Rose turned to stare at her in shock. Aaron saw his mum and dad look at him with a mix of anger and surprise, obviously wondering how Aaron knew about the Waiting Bloom.
Alaina reached up and carefully lifted the pendant from under her dress, resting it in her hand. Aaron saw the glass dome with the ivory bud inside. The water around the bud was clear, not crimson like the story had stated, and for that small mercy, Aaron was grateful. He didn’t know how he would feel, seeing the blood-stained water that signified the death of his family member.
“It’s strange how the world works,” Alaina said. “What is a tragedy for one becomes a great story for others.”
Aaron could feel heat spread through him, like a fire had started somewhere deep inside. He was suddenly angry, furious at the Peregrins for going around selling copies of the gift his uncle had privately given to his fiancée. He was enraged with the mages for allowing the story to spread, to turn what happened to his uncle and would-be-aunt into a tragic love story. Above all, he was infuriated with himself for enjoying the story when he’d first heard it.
“Why do you stand for it?” Aaron asked her. “Why don’t you tell them to stop talking about you, to stop selling those imitations?”
Alaina smiled. “Because it doesn’t matter,” she said. “They can tell what story they want, sell whatever they like. I don’t care.”
“How can you not care?” Aaron asked, fury making his hands curl into fists.
“I don’t have the heart to care for anything other than who I am waiting for.”
Aaron stilled. “Uncle Alex’s echo?”
Alaina looked a little thrown before she grinned. A small laugh escaped her. “Uncle Alex?” she asked. “I’ve never heard anyone refer to him as uncle before.”
Aaron felt some of his anger abate. She had a lovely laugh, even when it was tinged with sadness. “What did Ben call him?” he asked.
Alaina’s smile turned wistful. “Lex,” she said quietly. “Ben used to call him Lex.”
Kate let out a laugh, choked full of tears. “For some reason, Ben loved dropping the first letter in names,” she explained. “She was ‘Laina’ and he was ‘Lex’. Ben could say Alex perfectly, he just preferred Lex.”
Chris smiled. “I think Alex preferred Lex too.”
Aaron felt himself smile.
Alaina was staring at Aaron before slowly shaking her head. “You’re just how I imagined Ben would look, if he...” She faltered and fell silent. She ducked her head and took in a breath before looking up and forcing a smile. “I never thought I would ask Alex’s nephew this,” she said as she walked over to him, “but what’s your name?”
“Aaron,” he replied.
Alaina’s smile slid from her face. She stared at him with complete shock, before turning to look at Kate and Chris. Aaron frowned at her reaction. When Alaina turned back to face him, tears had slid out of her eyes.
“A-Aaron?” she repeated.
“What’s wrong?” Aaron asked.
Alaina reached out with a trembling hand and cupped his cheek. Her hands felt soft and warm.
“Nothing,” she whispered. “Nothing’s wrong.” She turned to look at Kate and Chris again.
“What is it?” Aaron pushed.
Alaina brushed away her tears and sniffed, before turning to give Aaron a watery smile.
“We all had different ideas when it came to choosing a name for you,” she said. “Your parents liked Eric. I suggested Xavier. Even Ben had picked a name for you.” Her eyes fast filled with tears again. “Alex wanted Aaron.”
***
The portal had left Aaron and the others at the Gateway of the City of Marwa. The group made their way across the path, with the water below reflecting the perfect blue of the sky above. But no amount of beauty could distract Aaron today. Thoughts spun in his mind like a whirlpool – meeting Alaina, seeing those pictures of bliss around her home, learning the famous mage love story of the Waiting Bloom was about his uncle and his fiancée, and finally, learning why he was named Aaron.
He cast a small glance at his dad as they walked to the Gate. He wondered what it must have felt like, mere hours after losing your only brother and eldest son to a horrific Lycan attack, to hold your newborn son in your arms and think what to name him. It really was no surprise that his parents chose the name Alex wanted. What better way to always keep Alex in their memories? Aaron knew every time his name came to his mum and dad’s lips, they must think of Alex.
Aaron found it strangely endearing, that before he was even born so many of his family members discussed what to name him. They were clearly excited for his birth, yet his uncle and brother never got to see him. Alaina had had to wait fourteen years to meet him.
Aaron had never put much thought into why he was so named. He believed Sam, who said his parents were lazy and named him Aaron because that was the first name in the baby names book. The fact that he was named to honour the memory of his fallen family was both touching and heart-breaking.
Chris and Kate opened the Gate and led the three teenagers into Marwa. Aaron had barely walked ten steps when he spotted the figure waiting in front of their house. He came to a stop, his heart lurching horribly in his chest.
Neriah saw him too and smiled.
Chris and Kate quickened their pace, heading towards their waiting guest. Aaron and the twins followed after them.
“Neriah,” Chris called. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come for Aaron,” Neriah replied.
Aaron was afraid of exactly this. He had promised his parents he wouldn’t fight. But dee
p inside his longing to save this realm, to protect the human world, was still furiously burning.
If anyone could sniff out that fire, it was Neriah.
17
Fire In The Sky
“What do you mean you’ve come for Aaron?” Chris asked, taking a step closer to Neriah with curled fists. “I already told you we’d all reached a decision: he’s not fighting.”
“And if Aaron tells me the same, I’ll leave,” Neriah replied.
Every eye turned to Aaron, waiting for an answer. Aaron felt Sam and Rose shift behind him, coming to stand by his side. Rose held on to his hand and gave it a tight squeeze. He appreciated the gesture of comfort.
Aaron glanced from his parents to Neriah. He had promised his mum he wouldn’t fight, but seeing Neriah again brought it all back – the need to fight despite the risks.
“Aaron?” Kate encouraged. “Tell him you’re not fighting.”
Aaron met Neriah’s eyes and took in a breath. He opened his mouth but the words wouldn’t come. Neriah smiled and looked back at Chris, who was staring at Aaron with a furrowed brow.
“Aaron?” he called.
Aaron glanced to his dad but didn’t speak.
Kate took a hurried step towards him. “You promised,” she reminded him quickly. “You promised you wouldn’t fight.”
“I know,” Aaron said, “and I want to keep my promise, I do. But…it’s…I just...” He took in a deep breath. “I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do when there’s a weapon out there that only I can use, and it can make a difference to this fight.”
Kate and Chris stood staring at Aaron, their jaws clenched. Neriah stepped forward, addressing Aaron.
“I’ve mapped the safest route for us to retrieve your Blade,” he said. “I’ve had Lurkers searching the surrounding area for weeks. It’s all clear.” He was ignoring both Kate and Chris, speaking directly to Aaron. “After we collect the Blade, your training will begin right away. I think it’s best if you stay in Salvador. I’ve arranged a spot for you to store your Blade, so it’s more convenient for you to train with it on a daily basis.”
