Varick McKnight was an adorable ten year old boy. He had dark hair and deep, blue eyes that reminded me of Payne’s.
Varick nodded towards little Gregory. “Your sister’s is quite a character,” He said. “She kept us quite entertained last night.”
Little Gregory looked at his sister skeptically.
“You’re a McKnight, aren’t you?”
Varick sighed and looked momentarily towards Rose.
“Yes,” Varick said. There was a note of disappointment in his voice. “And I’m not about to apologize for it either.”
Little Gregory shrugged. “I didn’t ask you to. If my dad knew we were hanging out with two McKnight boys, he’d have my head.”
Varick and Tag exchanged amused glances.
“So would ours,” Tag said.
“We’re not going to let that stop us,” Varick said, and smiled.
I was amazed when little Gregory smiled back.
“I always thought this whole thing was stupid anyway.”
The three boys exchanged handshakes, while Rose bounced up and down in excitement.
“C’mon,” she urged them. “Let’s get good seats.”
Together, they walked towards the bleachers. Rose had one arm linked through her brother’s, the other linked through Tag’s, as she skipped between them.
The picture got dimmer as the vision faded. I just saw blackness. I ached all over. I struggled to remember what was happening. When I did, I wished I hadn’t.
The Shaws had me taken me, and Payne was dead.
The only thing that I had to hold onto was that Aunt Rose had gotten Simon and Seth to safety. I tried to take comfort in that, but my mind kept going back to Payne, lying on the floor, dying. He might still be alive. Seth had said that Matthew had held on for five hours. I wasn’t sure how long had passed since Victoria had infected Payne with her ability. Payne might be stronger. He might still be alive.
Alive, but dying painfully.
Either way, I probably was never going to see him again. The blur of images I’d had over the last few weeks made sense now. Payne had been my future, but by bringing Seth into our lives, I’d erased that future.
If we’d known that, Payne would probably have insisted we do it anyway. That was Payne.
I decided that he was probably alive somewhere, suffering. Death wouldn’t come easy for him. I felt horrible wishing that it was over so that his suffering would be over. I didn’t want his family to watch as he was slowly tortured into death.
Guiltily, I admitted to myself that once he was gone, he might get to come and see me, even if it was only for one last time before the Shaws had me join him.
I started to cry. I didn’t know how long it lasted, because I was still so out of it. It was dark and quiet, and I felt myself unable to stay awake.
Little Gregory fell to the ground, nose bloodied. Rose was by his side in an instant.
“You two don’t belong here!”
Two large teen boys stood over Gregory and Rose, cracking their knuckles and laughing. One was dark-haired, and the other blonde.
“We have as much right to be here as you do,” Rose said. “We have tickets.”
“Yeah?” the blonde one asked. “Who’d you steal them from? Your old man wouldn’t have bought them for you.”
The dark haired one laughed.
“Wonder what else they stole?” He said. “Empty your pockets. If you got anything good in there, we’ll let you go home without rearranging your faces.”
“You better watch it,” Rose snapped.
“Oh yeah?” The blonde boy stepped closer to her. “Or what?”
Rose looked up at him with a sneer. He threw his head back, laughing. Following Rose’s eyes, I knew that was a big mistake on his part.
Rose’s fist slammed out and connected with his groin. The blonde boy’s face went red, and his eyes rolled back into their sockets. He fell to the ground, cradling himself.
“Hey!”
Before anyone else could move, the other boy stepped forward and slapped Rose’s face. I winced at the sound.
Little Gregory leapt up, fire in his eyes and charged the older boy. At first, the teen looked amused, but as Gregory punched at him, he started to get annoyed. He grabbed the boy that would become my grandfather by the collar with one hand, and drew the other hand back and formed a fist.
Varick came out of nowhere, smashing into the older teen from the side.
“Varick,” the teen boy said, outraged. “What are you doing? These are Blackburns!”
Varick—who I knew was the same age as my grandfather, but was much taller—managed to get the teen in a headlock.
“These are my friends!”
Little Gregory used that moment to deliver a punch to the teen’s face, giving him a bloody nose to match the one he’d given Little Gregory earlier.
Rose moved in to help, but the blonde boy grabbed her hair from behind. Tag leapt on his back.
“Leave her alone!”
“What the hell?” The blonde fought to throw Tag off. “What is she, your girlfriend?”
He threw his head back hard, hitting Tag in the face. When Tag let go and slid off, the blonde teen moved towards Rose again.
Tag grabbed his arm. The blonde boy shifted his weight and threw Tag right into a stack of wooden crates.
Tag cried out in such a way that everyone stopped fighting for a moment. Rose ran over and gasped.
“He’s hurt,” she cried. “Bad!”
The two teens froze as Varick and little Gregory ran over. Clearing away the other crates, they found that Tag had landed on a broken crate. The wood had penetrated his thigh. Tag pulled it out and cried. The two teens ran off after promising to blame it on the kids.
“We need to get help,” Varick said.
Rose looked to her brother.
“Hold on,” little Gregory said. He placed his hand over Tag’s wound and closed his eyes. There was a soft glow under his hands. Tag and Varick looked on, mesmerized. Rose just stroked Tag’s hair, comforting him. When little Gregory moved his hand, the wound was completely healed. There was still a big rip in his bloodied jeans, but Tag was fine.
Varick reached out and put his hand on little Gregory’s arm.
“I’m sure your father has told you over and over again never to reveal any ability you might have.”
Little Gregory nodded.
“You can trust us,” Varick assured Little Gregory. “We won’t tell.”
Little Greggory grinned as they both helped Tag up. Using his sleeve, Little Greggory wiped the small trickle of blood away from his nose.
“Can you heal yourself?” Tag asked.
Little Gregory shook his head.
“No,” he said with a shrug. “Only works on others.”
They started to head back to the big top. Little Gregory had a small limp. When Rose asked him about it, he simply shrugged her off.
“It’ll be fine. Leg stiffens and cramps when I use my power. I’ll be fine in five or ten minutes.”
Accepting his word, they all went to see the show.
“She’s waking up.”
I looked around to see who had said that. Everything was dark, so I squinted, trying to focus. Panic started to set in. I could feel my own breath. Something was over my head. I wanted to remove it, but my hands were bound.
Someone yanked the hood off of my head. I felt some of my hair get yanked up at the same time. When I opened my eyes, Jack was standing there. He was close enough for me to see the scar on his throat from where Matthew had cut him. He glared at me. I knew what he wanted to do.
Someone put their hand on Jack’s shoulder. It was Dave. With a grunt, Jack limped off. He still looked pretty banged up and bandaged from what the dogs had done to him.
“You have no idea what he wants to do with you,” Dave said. “Or for that matter, how tempted I am to let him. But now’s not the time. Just so you know, we’re trying to negotiate with your family. You
for the boy.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“They’ll never—”
“They already have,” Dave said. “We hurt them pretty badly. They know that we’ll try again. Keep hurting them for a kid who isn’t even part of their family. Someone in your family wants that kid gone and they’re going to make it happen. They’ll trade.”
I did my best to not look as terrified as I felt.
“You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” I said.
Dave laughed. “Yeah?” He said. “I know them better then you think. While we wait, I wanted to give you something to remember your late boyfriend.”
He reached out towards my forehead. I tried to move away, but I wasn’t fast enough. He got his fingers on my temple.
My entire being exploded in agony. Every inch of me felt like it was on fire. I screamed like I’d never screamed before. The physical pain was truly unbearable.
The emotional torture was far worse.
I knew what he’d done. He’d given me what he’d taken from Payne. Not just the physical sensations of hurt, but his emotional as well. Losing his mother. Being betrayed and hurt by a father that didn’t love him. Jared’s death. I felt what Payne felt when he thought I’d left him. I understood his love for me in the most painful way.
It was more than I could bear.
I heard Dave and Jack laughing as I passed out from the physical and emotional onslaught.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into doing this.”
I was watching little Gregory again, only he wasn’t little anymore. He was twentysomething.
“Will you relax?” A very young and suave looking Varick McKnight said. Varick had the beginning of a moustache growing on his upper lip.
“Are you kidding me?” Greg said. “My little sister is in there right now, getting ready to elope, and I’m helping her do it.”
Varick smiled.
“Are you worried about your father?”
“No,” Greg said. “Okay, maybe. You know how he is. It’s one thing for me. I can take it. But Rose is emotional. She’ll get into a big fight with my dad and mom will cry and it’ll be a mess.”
Varick smiled and put his hand on Greg’s back.
“I think you worry too much, my friend,” Varick said. “Your father hasn’t disowned you for being friends with me.”
Greg smirked. “That’s because he feels sorry for you, being such a social misfit and all.”
Varick laughed. “Yes, where would I be without you to steer me through my awkward years. You realize that my father is going to be equally as upset, if not more so. He has repeatedly told me to stay away from you.”
“What is it he calls me all the time?” Greg was smiling. “A savage? A barbarian? A simpleton? Or is it an uncouth clod?”
“Yes,” Varick said. “And of course, it’s all true, but that’s why we’re such good friends.”
Greg shook his head. “My best friend wouldn’t call that little bit of fuzz a moustache.”
Varick looked into a nearby mirror to examine his face.
“Give it time,” he said. “You’ll see. People will cower before my fine moustache when it’s in.”
“Don’t confuse cowering and doubling over in laughter.”
Someone else came in. A tall, handsome blonde man gave each of them a quick hug. He paused when he let go of Varick.
“Greg giving you a hard time over that thing you call a moustache?”
“Yes, Tag,” Varick answered. “He most certainly is.”
Tag smiled. “Good. Saves me the trouble. Let’s go.”
The boys went through two doors and headed up to a cheap looking altar. Through a nearby window, I could see casinos in the distance. They were in Las Vegas.
Little brother,” Varick began, “have you really thought this through?”
“Yes,” Tag said without hesitation. “I love her.”
“Of course you do,” Varick said. “But have you realized that if you marry Rose you’ll be related to... him?”
With a thumb, he indicated Greg. Greg elbowed him.
“Yes,” Tag said. “It’s a good thing.”
Greg smiled. “Thank you.”
“After all,” Tag said. “It’s intimidating to marry someone as perfect as Rose. It makes me feel better knowing she comes with someone like him.”
Greg shook his head, but before he could reply, there was a scream.
The boys ran outside.
Outside the chapel, Rose stood in a simple white dress, and her red hair pulled into a bow. She looked beautiful except for the look of terror on her face. She was flanked by two women who I recognized. One was my grandmother; the other was Varick’s late wife.
In front of them was a man with a gun, demanding their money.
The boys ran forward to protect the women. Varick glared at the man.
“You want to be careful,” Varick said. “Lower that gun before you do something you’ll regret.”
“Don’t tell me what I’ll regret,” The man said as he shoved the gun into Varick’s face. “Wallets. Purses. Watches. Now!”
Tag stepped in front of Rose.
“Just calm down,” Tag said. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt. Here.”
Tag pulled out his wallet and handed it to the man. The thief grabbed the wallet and started collecting the rest.
He started to back towards the door. Rose was in tears. As he opened the door, the squeal of a police siren sliced through the air.
“Damn!”
The man went back in. He looked out of a nearby window. Greg looked out as well.
“Looks like there are four cars out there,” Greg said. “Someone must have called it in.”
The man with the gun started to pace. He was cursing and waving his arms around.
“You better just give yourself up,” Varick said. “No point in someone getting hurt.”
“No way,” The man said. “I ain’t going back to jail. No way. They’ll let me go.” He looked over at the women. “Especially if I got me a bride for a hostage.”
The man grabbed for Rose. Tag pushed himself in front of her, ready to defend his bride to be.
Just as Tag’s fist started towards the man’s face, the gun went off. Tag flew back and crashed into a small table with a cheap vase on it.
Rose screamed as she watched Tag go down. She started to go towards her love when the man grabbed her arm and yanked her towards the door.
Greg leapt forward, knocking the gunman to the ground. They rolled around for a moment until Greg was able to land a punch squarely on the gunman’s jaw. I watched my grandmother to be step forward and kick the gun away just as the police came in.
“Greg,” Rose shrieked, “hurry.”
She and Varick were kneeling on either side of Tag, who was lying on the ground, a growing red stain spreading over his shirt and his eyes wide open.
Rose was sobbing as she held onto Tag. Blood her pretty dress.
“Greg, get over here!” Varick ordered.
Greg struggled to get up as the police handcuffed the gunman. He ran towards Tag and placed his hand over the wound, right on Tag’s heart.
There was a slight glow and Gregory winced in pain, but Tag didn’t move.
“Gregory,” Varick pleaded. “You can do it.”
Greg just shook his head. “I can’t heal the dead.”
Varick and Rose looked at Tag, shock written all over their faces. Rose was crying, begging her brother to keep trying.
Varick grabbed Greg’s jacket. I could tell he was furious.
“Heal him!” Varick yelled. “You must. I am begging you.”
Greg looked horrified. He placed his hand back again and closed his eyes. There was a moment of silence shattered by Rose’s wails of sorrow as Greg grimaced in agony from trying to heal a lethal wound.
“I’m sorry,” Greg said, shook his head. “I can’t.”
Rose pulled Tag into her lap, his blood staining her dress
as she continued to sob.
The vision faded out and another one came right on its heels.
Grandpa stood before Aunt Rose, but they were much older in this vision, maybe mid-forties. His hair was darker, with just a few hints of grey beginning to show. He didn’t have a cane with him, but when he moved I could see the beginning of a severe limp. Rose looked a little more conservative, more so than she did in either her youth or as I’ve come to know her now. There was no joy dancing in her eyes.
“Do you have any idea what’s been going on?” Grandpa said. He looked much more like the grandfather I knew, right down to the sourpuss attitude.
“I know Ed was killed, and I’m sorry, and it’s sad, but I can’t stay around. I can’t stand this town anymore.”
Grandpa looked ready to spit fire. “Your family is here.”
“So what?” she asked. She shook her head and closed her eyes. “I’m tired, Gregory. I’m tired of this stupid feud. You and Varick used to be such good friends. Now you look the other way when you see him.”
“Ah,” Grandpa said, making a motion with his hand like he was throwing away a piece of trash. “Who needs any of them? We’re better off, and you know it. Where are you going to go anyway? You know you can’t leave Spirit.”
Aunt Rose just shooed him off.
“People leave all the time,” she said. “I’ve left.”
Grandpa crossed his arms and scowled. “The curse—”
“Oh,” Aunt Rose interrupted. “I have a home in Spirit. I just pop around the world. It’s like a permanent vacation. My home is here, so technically I live here. I’ve got money, thanks to what was left to me by Tag. Varick made sure I’d get it, even though we never married.”
My grandfather bristled at the reminder.
“Find a way to talk to him,” she urged. “You two were nearly brothers.”
Grandpa sneered. “Thank God that didn’t happen.”
I could tell he regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.
Maybe Aunt Rose couldn’t, because without another word, she slapped him.
They stared at each other.
“Goodbye, big brother,” she said finally. “Maybe if you ever figure out a way to get along with the McKnights, I’ll even come back.”
Vision of Sacrifices Page 25
