Vision of Sacrifices

by Vincent Morrone

  “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Uncle Mark said as we watched people file inside. I’d been very tight lipped about what I had planned. Although the meeting was voluntary, part of the reason I was nervous was because I still wasn’t sure what I was going to say. A bigger part of me wanted to give myself wiggle room to chicken out, something I considered more and more with every person that came in.

  Finally, the last guest walked in, an old man called Caspian McKnight, who slowly made his way to a seat near the back. Once Varick gave the signal, the doors were closed so nobody outside could listen in.

  I couldn’t help but notice how the hall seemed divided. The Blackburn family all sat to the left, while the McKnights were on the right. The only exception to this was on the front row, where those closest to me sat.

  Zack sat right next to Hunter, with Ian sat on her other side. He was the only person here not related by blood to either family. Simon was near Archer and Thorne, who had arrived with Patton. Aunt Rose had claimed two seats, one for herself, and one for Varick. Toby, Sapphire, and Chase were mixed in with Phillip and his parents. The only people not here were Seth and Aunt Breanne, who were at home together.

  “You’ll need to be careful,” Varick said, as he escorted me to the stage. “Most people here have been told about the creatures themselves, but they still don’t know about you. Choose your words carefully.”

  I nodded to show that I understood as I walked up to the lectern and got everyone’s attention. They watched me with intense, very curious gazes. I glanced over to Payne who was by my side. He was the only one who knew what I planned on doing.

  “Thank you for coming here today,” I said. “And thank you all again for paying your respects to my grandfather. Everyone here knows about the curse that has bound both of our families to this town and to each other. Many of you also know about the creatures we discovered here a little over a year ago. You may not know how we came to be aware of these creatures, but you’ve been told about them.

  “These creatures,” I continued, “feed on the anger and misery from both of our families. They don’t want any cooperation between the families. They don’t want any friendships between Blackburns and McKnights. And they don’t ever want us to fall in love.”

  I reached out and took Payne’s hand.

  “Those of you who know me know these words didn’t come easy for me, but they’re true: I love Payne McKnight.” I smiled to Payne, who was still holding my hand. “I should say that I love quite a few McKnights.”

  I looked out to the audience to where Varick sat with Hunter, Archer and Toby. “Most of you don’t know how Payne and I met. We met because of someone who has become very important to me. Someone many of you knew. His name was Jared McKnight. He was a sweet boy who was killed before I ever came to Spirit.”

  I paused for a moment. “I met his ghost.”

  Shock rippled through the crowd. The strangers in the audience reeled because I had admitted I could speak to the dead. My friends and family were just astonished I had just admitted to such a thing.

  Uncle Mark looked stunned. Varick may have been surprised, but he recovered quickly enough. Aunt Rose smiled broadly and sent me a wink.

  A few people from the McKnight side seemed angry. One even called me a liar.

  “Sit down!” Varick got to his feet. He had no microphone, and did not need one. He sent the McKnight side of the room a scathing look that quickly silenced them. “I can assure you that Bristol speaks the truth. I have seen evidence of this ability time and time again.”

  Varick sighed, sat back down, and sent me an exasperated look.

  Well, I thought to myself, there’s no going back now.

  “Thank you,” I said to Varick. I waited for everyone to settle back down. Payne leaned in and whispered encouragement before I spoke again. “My grandfather used his own ability to save Payne and Archer. He cared about them, and he knew I loved them. He put that ahead of protecting his secret.”

  I slid to the side as Payne stepped to the lectern.

  “I can’t ever repay what Bristol’s grandfather did for me,” Payne said. “Some of you may not realize that this wasn’t the first time I’d been saved by Gregory Blackburn. He used his ability to heal me last year as well. Many McKnights might not understand why I needed to be saved by a Blackburn. I’ve been known to heal from nearly everything. Falls, stab wounds, car crashes, gunshot wounds and even fire.” Payne paused and let that sink in. “The two times I came very close to losing my life, I owe the fact that I’m still standing here to Gregory Blackburn.”

  Now it was my side of the family who got to react in utter disbelief, many of them appraising Payne, wondering if how true his words were.

  I moved back in front of the mic, wanting to get this over with, but also hoping to cut off any idiot who might ask Payne to prove it.

  “These creatures want us to be divided against each other, and to blame each other for whatever goes wrong. They want us to keep secrets.”

  I paused, taking Payne’s hand again. “I’m tired of it. I’m not keeping what and who I am a secret anymore. I speak to the dead. I sometimes get visions. I even sometimes feel your strongest emotions. I can’t control when it happens. I never know when a ghost is going to show up, so don’t ask me to call on your Uncle Bob—or, since we’re talking to McKnights, Uncle Zeon or Uncle Exton.”

  There was a smattering of laughter

  “I can promise you this. If I have a vision that involves anyone in either of our families, or if a ghost stops in to tell me about someone who needs help, I’ll come see you. We’re all in this together.”

  I stepped back from the lectern, took a deep breath and looked at Payne. We did what we came to do. I was ready to leave.

  “Bristol told me about her ability last year,” Hunter stood up, shocking me. I didn’t think anyone else had planned to speak. She waited for everyone’s murmurs to die down before she continued. “It was unbelievable. But I did believe her, because she was telling the truth. That’s my ability. I can tell when someone is lying. I hear it.” She paused again, watching the reactions. “You may want to keep that in mind.”

  Her smile lit up the room before she sat down. Once she was settled, Archer leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek before standing up, too.

  “Bristol saved my life. Last year, she helped me hold on when someone tried to push me to suicide. I hadn’t given her much reason to like me before that, but she helped me. And when it came down to it, she told me her secret because she trusted me. Of course,” Archer looked towards me and winked. “She already knew my secret when someone in my family possessed me and tried to kill her with my ability to throw explosive force.”

  There were gasps and murmurs from the crowd. The Blackburns seemed amazed and gasped about how powerful Archer was, while the McKnights were aghast that one of their best weapons was out in the open.

  “I don’t have much of a story to tell,” Patton said, being the one to get up next. He turned and faced the room. I spun around and watched him rise. “Except for the fact that Bristol did save my son. And my son refused to tell me her secret. Sometimes parents learn from their children. But since we’re in a sharing mood, I can create illusions. Used that power the night her grandfather died saving my son again.”

  “Payne McKnight,” my cousin Phillip said standing, “Has looked out for my youngest brother ever since Bryan was killed. I trust him like a member of my family. If he ever needs someone who can see through walls, he can call on me.”

  Wow. That was something I didn’t know.

  “My name is Chase.” I turned and watched in amazement as another of Payne’s cousins stood up. “I have two abilities. My minor ability is to find people. I can usually pick up a scent. The other ability is that I’m irresistible. But most of you already knew that.” He winked at the crowd.

  Several people laughed.

  My cousin Shawn stood up next. He was only fifteen.

&nbs
p; “My ability is simple,” he said, all smiles. “I can absorb energy and then release it. It’s...kinda cool.”

  Simon glanced at Uncle Mark, who gave him a nod and a proud smile.

  “Uh. I can move things,” Simon continued. “Sorta. I’m still working on controlling it. I just found out a week ago. Shocked the heck out of me.”

  “I can talk to animals,” Toby announced as he stood up, towering over everyone else. “I like kittens the best.”

  That earned a full-throated laugh from the room.

  Sapphire announced her ability next, followed by my cousin Tommy, who could create fire. Zander McKnight announced that he made lighting. There were McKnights who could stir the wind, or visit your dreams. I was surprised to learn I had a cousin who could act like a magnet, and a very old great uncle who could see through the eyes of birds.

  Many people didn’t share anything. My uncle had no special ability, and to my surprise, neither did Varick. (I would have sworn his moustache could leap tall buildings in a single bound.) A few people might have just been keeping quiet. One of my uncles seemed quite upset at so many Blackburns sharing their ability, and there was an older McKnight who kept shaking his head whenever another McKnight spoke out, but for the most part, it seemed like most of us were being honest and upfront.

  When we were finally done, I felt terrified, liberated and exhausted. We all made an agreement to form a new council. Half McKnight, half Blackburn. It was the start of something new.

  It was nearly five in the morning as the limo went to bring each of us home one by one. The prom had been much more fun than I thought it would be, and I managed to get through the night without any ghosts dropping in or crazy visions interrupting the night. It was strange after the crazy events to do something as normal as prom, but it was good to be with friends and just forget the heartache for a few hours.

  Hunter said goodnight as we pulled in front of Varick’s home. She slipped out of the car and headed in.

  It took me a moment to register the fact that Payne hadn’t gotten out with her. “Aren’t you getting out?”

  Payne just shook his head. “No, not just yet.”

  I didn’t think much of it and settled back in his arms. Closing my eyes, Payne began to stroke my hair. I was close to falling asleep when I felt the limo come to a halt. I looked up and realized we weren’t near my home.

  “Wait. Where are we?”

  Payne didn’t answer with anything but a mischievous smile as he opened the door and guided me out of the limo. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a blindfold. “Here, put this on.”

  I looked at the blindfold and blinked. “What? Why would I—”

  Payne just smiled as he moved behind me and started to put the blindfold in place. “Just trust me. I’ve got a surprise.”

  A few moments later, with the blindfold in place, Payne was leading me someplace over uneven terrain. We weren’t on a sidewalk or street, but a dirt path of some kind.

  “Payne, I’m going to trip.”

  “You’ll be fine.”

  I reached for the blindfold to get a glimpse of my surroundings.

  “Uh uh. No peeking.”

  “Payne, where are we?”

  “Trust me.”

  I rolled my eyes, which was a waste of time since they were covered. Payne led me up a small hill. For some reason, the walk seemed familiar.

  “Are you ready?” Payne asked.

  I nodded, and felt his hands slip away.

  Looking around, I quickly realized where we were. It was our spot by the willow tree. The sun was just starting to rise, and we stood there for a moment as it emerged in the distance. I’d never seen the sunrise here. It was beautiful.

  “I wanted to let you see this place tonight,” Payne told me. “One last time the way it is.”

  I turned to Payne in a panic. “What do you mean? Why the last time?”

  He smiled and turned me around.

  “See that area over there?” I followed his gaze, and nodded. “This time next week, it’s going to be cleared. A house is going to be built there.” Payne grabbed my hand, pulling me down into the clearing. “This is going to be our kitchen.” We walked to the right. “Here’s where the dining room will be.” He kissed me quickly and brought me back towards the willow tree. “This will be our great room, with big, glass doors leading right out to the porch.” We kept walking toward the tree. “This will be our backyard.”

  My head was swimming. “Payne—”

  “It’s kind of hard to show you the upstairs,” Payne said with a wink. “But I’ve got a nice big upstairs planned. A master suite for us, a bedroom for Seth, and plenty of room for when we have children of our own.”

  I felt my breath catch in my chest. Payne took a few steps back, spread his arms out and smiled triumphantly.

  “It’ll be a huge home. It’s right in the middle of where my family and your family live. We’ll have a guest room for them, and a magnificent view. We can have a pool put in. We can even make sure we have plenty of first aid kits for when Hunter brings Ian over.”

  I put my hand on his chest. “Are you crazy?”

  Payne just gave me that killer grin.

  “I already asked your uncle. He said yes, although he wasn’t happy—and I went to Aunt Sapphire, too. I kept having her screw up my memory of all my plans. It was the only way I could try and surprise you.”

  He took one step closer to me, bent down on one knee, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, velvet box. Popping it open, he showed me the most beautiful ring with a rose-cut diamond. It took my breath away.

  “Bristol Ann Blackburn,” Payne gazed into my eyes with such love it made me cry. “You are my best friend, and my soulmate. You are my future. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  I gasped. “I’m going to kill you” I said, as tears filled my eyes.

  “Is that a yes?”

  I just nodded.

  Payne slipped the ring onto my finger and got up. He took me in his arms and kissed me. In that moment, I saw us kissing a hundred times in that spot: as the house was built, as we moved in, as we grew our family and as we watched our grandchildren play.