Birth of Jaiden

by Malone Wright, Jennifer

  At the sound of Corrine’s voice, Deanna immediately stopped conversing with Michael and ran toward her.

  “How’s my girl?” Corrine demanded, catching Deanna up into a hug.

  “I’m great, now,” Deanna replied enthusiastically.

  The dogs wagged their tails and, so it seemed to Alex, were trying hard not to jump up and demand attention from all the new people.

  Corrine released Deanna.

  “Come in, everyone, let’s eat,” she called out.

  Alex turned to see Isabella getting the carrier out of the back seat.

  “Here, let me get that.” He rushed over and took the handle of the carrier from her. Jaiden was awake and quiet. He watched her big black eyes focus on him intently.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” He looked at the sky. “Let’s get inside.”

  As everyone entered the house, the dogs sniffed and rubbed up against their legs. Alex bent down to pet their heads with his free hand.

  “Good doggies,” he told them. Behind him, the dogs rushed toward Stewart, who was standing beside Isabella and Jaiden.

  “Whoa, what’s the matter?” Stewart took a few steps backward. The dogs placed themselves between Stewart and his path to the doorway. “Stop it,” he told the dogs. “Look, it’s ok.” He held out his hand to them, and then quickly pulled it back when the larger one snapped at it.

  Alex, along with everyone else, watched the interaction with interest.

  “What’s going on here?” Corrine had come back out of the house. “Oh my goodness.” She rushed toward her dogs. “Stop it, you two,” she chided. She grabbed their collars and pulled them away from Stewart.

  To Alex’s surprise, they didn’t try to resist her. She led them out to a large penned in area at the side of the house.

  “Alright.” She wiped her hands on her jeans. “Now, we can eat.”

  She gave Stewart a thoughtful glance and went into the house.

  “Stupid dogs,” Stewart muttered and followed them in.

  Corrine was busy directing everyone to the dining room.

  “Come on, there is room for everyone.” She waved her arms in the right direction. “Alex, it’s been too long. Oh, and this must be Jaiden.” She leaned over the carrier so she could look at Jaiden and took Jaiden’s tiny hand in her fingers. “I can feel her power already.” She looked up at Alex.

  He smiled. “It’s good to see you too, Corrine.”

  Corrine straightened. “And I take it this is Isabella?”

  “Yes.” Isabella offered her hand. Corrine took and shook it. “Your power is very strong as well, my dear.”

  Isabella smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Seriously, I have a feeling you underestimate yourself.”

  Isabella kept her smile. “Thank you again.”

  “Go on now, you two, sit down. You must be starving.” She stood on tip toe and whispered in Alex’s ear, “There is something else for you and Chris downstairs.”

  Alex nodded and whispered back, “Thanks.”

  When he entered the dining room shortly after Isabella, he saw Corrine had prepared a great feast in expectation of their arrival. The long table held huge platters full of sausage, bacon, pancakes, eggs and toast. Crystal goblets filled with orange juice were beside each plate and a massive bowl of fresh fruit dominated the center of the table.

  Amazed, Alex thought, This is probably the best breakfast I have ever seen.

  He found his way to Isabella through all the people who were milling about trying to find chairs. He set Jaiden’s carrier down beside her. “I’m going to take Chris downstairs for a few. Will you be all right?”

  “Of course I will.” She began unbuckling the straps which confined Jaiden into the carrier.

  “Ok then, I’ll be back soon.” He strode over to Chris and told him where they were going. As they were leaving, Alex could swear he saw Stewart staring at Jaiden.

  “What is it?” Chris asked.

  Alex told him as they entered the hallway and walked. “Stewart was staring at Jaiden in a strange way.”

  “Well, Stewart can be a strange guy sometimes.”

  “No, it was different than I am used to seeing from Stewart. For a minute, it almost seemed as if it wasn’t even him. And how bizarre was that what happened outside?”

  “You think something is up?”

  Alex shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  They took a doorway at the back of the house downstairs and found themselves in a level of the house which was below ground, not visible from the outside.

  And there, in a large room filled with boxes and tons of miscellaneous things, was a small table set with six crystal goblets filled with blood. The table had five candles burning in the center and was actually complete with a table cloth and two chairs.

  Alex frowned. “I don’t know why she had to make this awful thing look so…fancy.”

  “Live and let live, Alex.” Chris lifted a goblet and began swigging down the dark liquid.

  Sighing, Alex reluctantly did the same. After he had emptied the first goblet, his hunger ignited and he started guzzling the rest down ravenously. They polished off every drop, but then, disgust with himself replaced the hunger he had sated.

  Chris rose from his chair and put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “It’s ok.”

  Alex also rose. “It will never be ok.”

  He blew out the candles and they returned to the dining room.

  He seated himself next to Isabella and Chris found his seat on the other side of the table.

  “Feel better?” Isabella asked him.

  He was amazed. She looks truly concerned, not sarcastic or appalled.

  “Yes.” He reached down and ran his index finger over Jaiden’s soft red hair. She had fallen asleep with her pink blanket tucked snugly around her.

  All of the food platters were close to empty and most everyone had finished their meals. Corrine stood from her seat at the head of the table and cleared her throat.

  “I’m sure all of you are very tired and need some sleep. On the second floor, there are more than enough beds for all of you. Most of you will have to share rooms but there is plenty of room. Tomorrow evening, we will be having our ceremony for Jaiden and I expect all of you to be there.”

  She directed her attention toward Michael. “Do your friends out there need anything?”

  Michael shook his head. “No, ma’am, our trucks are equipped with bunks in the trailers and they have plenty of food to last. Thank you very much, though.”

  Corrine shook her head. “No, that’s just not right. I still think they deserve a good meal.”

  She held her hands palms facing outward, toward the table, but still close to her body. Within seconds, the platters and bowls were replenished with exactly what they had been filled with before.

  “Take this out to them and tell them they are more than welcome to come into the house if they wish.”

  Michael nodded and began picking up trays. Deanna jumped up and grabbed a tray too.

  “I’ll help,” she told him.

  Damion also volunteered to help while Victoria went over to speak with Corrine.

  Alex turned to Isabella. “Let’s go get you two situated in a room.”

  He picked up the carrier with Jaiden in it.

  Isabella nodded. “I’ll go out and get the play pen and the diaper bag.”

  He watched her as she left the dining room. Then, he found his way upstairs. After Isabella had returned and he had made sure she and Jaiden were settled, he went in search of Corrine.

  He passed Damion in the stairway as he was going down.

  “Alex, good, I’m glad I found you. I’m rooming with you. Stewart can room with Jeremiah.”

  Alex shrugged. “All right.”

  Damion paused to think, and then continued, “I know you can feel that something isn’t right here. You know how talkative Stewart normally is, well...he barely said two words the whole way here.
”

  Alex shook his head and responded, “What can we do about it, really?”

  “Alex, I am telling you that he is not being normal.”

  Alex felt compelled to defend Stewart after the last incident. “He has been through an awful ordeal; don’t you think it might take him some time to act like himself again?”

  Damion rolled his eyes and started up the stairs. “Fine, whatever.”

  Alex continued his search for Corrine. He found her in the kitchen where she had been cleaning up the mess her company had left.

  He rapped on the doorjamb. “Do you need any help?”

  She turned to face him. “I know you have questions. Go to bed and we will talk about it tomorrow.”

  “But…”

  “No, Alex, it is very close to dawn. I know inside that doesn’t matter but you need rest.”

  “Thank you for having us here.”

  Her lips curled into a smile. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now get to bed.”

  Alex loved how she was like a mother to everyone she came into contact with. He found it odd how some were born with that quality and never lose it, and then some just didn’t have it at all.

  He followed her orders and went up to his room with Chris and Damion. Chris was already asleep and Damion was reading by the small lamp on the corner table. Damion didn’t speak to him. Alex lay down on his bed and closed his eyes. Sleep came fast and hard so he didn’t have time to dwell on their situation.

  29

  Levine lay quietly on the twin bed and pretended to sleep. Absolutely nothing would stop her from taking that baby.

  Slowly, she peeled off her blankets and swung her feet over the side of the bed till they touched the soft, blue carpet.

  Her roommate was the old man, who snored so loudly that she had no idea how anyone in the house could sleep. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains and added to the tranquil feeling of the morning. They should all be asleep by now, she thought as she slipped Stewart’s body back into the jeans and shirt she had left neatly folded on the dresser.

  Then, she tiptoed out into the hall and moved slowly toward Jaiden’s room.

  The night before, when she had finally gotten a moment to herself, she had tested Stewart’s powers. Since she was the one who had bound them, she was the only one who could unbind them. He wasn’t as powerful as she had hoped but it would suffice.

  Don’t worry, husband. I am coming home soon. She knew Malcolm must be beside himself with her body sitting there in a trance. He had no idea what she was doing for him.

  Outside of Isabella’s and Jaiden’s door, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Here we go. With excruciating slowness, she twisted the knob until the latch of the door clicked open.

  There they were. Isabella slept soundly in her bed while Jaiden, lay wide awake in the portable play pen.

  Almost there.

  She crept toward the play pen and then quickly wrapped both hands around the baby and picked her up. Jaiden immediately began to scream at the top of her lungs.

  Just great, shut up. Levine pushed the baby’s head firmly into her chest to muffle the scream till it was barely audible.

  “Mmm.” Isabella had rolled over in the bed but didn’t wake.

  Levine was practically at the door when she heard Isabella’s voice. “What are you doing in here?”

  Levine turned, in Stewarts body, and without a word, she lifted one hand away from the baby, turning it so her palm faced Isabella.

  “What the hell…what are you doing with her?” Isabella threw off the covers, intending to jump out of bed, but before she could move, Levine sent a lightning bolt right out of her palm and into Isabella’s chest.

  Isabella’s body jolted violently before falling sideways onto the bed.

  Hope you have a good heart, Levine said mockingly to herself and let Jaiden’s head flop away from her chest. Screaming loudly, Jaiden kicked and waved her little fists with all her might.

  And you, my princess, must sleep. Levine touched her index and middle fingers to Jaiden’s forehead. Immediately, Jaiden was asleep. Ok, I’ve got to get out of here. With the baby gripped firmly against Stewart’s chest, she slipped out as quickly and quietly as possible.

  Once in the hallway, Levine picked up her pace and hurried toward the stairway where she encountered her next and probably the strongest obstacle.

  Corrine stood at the bottom of the stairs in a white terry cloth bathrobe. “Don’t you even think about going anywhere with that child.”

  Levine tried not to laugh but instead told her with Stewart’s voice, “Isabella asked me to watch her.”

  Corrine stood her ground. “I’m not blind. I know you are not who you appear to be.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Levine descended down two stairs.

  “Yes, you do. Now give me the child.”

  “All right, all right.” Levine feigned compliance. You should know better, Corrine, she thought as she went down a few more stairs. Then, when she was six steps from the bottom, she lifted her palm outward and let the electricity fly.

  Corrine had anticipated it and effortlessly dodged it, letting the bolt pass extremely close to her head. With a loud crack, it blew up the antique grandfather clock behind her.

  “Come on, Corrine,” Levine said sarcastically. “Let’s do this just like we used to.”

  Corrine’s eyes widened.

  “Levine,” she gasped.

  “Oh, my dear sister, you’re the same as you always were. Stupid!” Levine moved quickly, taking advantage of Corrine’s surprise by zapping her two more times.

  The bolts hit her in the stomach, one right after the other, and sent her body flying backward into the rubble of the broken clock.

  Levine hurried down the last of the stairs and made for the door. Damn, I wish I wasn’t limited to this mortal’s speed. Ugh.

  “Stop!”

  “What now?” Levine stopped and turned to see Corrine picking herself up.

  “Did you actually think that would stop me? Come on, Levine, you know me better than that.”

  Levine felt her anger spread like wildfire. “How dare you challenge me!”

  Corrine smirked. “You know as well as I do I would never strike you while you are holding a baby.”

  “This child is mine now.” She looked down at Jaiden. “She is going to ensure the survival of our vampires and I will kill you for her if I have to.”

  Corrine nodded. “I know you will but don’t forget that killing your kind is the key to our survival.”

  Levine watched as Corrine advanced a few feet with her hand raised in preparation but she did not step back.

  “Don’t even think about it!”

  Levine swiveled Stewart’s head toward the voice. Corrine also turned her head to the top of the stairway where Isabella stood clad in only a tee shirt and socks, hair blowing every which way from a wind that didn’t exist.

  Oh great, Levine thought, then laughed with Stewart’s deep chuckle. “Missy, I don’t know exactly who you are but you have no idea what you’re doing.”

  “Shut up!” Isabella roared as she swung her arms out in front of her to grasp the sleeping Jaiden who appeared in them. Only a second later, they both disappeared into thin air.

  Levine’s shock showed on Stewart’s face. “What?”

  She looked over at Corrine, who smiled slyly and held up her closed fist.

  Levine snorted. “What are you going to do now, hit me?”

  “No,” Corrine answered calmly, then raised her voice as she continued, “I’m going to kick your ass!”

  She opened her fist to reveal a flowing blue ball of sizzling energy sitting on her palm.

  Damn it, Levine thought, but without her vampire speed, she was too slow. Corrine cocked back her arm and threw it at her.

  Levine cursed as the ball struck Stewart’s chest and knocked her to her knees.

  “You Bitch!” Levine screeched.
>
  Immediately, Corrine threw another ball of energy, which connected with Stewart’s body in the same spot as the last.

  Levine struggled to get up. “All you’re doing is killing your friend.”

  “He would gladly die if it meant taking you down with him.” She threw another.

  Suddenly, they heard a loud thumping on the stairs. Levine stayed on her knees, knowing the rest of the council members were coming. I am far from defeated, she told herself.

  “Corrine, what’s going on?” Alex anxiously asked.

  Levine watched as the entire council rushed down the stairs and formed a semi-circle around them. Still, she didn’t move. They all wore confused expressions because they did not know it was she inside of Stewart’s body.

  Corrine answered Alex. “That,” she pointed at Levine, “is not Stewart.”

  Levine felt a wicked pleasure in hearing their gasps of surprise. She raised her hands up into the air and closed her eyes to focus and blend her own magic with all of the energy inside the body she possessed.

  “Put your hands down!” Damion shouted.

  “Never!” Levine screamed.

  The crystals on the chandelier above Deanna jingled. Surprised, Deanna looked up. Then, without any further warning, the chandelier came loose from the ceiling and crashed down onto her. Electricity sparked and popped out of the wires which had been connected to the chandelier.

  “Deanna!” Victoria moved as quickly as she could to Deanna’s body which lay unconscious beneath the broken glass.

  Levine swung her arms around in circles above her head. Her eyes still closed, she could hear the continued popping and breaking of glass combined with the screams of the frightened council members.

  “Everybody move!” someone yelled.

  “The whole house is like this,” someone else hollered.

  When Levine opened her eyes again, she saw with great pleasure what she had created. Every light within sight had burst and sparks dripped out of the wires. The council members were running every which way, trying to dodge the electric rain.

  She stood, intending to make her escape, but was stopped by Corrine who rushed forward and grabbed Stewart’s body by the arms.