“Parker is very special, but you already knew that. He’s something I thought only existed in legend, but here he is... Is he falling asleep?” I heard her ask just before I smacked my head on the side of the coffee table. It jerked me back to reality and fully awake. I felt something trickle down my cheek and wiped it—blood.
“Parker? Are you okay?” Ophelia asked. She pressed her hand against my forehead, quelling the bleeding. “Jordan, can you get a clean towel and some ice, please?”
“Does that happen a lot?” Jemma asked.
“Yeah, he just knocks out sometimes. It’s strange,” Chris said. I was a bit dizzy and seeing two of him. I closed my eyes with the hope it would stop the swimming sensation.
“Has he done it his whole life or only recently?” Jemma asked.
“Only recently, why?” Ophelia asked while Ross stared over her shoulder at my forehead.
“Oh, dear. This complicates things. Have you ever read the story of Sleeping Beauty?” I heard Jemma ask, but I was fading again. I couldn’t stay awake no matter what I did.
“Sure, but what does that have to do with anything?” Chris asked, then I heard muffled movements. “Hey, I think he’s—” And I was out for the count.
I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG I was out, but every so often, my mind would surface momentarily. I’d hear someone speak or feel my body shuffle around, then the lights went out again. Finally, I grasped onto a speck of light and clung to it long enough to force my eyes open fully. I was back in my bedroom, lying on my back. It was quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator just on the other side of the wall. I heard talking coming from the kitchen, the hushed voices of my family among others.
I tried to place the voice, but it was difficult. I knew it, but I couldn’t find it in the recesses of my memory. I blinked a few times and slowly sat. There was water on the bedside table right beside a bottle of ibuprofen. I took a few sips along with one of the pills, then slowly stood, noting my legs weren’t as wobbly as I’d anticipated. My head throbbed, and my hand instinctively went to my forehead. I felt small butterfly bandages over the laceration.
I heard the voice again and immediately, my mind registered. Jemma. Everything came rushing back, and I realized my family was probably freaking out if Jemma had told them everything. I rushed from my bedroom and hurried toward the living room to find something I had not expected. Jemma and Ophelia were sitting on the sofa laughing together while the guys milled around the house. There were stacks of suitcases by the back door, including my own. I glanced at the clock over the microwave. 2:39 a.m.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice cracked and haggard.
Jemma and Ophelia both turned their heads toward me, then Ophelia stood to meet me in the hall. “Parker, how are you feeling?” As she approached, her eyes narrowed and zeroed in on the wound on my head. Her gentle fingers caressed the cut as carefully as possible, but it still hurt. I winced, and she jerked her hand back. “Sorry, I was just making sure they were secure.”
“It’s okay. What is everyone doing? Why are there suitcases? What happened to me?” I asked, feeling as if I missed a few chapters in that story Jemma told.
“Oh, we’re leaving for New York in a few hours,” Ophelia said and glanced over her shoulder at the pile of luggage.
“I’m sorry, I thought you said New York?” I asked as I shook my head to clear the confusion.
She nodded, then said, “Yes. When you passed out or whatever that was you did, Jemma told us everything. Her mother is missing. She thinks she’s in New York, so that’s where we’re going first, then we’ll go to Germany and figure out what’s next.” Ophelia behaved as if it were totally normal for her to plan trips to faraway lands, and the circumstances surrounding the plans were completely acceptable, reasonable excuses to drop everything and uproot our lives.
“What?” I asked again, rubbing the stiffness from my neck.
Jemma stood and met us in the hall. “Your falling asleep has nothing to do with a health condition, Parker. I believe it’s Rose, and I think she’s closer than you think. When Snow White was close to Calla, apples began rotting at her touch. When Cinderella was close to Sierra, items spontaneously combusted in her hands. For Hayden, it was dying roses. I think Rose’s calling card with you is actually falling asleep randomly, like narcolepsy, if you will.”
Jemma had spoken about fairy tale princesses and curses before, but watching Ophelia listen intently as if she believed Jemma, threw me. However, as shocking as that was, I was more shocked by the fact that Ophelia had so easily agreed to help Jemma. Ophelia picked up on my confusion quickly.
“Jemma makes a strong argument, and it’s kind of hard to ignore her when she’s a giant wolf thingy,” Ophelia said. “I’m still not sure I believe everything, but I also know there must be a reason you turn into a snuggly leopard bird, right? Maybe this is it? Doesn’t hurt to investigate.”
“I... what?” I mumbled.
“Oh, just toss him in a bag and put him on the plane,” I heard a male voice say, then he entered the room.
“Thaddeus?” I asked, then Henry and Seline entered behind him.
“We meet again, friend,” Henry said, bringing my worst nightmare right into my own living room. It hit me then like a ton of bricks. It was real. It was all real. I was about to go to a faraway land to fight evil.
“Holy crap. I need to sit down,” I said. Once I sat on the sofa, I looked up at all the faces staring back at me. Everyone was there—Ophelia, Jordan, Ross, Chris—my whole world. “I can’t ask you guys to come with me. It’s too much of a risk. I can’t—”
“Shut up,” Chris said, rolling his eyes. “Where we go, you go. Where you go, we go. We’re a family, Parker, and we’re not punking out on Sierra and Cecily again. We’re gonna help them and the rest of these people fight some monstrous evil, then we’ll... we’ll... I haven’t thought that far ahead, but we’re gonna do this because that woman right there staring me down as a wolf is scary as crap.” Chris pointed to Jemma with wide eyes.
Jemma laughed. “It was an accident, really. I didn’t expect you to come into the room.”
Chris relaxed and laughed along with her. While I was asleep, Jemma wormed her way right into my family’s good graces. I watched as everyone went back to whatever task they had been assigned, including Ophelia, who was murmuring to herself. She did that all the time, murmured the things she needed to do repeatedly so she wouldn’t forget. She turned to face me and for a moment her cobalt blue eyes locked with mine. I saw something in them I had never seen before—hope.
She smiled a little, then went back to cleaning up the mess of dirty dinner plates that had been stacked on the counter. Someone sat beside me and squeezed my shoulder, so I turned my attention away from my foster sister. It was Seline.
“We will do everything in our power to keep your family safe, Parker. It might seem strange to you, but after everything we’ve been through in The Black Forest, family has a new definition for us. If they’re your family, they’re ours, too,” she said, pressing her palm over her own heart. “And you should know, we fight to the death to protect our family.”
With that, Seline stood and went to help Ophelia clean the kitchen.
My entire life, I had always been a few steps behind, but after one incident of falling asleep against my will, I found myself eons behind with very little hope of catching up any time soon. All I could do was pray the hope I saw in Ophelia’s eyes wasn’t misplaced. If I let Ophelia down, I didn’t think I could live with myself.
Chapter Four
Thaddeus entered the room with a scowl, something I decided was his usual look. “I was not able to secure seating on the same flight for everyone, so I discovered another modern invention that will probably provide the same result though it will take more time. It’s called a train,” he said, making Jordan chuckle. Thaddeus shifted his gaze from Henry to Jordan, who shut his mouth quickly.
“A train will be fine,” I said, h
oping to ease the tension amongst the group. “I like trains. You can see the scenery.”
“It’s trees,” Jordan said. “You can look out your bedroom window and see trees.”
“You speak rather rudely to your elders,” Thaddeus commented, his commanding stare focused on my little brother. “You should be more respectful of those in a higher position in life.”
“Thad, I think that’ll be enough,” Jemma said.
Thaddeus’ stern face relaxed immediately at the sound of her voice, but only for a moment. All eyes were on him. He seemed to squirm under the attention, his lips pressed in a thin line while his eyebrows dipped downward. He abruptly turned around and left the room. I heard the screened door at the back of the house slam shut. Jemma sighed and put her hand on her forehead. She rested her head a moment, then said, “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what’s gotten into him. He’s usually quite pleasant.”
“He’s not entirely wrong,” Ophelia said. “Jordan has always been a bit snarky for his own good.” Jordan shrugged.
“I’ll speak with Thaddeus,” Henry said, but I didn’t think Henry had a clue what was really bothering his Lieutenant. I was pretty sure Thaddeus’ problem stemmed from the pretty woman surrounded by guys who knew she was pretty and did everything they could to earn her attention. Ross and Chris were quite taken with Jemma’s beauty, but Jemma was all business. No room for romance in her life, it seemed.
I stood. “Actually, can I talk to him for a minute? I am a detective, after all. Maybe I can figure out the issue and help him?”
“It would be a good bonding experience,” Seline said, gently gripping her husband’s arm. Henry glanced down at her, likely thinking the same thing I was. A little chat on the back porch about Thaddeus being jealous was not what I’d call a bonding experience, but if it got Henry to let me have a stab at it, then I’d go along.
“Alright. I’ll allow it, but we should finish packing and prepare to leave.” I nodded at Henry, then followed Thaddeus out the back door. When Thaddeus heard the door shut behind me, he started to walk away.
“Wait just a minute. If you don’t talk to me, Henry’s coming out,” I warned, causing him to freeze in his tracks. Now that I had a better look at him, I could see Chris was bulkier, more muscular than Thaddeus, but Thaddeus held himself straighter and commanded more attention. I had no doubt he was a skilled fighter, but if I’d learned anything being a cop, it was that distractions got you killed no matter how skilled. Jemma was a distraction, and I didn’t want to see Thaddeus lose his life over his feelings for her.
I sat on the porch steps with a grunt. Thaddeus turned around to face me. His arms were crossed, and he looked everywhere but toward me. The night was cold for Florida, but the smell of the ocean water still drifted on the breeze. It was a bit stagnant, and Thaddeus scrunched his nose.
“I’m not fond of the smells here,” he stated plainly. “Why did Henry send you?”
I ignored his inquiry figuring small talk would get us nowhere. I decided to get right to the heart of the matter. “I think you should just tell her how you feel.”
“What are you blubbering about?” Thaddeus snapped, but I could see it in his eyes. I hit the nail right on the head. His frame stiffened, and his jaw clenched. He swallowed with great difficulty, all signs of a man who’d been caught with a secret.
“Just tell Jemma you’re in love with her and stop being so cranky,” I said.
“You’re mad. I’m not in love with her,” he defended.
“There’s usually a subconscious thing people do when they’re lying, like a quirk. You can’t control it, and most of the time people don’t even realize they’re doing it. You just showed me your tell, so I know you’re lying,” I said.
“I didn’t do anything. I stand here, unmoving,” he defended.
“So, you’re saying you are not in love with Jemma?” I taunted. His nostrils flared; his personal telltale sign he was about to lie through his teeth.
“No, I’m not.” He continued to shrink into himself, hiding from the truth.
“So, then you wouldn’t mind if I asked her out?”
With that, his body tensed so much I thought he’d turned to stone. The deer in the headlights look only further solidified what I’d already known. After a moment of hesitation, he relaxed and dropped his hands to his sides.
“She’s a princess. I’m only a Lieutenant. I am not worthy of her, nor will I ever deserve her. She’s sunshine and light, and I’m... I’m just a soldier. I will always be a soldier and nothing more.”
“That’s a really crummy outlook on life. Shouldn’t she be the one to decide if you’re good enough for her or not?” I asked.
He scoffed, then took a few steps closer to me. Once he could lean on the porch railing, he relaxed. “I’m just not right for her. I’m too bitter a man.”
“She thinks you’re a nice guy. At least, that’s what she told me. Now she thinks something is wrong with you,” I said.
“There is something wrong with me, but I can’t tell her what it is, can I? Recent events have made life stressful for all of us. Now is not the right time,” he stated.
“Maybe just smile a bit more? Be nice to people. You can still focus on your job and be nice at the same time. She’s worried about you. I can tell.”
He scoffed again. “You hardly know her. How can you possibly read her emotions?”
“She kind of wears her feelings right up front and center. Dude, just smile at her, okay? Loosen up a little and act like you want to be around her,” I said, then threw my hands in the air.
The door opened, distracting us. It was Henry, which meant our time was up.
“We should be going. We must be at the train station in one hour. Thaddeus?” Henry questioned.
“Yes, sir. I’ll ready the vehicles.” With that, Thaddeus walked around the house to make sure everything was loaded and ready to go. Henry stared after him until he was well out of earshot.
“He’s not going to tell her, is he?” Henry asked, indicating he knew very well what the issue was.
“Nope. I think it’s gonna be a long train ride,” I admitted, but I had no way of knowing at the time just how adventurous it would be.
We arrived at the station just in time and made a mad dash to check-in. I was almost sure I’d forgotten my toothbrush, but I couldn’t exactly put a battle against evil on hold to buy one. Once we were on the train, we spent ten minutes swapping tickets around so everyone could sit where they wanted. Henry and I went to considerable lengths to make sure Thaddeus ended up beside Jemma, much to the dismay of my brothers.
“Why do I hafta sit with you?” I heard Jordan whine.
“Because I said so. It’s just a train ride, Jordan. Get over it,” Ophelia said, exhausted. Sleeping on the train would be a nightmare, especially since the sun was rising higher every minute. Ophelia sat in a worn, teal colored seat and dropped her head into her hands. She shook it slightly then gave in. “Fine, go sit with Henry but do not cause trouble. Am I clear?”
Jordan didn’t bother to reply. I noted how much we treated him like a small child, and perhaps that was part of his problem. I decided I’d try to treat him more like an adult with the hope he would follow suit and behave like one. It was probably a pipe dream, but how much trouble could he really get into on a train?
I sidled over to where Ophelia sat and fell into the seat beside her. She glanced at me, then put her head back in her hands. She was so tired. The poor woman was always tired, but she refused to take time for herself. She’d run herself right into the grave if she didn’t slow down. I studied her while she wasn’t watching me, observed the golden highlights in her chocolate colored hair. I’d never paid much attention to the freckles that dotted her nose and spread onto her cheeks. They were so light they were barely there, but they gave her a girlish charm that made me smile. When the train started to move, and her head swayed, I realized she’d fallen asleep hunched over.
“You’re s
o crazy, Ophie,” I whispered, then pulled her against my chest so she could rest more comfortably. Her head nestled nicely in the space between my shoulder and neck, so I settled in for a long ride. It wasn’t long before I fell asleep, too.
“Please, please don’t hurt my sister,” Sierra cried, her small arms grappling with the large man. He reeked of booze and grease from the shop. His oil-stained hands wrapped around Sierra’s thin neck as he pushed her against the wall, pinning her so tightly she could hardly breathe.
“Do not touch me again, or I’ll kill you both!” he barked.
Cecily ran to her room and hid under her bed. No girl should be so afraid in her own home, but he brought the fear out in all of us. One day, he would kill one of us, maybe all.
I thought back on the conversation I’d had with the blonde-haired woman. She was nice at first, then she told him lies. Those lies would get us killed or sent to juvenile detention. It was difficult to say which might be worse.
“Leave her alone!” I screamed and ran at him. One swipe of his arm sent me flying across the room. I landed hard on the glass coffee table, shattering it into pieces. “You’ll pay for that, boy!”
He came at me next, but Ross stepped in.
“Stop it!” Ross screamed, but he was shoved to the floor. Sierra went to help him up while Chris fumed in the corner. His shoulders heaved as he watched the scene play out in front of him. Our foster father picked me up by the front of my shirt and shoved me onto the sofa. I could feel the cuts on my back stinging with each brush of my shirt against them. I saw drops of blood in the pile of glass on the floor. The vile man pinned me to the cushion, his rank breath warming my face. I steeled myself for the pummeling to come.
“Let him go!” Sierra yelled and charged him, but Ross grabbed her before she got hit again. He held her tightly so she couldn’t get free. “Let me go, Ross! Let me go!”
Autumn Awakens Page 5
