Forgotten Memories

by Candis Vargo

  I tried to pay attention as everyone began rambling on about our current situation; how the Fallen are not to blame for the death of my mother, but instead it was some unknown being. Chace held my hand on my thigh, knowing the subject really got to my nerves. He probably thought it would calm me down. He was right it did calm me down, but only a little.

  When one of the Elders across the table spoke up I became suddenly focused to the conversation.

  “How do we know what she says is the truth? It is obvious she has reasons to lie about it, just look at her!”

  I was surprised that it even took this long for someone to bring my relationship with Chace in this. I knew it was inevitable, considering everyone now knew of my relationship with Chace. I just thought it would come a lot sooner. I was impressed that it took over an hour for it to be brought up.

  “My daughter does not lie, so watch your manners.” As my father spoke, his voice was filled with fury.

  Chace must have been able to tell I wanted to stand up and bitch out that Elder because his grip on my hand tightened. I took his hint and decided to stay seated. I simply bit my lip, forcing myself to stay quiet and squeezed his hand in return.

  “I am just saying; she may have her own intentions here.” Damn that Elder was really pissing me off.

  “And what would they be? Would they be to lie about the death of her own mother? Would they be to set it as her life goal for us never to take revenge on the one responsible? What are you suggesting exactly? That she would simply put her own wishes above solving the murder of her mother, which she just so happened to watch!”

  Apparently the Elder was also pissing off my father. His face was now growing red with anger as the veins in his neck started to show, along with the larger one in his forehead that you could only see when he was about to explode.

  “You are right, Sir. I wasn’t thinking. I am sorry.” The Elder sat back down into his seat as he looked down at the table making eye contact with no one.

  “If any more of you think that, you can go ahead and just leave. There is something that has been playing games with us, all of us. Every single one of the races here today. This thing has in some way been involved in this from the beginning. It has set us up! All of us! Now, Karmalita remembers something specific about the eyes. Even when it shifted forms, it had the same eyes. Within those eyes she could see streaks of red. She also mentioned how at certain moments they turned red completely.”

  With that, Em let out a gasp. I looked at her and saw her eyes widen like she had just witnessed a horrible act. Once she saw me looking at her, Em scribbled on a piece of paper for me to read.

  “Nothing. Don’t worry about it. I thought I remembered something, but I was wrong. It’s okay. Promise.”

  I gave her a reassuring smile, letting her know it was okay, that we would find this thing. I turned my attention back to my father and listened as he continued to speak.

  “We need to find out what kind of creature this thing is. We need to find it, and destroy it. It set up The Fallen against Pixies, and Pixies against the Fallen! If anyone has any ideas that may lead to this creature, speak up. If you do not, then you need to start researching every angle you can, talk to every single connection you have. We will not rest until this thing is found and killed. If you have anything to say, speak up now.”

  One by one, everyone glanced at one another. I wondered if anyone had the balls enough to stand up and speak after what happened with the last Elder, but nobody said anything. Silence filled the room, with puffs of cigarette smoke being blown out of random mouths. Disgusting.

  Everyone left the room before Chace and I stood up to move. He didn’t want to risk me getting bumped in the shoulder with everyone leaving; it was like watching sardines squeeze in a can. As Chace walked with me to the door, my father stopped us and asked for a minute.

  “I wanted to speak to the two of you,” he said. “I am not saying that I approve of this relationship, but I just want you happy Karma. That is all I have ever wanted for you. Your mother would be proud of the woman you have become.” He turned to Chace before he spoke again. “You take good care of her son. Something horrible is down upon us, tearing us apart. You keep her save you hear?”

  “Yes sir.” Chace shook fathers hand before we continued walking.

  I don’t know what I expected from my father but just like everyone else, he exceeded whatever my expectations were. I was certain he would have been angry. Every time I thought someone would be angry with me they just understood. I was beginning to feel that I should have been honest with myself and everyone a lot sooner.

  I must say, I enjoyed being able to let my glamour down when I was around Chace. And I thought he enjoyed it equally as much. However, I didn’t enjoy that as much as I did seeing him fly around with his wings exposed. It was pure bliss seeing his strong wings gliding him through the air. His wings were every bit as masculine as his body. There was something extraordinary about it that made my body heat up and my pulse quicken. Chace said he had missed Molly and he wanted to see her, so we flew side by side to the stable. Of course he had to get apples to take to her.

  Once we arrived at the stable, we opened the two huge wooden doors that were similar to ones on a garage and walked in. It seemed like Molly knew he was coming to see her because she was patiently waiting by her stall. Molly always astonished me when it came to Chace. She was very, very patient when it came to him.

  “Hey Molly!” he said. “I’ve missed you! And look, I brought your favorite. Apples!” He held up the basket to show her.

  I loved watching the way he was with her. It was as though they understood each other on the same level Molly and I did.

  “There you go girl,” he said as he placed the small basket that held four apples in it on a hook so she could eat them. “Now let me go spend some time with your Mommy okay?”

  Hearing him say “Mommy” made me wonder what he would be like with kids. I didn’t know if I wanted to find out, at least not any time soon. I quickly brushed the thought from my mind.

  Chace and I walked to a stall a few feet away from Molly’s. We sat down in on top of a pile of hay I kept around for her. Without any warning or hesitation, he instantly leaned in and kissed me. My heart fluttered as I remembered the first time we had kissed. His lips felt just as amazing as they had the first time and I hoped I would never get over the butterfly feeling that came when he touched me. This was the first time we have truly been alone since the night we made love and God how I missed the taste of his kiss and the feel of his body next to mine.

  “How is your shoulder?” he asked after he broke the kiss. I didn’t want him to stop. I wanted to sit there all night in his embrace and kiss until the sun came up. Or longer.

  “It’s fine. Almost gone actually.” As an immortal my wounds would heal quicker than most. Not as quick as a vampire but still quick enough that I only needed a few stitches by the time I arrived at the hospital. I still didn’t know how bad I was actually hurt when the sword hit me, honestly, I don’t even want to know.

  “Here, let me see.” He slid my hair off of my shoulder as he slowly pulled down part of my shirt so he could see.

  “Ouch. Here, hold on,” I said. I began to slide my shirt off of my sore side first. Chace instinctively started to help me. Chills ran though my spine as I felt my body heat start to rise. Once my shirt was off I sat there in my bra and suddenly wished more clothing would come off. He fixed my hair once again so he could get a better look at my cut.

  “I told you it wasn’t too bad. Just a little tender. Nothing I can’t work out,” I smiled at him. He leaned down and kissed the areas around my cut, sending heat waves all throughout my body once again. I don’t know what it was about him that made me feel that way every time he touched me but I definitely was not complaining. In fact, I welcomed it. He moved from kissing my shoulder, up to my neck; instantly my hormones kicked in. I moved my mouth to his and began kissing him. I felt as though I
was a succubus trying to get a high but I was simply a Demoted Angel who could not get enough of the man she loved. I laid my shirt down so I could lie upon it. I tugged him down to follow me making sure we never broke the kiss. My body was yearning for more just like it always did every time we were together.

  “Take off your shirt,” I told him.

  He did. I reached down with my arm that wasn’t sore and began to unbutton his pants. I think my intentions became very clear at this point.

  “Karma, I don’t want to hurt you,” he said. His voice was quivering which let me know he wanted this as much as I did.

  “Don’t worry, I have a plan. I know how we can do it without it hurting me.” I said as I bit my bottom lip. I hoped that gesture would put any thought of hurting me out of his mind.

  He finished taking off his pants and then followed by sliding my skirt and silk underwear down my legs. Once they were off he continued to kiss every part of my body he possibly could as he made his way up until his lips were on mine once again. I leaned forward so that we were sitting up again and I placed myself on top of him. Slowly I began to ease myself onto his engorged cock letting him inside of me. I started to slide myself up and down using the strength in my legs as I thrust him in and out of me. The wetter I became the faster I went.

  “What about that plan of yours?” he said, sounding nearly out of breath.

  Instead of replying, I simply fluttered my wings in the air. With an unashamed smile playing across his face he followed in my lead. I wrapped my legs tighter around his waist as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He slowly began to lift us up in the air between the floor and the roof of the stable. As we rose up I continued to thrust my body against him taking him deeper and deeper inside of me. With his hands wrapped around my waist Chace began to take over. I no longer needed to move my body; instead I let him pull me to him. Each time he pulled my lower body toward his, he thrusts his pelvis into mine.

  Our second time making love was as intense as our first time. I definitely did not have a lack of orgasms. As he continued to move into me as far as he could go, I moaned with pleasure as quiet as I could. I really didn’t need someone walking in on us right about now. I watched Chace as his eyes moved down. I instinctively followed his lead. When I looked down I watched as he thrust himself inside of me. I never knew watching it could send someone over the top but it sure as hell did. And I wasn’t the only one. I threw my head back with the full force of my orgasm. Not long after my orgasm peeked I heard Chace let out a moan of his own. I could feel the warmth of the explosion inside of me as Chace came. God this man knew how to please.

  Chapter 13

  “I would have fucked him too!”

  Those were the first words out of Em’s mouth the next day. We were walking along a dirt road that was cut through the middle of the woods with no particular destination in mind. We just needed some time together without all the shit going on around us. I needed a break from everything and I could tell she had something on her mind too. I knew we both needed to get away, if only for a little while.

  “Christ Em. I didn’t do it just because he’s hot! Well, yeah that definitely helps, but I really think I’m in love with him,” I said as blood rushed into my face. I didn’t know if it was because of the mention of sex or if was simply because of the mention of Chace. Either way I longed to be in his arms again.

  “It is like a real life Romeo and Juliet. Two people from opposing families fall in love. Only, in this version you two didn’t kill yourselves, except you nearly did! I still don’t know what the hell you were thinking! I’m glad you are okay, but my God! You could have been killed!” I love how she could change emotions so fast, as well as subjects. I guess that was always part of her charm.

  “Well I wasn’t. I am alive and my cut is nearly gone. You can’t even see it anymore.”

  “Whatever. So did our spell help you any? During the war?”

  “I think it did, I only got hit a few times. I don’t feel any different though.” I said, kicking stones as I walked.

  “Did you figure out what your full abilities are?” I couldn’t tell if she was more excited about finding out my full powers or knowing whether or not her spell actually worked. Either way, I wanted to know too.

  “I’m not sure,” I said. “I think it was just strength.” I hoped it was more than that but I felt like nothing has changed. I didn’t know if you were supposed to feel a dramatic difference, but I’m sure you were supposed to feel something.

  “What about the crazy fire brain?” she raised her hands by her head as she flailed her fingers. “Any more of that?”

  “Actually, no. At least that’s some relief from everything going on,” I said. It felt nice to know I had something else going good for me.

  We slowed down as we made our way to a little path that cut into the woods. Following the path we walked until we came to our old tree fort. It was a small little fort about four feet off of the ground. We built it together when we were kids just after my mother died, using it as a place to escape.

  The wood looked old and worn now, like it was about to fall apart at any minute. The slabs were bowing and their color had faded from a brown to a dark grey. It never had a roof, just a floor for us to play on. Although we did attempt to hang curtains from the trees next to it once, it just never really worked out for us. We didn’t care though, we built it with our own hands, and it didn’t even look that great when it was in its infancy.

  I followed Em up the steps we had made my nailing wood to the tree trunk itself. Making our way up the seven steps we had, we sat down on the safest looking piece of wood there was. We sat on the edge, dangling our feet over; at least this way, if it fell, we would have a head start on the wood.

  “I was just wondering, what were you thinking about yesterday? At the meeting, you said you thought you remembered something. What was it?” I asked Em, feeling like there was more to the story.

  “It was nothing. Something your father said just reminded me of something I thought I saw once. That’s all.” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

  I let silence fill the air around us, I knew Em better than anybody else, and so I knew when to just leave subjects alone. That’s exactly what I did. I could tell there was something she was hiding, but I wasn’t about to force her to open up to me.

  “You know,” Em said. “I think I might have figured something out.”

  “Let me guess, it’s not who killed my Mother is it?”

  “No, but I think it’s something more about the whole fire in the brain stuff.”

  “What?” I asked her, wondering what more there even was to figure out.

  “Well,” she began, “you know how you remembered the thing turning into a Vamp?”

  “Yeah,” I said as I narrowed my eyes.

  “I remember the Coven and I saying we thought it was a spell or compulsion coming undone. I really believe that’s exactly what it was. The Vamp, well not actually the Vamp, but the thing when it turned into one, compelled you to forget everything. But you didn’t. You only forgot some of it, like you were too strong for it. When you got closer to your full powers, that’s when the compulsion really started to fall apart inside of you.

  “It’s like, the memories waited until you were asleep to reveal themselves to you. Just like every time you’re asleep, you dream about that night, that’s why you didn’t get your memories as soon as we did the spell.”

  “Wow, I never thought about it like that,” I said, stunned. She had a very good point and I would’ve never been able to realize all of that. I guess things are different when you are on the outside looking in.

  “Thinking that you’d have the strength inside of you to repel compulsion like that, it kind of makes me think strength isn’t your full ability. I don’t know what it is, but you were already so strong Karma. I think it’s something else.” Em looked both astonished and proud at the same time.

  “I don’t see what else it could be Em,
” I said as I looked off into the distance. I knew I felt the same way but thinking of my power as something else made me nervous.

  “I don’t know either, but I think it’s something good. If it wasn’t I don’t think-” The sound of her cell phone ringing cut her off. It wasn’t a ring for a phone call but instead a ring for a text message.

  “Shit, I have to go to a Coven meeting. It wasn’t supposed to be for another hour, but they decided to move it up. Sorry Karma, I have to go,” she said after reading a text message.

  “A meeting for what? I didn’t know you were having a Coven meeting today.” She normally told me every time she was going to have a meeting. She dreaded them and seemed to need to vent both before and after every meeting. I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t tell me about this meeting. She’s been more distant since the last meeting everyone had and I was beginning to wonder if her mom was coming down hard on her. Maybe her mom was trying to make her figure it out all on her own. I didn’t know. Whatever it was that was bothering her I hoped it would soon pass.

  “About whatever that thing is that started this war. We’re looking into some stuff, I…” she hesitated. “I’ve seen those eyes Karma. The Coven is looking into it before we say anything; make sure we’re right before we say anything. Honestly, if we’re right, we’re scared of what might come out of it. Not to mention my mom would kill me for even telling you this much.”

  “Well what do you think it-”

  “Karma I would tell you if I could, you know that. But I can’t, if we’re wrong we would be shunned from everyone. As soon as I get permission to say anything you’ll be the first to know. Promise,” Em said as she hopped down from the tree fort.

  I groaned, frustrated that they have a possible lead and I can’t be told anything. Sometimes, I swore the Coven acted like a secret SEAL team for the United States. They always kept everything under wraps and half the time you didn’t know they existed until you needed their help or they needed yours.