State of Independence
Page 16
I turn to him.
Take in his ordinary features, blonde, hair, young-appearance.
I start laughing.
How my brain could have come up with this as my father? He’s perfect.
Right down to his tan feet and pink seashell toenails.
“That’s rich. Father, huh?”
“Yes. I have many children, but none so close as you. I am a first split from the original source.”
His words echo around in my brain. First split. Original source.
“You are going to have to do better than that, Utu.” I tell him.
“I believe it was Sumeria, where I was worshipped as the sun god. But I am the son of the sun. An original being, split to live a life of experience. To learn and achieve until I fulfill and become one again. You are a split of my spirit, to learn and achieve and become one again.”
Ok, so he’s talking reincarnation. I think.
Son of the sun. I struggle to make sense of his words. Decode his meaning.
“What does it matter if you are my father, huh? Why come to me now? Why bring my ‘consciousness’ into this third realm?” I air-quote consciousness.
“There is no ‘why.’ There is only is.”
I want to push him into the sand for his non-answer, but restrain the impulse.
Ancient Sumerian sun gods probably don’t take to kindly to aggressive tactics.
I start walking again.
I think of Grayson.
I remember just where I was before I was on this beach.
I lift my right forearm for inspection. The skin is unbroken.
“She called me niece.” I spin back to where I left Utu standing in the sand.
He nods. “My sister. Her journey is not over. She’ll be transmigrated into another being or beings now.”
“You mean we haven’t defeated her?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Can you ever really defeat yourself?”
I give him my best sardonic look.
He gives an authentic smile back to me.
“She lived a millennia, with one purpose. I doubt with rebirth she’ll forget it.”
“But it’s possible?”
I want him to say yes.
“It’s possible.” He kneels, dipping his hand into the sand.
He cups some in his hand, studying it.
“Are you ready?” He lifts his eyes to me when the last bit of it sifts out of his fingers.
“For what?”
“To return.” The solemn way he says it, tells me its not to earth or my life he’s speaking of.
“No. If she’ll be reborn and seek to destroy us…” My job is not over.
I leave the last unspoken.
He nods.
“I know, as I would do the same. You are the antithesis.”
I don’t understand what that is, but I can’t question him, as a fierce knowing suddenly enters my chest. His face is one of solemn pride.
He is my father.
I see it in the shape of his nose, his eyes.
I’m speechless.
Epilogue
Waking is no wanted task. I’m comfortable. Warm, heavy limbed, and so content.
But there’s one thing bothering me.
Voices.
“If you want her to live you should let me close her wounds, brother.”
Lucian. Who is he talking to?
“She’ll live and you’ll keep your fangs in your mouth and off her body. Or you’ll be dead.”
Grayson.
They are brothers?!?
“She’ll be fine. Justice only had to put stiches on the cut on her forearm. She’s been through worse.”
Glory.
Her voice is the closest to me. I feel her presence near my shoulder.
A hand comes to my forehead and smoothes my hair back then.
I open my eyes to my sister hovering over me.
She smiles.
“How do you feel?”
I take stock. Ache in my hip, forearm. Lax muscles and skin warm, like I’ve been laying in the sun.
Before I can answer Grayson, on my other side, grabs up my hand and places a kiss on my forehead.
“You good?” He asks.
I nod.
“Hey kid.” Lucian is standing at the foot of the bed.
“Hey Loosh.” Other than looking a little skinny and missing his eye patch, he looks just as he did a month ago.
So much has passed in such a short amount of time. And so much has changed. I feel deep friendship for this vampire. Nothing else.
“Thanks for saving my life, kid.” He gives me a full smile.
“That’s two you owe me.” I tell him.
He dips his chin in an accepting nod.
“See you around.” He leaves with a small finger salute in Grayson’s direction.
“Morgan’s good?” I ask Grayson after the door shut’s behind Lucian.
“She’s good. We’re all good.” He leans in to give me a kiss on the lips.
“All good.” I agree.
Note from the Author
Thank YOU for reading my book. I hope you loved Independence just as much as I do. She was one of the very first characters I ever created, and her story was a long time coming. I created an entire universe just to tell it, and now I know there’ll be a lot more to come! Gage, Eric, Marc, Torren, Merrick, Lucian, Cat, Des, Isla…they all have to find true love too! Follow me on Facebook to keep up date with more Otherside Chronicle releases. Or sign up for my newsletter at www.authorsherrylbrown.com.
In the meantime, you can always read my other series, a light-hearted adventure story following a plucky archeologist’s journey of love. Or get back into heart pounding action with my standalone military romance, The Distance Between Dreams.
Till next time, my friends!
About the Author
A few years ago, Sherry had an epiphany. Life is short and you got to make it count. So she quit her job at a tech startup to pursue personal passions and adventure dreams. She believes the secret to a fulfilled life is to always be learning.
Also by Sherry L. Brown
The Otherside Chronicles
Glory Reborn
Guarding Justice
Standalone Military Romance
The Distance Between Dreams
Contemporary Mystery/Adventure Romance
The Charlotte Ivey Series
Charlotte Ivey and The Vanished Valkyrie
Charlotte Ivey and the House of Sundance
Charlotte Ivey and the Gates of Atlantis
Charlotte Ivey and the Search for Solomon’s Seal