The Forbidden Child - Alpha’s Lost Luna

Chapter 15

***Jane***

“Arabella is my middle name.” I told him.

“Come with me.” He then turned around and started walking away from the main area, and down a corridor, stopping part way in front of a glass cabinet full of pictures and old memorabilia. He pointed to a very old black and white photo in the center.

“This here is the only picture of the original founding family, the Godwins. They traveled across the globe looking for a place to build this school, until they settled here.” He then pointed to another picture, much more modern, with a man, woman and baby. “This is the last of the founding families, thought to have died 8 years ago. Thomas and Serena Godwin, and their daughter, Arabella.” He said while staring at me. “And I can’t help but to see quite the family resemblance between you and them.”

I looked at the photo, and it was like looking in a mirror. I could be her twin, granted several years younger. She had the same hair, and the same eyes. Though the nose was different, mine was more like that mans. But how could this be? A light flashed in my eyes and my head started to throb with the worst headache I had ever had. Gripping my head, a ringing grew in my ears until it turned into a scream.

“Arabella! Run! Catori, you have to get her out of here!” Serena yelled.

“Mommy no! I want to stay with you!” I screamed as a woman I couldn’t see picked me up and ran away from my mother. We flew out of the house, and as we were running I saw my father fighting with a strange pale man outside the house. Just before we disappeared into the trees, I saw my dad's heart ripped from his chest.

“Jane! Jane! Somebody go get help!” I could hear El yelling. Agggg, what was that awful smell! I opened my eyes to see the professor putting something away in his pocket. Did he just use smelling salts?

“Oh thank god, Jane are you okay? You just passed out!” El seemed very worried.

The vision I just had was currently on repeat in my head. Tears started to build in my eyes. Was that my mom and dad? I stood up from where it seemed I had fallen and quickly approached the cabinet, placing my hands on the glass as I looked at the photo again. The couple in the picture were younger than in the vision I just had, but they were definity the same people. “No, it’s impossible.” I whispered. I can’t just find out who my parents were just to realize they died like that!

“I, I think those are my parents.” I said to no one in particular. The professor walked over next to me with a knowing look on his face. El came and stood on my other side. She looked at the photos too. Staring really hard at one with what looked like my mom and another woman.

“Why is there a picture of my mom in there?” El asked the professor.

“Who is your mom my dear, which photo.” The professor asked. El pointed to one on a slightly higher shelf. The picture showed two women smiling with their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders, and shovels in the other hands.

“Ah, Serena and Catori. I believe that is at the groundbreaking for the new athletic facility. Yes they were very good friends and great support for the school. Are you saying Catori was your mother?” He asked.

Catori? That was what my mom called the woman who picked me up and ran. But didn’t El and Melanie say their mom died in a bear attack? Whatever killed my dad was no bear.

“No, it can’t be. This can’t be right.” I cried. I started to back away from everyone when my head started to hurt again. “No, no, no not again.” The ringing started once more to turn into a scream, only this time it was my own.

“Catori! NO!” She lay motionless on the ground, blood spilling from her slightly severed neck. The monster who killed her slowly approached me, with a wicked smile. I backed away from him until I felt the rough tree bark scraping through the back of my nightgown, causing more blood to drip down my back. I already had several gashes on my arms and torso from fighting him earlier.

“Don’t run, little one, you’ll only make it worse.” He taunted me. I looked all around, trying to find an escape. I made a run for it but only got about a foot before the man grabbed my wrist tightly. I pulled trying to get away, causing myself more pain. He pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arms around my ribs and squeezed. I felt something c***k, and I couldn’t breathe. He dropped me to the ground.

“So much fight for one so young. It is not my wish to hurt you. I could make it much quicker if you would stop resisting me.” He said amused. As if this were nothing but a game to him. There was movement from behind the man, through the forest.

“No! You should be dead!” He screamed. My mother, blood dripping from various wounds, came barreling out of the trees and attacked the man. She was something fierce to watch. Like a warrior in battle. It almost looked like she was getting the upper hand, she tossed the man to the ground close to where I was. I frightfully tried to get away, scooting backwards while sitting, scraping my hands and arms over rocks and broken branches, spilling more blood. He looked up and glared at me, his nostrils flaring at the smell of blood. He reached for my leg, twisting it as I tried to move. Another snap, I screamed.

My mother rushed over and broke his neck, then took out some kind of blade and severed his head from his body. She rushed over to me and knelt down.

“I’m so sorry baby, I didn’t know. I didn’t know this would happen.” She held me and rocked me back and forth. “I love you so much, but you have to go. There’s more coming. I can’t hold them all off.”

“Mommy no! I don’t think I can run anymore. I can’t do it without you!” I cried.

She kissed my head, and then placed a pendant over my neck that glowed blue. “Selene, please help protect my baby.” She said as she looked up at the moon.

I heard the tell tale sign of bodies rushing through the trees, and knew that time was up. “Go, NOW!” My mother yelled. I couldn’t move fast, I could barely move at all, but move I did. I stood up and hobbled away from my mother. Away from her impending doom. And away from everything I ever knew. I could hear the attack as it happened, and knew when my mother was gone. And just before I was found by her attackers, I was enveloped by a soft blue light that carried me away.

This time I awoke to Dean Valoria Eckelson above me, her eyes looked like they were glowing a strange blue. Then she blinked and they were back to a normal color. “There she is, she’s awake.” The Dean helped sit me up, her hand on my back soothing and warm. “You gave us all quite the scare!”

I tried to stand, but felt a little woozy doing so. “Woah, take it easy. Give it a minute to all come back.” The Dean suggested. And come back it did. I couldn’t believe what I just witnessed, or remembered. It all felt so unbelievable. I had to get out of here. I needed to go home. I moved away from the crowd that had gathered around me and headed towards the front entrance. “Just where do you think you're going?” The dean asked, following me. I paused and looked at her.

“I, I need to go. I need to get home.” Was all I said. She had a look on her face like she was trying to determine something, and then made up her mind.

“Okay, but take the south west exit. And when you come back, return the same way. You have no need to go down the trial path again.” The what? The trial path? What was that? “When you are ready, there are answers here waiting for you Jane.” And with that I ran out of the building, and ran to my car. Starting it up and finding the secondary exit she told me of.

This road was built for two vehicles at the same time, and was paved. I sped out of there as fast as I could. Barely noticing the gate that was left open as I passed. Getting out on the highway I sped faster than normal, not really knowing where I was going, just getting out. It wasn’t until I got all the way to Lincoln City that I slowed down out of fear of hurting someone. But instead of heading towards the beach, I drove over to D Lake. Somehow I found my way to Regatta Park. After pulling my Shelby into a parking spot, I got out and walked down to the water.

I don’t know how long I sat there, staring out at the lake, but its calmness soothed me. Helped to give me some clarity. After years of having amnesia, some of my memories were coming back. And not just the terrible ones that made me pass out. This park for instance, my parents used to bring me here. I remember playing on the wooden play structure, thinking it was the coolest thing ever. Like a castle with towers and a bridge. I remember the house I grew up in. It was about half way between the school and the city. And I remember doing training with my mom. She used to teach me martial arts, and taught me how to throw knives. No wonder the self defense classes came so easy to me. It was all muscle memory.

I didn’t remember much, but I did remember my parents. They were the best parents I could have asked for. And remembering their death was excruciatingly painful. I sat there on the small sandy beach, replaying each precious memory in my head. Making sure I’d never forget them again. I did this until it became dark, and the moon began to rise over the lake. Finally, I stood up and got back in my car. I realized I should probably go back to the school, but I was just too exhausted, emotionally and mentally. So I decided to head back to my house. I could always go back to the school tomorrow.

Driving down the highway, I left my windows down to let the cool night air on my skin. I loved the fresh clean smell of the trees, and the wind in my hair. I was finally feeling calm when I pulled into the drive by the house, all the lights still off inside. Amy must be out. But something felt off before I even got out of the car. Like a tickle on the back of my neck. I looked around the area and coming from behind the house I saw the shape of a man with pale skin, who looked too much like the ones who killed my parents.

My eyes bugged open wide, and my heart felt like it wanted to leave my chest. “No, no, no, no not again. No!” I frantically put the car in reverse and whipped it around 180 degrees to face down the street I just drove up. I put it into gear and got out of there like a bat out of hell. I looked in my rear view mirror as I drove only to see the man catching up with me. What the? Just before I was about to turn a corner to get to the highway I saw something jump out of the forest and take the pale man down. I slammed on the breaks.

I should just keep driving, but I felt pulled to go see what just happened. I threw the car door open, and ran over to where I saw the man be taken out, I found a giant lion ripping the head off the pale man with his teeth. I froze. The lion’s head snapped over in my direction, blood dripping from his mouth. He noticed my presence immediately. I swear it was the same lion as in my dream. For some reason I didn’t fear him, but he was still a wild beast, so I stayed still. He watched me, his golden eyes reflecting in the moon's light. He slowly moved towards me with his head bowed down. He came right up to me and rubbed his head on me. I dared to reach out and run my fingers through his beautiful mane, and thought I smelled seasalt and coconut, and felt like electricity was passing between the two of us.

“Kai?”

The lion whipped his head up, looking me eye to eye. And then he shifted. No longer was there a lion before me, but a very naked Kai. It was at that moment that I passed out for the third time that day.