Katherine's Fate

Chapter 16

Surprising Kate is something that I will never get tired of. The more I learn about her the more I just want to tell her about her past. She deserves to know so that she can learn her powers and discover how to control them; I just can’t bring myself to tell her the truth yet. There is still so much about her that I don’t know. This is going to be hard; I don’t even know how she will react to this information. 

We went through the rest of dinner with everyone telling stories about one thing or another. It was an evening full of laughs and fun. Sometime during the 3rd or 4th course Kris said telepathically, ‘How does she know these people? I can sense something different about them but I can’t tell what. Do you sense anything different about them?’ I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes, I did feel something off about them but I didn’t know what it was. I focused on Will when he brought out the next course and saw that his aura was a mixture of grey, white and silver. I knew what it was now. They were Lycanthropes, a kind of wolf shifter. I sent back, ‘They are Lycanthropes, that’s why they feel different. From the auras of the staff I’d say about 80% of them are shifters. This is amazing.’ I could see his surprise and wondered what he would do about it. Normally Druids and Shifters didn’t get along. This was a very interesting development. The fact that Kate is being protected by Shifters means that she must have a truly rare ability indeed.

 Almost too soon it came to an end and I saw Kate place a $50 on the table. I looked at her and said, “Are you sure that will cover it?” She looked down then laughed at me and said, “Oh no, that’s not for the bill, that’s for Heidi. I never have to pay; neither does anyone that’s with me. That’s just how the brothers are with me. The last time I tried to pay they got really mad at me and pretty much told me that I was family and family never pays. If I remember correctly they said it in like 3 different languages.” I heard a voice behind me say, “Actually in was 4 languages. You forget the English.” 

I turned around to see Will standing there with his apron on. I was curious so I said, “So what were the other ones?” Will laughed and said, “Gaelic, Italian, and Portuguese.” My head swung around to stare at Kate as I said, “You know all those?” She simply nodded as I asked, “What other languages do you know, that way I can quit being surprised all the time?” 

She gave me the brightest smile I had ever seen as she said, “Now why would I tell you something like that? It is so much more fun to see your stunned expression.” I was at a loss for words. What is one supposed to say to that? She and Will laughed as she said, “Kind of like the look you have on now.” I could spend years getting to know this woman and yet I think she would still find a way to surprise me. Everyone Followed Kate and Will back to the office behind the kitchen, I thought it would be small but it turned out to be surprisingly spacious. We all found a spot to sit or stand around the room as we waited to see what would happen. 

Liam looked at all of us then said to Kate, “What has kept you away from us? I think I know but I wish for you to tell me yourself.” Kate looked down and said, “I was with a man that was very jealous and could be very temperamental.” Liam scoffed at her description and said, “I suppose that is one way to put it. Did you think I would not be watching you?” She stood proud in front of his anger and said, “I thought you might have people watching me, you usually do. But I also figured you would trust me to do what was right.” Liam laughed angrily at her and said, “You’re right, I did trust you to do what was right, but I didn’t think it would take so long for it to happen. Do you have any idea how much effort it took to keep Chad in line? To keep him and Will from coming to your house and dragging you out of that “situation” you were in?” I’m not sure she thought about them, and from the look of horror on her face she came to the same realization. 

However Liam wasn’t done yet, he continued by saying, “We love you, you are family to every single person here, all of our families ask about you almost daily. We have the stress of being away from them and running a restaurant as well. Then you don’t come in on the day you’re supposed to and we don’t see you for months. We got worried, so I sent someone to your house to make sure you were ok. He came back here upset and explained what he had seen and heard. It was almost too much for any of us to bear. It was only by my order and power that no one came knocking or breaking the door down. I don’t want to upset you or anything but you need to understand how it has been for us these past three years.” 

Kate looked down and said, “I’m truly sorry for all of that. I never intended for it to go on so long. I didn’t think of all those who have protected me in the past. It got to the point where all I was trying to do was survive. Nothing else mattered, no one else mattered. I didn’t want to be saved I needed to hit my own breaking point and free myself. You know as well I do that if anyone had come and tried to save me I would’ve gone right back and someone would’ve gotten hurt trying to stop me. Am I wrong?” Liam looked at all the faces around the room as he said, “I do believe you are right and that was the reason no one did. But you have to understand how much everyone here loves you.” I looked around the room as well and I could see the love in the faces of Heather, Liam, Will, Lin and even Kris had love shining in his eyes. 

I knew that I loved her and had I known what was happening at the beginning of the semester I would have tried harder to get her to open up and been friends long before now. Why did I not try harder? I heard Kris in my mind as he said, ‘Stop torturing yourself, there was nothing you could do. You didn’t know what was going on and you can’t read her mind yet. Let’s just move forward and stop worrying about what we can’t change.’ Although I knew he was right I couldn’t seem to stop myself. While I was just standing on the sidelines, Kate was fighting for her life and her friends were having to just watch and not do anything.

 How can I say that I care about her when I did nothing to try and help her or be close to her? I heard Kris again, ‘STOP IT NOW!! You are helping no one by doubting yourself and getting upset over something that you CANNOT change.’ I understand what he was saying to me but I wasn’t sure how to stop myself. I looked over at him then moved my gaze over to Kate. Upon looking at her all I could think was how she needed me to be strong for her. I have no time for self-doubt or this ridiculous pity party I’m throwing myself. I continued to listen to Liam and Kate talk back and forth.