The Divinity Saga: Part I

The unforgettable road of Route 76.

Right when I was about to pull up to Atia’s gate my phone began to ring. 

“Can you get that for me?” I handed Ava my purse from my feet. 

“Sure.” She said grabbing my phone. “Its Chrissy.” 

“Answer it.” I smiled. 

“Hello?” Ava answered smiling. “Its Ava.” 

She got quiet for a minute and listened to Chrissy ramble. I heard something about Zach and the doctors but I just waited for Ava to tell me. 

“She wants us to go to her first ultrasound with her. Zach bailed and her mom doesn’t know.” She explained to me. 

“Tell her to text me the address.” I said pulling out of the driveway. 

“We’re on our way. Text the address.” Ava said as she hung up. 

Right after she put my phone down it vibrated.

“Its Chrissy.” I chuckled. 

“It’s 3201 Redland Street, Portland Oregon, 92701.” 

“I know that street.” I froze. 

“How?” She smiled. 

“Moms accident.” My eyes watered. 

“Rayleigh I’m so sorry.” Ava grabbed my hand. 

“Its okay.” I faked a smile. 

“Pull over.” She smiled. “You need a hug.” 

I pulled over on the side of the road and parked. 

“Come here.” Ava said wrapping her arms around me. 

I hugged her back and I started crying uncontrollably. 

“She left me.” I cried. “She just left. No warning, no goodbye’s.”

“I know.” Ava said rubbing my hair “Shh.” She tried to calm me. 

“It’s my fault.” I pulled away from Ava. 

“No its not.” She forced me to hug her. 

“Yes it is.” I cried. “She was leaving to get a toy I begged her for. If I wouldn’t have stressed her out over it she wouldn’t have left that day and I would still have her.” I couldn’t control my tears anymore.

“That’s not your fault. You we’re a kid.” She held me tighter. 

“It's all my fault.” I screamed and cried. 

“Listen to me.” She said holding my face in her hands. “It's not your fault, you did not do this. You had no control over what happened and neither did she. It was an accident. Please stop crying it’s not your fault.” She hugged me again. 

“Does she blame me?” I asked calming down. 

“No, of course not. She's looking down on you smiling right now.” She smiled. 

“Thank you Ava.” I sniffed 

“What are sister in laws for?” She nudged me. 

I started my car and drove off. 

We talked the whole way to Redland St. As soon as we made the turn onto that street my hands began to shake and tremble. 

“You got this.” Ava said encouragingly. “She loves you.” 

She repeated that sentence all the way down the street until we reached the doctors office. 

“Thank you.” I turned and looked at her.

Tears were streaming down her face. 

“Whats wrong?” I asked concerned. 

“You’re really traumatized.” She said sniffling. “That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to watch. I’m so proud of you, you did what millions of people out there couldn’t do if they we’re in your situation.” 

I smiled and hugged her. 

“Atia has found a gem.” She smiled. “A priceless one of a kind gem.” 

“And so has clayton.” I smiled back as I wiped her tears. “Now let's go deal with the drama queen.” I said opening my car door. 

“We should have brought her layered dip.” She laughed as we got out the car.

We both laughed about the situation all the way to the double doors. 

“We’re looking for Christina Torres. She had a ultrasound appointment today.” I said standing at the receptionist desk.

“Oh yes, the hungry one.” The woman giggled. “She had someone go get her food from the cafeteria because she said she was so hungry she felt faint.”

“Yeah, that’s Chrissy.” I rolled my eyes. 

“Was there layered dip?” Ava joked. “She would have loved that.”

“Right this way.” She opened the door and waited for us to walk in. “Its room 3 it’ll be on your left.” She pointed down the hall. 

“Thank you.” Ava and I said in sync. 

We walked into her room and saw Chrissy laying there with her legs propped up and a honey bun in her mouth. 

“Oh, hey besties!” She said taking a bite of fries. 

“Are you nervous?” I asked closing the door. 

“My legs are gapped open for all the world to see and I have a male doctor. What do you think?" She asked sarcastically.

“That’s awkward.” Ava said sitting in a chair. 

“Very.” I said sitting next to her. 

“You know what's awkward?” Ava said smiling. “That you two are cousins but I remember when Chrissy had a crush on you.” She giggled. 

“You what?” I looked at her in shock. 

“What? You were hot.” She shrugged biting into her honeybun. 

“Were?” I rolled my eyes. 

“Yeah, we’re family now. You’re ugly by default.” She laughed. 

“Technically we’ve been family.” I laughed as I took one of her honey bun’s off of her stomach. 

“Hey. I was going to eat that.” She whined. 

“You don’t need it and we haven’t ate.” I said opening it and splitting half with Ava. 

“I don’t even think we’re really related. I think our parents just called each other family.” She said opening a brownie wrapper.

“Doesn’t matter.” I laughed.

“If it's not blood. It doesn’t count.” She teased. 

“Okay I don’t think Atia would approve of this conversation.” Ava laughed. 

“This is the girls room Ava, and you brought it up.” Chrissy argued playfully. 

“True.” Ava said with her mouth full of honeybun. “So have you talked to your stalker?” She joked.

“Not funny.” She hissed. “I haven’t, and I won’t.”

“Okay, I’m just saying we wouldn't blame you if you reached out to him.” Ava sympathized.

"We wouldn't?" I asked confused.

“Anyway, when does my doctor get here?” She ignored us.

“Now.” I said as I heard a heartbeat getting closer to the door.

“Hey Chrissy. I’m Dr. Ross.” A man said walking over to shake her hand. “Hello girls.” He looked at me and Ava. “Your sisters?” He asked her with a smile.

“Yeah.” She nodded.

“Perfect, so how have you been feeling?” He asked taking a seat in the doctor's chair.

“Hungry.” Ava and I said at the same time.

“Okay.” He laughed. “What else?”

“Hormonal, Emotional, Mood swings, Rude and cruel behaviors.” I started to list.

“I think he was asking me.” Chrissy said annoyed. “But she’s right, all of those.” She nodded.

“All of that is normal.” He said rolling his chair to the table between her legs. “Anything else?”

“Uhm.” She said uncomfortably as he probed her. “Not really.”

“This might be a little uncomfortable.” He assured her.

“A little?” She gripped the table. “A lottle.”

Ava and I looked away to give her privacy.

“Almost done.” He promised “So tell me about your health record, your boyfriends, your parents.”

“Everyone’s clean I believe.” She smiled awkwardly.

“And you’re sure your boyfriend is your only partner?” He questioned.

“That’s what I wrote isn't it?” She answered offended.

“You never know. Girls like you come in with higher body counts than you’d believe.” He hid his smirk. “Hard to tell if you’re different.”

Ava and I looked at each other and then back at the Doctor. We knew she was going to go off.

“Oh don't look at me like that, I’m just saying. And the father's not here. What's more important than seeing your own child-a- cookin’ am I right?” He smiled over at us.

Chrissy sat there angrily in silence. Which was the exact opposite of what I expected. I stared at her trying to guess her next move. She remained still.

“Uh” He rolled his chair away from her and pulled his glove off.

“What’s wrong Doc?” Ava asked as he scooted towards us.

“Uh, My fingers are actually numb.” He chuckled nervously. “I cannot feel them.” He started to bend his two fingers and move them around.

“I’ll send in another nurse okay?” He said running out.

“What was that about?” I looked over at Chrissy.

She said nothing but her mood went back to normal.

“Ava?” I said turning to her.

“That was so weird.” She confirmed.

A short blonde woman came strolling in with a rolling tray cutting off our conversation.

“Hey, I’m Brenda I’m going to do your ultrasound so you can see your miracle today.” She said walking over to Chrissy. “I can tell you how far along you are at that point.”

“Okay.” Chrissy said dully.

She began to do the ultrasound and the images of the baby started to appear. It looked normal, well as normal as a baby could look this young. How was I supposed to tell if it was a vampire or not? 

“Looks normal.” Ava whispered to me.

“Is normal.” Chrissy corrected her.

“Sorry.” She smiled apologetically.

“So you are 2 months along almost 3.” The woman said wiping the gel off of her stomach. 

“Okay.” She nodded.

“So it's healthy?” I asked the woman.

“Looks like it.” She smiled at me. “You’re doing well Ms. Torres.” She encouraged her as she handed her photos from the visit.

"Thank you." She smiled down at them.

“You’re free to go home.” The woman said standing up. “Come back and see us in 2 weeks.”

“What? did you lose your voice?” Ava asked rudely after she left.

“I - I don't know who the father is.” She cried. “I thought I knew, I swore I knew. Now I’m not so sure.”

“What do you mean? You stopped sleeping with Aaron after you met Zach right?” I questioned her.

“I didn't say that.” She admitted. “Zach's going to hate me.”

“Well what did you think was going to happen?” Ava growled.

“Ava” I scolded her.

“No seriously, You know I liked Aaron. Sure he's a airhead sometimes, but he loves you. I thought you loved him too.”

“I do love him, but he hurt me.” She cried. “I didn't mean to.”

“Can we not do this here?” I stopped their argument. “We should get home.”

“Rayleigh's right. Now can you stop with the 3rd degree?” She changed back into her clothes in silence. “Look, My baby is healthy.” She said as tears came to her eyes. “I can't wait to go home and show mom my ultrasound. I know she’ll be mad at first but once she sees her little grandchild is in there all will be forgiven.” She smiled.

“Okay okay.” Ava gave in.”Sorry.”

We exited the building in silence and walked into the rain.

“Bye Gustan.” Chrissy waved out the window. “Here’s a dollar for your troubles.” She threw money out the window to him.

“Who’s that?” I looked at her as I backed out the parking spot. 

“He got me the food.” She smiled. “You still have my number right?” She poked her head out the window. 

Before he could respond I rolled up her window and sped off. 

“Hey.” She whined. 

Ava chuckled obnoxiously in the front seat.

“Do you want me to take you home?” I said my voice shaking as we drove back down Redland St. 

“No, I’ll go back with you guys.” She smiled. “I’ll have my mom get me later.”

“Where's your car? How’d you get here?” I asked trying to avoid the lump in my throat and the sweat forming on my forehead.

“My mom took it like two days ago and I took a cab.” She said angrily. 

I didn’t say anything. I was going literally 5 miles per hour and couldn't help it.

“Can I ask you a question?” Chrissy said laughing. “Why are you driving like a snail?” 

“Snails don’t drive dummy. Why are you slow like a snail?” I asked rudely. 

“You’re okay.” Ava said rubbing my hand.

I sped up a little bit. I began to sweat purvusily and become dizzy. I tried to shake my thoughts and memories but I couldn’t. My mom died on this street. She was pronounced dead before the ambulance could even get her in the truck. 

“Whats going on?” Chrissy asked confused. 

The rain started to hit the car loudly. 

“This is the street” Ava whispered. “Of the accident.”

Chrissy got really quiet. 

“I’m so sorry ray. I totally forgot. If I remembered that I wouldn’t have made my appointment here.” She said crying. 

“Its fine.” I assured her.

‘Rayleigh you can do this.’ I heard my mother's voice in my head. 

“Mom?” I said out loud. 

“What?” Chrissy said confused. 

“Shh.” Ava said annoyed. 

“Mom I’m sorry.” I cried. 

‘Don’t be. This is not your fault. You can do this, you need to get these girls home safely.’ 

“I can't see, it’s raining too bad.” I responded.

‘You can do this.’ 

“Okay.” I said driving a little faster. 

‘Follow my voice.’ 

“Okay.” I nodded.

The farther her voice got the closer I got to the end of the street. 

‘There you go.’ She said her voice almost gone. 

“Wait mom.” I said going almost 30 miles per hour. 

‘You got it Rayleigh, go to Angels and stay in please.’ She said as her voice faded out. 

“You did it.” Ava said smiled. 

“We did it.” I smiled back. 

“That was amazing I thought we were going to die.” Chrissy said dramatically. “Could you even hear me talking to you?” 

“No.” I said confused. “All I could hear was her beautiful voice.” 

“Lucky." She smiled. “All this raining and driving has made a girl really hungry.” She said patting her stomach. 

“Fine.” I sighed. “We can go to Leo’s Tavern.” 

“Yay.” She shrieked. “You love me!” 

“Actually, I love my nephew and besides, Ava and I are starving too.” I said laughing. 

I really wanted blood. I was feeling weak and tired and I was craving it, but human food would have to do for the time being. 

“Whatever, I’m just happy about the food.” She smiled. 

“Should I get Atia anything?” I said pulling up to the drive through. 

“Yeah, whirly cheese fries.” Ava said looking at the menu. 

“My favorite.” I said l*****g my lips. 

“Hers too.” She giggled. 

“What about your mom?” I looked at her. 

“Same.” She smiled.

"Chrissy?" I looked back at her.

“Yeah, I want that whole left side of the menu.” Chrissy demanded. 

“Try again.” I said annoyed. 

“Fine, can I have a number 4, 3, 7, and 8.” She said out her window. 

“Really?” I rolled my eyes. 

“One of them is for my mom.” She said offended. 

“Only one of them?” Ava said looking back at her. 

“Yes, one.” She nodded. 

“So yeah, I want extra ketchup and ranch.” She said talking to the speaker. 

“Anything else?” The man answered back. 

“Actually-” Chrissy started. 

“Nope, nothing for her.” I rolled up her window. “3 Whirly cheese fries please.” I smiled.

“Will that be it for you?” He chuckled. 

“Yes.” 

“Your total is 38.59. Pull up at the next window to pay.” 

As soon as we received our food Chrissy dug in. I could hear her bag rattling all the way home.

"You couldn't wait five more minutes?" I asked parking the car.

“No, my foods going to get wet.” Chrissy said stuffing her mouth. 

“Or you could just put it away until we get inside.” Ava said annoyed. 

“Fine.” She sighed. “But can someone carry me inside? I feel faint.”

Me and Ava looked at each other and got out the car. 

“Hey.” She whined as we closed our doors. 

We ran to the door with our bag of food in our hands.

“We come bearing whirly fries.” Ava announced. 

“Atia?” Ava said waiting for her to appear. “Maybe she’s in the kitchen.” She said walking around. I slowly trailed behind her. 

“Hey, we brought you whirly fries!” Ava said excitedly walking in the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks and her whole attitude changed. There was a girl sitting at the bar on her phone. She was dressed from head to toe in designer clothes. 

“Stefanie. What are you doing here?” Ava said as we continued to walk in the kitchen. 

“Hi Ava.” The girl said smiling.

Ava glanced at me and then back at her. 

“Awk.” She whispered.

“Not funny guys.” Chrissy came running in with her bags of food. 

“What took you so long?” I joked. 

“I had to finish.” She said throwing the bags away. “Who is this?” she asked rudely as she stood beside us. 

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. 

She didn’t even acknowledge us. We stood together staring at this girl. She definitely wasn’t a human. Who was she and why was she here? 

Atia walked in the kitchen and she was dressed differently than earlier. She had on different jeans and a black jacket. Her hair was in a perfect sock bun and her make-up was immaculate. She was leaving, but where to? And with who? She never looked like this when she was with me. Was this a girl from her past?

“Hi guys.” Atia said sitting at the bar next to the girl.

“Ava did you introduce them to Stefanie?” Atia asked smiling.

“No, she’s your friend.” Ava said rolling her eyes. 

“This is Stefanie. She’s a friend from a while back.” Atia said introducing us. “Stefanie, this is Chrissy and Rayleigh.” 

“Hi! you girls are so gorgeous.” She said smiling at us. 

“That’s a lie. I look like a hot mess. My hair is all over my head, I look like a fat beluga whale, and I need my eyebrows done.” Chrissy said walking over to our bag of food. 

“Don’t even think about it.” I said snatching the bag. 

“Oh yeah sis, we got you whirly cheese fries.” Ava smiled proudly. 

“Oh thanks, but I’m leaving with Stefanie.” Atia smiled awkwardly. 

“Where to?” Chrissy said with an attitude. 

“Chrissy, I think that’s Rayleigh’s line.” Ava giggled. 

Ava and Chrissy looked over at me waiting for me to say something. 

“Where are you going?” I flashed a fake smile but what I really wanted to know if I was going with. 

“Shopping, you know to catch up. I’ll make sure to bring you something.” Atia said flirtatiously.

“Oh, are you the girlfriend?” Stefanie looked me up and down and smiled. 

“Something like that.” Atia answered for me. 

“Oh well, don’t worry I’ll take good care of her.” She smiled.  

“I’m sure.” I hissed under my breath.

 I knew she heard me and so did Atia. I wanted Atia to know that I wanted her to stay. My body language should of said it all but of course she didn’t pick up on it.

“Atia we better get going.” She said standing up. 

I opened the bag of food and handed Ava hers.

“Well if Atia isn’t going to eat her fries.” Chrissy reached in the bag. 

“Help me yourself.” Atia laughed. 

She walked around the counter to kiss me. 

“I’ll miss you.” She whispered in my ear and walked away. Stefanie joined her and looked back at us one last time before they disappeared.

“Well bye.” Chrissy said frowning as she heard the front door close. “I didn’t get a goodbye.”

“Was it just me or?” I said walking over to the bar. 

“No, trust me its not. Stefanie has had a crush on Atia since she came into our lives.” She said sitting next to me. 

“Oh.” I frowned. “Can I even trust her to be with any of her friends?” 

“Atia wouldn’t hurt you, but Stefanie may have other intentions. She always does.” Ava said taking a bite of her fries.

“Yeah, okay.” I said blinking tears away. “Well, I’m going to go upstairs and take a shower. I’m not really hungry anymore.” I said standing up. 

“Are you okay?” Ava said looking at me in my eyes. 

“Fine.” I smiled. “I’ll see you guys in a little.” I said walking out. 

“Okay Ray.” Chrissy said sitting next to Ava. “So.” She started. 

“Yes, you can have my fries.” I yelled from the hallway. 

“Do you think she’s okay?” Ava asked concerned.

“No, but she likes to deal with things alone.” Chrissy whispered.

I walked up the stairs and into Atia’s room.

 I needed Atia today. I needed her so I could tell her what happened with Nana and how I healed her. I needed her so I could tell her that I spoke to my mom literally in my mind. I needed her to hold me and tell me I was okay. I was looking forward to coming back here, just so she could hold me but all I got was a peck and a quick goodbye. 

I sat there thinking of all the reasons why I should have died instead of be turned into a vampire. I didn’t deserve to live forever and I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to stay young forever while everyone else I loved grew old and died. I wanted to be with my mom. I wanted to be happy again, I wanted to feel alive again. I wanted to have a normal appetite and hear nothing but my own thoughts instead of heartbeats.

After 30 minutes of all these negative thoughts I decided to go feed. I slipped on my jacket that was on Atia’s bed and snuck out her window. 

It was still raining but I didn’t care. I ran through her backyard and I kept running until trees were surrounding me and all I could smell was animal blood and the wilderness. I wanted something different this time. I wanted something gentle and fragile just like I once was. 

I closed my eyes and listened closely to my surroundings just like Atia taught me. I imagined her arms around my waist listening with me. I listened past the loud rain against the mud. I listened past my thoughts and fears. I listened for my prey. 

I quickly opened my eyes to see a herd of lamb running through the mud. I studied them. I watched to see who the weakest link was and who I could manipulate. There was one in the middle it was limping, and few other deer we’re helping him. I casually walked up to the herd and watched them closer. They of course got frightened and began to run faster forgetting all about the injured lamb and the fact that he couldn’t walk on his own. 

“Come here.” I said kindly reaching my hand for him. He frightenedly tried to escape with no prevail. His hoof stuck in the mud. 

“Aw, you need help don’t you?”  I sat down on the cold dirt ground and pulled his hoof from the ground easily. 

“There you go.” I smiled. “Now let me see if I can fix you.” 

I held on to his hoof and closed my eyes. A few seconds later he let out a quick cry and pulled his hoof loose. I stood to my feet and watched him stumble and fall a couple times.

“Did it work?” I whispered to myself. 

Soon after he stammered to his feet like he was never injured. He began to prance around happily. I felt joy for him. He had a green shine all around him. He looked at me once more and ran to catch up to his family.

I counted to three in my head before I chased after him. I ran and caught him almost instantly. I tackled him to the ground and began to pet him. He had fear in his eyes and I had life in mine. My fangs came out as I sat there staring down at him.

“Poor little defenseless lamb. You thought you could be normal again huh?” I rubbed his ears. 

“Sorry but normality is an understatement.” I said sinking my fangs into his neck.

I drank from him and cried at the same time. It was a powerful moment and I loved every second of it. When I killed I felt so powerful, I felt alive again. This is what I was missing. It cleared all my bad thoughts and all my worries. I needed to hunt more often.

I headed back into the shadows of the trees. The rain washed the blood clean from my face as I made it back into the backyard. I climbed up the side of Atia's window and swung my feet into her room. I took my muddy shoes off and sat them on her window sill. I stepped in barefoot and ran directly to the shower.  

Feeling rejuvenated and calm, I decided to rejoin the girls downstairs.