The Divinity Saga: Part I

The Connections

We were all sitting in the living room. Angel, Atia, Ava and myself. Angel was pacing the floor and looking down at her watch which was making all of us nervous. I assumed she was waiting for someone but who?

“Mom?” Atia said concerned. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” She muttered “They should have been here already.” 

“Who mom?” Ava intervened. 

Angel walked out the living room and towards the front door. 

“Come in.” I heard her push the intercom button. Someone was at the gate and I was nervous to see who walked through those double doors. 

“Welcome.” She said greeting them. “In the living room please. It’s this way.” I heard her heels coming towards us. 

“Girls.” Atia’s mom said walking into the living room with Aunt Sara and Chrissy.

I didn’t even acknowledge Chrissy I just kept my eyes on Atia’s mom. 

“I’m sure you already have been introduced but just in case you haven’t been. Rayleigh, Atia, and Ava this is Christina and her mother Sara.” She said nervously.

“We know Chrissy mom, but why is she here?” Ava said confused. 

“I’m getting to that.” She said smiling at Ava. “Rayleigh, I’m sure you already know Chrissy.”

“Nope. Not anymore.” I muttered. 

Ava elbowed me. 

“I mean – uh, yeah. I know of her.” I said smiling at Atia’s mom.

“Please sit down ladies so I can start this meeting.” Angel said signaling them where to sit. 

Chrissy squeezed between me and Atia so that she was on the left side of me and Ava was on the right. I wanted nothing to do with Chrissy so I decided I’d direct all my side comments to Ava tonight. 

Chrissy put her arm around me and I wiggled my way out. Did she think everything was okay? Because it was far from it. 

“So everyone.” Atia’s mom started,  “I’ve asked you all here to this meeting to talk about a few things, these few things are very important so I’m asking for all of you youto take this very seriously.” 

“First thing is first I know you’re probably wondering why Chrissy and her mom are here. Well, Sara has been a part of my research and mission team for-” 

“Your what?” Ava interrupted. 

“Please let me finish and you can ask questions when I’m done.” She smiled. “Sara has been a part of my mission team since before any of you were born so that’s why you are here Chrissy.” She looked at Chrissy to read her reaction. Everyone’s eyes followed except mine.

“Girls, you are here because I think it’s time you know everything.” She said looking at Atia and Ava. 

This time I cared for the reactions. I looked at Ava out the corner of my eye she looked as confused as she did when we started.

“And Rayleigh.” She said staring at me. “Your mother was apart of my mission team too.” She said as tears filled her eyes. 

“You look just like her.” She said letting her tears fall.

I heard Aunt Sara sniffling too. 

“No you must have me confused with someone else.” I said in denial. 

My mother wasn’t apart of a ‘vampire mission team’ she was a wholesome down to earth single mother who admired and loved her family more than anything. She was the type to sit at home and build me a sand castle empire in the backyard or to take me on a cruise around the world and tell me the history behind each place we visited. She wasn’t the type to help vampires kill other vampires. I’m sure she didn’t even know vampires existed. She couldn't be talking about my mom. 

“Rayleigh Imara Annaise Lopez-Martinez I know exactly who you are. You are the daughter of Mariana Yulisa Abrielle Lopez, She was on my mission team and she was my very best friend.” 

“Rayleigh.” Aunt Sara said standing. “It’s true. We wouldn’t lie to you.”

I sat there in shock. I wanted to say so much, but the words wouldn’t come out. I had so many questions and so much confusion in my heart I just wanted to get up and run out the room. Why is this just now coming up? Aunt Sara is just now telling me this and she’s known about this my whole life. 

“Why now Aunt Sara?” I said tears filling my eyes. “You have been a part of my life since I could remember, probably before that and you couldn’t just look me in my eyes and tell me the truth?” 

Ava grabbed my hand and I squeezed hers. 

“I’m sorry Rayleigh, I truly am. I didn’t even know that it would ever come up-”

“So you just weren’t ever going to tell me?” I cried. “Our family is just full of secrets and lies huh?” 

I got up and began to storm off. 

Everyone called after me but I didn’t stop I was going to leave this time.

As soon as I passed by Atia she stood up and stopped me by my waist. 

“Stop please.” She begged. 

“But-” I cried. 

“I know. Just please stay.” She held me. 

“Okay.” I said wiping my face. 

I started to walk back to my seat and she grabbed me by my hand and sat me next to her. 

“Continue.” She said kissing the top of my head. 

“Girls.” Aunt Sara started, “Oh, by the way call me Sara or Aunt Sara.” She smiled. “We didn’t want you to find out this way, that’s why we’ve been protecting you for this long, but I’m afraid things are getting deeper and it’s time for you all to know."

"Know what?" Ava asked.

 "Know that you girls didn’t come together by choice it was destined to happen. You all grew up around each other as close as ever. Except it was switched Ava and Rayleigh were close and Chrissy and Atia we’re inseparable.” She smiled. 

“And then what happened Aunt Sara?” Chrissy said rolling her eyes in disbelief. Surprisingly that’s the first thing she said all night.

“And then-” Aunt Sara said looking at Angel to chime in. 

“And then there was a terrible accident.” Atia’s mom said as tears filled her eyes again. “Your fathers were-” She started to cry so hard she couldn’t even finish her sentence. 

Aunt Sara grabbed her hand and took over. 

“Girls, there was a terrible accident. As you’ve probably figured out Mariana and I were the research team and your father’s and Angel were the mission team. We would find out information about clans and secret societies and we would infiltrate them. We always used our knowledge for good. If you weren’t a threat to us, then you’re considered a distant ally. One day Mariana and I found out somethings about a commonly known clan who were killing people to expand their army, and we all sought out to destroy that army.Mariana and I went to their headquarters excited for this mission. It was what we’ve been waiting for, but because of me we got caught.” She said as tears filled her eyes. “Rayleigh your mom broke free and she could have left me but instead she came back and for that I couldn’t ever begin to express my appreciation. The week after we came back with information on the clan and ready to celebrate was the same week that we mourned. They found us and started a war with your fathers. Angel however could not be apart of this battle she was put into hiding with the rest of us because she was pregnant with the beautiful Ava Yulisa. There was 3 of us fighting and 15 of them. We all knew the possible outcome but we all didn’t want to believe it. A day after the fight Angel told us the coast was clear and we could all go home. When we got home to look for our husbands they were dead. Their ashes were at our front doors and ever since then we decided that we would keep you girls from this life as much as we could. We moved towns and we never spoke of it again. Mariana and Angel of course kept their friendship. But I couldn’t handle the pain so I separated myself and only associated myself with Mariana for the sake of Rayleigh and Chrissy because they were cousins. I tried to forget everything about that life, until one day Angel contacted me and it was like second nature to me and ever since then I’ve been working with her to protect you all. So you see girls, you could be mad at us and it would be fair but we were just trying to protect our angels but I guess in protecting you from it all we destroyed you in the process and for that I’m truly sorry.” She cried. “We are truly sorry.” 

Angel hugged Aunt Sara as they both cried.

“Cousins?” We all whispered.

Chrissy was balling her eyes out at this point along with Ava. They were holding each other and Atia was holding me. I couldn’t cry although I felt tears in my hair because of her. Everyone around me was distraught and I was numb. 

Angels phone began to ring. 

“Hello?” She said sniffling. 

“Yeah, I’m fine. What’s going on?” She said smiling. 

“Sorry girls, I have to take this.” She said holding her phone at a distance and covering the speaker.  She put her phone back to her ear. “Sorry continue.” She said walking out of the living room. 

We all sat in the living room waiting for Angel to come back. It was so quiet but I was sure everyone was screaming on the inside. 

“I have a really bad feeling.” I whispered. 

I had the feeling that made you feel sick to your stomach, the kind of feeling you can’t explain but won’t go away. Like something bad is about to happen, but you couldn’t prevent it. Either because it was out of your control or you were too late.

“Why?” Atia asked me concerned 

“Yeah. Why?” Chrissy said leaning over so that she could see me. 

“I don’t know.” I said looking at Atia. 

“Mom.” Chrissy said calling her over. “When can we go? I need to talk to you. Like seriously. Let me come first this time.” 

“Did you not hear why I did all of this? This was me putting you fir-" She stopped herself. "Never mind, Soon Christina.” Aunt Sara said angrily. “Just soon.” 

“Why are you acting that way with me?” Chrissy cried. 

“Acting what way Christina?” She said fumbling through her purse. 

“So pissy.” She snared. 

“Because I just don’t have time for your attitude, and your running away when you don’t get your way.” She quietly scolded her. “I have feelings too and I shouldn’t have to bribe you to come home.” 

“Well maybe if you were ever home I would have a home to go to, but I only have a house there’s a difference.” She said folding her arms. 

“Christina.” I said shocked.

“I thought you weren’t talking to me.” She said rudely. 

“Fine.” I said rolling my eyes.

“I did all of this for you and you want to treat me like this. Maybe you need to experience not having a mom so you can appreciate what it feels like to have one.” She threatened. 

“I take care of myself so it wouldn’t be much different than what I have now.” Chrissy snapped.

“Chrissy!” Me, Ava and Atia said at the same time. 

“No, its okay girls.” Aunt Sara said quickly wiping the tears away before they had a chance to touch her cheek. “I’ll go now.” She said heading for the door. 

“Nothing new.” Chrissy chuckled.

“Aunt Sara, please don’t.” I said chasing after her. 

“Please just stay so we can finish our conversation. For me?” I begged before she could open the door.

“Okay Ray, for you.” She said turning around. 

We hugged and headed back into the living room. I tried to make her laugh with a story of our past.

We walked into the living room laughing. Everyone turned to look at us and I immediately locked eyes with Atia. Her eyes were filled will worry and sorrow.

“What’s going on?” I asked slowly walking in. 

Angel placed her hand on my shoulder. “I have some bad news.” 

“What is it?” I went from laughing to panicking. 

“Something happened to Nana.” She said her voice shaking. 

“What happened?” I said frantically. 

I looked over at Chrissy and Ava and they had tears in their eyes. 

“She’s okay, she’s in the hospital. I don’t know much just that there was a house fire and she was taken to the hospital.” She said staring into my eyes. 

“What?” I said in disbelief. “This can't be happening.” I said walking over to the couch to get my purse. 

“Do you want me to go with you?” Chrissy asked frantically. 

“No.” I said heading for the door. 

“Well I’m coming anyways.” She said standing to her feet. 

“Whatever.” I said hugging Ava.

“I gotta go.” I said walking back over to Angel crying.

“Everything will be okay. She will be okay.” She said pulling me in for a hug.

As soon as my head touched her chest I broke down in tears.

“Come on girls, we have to go.” Aunt Sara said rubbing my back. “I’ll follow you guys to the hospital.” 

“Okay.” I said pulling away.

“Watch over them.” Angel said forcefully grabbing Sara’s wrist before she had a chance to walk away. 

“I will Angel.” She promised. 

“I’ll see you later?” I asked walking over to Atia who was standing a few feet away from her mom. 

“After you see Nana or tomorrow?” She asked. “Don’t forget to call as soon as you find out anything.” She said seriously. 

“Okay I will.” I promised. 

“If she doesn’t I will.” Chrissy smiled. 

Chrissy and I jumped in my car and sped off.

“Its freez-” Chrissy started. 

“I know.” I said rolling my eyes and blasting my heater. 

We got to the hospital in five minutes even though it was a 15 minute drive. I thought about Nana the whole way. How could this happen? Was it her candles? Or did she forget something on the stove? She was normally very careful about things like that. 

Was the whole house burnt to the ground? Or was it just a small kitchen fire? Was her whole study destroyed or was mine? Chrissy tried to keep me calm because she saw me losing my mind. I listened to her.

“I think we go this way.” Chrissy said reading the sign on the wall. 

“Are you sure?” I said trying to read it. 

“Yes, let's go!” She said pulling me by my hand. 

We ran down hallways and into an elevator. There was a man standing to the far left with a beer in his hand and a cigarette resting on top of his ear. He was dressed like a businessman. His badge read "CEO" engraved in gold.

“Hey ladies.” He winked.

“Hi.” Chrissy said rolling her eyes. 

“What's wrong cutie?” He said stroking my cheek. 

“Don’t touch her.” Chrissy said smacking his hand away. 

“I’m just trying to help she looks like she needs a hug.” As soon as he reached for me the elevator doors opened and I ducked under his arms and ran out pulling Chrissy with me.

“He was weird.” Chrissy laughed as we approached the front desk that had ‘Emergency Room’ plastered on it with big red letters.

“Hi, um. I’m looking for our grandmother she was involved in a house fire?” I said my throat feeling dry. 

“Name?” The woman said smiling at me. 

“Yulisa Abrielle Lopez” I said fighting tears. 

“Who? Can you spell that Ma’am?” She asked confused. 

“Yulisa, Y-u-l-” I started to spell it out.

“Oh my god! How many grandmothers are in here from a house fire in the last couple of hours? You know who we’re talking about and I’m sure your colleagues whispering around us do too. Just tell us what room she’s in!” Chrissy yelled as she slammed her hand against the desk. 

The woman jumped and began searching the computer.

“Oh yes. I see her file right here. She’s in room 201.” She said nervously. 

“Thank you.” Chrissy said pulling me away. 

After running in all wrong directions we finally made it to 201. I was frozen at her door, too terrified of what I'd find.

“Rayleigh, you can do this.” Chrissy said grabbing me. “You can. I know you can.” 

“I can’t. I can’t see her like this. I can’t lose another person in my life.” I sobbed.

“I know, and you won’t. I promise.” She hugged me. 

We stood there holding each other and crying. In this moment, I saw the old Chrissy. The real Chrissy, my best friend. The one I missed so much. 

"We can do this, I’ll be with you the whole time.” She said smiling. 

“Are you sure if Zach calls you, that you won’t leave us to be with him?” I asked pulling away from her.

“I promise I won't.” She said putting a piece of her hair behind her ear. “In fact.” She said pulling her phone out of her purse.

“What are you doing?” I asked wiping my tears. 

“You’ll see.” She walked over to a trashcan and dropped her phone in it. 

“Chrissy.” I said walking over to her. 

“Can I borrow that? Thanks.” She said to a tall man who was walking by with a coffee in his hand. 

He looked at her like she was crazy and then at me. I smiled embarrassingly and he kept walking. I watched him in shame until he disappeared around the corner.

“Rayleigh!” Chrissy yelled.

“What?” I turned around. 

She poured the coffee in the trash can.  

“There. I’m serious no interruptions. Now can I please have my best friend back?” She begged. 

“Hold on.” I said walking over to the trash can. 

I looked inside just to see if her phone was completely ruined. It was covered in black coffee and the papers underneath it were soaked as well. It wasn’t the fact that she ruined her phone, she could always get another one. It’s the fact that she did it to prove to me that she was serious. How could I not forgive her? After all she is my cousin. 

“She’s back.” I said reaching for a hug.

We hugged and walked back over to Nana’s hospital door. 

“Are you ready?” She said grabbing my hand.

“Yeah.” I said as tears filled my eyes. 

We reached for the door and someone pulled it open first.

“Sorry ladies, you can't go in there. She is in a medically induced coma.” The familiar man said.

 It was the man that Chrissy stole coffee from, I stood there feeling slightly uncomfortable.

“We’re her granddaughters please sir.” I begged. 

“I’m sorry but you’ll have to wait for her to become stabilized.” He said closing the door.

“Please you don’t understand, she’s all I have left.” I said crying. 

“Please sir, at least let her go in. I’ll stay out here but please let Rayleigh in.” Chrissy begged. “Oh, and I’m sorry I took your coffee.” She side smiled.

“Okay. Go on  in.” He said opening the door for me. “Briefly.”

“Thank you so much.” I said hugging him as I walked in. He was very tall, I only stood a few inches higher than his navel and Chrissy barely reached his chest.

“So how tall are you?” I heard Chrissy smile as the door closed. 

“Nana.” I said rushing to her side. 

She was connected to a million different tubes and iv’s. Her hands were burnt and wrapped up. I tried not to cry but I couldn’t help it. 

“Nana please wake up.” I shook her softly. 

I sat there for 2 hours crying and holding her hand. I wouldn’t leave her side until she was awake. Doctors came in every two seconds checking her and rubbing my back telling me she would make it, but I didn’t care what they were saying. I wanted to see her. I wanted her eyes to open and light up like they always did when she would see me. I wanted her to tell me what happened and not what the EMT’s think happened. I needed her alive just as much as she needed to be. 

“Hey.” The tall man walked in. 

“Hi.” I said resting my head on her bed. 

“Good news. We can wake her up now.” He said twirling a piece of my hair. 

“When?” I ignored his gesture. 

“As soon as you want me to.” He said smiling. 

“Now.” I said standing. 

“Okay beautiful.” He said checking her vitals. “It’ll take her a while to wake up fully and when she does she will still be a little groggy.” 

“Why was she put in this coma anyways?” I asked confused. 

“Well, it is a temporary coma by the way. It’s because your grandmother suffered from a brain injury which caused her brain to swell. We tried multiple things but she wasn’t responding to any other treatment so we decided to put her in this medically induced coma. We gave her a controlled dose of an anesthetic typically propofol or pentobarbital. We only did it to protect her brain from the swelling so it reduces the metabolic rate of brain tissue, as well as the cerebral blood flow as you know we’ve been constantly monitoring her. If you didn’t know I am the anesthesiologist and the woman that keeps coming in more than I do is her physician.” He explained. 

There were so many words I didn’t understand in his explanation but I’m glad he explained it to me. I’d google it all later when I had free time. 

“So what happens when her brain swells?” I asked confused. 

“Well, It can be life-threatening because it can and most likely will constrict your blood supply and destroy additional brain tissue. When the patient is put into the medically induced coma the brain is able to rest and the swelling is more likely to decrease. When swelling is relieved, the pressure on the brain also reduces hopefully preventing some or all of brain damage from occurring.” He smiled at me. 

“So when will she wake up?” I looked down at her. 

“Well, due to her age and condition I would say she would start coming to her senses in about 17-48 hours. The medicine needs a chance to wear off. She won't be able to talk and breathe on her own but she will be able to open her eyes and be coherent." He said walking over to me. “Now I have some bad news.”

“What?” I sat up straight.

“You have to leave, visiting hours are over. She is under critical care you aren’t even supposed to be in here. We let you stay as long as we could. Come check on us tomorrow morning.” He said pretending to pout. 

“Us?” I raised my eyebrow

“Yeah, you know. Me and your Nana.” He smirked. “Do you need me to call your mom to get you?” He asked looking me up and down. 

“No I drove.”  The question stung me.

“Oh, well who are you here with?” 

“My Bestfriend.” I said looking through my purse. 

“Oh, her. The weird one.” He chuckled. 

“Yeah, that’s Chrissy.” I laughed. “I have one question.” 

“Yeah?” 

“When can I find out what happened to my house and how the fire started?” I asked nervously. 

“The EMT’s or the officers on the case could probably help you.” He said pulling his pager from his pants. 

“Okay.” I sighed and started to walk away.

“Do me one favor.” He said stopping me. 

“Yeah?” 

“Don’t talk to the reporters or the news. They’ll only make the situation worse.” He promised.

“Okay.” I nodded. 

I walked over to Nana and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back for you." 

“No crying on patients.” The man joked. 

I ignored his obnoxiousness and exited the room. Christina was sitting in a purple chair against the wall. 

“Lets go.” I said crying.

She followed behind me asking questions all the way to the car. I said nothing. I was going to wait until we got home to tell her anything. 

“Rayleigh where we going?” She asked as I sped down the street. 

“Somewhere.” I said wiping my tears as they fell. 

“Okay.” She finally got the hint that I wasn’t going to answer her questions.

“Where’s Aunt Sara?” I asked starting conversation. 

“I don’t know, she was supposed to follow us there.” She said confused. 

We turned down my street. There was news trucks, police cars, fire trucks and nosey neighbors all outside my gate.

“Rayleigh are you sure you want to do this?” She said rubbing my shoulder. 

“I have to.” I said pulling up to the gate. I looked up at my house. It was distorted and some of the roof was missing. I winced. 

So many people were banging on my car asking questions trying to get quotes and official stories. I ignored them and pushed the code in the keypad I had in my car that was synced to the gate. It opened and I closed it right after my car pulled through. Christina looked terrified. 

I pulled up and parked in my spot. I couldn’t believe this was happening. 

I walked past the reporters that got in and the officers guarding my house. It had yellow tape around it.