The Divinity Saga: Part I

The Untold

I know I needed to straighten things out with Nana but I wasn’t in a rush to fix things with Chrissy. Even as important as she seemed to everyone else, she was still irrelevant to me. I was so tired of her changing who she was anytime she got a new boyfriend. She always changed herself to please them and we'd eventually grow apart, but this time was different. She never ditched or dissed me for a guy and this time she did just that. I'm not even a human anymore but I didn’t change. If a boy she barely knew could put a wedge between us so easily then I didn’t want to be her friend anymore. It’s been this way since 8th grade, we are juniors now. I always forgave her and was there for her when they broke her heart, but not this time. Chrissy didn’t have me to fall back on anymore.

I sat there angrily trying to put my thoughts together in a way that I could explain but none of it made sense. My thoughts were everywhere. I needed to get away from it all. 

I dialed Aaron’s number. I know he had more to tell me I just didn’t give him a chance to.

 “Hey it’s Aaron. Whats up?” 

“Aaron” I said as he picked up. “We need to talk.” 

“Sorry man you just reached my voicemail but you can leave a message and I promise to return your call. Sike!" His voicemail blared in my ears.

I hung up quickly feeling embarrassed that I fell for his foolishness.

I had no one I could go to or vent to. Chrissy and I weren’t on speaking terms indefinitely, Nana and I weren’t exactly speaking either. I’m sure she thinks I’m mad at her but I’m just confused more than anything. Atia hasn’t talked to me since yesterday afternoon. I needed to be in the presence of someone I love so I could remember that I was loved in return. 

There’s no place that I felt that love more than at home. I started my car and headed back.

I opened the door and closed it quietly as I put my keys on the rack. As I walked upstairs, I heard Nana’s heartbeat in the kitchen and I smelled cupcakes and cookies in the oven. I didn’t want to go to Nana because I didn’t know the right way to approach the situation. She would come to me when she felt the time was right. 

I walked into my room to see that she had cleaned it and she had replaced my sage. 

I walked over to my bed and laid down. I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep. 

My phone rang, I didn’t even bother seeing who it was. It was probably Chrissy and I didn’t want to talk to her or maybe it was Nana because she doesn’t know I was home yet.

I dozed back off seconds later. 

I woke up to my phone ringing again. I grabbed it from my nightstand. I didn’t look to see who it was I just answered.

“Hello?” I said yawning

“Rayleigh, I missed your voice.” Atia said smiling. 

“Atia?” I said sitting up. “Hi.” I blushed.

“Sorry I had to cancel on you last night, but my mom is gone today, and I was wondering if you wanted to come over?” She asked me. 

As much as I wanted to quickly say yes, and show up at her house in a matter of 5 minutes. I kept it cool. I didn’t want her to know that I was waiting for her to call me. 

“Are you sure you’re not going to cancel again?” I teased. 

“I’m positive I won’t cancel. I miss you too much.” She revealed.

“So you didn’t miss me enough yesterday?” I said giggling. I wanted to see how she would get herself out of that one. 

“Yes, but I miss you more today.” She said saving herself. 

“Good save.” I laughed. “I’ll be over soon.” 

“Can’t wait. See you soon.” The line went dead. 

I got up happily and walked over to my closet. The snow was barely sticking to the ground anymore and I could finally dress like it. I grabbed my blue jeans, floral crop top, and my boots.

I threw my clothes on my bed and walked over to my vanity. I grabbed my makeup bag from the drawer and  plugged in my curling iron and sat down. 

I began to curl my hair as I made kissy faces in the mirror. My curls came out perfect. I decided to put on full make up today. I applied sky blue eye shadow that matched the blue in my shirt. I put eyeliner on and put a thin line on top of my eyelid and lastly I put on my mascara. 

I walked over to my bed and stripped. I got dressed carefully trying not to ruin my masterpiece I just created. My crop top complimented my body frame in so many ways. I knew Ava would be proud of me and eventually ask where I got it from. 

I walked back over to my vanity and sprayed my favorite perfume on my neck and wrist. After standing in the mirror for about 10 minutes examining myself and picking out my flaws I decided to leave before I talked myself into staying. 

“Rayleigh?” Nana yelled as I headed for the door. 

“Yes?” I said sighing. 

“Thank god you’re okay!” She said running over to me. “I’m so sorry.” 

“What for?” I asked pretending to be confused. 

“For shouting at you or scaring you. I didn’t mean it.” She promised hugging me. 

“It’s fine Nana.” I assured her. 

“Are you sure?” She asked tears in her eyes. 

“I’m positive.” I smiled. 

“I love you Nina.” She said smiling back. 

“I love you most.” I promised.

“Where are you going?” She said looking me up and down smiling. 

“Atia’s.” I hid my smile. 

“I knew it.” She laughed “Have fun hermosa.” She said walking me to the door. 

“Thanks Nana. I’ll be back in a few hours.” I promised her. 

“Okay. Tell Atia and Ava I said hi." She shouted out the door. "And remember to be respectful of other people’s houses!” 

“I will!” I started my car.

Just as I was pulling out of my driveway, Aunt Sara was pulling in. I looked at Nana in the doorway and she looked alerted. 

Aunt Sara was probably there to tell Nana that she was leaving again. 

I pulled up to Atia’s house in 5 minutes. I sat in the car looking at myself in my mirror to waste time. I made sure that everything was intact not a smudge or a smear. I needed to look perfect for her. I pulled up to her gate and pushed the intercom button. 

“Atia let me in.” I said smiling. “It’s freezing out here,” I jokingly pretended to shiver.

She opened the gates for me and I drove in. I grabbed my button up jacket from my backseat and got out. 

I slipped it on and buttoned it up as I approached her door.

I walked to her doorstep and rang her door bell. As I heard her heartbeat getting closer mine beat faster. After seconds that felt like minutes of me being a nervous wreck she finally opened the door.

Before I could even speak she pulled me in the door and began to kiss me. We kissed so passionately as if she just came back from war or we just said "I do." 

"I missed that." She said pulling away. 

"I missed it more." I said smiling. 

She pulled me into the living room my hand in hers. 

I sat on her couch. Her house was so warm and cozy. It smelled like fresh baked cookies and scented candles. A mother's’ touch is definitely what it was, and what my house was missing. 

"Are you hungry or thirsty?" She asked sitting next to me. 

"Oh yeah, you we're supposed to cook for me." I teased. "Where's my deer on a silver platter?" 

"I don't have that, but I do have blood in a pristine silver bottle if you're interested." She joked. 

"Sounds amazing." I laughed.

She disappeared into the kitchen and was back with in seconds with our meal.

"Here's your gourmet meal." She handed me a bottle. 

"Perfect, just how I like it." I said opening the bottle and smelling it. 

We both began to chug our bottles as if we were racing. 

"I finished first." Atia said proudly slamming her bottle down on her coffee table.

"I finished second." I sat my bottle next to hers proudly. 

"So what do you want to do today?" She asked smiling at me. 

My phone began to ring, I pulled it out my pocket and it was Chrissy. I quickly pushed ignore and shoved it back in my pocket. 

"Anything you want to." I said smiling.

"Who was that?" She asked concerned. 

"Chrissy." I muttered. 

"Well why didn't you answer? What's wrong?" She asked confused. 

"Long story." I sighed. 

"You know we have nothing but time." She smiled. 

"She's just been acting different lately. She chooses her boyfriend over everyone including her own Mom. I try to tell her and she gets mad at me and then blames it on hormones, but its been like this since the beginning of time. I  give up on being her friend. It's too tiring." I said looking down at the ground. 

I've never expressed my true feelings towards people to anyone other than Chrissy. I sat there feeling exposed and vulnerable.

"You guys are best friends, talk to her. I'm sure there's more behind her doing this." She promised. "Don't lose her over something that can be fixed." She rubbed my shoulder. 

My phone rang again. I quickly grabbed it out my pocket and put it on vibrate. 

I didn't want to talk to Chrissy at all. Especially not now while I was with Atia. I wanted all the alone time with her I could get. 

"Can we talk about something else? Anything else." I begged blinking tears away. 

"So I haven't showed you my house, you want a tour?" She asked changing the subject. 

"Sure." I smiled. 

She walked me down every hall into every room. She showed me every picture and told me the story behind them all. I loved listening to her stories and watching a smile appear as she told a new one. The way her face would light up when she spoke about her mom was incredible. She was so proud of her mom and I admired her for that. 

"And that concludes the tour." She bowed.

"Wait, Where's the secret room?" I smiled as we stood in the hallway.

"You wanna see it?" She asked looking at me. 

"Of course." I smirked. "Lead the way." 

She led me into her Mother’s room.

 It smelled like vanilla lace and expensive perfume. We walked into her closet I stood there and watched as Atia pushed all her mom's sweaters to the side. She pressed her hand against the wall and it slid open. Atia looked at me and motioned me to go in first. I stepped in front of her and she walked in after me. 

The huge room was surrounded by bookshelves. It smelled like unlit scented candles and wisdom. I walked over to the couch and sat down still examining the room. 

 "Interesting, isn't it?" She said proudly. 

"Very" I said looking around.

 It was so plain yet so beautiful. It reminded me of my mother’s study. I remember when Chrissy and I used to sneak in there and go through her things but one time she caught us. She didn't even have to yell or punish us because we cried enough. Still to this day I don't go in there, that yellow door remains locked. 

"Want to look at some books?" She asked standing up.  "Come here." She said walking over to a bookshelf. She began to skim through books. 

I walked up behind her and waited. 

"Here." She said handing me a hardcover book. "This is one is about vampires and our speed. I used to read it all the time." She continued to skim through the books. 

I walked over to the different shelves with the book in hand pretending to read it. I just really wanted to know what made this room such a secret. 

I started to look through another book shelf about vampire clans I pulled a book from the shelf and a folder fell and opened at my feet. 

"Is this a secret?" I smiled. 

As I kneeled down to pick it up I quickly skimmed the first page. Papers were scattered all around me. 

"I don't know, My mom has never shown me that." She said kneeling beside me.

I paused. It was about Aunt Sara and some secret missions she went on with a check list of names. Some we're scratched out and others we're starred.

"What is this?" I asked sitting on the ground. 

"What does it say?" She asked confused.

I began looking through the other pages but it was the same as the first just different names and different topics. 

"It’s about Chrissy's mom and how she went on secret missions with a group of people." I said just confused as her. 

"Secret missions for what and with who?" She asked helping me to my feet. 

"Someone named Angel." I said pausing. "Who's Angel?"

"My mom." Atia said staring down at the folder.

"Seriously?" I said looking at her. 

“Yeah, why?”She responded.

"That's who Aunt Sara thought she called this morning." I muttered to myself.

"What did she say?" She asked shocked.

"She said 'Angel, we have a problem.'" I repeated the message.

"So what does this mean? Why are they going on secret missions together? I don't understand." She said walking over the couch and sitting down. 

I sat down beside her still looking through the pages and reading as much as I could. I just wanted to know what Aunt Sara involvement was in all of this. 

"What missions were they going on anyway?" Atia asked. 

"It says your mom had a clan of humans and vampires. Some names we're scratched out and others we're starred. You knew nothing of this?" 

"We have to get out." She said as she grabbed all the papers from me and shoved them back in the folder. "Now. She can’t know we were in here." She forced it back in place. 

"Okay." I said standing to my feet. 

"Come on." She pulled me out the door by my hand. She quickly closed it behind us and slid her Mom's clothes back in place. 

We ran into her room and closed the door.

"What do we do?" She asked confused.

"What do you mean?" I looked at her waiting for an answer.

Atia plopped down on her bed, and I stood in front of her. I crossed my arms and began to chew on bottom lip nervously. My heart was racing.

"My mother will know we were in there, she can smell us. I can simply lie and say I was just getting a book." She conspired.

"Will she believe you?" I asked taking a step closer to her.

"I don't know." She put her face in her hands.

I wrapped my arms around her. She dropped her hands and rested her head on my chest. 

 "It will be okay." I consoled her. I knew she didn't believe me. I wasn't even sure if I believed me. 

"I'm so confused. A clan? She's never told me anything about that. Why would she keep this from me?" She said as she pushed a little space in between us and lifted her head to look at me.

"Why was she working with Chrissy's mom? That means Chrissy's mom knows about vampires?" I said looking down.

"Do you think Chrissy knows?" Atia asked.

"At this point I wouldn't be surprised." I mumbled.

She began to panic and breathe heavily. 

"Atia." I said walking over to her. 

She was not listening to me. I could tell she was about to have a panic attack or worse do something she would regret. 

"Atia!" I yelled I grabbed her face and held it between my hands. "Please calm down." I begged. 

Her panting slowed down I could tell she was listening to me now.

"I know this is hard for you and you have so many questions and confused thoughts, but please calm down. I will help you, we will find out what’s going on."  I said wiping the tears as they streamed down her face. 

"We'll figure it out. I promise." I said hugging her tight.

"Do you trust me?" I asked pulling away from her so I could look into her beautiful hazel eyes. 

She nodded. 

"Then we'll figure it out." I smiled. 

Her breathing finally became normal again. In that moment I knew that Atia trusted me. 

"Come on let’s get out of here, how about a deer? I don't have a silver platter but I have ground covered in snow it's even better." I joked. 

She looked at me crazy and then she smiled. 

"Or we can get real food whatever you prefer. I'll drive." I smiled back. 

Her smile disappeared I could tell she was still thinking about everything. I knew she didn't need to be here right now. It was too painful. 

"Come on." I said pulling her from the bed and dragging her out the door. 

We got to the top of her staircase and she stopped. 

"Okay, either you run with me or I drag you down the stairs. Either way you're coming." I laughed. 

"I can’t go anywhere." She said quietly. 

"Why?" I asked confused. 

"My mom’s back." She said nervously. "I can sense her." 

"What do we do?" I whispered. 

"I don't wanna see her face." She said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me down the stairs. 

The front door opened and a beautiful tall figure walked in. She was even more beautiful in person than in pictures. I couldn't help but feel like I knew her. 

"Atia, where are you off to?" Her mother asked standing in the doorway. 

Her smell was the same as Atia's, but different in so many ways. I don't know how to explain it but I instantly felt safe the minute she walked through the door. 

"To get food." Atia mumbled. 

I could feel the tension between them. Atia had so much pain in her heart and confusion in her mind.

"I don't think that's a good idea maybe you should stay inside. I just went to the store so there is plenty of food here." She said looking over at me. 

I didn't know how to react to the stare I just received. I just stared back and smiled. 

"Who is this? Are you going to introduce us?" She asked still staring at me. 

"This is Rayleigh, Mom." Atia squeezed my hand. 

"Hi." I smiled shyly as I felt a lump form in my throat.

"Hello." She smiled. "I've heard so much about you." 

"Same, I'm happy to finally meet you." I grinned. 

"The pleasure is all mine." She slid her shoes off.

“How about you girls go into the kitchen and make some food.” She looked at Atia waiting for her response. 

“But Mom-” Atia whined. 

“You know what? I’ll cook. You and Rayleigh go sit in the living room and watch a movie.” Atia’s mom cut her off.

“Fine.” Atia rolled her eyes. 

“I’m going upstairs to change. I’ll be back down in a minute.” Atia’s mom said as we walked away into the living room.

“So, what do you want to watch?” Atia asked as she sat down on her couch. 

“How about a vampire movie?” I joked. “My mom never let me watch them when I was younger. I never knew why, but she was strongly against it. Come to think of it so was Chrissy’s mom.” I said plopping down next to her. 

“Well I’ll be glad to take your vampire movie virginity.” She laughed. 

Atia pulled up a list on her TV. She scrolled down and clicked on a movie that had a girl screaming and a guy sucking her neck. It must have been her favorite movie because underneath the description it said she had watched it 102 times. She pushed play and smiled wide.

“Hey girls I’m starting dinner right now. It should be done soon.” She promised as she peaked her head into the living room smiling. 

“Okay mom.” Atia said rudely. 

It was obvious Atia was still mad at her. 

“Atia, I need to speak to you for a second.” Atia’s mom said as she disappeared back into the kitchen. 

“Do you think she knows?” I said nervously. 

“Shh. She can hear you. I’ll be right back.” Atia said before she ran into the living room.

“Yes mom?” I heard Atia say from the kitchen.

I heard nothing after that. They must’ve been whispering.

I didn’t know what to do. Should I just get my things and leave? I know her mom is probably going to talk to her about me. The fact that I was a vampire? Or maybe she found out that I’m the reason why Atia was feeding off of humans again. Was she hoping that the reason we were about to walk out the door when she came in was because I was leaving? I got the weirdest vibe around her, like I knew her but I can’t remember where I knew her from. It was like she knew things about me that she couldn’t say. Her voice sounded too familiar and her name just kept ringing bells in my head. The fact that she had a vampire clan my Aunt Sara was involved in could lead up to what was going on with Nana and why she wanted me to protect Chrissy. But why would she want me to? She didn’t know that I was a vampire. I never spoke one word of it and no one outside of Atia’s family knows. 

I grabbed my phone from my pocket. I wanted to see if I missed a call from Nana or more importantly Aaron. 

I had 14 missed calls. Unfortunately they were all from Christina except for one. I had a voicemail from a private calIer. I quickly pushed ignore on the voicemail and slid my phone into my purse.

Atia and her mom were in silence as far as I know. What was such a secret that I couldn’t hear? I needed to leave. Maybe Atia needed to be alone with her mom. She had a lot of unanswered questions that she was holding in and I have a hell of a lot for Nana and Aunt Sara. I’ll just have dinner with her some other time when things aren’t so hectic. Which is rare. I can’t remember a normal day since I was changed. It always full of hecticity. 

I stood to my feet and headed to the door. 

I heard Atia’s heartbeat getting closer but I kept walking. She would just have to understand that I needed to go. She needed this time with her mom. 

“Where are you going?” Atia asked before I could reach the door. 

“Um, I’m just going to go.” I said still walking. 

“What? Why?” She ran and blocked my exit. 

“It’s just bad timing. You need time alone with your mom. Let’s just reschedule.” I forced a smile. 

I didn’t want to leave but I knew she needed me to. She needed to confront her mom. She deserved answers and she wasn’t going to get them with me sitting in her living room. 

“No its not, its fine. Please stay.” She begged. 

“Are you sure?” I said running my fingers through my hair. “Are you sure your mom is okay with me being here?”

“I’m positive.” She promised. “Now please come sit down.” 

“Okay.” I said smiling. 

We locked hands and walked back into the living room. We both plopped down on the couch. Atia wrapped her arm around me and leaned in for a kiss. 

I smiled bashfully and leaned in with her. 

“Dinner is ready.” Atia’s mom yelled from the kitchen right when our lips were about to touch. 

“Let’s go eat.” Atia said as she kissed me. 

We got up and walked into the kitchen. The smell of baked chicken filled the air. I swallowed hard. 

There was a whole chicken on the table between the mashed potatoes and the corn and a side salad that I had been eyeing since we walked into the dining room.

“Smells great.” I lied as I followed Atia to the table and sat down next to her. 

“Thank you Rayleigh.” Atia’s mom smiled as we started making our plates. 

I put so much salad on my plate hoping there would be no room left for chicken and her mom would get the hint without me having to tell her.

Atia’s Mom started cutting pieces of chicken and slid them on our plates. She put it right on top of my salad. So either way if I ate it or not my meal was ruined by the taste and smell of it.

“You don’t have to eat that.” Atia said looking at me. 

“No its okay.” I swallowed hard. 

“You’re a vegetarian, it's okay.” She said concerned. 

Atia’s mother cleared her throat and I knew she was going to say something about Atia’s comment. 

“Not to be rude, but you’re a vampire that doesn’t eat meat?” She asked confused. 

“Mom.” Atia said offended. I felt a silent rumble from under the table. That was probably Atia’s warning for her mother to stop. 

“No its okay.” I assured her. “Um well, I’ve been a vegetarian all my life. My mom and I made a pact when I was 8. We actually called it the Ray and Mariana effect.” I giggled at the thought. “And well, I just recently got turned so I’m still not used to the fact that I should probably eat it.” I said nervously. 

“That’s really cute and very interesting.” She smiled. “What did you say your mother’s name was?” 

“Mariana.” I said putting my last bite of salad in my mouth. 

“What a beautiful name.” She smiled and then got quiet. “Sorry, I forgot the drinks. Excuse me for a second.” She said standing up and walking into the kitchen. 

“Did I say something wrong?” I frowned at Atia. 

“No, I don’t know what that was about.” Atia said confused. 

Atia’s mom walked in with a tray of tall glasses filled with pink lemonade with lemon slices on the rim of them.