Twice Awakened

Chapter 17

We sat for a few hours outside, breathing in the crisp fall air. Liz and Jonathan bringing chairs from the table set. We talked, catching up on the last few days. Talking about future events, and possibly having to face the king due to Vlad being his son.

“You know what,” I sat biting the corner of my lip in thought.”I think I shall have a housewarming party.” I glanced around.

“I would be down for that!” Matty said fueled with excitement,

“Vladymir won’t be to happy, Anya you’re still weakened from the heat and flu.” I shook my head.

“No not right now,” I chuckled at Liz’s concern. “let’s say two weeks from now.” With that little tidbit relief cover Liz’s face as she nodded understanding.

“What would be the color theme, or just the general theme?” Matty questioned

“All Hallows Eve.” Everyone seemed stirred with excitement. The holiday that all mythical creatures dress differently, from babies to food to pets. “Orange, reds, black….those sorts of colors.” The boys had seemed to finish training as they had begun walking towards the house. We delayed talking about the party, as I locked onto Vlad. He seemed tired, and lost in thought. Each one passing by Aiming for their bags to go shower.

“Matty, do you or can you get everyone’s size?” I pointed to the house with a hushed tone.

“Yeah why what’s up?” smiling he knows I am up to gifting more stuff. He ran inside, reappearing with paper and pen.

“Get 3 pairs of training shorts, training pants, training shirts short and long, socks, and two pairs of sneakers each.” He nods as I finish. “If they are training here it would be a drag to constantly carry their bags. I have spare rooms, so they can stash them.” I ponder everything a bit. I settle on getting futon’s for each spare room and two for the basement. That way if exhaustion hits, they don’t risk the drive. Matty got up disappearing into the house, grabbing keys, my card, and with a car door shutting, I hear him drive off. Guilt fills me as it is my fault they all have to meet here due to me becoming ill. Sadness for being so helpless for a week and everyone taking time out of their schedules to help me.

“Anya what’s wrong?” Liz was in my face, shaking my shoulders, concern all over her face.” Anya are you feeling ill, are you tired, what’s wrong?” I shook my head.

“Just feeling guilty. If it wasn’t for me everyone would be able to do whatever they liked. Instead, they are babysitting a stubborn weakling. A sinking feeling of sadness washed over me.” A crash in the kitchen stunned us for a minute. The boys popping out the door, as Liz is kneeling in front of me, wiping away tears from my cheeks.

“Anya, you didn’t disturb any of us. We came because you have helped every single one of us. We came because every single one of us love you!” She had placed her finger under my chin. “You have grown so much, so fast. You have always been independent, always taking care of yourself, always excelling, always pushing yourself to the extreme.” Liz cooed

“We were going to ask if we could train in your field anyway?” Alex spoke up. “We have room here, it’s safe, and we don’t have to constantly move from yard to yard. Plus, were close to a really good friend who would bend over backwards for us.” Alex face was grim, Each one telling me how I was the sunshine of the day. Always happy, chipper, and laughing. Someone who would go out of the way for any of them, how I always made sure they were taken care of.

“You see Anya, none of us came dragging our feet not wanting to help. We saw a best friend that was in need and to stubborn to ask for help. We came running on our own because that’s what true friends do for one another.” Cloves and cinnamon wrapping my senses as hands wrapped my middle. Vlad’s touch soothing me, calming my nerves.

Matty had come around the house hands full of bags, panting. “Anya, what’s wrong?” Derek had strode over to him filling him in. “Oh honey, we love you! I love every minute being around you!” He gave me a sympathetic look.

“This is exactly what I was saying!” Liz said grabbing bags and showing me. “You think of others before you think to slow down for yourself.” Matty looking threw the bags pointing to which person they belonged to. Even Vlad got 3 bags of clothes and a bag of shoes. “This morning you gave me a heart attack,” Vlad c****d an eyebrow, not knowing about my escape. “I went to check on a sleeping Anya and instead an empty bed. To find you sitting on the floor getting dressed.” She placed her hands on her hips. “And I bet it was because you didn’t want to make us drop what we were doing or disturb us to help you.” Vlad’s grip slightly tightening, as I took in everything. Everyone’s comments sinking in, Liz kissed my forehead. She had signaled everyone to go in and allow me sometime with Vlad.

As Granny hobbled patting my hand with nothing but love in her eyes. Liz hooped her arm and helped her in.

“Stubborn ass.” Vlad had pulled me to his chest.

“Would you love me any other way?”I whispered stirring a chuckle. He slipped a finger under my chin, lifting my face up so he could look at my eyes. Purple streaking his eyes as he whispered against my lips.

“I would love you no matter how stubborn you were.” Kissing me gently and then all of a sudden, licking up my face, jaw to temple.

“WHAT THE f**k WAS THAT! DID YOU JUST LICK MY FACE?” I was answered when he about fell backwards from laughing so hard at my reaction. “Oh you just wait, I will get you back.”

“Bet!” he managed through his laughter. Wrapping me and pulling me back to his chest. Kissing the top of my head. We sat in silence, relaxing, and slightly swinging. My eyes grew heavy and soon I had dozed off.

My mother visited my dreams this time with a different message.

“Danger is coming my sweet child. Warn them, warn them that in three months time the King will try to attack. He has grown power hungry and wishes to kill his son to continue his reign. All who come across your path will see your light pure, filling them with hope and fire to fight. “

“But mother I am weak. What am I to do?”

“My beautiful child you are far from weak. You are my strongest child and shall always be. Your heart is pure and you will outshine them all. You will succeed in all you do. Go to the Sacred Woodlands. I will send every rogue of every race a vision of you, a vision to follow and protect you. To rise with you against the ruthless King. Vladymir will be at your side every step. Let every witch, vampire, lycan, and mythical creature teach you. Vladymir will teach you to fight. You must fight to save the baby boy inside of Lizara. To save your friends. They are your knights, blessed by me and your father. I love you my wee cherry blossom.”

Shooting up out of bed, fear filled me, the sun was still up so I had only been asleep for an hour or so. I began frantically calling out for anyone, my mission to warn them needed to be filled as soon as possible.

Footsteps flooding the stairs and hall. Vlad sliding around the corner and gently grabbing my face trying to figure out what had put this much fear into me. What had made me scream in terror. Everyone poured in the room checking for any disturbance.

“He’s coming.” Vlad looked at me confused. Red instead of silver seeping into my left eye as silver seeped into the right. “He’s coming in three months time. He’s going to try and kill you. He’s going to attack us all.” My chest burning from the rapid breathing. “My mother came to me she said to warn you, warn all of you.” I had begun sobbing. Vlad had spun to Alex who with a stern face signaled the boys to the office down the hall.

“My beautiful mate don’t cry please don’t cry.” He kissed my cheeks and wiped away my tears. His eyes filling with purple. “He won’t win, I have all the riches in the world and my world sits in front of me. Thank the Moon Goddess she warned us. We will figure this out, I won’t leave you and will fight to live, to be by your side, every day.” Liz came to my side and Granny sat on the bed at my feet. Vlad kissed me gently, his eyes full of determination. He glanced at Liz who gave him a nod. With that he rushed down the hall and into the large office.

“It seems our lessons will be quickened a bit as your training will begin very soon.” She looked deep in my eyes noticing the two separate colors. “Two totally different worlds clashed into a pure child.” She gently grabbed my face examining it. “You have your father’s and mother’s power flowing through you. An immense power resonates through your veins.”

“Liz,” I said softly. “I must tell you a message as well.” Liz gave me a concerned expression.

“You are pregnant, with a little boy.” Feeling the impact of everything my vision blurred, and the last I had hear was Liz screaming my name. Then total darkness and silence.