Clan of Redemption
by Rushell Ann
Published by Rushell Ann
Copyright © 2016 Rushell Ann
Cover Photo copyright by Captblack76
Table of Contents
Chapter One ( My Friend ) Pg. 5
Chapter Two ( Questions ) Pg. 16
Chapter Three ( The discovery ) Pg. 41
Chapter Four ( Dinner Nightmare ) Pg. 77
Chapter Five ( Driving me Crazy) Pg. 100
Chapter Six ( Grandmother ) Pg. 114
Chapter Seven ( Healing ) Pg. 163
Chapter Eight ( Grandfather ) Pg. 214
Chapter Nine ( The Meeting ) Pg. 241
Chapter Ten ( The Council ) Pg. 269
Chapter Eleven ( Artemis) Pg. 296
Chapter Twelve ( A Life for a life ) Pg. 306
Published by Rushell Ann
Copyright © 2016 Rushell Ann
Cover Photo copyright by Captblack76
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Acknowledgement
To myself for sticking with it even when you didn't think it was good enough.
My sister Teri has always supported me whole heartedly in everything I've set out to do and this book was something she encouraged me every step of the way. When I was put on this earth, the powers that be made sure that I had you to help me through it!
I love you sister!
Chapter 1
My Friend
Logan is my best friend and the first boy I ever kissed. I was about to say goodbye to him forever. It’s still hard for me to understand what has happened, one minute he’s knocking on my door asking if I want to go swim and the next minute he’s gone. We had plans to go swimming when it happened, but I had to finish up with some last minute college paperwork. When I arrived at the lake I could hear the commotion, it was as if I was in the wrong place. People were everywhere, ambulances, fire trucks and police, swarming the lake with rescue divers going through their gear. I asked what was happening, and all anyone could say was a boy had drowned.
It was so loud.
My heart was pounding so hard. I ran down the beach to where Logan and I regularly swam, screaming Logan’s name. His towel was next to the tree we carved our names in, but no Logan.
“Jayden, honey I’m sorry, but they think Logan drowned,” Sam sobbed. She was standing behind me watching the divers thoroughly searching the waters.
“What! Logan could not have drowned. He’s one of the best swimmers. Why do they think it was Logan?” I said hysterically.
I scanned the rippling water, trying to cover my eyes from the glare of the sun.
“Someone….saw Logan swimming out to the dock, dive under and not come back up,” Sam said with tears streaming down her face.
“That can’t be, I was supposed to meet him here, I saw him earlier, what...he’s….no, they must have made a mistake,” I said with certainty.
Sam and I sat on Logan’s towel holding each other, waiting to see if they would find his body. I was in complete shock not sure what to do. I wanted to swim out to the dock and look with the divers, but I was frozen. I could not cry because to me it wasn’t true.
Logan has a swimmers body. His hair is a light golden with curls that wrap his face. I love to stare into his eyes; they are the color of swirly jade. All the girls in school would stare and whisper whenever we would walk by. He turned the heads of most girls, but to me he was my best friend and my right hand. I didn’t see what they saw. Logan and I had known each other since school began, he and I were inseparable. To try to wrap my head around Logan being dead wasn't something I could think about.
It was close to midnight before the rescuers gave up for the day. Sam tried to get me to come to her house with her, but I wouldn’t leave. I knew that there had to be some explanation for Logan’s disappearance. I needed him to be alive. What would I do without my best friend? I don’t remember falling asleep, but I woke up with something wet on my face.
“Ewe, what is that.” I looked up and saw a dog staring at me; it had been licking my face. I must have slept here all night. My face had a layer of crusty tears, what the dog didn’t lick off at least. I wasn’t sure what time it was, but I knew that if I ran home that Logan would still be alive. This must have been a dream.
I started running, half way home I realized that this dog was still with me.
“Go on, go home,” I said sternly. The dog wouldn’t budge, he just stared at me. “I have to go, you go home before you get hit by a car.” I made hand motions but the dog just stared at me.
The dog just sat looking at me with its tongue hanging out. I continued to run home not caring if the dog was following me or not. I had to make sure that Logan was ok. I ran to my front door and stopped for a minute and realized that my dad was going to be furious with me that I had been gone all night. I had never not come home, or been late for my curfew. My Dad could be a worry wart. I composed myself and walked through the front door. In the living room sat Sam and my dad.
“Jayden, are you ok?” Sam asked as she stood up. “Can I get you some ice-tea?”
“No, I’m not thirsty. Where’s Logan?” I asked as I looked from my Dad and then to Logan’s mom.
“Sam, isn’t Logan with you? He did come home last night didn’t he?”
“No honey he didn’t,” Samantha looked down towards the ground.
“You fell asleep last night while we were sitting on the beach, waiting to hear any news. I tried to wake you, but you were insistent on staying at the lake.” Sam walked over to me.
I hugged her as if I would never see her again.
“I just can’t believe he’s gone, my son. It just doesn’t seem real.”
Logan was Sam’s only child; I can’t imagine how she must be feeling. He was my best friend, but for Sam, Logan was her life. I couldn’t stand to stare at my Dad and Sam any longer.
“I really need to be alone. I’ll be up in my room.” I started to walk towards the stairs.
“Jayden, do you want to talk about it? I really think you shouldn’t be alone,” Dad said with concern.
“Dad, I’ll be alright. I just need some time to myself,” I sounded firm. I don’t remember even walking up the stairs. I was in such a daze. Time just seemed to stand still, but I do remember my door opening and food being offered at some point during the day. I think I heard my cell phone ring a few times, but I couldn’t get myself off my bed, I didn’t even change my clothes. I do remember dreaming a few times, about Logan and I swimming at the lake. The lake was our favorite place to go, besides camping or hiking. In my dreams, Logan and I were racing each other to the dock about 100 yards out from shore. Logan was always competitive with me (always in fun) but he always seemed to push me to my limits, especially during swim practice. I remember seeing Logan’s smiling face when he beat me. He’d chuckle to himself and tell me “Next time little one.” He always called me little one, I always thought it was strange, but he always seemed to be a little out of the ordinary.
I don?
??t know how much time passed, maybe a day or two, I faintly remember my Dad coming in a few times trying to get me to eat and helped me to the bathroom, but other than that all I could do was sleep. I woke up to someone stroking my hair. I really wished my mother was still alive, its times like this that I miss her the most.
I started to wake up to my favorite smell of coffee, as much as I didn’t want to open my eyes, coffee just can’t be ignored.
“Was it just a bad nightmare, or is Logan really dead?” I said with my face buried in the pillow. I could tell who it was sitting on the bed next to me without looking at her, she smelled of lavender.
“It wasn’t a dream. They still haven’t found his body. If you aren’t ready to wake up, I’ll just have to take this Starbucks caramel macchiato and dump it down the drain. It’s not like I will drink this crap,” Sully said.
Sully's a close friend of mine, maybe a little too crazy at times, but still a friend. She didn’t hang out with us as much because we weren’t as extreme as she is, and frankly we bore her most of the time. Sully is most comfortable when she is risking her life by bungi jumping, hang gliding, or the occasional drunken brawl with a biker. I met Sully when she joined our swim team our sophomore year, she had transferred from some private school in New York. We had always attributed her dress style to the high fashions of New York. She wasn’t popular at school, but I knew that didn’t bother her and if you asked her about it, well she’d give you a piece of her mind. I loved the way she doesn’t care what anyone thinks and seems to be laid back when it comes to Logan and I.
I wonder what color her hair is today, I wanted to look but I didn’t want her to see me so messed up. Sully isn’t big on expressing emotions unless it’s anger.
“Don’t you dare dump that gold down the drain.” I sat up and took a sip; it helped with my dry throat.
“So, when did you get a dog?” Sully asked.
“Dog, what dog, I…Oh there was this dog,” I started to sit up fully.
The dog leaped from the floor onto the bed right onto my lap and shoved me over.
“Get off me!” I yelled and I managed to set my coffee on my night stand without having a spill to clean up.
“I had no idea you were such an animal lover,” Sully grinned.
“I don’t mind dogs, I had one once with I was 8, but this dog just won’t let up,” I said.
“Jayden, the three of us were supposed to have a practice swim tonight. I know that you probably aren’t up for going so I thought we could skip it and I would take you out on the town, see if we can find some trouble. I still have that fake ID that you used last summer, at Jasper’s. I still can’t believe that we made it home with the amount of electric ice teas that you sucked down. I think you proposed to a few bikers that night.” She winked at me.
“I don’t think so, I just want to be alone. But thanks for coming, I know that you cared for Logan too.”
“Yeah, he was an ok guy, not tough enough for my taste but nice enough. I'll miss him, but having my folks die when just out of diapers, just made me move on and push those feelings aside. They don’t do you any good anyway, they just make you feel shitty. I’m sorry but if you don’t get up and change your pathetic clothes I’m going to have to march downstairs and tell your Dad about your hidden ladder in your closet and how you like to use it on a regular basis. That isn’t the only secret that he would be happy to find out.” Sully got up, went to my closet, and started to pick me out something to wear.
“It looks like you shop at the Mary Popins store for the gifted,” Sully said as she inspected my clothes.
“Hey now, I don’t bug you about your clothes that look like there straight out of the twilight zone.” I forced a smile from my face.
“Ok, ok, but I need to take you shopping soon. Hey what about this top, it reeks fun.” Sully reached in the back of my closet and pulled out a red sequin top with spaghetti straps.
“Yeah that’s funny.” I glared at her while I got up to look at my face in the mirror of my vanity. I had been crying for so long that my eyes were puffy enough for someone to think that a bee stung me.
“Hey I found some black leather pants. This is great, maybe you aren’t such a prude after all.” She pulled the pants out and threw them onto the bed.
“That was a Halloween costume from last year, remember, I was a street walker.”
“Oh, you mean a sex slave. Yeah that outfit could mean that, but with the right shoes it could turn you into a mean….”
“That’s quite enough Sully. I thought you were supposed to be making me feel better.” I turned a frown on her.
Sully went over to the bed to pick up the outfit and the dog growled at her.
“I guess the dog doesn’t like it either. Ok, how about we compromise, wear the shirt and a pair of jeans and your black boots. At least you’ll have a little style,” Sully shrugged.
“Fine, but you have to promise me that you won’t get into any fights with anyone. I can’t handle any more stress right now.” I went over to the bed and started to take my shirt off, when the dog jumped down and went to the door and whined.
“I guess he has to take a whiz,” Sully said.
“Will you take him outside and let him pee please, while I change? I’ll meet you outside.”
“Sure, but you better not come down without that outfit on, or I might have to let my lips spill out just a little bit of your not so greatest moments.” Sully gave me a devious smile.
“Yes, I will wear it, but you have to promise me that you won’t bring up Logan at all tonight. I just want to forget about it for tonight.” I turned and shut my door while Sully took the dog downstairs. So what is tonight going to entail, will Sully reach her drunken state and start a fight, or will we live to see the sunrise without much turmoil? Logan was always a great ground for her, especially when it came to calming her down. I can’t picture my life without Logan. We were planning to attend the same University; we had our schedules planned together. What will my life be like without him? Is there a heaven, and if there is, is he watching me? Did he die with pain, or was it quick with no thoughts of panic.
“Quit it. Let’s just go and have fun.” I don’t want to think about this right now.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I realized that my birthday was today; at least I think it is, not sure how many days I slept. Logan and I were going to hike up Mt. Rainier. I have lived in Washington all my life, but have never been hiking at Mt. Rainier. Logan was a natural in the woods, he loved the animals, the smell of the Evergreens, and the dew of the mornings that would gather on the outside of the tents. He always tried to convince me to sleep without the tents, but I would whine a little and he could cave in. I really miss him, and it still doesn’t seem real that he’s gone.
Tears started to swell in my eyes and I quickly took a deep breath and brushed them back. If I was going to ask my Dad if I could go out with Sully, he had to believe that I was ok, and crying wasn’t going to get me the answer that I wanted.
Dad’s been protective of me especially since Mom died.
I took the back stairs that lead into the kitchen.
“Hi honey, are you ok, can I get you something to eat?” My dad walked over to me. I could tell he was watching sports in the living room.
“No Dad I’m ok, I wanted to go out with Sully. I’ll be home before 2am, I just need to get out and clear my head.” I had my black pea coat on and I saw my dad start to review what I was wearing so I snuggled my coat a little tighter.
“If going out will make you feel better, absolutely, but please try and eat something. You haven’t eaten much in days.” He gave me that parental look that said “Do what I say or else”.
“I’ll stop somewhere and grab a bite. Thanks Dad,” I said as I gave him a hug.
“I’m always here for you if you want to talk, getting your feelings out is healthy for the soul, don’t forget that,” My Dad said.
"Maybe later Dad, b
ut Sully is waiting for me.” I turned to leave.
“Wait, wait,” he said as he started to leave the room.
Great, he isn’t going to let me go, wonderful, I’d have to go back to my room and think about Logan.
“Wait for what Dad?” I turned to look at him.
“I know that it’s a very emotional time for you, but I wanted to give this to you. Not like this, but I want you to have it today, it’s what your mother wanted.” Dad handed me small velvety box.
“What’s this?”
“Well today is your birthday, July 18, right?” Dad smiled.
“What do you mean right, you should know when my….Oh you were kidding. Sorry Dad I’m not as sharp as I normally would be,” I gave him a small smile that didn't reach far.
“Your mother wanted you to have this on your 18th birthday. There’s a letter too, but since you're going out I thought you could read it later. I’ll leave it on the credenza.”
I opened the box and there sat a ring. I had never seen a ring like this before. A white gold ring, with a center stone beveled with the sharpest color of burnt amber stone held together with a three pointed trinity knot on either side draped with blue stones lining the band. It looked like continuous circles wrapped around the band or maybe a continuous infinity symbol.
“Dad it’s beautiful. How come you never told me that she left this for me?” I said knowing I sounded a little harsh.
“Well, your mother made it very clear to me that she wanted this to be given to you on your 18th birthday and not a day earlier. It's like she knew she wouldn't be around. Sorry to keep such a secret, but your Mom would haunt me from her grave if she knew that I went back on my word,” Dad said with a cracked smile. I could see his eyes were glistening a little. I hate to see my Dad cry, so I grabbed him and give him the biggest bear hug.
“Thanks Dad, this is wonderful. Where did the ring come from?” I asked as I slid it on my right hand ring finger.
“You're welcome, but thank your mom, and I’m not sure, I think was handed down to her from her parents. Let me know what the letter says, I’m curious.”
“Ok, I will," I said.
“Hey, I noticed a dog hanging around the house and I think I saw it follow Sully upstairs with you,” He said. I could tell he was starting to say something else but I interrupted him.
“The dog was there when I woke up on the beach, the day that.., well anyway I’m not sure where he came from or if he’s lost. He makes me feel better just to be around him, do you think I could keep him?" I gave my dad the look that got me what I wanted.
He stared at me for a minute. I could tell he wanted to say no.
“Ok, but please call the local shelters tomorrow, just to make sure there isn’t someone looking for him,” My dad said as he put his hand on my shoulder.
“I will first thing tomorrow. Thanks Dad,” I said as I gave me a hundred watt smile.
“Happy Birthday sweet pea.” My dad took his hand and rubbed my cheek. Ever since my mom died, my dad has gotten real sensitive and emotional towards me. He hugs me at least every day and tells me he loves me. Losing his soul mate was very hard on him and I still see it in his eyes, it’s like a piece of his soul died when mom died.
“Well I’ll see you later, don’t wait up for me.” I headed towards the door.
“I love you Jayden.”
“I love you too Dad.”
I walked outside to meet with Sully, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this ring that my mom had left for me, and this letter that I still have to read. Did she know she was going to die? How could she have written a letter if she hadn’t known she was going to die. What does the letter say? Leaving that letter in the house was very hard for me. I wanted to cancel plans with Sully just so I could go read this letter. So many questions. How had she known to give it to Dad, did she not think she was going to be around for my eighteenth birthday? With all these questions, it’s going to be hard to focus on having a good time tonight.