Empyreal: Awaken - Book One (17 page)

“Courtland, there are some things that
you just do not understand...” Cal said, taking a stab at
justification.

“You are dead-on, Sir ... I do not
understand!” Court said, with fury held tight beneath the surface.
“I think that it is time that she knows the truth. You are putting
something off, and trying to protect her … but you know very well,
that the only way that this can truly be done is for her to know
the truth ... and
we'll
do rest...”

Cal gave release to an irritated sigh.
“You have NO idea – I mean, you make it sound so
easy...”

“Mr. Collier, I must say, it must be
easier than –” Court tarried on his unspoken words, trying to calm
his anger. “I mean, what you and Mrs. Collier have been doing to
her –”

Cal abruptly cut Court's words where
he stood. He spoke through his uncontained rile, “Do NOT dare
question our methods! You know absolutely NOTHING! It has been for
her protection, and her protection alone!”

Court retracted respectfully. “My
apologies, Sir ... for my words, it seems, I have indeed carried
them too far...” He paused, allowing his rage to turn to sincerity.
“It's just that … I care for her, Sir...”

Countenancing his own composure to
calm, he spoke, “I know that you do – We, Kate and I have decided
to tell her, but it's got to be on
our
time, Court. What you
did this afternoon … I know that your intentions were good, but
–”

“I just...” Court interrupted
unintentionally, “I just wanted her to know ... I just wanted to be
able to show her that she's special ... I wanted her to know the
truth … Is that so bad?”

“Court, I understand your motives, but
you must leave this to us ... we will handle this. As her parents,
you will respect our wishes, won't you?”

“When?” Court barked, trying to
contain his anger. “When will you tell her?”

“Soon, Court … we are planning to tell
her very soon.” Cal paused. “In fact, I have an ingenious
idea.”

“Oh, yeah … what’s that,
Sir?”

“I think a family trip may be in order
... what do you think of that, Courtland? Do you
disagree?”

“Where exactly do you anticipate
taking her?”

Cal allowed a smirk to spread across
his face. “To the
old homeland
, of course...”

* * * * *

Court shut the front door behind him
and descended the front steps, removing the buzzing phone from his
pocket.

“Hello, Sister...”

“Did you forget how to answer your
phone? I have tried to call you like twenty-seven times.” Criston
bantered to her brother, not allowing him room for much more than
the
hello
he had answered with.

“Yeah, sorry – just trying to avoid
yet another annoyance in my day...”

“Hey… oh, wait a minute... Uh-oh, I
sense trouble in paradise...”

“Yeah … just had a meeting with Cal
Collier, High Chief in Great Decision Making,” Court said,
sarcastically.

“Meeting went that good,
huh?”

“You could say that … I'll give you
details later...”

“Oooh, I can't wait!” Criston
interjected.

“But not now, it's just not the best
time...”

“Wait a second – do you not even want
to know what I've been up to?”

He let out a low bellowed laugh. “You
want
me
to guess?”

“Oh, come on, Court – just pretend
that you
can't
for just one second, and let me actually tell
you something...”

“Oh, alright … go ahead, I won't steal
your thunder...”

“I've been tracking...”

“Oooh, tracking – I'm intrigued! What?
Did you get some sort of lead?”

“Okay, King of Sarcasm, give it a
rest!”

“Didn't like my acting skills? Were
they too much? A little over the top?”

“Anyway, Brother – so, guess what I'm
about to do ... right now...”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you mean,
what do I
mean?”

“I mean, you are joking, right? Is
this a trick? You're serious...” Court said, reading his sister
before she allowed herself to speak a word.

“Yeah, I'm relocating! My mission has
been moved! That’s great, huh?”

“To where?” Court shouted.

Criston snickered. “Wait – you mean to
tell me that
you
don't know – this is great!”

“Criston, where?” Court spoke,
impatiently.

“Are you not going to let me relish in
the moment, not even for a second?”

“Criston, this is important! I haven't
seen it!” Court suddenly stopped in an attempt to calm himself,
unsuccessfully. “I need to know!” he roared in
desperation.

“Oh, dear Brother … I could toy with
you, just a bit!” Criston said playfully.

“Criston...” Court growled through his
teeth.

“Okay, okay ... I'll be nice ... it
seems that I'll be leaving Romania...”

“And relocating to where?”

“Funny thing … I’m on my way to
Greece. That’s awesome, right?”

Court fell silent at her last
word.

How?
Something wasn't
right.

He had just talked to Cal Collier.
What was the likelihood of Criston being relocated to Greece? That
had not been part of the plan. He remembered it vividly. He was in
on the meeting with his family, during planning of his sister's
strategic placement in Romania.

Yes, plans can be changed
... but why now?

With his mind running rapid, swirling
his thoughts round and round, he knew he had to figure this one out
quick.

What was going on? Who was
on the inside? Something was definitely not right.

He had to uncover what was going on
immediately.

For Coralie.

For her
protection.

Whatever he had to do, he had to do it
fast. But would it be fast enough? That was the chance he had to
take.

He thought of Coralie. Her eyes, the
way she looked into his, as if she were looking for answers hidden
within his soul. His heart was whole with her. He was whole. Any
chance was worth taking for
her.

“I've got to go!” Court said,
suddenly, interrupting Criston in mid-sentence, and ending the
call. Snapping the phone shut, he looked back at the Collier house.
He saw Coralie descending the staircase that led into the foyer
from up the stairs. He watched her.

So graceful. So beautiful. So
innocent. So special.

Yes
, he thought to himself,
any chance was worth taking...

Coralie heard the door to her dad's office
shut, as she descended the last step of the staircase. “What's up,
Dad?”

“Umm ... Oh, hey kiddo! ... What do
you mean?” Her father asked, looking as if he were hiding
something.

“Well, Dad, I know you pretty
well...you've got that look...”she said, observantly.

“What look?”

“The look – you know, the
I've got
something to say, but I don't know exactly how to say it
look...”

“Oh, right ...
that
look
...”

“Yeah, that one, so ... spill! What's
on your mind?”

He put his arm around her, walking his
daughter into the kitchen. “More than I could ever express in a
one-hour session, kiddo...”

Katelyn was spooning Chicken Alfredo
out onto plates that sat in front of her. “Dinner's
ready...”

“Smells
de-lish
, Mom...” She
said grabbing one of the food-filled plates from the countertop.
She walked with her food in hand, into the dining room, taking a
seat at the table. Cal and Katelyn followed her, eyeing each other
with doubting looks.

“So, Dad...” Coralie started, “Are you
going to let us in on your big secret or what?”

“What?” he said, almost choking on his
most recent, un-chewed bite of food.

Katelyn looked at Cal with panicked
and quizzical eyes. She swallowed her food hard. She had no idea
what was about to come out of either of their mouths. Or where this
conversation may be heading.

Were they ready for this? Answering
Coralie’s questions? Telling their daughter the truth?

“What's going on? I've never seen you
this nervous...” Coralie asked her father.

“Umm ... well, kiddo ... I've been,
well actually both of us,” he said, pausing to glance at Katelyn,
“your mother and I, have been ... well, we've been wanting to have
a bit of a chat with you...”

“About what? Is everything okay?” she
questioned, with a slight hint of fear in her voice.

Katelyn eyed Cal, somewhat afraid of
what he was about to say.

“Well, I thought that we, as a family,
could discuss –”

“Dad, if this is about the dreams that
I’ve been having … just forget about it. It’s nothing,
really...”

“Honey, it’s more than
that.”

“Then what, Dad?”

“Well, I thought we may discuss ...
taking a family trip...”

Katelyn let out a loud sigh of breath,
one that she'd obvious been holding. She was confused, relieved and
disappointed all at once. She turned to Cal with questioning
eyes.

“A trip? Where to?” Coralie shrieked
with excited confusion.

“Umm... well I thought we may take a
trip to ...,” he paused, stuttering and stalling, “… well, I was
thinking...”

“Dad...”

“I was thinking … what about Greece?”
Cal finally stammered out, as his eyes met Kate's. Her eyes
widened.

Greece ...
Coralie thought to
herself. Why did that word strike her as oddly
important?

“Greece?” Coralie exclaimed. “Why
Greece?”

“Why not?” Cal countered. “There are
some great histories out there,” Cal started his explanation, still
searching, “and I've wanted to find some time to get some genealogy
research done before my summer internship research group starts.
We’ve got family history there. There are some gorgeous beaches,
great landscape, beautiful architecture ... the opportunities and
benefits are endless. It would be great family time...” He paused,
trying to read her reaction.

“Wouldn't you love to visit Greece ...
again?” Katelyn added, hoping to spike some interest.

“Again … right … funny thing, I don't
remember much of Greece...” Coralie eyes narrowed, but she didn't
dare show her parents. Something was up. She could hear it in their
voices.

“Well, Honey, you were very young ...
and it has been a long time since we've had to travel there. Not
many kids would remember...”

“What about school? I can't just
leave...”

“I'll speak with Nigel in the
morning...”

Coralie turned to her mother for
solace within her confusion. “Mom ... Are you in on this, too? Do
you agree with Dad?”

“Honey, it does seem like a great
opportunity for travel – not many kids your age get to do this kind
of thing,” Katelyn said, playing the guilt card. “Would it really
be so bad to get away with the family for some rest &
relaxation, moreover rest? Something, I believe, that we are all in
dire need of...”

“But what if –”

“What if
what
exactly?”

“What if I don't want to … I mean,
what if I don’t want to leave just yet...”

Cal finally spoke again. “Coralie,
this trip is imperative ... I could leave it to you to make a wise,
adult decision, but we just don't have the time...”

“So that's it ... no discussion, no
nothing...”

“No discussion ... Forget waiting
until morning, I'll speak with Nigel tonight and make the
arrangements ... “

“Dad –”

“Coralie, I said 'No Discussion'...”
Then he rose from his chair at the dining table to return to his
office, leaving his plate still half-filled with food.

“Mom –”

“I'm sorry, dear, but you heard your
father –”

“But he's never like this – is he
upset with me? Did I do something wrong?”

“No dear, I think you just better roll
with your father on this one...” Katelyn said, calmly.

“No –” Coralie said, through her
teeth.

“What Honey ... did you say
something?”

“Yes – I said ... No –”

“Coralie –” Katelyn said, with
astonishment.

“No, Mom – I don't know what's going
on with you guys ... you're different ... the both of you are so
different … Something's up – I don't know what, but it's something
... and I'm not leaving the country until I find out just what you
guys are hiding...”she said, pushing her away from the
table.

“Cor –”