Falcondell: The Devil's Son (12 page)

Chapter 27

As we pull up outside the house I feel more nervous than I have ever felt in my life before. Ash helps me off the bike and pulling me tightly against his chest he holds me firmly whispering, “I love you Grace. I have never ever said that to anyone in my life. I was waiting for you. Always remember that. I will fight for you with all that I have.” Pulling him towards me I kiss him with everything that I have. I pour everything into the kiss to show him what he means to me. This may be our last one and I want him to know that I feel it too. When I pull away I see the passion mixed with despair in his eyes. He says in an anguished voice, “I can’t lose you now that I have found you.” Grabbing hold of his hand I pull him towards the house. “Let’s just give it all we’ve got, ok?” Nodding grimly he follows me inside.

As we walk in we are met by my Aunt Sarah. Looking anxiously at us she says quietly, “They’re in the front room Grace, I hope that it goes well, I don’t want to lose you so soon.” Hugging her I whisper, “What do you think, I mean how do they seem?” Shrugging she says, “You know them, they give nothing away.” Pulling back I look towards the door in front of me. My whole life may change when I go through it and I am not sure that I am ready. Ash looks at us and I can tell that he is taking it all in. Like me, my Guardians are not easy to read so he may have his work cut out trying to understand them. Seeing me looking at him he smiles reassuringly. “Come on Grace, let’s just get this over with.” My Aunt looks at him with a worried expression. I can tell that she is scared in case he makes a scene. I know him better than that, or at least I hope that I do.

With a heavy sigh I push open the door. Despite my anxiety my heart lifts as I see the two people who have been like my parents for the last twelve years waiting for me. As I enter the room I can feel the love radiating out from them and on seeing their outstretched arms I race over to hug them both. Aria and John are my family and I couldn’t love them any more than I do. They have been all I have had for most of my life and I trust them both implicitly. Pulling back Aria looks at me lovingly. “We’ve missed you so much Grace, let me look at you.” I can see the tears in both of their eyes as they look at me. They are the kindest people that I have ever met and my eyes fill with tears as I see them standing there. Despite the reason they came I am very happy to see them. Aria looks past me and I can see her looking at Ash. To my surprise her eyes fill with tears as she sees him and I notice that John reaches out and gives her hand a squeeze. He too looks emotional and looking around at Ash I can see him studying them as if trying to place them in his mind. Aria moves towards him and it looks as if Ash is battling with some sort of emotion himself. It is almost as if he has met them before but doesn’t know where from. As she moves towards him I look at John in surprise. He smiles and reaching for my hand, pulls me beside him. We watch as Aria stands before Ash saying softly, “Hello Ash. My name is Aria and this is John. We are very pleased to meet you.” Ash looks confused. “I’m sorry but do I know you? It’s just that I have a strong feeling that we’ve met before.” Smiling sadly Aria nods her head. “It was many many years ago. I am surprised that you can remember that far back.” He looks puzzled. “How? I mean the memory is there but it is faded and I can’t see it.” I feel John tense up beside me and look at him in surprise. He is watching the scene in front of us intently and looking back to them I watch in fascination as Aria reaches out and takes hold of Ash’s hands. She then says, “I will show you Ash, but I warn you, you will not like what you see and it may change everything. Are you ready for that?” Nodding Ash holds her hands as she lifts one of them and presses it to her heart. Staring at him she holds his gaze and I watch as suddenly the air in the room becomes charged with a huge burst of energy. There is so much power in the room and I can feel it swirling around us as I watch the scene in front of me. I can’t take my eyes off them as I see a myriad of emotions pass across Ash’s face as he looks into her eyes. Whatever she is showing him is having a powerful effect and it is painful to watch. It seems like forever before she breaks away, watching him as he slumps down on to a nearby chair. Putting his head in his hands he hides his face and I race over to him in concern. As I reach him I touch him and he jumps as though I have given him an electric shock. As he looks up I can see the torture in his eyes. Looking at us all he says in a broken voice, “I never knew.” Smiling sadly Aria says, “You were never meant to find out. But now you do it is up to you how you deal with the information.” Ash looks at me and I can tell that he is going through some powerful emotions. His eyes fill with tears as he looks at me and shaking his head he says almost to himself, “I’m sorry Grace, I’m not sure if I can.” In confusion I look between them all. “What do you mean, what is going on, can’t what?” I feel Aria’s hand on my shoulder. “It’s up to Ash now Grace. He needs to deal with what I have shown him and make his decision based on it. He may need some time.” Looking at us with an anguished expression I shudder as I can see the rising anger in his eyes. Suddenly the atmosphere becomes super charged and there is a different sort of energy in the room. Aria pulls me back so that we are standing beside John facing Ash and we look at him as he battles with himself. The room gets extremely hot and I watch in alarm as I witness his inner struggle. I can feel anger all around us. It is almost as if I could reach out and touch it. The atmosphere becomes dark and oppressive and there is an air of uncertainty and desperation. In shock I look at my Guardians and can see that they are staring at Ash with intense concentration. As I look at him I can tell that he is battling against whatever she has shown him and fear rises up within me. Almost as if he can sense it Ash’s eyes lock on to mine and I gasp as I see the intensity in his expression. Turning his back on us he moves to the door. Looking at my Guardians in confusion I am amazed to see tears running down Aria’s face. Ash hovers by the door, his hand on the handle. Suddenly I know that he is leaving and a huge feeling of desolation comes over me and I can feel my heart breaking. This is it, he is leaving me, whatever he has seen is too much and he can’t deal with it. His hand freezes on the handle and I see him tense up. Turning around he looks straight at me and I can feel the tears running down my face. His face looks tortured and my breath catches in my throat. He tears his gaze from mine and looks at Aria and John in despair. Suddenly he moves back across the room towards us. Reaching out for me he pulls me beside him, his touch sending shock waves through my body. It is as though he is on fire and I can feel the torment in his soul as he takes my hand. Looking at Aria and John he says in a broken voice, “I’m sorry. I am who I am and I can’t change that. If I was a better person I would walk away, but I am not. I am too selfish to do that and that will be my downfall.” Aria looks at him tears now pouring down her face. Gently she says, “You will find a way. There’s a part of her in you that will make you strong. You know the consequences though if you fail.” Nodding Ash looks at her and to my surprise I see tears in his eyes.” Aria says with emotion, “You are very much like her you know. She loved you more than anything in the world and did what she had to do to protect you. Don’t judge her too harshly for what she did.” Ash nods but he can’t speak. I look between them all in confusion. “What is happening here?” John smiles and says in his calming voice. “Ash will tell you everything when he is ready. For now we all need to keep you safe. Ash knows the consequences if he fails and has made the decision that he will try. We came here for that reason alone Grace. You can stay and finish your education but if you are discovered or in any danger we will come back and next time you will leave with us. You have until the end of your education when it will revert to being your decision. Then you will have free will and get to choose your own path.” Aria comes over and takes both mine and Ash’s hands. She looks at us both with a kind and gentle look in her eyes. “We are here for you both and you can contact us at any time. I hope that it works out for you both, I really do.” Bewildered I look at her and smiling gently she says, “Don’t worry Grace, just carry on as normal, whatever that is, and just enjoy the rest of High school. You are a good person and I know that you will make the right decisions.” Pulling me towards her she hugs me tightly and whispers, “I love you Grace, stay strong and above all be happy.” John then joins us and says softly, “Come Aria, we had better leave them to it.” Pulling me towards him I feel instantly protected and enjoy the feeling of security that he always gives me. He whispers, “I love you Grace. Remember that I am always here for you and watching out for you. Stay strong and be happy.” Wiping her eyes Aria says, “Go on you two, leave us to sort things out with Sarah. You have a lot to talk about.”

As I look at Ash I am surprised to see that his expression is now softer and gentler. His eyes swimming with tears he moves towards Aria and hugs her gently. “Thank you,” he says emotionally. Nodding she pushes him away and John pulls her against him as though comforting her. Looking at me Ash holds out his hand and says, “Come on Grace, we’ll leave them to it and I’ll try to explain everything.” As I take his hand I can feel the power emanating from him. It travels through my body and fills my soul. As I follow him from the room I wonder just what happened in there.

Chapter 28

As expected Ash takes me to the Ridge. As I sit behind him I can feel the battle within him as we speed faster and faster towards our destination. Something happened to him in that room and I just hope that he can tell me what is going on inside of him.

When we arrive for a moment he just sits looking out over the Town below. I stay silent, waiting for him to make the first move. This is for him to control and I will do everything that I can to help him. After a while he gets off the bike and helps me off. Taking my hand he guides me over to the edge of the Ridge and pulls me down beside him. We can see the Town below us. It is as though we are on top of the world and nothing can reach us from here. Putting my head on his shoulder I wait for him to speak. As we sit here in silence I can feel the torment raging within him.

After some time he squeezes my hand and looks towards me and my heart clenches as I see the torment in his eyes. Speaking softly he tells me what he saw. “Aria showed me my past Grace. I never knew any of it and she was right it is difficult to deal with.” Squeezing his hand back I say, “Can you tell me or is it too difficult.” He sighs heavily. “I have to Grace as what happened to me also relates to you in some way. If we are going to stand a chance you have to know the facts.” Feeling anxious I look at him and his eyes darken, drawing me inside him. He starts speaking in a low voice. “Aria and John went to school with my mother. She was beautiful, the most beautiful girl in the school. They were good people and had a happy life. Then my father came to town.” His face tenses and he continues. “He was very much like me. The guys wanted to be in his gang and the girls in his bed. He took over the school and soon everything changed. His story is my story Grace. History repeated itself with me. He was feared throughout the town. Nobody got in his way and he was ruthless. He had the blackest soul and showed no mercy. My mother on the other hand was very much like you. She was kind and caring and everyone liked her. Then my father decided that he wanted her. She was powerless against him. He well and truly swept her off her feet. He charmed her and then seduced her. They became a couple and I watched as she fell more and more under his spell.” Suddenly he stops and looks at me, a tortured expression on his face. Reaching up I stroke his face and kiss him briefly on the lips. “Take your time Ash, its ok,” I say softly. Relaxing slightly he continues. “She lost all of her friends and he kept her with him at all times. High school finished and she soon became pregnant with me. I could see that she was slowly being destroyed living with him. For such a good person to be around such evil began to take its toll. She became depressed and he didn’t care. There were many women and he flaunted them at her. He ruled the town much like my uncle does but in a far more sinister way. Your Guardians were always there for her but even they were powerless against him. When I was born I could see how happy that made her. She doted on me and devoted every waking hour to caring for me. My father on the other hand wanted me to grow up differently. He would enjoy making me do horrible things. It started off by encouraging me to be cruel to animals and other children. He delighted in seeing me do bad things and got angry when I showed weakness. If I cried he beat me until I stopped and rewarded me when I did something that pleased him. It was killing my mother. She couldn’t cope and it destroyed her.”

Breaking away Ash puts his head in his hands and I can feel the rage building inside of him. His memories are coming back and mixing with what Aria showed him and I can feel his pain. Taking a deep breath he continues. “By the time I was five years old she couldn’t carry on. She went to him and did what he loved best, she made a deal with him. She was leaving him and despite the fact that it would break her heart she would leave me with him. She realised that he would never allow her to take me with her and she would be powerless against him. In return for keeping away from me he had to agree that I was to live with another family for my whole school life and only see him in the holidays. That way I might stand a chance at finding myself without his influence. She asked that I go to my Uncle Jake who was married at the time to a loving and kind woman. She wanted me to have a stable family life, whatever that was, and hoped that I would grow away from my father.” Looking at me his face softens and he pulls me against him. “She did what she thought was best and tried to give me the best start that she could.” Softly I ask, “What happened to her Ash?” Angrily he says, “She couldn’t cope with what she did and ended her life. She took the easy way out Grace and left me to a life of torment with him.” Standing up he walks away and stares out over the Town. Getting up I walk over to him and taking his hand in mine say, “Don’t judge her too harshly Ash. From what you have said there was no way that she could have come back for you. She made the deal in your best interests and probably saved you in the process. What I don’t understand though is how this relates to me.” Turning to face me his eyes turn almost black and I can see the fire raging behind them. “Don’t you see Grace, this is history repeating itself. I want you more than anything I have ever wanted in my life. If I do as I want I will destroy you as he did my mother. I cannot change who I am it’s embedded in my soul. I will drive you away and you will be destroyed. I should have walked away from you but I couldn’t. Like I said I am selfish and want what’s best for me and damned anyone that gets in my way. I am bad news and you should run as far away from me as you can go.” He pulls away and turns his back on me. I watch as he battles with his own emotions and I feel powerless to help him. Moving across to him I take his hand. “Come with me Ash.” In surprise he follows me and I take him to the lake. Reaching up I take the locket from around my neck and feel the immediate release that it gives me. His eyes widen and he stares at me as though mesmerised. Removing my clothes I hold his gaze and then say softly. “Come into the water with me Ash. Take everything off and leave it behind you here. Leave those worries and memories behind on this rock and open your mind to the future instead.” I walk into the lake and gasp as I feel the cold water envelop me. Lying back I savour the feel of its soothing touch and close my eyes. I feel a splash beside me and know that he has joined me. Reaching out I pull him against me and drawing his head down to meet mine I kiss him with my full power. I can feel it racing through his body, filling him completely, edging out the bad memories and pain and replacing it with love and hope. This is all I can do for him. By pouring my love into his soul I hope to cleanse it of his pain. This is what I can do for him. He may have seen the past today but he must also see the future.

After what seems like ages we pull apart and I relax as I see that some of the pain has left his eyes. Taking my hands he says, “You don’t play fair Grace, it is I who am powerless against you.” Laughing I splash him with the water and soon we are engaged in a water fight, lightening the atmosphere and bringing us back to reality.

As we get out of the lake we lie side by side drying off in the sun. Leaning on my side I look lovingly at his beautiful face and say, “You are wrong about some things Ash.” Raising his eyes he says playfully, “Me wrong, you must have me confused with someone else because I am never wrong.” I laugh. “You forget that you are only half bad. The other half of you is your mother and from what you told me she was a good person. She was also the strongest person I have ever heard of. She gave you hope when there was none. She sacrificed herself so that you would stand a chance of a better future. You cannot condemn her for that. The part of her that is in you will work alongside the part of your father that is also inside of you. Only time will tell which is the stronger. I want to help you Ash but even I recognise that this is going to be a difficult battle for you. I will be here for you though because I love you.” I watch as millions of emotions pass across his face. Then he says sadly, “I love you too Grace. You are the first person that I have ever loved. I have to keep you safe and guard your secret. If I fail then they will come and take you away. Even I know that I will be powerless against them. Aria showed me what would happen if I fail you and that scares me more than anything else I saw.” I look at him in alarm. “What did you see?” Sitting up he stares angrily around him. “I saw that if you left we would both be destroyed. Your heart would be broken and your soul damaged forever. I would be in torment and live out my life in anger. It is a huge risk that we are taking and you should know of the dangers involved.”

Sitting up I put my arm around his shoulders. “We only have one more year to worry about it. After that we will be 18 and have freedom of choice. Your father will have to let you go and so will my guardians. We can then make our own way without the fear of losing each other. Nobody will find out about my secret, we will make sure of that.” Turning around Ash says angrily, “I will protect you with everything that I have Grace. Nobody will hurt you I promise you that.” He then reaches over and kisses me with such love mixed with desperation. His kiss fills me with the anger and worry that is inside of him and as I feel it fill my body I battle with it, vowing to help him with everything in my power.