Mystic Embrace (17 page)

“
And you always will.” Sophia gives me a hug.

“
So, is Nathanial ready for his valedictorian speech?” I ask.

“
Yeah, I think so. He refuses to let me hear it.”

“
Okay, ready. Commencement here we come. How many is this for you now?”

“
I don’t know a few dozen maybe, at least for high school. I think you may have to find a spell to age us a few years. Then at least we can get jobs and go to the bars and such,” Sophia suggests.

“
Yeah I am sick of high school and this is my first time. I don’t know if I could make it through again.”

We meet everyone else downstairs. They are having a celebratory drink. Everyone is here, the Pierce family, the Triggs family, well, at least Eliza since she is the only one left. The McCord family and of course the Barton family are also present to help celebrate all our achievements. It’s nice that the Barton’s haven’t questioned Matt and I living at the Pierce house since we had Elyn. They must just assume we wanted to be here close to our friends and with lots of help. I think one day they may need to know the truth.

In her motherly tone Florence asks, “Are you kids ready? Don’t forget your caps and gowns.”

“
They’re already in the car,” Sophia answers.

“
We should probably go. We don’t want to be late; this is too big of a day,” Florence adds.

***

The entire graduating class is waiting to be seated in the fold up chairs placed on the football field. Facing the stage we all wait patiently for the dignitaries to enter and the ceremony to begin. Within moments our class leader walks in and the dignitaries all follow. She raises the ceremony baton and pounds the end of it to the ground, signifying the beginning of commencement. We all take our seats as the principal begins his speech. I wish we could all sit together, but because everyone is seated in alphabetical order Barton is nowhere near Pierce. At least I get to sit next to my wonderful husband, and Alexander has connected our little group telepathically. He wants to make sure they can all keep an eye on me, being my first time in public since my Embrace. Everyone at school thinks it has been because of recovery from Elyn and Sophia has been bringing my work home. The other reason to link our minds is so we can chat freely, but Matt and I are both pretty interested in the ceremony that we pay little attention to the others.

Nathanial steps to the podium, “It is great to stand here before you and see the faces of those I grew up with over the years. We have spent the past four years here and for many of us it has become like a second home and a second family. We have shared in many great memories and many failures together but today we are here to celebrate the end of a very important stage. Many of us walked through the doors of grade school together and others joined us at different stages of their lives. We have grown together and now the time has come to find the exit and to go out on our own and begin our new lives, as adults.” He pauses momentarily and glances around at all the faces we have become accustom too. “Today we celebrate our achievements. We have made it through both some of the hardest and best years of our lives. Now with only a few weeks of school left and final exams, we are nearing the end.”

Nathanial continues on with a wonderful speech for the next several minutes, after they begin to call our names to receive our diplomas. One by one we file across the stage and pause for pictures. The end of the ceremony comes quickly and we jump up throwing our graduation caps into the air screaming and hugging those around us. This truly has been an amazing experience, and I’m so glad that with everything going on I have been able to participate. We go join our families as they congratulate every one of us.

“
We are so proud of each and every one of you. This is a great accomplishment, and we have some surprises for you once we get back to the house,” Florence says.

Mrs. Barton cries as she hugs Matt, “I can’t believe that my baby has graduated. You really are a man now Matt. Things might have been done a little backwards for you, but the fact that you still got it all done amazes me. I have to admit that when you and Ebony told us that you were going to have a baby and get married, I was scared that that would be the end of your education. I can’t tell you how proud I am of both of you for following through and completing high school and I’m even more proud that you both plan on attending college next year. Elyn is a very lucky little girl to have such dedicated and intelligent parents. We love both of you and that beautiful little daughter of yours very much.”

“
Thanks Mom, I think we’re just a little scared. But with such great family and some amazing friends helping us, failure just isn’t an option. Plus I think things worked out alright for you and Dad doing it all so young, we have great role models to guide us,” Matt admits.

Once we share our well wishes with the other students, we decide it is time to head back to the Pierce house for celebrations of our own.

“
Do you think we can stop at the manor? I would like to check on things and even pick up some items,” I request.

“
Sure. Does anyone else want to join us?” Matt asks.

Eliza, Sophia, Nathanial all agree to escort us to the manor. Everyone else decides to meet us at the house when we’re finished.

“
We’ll take Elyn back to the Pierce house with us,” Mrs. Barton offers.

“
Thanks Mom,” I say. I love calling her Mom, although it is still a little awkward. I’ve never had anyone to call Mom while I was growing up and now I have three, my Mom, Matt’s mom and Florence. I’ve got such a great life now and can’t wait to see what the future will bring.

***

Arriving at the manor I feel emotional, sad that Elyn isn’t getting the chance to grow up in the same home as I did. Entering the front door I sense that something is different.

“
Do you feel that Eliza?” I ask.

She gives me an awkward look, “Feel what? I think you are just emotional since it has been so long since you have been here.”

“
Maybe your right,” I agree as we enter and close the door.

I quickly go up to my room and begin to collect items I want to have with me. As I’m in my room I get a sense that something isn’t right again. So I hurry to gather what I need and want, and head back down stairs. In the kitchen I begin to go through our apothecary cabinet to gather supplies we made need to continue our training. I can hear Eliza still upstairs in her room.

Sophia comes into the kitchen, “How you holding up?”

“
Not bad, I just have the weirdest feeling being here. It is making me rather uneasy.”

I hear a small crash from upstairs and I race to the top floor with all my speed. I shout to Sophia, “Stay with the boys!”

Reaching the top stair I hear Eliza cry out for help, I fling her bedroom door open with my telekinetic power and race in. For a moment I pause in shock, it is him, the one we have waited for all this time. Standing nearly seven feet tall, with pale green scale like skin, long pointy nose and chin and eyes as red as blood, I can’t believe Naberius is here. The horns protruding from his forehead create a cracked skin effect where they once hid. I still have some of the potions from downstairs in my hands and throw the freezing potion at him. Eliza is on the ground and injured. I can smell her blood and begin to feel the effects. My eyes and throat start to burn, my jaw aches as my fangs begin to protrude. I can’t fight the response right now, I have too much adrenaline. I run to Eliza and toss the healing potion; I can see the shock on her face by the change in my appearance. The fangs and black eyes along with the paling of my skin and dark circle under my eyes is something my sister hasn’t seen yet.

“
It’s okay Sis, it is still me and it’s just the blood and adrenaline causing it. Now let’s get this Bastard!”

She smiles and points behind me. Naberius is fighting through the freezing and headed towards us. Deciding to use my newly acquired vampire skills and lung at him, he is surprised by my speed and strength.

“
I took your parents witches, and I will take you as well,” he growls.

Me physically fighting him gives Eliza the chance to recover and get the potions I had organized.

“
We’ll defeat you,” I swear. “You had no right to take our parents.”

Eliza jumps to her feet, and I see Sophia in the door holding more supplies.

“
I thought I said stay with the boys!” I scream.

He hits Eliza with a fire ball. I think to myself, I can’t look. Sophia is there she’ll help her. I need to continue the fight.

“
I got her Ebony, don’t worry she’ll be fine,” Sophia yells.

“
Kay, so what about the boys?” I yell while emerged in hand to hand battle with the demon.

“
Alexander’s here, he was still connected to us when we got here and heard everything. He came right over. So he is taking the boys home and I can help,” she explains.

Eliza sits up to her to check through the supplies Sophia brought up. “I’m good; let me see what we got here.”

I continue to fight, gnawing and slashing at the demon. Trying to remember the moves Isaac taught me. I’m faster and physically stronger, but he is taking everything I can dish out to him. I can tell he is growing tired of this physical fight, as I overpowering him. He pushes me back with all his might and holds me back with some kind of mental force field.

“
I can’t get to him anymore,” I exclaim.

Eliza and Sophia come to my side. Eliza throws a protection potion at our feet and then a power weakening vial at Naberius’ feet. I can feel his connection holding me, it’s not as strong. He feels it too, and releases only to throw a type of electrical current at us.

“
Move!” Sophia shouts and pushes us down, forgetting about the protection spell. I flip up to my feet and toss a reversing potion; anything he tries to do to us should be mirrored back at him.

“
He’s too strong for the potions we need to banish him, do you remember the spell?” I ask Eliza.

“
I do, do you?” She replies.

Nodding, we hold hands and begin to chant.

“
By the power in we,

We banish thee,

He who took what belonged,

Release in time,

And be gone.

By the power in we,

We banish thee.

So mote it be,

So mote it be,

So mote it be.”

The three of us stand and watch as a black hole reaching deeper than the pits of hell opens before us. Naberius then implodes and the particles are sucked into the pit, swirling like a tornado. The force exuded from him throws us against the far wall with more force than I have ever felt. Eliza and I hold one another with tears of joy we cry together. We did it we got rid of the demon that took Mom and Dad from us.

Chapter
Twenty-Four

Celebrations

Back at the Pierce house we need to be careful about what we discuss. Nathanial’s Family, the McCord’s, and the Barton’s, are still unaware about our supernatural natures, we can celebrate defeating Naberius after, now is time to celebrate our graduation. Eliza and I take our belongings up to our rooms and clean up a little before anyone else can notice. I can hear Elyn crying downstairs and hurry to her.

“
Hey baby girl, Mommy’s here. What’s the matter?” I give her a little kiss on the head and she clasps onto me tightly.

Mrs. McCord comes to my side, “I have never seen a baby so young clutch onto someone in that way before. It is almost although she’s scared.”

“
I don’t know what is wrong; she has never done this before,” I explain, “I think I’ll take her into the library for a few moments. Maybe all the excitement and people from graduation is too much for her.”

“
I will bring a bottle for her,” Alexander offers.

“
Thanks Alexander,” I say as I go around the corner to the library. I know that his offer is because he wants to talk to me about something. I hope he can explain what is going on with Elyn, she’s never acted like this before.

I love the Pierce’s library; it is so relaxing in here. Sitting in the soft leather rocker/glider I get Elyn’s favorite book ‘
Goodnight Moon
’ it always seems to calm her. Moments later Alexander walks in with her bottle.

“
So, what’s up Alexander?” I ask, taking the bottle and begin feeding Elyn.

“
As you already know I can’t get full thoughts from Elyn, since she is just a baby the thought process is not developed enough.”

“
Yeah, but you must be getting something.”

“
I did, she was genuinely terrified that she was going to lose you. I think her powers go far beyond levitation. I think she has premonitions of some sort. Maybe she can see what you are doing. She knew you were in a big fight today. I don’t know how, but I get that sense from her,” he explains.

“
So how do we figure this out?”

“
Well I was thinking I could hold her or even just her hand and try to focus all my telepathic power to her. Maybe that way I can get a better picture of what she’s experiencing.”

“
It is worth a try,” I agree.