Son of Eden, a Paranormal Romance (12 page)

After she was dressed, she brushed her teeth and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. As she exited the bathroom she clicked on her television for background noise to hide her voice.

“Alexander,” she whispered. There was no response. “Alexander,” she whispered again, and bent down as if to check under her bed.

“I don’t live under your bed Emily.” Alexander chuckled.

She jumped at the sound of his voice behind her. “I know that I just… Well I don’t know what I was doing. This is all new for me, remember?” Emily said with only a hint of the humiliation she felt.

Alexander was still laughing softly as he nodded his head. “I know it is. It’s new for me as well. You’re the first person I’ve told.”

Emily hopped up on her bed. “I am? Really?” she responded with delight. “Why haven’t you told someone before?”

“It’s not something we are supposed to do and honestly I have never had the desire to tell anyone, until you.”

Emily couldn’t help but release a proud smirk at Alexander’s confession. “So have other Guardians ever come clean with their people. Oh, I mean their Travelers?”

“No, none that I am aware of. I believe I am the first.”

“Will you get in trouble for this? Can you?”

“I’m not sure what will happen. I’m certain I will be called to council with the Governing Five anytime now.” Alexander shrugged. He showed no signs of being worried or stressed.

“The Governing Five? What’s that?”

“The five head Guardians. They watch over us, help us, council with us when we have need. They are like the watchmen on the towers, making sure everything is running smoothly.”

Emily processed the information for a moment and then it dawned on her. “So that is what you meant when you said you had five parental figures.”

“Yes. I didn’t want to ever lie to you. I just tried to put things in terms that would let you assume what you wanted. Sorry.”

“No I understand. If you had told me all of this when we first met I might have called the police on you. Not that that would have done any good.” Emily gave a little laugh.

“Yeah, I have a knack for eluding unwanted company.” He grinned.

Alexander grew serious as he sat down next to Emily.

“I can’t express how good this feels, to have told you all of this about me. It means even more that you have accepted it.” Alexander lifted his hand to gently caress her hot cheek. “You don’t how long I have waited to be near you, to talk to you, to hold you.”

Emily could feel the warmth of Alexander’s hand and she welcomed it. It was so soothing. She closed her eyes, for a moment she was completely lost, forgetting that she was in the middle of a conversation. Her eyes popped open as Alexander pulled his hand away.

“So, why me?” Emily cleared her throat, trying to regain her thought process. “Why did you feel like you could tell me and not someone else?” She wasn’t really sure what she was asking, or even trying to get at. Her thoughts were everywhere and nowhere, all at the same time.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Alexander responded.

Emily raised her eyebrows. She needed further clarification.

Alexander caught the hint, and proceeded to explain himself. “Two years ago, when you had your accident, something became clear to me. When I saw the car spinning out of control and you were headed for the cliff, I waited for the prompting to intervene. But it was the first time I experienced total panic whether that prompting would come. I wanted to save you, with or without a prompting. It felt like if you were to go over that cliff, so would a piece of me….” He paused. “That was the night I knew I loved you.”

Alexander’s words hit Emily with extreme force.

“He loves me! I can’t believe it, he loves me!”

Emily opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Alexander used his hand to close her jaw and continued.

“As I spent time as Guardian for Edmund, a desire grew within me. I wanted to have someone, to love someone as Edmund loved Catherine. For the first time in my existence I was envious of a human being. I wanted what he had. I wanted to experience the complete joy that came from loving someone so deeply. Of living for someone else, even if that involved the wrenching pain that came with loss. Being his Guardian changed me. I am not sure why, but it did.”

Emily’s mind was beginning to make sense of things and then she found the piece that completed the puzzle.

“That violin I bought, is it Edmund’s?” Emily’s mind was boiling over now with the implications of what this all could mean.

Alexander took a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders as if a weight had just been removed from him. “Yes, yes it is. That violin was the same one that Edmund had all his life. The very one he played lullabies to his unborn child with.”

“It all makes sense now.” Emily gazed into the distance, lost in her thoughts.

“I kept the violin for a few decades. I would get caught up playing the familiar songs I remembered from Edmund, but after a while it only brought me pain. The songs reminded me of what Catherine and Edmund had. Something I thought I never would experience myself. So I donated the violin to a small museum about thirty years ago. Saying I was shocked the night it showed up at your father’s charity auction would be an understatement. I was there of course, watching you.” Alexander cleared his throat in an effort to control his emotions. “Then when the violin was up for bid and I witnessed you raise your paddle with such determination, I began to think that maybe there was something more to all of it.”

“I had never bid on an item before. Never.” Emily sounded almost breathless.

“I know,” was all Alexander said.

“I couldn’t explain it. I was just drawn to that violin. I had to have it, and the need completely consumed me. And then… when I took it to be restored is when I met you, when you saved me. If I hadn’t bought the violin, I wouldn’t have gone to that store. I wouldn’t have been attacked. We wouldn’t have met.” It was all very clear to Emily. This was not some crush that came and went or some form of infatuation. This was something bigger, bigger than them both.

Alexander wrapped his hands around Emily’s “Yes, when I saw the chain of events unfold before me, I knew that it was no longer something that only involved me and how I felt about you. I knew we were supposed to be together. At that point I was willing to welcome whatever might come, just to experience a moment of loving you. I knew that by some divine design I was being allowed the chance.

Tears streaked down Emily’s face.

“Can this really be possible? Can someone really love me so much? Can I really be getting something back after what has been taken from me?”

So many if’s and why’s ran through her head. She wasn’t positive about any of them, except for one. Emily knew without a doubt that she loved Alexander. No matter how against reason it seemed, whatever logic would argue that it was too soon or whoever might say she was crazy it didn’t matter. She was in love with Alexander and he was in love with her. There was no denying it.

Council

Neither Alexander nor Emily realized what was set in motion that night.

They were blissfully unaware of the plan that now stood cemented in place, caused by their actions and confessions. It was too easy to be caught up in the excitement of their newly professed love. They gave no immediate thought to what consequences might result from such an unusual and cosmically unique relationship.

Every part of Emily’s mind and body was exhausted. Even though she still had so many questions for Alexander she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. A thrilling roller coaster of emotions had streamed through her today and it was all beginning to catching up with her. But she didn’t want to go to sleep, she wanted to stay awake and be with Alexander.

“I’m not going anywhere, remember?” Alexander gently reassured her.

It was so comforting for Emily to know that Alexander would not be some flash in her life. He was around for good, not only because of their love but because he was entitled to. He was her Guardian; he was responsible for her protection, which meant he could spend every minute of every day with her.

Nestled in closely to Alexander’s warm chest, Emily gave an audible sigh. Everything about him was welcoming and reassuring, she loved it. Leaning in this closely, his scent was intoxicating, sweet like vanilla yet tinged with the smell of sandalwood. He was warm all over as though he had a built-in heater that never ran out. And although his body looked as solid as stone, Emily found his skin surprisingly soft and his touch ever so gentle. Alexander felt familiar to her, like having a favorite childhood stuffed animal, where the sight and scent alone could always bring comfort.

Sleep was creeping up on her more rapidly now. Even sitting in an awkward position leaning against him didn’t matter. She was fading fast.

Just when Emily was experiencing the first few moments of those dreams between dreams Alexander spoke up.

“It has been a long day and I believe you need some rest.” He chuckled a little as though sleep was an inane thing for him. Like it was something he didn’t understand.

Emily wasn’t sure how things happened, but before she knew it she was tucked in her bed with her covers draped over her, clear up to her chin.

“I’ll just be over here if you need me.” Alexander motioned towards her chair by the window.

But Emily didn’t see him; her eyes were closed in sweet slumber.

The rapid knock on the door startled her awake.

“Emily? Emily, are you awake? Sweetie it’s time to get up.”

Her father gave a few more persistent knocks on the door. She finally snapped her head up, instantly looking around for Alexander. He was nowhere to be seen, but she knew that didn’t necessarily mean he was gone.

She stumbled out of bed and hurried to the door. Once she got it opened she could see the bewilderment on her father’s face.

“Do you know what time it is? And why is the door locked?” His confusion gave way to concern. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I’m alright I guess. What time is it?” Emily still felt groggy from waking so quickly.

“It’s seven forty-five. You’re gonna be late for school.” He checked his watch. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay? It’s not like you to sleep in. I don’t think I have ever had to pound on the door to wake you.”

Her thought process was beginning to move quicker now and she realized that an opportunity was placed before her. She decided to play sick for the day.

“Actually, Dad, I don’t think I am really up for school today.” Emily sighed.

“Are you sick to your stomach? Are you hot?” His eyes showed his increasing concern.

“No, I’m not sick. It’s different than that; you know it’s just one of those days.” Emily knew the right phrase to use. After her mother had died her father had made it clear that if she was feeling emotionally upset and wasn’t up for school he understood, it was just ‘one of those days’.

“Oh that.” He paused as he recognized the term. “Do you want to talk about anything sweetie?”

“No, I’m fine. I just need a day to think, you know get away from everything. My mind is just on overload right now.” Emily was telling the truth. She did want to think. Yesterday was a day that had changed her whole outlook on life and there were definitely some things she needed to contemplate. “Actually, I was thinking maybe I could go up to Cooperstown for the day. Is that okay with you?”

Emily’s father took a deep breath and looked down at the floor, obviously weighing her request. “I don’t like the idea of you being alone, especially if you are feeling…” He let his words trail off and then took another deep breath. “I suppose that’s fine. Just please call me when you get there and then again when you’re headed home, okay?”

“I will. Don’t worry about me I’m fine, I just want a quiet place to think that’s all.”

“Okay. Drive safe. I’ve got to get going or I’m going to be late. I love you.” He gave her a tight embrace and quick kiss on the forehead before turning down the hall. “Remember to call me,” he shouted over his shoulder.

“Love you too,” Emily called out and then quickly shut the door. She glanced around the room for Alexander. She waited a moment giving him a chance to appear. When he didn’t materialize she softly called for him.

“Alexander?” She waited again but nothing.

*********

Alexander stood outside the huge double doors that formed the entrance to Eden. It didn’t matter how long he existed, he didn’t believe he would ever grow accustomed to those massive doors. They were absolutely beautiful to look at, with intricate floral carvings on every square inch of their surface. At the same time, they were overwhelming, coming to a sharp arch about forty feet above Alexander’s head.

There were very few things that ever made him feel weak or small, but for some reason, these doors always did.

He knew this was coming but he still didn’t feel completely prepared for it. He wasn’t sure how to fully explain himself. When he heard the call resonate within him in the early morning hours he could not deny or run from it. Yet, it was the first time he was hesitant to honor the signal to come to council and face his elders.

Alexander did not fear the Governing Five, simply because there was no reason to. They were his family, and as close to parents as it could get. They always handled matters with kindness and compassion. Yet Alexander knew he had done something wrong, something that hadn’t been done before. He wondered if the newness of it all could bring about an unpredictable reaction.

At this point Alexander was only worried about one person, Emily. His concerns stemmed from the question of whether he would be removed as her Guardian. He could easily be reassigned. It would be difficult to see her after that.

He had never been as happy as he was last night when Emily lay curled up in his arms. He wasn’t ready for all of that to be over. They were the most thrilling and wonderful moments of his existence. He had told Emily everything and she had accepted it, and what’s more, she had said that she loved him, too.