Soul Inheritance (6 page)

“
Ummmm… I’ve slumbered far too long. I’ve got to gain my strength back, but once I do…Ummm…Yes, I think we will make a nice pair, Miss McKalister is it? She and I. We’ll remedy that, bring back the line. Stronger. The blood of demi-gods mixed with pure power.”

Mitch struggled, his voice tumbled free. “You can’t… have her. She does… doesn’t know. She… has no… no part in this.”

Greystone laughed. “She’s a McKlannen. That gives her a part in
this
. Power and human greed. No one is immune to that. Not even precious Katherine. She’ll come back to the fold soon enough. I’ve guarded the line long, I can’t let it die out now. I won’t let it all go to waste.” He bent until they were eye to eye. “Ummm, tasty.” The long, thick tongue extended, not quite touching her face. He inhaled deeply, drawing in her smell. Taking in the scent of her blood as it pumped through her veins. “Yes, she is sumptuous. You may even gain a few points for her. After all, you are the sire. Pure and strong willed McKlannen blood if ever I smelled it. She’s the key to rebuilding the family. A source of greater power than we have ever accomplished. Pure power runs through those veins and once she has tasted it there will be no resisting the urge to use it. It’s time for her to come home where she belongs. With power like hers we’ll never be vulnerable again.”

“
You leave her alone!”

Greystone crumpled to the floor, curling himself around the chair like a cat lounging on a window sill. He gazed up, his head propped on his hand like an admiring lover.

‡

Katherine rubbed her arms, wondered where the chill was coming from. A vase of flowers on the bedside table caught her eye. She reached over, picked it up. There was a mixture of fall themed flowers carefully arranged around one single white rose. The tag read:

From all of us at ‘We R Flowers’, get well soon.

“
That was sweet, I’m sorry I missed you guys.” She looked at Mitch. “No, I’m not talking to myself, I’m talking to you. I know you can hear me. I can feel it,” her brow furrowed, “Somehow.” She turned the ornate vase in her hand, felt a sharp prick, pulled back as if she’d been stung by a wasp.

A large crimson drop formed on the end of one finger, then dripped off. It plummeted toward the floor, disappeared mid air. With a start she pushed back on the chair. Not only did it not move, but her feet were stuck solidly to the floor as though they were held there.

‡

Greystone chuckled as he licked the blood from his lips and held Katherine’s feet. “Oh, yes. She is as sweet as she looks.”

Mitch fought hard for control. In a moment of epiphany he relaxed, went completely blank, completely limp. Greystone lost his hold. In one swift movement, Mitch leapt back to consciousness, felt his body, raised up from the bed as he opened his eyes wide, searching.

‡

Katherine’s alarm rose as she struggled to move. She dropped the vase. It fell, hit something above the floor, then bounced and shattered.

Mitch shot upward with a deep, gasping breath. Katherine watched in stunned dismay as he lurched forward, landing on the glass in the floor. He scrambled there, searching through the shards, cuts opening in crimson threads on his skin. Grasping a large, long splinter he drove it deep into his neck – drew it across the jugular vein with enough force to create a gaping, rushing wound.

Katherine watched in ever growing horror. Her feet came free as she felt movement beside her. It was of no consequence. She rushed forward, tried to cover the gushing cut with her hands.

“
Help me! Help! Somebody help!” she let out one earsplitting scream after another that ended in a gurgling sob. “Why, Dad, Why?”

‡

His eyes sought her one last time. ‘You’ll come to understand,’ he thought as the world closed in around him and he felt himself slip away. Greystone had no choice but to follow.

‡

She struggled to make her small hands spread far enough to cover the wound, to stop the flow of precious blood. Medical personnel replaced her efforts, pushing her aside to sit helplessly on the cool, hard floor in the corner sobbing. The battle waged for a half hour with personnel pouring in and out of the room, but to no avail.

The events all tumbled in on her in horrible disarray. Sobbing uncontrollably she tried to answer their questions. Finally, unable to calm her, the attending physician administered something with a needle and darkness closed in.

‡

Fog materialized out of the blackness as she began to wake from her stupor.

“
Hello there.” A small, stout nurse with black hair and dark eyes reached down and clutched her wrist.  “How’re you feeling?”

“
Confused. Tired. So tired.” She drew a deep breath, raked her hand through her hair, pulled at a tangle. “What… Why am I here?”

It all came crashing in. The ambulance, Mitch, the apartment, the dreams, the creature in the car. Her father’s final moments. Katherine sat up clutching the chrome side rails. She took a deep breath and then another. The nurse reached out.

“
No, no. Calm down, don’t breath so fast, you’ll pass out. Here…” She pushed a small cup of water into one hand, popped a pill in her open mouth with the other. “Swallow.” She helped Katherine put the cup to her lips. “That will help you stay calm, but won’t put you out or anything like that.”

Katherine collapsed, stared wide eyed at the ceiling. The nurse left and returned with the doctor who quickly, but gently rehashed the events of the evening.

“
He was in some sort of hysteria when he came around. He may have been dreaming, or his mind may have fractured. The tests indicated that he may have been aware of what was going on around him, but just couldn’t respond. I know this is difficult. It’s especially hard to have seen it happen, for him to have died in your arms like that. But it happens.” He hesitated, “There were no indications as to what was going on with him until it was too late. I’m so very sorry, Ms. McKalister.” He removed a prescription pad from his pocket, tapped his pen on it. “I’m going to send a prescription up to the pharmacy. It’s a mild sedative. You need to take it and I’m going to include enough for the next few nights. It’s imperative that you get some rest. Okay?”

Katherine nodded dully.

“
Okay, well, on your way out you need to stop by the security desk and let them know your license plate and make of car so it won’t get towed. Go home and come back when you have yourself together and
not
on the medication. Do you understand?”

“
Yes.”

“
Is there someone we can call?”

Katherine considered this. “No, I suppose not.” Even if she hadn’t told Nigel to take a hike, she would not have called.

“
Do you have cab fare?”

She looked around. “In my bag.” Panic seized her. “Where’re my things?” She sat up, looked around the room sharply. The crisp green hospital gown was twisted around her.

“
I’m sorry, your clothes were soaked. One of the nurses has some things for you to wear.”

The nurse pointed to the chair beside the bed. “Your stuff’s there in the floor beside the chair.”

The doctor went on, ignoring their exchange. “I’m going to send this upstairs to be filled. I’ll send someone with it and forms for you to sign when you can go.” He turned and walked quickly away.

The grogginess was lifting and she began to gather her thoughts. As the curtain closed she sat on the edge of the bed.

“
You’ve got to get it together.” She got up and went to the bag, pulled it open. There was a large Ziploc in the top. Inside were some of the photos and papers she had been looking at. They were all splattered with blood.

Katherine numbly picked up the clear plastic pouch. Blood. Her father’s blood. And now he was dead. Tears came fast and hot, pouring down her face. She let them come, let the pain flow. She stuffed the papers back inside the bag and zipped it. Taking tissues from the box beside the bed she sat on the edge, pulled her knees up to her chest. She sobbed, keeping as quiet as she could manage. Arrangements must be made. Then there would be the task of getting to the bottom of all of this. She had nothing now. Nothing to lose and nothing to fear.

‡

Checking out of the hospital she took a cab to the townhouse. Once there she collapsed on the couch and slept until the gentle light of early morning streamed through the windows. With a deep sigh she got up, leaned  against the back of the couch and concentrated on what to do next. She carried the gym bag to the den upstairs and emptied it there, looking for a better mode of transport for the things inside. There was a plastic portable file box that the pictures fit into. The book would have to go in the suitcase.

Katherine sat down on the couch, the book weighing heavy on her knees. She ran her fingers over the smooth cover, opened it. The paper was old, but thick. The first page held a family crest with two parts. On one side was a man of strong, broad stature standing tall and proud. On the other side was the winged beast. On either side, holding the crest between them were other creatures. Each was distinct in its own way; all were mixed parts of man and beast. The name McKlannen was written in calligraphy under the crest.

The feeling of familiarity was almost unnerving as Katherine gently turned the pages. On the second was a faded drawing in colored pen and ink of the Victorian manor and the lake that she now understood to be her heritage. It was strange to know that her roots were not where she had always thought them to be. In an even more absurd way she had always known. She had felt drawn to leave, but never knew to where. Now the answer lay in her hands and the pull was stronger than anything she’d ever felt.

A loud ringing startled Katherine. She dropped the book on her feet, but barely felt the pain as she sat rigid, listening. The doorbell rang again. With recognition she relaxed. Now was not the time for visitors. Papers fluttered out from the book. She laid it aside to retrieve them. Gently she unfolded the fragile documents. The first one was the last will and testament of Grandville McKlannen. The second was newer. It was a deed, to a large parcel of property in Northern Maine. Seven hundred acres and a lake. The title stated very clearly: McKlannen Lake. 

Chapter four

Days slipped by as Katherine set about the chore of final arrangements. The funeral was planned, the flowers bought, the coffin selected, the bill paid. The morning of the viewing she went to her apartment, taking care to see that Nigel was away, and packed her things. The moving van came, collected her boxes, and delivered them to the townhouse.

Katherine stood by the casket looking down into his pale, expressionless face. She hadn’t realized there was a part of this man she did not know. His past, certainly, but it was more than that. Things she couldn’t associate with the person she knew. Now she would never know why the funeral home was so empty. The only people in attendance were his lawyer and business associates – the closest thing he had to friends.

“
What am I gonna do without you?” In her mind she could hear him answer.

“
Get on with it. Live. Every moment is precious.”

Locked away in that coffin was a part of her existence. Her life stood half spent with no real accomplishments. Yes, she had a flourishing business, but no children, no real friends. Just like him. She thanked those who came. When the last left she spent a few final moments with her father.

“
It must have been so lonely for you Dad. I never realized, never knew.” Katherine left, closing the door gently behind her.

She drove through the darkness, the tears coming easily as the cool night slipped in over the tops of cracked windows. A thought occurred to her as she looked into the rear view mirror.

“
Were you alone? Or is this part of my inheritance? Were the monsters that now haunt me yours?”

The dreams had not come in the last few days. They were still there, burrowed deep into her subconscious, watching, waiting. She felt their shadows hiding in her own, felt their presence slipping along on dark streets.

She rushed from the car to the door, locked it behind her, leaned against it.

“
What do I do? How do I end this, Dad?”

Going to the kitchen she fixed a sandwich, poured some tea, and then headed upstairs. It was time to visit this heritage – her lake. She packed several bags, threw the book in on top and placed them by the door. Returning to her father’s room she curled up with pillows that smelled like him, and studied the people in the old pictures. There were some that were not as old as the rest. Late fifties perhaps, of her father as a boy and a woman she did not know. This had to be her aunt. She stared long and hard at them, memorizing their faces and features, fascinated by the past that she had not realized existed.