"Papa Rhymi!!!" I yelled and jumped off the bed. I jumped into his arms.
Something I haven't done since I was twelve. He hugged me tight and set me
firmly on the ground. He looked me sternly, "Ana, you are no longer a
child. I enjoy the fact that you missed me but if you are ever to meet my
queen, you must learn to greet me properly." I looked down to my feet and
said, "Sorry, Papa"
Armand started to growl. I looked over to him quickly; "It's all right
Armand. I was wrong. If I greeted him like this at the palace, I would have
insulted many.
"I lost my head a little. It was uncalled for."
Armand backed down, "After the beating you took yesterday, I'll let this
one slide." He returned looking at my great-grandfather, "I apologize, I'm
a little touchy around your granddaughter."
Rhymi laughed aloud, "She is my great-granddaughter. My granddaughter is in
the hospital in St. Louis." I looked up into his face, "What's wrong with
her?"
Papa looked at me. Concern went quickly across his face. He touched my
temple, "What happened to your face?"
He is my elder so his question must come first. I told him about my
adventures yesterday. He was furious and wanted to exact revenge for me. I
calmed him down and told him what Jason did for me. Jason walked into the
room and backed up my story. Papa calmed down but still a little edgy.
"What of my mother?" I asked.
He explained to me how my mother was locked up in her room for a week. She
got enough food to last the day. She never saw her captors. Grans thought
it might have been Adam but he has never returned from going to L.A.
Strange activities have been going on in the city. Papa moved mama and
Grans to St. Louis. Grans sent him and my father to bring me home.
"My father's here," I stated.
"Yes, my darling Lily. Change into something suitable to meet him. He is in
the next room." I looked down at my clothes and realized I was in Armand's
shirt still. I kissed papa on the cheek and went straight to my closet. I
pulled out a pink halter-top, went to my drawer, and pulled out a pair of
black shorts. Everyone left the room when I started to change.
Two minutes later I was sitting on the edge of my bed. I couldn't go
through with it. I couldn't go into the next room and meet my father. I was
breathing fast and couldn't stop. My nerves were dancing on edge. I was
close to the shakes and I didn't want him to see me like this. There was a
knock on my door and Abby stuck her head in. "Are you all right?" "No," I
whispered. Abby walked into the room and sat next to me on the bed. She put
her arms around me and I felt a low roll of power coming off her. I relaxed
a little. "You know we haven't been able to sit down and discuss the fact
you're a leopard and didn't tell me."
I tensed up a little. She laughed, "Don't worry, I'm not upset. It just
means I can take you to ALL of my favorite clubs tonight, Birthday girl.
Speaking of birthdays, what's more perfect than meeting your dad for the
first time on your birthday? Huh?"
I let out a nervous laugh, "I don't know?"
"Well take two deep breaths and walk out there and say, 'Hi, I'm your long
lost daughter. Glad to meet you.' and it will be all over. Then go out to
breakfast and lunch and catch up. Just remember you belong to me tonight
and I won't take no for an answer." She gave me a tight hug and left the
room.
I took several deep breaths. I got off the bed and went out to the living
room. The front door was standing wide open. Professor Grant was standing
with a stack of papers in one hand and shaking hands with papa with the
other. Standing next to papa was a man about 6'6" tall to papa's 7'8". He
had forest green hair. He wore black dress pants and a bright yellow
turtleneck. I stood in the hallway silently watching everyone in the room.
Armand was sitting in the dining room with Abby and Jason. Dr. Peters was
standing next to Professor Grant; talking to my family about yesterday's
attack. He assured my papa that punishment was given out to his boys.
I began to debate with myself should I use magic and hide the wounds and
scars. Then I thought about what papa told me years ago. Fey are proud of
their scars. It shows strength and prosperity. I knew with me they only
show fear and guilt. I decided against hiding my scars and bruises. I heard
my papa's voice and it startled me from my thoughts. I jumped and hid
inside my bubble.
I stayed there watching everything. This was too soon. I just found out two
nights ago that he was alive. I'm not ready to meet him. I slowly backed
into my room. I turned slightly to grab the door handle. When I did that I
took my eyes off the room. A hand grabbed my wrist. I turned my head and
looked into a pair of familiar eyes. The color of each iris was the same as
mine, spring green, spruce and cream. Now I can safely tell people I have
my father's eyes.
He spoke to me quietly, "Rhymi told me you were raised mostly human. So I
will disregard the insult you have just given me in front of everyone."
I responded in a shaky voice, "I'm sorry, I couldn't walk out there. I
couldn't let you see me looking like this. You are so beautiful. I didn't
want you to be ashamed of me." I looked down to the ground and tried
desperately to keep from crying. I wasn't having any success. The tears
came.
I felt a smooth hand touch my face. He wiped the tears from my eyes. "You
are very beautiful. The scars tell me you are very strong. The bruises tell
me that you are a survivor. Is there anything that I missed?" I smiled at
his little speech. It was meant as a complement. I thanked him. He walked
me out of the door way and into the living room. Everyone was standing
silent looking at my bedroom door. I heard Armand whisper "where did they
go?" I looked up to my father, "Why are they staring at my room?"
He laughed and it was a melody that was familiar to me. I just couldn't
remember where I heard it. "Silly one. We are still inside your personal
dimension. We can see them but they can't see us." I thought about what he
said, "Then that means I can bring others in here with me, when I do this?"
He laughed some more. "You need a lot of teaching about our world. Lesson
one, You can hop into small dimensions. When you hop you can take someone
with you by just holding on to a body part." That thought made me smile.
"Enough small talk my daughter, take us back to their world. We will talk
more later." I focused and shook my bubble off. Papa walked right up to us,
"Anastasia, please, refrain from doing your magic in front of the humans."
I laughed. "Do you mock me child?" Papa's voice rose a few notches. I
contained my laughter and said, "Papa there are no humans in this room.
Very few in the entire complex." He looked at me like I gone insane. "Papa,
you do remember that I am part leopard right?" I looked at him trying to
see if he lost any memory. He looked around the room. A small flare of
power swept the room. He was testing everyone in the room. I think Armand
didn't like it because he went right to my side and a little ahead of me.
My father took one step and faced Armand.
"Who are you?" he asked Armand, "Ana belongs to us. You have no right to
stand and challenge us." Armand growled very low in his throat. I stepped
between them. I know very foolish. Short little old' me against to very big
men. I didn't care.
"Hold it you two!" I yelled. I looked to Armand. "Back down lover boy! Papa
Rhymi is just checking who is who in this room." I turned to my father and
said respectfully, "Lochlir, my father, I would like to introduce to you my
mate Armand." Papa walked to me, "Ana, you have mated with this animal?"
"Yes, papa, I have chosen this ...animal... as my life mate. You and Grans
told me I should stay with my kind. Well he is a leopard like me." Papa
looked shocked, then he smiled. "I am proud of you, darling Lily, this is
the first time you stood up to me." He grabbed my hands and said sweetly,
"I just wished you would have told us sooner."
I looked from papa to my father, "What do you mean?"
My father answered, "I had arranged an alliance with the water Gods.
Besides you, the rest of my children are boys. Alanticca's children are all
boys also. When I saw your picture, I saw the chance to make the deal after
all. We were going to take you there tonight."
Armand interrupted, "You were going to force her into an arrange marriage?"
He wasn't very happy. I could feel his power dancing on my skin. I pulled
my hands free from papa and turned to Armand. I needed to calm him and
fast. I sent a wave of calmness over him. It helped a little.
Fingers brushed my back, "Were you born with this mark Anastasia?" I turned
to answer but papa beat me to the punch. "I already asked that question to
my daughter, the girl's grandmother. She was there at the birth and yes the
mark was on her back."
My father took a step back with a look of surprise, "Why didn't you tell me
she bore the mark?"
"My friend, I don't think this is the time or place to discuss family
matters."
"Like hell it is!" I snapped. I looked to my father and said in a calm
voice, "What does this birthmark mean to you?"
"Darling Lily, you don't need to worry yourself over nothing." Papa chimed
in.
"Shut up, Papa Rhymi! What does this mark mean to you father?" I asked
again.
"It means that you are one of the chosen. Bituriga's chosen warrior. If you
bear the mark, you are destined to fight all of nature's battles." He sat
down onto the black sectional,
"Several centuries ago many of the Dryads were chosen to fight beside the
Queen and her army. Only the ones who bear the mark of the raven can fight.
They are the most aggressive of our people. When nature knows something is
wrong, she will mark the young ones with the will see the Queen to victory.
You are the seventh in this generation to be born with the mark of fighter.
That means a war is coming amongst us."
Silence filled the room. I didn't know what to say. Professor Grant chose
that moment to lighten everyone's mood. "A war coming. Yeah, I can see it.
Unfortunately, Miss Autumn is unable to attend that war just yet. She has a
mid-term to finish." He smiled at me with his perfect teeth. My whole
demeanor changed. I walked away from my family and went to the professor. I
took the papers and number two pencil from his hand. I stomped my way to
the dining room table and sat down. I ignored everyone else and focused on
my tests. This chosen stuff can wait 'til later.
Index