House of Forbiddens [COMPLETE NOVEL]

11: The Story is Told

Christine

The world had faded to black. Pins and needles danced across my skin, a myriad of sensation, and all I could see was dappled darkness surrounding me. I couldn't remember very much. What had I been doing? Where was I? What had happened? I felt myself opening my eyes. The world was blurry for a second, but then condensed into focus. I saw Kaden, her dad, and Jack standing over me.

"How do you feel?" Jack asked me. I startled at the sound of his voice. It wasn't Jack; his voice was completely different. The gaps in my memory slowly started to fill in, but I had more pressing issues.

"How long have I been out?" I asked him. "Who are you? You're not Jack," at this, Kaden laughed. The boy also laughed.

"I'm Will, Jack's twin brother. That's why we look alike," he introduced himself. "You were out for a pretty good length of time, about twenty four hours, but you're okay now," he reassured with a warming, calming smile. After helping me sit up, he went over to Jack his brother who was also sitting down. He was bandaged, though, which confused me. Jack hadn't been hurt, had he? He seemed fine, though. I could see him handing what must have been an Epi Pen back over to his brother. The dial was depressed, he must have just taken it. Will hand went to Jack's forehead, and he gazed at him steadily, as if he was expecting an argument. I returned to my introspection, however, because there were some things I needed to clear up. My stomach was heavily bandaged, but it didn't hurt. I remembered what had happened, though. I remembered the glint of the knife, and my desperate stumble over to my phone. I didn't know else who to call but Kaden. I remember the feeling of my hot blood gushing from between my fingers. Some part of the mused that I should be glad I was never squeamish about blood, but a greater question filled my mind: what were my parents doing? It had definitely been them standing there. But something tells me that there is more than meets the eye to this. They've always been loving, even if we didn't get along always, and I knew that they were all in all pretty good parents. I don't- can't- believe that they would do this. I look down at my stomach, though, and wonder- how am I alive? I should have bled out, and even if not that, I had gotten a stab wound to the stomach. That's where my digestive tract, stomach, liver, and adrenal glands are, and shouldn't they had been pretty screwed up by the knife inside my guts? People aren't okay after things like this!

But...here I was! Were they gonna give me some crazy explanation, like they had used an ancient magic healing wand or given me the nectar of the gods?

"Kaden, how am I okay?" Only in retrospect did I realize how random and bold my questions were, but Kaden forgave me.

"Will healed you, He's a son of Apollo, so it's one of his specialties. Since you're a demigod, he can give you small amounts of nectar and ambrosia, which do amazing things to the healing process." She informed me. My jaw dropped. Thinking back to my earlier thoughts, I burst out laughing, leaving a confused but slightly amused Kaden. "Thanks!" I said brightly.

"No problem." she replied looking stressed, and came over to sit by me. "Can we talk about what happened?" She asked, hesitant. I nodded silently. She nodded back, and took a breath, phrasing her question in her mind. "So, what did happen?" She asked me. I took a deep breath.

"I got home, and it was a normal night. We had dinner, I finished my homework, then got in bed. About an hour later, I had just fallen asleep when I was woken up. My dad was at the foot of my bed, and my mom had a knife and was right beside me," I took a shaky breath, hating the way my words had begun to waver. I was stronger than this, I told myself forcefully. Kaden put an arm across my shoulders, and I could feel myself calm down a little bit. "I screamed, and kicked her away on impulse. But then I fell off the bed, and I'm not sure if it was my mom at that point or just the way I fell, but I was stabbed by the knife. I somehow was able to get over to my phone and called you." I managed. I could feel tears forming in my eyes. Kaden's face was an unreadable mask, but I could see traces of horror and disgust. She sighed. "I don't think it was really them, though," I interjected. Kaden looked over at me, and I could see she was cautious about giving me false hope.

"I certainly hope so," she said. She then pulled out her phone, and I saw her punch in a number that I recognized as Audrey's. I guess she's out trying to find my parents. It makes sense that Kaden would want to let her know there are two people that she's after, and that they're my parents. It didn't look like she picked up, however, and Kaden frowned down at her phone. She left a voicemail and texted Audrey, just in case, then turned to me. "I'll be right back," she said, and left the room to go talk to her dad. I could hear their muted conversation floating to me from the other room. In a second, they returned.

"How do you feel?" He asked me. I took a second, then replied steadily,

"I actually feel great. It's surprising." Kaden nodded, then turned to Jack, her dad, and his brother- Will, I think his name was.

"Can you guys hold down the fort?" She asked. They all nodded.

"Go find her," Jack told Kaden, but his voice still sounded strained.

She turned towards me, and asked, "do you want to come with me to find Audrey? It would not be a bad idea for her to have others by her side. She moves fast, though, so it could take us a while to catch up to her and meet up." She asked. I didn't want to sit around. I felt fine, and if she was offering, she must know that it's okay physically. "Sure!" I said enthusiastically. We went out into the backyard, and Kaden quickly located footprints in the grass. We waved goodbye.

"Kaden, you may need this," Will said, coming out to see us off, he held out another epi pen, and she smiled taking it.

"Thanks," she said embarrassed that she hadn't thought of it herself.

With that we turned and set off.

"What is that?" I asked nodding to the epi pen.

"Antidote," she replied, "Jack's poison acted up while you were asleep, and Audrey's likely did to."

I knew this area well, after years of living here, and was ready for more adventure. My life had quickly turned into an insane whirlwind of things I had once believed impossible, but I don't think I would change it. I just have to find my parents. There has to be an explanation, and it will be okay. Expending effort to worry and fret about other outcomes when I have the chance to strive for the one I want is a waste of time and energy. We set off into the woods behind my backyard.

By: Nightsong