The Awakening (9 page)

The next couple of days were great me and Gavin just did some normal stuff, cinema and going out for lunch. We had to be discreet though as I was still faking being ill to everyone. I practiced some spells which I was relived to find were quite easy and successful and we managed to have a laugh and forget about all the weirdness. I decided it was time to go back to my flat and let everyone know my pretend illness had improved. I still had a week off work and was going to use the time to just get my head 100% sorted and visit my mum, dad and sister who I had been avoiding and really missed. Alice and Gavin came with me to my flat and Alice insisted on popping to the local supermarket to get me some food shopping as my fridge and cupboards were rather bare. Gavin came in with me and helped me unpack, I was glad he was there as it did seem a bit strange as for the past two weeks I’d been surrounded by people all the time and the flat seemed a bit cold and lonely. Alice returned an hour later laden with bags and carrying a big bunch of flowers “These are for you.” she said thrusting them into my hands. “To brighten your lovely home up and to say thank you for being so understanding.”

“Oh Alice you didn’t need to do that. They are lovely though thank you.” I said and went into the small kitchen to find a vase in the cupboard under the sink. 

“Right I’ll leave you guys in peace. Gavin I’ll see you later. Lauren take care and I’ll see you soon,” Alice said and reached over and gave me huge hug.

“Yep I’ll see you soon, thank you for having me.”

“No problem at all Lauren, you are welcome anytime.” She said looking a bit tearful and quickly hugged Gavin said good bye and was gone.

“Is your mum ok?” I said to Gavin as the door clicked shut.

“Yeah she’ll be fine. I think she quite liked having you around and she is so happy you have adapted so well,” Gavin replied giving me a quick kiss.

“Well this is a bit strange,” I said as I glanced around the living room, “The last time it was just the two of us in my flat was when I found out about everything. It was only a couple of weeks ago but seems like months.” I said and shivered slightly. Gavin sighed and wrapped his arms around me “Yeah a lot has happened in the last few weeks but I think we are over the worse of it and amazingly you still want to be with me.”

“Yep think you are stuck with me.” I laughed and just like that everything felt normal again. We settled down watched some TV, chatted and hugged on the sofa and I really believed things would be ok.

Over the next week I saw my parents and the first thing my mum said was that I wasn’t eating well enough and insisted on making a lasagna (one of my favorites) and plied me biscuits. It was lovely being at my family home but part of me felt strange as so much had happened but I couldn’t tell anyone the truth. I watched my sister thoughtfully as I had been worried that some 'witchness' might rub off on her but she seemed her normal bright and bubbly self with no worries apart from teenage girl things like make up, boys and not being able to get tickets to see JLS in concert.

The following week I returned to work and although I felt nervous and awful for lying to everyone about being ill it was nice to be back in the normal routine and being able to catch up on the general office chit chat and getting stuck in to my usual office tasks. It felt strange that given how much had changed for me the normal world was exactly the same. I half expected people to look at me strangely like I had a witch tattoo on my forehead or a glowing beacon saying vampires are real around my neck but of course no one else had any idea of the secret world of witches and vampires and it was nice that everything was still the same.

I was surprised how easily I slipped into normal life and how easy I found keeping my huge secrets. Every now and then I would feel overwhelmed but Gavin would talk things through with me and I would remember the training Annalise has given me and say Pax and rub the amethyst she had given me and I would feel more calm and peaceful within minutes.

To get back to normal and see all my friends I suggested a day out to Alton Towers the following week. We arranged to go on a Wednesday, as midweek was always quieter as the kids were back at school as the summer holidays were over. It felt so nice to plan something normal and be with my friends. Gavin, Sophie, Chris, and I travelled in one car and Vicky, Matty, Charlotte, Katie travelled in the other car, and as we travelled up the M1, I was really looking forward to the day ahead. The eight of us had fun queuing for the rides and betting who would be chicken and back out of the scarier rides like Thirteen and Oblivion. We got soaking wet on the log flume and Congo River rapids and bought a picture of us screaming our heads off on the huge rollercoaster called Rita. It was so nice to just behave like a normal 20 year old and was brilliant to catch up on all of the normal gossip. Moreover, I finally met Vicky’s new boyfriend Matty and spent some time with my sister. We spent the entire day at the theme park and left just after 4 p.m. as it began to drizzle and started our return journey to Northampton. We had planned on driving back to Northampton, parking, and meeting in Wetherspoon’s in town for something to eat and a drink. As we got onto the A50 heading for the M1 the rain became heavier, our visibility reduced greatly, and I started to get an uneasy feeling and headache. Gavin felt me tense next to him and asked if I was ok, I nodded and stared out of the window.

The four of us were just generally chatting and laughing about Matty nearly throwing up when he’d got of the Nemesis when I felt an odd sensation and voice. I knew something was going to happen, zoned out, and could see nothing but rain and an over turned lorry. I felt panicked was this going to happen today. Was it going to happen to us? What could I do? I tuned out of the conversation and tried to concentrate on the flashing images that were playing through my mind at alarming speed, I inwardly begged for someone to help me slow it down and explain and reached up to the necklace I was wearing that Annalise had passed onto me. I cursed myself for not learning more about the spirit guides and just prayed Elizabeth or any other spirit would help. Gavin grabbed my hand and looked at me “What’s happening? Are you ok?” he whispered as he squeezed my hand.

“I have a terrible feeling an accident is going to happen,” I whispered back. I suddenly realised Chris had been asking me a question and tried to brighten my face and listen to what was going on.

Suddenly a voice shouted in my head “Now Lauren. Act now!” not really knowing what was happening I started furiously rubbing the charm on my necklace and whispering words that were not natural to me I saw a large flash and could vaguely make out shouts and shrieking tyres and then everything seemed to go quiet. I looked up as Sophie gasped and placed her hands over her mouth “That was a miracle.” I looked around and noticed a lorry lying in the road and seven or eight cars at a standstill with others swerving round and travelling onto the hard shoulder or managing to come to stop behind us. I vaguely heard someone saying.

“Lauren is you ok? Your nose is bleeding and you look a bit pale.” and then I passed out. When I came to, I had been removed from the car and was in an ambulance with Gavin staring at me.

“Hey you ok?” he asked as I tried to sit up.

“Yeah I’m fine just a bit dazed,” I replied quickly as a paramedic appeared at my side.

“You ok? Think you fainted. It might have been shock or low blood pressure.” I sat up and said I was fine. “It’s amazing. No one has been seriously hurt and given the visibility and lorry blocking two lanes it’s just a miracle there’s no other way to describe it,” the paramedic continued. “Are you sure you are ok? Your blood pressure was quite low and you look quite pale. Do you want to go to the local hospital for a check-up?”

“I’m fine thanks just glad everyone is ok.” I said as I climbed down from the ambulance.

As I looked around I noticed several news crews had arrived and the police had already started moving vehicles and getting people on their way home. The lorry driver was the only one hurt but his injuries were minor. A few cars had been involved in small collisions but everyone had been safe. I overheard someone talking to a news reporter “It was like a miracle, I wasn’t even controlling the car, it just sort of stopped immediately, and it felt like I had been cushioned inside. It seemed to happen to seven or eight cars all at the same time, and the ones farther back managed to stop or swerve in time. It was just amazing.” I looked at Gavin who was holding my arm and I said quietly “Did I do that? Did I stop the cars?”

“Yeah I think so Lauren. Perhaps Annalise was right you are a very special strong witch.” I looked at him in amazement just as his mobile rang “It’s my mum,” Gavin gestured to the phone and answered. I overheard snippets of his conversation and could make out Alice was worried we had been involved in the accident and she’d seen it on the news. Gavin explained how I had stopped the cars and avoided a mighty collision and that we would be home as soon as possible “It was my mum, she thought we might be involved. She said she is so proud of you Lauren, but she’s worried you might be weakened by such a powerful spell. That’s probably why you fainted. I’ll stay with you tonight.” Gavin said as he wrapped an arm around me.

All around news crews were interviewing people under makeshift shelters as it was still raining although it was no longer as heavy. They were also filming and the police were slowly taking notes and registration numbers and moving people on. Two fire engine crews had arrived to try and get the lorry upright so the motorway could be reopened properly and people were taking pictures and calling family and friends on their mobiles. I noticed that Sophie was being interviewed and she smiled and waved as she noticed me. She must have said she needed to leave as within minutes she was at my side. “Are you ok? You took a funny turn.” Sophie asked.

“I’m fine think I just fainted the paramedic said my blood pressure was low so perhaps just not eaten enough or it was all the hanging upside down on rollercoasters,” I joked “I’m fine really.” I said, as Sophie looked at me with concern. “Have the police said if you can move your car yet?” I asked. 

“They said they just want to take some photos and then we can be on our way,” Sophie said. “I’m just going to see if Vicky has been told the same thing be back in a mo.” As she left, I saw Chris coming towards us.

“You ok Lauren?” he asked as he reached out and held my arm.

“Yeah, Yeah I’m fine. Feel a bit silly really all these people in an accident and I’m the only one that faints.” I said and laughed.

“Yeah but not everyone else stopped loads of cars from crashing did they.” Chris said as he stared at me.

“Don’t be silly think you must have banged your head,” I quickly said and shrugged “Eh Gavin. You think Chris has had a bump to the head. Better get the paramedics over.”

“I saw you in the wing mirror, chanting and zoning out.” Chris continued with a serious look on his face.

“Don’t be daft I was just chatting to Gavin,” I said nudging Gavin “Tell him Gav. We were just chatting weren’t we?” I continued but I could tell my voice had changed and seemed high-pitched and fake.

“I don’t believe you Lauren but whatever you did, I’m glad you saved all of our lives.” At that point Sophie returned with the others with the news we were now able to move the cars and return home.

We all decided that given what had happened and our enormous delay we would all return home and catch up with each other at the weekend. After much hugging and goodbyes, I found myself back in my flat with Gavin wondering what to do about Chris’s revelation. I turned on the TV and found the BBC news channel. They were showing images from the accident and it was being portrayed as a modern day miracle, with the reporter saying that several people involved in the accident believed an angel had visited and stopped the cars. The reporter was interviewing a police officer who was explaining that given the heavy rain and reduced visibility he had never attended an accident with so few collisions or injuries and praised the quick actions of the drivers involved. The interviewer asked him if he believed a miracle had taken place and maybe even an angel, the police officer laughed and said it was highly unlikely but perhaps good fortune had been on the driver’s side. They showed some very wobbly footage of the accident taken on someone’s camera phone and you could make out a bright glow and some shrieking noise from the tyres and then the person holding the camera could be heard saying “Oh my god, we’ve stopped, we’ve stopped, is everyone ok? Oh my god we didn’t even bump the car in front.” and then the footage ended with the reporter smiling and saying, perhaps the flash of light was the angel and it was so nice to be issuing good news for a change.

“Well my angel how are you feeling?” Gavin asked as he took the remote control out of my hand and changed the channel.

“Um a bit freaked out actually. Do you think anyone else will realise? What about Chris?” I said in a rush.

“Don’t worry about Chris, I’ll speak to him. I’ll see if I can use my persuasive skills to make him realise it was just a stroke of brilliant luck, and don’t worry about everyone else either so much was going on no one will ever piece it all together and given hardly anyone believes in modern day witches I think your secret will stay safe.” Gavin smiled and hugged me.

“Seems weird that I’m the one keeping a secret from everyone. Why did everything get so complicated?” I said.

“It’s not complicated don’t panic it will all be ok. Lauren you did an amazing thing today, you saved several lives. You heard the police with the heavy rain and reduced visibility people would have been slamming into each other and god knows what could have happened.” He held my hands and looked into my eyes “You saved your friends and our lives, you are amazing.” and he kissed me and I felt all my worries slip away.

Gavin spoke to Chris the following day and somehow managed to convince him that he hadn’t heard me chanting or behaving strangely in the car. I wasn’t entirely sure how he had done this but I knew that one of the skills vampires possessed was reading and understanding body language and the ability to put doubt in people’s minds. I sometimes wondered if Gavin had ever tried to do any voodoo on me but he said he hardly ever applied it as he liked to act as human as possible and my Wiccan side probably wouldn’t allow it anyway as I would sense something odd. He must have played on Chris’s emotions of the near accident and twisted it so he hadn’t seen or heard anything and it was just because he was so shocked and hyped up over the accident. Everyone chatted about the accident for a few days after and I tried to remain normal and act as amazed and surprised as everyone else by it all. Luckily, Chris never mentioned anything to me again and eventually to my relief it was forgotten about.