The Haret (The Haret Series) (16 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY

             
By nine o’clock all the dishes were washed and the tables cleaned. Grant noticed Rosie growing weary and insisted they call it a night and head back to the house. Esther agreed it was time for her and Reed to go home too. Grant hit the lights as they all stepped out the back door and into the brisk night air. The path to the house was dark; no one had thought to bring a flashlight and the moon obscured by menacing gray clouds offered them little light.

             
A few steps down the path and Grant stopped abruptly sniffing into the air like a hound dog on a hunt. He put his hand up motioning for everyone to stop their chatter. Putting his ear to the wind he listened intently then broke into a run.

             
“The house is burning!”

             
Everyone stayed on Grants heels sprinting down the narrow path. The closer they got the louder the roar of the flames consuming the two story farm house. Just as Rosie arrived her legs gave out beneath her; she fell into the front yard one hand clutching her chest the other extended toward her home. Sheriff Edwards was on his transmitter immediately calling for the fire department and the paramedics. He screamed into the radio saying the wind was picking up and spreading the fire fast. The dry leaves made the entire area a tinderbox. Grant ran to the side of the house and uncurled the garden hose making a desperate attempt to put out the raging fire.

             
The brisk wind whipped at the flames stirring the sparking embers sending them soaring into the air igniting the surrounding trees like torches.

             
Shattering of glass in the upstairs windows drew Felicitas attention to the roof. She took a step forward straining her eyes trying to comprehend what she was seeing. A disturbing image came into view chilling her in spite of the intense heat radiating off the house. In the midst of the smoke and flames she saw a dark figure perched on the highest point of the roof like a twisted gargoyle hanging on the side of a castle wall. His massive body stood erect his back was arched and his mouth was spewing out venomous flames.

             
Then another flash, a memory, the night in the woods… Raine warned her to run. She inhaled the hideous scent of burning sulfur just as a figure approached. The face would not materialize. The only thing she could remember was sheer terror.

             
She tried to scream but not a sound would come from her mouth. The horror of the presence petrified her consuming her strength and stealing the breath from her lungs.

             
The drake closed his mouth and turned his head toward her aware of her gaze. His eyes were snakelike glowing in the midst of the flames yet they looked right past her as a sneer spread across his face. Felicitas body gave way allowing her to turn to see the source of his attention. She looked at the ashen face of her mother locked eyes with the creature. With extreme arrogance he gave Sharon a nod. With a wave of his hand a pair of wings, black as pitch and glistening in the glow of the flames, unfurled lifting him upward with the smoke until he disappeared in the threatening sky.

             
Sharon stood paralyzed in fear just as Felicitas had been; immobilized by a horrific encounter with the nightmares from her youth. Unwillingly she watched his triumphant exit then dropped her gaze meeting Felicitas eyes before her legs buckled beneath her sending her to the ground.

             
Then as suddenly as the drake vanished upward he returned bringing more with him. They landed walking unharmed through the flames stepping from the billows of smoke manifesting them in full view. They circled surrounding everyone. Sheriff Edwards pulled his gun but before he could fire a shot he was consumed by a burst of flames spurting from the mouth of the drake standing closest to him. He fell to the ground dead, his body charred black beyond recognition. Grant dove for Felicitas but before reaching her flames scorched his body melting his skin like wax. Felicitas screamed as he fell distorted and grotesque beside her.

             
The one who appeared to be the leader tossed his head back and let out a hideous shriek then stepped toward Felicitas and with one incredible move of his hand swept her to himself lifting off the ground. He flew upward hovering over the gruesome massacre forcing Felicitas to watch as his comrades spewed forth their lethal flames incinerating each remaining person. 

             
He placed his mouth against her neck and whispered in her ear. His breath was hot against her blistering her cheeks. The odious smell of sulfur hung in the air with each breath he exhaled. “See what happens to those who dare try and help you? They become marked and destruction will be their end.”

             
She watched as Esther made a futile attempt to attack the drake standing near her. He knocked her hard across the face thrusting her into the burning brush. She screamed in pain as she tried to crawl away only to be engulfed by his fiery spew.                The last victim was her mother who stood helpless looking up into the sky sobbing and calling out to her. Felicitas screamed as she watched her mother fall in agony tormented by the flames. The drakes continued to vomit out their wrath of destruction until all was consumed. She fought hard against the one holding her screaming hysterically while pounding her fist at his face. He pulled her close to him, holding her so tightly she could barely catch her breath. Then his voice changed and softened.

             
“Calm down Taz! Wake up. You’re dreaming.” Grant held onto her while ducking her sporadic blows. “Girl you’re dreamin’ wake up.” He didn’t shake her, knowing that was the worst thing he could do. Instead he wrapped his arms around her holding her tight against him as she tried tearing herself away from his clutches.

             
“Taz, honey. It’s a dream. Let it go….let it go.”

             
She relaxed her body at the recognition of his voice. Pulling back she focused in on his rugged face, unmarred by flames.  The room was quiet, still and cold. No roaring fire, no flames, just the peaceful sounds of the night. Relief flooded over her as second by second she became aware that all those she thought lost were alive. She wrapped her arms around Grant’s neck, clinging to him.

             
Sharon burst through the door.

             
“What’s going on in here? Why is she screaming?”

             
“Night terror no doubt brought on by the drakes.”

             
Felicitas looked over Grant’s shoulder relieved to see her mother alive despite the suspicious look on her face.

             
Sharon scowled and swatted at Grant.

             
“Get off her bed this instant!”

             
Grant recoiled ducking in case Sharon struck again.

             
“Damn it lady what do you think I’m doing? I heard her screamin’ like a banshee so I ran in to help.”

             
Sharon sat down near Felicitas forcing Grant to move aside.

             
“Taz dear are you okay? Is he telling the truth? Was he hurting you?”

             
Grant rolled his eyes and began mumbling something under his breath.

             
“He wasn’t hurting me mother I was dreaming.”

             
“Are you sure he wasn’t doing something to you and you just thought you were dreaming.”

             
Grant had enough. “Come on lady, I don’t know what kind of perverted mind you got but….”

             
“Sharon, my names Sharon, not lady. I do not have a perverted mind but what I do have is a seventeen year old daughter who is pregnant and thinks she got that way in a dream.”

             
“Cause she did! Why do you find it so hard to believe that?”

             
Sharon stood from the bed and faced Grant.

             
“Are you seriously asking me that question? I find it hard to believe because it’s never happened before and I’m pretty sure that scientifically speaking it’s impossible.”

             
Grant rolled his eyes. “And what would you know about science seeing you didn’t even finish high school?”

             
Sharon stood there dumbfounded that he knew that information and appalled that he let out such a secret in front of Felicitas.

             
Her eyes flashed as she began a stare down with Grant.

             
“How do you know that? You are a stalker aren’t you? You’ve been stalking my entire family not just Felicitas. Maybe you’ve been sneaking in her room for years now making her think she’s dreaming. She disappears for a week and then we find her out here with you. You’re probably some kind of cult leader or something, drugging young virgins while they sleep making them think they’re dreaming, and then getting them to trust you saying you’re some kind of guardian and protecting them from shape shifting dragons.”

             
“How’d you know that?”

             
Sharon gasped. “So I’m right. You admit it?”

             
Grant rubbed the stubble on his face in frustration.  “No, I’m not a stalking cult leader. I meant how did you know the Drakes were part dragon? I never said that. You know about them don’t you? You‘ve encountered them before.”

             
Felicitas pulled the covers around her shivering body and stared up at Sharon while remembering a part of her nightmare where the drake had a connection with her mother; how he seemed to recognize her, taunting her with a knowing nod and a gallant wave of his hand.              

             
Sharon crossed her arms in front of her and frowned. “I’ve half a mind to take my daughter home tonight and get her away from all of this asinine, irrational, hogwash. I will not have her terrorized as I was or brainwashed into believing yours and my mother’s romanticized illusions.”

             
Felicitas knew it was a common trait of her mother to resort to attacking her opponent with a myriad of adjectives when she felt backed into a corner but Grant wasn’t intimidated. He continued to press the matter.

             
“Denying it don’t make it any less real. You just keep pushing it back but you can’t keep the memory buried. It’s gonna claw its way to the surface and you’re gonna have to face it.”

             
“I don’t have to do anything but protect my daughter.” Sharon looked down at Felicitas who was still shivering under the covers.                                                                                                                                                                                                  “We are leaving first thing in the morning.”

              Her mother’s announcement caused a hopelessness to overwhelm her like never before. She felt as if she were being neglected in the whole scheme of things. Not once had her mother or father asked how she was feeling about being pregnant or if there was emotional damage after disappearing for a week or with any of the craziness surrounding the situation. They neglected to take the time and really listen to her heart and her side of the whole story. Each of them were only hell bent on being right and taking charge of a situation they seemingly knew nothing about. Their thoughts on the matter were merely logical explanations and even with those they still fell short of knowing what the actual situation was.

             
Her dad believed without question that she was willingly meeting someone at night after being made aware of her nocturnal journal. However he hadn’t taken any time to discuss it with her? He had only suggested county mental health as a way of bullying his daughter into telling him the truth about her personal affairs. His method was not restoring her in love but punishing her for misbehaving.

             
Her mother appeared to care by taking a rare stand against her father but now Felicitas saw this as simply a power play not an affirmation of believing her let alone helping her. Her mother’s power play continued on by arguing with Grant, trying to act superior and take the control she obviously had lost with her husband. Felicitas felt like a pawn in their game and did not like it one bit.

             
“You’re acting just like dad right now mother and it’s disgusting. What makes you think I want to go home?”

             
Sharon was displeased. “I really don’t care what you want at this point Felicitas Rebold. I only care about what is best for you whether you believe it or not.”

             
“Well I don’t believe it. Not for a second because just like dad you don’t show that you care.”

             
Sharon’s mouth fell open. “I am here aren’t I? Have you forgotten the stand I took for you today more than likely to the detriment of my marriage?”

             
Felicitas rolled her eyes. “You didn’t take that stand for me. You took it for yourself. I had the worst dream of my life right now, and I am not sure if it was a dream or some kind of omen of what is going to happen next. I may be awake but I am still terrified and you haven’t even asked me about it. I didn’t sign up for this. No one asked me if I wanted to carry some prophesied child. No one on either side seems to give me a second thought. All you are trying to do is pull rank and take me away from the one person who seems to believe me and really care. You’re ready to walk out of the room and leave me alone and scared.”