Chapter 16
Avidya
I woke to a pounding head, much like when I had been stuffed into the back of a van. This time, I was able to open my eyes, although they felt heavy with sleep. I was laying on a bed, covers lightly over the top of me and a low light in the corner.
How did I get here? I asked myself as I noticed that I was in my room. My dresser was across the room, and I could see that nothing was moved, but how did I get here? Last I remember, I was in the kitchen eating dinner. Father was upset about something, which wasn’t anything new in the house, but he was angrier than normal.
As I went to sit up, I whimpered in pain. Instantly, I remembered the attack my father bestowed upon me. He had never gone this far before, so why now? Why kick me in my ribs? Was it because Zachariah already claimed me as his? Or was it because things were not going as he had planned?
“Don’t get up,” mom’s quiet voice reached me right before her gentle hand was laid on my shoulder, pushing me back against the bed. I simply blinked at her, not sure what to say. I had so many questions, yet there was nothing I knew she’d willing answer.
“I’m sorry he hurt you,” she said, generally sorry about it. “It wasn’t meant for you to get hurt. Ever. I do everything I can to keep you from his touch, but . . .”
“It’s okay, mom,” I said, blinking back tears. It wasn’t, but was there anything I could do about it.
“No, it’s not,” she said, shaking her head. “I swore to keep you safe, even with knowing that people would be after you. I can only do so much! Shemoli promised to not hurt you.”
“What?” I gasped, instantly sitting up. I cried out in pain as I did so, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to know what she meant.
“I’m sorry,” she said, covering her mouth. “I said too much.”
“No. You can’t just say that and not explain!” I nearly shouted, remembering last second that I couldn’t afford to wake up father.
“I can’t, Vidie,” she muttered out, hiding her face in her hands.
“Why did you have Shemoli take me? Why? I thought . . .” I wasn’t sure how to finish that thought. It couldn’t be possible. No. Was Gemini just a pawn in all this as I had been and die for nothing then?
“To keep you safe. He promised to keep you safe, take you far away. You weren’t to come back here. I knew who Cody planned to give you to, and I couldn’t let that happen. I don’t know how you got away!” she cried out.
“I got away,” I glared at her. “What does it matter? Who’s after me? Who did father want to marry me off to?” I shot out without pausing.
“Many people,” mom answered. “I should not say anything; it’ll put you in more danger, but you’re my daughter, Avidya. I can’t just let you go in blind anymore. I refuse to!”
“Why?” I asked the simplest question, but yet the one that certainly could not be answered. “Why me? I’m not yours am I?”
“No,” she said in a whisper that carried around the room.
“Who?” I asked out, afraid of the answer.
“She’s dead. And so will you be if you keep asking things that you do not need to know,” father seethed from the doorway. He stood, arms crossed over his chest as he glared at me. “And so will she if you can’t shut your trap.”
“Get some rest,” mom said, pushing me back against the bed and tucking me in, hiding her fear from the man she married. Did she really think I could sleep now?
“In a box in the basement are answers,” she whispered near my ear. Louder as she moved away, “I’ll get you something for the pain in the morning if you need it.”
With that, she left, head down as my father glared at me through dark eyes. I gulped, seeing so many things in a new light. He shut the door before leaving me be with a low light from the bedside lamp. I knew he’d go teach mom another lesson for speaking when she shouldn’t have, but maybe this time, mom felt it was worth whatever he did to her.
Slowly, I made my way out my bed, not sure what I could do. There was no way in Hell I’d willingly leaving this room at the moment to go look downstairs. I didn’t want to risk my father catching me. Surely mom knew how to get me the answers I wanted. No, they were answers I needed.
Turning off the light by the bedside table, I then made my way to the window.
Lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating the yard that my bedroom window looked over. The crash of thunder instantly followed. I didn’t jump from the shake of the ground as another strike soon followed the first.
This was the best part of thunderstorms at night, no matter how late it was. I loved watching how simple lighting could be so pretty, like a piece of art in the sky, yet so deadly at the same time. Each lightning bolt left its trail of smoke in the sky for a couple of seconds before dying away.
Normally, I didn’t pay attention to the ground, nor the trees that dotted the yard or neighboring houses. But as another lightning strike lit up the darkness, I gasped as a figure could be seen from between two trees. I couldn’t tell who it was, but my gut was sure that whomever this person was, they were watching me. My skin tingled as though they were there for me and me alone.
Not like the man could see me from his position as I left the lights off, I still froze in place. How could I watch the lighting show without darkness?
He stood there, hands in his pockets, and covered in black to blend into the night. I was positive that it was a man from the way the figure held their body. As another flash of lightning flashed across the night sky, hitting a tree towards the back of the yard, I screamed in shock as the house shook.
The scream was not from the huge crash. No. It was from the man as he looked up at my window that was just beside me. His eyes had to be as dark as the night, and the man I never thought I’d see again.