Finding You

The Tale

Braydon

Skipping school means I don't get to see Amy.

And Rachel was left at home.

I just hope the two girls won't clash while I'm not there.

My father and I had drove to my grandfather's home about a ten minute drive there.  "Ready son." My father asked.  He noticed my irritable attitude this morning.

Seeing I didn't get much sleep, those dreams kept me up at night.  

Heading up the few steps my grandfather greeted us at the door.  He looked the same when I last saw him fifteen years ago consider he is more than a hundred years old.  Not a single gray hair.

"Ah my boys."  He engulfed my father and I in a bone crushing hug, "Come in, come in and have a seat.  I made cookies well not me but...Martha."  He called.  A much older lady made herself known placing a batch full of cookies on the table and a glass of milk.  

What am I twelve.  Still I had to help myself to some home made cookies and let me tell you they were delicious.  My father had his share too as he gobbled three cookies at at time.

"So the only time you visit me is when you two are fishing for information."  Grandfather looked displease, "Couldn't you come here to say hi, how are you."

"Sorry grandfather but how are you?"  

He smiled gleefully, "Good, good now tell me how is your mate?  Seeing I am no longer living at the pack house I have to get my news from else where.  Now why couldn't my own grandson tell me from his mouth about his mate?"  He faked cried causing me to roll my eyes.

"I'm sorry grandfather."

"And you." His attention turned towards my father who remained upright, "What kind of son doesn't visit his own father."

I watch my father gulp in his place of which I found this funny.  "Sorry dad." He looked down seeming to be like a kid again.

Laughing, "Oh don't take it seriously, why the long faces?"  He eased the tension with his jokes.

"Amerie."  One word we got his full undivided attention.

"Amerie."  He spoke her name like he has said many times over.  "Oh Amerie, she was a beaut."

"You have met her?"  I asked dumbfounded.

"No, but I have seen her in pictures that is. Drawings, carvings even some in statues.  Her stories has been pass on for generations now they are probably just myths or fairy tales."

"Stories."  Father questioned.

"That's right son.  Remember when you were a child and your mother use to tell you about a demon that lurks with in the shadows, who do you think they were referring too?"

Shock, "But I thought she was just referring to vampires in general."

Shaking his head, "No, that's the thing no one knows the full story."  Grandfather locked eyes with me, his sight falling on the book I was carrying, "What is that."

Holding out the book for him to take he read the cover out loud, "Dawn of a New Age."  Opening the book he flip towards the old photo that I had gazed many times over, more than I can count, "Amerie." His fingers traced the old picture.  "It's too bad she's not here, she probably would have gotten rid of those vile creatures."

"Creatures grandfather?"

"Those vampires that are appearing.  I must say you didn't even bother to tell me that too."  I looked away ashamed.

Taking a deep breath he began, "There are several speculations with this particular female.  I don't know how much of it is true but here."  On the side he revealed another big black book, called the White Oak Tree, "This belonged in our family for generations."

I observed the book in my hand, it was made out of leather and the writing was in a foreign language.  "It was written in the late seventeen century in an old ancient language, Primitive Welsh."

"Dad, can you read it?"  Father asked skeptically.

Grandfather shook his head, "Maybe a long time ago but my Welsh language is a bit rusty."

He opened the gook attempting to ready the first line.  "I can make out bit's a pieces but I wouldn't be able to give you the full story."

Nodding my head, it was better than nothing.

I watch his eyes roam to bits and pieces mumbling incoherent words, "Ah, here, a demon that plagued the night, the screams that could be heard were becoming nothing but silent cries.  The river in blood drenched as she bathes in their own misery."  Closing the book he furrowed his eye brow, "Sorry it is much too difficult but I will tell you that this book is about, a demon who takes fancy to the killings of thousands and many more.  In one fell swoop this monster is able to send fear into the hearts of many.  The demon knows no bounds, its thirsts held no end."  He stop.  "Well this is only one version."

"But my dreams held those, I felt her pain, her fear, her anger all in one."

Grandfather looked at me, "You felt her, I mean while you dreamed of her."

"Yes, it was like I was there reliving what she had gone through."

"Interesting."

"What is it?"

"Nothing, its absolutely nothing.  In this book though it is heard that she still walks among us but no one has seen nor heard of her for centuries.  But when the people revolted against her, they had persecuted her in the most gruesome ways."

Father and I were now intrigue as grandfather paused, "And that would be..."

"Oh I don't know."  He looked away.

"All this story and you don't know." I growled,

"All I know is the place where she was buried, were her body was kept was found empty.  No one knows what had happened to her for she has never been seen by anyone. And that she was buried somewhere here in this town, that was once known as the White Oak Tree."

I flopped back on my seat, well at least I know something a little more than just of what my dreams are telling me.

"In fact she was buried by such a tree."  He continued, "But that tree is long gone.  Was cut down but woodsmen."

"Damn humans. Can't the leave the trees in peace."  I grumbled to myself.

"Father, you said they are other versions as well."

"Yes there are but the one I just told you have been used though as I said I don't know if any of these are true.  However I do know a short version of another one," grandfather squinted his eyes, "She will rise from the ashes, take her claim among the world and end those the living and the dead.  What the means from my guys the end of life itself."

I was shock at what grandfather stated because in my dream she felt lonely and sad.  Remorse and guilt, all her feelings she had felt I had consumed.  Thought it was plague by death not an ounce have I felt pure hatred.  Maybe on one or two occasions but that was when her head was severed from her body or her heart was ripped out of her.  But wouldn't you be angry if you were pulled apart.

"Well my sons that's all I have known of the tale about the shadows with in."

Standing up we bid our good byes, "Thank you dad."

"Yes thank you grandfather."

He sighed once again, "Please come visit me, you know this old man is not getting any younger and I would like to see my family more often."

"Of course."  With the book of Dawn of a New Age we left back towards the pack house, a lot of new information now swirling in my mind.