Chapter 47 – Aftermath, Run. Skip. Hop. Jump. Fly. (Samson Conrad POV) Pt.4
The wise do not trust blindly, my grandfather, Jonah would say sometimes. He was brought up in a time where trust was built based on your actions – so to gain trust, you made the right decisions. You became transparent; the line you walked in life must be done with virtue and sincerity.
That's not saying that this is no longer found in society, but just more or less a rare find.
In reference to myself, I found it hard to let people in, even keeping my family at a distance. Which, after Brennan's actions, I hated to tell myself 'I told you so' but the words where right beneath the picture perfect surface.
Then there was Fatima. Someone just as layered as I was, although it was her view on the world that pulled me in and kept me entranced.
She has this rare beauty. I might be biased.
At the time she was ill, I truly understood the fine line that she was walking. Fatima had fear of the unknown, toppled onto the duplicity already there. Still she showed true strength, she was a good person through and through.
I could remember Shannon Rosario, Taylor, Javier and Devin's mother, trying to tell my parents that Fatima was with them for money. Fast forward two months and I'm sitting in the back seat of Imogen's car after we've dropped off the letter for mom and dad at Nova's place. And on the seat besides Fatima is a suitcase of money, documents and keys from a safe she kept at Walsh's place.
I wonder if my thoughts are normal. There with the bag of getaway supplies, my heart races at how close I was to losing Fatima. She once told me that Dmitri left her everything. I remember thinking, that maybe everything wasn't much, though her words puzzle me.
However with the actual proof at her side, I realize that Fatima wanted to belong somewhere. Here we were, running away, and it was her idea.
Fatima could have left us much sooner. Granted she couldn't drive... she had enough money to hire a driver to take her anywhere she wanted to go. It would cost thousands to do that if she went far enough, but she had it.
Lifting up her hand, I bring them to my lips. A smile growing on my face, grandpa Jonah was right. Had I not been transparent when it came to Fatima, had our family not been that way, she would have bolted the first chance she got.
Or maybe that's just what I'd like to think. Maybe her fear of the outside world was greater than her fear of us. I'd like to think that it's the latter. She sends me a questioning look, but I just shake my head, and mouth, 'nothing.' She doesn't believe me.
Heading to Fossil, the car ride remains silent. No planning with the others in the car, just pure silence that says volumes. As though each mile away from Bend led to a build up of questions that no one wanted to ask.
I had my fair share.
How much danger was the family in? Would my parents listen to what the letter said? What was waiting for Fatima in Williamstown, Massachusetts? And why make her go somewhere? Why did they not just make her remember the data they gave her?
On and on it went.
Though I did not understand a bulk of the conversation held between Imogen, Luca and Fatima, as the trees blur by, I wonder: the Loyalist and Independent fictitious story Fatima had been accepting of? More and more it was looking like something that was not as fake as we believed.
If there was one thing I knew it was that spells was about wording, creating and keeping balance.
So far, if Wyatt said she'd recall coordinates now, what if he told her of the Independents and Loyalist? Except somehow, that spell went wrong and somehow Fatima remembered that part before she was meant too?
Then I had to wonder what the hell Dmitri had done? Why on earth would he hide cars in a town of less than five hundred people? There is no way someone sneezed in that and everyone did not know about it.
It only spirals from there. Going back and forth, even the odd thought of Luca and Imogen.
Luca just up and left Bend, not once mentioning his wife. Had he already left her? Is that why Nick was so hostile with Imogen?
Two hours of 'what ifs' and 'maybe this' only brought me a throbbing headache.
We arrive in less than two hours, Imogen driving along side the storage units after Fatima has shown them the until we go to the last row of twelve containers all of which are owned by her apparently.
Going through them one by one, when we get to the Conquest Knight, I just gape at it. "If we are going across state, we should use this one, it's the safest!" I point to the shiny black truck larger than a hummer.
"But will probably attract attention," Luca says slowly, as though he had to say it, but there was little conviction in his tone. Together we circle the monstrosity that really was the safest. "With the distance we're traveling though, the extra space is a plus," I point out the large area where a row of seats could have been placed.
"We could sleep here as well, or at least whoever isn't driving," Luca adds. "I do not get it Faith," Imogen says resting against the Ford pickup truck besides the Conquest.
"If Dmitri had all these precautions, why – I mean he could have taken you outside, you didn't have to be locked away?" I'm not sure Imogen realized she hadn't actually asked a question, her tone dripped with uncertainty. Over my shoulder I focus on Fatima, her response.
"I think – maybe it was not-" she stops flustered.
"Do you think he would eventually tell you it was all lies?"
"I think he let me believe what I wanted to believe. I can recall when he came where I was being held in the gray room. I wanted to get out, but at the same time, I just knew I couldn't go out unless he had a full body suit-"
"I still don't understand that part," Imogen murmurs, "The people that had you, did they come in suits as well?" I turn around fully now.
How had I never asked her that? I think curiously, because suddenly I could take that thought and ideas bloomed. Imogen was onto something.
"Yeah, they had on these white layer over their clothes, it wasn't thick like the suit Dmitri pretended to wear when he was leaving," she shrugged.
"So not a full hazmat suit?"
Fatima shakes her head. "Then almost like a research lab," Imogen says to herself.
Research facility? Maybe she is recalling being inside a pack hospital?
"Can we just pick a car," Fatima says dryly. Turning back to Luca, our eyes connect and a silent choice is made. Smirking we turn back to the Conquest. I'm honestly blown away.
How on earth could Dmitri have the resources he had but imprison Fatima? Then I think of Cynthia and her attitude, ready to get into bed with the Elders at the snap of her fingers.
Dmitri sent Fatima to Bend, which means he must have known who Cynthia was. He knew just how terrible of a person she really was. While Luca and I stood admiring the armored car, Imogen and Fatima came over with our three pieces of luggage.
If you could call one traveling suitcase, a satchel and duffel much.
"We need to come up with a traveling plan," Fatima says opening the back doors to the Conquest, pointing to the suitcase and lifting a brow in my direction. Smiling, nearly chuckling, I take her hint.
Our belongings in the back, she opens the laptop while unzipping the suitcase and I watch after we've all climbed into the back. When Imogen and Luca scope out what she's had in the suitcase, their eyes immediately flick over to find mine.
Again just more evidence or components that prove Dmitri didn't have to keep Fatima locked away.
Taking out a stack of maybe fifty or sixty manila envelopes, Fatima then hands her notebook to Imogen, half of the envelopes to Luca and the laptop to me.
"These are the properties that Dmitri – or they're mine. If we're going cross-country, we cannot just drive without stopping and resting. So we can – I guess stop at places from these stacks maybe. If I know Dmitri, they'll be private and out of the way," she shrugs.
"I'll write the directions down incase we don't have access to the laptop," Imogen fills the lingering silence between us all.
Nodding, her words trigger a forgotten aid. I dig through my duffel, pulling out the handmade Pack and Den handbook that dad made sure we all had one of incase we ever got separated.
"Okay so, we need to plan around this as well," Luca and Imogen lean forward to get a better look, "Mom made it..." I roll my eyes, though it would be coming in handy.
"This has the packs, dens and a few Fae covens," Imogen nods slowly, "If my parents do not listen the first thing they will do is call-"
"They'll think were going to my safe house," Fatima interrupted, "In North Carolina."
"So we use the book to avoid crossing into claimed territory," Luca adds.
"According to the map, there are two option routes. On the first we are passing through, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Chicago in the beginning. The second option, we pass through Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Chicago," I relay, before turning the laptop to face everyone.
My finger pointing out where the route remains the same on either way.
"I say we take the first route. Your parents may suspect we're going to North Carolina. The first trek going that way is the same as the second option. Going with the first we throw them off, and the second reason, we avoid having to travel anywhere near Colorado."
I look at Imogen across from me, before slipping my gaze to Luca and finally Fatima. She gives me a careful, small nod as we set out to plan our trip.
"Okay so we need to sort out properties in," I pause looking at the map once more, "Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Chicago."
As I call the states off, Luca and Fatima begin sifting through their respective piles of envelopes, putting the ones that apply to the side.
"Any places for Washington or Idaho?" I ask ready to map it out.
"Uhm, I have a place near, Moscow, Idaho," Fatima says softly, opening the envelope, as I map our route and Imogen copies it down. It continues until we've mapped out a route up until North Dakota and Fatima begins drooping against me.
"Okay let get on the road it's nearly eight now so, we should get to Moscow in just about five hours." She nods, though, when I lean forward to observe her face, I find her eyes closed. With the softest touch, I trace her hairline down to her jaw, pulling my hand away when I recall we have company.
"Okay lets go, but we need food because I'm starving!" Imogen – thankfully – says nothing about my regard of Fatima.
"Fatima," I murmur, closing the laptop and pushing it aside to wake her. It does not take much to do so either. After calling her name twice, she props right up, rubbing her eyes and stretching out. "We're leaving, you and Imogen just chill here, and Luca and I will be upfront," I propose, fixing her satchel, suitcase, and my duffel to the side.
Taking a seat in the right backseat, she fits her seatbelt on, before curling up in the large seat, her head rested against the window. When Imogen and Luca look at me, I just shrug.
I wouldn't tell them that Fatima has barely been sleeping since this fiasco with Cynthia. But I did have to wonder if maybe we had already taken a step away from Bend, and whatever incoming danger was headed there was the reason that she was almost losing the hyperaware edge.
Hopping out, Luca just shakes his head.
"You know Imogen told me about pieces of Faith's life before Bend, but-" he waves his arms around the piled up equipment, "he hides her then gives her more material things that she would ever need?"
I didn't answer right away.
Since Luca seemed to be in a talking mood, I cleared my throat, "So... who the hell are Seraphima and Rhys? Exactly?"
Luca looks towards the area of the Conquest, "Imagine your body being the vessel for you and... Silas," he says carefully. "Except... do you remember that family skiing trip that took place maybe five or six years ago?" I frown. Really? It's not like my family was the one that went.
Reading my face he chuckles, "I'll take that as a no."
"Well I was maybe sixteen at the time, Lennon and Imogen were twelve." I nod slowly. "I was with Imogen and Lennon, but Imogen went down the wrong slope so we I sent Lennon back to call my family, and I went looking for Imogen-" searching my mind, when I remember, I nod sharper.
"Yeah, yeah, I remember that."
"It was nearly eight or nine maybe, and I found her covered in snow, and while digging her out I picked up this shell or iron looking thing. I found one in Imogen's hand as well. When I picked it up the free one," my brows scrunch up.
Iron pieces?
"Honestly I don't know what went wrong or happened but I felt like I was pushed back, and when I woke up, I did with a voice in my head, memories of someone I couldn't remember."
My face goes completely blank.
Iron pieces and another voice in his head?
"It tells me, or I know that I should put the pieces in my pocket. But from that moment on, I felt as though I needed to protect Imogen. It wasn't romantic at all, but I think maybe my dad saw something that I just didn't-"
"So that's why you went to boarding school..." Luca nods, "I come back, visiting and I just, I've always cared for Imogen, but she was my little sisters best friend. More and more, the voice in my head came forward and-"
"You never told anyone?"
He shakes his head, "No, but then I come back with Giselle and everything I did was because I shouldn't feel a certain way about Imogen."
"When she told me Faith knew... and she didn't care," I snort, "she really doesn't."
He nods, agreeing, "I served Giselle with divorce papers a few days after Imogen said Faith knew. I just... Giselle wanted to start trying for a family again and I wasn't going to lead her on. Cheating was bad enough; I wouldn't walk the line searching for when the right time to hurt her would be. It wouldn't matter when, it would still be bad."
So that's why he left without a word, I think while I just gaze at Luca, watching as he kicks the concrete floor absentmindedly.
"Everything was just one bad decision after another and it spiraled. When I came back with Giselle, Imogen had somehow started hearing the same voice thing. And I saw her at our homecoming party and the memories of Seraphima and Rhys flooded me. Except it was more of feelings, it was this overwhelming love that filled any of the empty places that didn't already feel that way about Imogen."
"So you're Rhys?"
He nods, "I'm him, but I'm still me."
"Why not just end your marriage before?"
"Cowardice," Luca mutters, shaking his head.
At least he can admit it, I think, walking to the drivers' side, the Conquest key burning in my pocket. I was ready to drive this monster.
Getting in the drivers side, waiting for Luca to open the storage gate, I turn to look at Fatima.
A tiny smile grows, as I sigh.
We could have stayed at hotels, or maybe camped out, hell in some places we were doing that to avoid staying in Packlands. However, I knew that Fatima was hoping that there could be answers in the homes that Dmitri had purchased.
Despite her not coming out and saying that.
And.
I loved her. Was not ready to tell her yet, nor did I think she was ready to hear it, but then again, actions spoke louder than words to Fatima.
.
.
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Ansel Conrad POV
I understood grief, hell, I did lose my son as Danny just said but I would not let him use me as a punching bag even in his sorrow.
Grabbing my brother's chin, I force him to look at her, my eyes glaring into his. "Silas died because he made foolish decisions," it took such a long time for me to be able to say those words.
Say them and mean them.
Then saying them, and believing what I was speaking.
"Lydia died Danny because you brought Cynthia in her life, because Cynthia was teaching her magic right under your nose Danny. She died because she tried to steal power from someone. Lydia died Danny," I sighed shaking my head, "She died because Cynthia thought mom had bound her two Bend and herself. The spell Lydia used would have killed her, it had nothing to do with Faith," his eyes fill and tears roll down from the corner of his eyes.
"Cynthia was teaching Lydia magic Danny. Did you know?"
His body sags even though he's completely horizontal. I loosen my grip on his chin, "I cannot protect the family when I do not have the right information Danny."
The feeble man – my brother gains some strength, pushing my hand away, and forcing himself to sit up. "You might not have all the facts," Danny says slowly, nodding to himself, "But, you – you knew months ago that the girl was Cynthia's biological daughter. You knew that Cynthia had abandoned her, and instead of supporting family, you protect her."
My eyes widen and I shake my head, "Danny, just stop the bullshit! If you think Lydia died because I wasn't vigilante, well you need to accept the other half of the blame for being so damn blind that your daughter stupidly got herself killed."
His eyes burn into mine, and the gray grows, chasing out the sky blue.
"How dare you?"
"You – Cynthia is at fault, I am at fault, but Ansel," he says swinging his legs off to the side, and standing wobbly, weak. "Cynthia had every right to not want that girl. Some people do not want to be parents. Even if she left the girl, after you found out that she was related to Cynthia, that is when you should have sent her elsewhere!" Danny says coming towards me, index finger pointed at my face.
"I'm blind." He nods, "I didn't see everything," he continues, "You said you would never stab me in the back, but what do you call protecting that girl?"
I blinked, "righting Cynthia's wrongs, and don't forget Danny, if not for Faith, Talia would have died. Cynthia made a choice you're right, but she is not my keeper Danny. I didn't take in a girl that she abandoned; I took in one that needed help. If you want to play a game of whom to blame, we can start with you because you are the one that she played." I say and take a step back shaking my head.
"How can you – where is the man that fell in love with Tina? The one that promised to protect and love her and your children? Please," I pause, "tell me," I point to my chest.
"She would be ashamed of you right now. Blaming a child that has done literally nothing-"
"So that's what you're playing," he nods, lips pursed. "The girl is innocent, she's done nothing wrong, she doesn't deserve punishment for taking a life-"
"Fatima is innocent. I listened to everything Imogen had to say, she did nothing wrong," Andy whispers. "Blaming Fatima is not going to bring Lydia back."
"Get out," Danny says monotone to me, "Leave us," he never looks away. His face is stony, but only an outsider would believe that there is nothing but sorrow and misery right beneath the surface.
I nod once, "Do not let my actions fool you Danny. I do not trust Cynthia, and you've given me no reason to place my trust in you. You're being watched Danny, you or Leslie and Lia, take one step out of line and I'm gone, and I'm leaving you to clean up your mess that Cynthia caused," I warn him, turning about, fuming as I make way to leave.
"You've lost a child Danny, as has Ansel," I hear dad whispering, "you're entitled to your grief, not to be an ass."
Outside the room, dad follows me soon after, and I just barely catch the next words Danny says, "Andy can you go," I stop on the stairs, whipping to face my father, but he's just shaking his head.
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Who agrees with grandpa Jonah?