Chapter Thirty-seven: The explanation

I woke up again with the Sun shining on my face, filtering through the window. I felt more alive than earlier in the morning, and especially after all that sex….how could I not be. How many times was it? Four?

I think about the events of this morning as I roll over to my side to face Lukas. However, I find that he’s no longer in the bed next to me. I prop myself up to look around the room and see no sign of him. Perhaps he is in the shower?

I move to the side of the bed to get up and grimace. My insides feel raw. I decide to move a bit more slowly as I stand up. I notice instantly I’m still naked. I decide not to fuss over it as he’s seen near enough every inch of my body now without a doubt. I walk over to the bathroom and he’s not in there. He must have left the room already and let me sleep in. I scoff. I hate sleeping in but it seems to be all I’m doing now.

I go into the bathroom and start to run the shower. I brush my teeth, finding a new toothbrush up besides Lukas’, then I shower and after coming out I head over to the opposite side of the room and check what clothes are available in the walk in wardrobe.

I see a pair of waist high denim jeans and a cute white top. I chuck them on, not really fussed about my appearance and dry my hair with the hairdryer available in the wardrobe.

Once dried, I make my way to the bedroom door to leave and to see if I can find Lukas.

I open the door, and instantly my stomach growls as soon as the scent of freshly baked bread fills my nose. I leave the room and head down the long corridor towards where the door to leave the top floor and also where Lukas’ office is.

I get to the end of the corridor and walk over to the office room and push the door open to see the room empty. My curiosity takes over and I push through the door and start to have a look at the large desk planted in the middle of the room. The dark wood matched the dark coloured wood of the doors on the same floor. The chair behind the table was also made of the same dark wood but was bound with a red leather, much like the colour on the wall around the room.

I walked over to the bookcase I had seen when we first walked past this room. I take a look at the books, most of them looking fairly old. I look at the names along the spine of each book and recognise a few that were also present at the Druida community.

I take a book I’ve not seen before and move towards the desk, and start to lean against it with the book in my hand. I start to flip through the pages but don’t take notice of the words. A sense of sadness comes over me as I think back to my times with Elijah. I bet he wouldn’t believe what’s happened so far and I wish I could go and see him and just tell him about everything that’s happened.

I closed the book shut as I hear the main door to the top floor opening. I place the book back into the bookcase in the same location I took it from and turn around to start walking over to the door.

I catch a glimpse of Lukas speaking with someone by the entrance to the foyer. I leave the office room and head right over, noticing straight away that Elder Wright is the one Lukas is speaking to.

They both look to me as soon as I exit the room. Lukas expression eases slightly when he looks at me, a small smile creeping up on his face. Elder Wright widens his eyes as if he didn’t believe I was here.

I make my way over to them to greet them. “Hello both.” I turn to Elder Wright. “I hope you’re well Elder?”

The Elders initial shock is removed and he smiles faintly. “Hello Aliana. Yes, I am, thank you. I feel we have a lot to catch up on.”

“We do. However, I was hoping to speak to Lukas first before I spoke to yourself and the other Elders, if I may?”

“Of course. We’re hoping that you may join us later on?”

“Yes, I’d like that Elder. I will see you all later.”

And with that, the Elder bows his head slightly, and removes himself from the top floor.

I look at Lukas who looks like he’s not had a decent sleep. I notice he’s got himself a haircut and also he’s shaved his beard, which I can’t help but pout about.

He catches on, moves towards me and takes my chin in his fingers and gently kisses me. “What’s wrong? Did you prefer the long hair?”

“No…I like your hair like this.” I say as I stroke my hands through his hair which he reciprocates with a menacing growl. “But I did like the longer beard.”

He thinks for a moment. “I can grow it back, then we can see what we can do with it.”

I smile and plant a kiss on his lips.

“I smell bread. Please can we go get some? I am starving!” I exclaim, unsure I can hold myself back any longer.

He laughs and places his arm over my shoulder. “Of course we can, let’s go.”

We went down to the room where we ate around the long table, but instead of stopping here we continued on to a door on the other side, and we got into a large kitchen where I assume all of the cooking was done. There were a few kitchen islands in this room with bar stools around them.

“Are we going to eat here?”

He looks at me quizzically “Yes….is that ok?”

“Yes, I’d love that. It seems….less formal. I like it.”

He smiles softly at me and kisses my forehead, not removing his arm from around me. We walk over to one of the islands and he then removes his arm, pulls one of the tall bar stools out and gestures for me to sit in it.

I sit and as I do, he takes his place opposite me on the island. I see his eyes turn black as he obviously mind-links one of the pack members. A few minutes later, Jorge appears.

He bows to the alpha and then bows to me, looking very happy.

“Hello Miss Aliana.” He looks to Lukas very briefly then back at me. “We’ve all missed you terribly. I hope you’re well?”

My heart strings pang to hear this. I look to Lukas who is holding his smile looking at me. I know that things must have been tough around here. Before I had come Lukas had been tough on the pack and when I arrived I can tell they’ve felt less…..stressed. I feel bad that me being pulled away has caused them all pain and I can only try and make amends for my absence.

“Hello Jorge. Please, just call me Aliana. Yes, I am well, thank you. I won’t be leaving again, I promise.” I say with a smile.

Jorge bows his head again, clearly happy with my words. He then looks to Lukas. You called for me? Would you and Miss Aliana like to eat?”

Lukas chuckles after seeing my wanton expression. “Yes please Jorge. Has Miranda been making bread this afternoon? We’d like some of that please.”

Jorge puts on a big smile. “Yes, she has. She’s made it, along with soup and some sandwiches. I’ll put some together and will bring them out.” He then bows again, and heads out the room.

My stomach rumbles right at that moment impatiently, and I hear Lukas chuckle as I day dream about fresh bread. I give him a side look as he does.

“Hey! I’m hungry after waiting a month to eat.” I joke, but I see him frown at this, and I knew it was a bad joke based on this reaction.

He places his index fingers to each side of his temple. I can see he’s hurt, and I think it’s about time to talk about it.

Before I speak, he initiates the conversation. “Where were you? We searched everywhere. Not one trace of you showed up in or around the lake.”

I sigh, knowing what I was about to say was crazy. “I told you. I met my parents.”

“That sparks a lot of questions, you know that?” He says, with a frown still on. “You told me your parents died.”

“I don’t mean my adoptive parents…..if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.” I said, looking him dead in the eyes.

“I’m listening. Try me.”

We continued to look into each other’s eyes and I can tell he was being serious. Jorge entered at that moment and we both avert our eyes to him as he brings in a tray of fresh bread, soup, and a few sandwiches.

“Thank you Jorge, this looks and smells amazing”.

“It’s our pleasure Mi….Aliana. I will leave you both to eat.” He says, bows again and retreats out of the room.

I look back to Lukas, and decide to go through what happened.

I start to go into detail of what happened as soon as I hit the surface of the water after jumping off the cliff. Being unable to move, drifting towards a light, then being in a never-ending white room with Athena in a separate body before we were approached by two deities who in fact, were my real parents, who claimed to be the Moon Goddess and the Sun God. I went through every detail of our conversation, the questions they had answers to and the additional multiple questions I now have after speaking with them. I then explained how our time was limited and how I was then pulled back into reality as I was blinded by the two deities touching each other, and how the pain of Athena and I being merged as one again was next to nothing, finding out I can breathe underwater and then swimming to the top, going to the top of the cliff and then reuniting with him only to find out that a whole month had passed since I had been away when in reality it felt like no longer than thirty minutes to me.

After I explained it all, Lukas just sat in deep thought. I had finished my food at this point, as I was trying to eat and speak as politely as possible. I start to send worried glances towards him as he processes all of the information.

He then glances at me noticing my discomfort with the unbearable silence.

“Sorry little one. It’s a lot to take in and understand…..are you sure it wasn’t a dream?”

I scoff and glare at him. I knew he wouldn’t believe me, who am I kidding? Who would believe that I entered a void space, met my parents who happen to be deities and tell me that an evil child of the other Gods is about to wreak havoc.

He holds his hands up, noticing I’ve taken offence to his question. “Ok, ok. I’m sorry. No one, not even anything we’ve seen in books mentions of anyone meeting a God before, never mind being a child of not one, but two.” He sighs, obviously exasperated by the whole load of information passed on to him.

“I think we need to speak to the Elders.” He says, his eyes on me, trying to gauge my reaction.

I smile, knowing this is exactly what he’d ask for. “Yes please. I hope they may have an inkling as to what is going on and what to do next.”

He seems a bit hurt by my words but so he should. I don’t like the fact he listened to me throughout yet still asked if I were dreaming.

“Before we go there, can I please go somewhere else first?”

Lukas raises an eyebrow at my sudden question. “Of course Aliana. Where is it you want to go?” He asks, smiling brightly.

I smile sweetly back at him. “I’d like to go to the library please….into the section that for some reason only the Elders and you are allowed into.”

His smile leaves his face twice as fast as it went on.