Going Home With A Heavy Heart (21)

Before I board the flight for Atlanta I make sure everyone has my instructions.

1) TangNing do not let Xiaolian out of bed other than the bathroom or doctor.

2) Palace Doctor Ping please keep a close eye on Xiaolian with house calls.

3) Brother Hito please watch over my troops, I want to leave them in place for a few months.

4) Xiaolian the best is last. Take care of my little mate and our triplets.

I look at the casket as it is loaded. My heart is so heavy. The palace guard will meet me when we touch down. I have a hard time lifting my feet up the boarding ramp. I feel so heavy, guilty and sad. If I hadn't called for backup my dad would still be alive.

I find my seat and plop down. I request a drink with another to chase it down. I get a pillow and blanket hoping people will leave me alone if they think I'm sad.

The seat beside me is empty until the last minute. Then the oldest woman I've seen sat down with a grunt. "I'm sorry Mother, can I help you with anything?", I try to be nice. "Yes son you can. You have a heavy load that should be put down. Things are not as they seem.", I can't understand what she is talking about.

"Can I get you a pillow? A blanket? Are you comfortable?", I just want to be respectful. She shakes her head no. She indicates she is fine. I decided at that point to cover up in my blanket and try to sleep.

My dreams are nothing but torture. I see Valentina fighting my dad. My dad smiles when he turns to me, Valentina is dead at his feet. Then the look of pain comes across his face. I wake shivering, drenched in sweat.

The old lady looks at me, staring into my eyes. I hear a voice in the mind link: "Put down this heavy load. Everything isn't as it seems." I shake my head like the fog has taken over and I need to fix it. I look at her eyes, very green, with what looks like clouds moving swiftly thru them. "Are you speaking to me in my mind link? How is this possible? Only my pack, my Royal family and my mate can do this. Who are you?"

I shake my head again. I don't understand what is happening to me. When she answers it leaves me even more puzzled. "I am the oldest, wisest woman on Earth and in the heavens."

I can't hold my eyes open, they are so heavy. Soon I fall asleep again. Time is lost. I feel like I am only asleep for a few minutes when a golden light enters my mind. The light is so bright I can't see. I hear a voice speak to me, "Levi, do you trust your Moon Goddess?" I can't see her no matter how much I try. "Yes I trust the Moon Goddess with my life."

I suddenly can't see the bright light. I open my eyes to see the old lady smiling at me. It creeps me out. I smile back not to be rude. It's dinner time and I'm actually starving. I get beef tips with rice, gravy, a bowl of vegetable ramen and sushi.

I eat fast and drink some tea. I feel better for a fleeting moment then I feel the load in cargo. My heart feels heavy again. The old lady looks at me then shakes her head. "The load you put down should never be picked up once more."

I cover up to sleep more. This time the fight is over, I'm holding his body when I hear Luther speaking to me, "We are trapped here." Then Gunther "My boy it isn't what you think." Then my dad, "It is Not your fault, do you hear me? It is not your fault!" I grab my dad and shake him, "What are you talking about? I don't understand. Where are you?" I wake when someone slaps me. I'm shaking the old lady, the stewardess is the one who slaps me. I apologize and retreat to the bathroom.

I wet my hair and comb it back with my fingers. I wash my face. While looking in the mirror I tell myself "I don't know what is happening to me." Now I'm even talking to myself.

This is nuts. Where would they be trapped? How did Valentina kill my dad to begin with? Who is the old lady and why am I being tortured? I need answers and I need them now.

I make my way back to my seat. The old lady is gone. I ask the stewardess where the old lady went. She looks at me blankly. "Sir you boarded alone and you have been alone for this whole flight." I sit down in my seat. I'm very confused.

I try to go over the events of the flight, was this all just a dream? We would be in Atlanta GA in a few minutes. I don't know how to face my mom like this. She needs my strength I can't be caught up in dreams.

Thinking about my mom and my sister was hard. How do I face these women knowing I was responsible for.... I feel like dad would still be here if I hadn't been so stupid.

As we touch down I decided to take the opportunity to get my dads friends together before our farewell ceremony. This could actually be a successful way to give tribute to my dad.

I hear the announcement that we should exit the plane. I start to remove my bag and get ready to go. I wonder who will be here to meet me. I don't expect much from family as this is hard.

I walk off the plane and go to the cargo section. I see the casket that holds my dad. The Royal guardsmen carry it to the hearse. I walk over to the guard and they tell me where the limousine is. When I get over to the limo the door opens and my Grandfather steps out. I just run to his embrace, tears flow in silence.

After I gather my thoughts I tell my GrandPa about everything that happened with Valentina. As we are following the hearse it seems so wrong to talk about my father's death.

My grandPa listens to me and then he rubs his head. We sit in quiet. "Everything was fast, I don't know how she did it. I've tried to figure it all out. I know she is dead because I saw her body burn. "

My Grandfather pinches the bridge of his nose. He is contemplating something. Then he looks up at me, "What if my boy isn't dead? What if the venom has the human and wolf paralyzed, the snake might be sleeping. I've seen the snakes sleep after a big fight. Wolves , werewolves can heal themselves so what we need to do is get him to a healer. If his human is still alive....." His voice trails off.

We pull up to the palace and I see the troops have on black arm bands. I tell them to put Pa in the Auditorium. I write a note for my Grandmother Lady Juliet. I mind link a sentinel to find me a witch, a really strong witch that can heal.

I find my sister. She is up in her room. I walk in and hug her. We both start to cry. She is dressed all in black with her hair pulled back in a bun. She looked like she had been crying for some time. Her eyes were red and swollen. I tell her everything is going to be alright. She looks at me like I'm crazy.

I go to moms room. She is asleep in the dark. I take her hand in mine, and kiss the back of it. "Mommy I promise to fix this. I don't know how but I will."

I find the twins making some kind of experiment. Who knows what it is or what it does. They have always had some weird connection and right now they are talking in a foreign language. It could even be a language they made up because it definitely sounds different.

I go to my old room and put my head down on the desk. I haven't heard from the witch yet. I hope she could help. Suddenly my room gets foggy. I know exactly what it means.

"Grandmother thank you for coming on such short notice. " I proceeded to tell her everything that happened. I listen but get no response at first.

"Meet me in the Auditorium where your father is.", my grandmother sounds anxious. I run down stairs, across the main living quarters, and over to the auditorium. The casket is open and he looks like he is asleep. I pray to the Moon Goddess that our theory is correct.

My Grandfather walks in and then the fog descends on the room. My grandparents haven't been in the same room since Pa's birth. What a fucked up way to be together again.

"Leo honey I need you to look for a pulse. Not by touch but listen for bloodflow with your wolf hearing.", I can't believe I didn't think of this. My Grandfather gets down over the heart and listens for any trace of life. He looks at me and his eyes are huge. "Yes! It's faint but I can hear blood moving. "

Tears are flowing down my face. My Pa could still make it. "What do we do GrandMa?"

"We pray to the Moon Goddess that the witch gets here soon. I'm sorry I can't be there in person. " My grandmother sounds so sad.

The sentinel mind links, "Your highness I've found her. She should be there in the next few minutes. She is casting a teleportation spell as we speak." I just need her to be strong enough and a healer is all I could think.

The palace guard escort a very young, tall, slender woman with long white hair, green eyes and long skinny legs into the Auditorium. They introduce her as Lady Kara of the Australian Order. I'm so Thankful that she is here. I shake her hand and explain everything that has happened. From the fight with Valentina to where we stand now.

"I need him moved from this silly contraption to a table. Bring me something that belongs to his mate. Then turn out the lights I need candle light." She starts barking out orders.

I mind link servants to bring a table, my sister to bring something of moms, and everyone to find candles, quickly. Then I ask Kara if she needs anything else. She is so bossy and demanding, "Yes, silence!"

The candles are everywhere, the table is in the middle of the stage, My Pa is on the table, my mothers scarf is under his head like a pillow and we are all praying to the Moon Goddess. Kara lifts her hands as high as she can, she pours wax on his chest, it puddles on his sternum swirling around.

She begins to chant in Latin:

Natura nihil frustra facit

(Nature does nothing in vain)

Quam bene vivas refert non quam diu

(It is how well you live that matters, not how long)

Dum Spiro Spero

(While I breathe, I hope)

Fortiori

(From the stronger)

Fortiori

(From the stronger)

Fortiori

(From the stronger)

Vita

(Life)

Vita

(Life)

Vita

(Life)

Veni Vidi Vici

(Triumph)

Kara collapses in a heap. Her body is limp like a rag doll. We bring in a sofa to place her down. Suddenly she convulses, her body goes still and we hear her moan. All we can do is wait.

My Pa is still laying motionless. I get a sheet and blanket for him. I pull up a chair to wait. I hear my grandparents talking in whispers. It lulls me to sleep.

I wake because I think I heard a sound of air exhaling. I look at Kara, she is still sleeping soundly. I look at GrandPa, he is out cold. It has to be Pa.

"Pa!"

"Pa!"

I see his eyes flutter. He is alive! I shake GrandPa awake and tell him the news. I ask him to stay with Pa and Kara. I am going to get mom.

I take off running up the stairs to get my mom. I walk into her room to see her sleeping still. I walk over and gently wake her. She hugs me with tears flowing down her face. I tell her the news, she tries to get up but I'm faster. I pick her up bridal style and take off.

I place her down gently. She caresses his face. She talks to him softly. We all see his eyes flutter. So she keeps talking to him. She begs for him to open his eyes, "Teddiebeer please open your eyes. You can do this baby. Please. " This brings his eyes open just a little bit. We all cheer! Now for Kara to wake. My sister is tending to her.

Mom kisses him on the forehead and strokes his hand gently. She is telling him of her love, her dreams of the future and about the grandpups.

I call Xiaolian with the news. She is very excited. She tells me to stay until my dad has fully recovered. She is doing very well and our pups are fine.

This started out with a heavy heart and much pain. It ends with happiness and joy. I can't wait for my Pa to fully wake.