Birth of Jaiden Read online

  “I will,” Victoria replied petulantly as she plopped down on the sofa. “So this is the child we have heard so much about.”

  Alex couldn’t answer because he was still staring at Isabella. They want this beautiful woman to live with me for eighteen years.

  Suddenly, Danielle’s voice saturated his head. Stop staring at her; you’ll scare her away.

  Shifting his eyes and thoughts over to Danielle, he thought, Sorry.

  Danielle nodded acknowledgement.

  “Isn’t she sweet?” she said aloud.

  As if Jaiden knew they were talking about her, she made more baby noises. Carefully, Alex laid her down on the blanket.

  “Alex, this is Isabella.”

  As Victoria made the introduction, Isabella turned to Alex and extended her hand. He took it reluctantly for fear he would not be able to let go.

  As their hands met, so did their eyes; he could see a life of hardship and pain reflected in them. At the same time, he could feel the love and kindness emanating from her.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Their hands stayed joined while she spoke; hers was soft, like her voice.

  “It’s nice to meet you as well,” he finally uttered.

  Danielle’s voice was in his head again. What’s wrong with you?

  He pulled his hand away from Isabella’s and shot an annoyed look at Danielle. He couldn’t stand when she did that.

  “May I hold the baby?” Isabella asked Alex.

  “Of course.”

  “What is her name?”

  “Jaiden.”

  “That’s pretty.”

  “Thank you.” Well, at least I can hold a conversation with her. “Danielle told me you raised your brothers and sisters.”

  She picked up Jaiden. “Yes, my parents left as soon as I was old enough.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s ok; I have learned to live with it. We are really much better off without them anyway.”

  “Where are your brothers and sisters now?”

  “At home. My sister is two years younger than I am; she is old enough to look after them now.”

  “How do you support them?”

  “That’s why I’m here.” She looked down at Jaiden and rocked her gently back and forth.

  Alex watched as Jaiden’s eyes started to roll back and her lids slowly shut. Impressive, it’s almost as if she has her under a spell.

  “Do any of your siblings have magic?” he asked.

  “Some have it mildly, but none of them are like me.”

  Danielle leaned forward. “Has Victoria explained to you about Jaiden, about how powerful she is? It will be a very hard training process.”

  “Yes, she has. No one taught me how to control it. I didn’t even know what I had until I was twelve. Then, I got so angry at a teacher in school that I wished she would be crushed. Suddenly, the entire black board covering the wall behind her came off and fell right on top of her.”

  “My goodness.” Danielle’s hand went to her mouth.

  “Yes, that was when I realized I had to control my emotions.”

  Suddenly, Alex began to have visions of some of the things which could happen while raising a baby who couldn’t control her power. What if she gets mad at us? All children fight with their parents every now and then.

  Isabella identified the fear in his face. “Don’t worry; there are ways to avoid it. If she loves you, her subconscious will never let her hurt you.”

  Boy, she gets more and more interesting by the minute.

  Danielle spoke again. “Why don’t you two go shopping for the baby things and get to know each other. I can stay here with Jaiden.”

  Alex looked at Isabella questioningly. “Do you want to?”

  “Sure.”

  Victoria rose from the sofa. “I have to go.”

  “Thank you for your help.” Alex stood up so he could walk her out.

  She ignored his thanks and bid farewell to Danielle and Isabella, then walked out the door without waiting for him.

  Alex threw his hands up. “Sometimes, that woman drives me crazy.”

  Danielle and Isabella both smiled up at him.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” they replied in unison. Isabella lowered Jaiden back onto the blanket and stood.

  “Are you ready?” Alex asked her as he grabbed his keys off the table.

  “Yes. See you later, Danielle.”

  “See you later.” Danielle waved at them as they headed for the door.

  8

  The rain finally stopped and the night air smelled fresh as they drove along the highway. While Isabella chatted along the way, Alex became more comfortable.

  “Victoria explained everything to me so you don’t have to worry.”

  Alex chuckled. “Based on what I’ve already seen, I’d say you’ve been gifted with a lot more than magic.”

  More than he could see her blush, he smelt the rush of her blood rising to her cheeks.

  “You would think that after taking care of my family for so long I’d never want to see another baby, but I absolutely love to see children grow and learn and to know I was a part of it.”

  He nodded his head in silent agreement and told her, “You’re going to be perfect for Jaiden.”

  “Thank you,” she said meekly. “So where are we going?”

  “Since I can’t shop during the day, everything is closed except good ole Wal-Mart.”

  They arrived at the Wal-Mart and found the baby department. Alex felt anxiety creeping in again. The fact that he was shopping for his baby was odd enough, but to be doing it with a beautiful, amazing woman beside him was even more incomprehensible.

  After they had picked out all the essentials, Alex wandered around marveling at how much stuff a tiny baby actually needed. He added a soft, pink, blanket to the cart. Then, he paged through some of the books about having a baby. He felt someone’s eyes on him and looked over the racks of infant clothes. His eyes met Isabella’s who was staring at him with a sweet smile on her face.

  “Do you have telepathy?” he asked her.

  “No, I just have a good sense about people.”

  “I am not a person.” He closed the book and put it back.

  Isabella moved closer to him. “Yes, you are,” she whispered.

  “Well, we could argue about that all night.”

  “Let’s not.” She grabbed the book he had put back on the shelf and threw it on top of their overloaded cart. “I know what you’re thinking, Alex, you’re an open book.”

  Alex changed the subject. Secretly, he hoped she didn’t really know what he had been thinking about her. “What other powers do you have?”

  “Well, I can do pretty much anything magic, but I’m best at moving things.”

  “Not to sound stupid, but how that is a witch power, a lot of people can move things with their minds.”

  She took his criticism lightly. “I can make very large things disappear and then reappear where I want them to.”

  “Oh.”

  “Most people don’t understand it until they see it.”

  When they were done shopping, they put all the large items on a gigantic flatbed cart and wheeled it out to the truck.

  “I hope we got everything.” He examined the full bed of the truck.

  “I think we’re ok for now.” Isabella giggled.

  As he slid behind the steering wheel, he glanced over at her and then quickly looked away. I am so glad they chose her, but I’m going to have to keep my distance. It would be too easy to fall in love with her.

  When they arrived back at the house, they found Danielle in the sitting room with Jaiden and Damion.

  “Hello, Damion.” Alex greeted him warily.

  “Hi, Alex.”

  “Trouble?”

  “You guessed it.” He eyed Isabella who stood behind Alex, her hands full with shopping bags. “You must be Isabella.”

  She flashed him a radiant smile. “You gues
sed it,” she mimicked. “If you all need to talk privately, I can stay in here with Jaiden.”

  Danielle rose from the sofa. “Thank you.”

  Isabella set the bags down and sat cross-legged on the floor next to Jaiden.

  Alex shut the doors behind him and led the way into the dining room. Before they were even seated, Damion tactlessly blurted out, “Stewarts gone!”

  Alex snorted. “I’m not surprised.”

  “Danielle told me you thought something was wrong with him.”

  “It’s Malcolm, for sure,” Alex muttered while they all took seats around the massive wooden table. “Do you think he betrayed us?”

  “No, not intentionally, anyway.”

  Damion tapped his fingers repeatedly on the table. Alex could tell he was revved up and ready for a fight.

  “I think it’s more likely that he was kidnapped.”

  “I disagree.” Alex shook his head. “But, I do think this has something to do with Malcolm.”

  “Stewart is kind of vulnerable; he’s mortal, after all, and he is totally obnoxious. If he got sassy with Malcolm, chances are Malcolm wouldn’t take it for long,” Danielle said.

  As he was convinced Stewart was a traitor, Alex couldn’t help his sarcasm. “Are you serious? It would be so easy for him to go against us.”

  “If he was not trustworthy, he would not be part of the council. We are all telepathic and not one of us ever got the sense he would do anything to betray the council,” Danielle told him.

  “No one except me!” Frustrated, Alex wondered how Danielle could always stay so calm when everyone else got worked up.

  Damion leaned close to Alex. “If he has been taken, we need to act. How would you like it if you were kidnapped and we all sat around calling you a traitor?”

  He was right. Alex knew Stewart could have been taken for information. “Ok, but if he was kidnapped, he better hold up his oath.”

  “He swore to the council. He will,” Danielle whispered, almost doubtfully.

  “That doesn’t mean anything if you’re a traitor. There have been traitors on the council in the past.”

  Again, Damion leaned over toward Alex and put both hands on the table in front of him. “We must find him, traitor or not.”

  Alex knew Damion would look for Stewart whether or not they all agreed. “All right, I’m with you.”

  Danielle cleared her throat. “Sorry, Alex, but you have to stay here for Jaiden.”

  He swung his head in her direction. “Huh?”

  “You heard me, you need to stay here.”

  “No way, I have my own oath to uphold.”

  “By protecting Jaiden, you’re honoring your oath, and that is your top priority.” She folded her hands. “Regarding Stewart, we must think this through before taking action. His disappearance could be a distraction.”

  “So if we send troops into a war, I will be left here to wonder what is happening?”

  “Alex, you’re being childish!” Danielle scolded.

  “I need to go.”

  “Alex, that’s enough! Damion is going. He trains the warriors and it would literally take an act of God for him to die.”

  Alex refrained from smashing something. “But I have fought wars in the past.”

  He felt Damion’s large hand on his shoulder. “This, my friend, is not a war. It is only the first battle of many more to come. Besides, you need to stay here and keep the child safe; she is the key to a hidden lock.”

  They are right again and I don’t have any choice in the matter, he thought with resignation.

  Your role in all this is more important than rescuing Stewart.

  “Danielle! Stay out of my head!” Alex shouted. “I’m tired of not having any privacy.”

  “I’m sorry, Alex.” Her voice was softer than usual. “I just want you to understand what an important part of everything you really are. Jaiden needs you. If something happens to you, she’s doomed.”

  “If you two know so much, why the hell don’t you know where Stewart is?”

  “Alex, don’t curse.”

  “I’m sorry, Danielle, but look at all the things that are happening to me. I’m a little stressed out.”

  “Alex, Damion and I are here for one thing, and other than information directly about that, we don’t know any more than you do.”

  “Then why do you know so much about the master plan?”

  No sooner than the words were out of his mouth did he realize. Could it be? It hadn’t occurred to him while Danielle had explained about Jaiden. How could I have missed it?

  Slowly, filled with rage, he rose from the table. These were two of his closest friends and they had deceived him. His silence told them more than words ever could.

  Damion and Danielle understood.

  “No, Alex.” Danielle moved to embrace him. He pushed her away. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Isn’t it!”

  Damion tried to calm him. “Alex.”

  He whirled to face Damion. “Don’t! Don’t you tell me to calm down. You both lied, and you,” he pointed at Danielle, “are supposed to be an angel. You befriended me only so I would listen to you when the time came. You’re using me! Jaiden and I are the mission, right?”

  Neither of them answered him.

  “Tell me!” he roared.

  “Alex, you don’t understand.” Danielle was holding his arm and pleading. “I was sent to watch over you and keep you safe, to be your guardian. You weren’t even supposed to know me. Then, plans changed and I was allowed to show myself to you. Even I didn’t know I would grow so fond of you.”

  “Well then, why didn’t you say something before?” His voice had become flat, emotionless.

  “I wasn’t allowed to; besides, don’t you think you’re more receptive than you would have been if you had been told upfront?”

  “I am one of Gods children and I would have taken the responsibility anyway.”

  “Alex, I wasn’t allowed to reveal anything about it. Please, please, please forgive me.”

  Alex could not ignore the urgency which coated her voice. Even though she wasn’t capable of tears, he could still see them glistening in her eyes. He wanted to stay angry, he wanted to scream and yell, to break things, but he couldn’t.

  “What about you?” He glared at Damion.

  Damion shook his blond head. “I have never lied; my mission is completely different. I only know what Danielle tells me. You are one of the most honorable men I know and I consider it a privilege to know you.”

  “I do as well,” Danielle whispered.

  The sincerity was clear in their voices, but the deceit would take some time for him to swallow.

  “I can’t be around you two right now.”

  He turned and left the room, rushing hastily out the front door. Once he was outside, he began to feel better. Inside, it felt as if the walls were closing in on him. He had already started to forgive them, but he needed a time out to squelch the evil which sometimes burned inside him. He knew he was most at risk for doing things he didn’t want to do when he was mad, although sometimes the ability to block out his conscious and be a real vampire was a good thing.

  He sat down on the bench outside his front door. The open air felt good and helped him meditate on his menagerie of thoughts before returning to the dining room.

  Upon his entrance, he stated flatly, “I’m not angry. I just don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  Danielle came to him and attempted, once more, to embrace him. This time, he responded by wrapping his arms around her.

  “Just think of it this way, Alex, I found a great friend who needed me as much as I needed him.”

  Damion sighed. “I would give you a hug too, but I’m not that kind of guy.” He smiled wickedly.

  9

  Alex leaned against the door frame and watched her.

  After Damion and Danielle had left, he had returned to the sitting room where he had found Isabella examining the cont
ents of his large library.

  What if she’s thinking about me? He felt incredibly tempted to tap into her thoughts. If I do and she finds out, she’ll never trust me. Then again, how would she know?

  He tore his eyes away from Isabella and glanced down. Jaiden snoozed on her pink blanket. His gaze moved back to Isabella who randomly plucked books off the shelves, opened them, and then replaced them.

  I’ve got to know. He closed his eyes and welcomed the familiar feeling of dizziness into his mind.

  How will they get along without me? Maybe I shouldn’t’ be away from them. Oh man, what am I getting myself into?

  He watched her carefully while she continued to leaf through the books and think about her sisters and brothers.

  But then there is Alex. He is more amazing than this gigantic house he lives in, hardly seems like a vampire at all. For him to just take a baby on as his own…that’s…well, admirable.

  Alex couldn’t help himself; he was excited. She likes me. He smiled, stopped reading her mind and decided to actually talk to her.

  “So,” he said as he entered the room, “you like books.”

  “Oh.” She turned to face him. “You startled me.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Yes, I do love books.”

  He joined her at the book shelves. “They are a whole other world.”

  “I agree. They never fail to take me away from a world I can’t stand and put me into someone else’s life.”

  Alex frowned. “Why can’t you stand this world?

  “It doesn’t matter; everyone has obstacles they have to overcome.”

  He looked into her eyes. “Yes, that’s very true.”

  “Alex?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why don’t you have any photographs?”

  He shrugged. “I never really thought about it.”

  “It makes it feel less like a home.” She raised her eyebrows. “You don’t even have any picture albums. Everyone has pictures.”

  “Well, I don’t.” He turned away.

  “I’m sorry, did I hit a nerve?”

  Clearly she was being sincere, not hurtful, so he let it go. She means well. “It’s ok.”

  “I wasn’t trying to…”