Hey all,
I've been sick, so I don't have any good stories, or cute quips for you today. Hopefully, it will be enough to just let you have the next installment of the FREE READ. So, here it is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it!
The Watcher's Guild: Sweet Nephilim
~~~~***~~~~
Chapter Twelve
Consequences and Lies
A telling
silence filled the room. Neither Eran or
Amaris spoke. Janice’s eyes narrowed as
she took in the shocked looks on both their faces. “Well…I guess that answers that! I forbid it, Amaris. You aren’t getting married, let alone go
anywhere with a man who doesn’t love you.”
“Mom—”
“Your
mother’s right,” Johnson put in sharply.
“You’re telling us you are going to parts unknown with a man who might
up and leave you at any minute. It would
be one thing if you loved each other, but it’s obvious from both your reactions
that love isn’t in the mix.”
“Shame on you!”
Amaris’
face reddened at her mother’s tearful chastisement and rose to sit again on the
couch. “Mom…I’m sorry. You just took me by surprise. That’s all. In all honesty—” she glanced at
the equally surprised and silent Eran, “—I’m not sure how I feel. What we have is so new, and I’ve never felt
this way about anyone before. But I do
know this much. I want to be with
him. Forever.”
“How can
you know that,” her mother queried, “if you’ve just met?”
“Mrs. Dover,”
Eran broke in smoothly, “I do care very much about your daughter. I can tell you I haven’t felt this way about
a woman in—well—let’s just say I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way. I think
whatever we have will last.” He glanced
at Amaris who smiled tremulously, grateful for his consolatory words. “I know I want it to.”
“It’s why
we aren’t getting married right away,” Amaris explained, hoping her parents
would accept the ruse. “We care very
much, but we want to make sure. I want
to be married forever…like you two.”
“Well—”
Janice leaned back and took her husband’s hand, “—finding the right person is
important and not something to take lightly.
But I’m not sure going away together will be good for such a new
relationship.”
“I want to
be with Eran.” Amaris gazed up at the
amber-eyed man next to her. “If that
means going away with him forever, I will.”
“But I
doubt it will be forever.” Eran offered
that caveat with a smile, again calming her upset parents. “Once things settle down, I will bring her
back for a visit. This I promise.”
Janice
worried her coffee mug with a nervous hand.
“I don’t know. It’s just not what
we expected when you told us the news. I
was thinking about bridal showers and flowers, now I might not get to do any of
it.”
Amaris’
stomach twisted at the pain in her mother’s voice. It killed her knowing she was hurting them
both. “I love you, Mama. I’m sorry.
I don’t want to hurt you, but I have to do this.”
“Just
exactly when are you planning to leave?” came her father’s gruff voice.
Too choked
up to reply, Amaris only shook her head.
Eran cleared his throat and answered instead. “I have arranged for us to leave this evening
to go to my headquarters. Amaris will
meet my employer and all will be arranged from that point.”
“But she
said tomorrow,” her mother wailed.
“We leave
the country tomorrow. I am sorry. I know this is a shock.” Eran’s jaw was tight. It was obvious to Amaris he was liking this
prevarication less and less.
Her parents
said nothing, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the room. It took everything in her not to tell them
the truth, but the knowledge she might be signing their death warrant if she
did so, prevented her from going any further.
Silver tears slid down her face.
“I’m so sorry. But I have no
choice.”
“Yes, you
do,” her mother said brokenly, rising to her feet. “There is always a choice.”
“Mom—”
“I think we
need some fresh coffee.” Janice dabbed
at her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief.
“Johnson, help me.”
Amaris
stared after them as both her parents marched from the room. Her father sent her a disappointed look over
his shoulder as he disappeared through the kitchen doorway. She put her face in her hands. “Oh, God.
What have I done?”
Eran
reached over and pulled her into his lap, his own heart breaking for her
pain. “I’m sorry, little angel. I wish it could be different.”
“If I could tell them—”
He put his
finger over her lips. “You know that
isn’t possible. It may not seem fair,
but it is for their own protection.”
She sighed
and tucked her face against him. “I
know. But it hurts.”
He wanted
to carry her off to his aerie and prove to her the pain was worthwhile. But a part of him knew that no matter how
difficult it would be, giving up her old life for a new one was the only way to
move forward as a Nephilim.
“They’ll
hate me now.”
“Don’t be
ridiculous,” he growled. “They are your
parents. They love you. No matter what. Like Jehovah’s, their love is unconditional.”
“Then why
do I feel so horrible?” she wept.
“Because,
you are leaving all you know behind, little angel. You want their blessing and because they
don’t understand, they are loathe to give it.”
“But I
thought meeting you would make it easier.
You’re so strong and powerful.
Such a wonderful man, I figured they wouldn’t worry so much.”
His cheeks heated
at her praise. “I am a warrior for the
Lord, Amaris. As well as your teacher and guardian. While I will protect you with my life, in your
parent’s eyes, I am the man who is taking you away from them.”
“It’s just
not fair,” she sniffed.
“Life is
sometimes not fair.”
“Well, at
least the man you’ve picked has a head on his shoulders.”
~~~~***~~~~
Sometimes the decisions we make in our lives are so painful. Especially when we're not sure if they are the right ones. Even when we love and care for someone, it's not easy. Something Amaris and Eran are fast discovering. Maybe it will be easier as time goes on. What do you think?
Until next weekend...
Hugs,
CJ England
Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com/luckbealady/luckbealady.htm
2 comments:
As I am facing hard decisions in regards to my mother I sympathize very much with Amaris. I don't think it ever gets easier either. But you do them for the ones you love!
That is so true, Phylis. I agree 100%.
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