✞ The Cross of Saint Lucian ✞

"What would you do if the moment you came into this world you were destined to be different?"

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

•• A little something, it's not much but I had a feeling and wrote it down •• “MOMMY! My Balloon!” a dark headed little boy ran straight past the stranger sitting on the wooden bench near the lake, his mother chasing closely after him trying to get him to listen to her pleas to leave the balloon alone. It had been Seventy Five years since Liliana took her first step through the veil of the Otherworld and into the world of Humans. She’d watched them come and go, grow and destroy, and not once did they ever stop to think that there could be a better way. The young Fae sat up straight, tucking her dark hair behind her ears as she continued to listen to the bustle of human life around her. They were always so busy, rushing from one place to another and never really stopping to take note of the beautiful world around them. Smiling to herself, Lily wondered what her life would have been life if she hadn’t been caught on the Queen’s land and banished to the Nethers. Maybe if she hadn’t followed Ashwood that day he would still be in her life. “You know, you can think of the Maybe’s all you want, my child, but nothing can change what happened, it was your fate to stand by my side” the soft heavenly voice of the Goddess Danu came to her upon the wind as she appeared out of nowhere, standing quickly, Lily made her move to bow at her saviour, but she was stopped “Not in this world” the Goddess grinned as Lily made herself comfortable next to the beautiful auburn haired woman. “In this world, I am just as lost as I was in my world, or my old world” Lily sighed, slumping forward and resting her elbows on her knees “I just feel that I should be doing more than observing. Judas is old enough now, he can handle what we need him to do. So why am I stuck sitting on a wooden concoction watching humans rush around?” the frustration in her voice was clear as day, but the Goddess made no comment on it. “My child, a true warrior must know within themselves when the time is right to make a move. This is what you’re here to learn. Trust your instincts, trust the Seelie still buried within you” holding a finger up she silenced the questions that Lily had opened her mouth to ask “When you become one with your instincts, then and only then will you be able to move from this spot. Though I don’t know why you would want to move, I think it’s a lovely place” she winked at Lily, giving her a smile that warmed her from within. Being banished from the Seelie Realm had been hard, but not being able to say goodbye to her mother had been the worst thing to happen to Lily, Danu, had given her the peace she needed to go about life, the Goddess of Life and Earth had given her a chance, and with that chance Lily could earn back everything she lost when Ashwood had fallen through the Veil. Lily just had to stop the coming war between Humans and Otherworlder’s to get back what was hers, and to do this, she needed the son of an old friend to help her. She needed Judas, she needed to find peace in what had happened already to take that first step toward making the future great again…

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

•• Ashwood ~ Part 1••

-- Maine, August 1941

“OFF THE BUS 297!!” the salt and pepper haired Officer shouted as he pounded on the plexiglas window. It was enough to snap the young man out of his day dream. Getting to his feet, he shuffled his way down the centre aisle, the chains that bound his feet to his hands clinked against the metal floor as he stepped toward the Officer that had been giving him hell since he found him on the side of a road. “It’s not going to be any easier in there for you, kid, if you’re not willing to give a little”, the Officer, though he played Mr. Tough, was sympathetic to each and every boy he dropped off at Yardley. He cared more than he should have about them, but there was something about 297 that made him go soft around the boy. Something within the kid screamed that he needed help.

Yardley Juvenile Corrections Centre was a stark grey menacing building wrapped in sharp wire that stretched as far as the eye could see, well as far as the middle of nowhere, Maine, as it could be. It was the house for mentally ill patients who couldn’t be let into General population in the prison system. After a string of unexplained deaths ‘Yardley Mental Institute’ was closed and transformed into a home for children. Mostly, they were juveniles, or in the case of 297, they were John Does. Or Johnny Doe, as some of the younger children decided to call themselves.

Reaching out, the Officer grabbed the chain and lead 297 to the main gate “Transfer for you” he smiled at the armed Guard on the other side of the fence as an alarm sounded and the gate slowly started to roll to the side “Ah, the newest addition!” a man in a white coat came walking down the path towards the Officer, giving him a nod of appreciation “So what do we have here, Luis?” holding his hand out for the transfer papers “We have an Unknown. John Doe 297. Found wandering the highway outside Greyfriars, near the old LaCroix mansion. Been silent ever since I took him to the station, though I know he understands what we say. He’s a bit of a mystery, Doc” the Officer shrugged and gave another tug on the chain as 297 followed him inside the fence, knowing that he was stuck here. Stuck in this world without his powers.

The Officer, Luis Hernandez and the man in the white coat, both turned at the same time and looked at 297, his light brown eyes catching the midday sun as he gave them a small smile. He hadn’t been listening to what they were talking about, his mind had been off in a time he wished was still there for him to enjoy. The cuffs and chains that bound him together were finally released, the guard gave him one last slap on the back “Maybe our paths will cross again one day 297” the guard smiled, rolling up the chains “In a good way that is. Later Doc” he smiled as the alarms sounded again and the gate rolled open far enough for the Officer Luis to slip out. “Well then” the Doc, nodded to a new guard dressed all in black that had somehow made it to their sides without 297 noticing “Welcome to Yardley” he motioned for 297 to follow him “Don’t think of this as a jail, think of it as a place to recover the memory you’ve lost” taking the steps quicker than a man his age should, 297 noticed the Doc had a slight limp as he walked, but it wasn’t enough to hinder his daily life nor his voice as he continued to talk faster with every step “You’ll be housed in William King Wing with the other John Does. Throughout your time here you will be required to attend daily sessions with medical assessors” the Doc turned and thrust a pile of off-white clothing into 297’s hands before continuing his welcome reel as he turned into what appeared to be a glass tunnel leading to another building “Follow please” his hand motioned for 297 to keep up with him “Failure to attend means you’re not complying and punishments will be handed out. When your assessor deems you fit enough you will be awarded a role in the system to work during the day. Sundays are the only day inmates don’t work, no matter your religion. Do you even remember that?” he glanced over his shoulder to see if there was a reaction on 297s face, but there wasn’t.

“Aha, your room” sliding a folded white piece of paper into the plastic sign beside the door “It’s basic, but you can call it home and decorate a little. Any questions?” he smirked at 297, wondering if he would get a response. Opening the door, 297 glanced at the room before looking back at the Doc “How do I get out of here?” it was short, sweet and to the point, but mostly if was the first time he had talked in almost three weeks, that was how long it took them to work a new John Doe into the system as Guard Luis had told him on his way out to the big grey building. The question had caught the Doc off guard, stuttering as he tried to find the appropriate reply “Um, well, Um, yes, well, that all depends on you. You’re a John Doe, you’re not actually a Delinquent. Yardley houses both, and you will mix with everyone eventually. But back to the question, your release all depends on you and your memory” setting the bundle of clothing down on the thin mattress, 297 looked at the Doctor “So if I was to tell you my name now, I could walk out the door?” his face was like stone, no emotions crossed his eyes as he asked another question “Could you do that?” the Doctor asked as 297 shrugged “I could give you any name right?” the Doctor took a deep breath, his cheery disposition was starting to fade “You have a week of therapy treatments, regression hypnosis, we will assign you one doctor who you will work with, they are the ones who have to sign the paperwork to get you released. You’re not here because you set fire to someone or something, you’re not the corrections side of this facility, you’re here because you’re a John Doe and there is nowhere else in this state that accommodates adolescent John Does.” Nodding 297 thanked the Doc and went to sit on the edge of the bed, making it aware that he was done talking and listening for the time being.

-- Maine, January 1941

Staring out the window, 297 watched the young boys below playing in the snow “Are you ready?” the door behind him closed, locking him into a room with a man who could never understand who he was or what he had gone through, but it was time to try something. Nodding 297 took his usual place on the old brown leather sofa, the back of his head finding the indent that had been left there by many, many young men who had been in this room before him “I’m ready” he said taking a breath. “Okay” sitting down across from him the therapist rest his notepad on his knee, poised ready to start taking notes “John Doe 297, you’ve been at Yardley for five months, 4 days. In all that time you’ve never spoken to anyone other than Director Roberts and myself, and today you suddenly say you remember everything about your life prior to being picked up by Officer Hernandez outside Greyfriars. Am I correct?” Nodding 297 moved slightly in his seat, wondering if this was how it was meant to happen in this world. “Well, please, go on” the Therapist sat and waited for him to talk.

“Um…” the young man didn’t know where to start, his light brown eyes were focusing on the landscape image on the wall over the therapist’s shoulder “My name is Ash, Ashwood. And I don’t know where my parents are because they abandoned me on this side” he fidgeted a little, wondering if the Therapist would buy his somewhat true story. Ashwood’s parent’s hadn’t abandoned him, they’d actually congratulated him on what he did. Part of him was happy that he had finally done something to please his parents, another part of him was sad because in order for him to please them, he destroyed someone he loved. His Lily. “And do you remember how old you are?” the Therapist asked as he started scrawling notes across the paper, nodding Ashwood swallowed before replying “I’ll be Eighteen on February 19th” the therapist looked a little shocked “Well, isn’t it convenient that your memory came back just in time for you to be old enough for release” making something down on his paper he stood up and walked over to a wall mounted intercom, when he had arrived 297, or Ashwood, hadn’t known what all these modern contraptions were, but the Therapist had indulged his questions and replied, even if Ashwood had never answered any of his questions till now.

Laying on his bed with his hands behind his head, Ashwood had wondered what he had said during his session to make them send him back to his quarters with an armed guard, he’d even felt the muzzle of the weapon tap him on the back as they walked across the snow covered yard, a walk he had made on his own an hour earlier. Staring at the ceiling, Ashwood could hear the voices outside his door “I don’t know if he’s ready!” one man almost shouted “But we legally can’t hold him here after he turns eighteen. You need to deal with this, you’re the Director!” the bumbling babbles of a man who was lost for words filtered through the space beneath Ashwood’s door, no longer was he 297, he’d noticed the sign on the wall near his door had been changed between leaving the Therapists room to arriving back at his room. It amazed him how efficient the Human’s worked in this place. From the raised voices and mumblings, Ash realised that his time here was coming to an end, Yardley was his first home in the Human world and he would be soon back on the streets in a world he still had nothing about. A powerless Unseelie in the Human world.

-- Maine, February 1941

Stepping out into the winter breeze, Ashwood tugged at the pants he was wearing. Though he had only been here for six months, he still had nothing to call his. The clothing on his back had been found in a ‘Lost and Found’ box by the Director. The jeans hung loose on his bony hips, though he was in the Human world, he still had his Fae body, everything but his ears had stayed the same, they had rounded the moment he fell through the Otherworld Veil. It was punishment to Fae who moved through the Veil without permission, their trademark ears, their power stripped and their way home was blocked, unless they paid their dues to the Queen, which Ashwood would never do. As an Unseelie he was born to reject the Queen as his own. If his Lily had ever become Queen, he would have had to turn his back on her, it was the only thing that made him accept what he had done to her. He had ruined both their lives in a split second of stupidity.

Tucking his hair behind his ear he took a step forward as he pulled the hood of his jacket up, still wondering if this was all some dream. Would the guard at the gate shoot him the moment he tried to walk out. “OPEN THE GATE!” the voice boomed across the grey gravel courtyard as Ashwood took another step, then another. The loud alarm that greeted him into this cage now bellowed again as the electronic gate started to slide to the side. Breathing a sigh of relief as he stepped outside the gate, Ashwood finally let his eyes focus on what was in front of him. “Told you I’d see you again, 297” the Officer took a step away from his old brown car as the young man stopped in his track “It’s Ashwood, now” Ash spoke clearly, not tempted to move from his spot next to the fence, “Come now, It’s too damn cold out here” the old man shivered in the Winter breeze as he tried to zip up his Uniform jacket higher than it would go “Gots ta get back to town before the snow starts to fall again” Tilting his head to the side slightly, Ash looked out from behind the strand of light brown hair that had escaped the hood of his jacket “No offence, but is this a set up or something?” the old man looked at him shocked as the alarm behind them started to scream again and the gate slid closed “No set up, Doc called and told me yous was being released today” opening the passenger side door he smiled again “Though you may need a place to crash till you get yourself settled, or not” slowly he pretended like he was going to close the car door again and leave Ash behind “Wait!” the boy called out over the wail of the wind, his voice getting lower the closer he got to the Office he once hated “Thanks, Old man” he grinned getting into the car as Officer Luis muttered “Cheeky Devil”.

The drive into town seemed to take longer than it had before, but Ash had remembered that he wasn’t really thinking straight, his mind had been on the message his father had sent through and his Lily, he wondered how much she hated him now and how he could ever get back there to make things good with her “Well, someone’s a million miles away” Luis laughed, nudging Ash with his shoulder while still controlling the car “Just thinking” Ash grinned, his light brown eyes finally finding their sparkle again, he was going to try and get back to the life he had before, even if it meant using Humans to get what he needed.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

Grayson LaCroix

The midday sun was high in the sky as it radiated of the red dirt surrounding them, the only sound around them other than their own breath was the buzzing of flies milling around the decaying corpse of a red cow “I really don’t know what you’re on about, Bob” the officer stood up and took his akubra, swiping at his brow with an off-white square handkerchief “Doesn’t look to be foul play to me” a tsking could be heard from behind him “That’s a load of bullshit and you know it, George. Look at them bloody marks in that hide, ain’t no way you can tell me thems dingo teeth” the well worn man kicked the carcass of the dead cow with the tip of his steel cap boots, making sure he didn’t kick too hard so that his boot would end up in the middle of decomposing innards. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you. Getting a specialist out this way would be costly” the officer sighed placing his hat back on his head to shield his skin from the drying heat “They ain’t dog prints I tell ya. I ain’t neva seen a dog with toes like a Blackman” Bob turned his head, spitting a wad of tobacco into the dirt. Rubbing his hand over his chin, Officer George nodded “I’ll make the call, but no bloody guarantees that they will do anything, you know how these pencil pushers work” opening the drivers side door to his 4WD, the officer smiled “Goin to the pub tonight” nodding, Bob tossed his shotgun into the dusty tray of his ute before opening his door “Bloody oath, mate. Wouldn’t miss Delia’s Tuesday steak” his lip parted to reveal a smile that was missing more teeth than Bob had “I’ll see ya there” George smiled back tipping his hat as he climbed into his car and started the engine before taking off slowly followed by Bob in his old ute.

Sitting silently behind a nearby boulder was the thing that had killed the cow, his skin burned from the sun and covered in red dust as he listened to the cars disappear into the distance he stepped out of his hiding place. Looking down on himself he didn’t know what was happening, his thin teenage body was starting to fill out at an unnatural speed. He went from being thin and pasty one day, to taller, stronger and faster over night and he had nothing to explain for it. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he started to move in the same direction as the cars went, even though the red dirt burned his feet, the sting only lasted a little while before the skin started to change into fur, his body falling to the ground as the bones in his back popped and snapped into place, his top lip curling back to show the sharp fangs. The scent of the two men was strong in his nose, their sweat had laced the area around his kill, catching the scent on the air he started running, his thick red fur blocking the sun from his skin as his feet carried him home. -- Stepping out of the shower, Grayson shook his head, his skin still tinged a slight red colour from the day in the sun. Walking out of the bathroom as he buttoned up his cotton shirt he smiled “Well, look what the cat dragged in” the old man looked up, his signature toothless smile flashing “Flamin’ Hell, when did you get in lad!” holding his hand out to Grayson, Bob greeted the lad like he was one of his own “look who went and got all big like the old stump out the back” he chuffed, ruffling Gray’s freshly cleaned hair with his dusty hands. “Bout a halfa ago, fixed ya blocked pipes and needed to get meself cleaned up, ya know” tsking Bob shook his head. For an old guy he wasn’t your typical live alone hermit, Bob’s place was normally crawling with people wanting the ‘Outback’ experience. It was the easiest way for him to get help without really asking for it, and Grayson’s parents had been one of the families that blew through a few years back. Bob knew there was something up with the parents, and everything changed when they cleared out one night and left the boy with him. Bob had done what he thought was the right thing and took Gray in, gave him a roof over his head and food on the table. “Ya know” Bob called out, as he undressed in his bathroom leaving a circle of dust around him “I didn’t think you’d ever come back once you got that cash from those people” turning the cold water on the old man shivered as he stepped under the water “Of course, old man. Had to come back and make sure you’re still kickin” Gray liked to make a joke about it, but the truth was Bob had been more of a family than his birth parents, and when he received news that his parents had been killed in Sydney, Gray had left to tie up loose ends. The cash Bob had been talking about was an inheritance that was left for Gray, one he didn’t want. -- The radio kickstarted another classic country song, something about the monophonic drone on the singer made Grayson regret not choosing the station when Bob had offered, but it had been Bobs car and not his so he let the old man choose his station. This far out in the red there were only so many choices you could make. You either had the Classic or the News, and neither was suitable in Gray’s mind. Resting his elbow against the car door he watched the scenery go past, the setting sun sent rays of bright oranges and yellows across the dark blue skies highlighting the features of the flat red planes, the odd dead tree, and small scatterings of underbrush, not much but it was home. As the breeze coming through the window brushed against his skin Grayson closed his eyes, taking in the scents that filled the car “Miss it, do ya, Sonny?” Bob smiled, glancing sideways at him as Grayson opened his eyes “I missed the Quiet of it all” his eyes locked on what they were approaching. The town in front of them was one of those ‘blink and you miss it’ towns. Five or six scattered buildings marking a main street, with smaller homesteads pushing their way into the outback, the further out they went the less there way.

Pulling up quickly outside the local, Grayson had to grab the dashboard to stop himself from slipping off the seat “I see you still ain’t got them brakes fixed” he laughed shaking his head as he climbed out of the rusty old ute “She still runs like new” Bob grinned, hitting the roof of the car as he slammed his door and walked off towards the wooden shack, leaving the windows down and the car unlocked. From the outside, the building looked like it was going to fall down, worn unpainted weatherboard cladding surrounded the building, the rusty tin roof barely hanging on. Shaking his head, Grayson remembered the last time he was here at the old Devil Waters Pub. “He still remembers too” Bob showed his toothless gums again as he pushed the gauze swinging doors open and walked in met by a rally of greetings and back slaps “Bloody Maggies are loosin again, sure you wanna be here, Bob” Delia smiled from behind the bar as she poured Bob a schooner of beer “Bloody oath, Dee” Bob sat at his usual stool “Two steaks as well, Luv, brought a stray wif me tonight” at that moment Grayson pushed the door back and stepped inside, his eyes searching the place like he had been accustomed to in the city. “Well Fuck me! Sonny’s come home to roost” Delia laughed, walking out from behind bar and giving Grayson a hug “Never thought you would blow back through after tryna steal a keg from Bluey” Grayson hugged her back awkwardly “Fair go, Dee. It was for me birthday” moving past Grayson, Delia took her usual spot behind the bar near the taps, pouring Grayson a beer “G’day Sonny” George slapped him on the back before taking his seat next to Bob “Didya hear the news?” he asked as bob shook his head, giving a no worded reply as he watched the small static filled screen on the television behind the bar. “I got that call in, seems there’s an animal expert in our area. I was told he’d be here tonight” Bob glanced at him sideways “Struth, that was bloody quick” as the door opened again, all three men at the bar turning to look at the tall man standing in the doorway.

Stopping in his footsteps, Judas LaCroix was used to being noticed as he walked into places, but not like this. It was normally a ‘here comes that thug again’ look, now it was a ‘who are you’ look. “I’m looking for Sergeant Taylor?” his American accent seemed to drawl a little more than it normally did, stumbling to push his beer aside and stand up, George wiped his sweaty fingers down his shirt before holding his hand out to the stranger “Dr LaCroix, I take it” he smiled nervously “I’m the Sarge around these parts, I mean I’m George Taylor. Wanna beer?” gesturing to the tap, George gave the others a look to tell them to act normally “I’ll take a water if you have one” mopping his brow with his handkerchief  “It’s a bit warmer here then I was expecting” bending down, Delia’s chest threatened to bounce from her shirt as she grabbed a bottle of water from the small fridge behind the bar “Here you go, Luv” sitting it on the bar she heard the ding of the bell “Tucka’s up” called Bluey, sticking his head through the little window from the kitchen “Well blimey, you have a hide sitting in my bar, Sonny” rolling his eyes, Grayson smiled “I payed you back for what I broke, shit Bluey, when you gonna give a kid a break” laughing Bluey disappeared from the window, before reappearing through the swinging metal door off to the side of the bar “I like giving ya shit, Sonny” he placed the two plates of steak and fries on the counter in front of Bob and Grayson “Old man” he chuckled, pouring Bob another schooner of beer as the old man sat glued to his AFL match, the old man nodding accordingly.

Listening to the conversation across the room, Judas stopped taking notice of what the Sergeant was saying until a hand was waved infront of his face “Hello? Doctor? I think you may be sufferin from some heat stroke. You zoned out on me like you had seen something” shaking his head Judas smiled before taking a sip of his water “It’s Professor, and no, I just revel in the accents that are surrounding me” he lied through his teeth, but he wasn’t about to tell anyone that the young male sitting at the bar had caught his attention “Ah, bloody hell, pick up ya flamin act” Bob called out sawing into his steak as Gray touched him on the shoulder “Simmer down there, Old man, you’ll blow a gasket. It’s just a game” laughing he slipped a forkful of his own steak into his mouth, turning his head as he felt someone watching him. Grayson’s eyes caught Judas’, something in them screamed understanding, a feeling he had never felt before in this town, not with who he was, or what he was. “I think you need to catch some zee’s there Doc… I mean Professor” George noticed Judas’ attention was waning again “I think you might be right, Sergeant” Standing up, George pulled a set of keys from his pocket, holding them out to the American stranger “Then you will be needing these. The house is next door, it’s the old whore ‘ouse but it’s been cleaned and set up real nice as lodgings for people like yourselves. I‘ll meet you out front at the crack of sparra‘s” taking the keys with some reservation, Judas nodded “Thank you, see you in the morning” twisting the cap back onto his bottle he left the pub.

Stepping outside, Judas looked around the steaming hot from when he walked in was cooling fast “There’s a storm comin’” Grayson stepped out behind him, slipping a cigarette between his lips as he lit it. Nodding at the young man, Judas stepped off the porch and turned left “Oi, Professor” Grayson smiled “If ya go that way, you’ll only find desert. But if ya go this way” pointing to the right “You’ll find ya bed for the night” pulling the cigarette from his lips he blew smoke into the air, watching the stranger carefully as he changed directions “Thank you… “ pausing he waited for the young man to introduce himself, but he didn’t so Judas walked off, off to find his bed for the night in the retired whore house. “C’mon Sonny, best get home before the weather turns shit and we gotta sleep in the tray” laughing Gray stepped off the porch “I don’t think the tray would be long enough for me now” dropping the butt of his cigarette, Bob shook his head at him “Those damn things will kill you, you need to give them up” cringing at the squeak of the door Grayson nodded “Okay, Old Man”. The trip back to the homestead was much the same as the one to the pub, but the scenery was different. The plains around them were pitch black now. Nothing to see for miles, not even the outline of the dead trees “Bloody roos” Bob grumbled, swerving the car to the side to miss the kangaroo that hopped out of the darkness onto the road. -- As the morning suns rays ripped through the window like a laser through metal, Judas rubbed his eyes, sitting up slowly he groaned, his whole body aching from his travels, but he knew he was here for a reason, he was here to find the creature that had been described to him on the phone. Something about this creature screamed otherworldy, but that was a subject that Judas would keep to himself. Going through the bad he had with him he was grateful that he had the brains to pack a long sleeve shirt. After the heat of the night before he wasn’t really prepared for the heat of the day. A firm knock on the door broke him from his fussing over clothing. Walking through the house the creaks and noises followed him as the old floor boards strained under his feet. “Goood, Mornin’ Professor” Sarge George beamed up at him spinning his service hat in his hands “Y’all ready for the day?” rubbing his neck, Judas looked at him “I think I am going to need a coffee before we do anything” opening the door wider to welcome the policeman inside, Judas finished buttoning his shirt “I got that sorted. Delia’s whipping us up some special cappuccino’s and a couple bacon and egg rolls. Figured you’d be wantin ta hit the road before the midday heat sets in” George stood just inside the door, not tempted to move in further as Judas pulled on his boots and grabbed the leather satchel from the kitchen table “Then I guess I am ready” clipping on a fake ID, Judas was happy to play along with them thinking he was a professor, if it got him what he wanted.

Outside, the sun seemed brighter than it had coming through the windows, as Judas covered his eyes he heard the shrill of Delia’s voice approaching them “’Ere ya go lovies, two frothy caps and a couple of sanga rolls” handing the paper bag over to George she smiled sitting the coffee tray on the front of the car “And an Akubra for our yank friend” holding out the brimmed hat to Judas, he smiled and nodded “Thank you, Ma’am” laughing Delia walked off mumbling about how the stranger thought of her as a ma’am. “Righto, best we be off” George took his cup of coffee before handing the other to Judas, tossing the tray into the back of the police car with the others he had collected over time. The ride to the homestead was filled with George babbling about how he would love to go to America, things he regretted by becoming an outback copper. Judas on the other hand sat sipping his coffee, even though he normally took it black he hadn’t had the heart to tell George that his efforts this morning to make him feel welcome were futile. “Is that meant to be a river?” Judas asked as they passed a dry gouging in the landscape, nodding, George turned his head and looked “Devil’s creek, only bloody flows once a year, rest of the time she’s bone dry” pointing to an outcropping of boulders George began to explain the land “There’s a story from the natives, about it. Something about this land being cursed after a murder and because of the curse the river runs red once a year. They also say that monsters live in the rocks. No one dares go in them, even if it is another water source for us, no one is willing to go there” pulling up next to one of the smaller boulders, George got out of the car, followed by Judas “Mornin’ Bob” he called out to the man bent over the body of a cow “Bastards hit me again last night, George” poking the bloated stomach of the freshly dead cow, Bob stood up, his old bones cracking.

Moving closer to the body, Judas knelt down next to it, making sure to avoid the shredded flesh was left next to it “Something is bleeding them, there should be more blood than this” pulling a small metal spike from his bag, Judas poked at the flaps of flesh that had been ripped open on the cow’s neck, trying to put the wounds together to see if they matched or were ripped “Well, Professor, what’s killin’ my stock” Bob asked, shooing the flies from his face as the sound of footsteps on dry dirt approached “Looks like they headed up into the rocks” Grayson appeared in a dusty white singlet top, his arms tanned from the sunshine as he rest the shotgun in his hand against his hip as he adjusted the old magpies cap on his head. Looking up, as Grayson’s shadow crossed the dead cow, Judas looked up at him “Will you show me where they went?” standing up and adjusting his satchel, Judas waited for an answer “Go on, Sonny, you got the shotty if anything jumps ya” leaning against the front of his old Ute, Bob looked like he had been punched in the stomach, at the rate things were going if this creature kept killing his stock he would be out of work and the homestead would crumble. “Better be good at climbin’, Professor” Gray smirked, as he walked past Judas and started heading toward the rocks.

The Boulders were meant to be a place of great danger, but Grayson knew them well, his friends and he used to come here to swim growing up. Most of the adults around believed in the stories they were told about monsters living in the rocks, but Grayson knew that in the rocks was nothing more than a waterhole, fed by an underground stream. The only monster in the area was himself “How far in is it?” Judas asked, slipping slightly on a rock but catching himself before his face hit the stone “Just over the next boulder” Grayson breathed in as he squeezed himself between two rocks, turning around he put the butt of the shotgun against his shoulder and held it at eye level to Judas as he came through the narrow gap between the stone “What the hell!” Judas exclaimed, wondering what the hell was going on “You tell me ‘Professor’” Grayson motioned the gun to the side, pointing to a spot where he wanted Judas “On your flamin’ knees” Gray growled, poking Judas in the back with the gun “You don’t want to do this, Sonny” Judas spoke calmly, turning to face him so he didn’t anger Grayson more “Ya think” he smiled, the sparkle of something new in his eye, something new that caught Judas’ attention. “It’s you” he whispered “You’re the monster” Grayson was shocked by his words, so much that he spun the shotgun around and hit Judas in the face with the butt of it.

Groaning, Judas felt his jaw click as he rolled over and balled his fists into the red dirt “God damn” a bottle of water was shoved under his face “Sorry ‘bout that” Grayson sighed, taking a seat on a small rock nearby as he shoved Judas’ belongings back into the leather bag he carried “Did you learn what you needed to know when you tried to make me swallow my teeth?” Judas asked, taking a sip from the bottle “’Nuff to know you’re no professor. You’re a yank, but not a professor” nodding Judas looked over at him with his steel blue eyes “I’m a teacher of some kind” he smiled “I teach people like you to control what they are so they can change on demand” Grayson fingered the trigger on the gun like he was going to hold it up and shoot Judas there and then “What makes you think I need ya flamin help?” arching a brow, Judas pointed in the direction they had come “The slaughtered cattle. Pretty sure you’re not looking to destroy Bob” shaking his head Grayson looked over in the direction they came “No. He gave me family when the others ditched. It’s why I took off to the city when I started to change” nodding Judas listened to everything the boy was giving him, before finally offering him something “Come back with me to America, I can teach you how to control the urges, teach you how to control the hunger” shrugging Grayson looked at him “Can’t afford nuffin like that, Bob is barely keeping this place floatin on the money I filter into his accounts without him realisin” rubbing his aching red jaw, Judas stood up “If you come with me, I’ll give you the money to keep Bob going. But only if you join me. I can’t tell you everything now, but one day you will stand by my side as a commander of an army that will be more powerful than any human army” Grayson’s mouth fell open, he didn’t know what to say or how to compile everything in his mind for it to make sense, but he nodded. The single thought that his leaving would help Bob, was all that mattered to him. “Guess I better tell the Old man I’m disappearin’ on him again” Grayson laughed squeezing the trigger of the shotgun till a bullet exploded from the end and hit the boulder across from him, causing Judas to jump “What the fuck was that for!?” he narrowed his eyes at the young man “So the old bastard would let me go and think his cow killer is dead” laughing Gray squeezed back through the boulders and made his way to Bob and George, a smile on his face like he made his first major kill. -- “And that’s how we met” Judas laughed, looking down the dinner table at the young man, the tan on his skin had faded slightly since making his move to America and his hair had grown a little longer, but he was still the Grayson who walked off that cattle station five years earlier, though now he was Grayson LaCroix, he was commander of The Cross and he had full control of his changes. Though it was still unknown how he could become a dingo/wolf hybrid, there were still creatures in this world that were unknown. Though to Judas, Grayson was his son. “And what happened to Bob?” Lily asked softly from her place next to Gray “We lost Bob, two years after I left he had a hart attack” shaking his head, Gray’s smile turned into a frown “Bloody bastard never did learn how to ask for help in his whole life. When I left, Jude and I made sure he had someone there all year. He just refused to ask. But that’s the outback way. One day I will go back, maybe when we win this war” Grayson smiled at Lily, they both left lives that weren't working out for them and joined Judas, now they would die for him, for their Human. Gif Credits to the amazing http://jaifkncourtney.tumblr.com  Thank you a million time for helping me bring Gray alive.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

Liliana and Ashwood

-- Seelie Court - Reign of Abelia Lamiaceae, Queen of the Four Kingdoms.

“Come on, Lils” the unseelie fluttered his light brown wings hoping she would start moving faster, but Lily wasn’t sure that what they were about to do was the right thing. Their lives as Children of Fae was different to that of Human children, upper and lower classes were all schooled together, trained together. The only children who were exempt were that of the Royal bloodline. Though the Seelie and Unseelie were allowed to be friends during childhood they would eventually end up as enemies fighting against each other instead of beside each other. Lily knew the fate of her friendship with Ash, she knew one day they were would be enemies, but she still had hope that maybe Ash would covert to her way of thinking.

“We can’t, Ash” she sighed, pulling her hand back as he reached out to grab it. Lily had been raised near the Royal court, her bloodline stemmed from their Queen, though not directly enough to be able to ascend the throne before the Queen’s future children. Reaching out, Ashwood grabbed Lily by both arms and shook her gently “I’m not asking you to break the rules, Lils, I’m just asking you to go to the spring with me” sighing he dropped his arms, his wings falling in defeat against his back as he turned to head home “I’ll see you tomorrow, Lils” he bend down, picking his leather satchel up off the log “Wait” she sighed, hating that he could make her do anything he wanted by simply frowning.

Ashwood was an Unseelie, but he wasn’t like his family, he didn’t value mischief till recently, and Lily wondered if this was the beginning of his rebellion. “I’ll go with you, but if we get caught, it was your idea” Lily picked up her own leather bound notebook as the frown on his face started to turn into a smile “Anything for you, Lils” grabbing her arm almost dragging her to his house on the edge of the woods where they left their belongings before heading into the woods to visit the blue springs. The forbidden springs of the Queens were off limits to anyone but the Royal family and the Kingdom guards.

Something wasn’t sitting right with Lily, she adored Ash but on the walk to the springs she felt something had shifted in their friendship “Ashwood?” she asked, stopping to straighten the top of her boot as it threatened to slide down her leg “Yeah, Lils?” he smiled, his eyes watching her hand as it moved up her boot, flattening the blue leather against her skin “why the sudden need to go to the springs?” she looked up, noticing him watching her as she stood up, her eyes rolling back into her head “And stop watching me like that” she started walking as he grabbed her waist “And why shouldn’t I look at you like that? Lils, we’ve been best friends our whole lives and maybe, just maybe I am starting to see why the Seelie guys talk the way they do about you” she slapped him playfully in the side, thinking he was messing with her “Stop being silly, we’re almost there” the air around them had cooled slightly as the trunks of the trees around them fluttered with bright blue wings of butterflies “I’ll race you” Lily smirked, stepping over a fallen tree limb before turning and running toward the deep blue spring.

The crunch under her feet alerted her to something not right as Lily slipped in the mud at the edge of the cold spring “LILY!” Ashwood screamed at her before his arm snaked around her waist, stopping her from touching the water “By the power of the Goddess’, Liliana of the Dragon Lily House, what was that!” he spun her around to look at him, her face ashen as she struggled to take her eyes off the ground beneath her feet “Something isn’t right, Ash. They don’t just die for no reason” Ashwood managed to look down at what had frightened Lily, he had been too focused on stopping her from touching the enchanted waters to bother about his footing to begin with “I know” his voice whispered shakily “But it’s none of our concern, that’s for the Queen to bother about”

“Come on” he whispered, tugging on her arm as he forced her to move, Lily’s feet moved, but her mind didn’t wander far from where they had been “Can we go back, Please” frowning Ash looked at her “We can’t do anything by going back, Lily, or did you forget this place is forbidden at our age? Can we please just try to enjoy ourselves?” nodding, Lily took his hand and lead him to a small worn path in the dirt around the spring “You’re a bad influence, Ashwood” laughing at her he tugged her close, wrapping his arms around her and holding her, tighter and longer than normal, he finally let go when she started to squirm uncomfortably in his arms “We can’t, Ash, feelings cannot happen, we are friends and that is all we can be” her voice took an unnatural high pitch sound when she was agitated, the fact that she cared about Ashwood more than a friend was impossible in their lives. He was an Unseelie, and it was in his nature to oppose the Royal family, the Queen. Lily was the Queen’s cousin, and rightful heir to the throne if the Queen didn’t have a daughter soon. That was something Lily never wanted, she made her daily blessings to the Goddess’ that the Queen would be with child soon. If the Queen gave birth to an Heir, Lily was free to love whoever she wanted. If not, she was to have an arranged matching with a Seelie Lord. It would be a crime for her to succumb to her feelings for the handsome Unseelie who had been by her side since the day they could walk.

They came to a stop near a small inlet at the far edge of the spring, the water here was different to the other side, it was also louder so they had to raise their voices above the nearby waterfall to be heard. “I always loved this part” Ash smiled, stepping up onto a log that had fallen across the water, step by step he made his way across the log so he was above the water, arching her brow, Lily narrowed her eyes at him “And how many times HAVE you been here?” he hadn’t been thinking when he spoke, but he realised he had let his secret slide without noticing. As he turned to look at her he slipped slightly, landing on his hands and knees on the log “ASH!” Lily gasped, her hand covering her mouth as her eyes widened with shock “I’m okay Lils” he looked up at her, his trademark smirk plastered on his lips, but the slight twinkle of fright in his eyes. Shaking her head she sat on the end of the log, looking up at him as her wings opened on her back to stretch “Please be careful”.

Smiling back at her, he stood back up, one foot over the other he made his way back to where she sat, jumping off the log so his feet made a loud slapping noise on the rock he jumped to “Just think Lils, if we got matched, my wings would be Blue too” a slight blush crossed the apples of her cheeks “That would never happen Ash” Lily stood up, using her wings to balance her as she took a small step towards the water. “Plus, I think your colour suits you better, it matches the highlights in your hair” resting her hands on her hips she wondered what blue wings would look like on him, her whole life she knew that whomever she would be matched to would give up their wing colour in order to be her match, Fae females were considered the higher beings, the nurture, the givers of life, so a matching would mean males gave up their earth coloured wings for their partners. “So are we going to have some fun or what?” Ash arched a brow, before shaking his head “No way. No way in Hell” pouting as he took a step toward her she knew what was coming.

"Come on, Little Lily, this is crazy and you know it. You're meant to be the wise one" tugging on the determined seelie's hand, Ashwood tried to talk some sense into Lily before she got them both in trouble. “Oh, come on. If you can make it across the log, so can I” she took another step toward the water, then another, Ash following beside the log, determined not to let her go. As she took another step, she was above water, tugging on her hand Ash tried to get her back across land, as if he were afraid of something. “Ash!” Lily squealed as his tug on her hand forced her to loose her balance, hitting the log hard she managed to hold on “Oh god Lily. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry” climbing up onto the log, Ash crawled closer and closer to her, his face had panic all over it as he sat facing her, his long legs almost touching the water where they were “I’m sorry” he whispered, cupping her cheeks as he leaned closer pressing his lips against hers as he stole a kiss from his best friend. Taking a breath, Lily grabbed hold of the Ash‘s shirt, the shock of being kissed for the first time made her confused. “Ash, we can‘t” she spoke against his lips as she pushed him back away from her , Ash’s anger got the best of him and as he struggled to get away from her he slipped, falling into the water with a loud splash.

“ASH-WOOD!” Lily screamed, leaning down as she tried to grab his hand, the water around them changing from a cobalt blue to an indigo blue almost immediately. Lily tried her hardest to hold on, but slowly Ashwood’s fingers slipped from hers and he was gone. Screaming his name over and over again, Lily started blaming herself for what had happened. Hitting her palm against the log she stood up, quick enough to gain pace but not quick enough to fall herself. Foot over foot she made it to the ground, her feet pounding the dirt as she ran as fast as she could. It wasn’t long before she ran into a guard, his chain mail armour clinking as Lily’s body connected with it. Her voice coming out in huffed words as she tried to explain what happened. How Ashwood and her broke the rules and her friend had fallen and not come back up. She began to sob as a link of chain was wrapped around her wrists and she was being dragged to the Queen. Lily knew her friend was gone the moment she told the guard where they had been when he fell into the water, she also knew the Queen would not be lenient on her because she was family. The Queen hated that Lily had a claim to the throne, and would do anything to prevent her from being the next queen.

-- Greyfriars, Maine -  1941

Time passed differently in this world. The moment Ashwood stepped from the edge of the water he knew something bad had happened, his wings were gone and the tip of his ears were now rounded. He stood waiting at the water’s edge for the woman he loved. He stood there till the sun moved, realising that she hadn’t followed him. If anything he had thought Lily had cared about him, though she pushed him back when he had stolen a kiss, he thought she only did that because of her status within the seelie court. Hearing the sound of people he slipped behind a tree and waited for them to leave. The boy and girl looked to be younger than him, talked different to him and dressed in weird looking clothing. As he went to step from his hiding place to make contact with these people, Ashwood noticed movement in the water hoping it was Lily he stepped forward.

The younger boy’s head snapped up as if he sensed him there, but then focused on the water where a cascading circle appeared, like waves it moved outwards before a small vial popped out, the glint from the sun connecting with it made the boy turn away, giving Ashwood time to retrieve it from the water’s edge. Opening it up he noticed a small note ‘Ashwood. Congratulations my Son, I hear you broke all the rules and betrayed your Queen. You’re one step closer to bringing our cause to the door of the Royals. Don’t look for your Seelie friend, she has been banished and stripped of all titles upon orders of Queen Abelia. This is war. Good Luck, make a new life in the Other World. Your Father’ stumbling back, Ashwood realised that his decision to visit the Blue Springs, had not only cost him his best friend, but it had also cost her more than he could ever imagine. A Banished Seelie could never enter the Kingdom again, Ashwood had cost Liliana her family.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

The Semicolon tattoo meaning. I’ve seen these popping up in Social Media. It’s an inspiration much like my #Jai_is_Life saying. It’s a way of overcoming depression that leads to suicide.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

The Inspiration behind the Characters of The Cross of Saint Lucian. As well as random Musing and...

With all writing there comes the story boarding, the research, the planning and the inspiration. “The Cross of Saint Lucian” has many different aspects stretching from mythical Ireland, to 1920s America and onwards to the present day. So I created this secondary blog for those who wish to keep up with the workings of my mind before seeing the final product come to life on my main blog. Have a good day! ~ B, author of The Cross

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

The war came to their doorsteps before they realised what was happening. Calculated brutal attacks to the key players of the Seelie Royal family left the kingdoms fighting for survival. Warriors were left to defend hundreds when the walls of society started to crumble. “TAKE COVER!” the raven haired Seelie screamed to the people clustered in the middle of the grand hall, ducking behind a pile of fallen building just as the side to the castle was blown apart by magic. Shaking the dust from her hair, Liliana slowly peeked over the rubble she had been sheltering behind as the dust surrounding them stung her eyes. The people she had screamed at hadn’t listened to her and now the great hall was filled with moans and shrieks of pain coming from the trapped Seelie. Shaking her head in anger she sheathed her sword in the leather attached at her hip, placing her long bow over her shoulder “Idiots” she mumbled, moving from her place of shelter as loud crashes could be heard outside “Little Warrior!” a voice boomed through the doorway of the hall, shaking what was left of the floor beneath their feet “I’m good, I’m good” she managed a smile at the man who was squeezing his way through the door, his stone wings dragging on what used to be a polished marble floor “Help me get them out” she sighed, resting her hands on the broken edge of rock as she struggled to lift it with her waif like frame.

* * *

Liliana, of the Oaklands, daughter of the Summer Priestess had always lived a privileged life, she was free to roam the Seelie kingdoms at her own will. Till the day she stumbled upon the crack and ventured into the world of the Humans. Even though her time there had been brief, she had been shunned by her mother, banished from the Seelie court and treated like a traitor. Her life fractured, her spirit depleted, till she was summoned to face the Tuatha de Danann. Her hands for the first time in her life were shaking, Liliana didn’t know what she had been summoned before the gods for, but she knew deep in her heart that she would take whatever punishment they dished out to her. Her life as a Fae was now in their hands, they could take what little power leaving her as prey to the UnSeelie. Passing the threshold of the Tuatha De Danann’s cave was an experience in itself. The entrance was like any normal cave. Dark, moist and smelled like dirt, but stepping through the darkness lead into a room of golden light, a light so bright that Liliana had to blink a couple times before her Fae eyes were adjusted to the brightness “My Child” the voice came from one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen, her golden hair hung in a braid down to her behind, interweaved in among it was a golden ribbon. Her white robe trimmed in gold moved around her feet as she moved closer. The two males flanking her were taller than any Seelie male Liliana had ever seen, the armour strapped to their chest was gold, and printed with the symbol of the Tuatha.

Bowing her head in honor of the presence she was now in, Liliana slowly pressed her sweaty palms against her thighs, hoping the darkened material of her leggings would hide her nerves. “Don’t fear us” the male on her right spoke calm and precise so Liliana didn’t muddle his words in her mind “We are not here to be your judge” her eyes snapped upwards, peeking at the gods between her darkened lashes as the dark haired man nodded “Yes, you heard me right, Liliana of the Oaklands. We are not stripping your powers, we are offering you a place among us” her head shot up fully this time as her mouth hung open “A place. With you?” smiling the blond haired woman nodded “Yes, child. We want you to become a Tuathan Warrior. You have the ability, do you not?” Lily knew she was fast, and she had strong armed the Seelie soldiers into teaching her how to use certain weapons. Standing tall she nodded “It would be an honor to join you” a loud clapping sound came from behind her as other armoured males and females were made visible to her, the blond haired man who had said nothing the whole time called out above the cheers and claps “TUATHA! WE WELCOME, LILIANA, WARRIOR OF THE DANANN”. That day, Liliana of the Oaklands, daughter of the Summer Priestess died, and Liliana, Warrior of the Danann was born.

* * *

“Ogma” Lily tapped hard on the stone to get the attention of her companion “Help me out here” nodding he gripped the edge of the stone that was trapping a couple of Seelie and lifted it high without blinking an eye, his stone biceps bulging at the movement. Grabbing the shoulder of the male Seelie, Lily looked at him “Get out, get everyone you can out and do it now!” pushing the Seelie aside, Lily stumbled a little, resting against the rock she watched the Seelie, her old people scurrying away from the action like cowards. “Lily?” Ogma gruffed at her, his stone finger grazing sharply across the open wound on her hip “I’m fine” she winced, trying to make him feel better as she wrapped her small fair hand around his finger. That was the last time Lily saw her stone friend, her protector. As he worried about her, the sorceress sent a flair of magic toward the castle, blowing it apart. Lily felt the unnatural pull on her body as she went flying through the air, the last thing she heard was Ogma growling as he opened his wings to protect her, her screams filling the air before her body landed on the mossy ground of the La Croix gorge.

* * *

Screaming, Liliana felt the trickle of warm blood run down her face as her body was violently shook “WAKE UP! C’mon, wake up” she could hear the strong accent of a man as her mind started to funnel out real from dream. Opening her eyes she was starting up into the face of a young man, his green eyes were calming yet held a hint of cheekiness “There she is, Mate. Told ya she was only dreamin’” Pulling his hands back he arched a brow slightly as he sensed something stir within her. Struggling Liliana begged her inner Fae to stay hidden till she knew they were safe “Jeremiah? Jeremiah LA Croix?” she asked softly, hoping the room she was in wasn’t tricking her into making her think she knew where she was. An oh shit look passed between the two males that were in the room with her, the one on the bed nodding to the other who slipped through the door with ease as if he didn’t open it at all “You’re safe” the male sitting next to her said, pulling back a little more as to not spook the creature in front of him “Do you really ‘ave wings?” he asked, shocking Lily a little with his brash question that pointed at her origins. Nodding she looked up at him, her big blue eyes taking in every inch of him as she tilted her head to the side “You know who I am?” she asked as the door to the room opened with a creak, interrupting her and the young man.

“Grayson, give us some time please” the man at the door spoke with authority, as the young man did what he asked immediately “I’ll just be down the hall if you need me” he rest his hand on the door, smiling at the Fae on the bed before closing the oak wood behind him. “Are you ‘Liliana’ the Fae that was here before?” the man asked, dragging an old rocking chair closer to the bed to give the Fae a little space as she nodded at his question, straightening the sheet that covered her half naked body “My clothing?” she asked looking into the eyes of the man and seeing someone who she once knew in them “They were a bit of a mess when we found you, I‘ll get you some more when we‘re finished here” Nodding again she opened her mouth to ask him the question that was really on her lips, before closing her mouth again “Go ahead” he gave her a crooked smile “Ask what you want to know” relaxing a little she blinked “You are not, Jeremiah, though you look like him. Are you the Child La Croix?” nodding the man held his hand out to her “They called me Judas, and my father made sure I knew about you before he…”slumping his shoulders she knew what he was going to say before he said it “…passed away” wiping a small tear that had escaped the corner of her eye she managed a smile to ease the pain inside the man before her.

“I didn’t know time here moved faster than time in my world. I would have come back had I known” reaching out she rest her hand on his, the instant she touched him she felt Jeremiah was there, watching over them, making sure they met “He had a good life Liliana of the Oaklands” shaking her head she waved her hand “I am no longer known under that title. I have no family” feeling a sting of guilt, Judas felt like he owed her something. In the small time Liliana had been at La Croix Manor before he was born, Judas had learned that she had done much for his father. From protecting parts of the estate from magic, to predicting that Judas was a boy and the new era of protection. “We’ll talk more later” he smiled, the chair creaking slightly as he stood up “You need your rest. I hear Fae heel faster when left in the dark” nodding she leaned back a little, the flood of emotions were like a wave inside her crashing against the shore of her heart “We do, though we heal even faster when laughter and joy is in our lives too” smiling at her he nodded “Then you will find that here. I think you will like how the Estate runs now, especially since I hear it was your idea in the first place” closing the door behind him, he left the Fae curious about what she had suggested that changed the Estate for the La Croix’s.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

As his feet hit the cold hard tiles of the kitchen, Jeremiah yawned, stretching his arms over his head till he heard a small cracking in the middle of his back. The sun had started to warm up and winter was finally over, but one thing he knew was nothing could drown out the sounds that were softly drifting through the open back door of La Croix manor. Resting his shoulder against the framework on the door he watched as the newly created courtyard buzzed with commotion “Children, take it to the grass, Please” his voice alerting them that he was finally awake. “Don’t be so grumpy, Miah, they‘re just playing” Connie smiled, coming into his view as the morning rays of sunlight caught the honey tones in her hair. “Are you okay with that?” he asked, taking the basket of fresh herbs and eggs from her hand and placing it on the bench beside him before she could even answer his question “I was” she shrugged, not fighting his hands as he pulled her closer to him “And how’s the little one?” resting his chin on her shoulder his hands wrapped protectively around her expanding stomach as the baby inside moved, leaving Connie grumbling softly about being kicked in the ribs “This child is going to end up bustin’ a rib if it keeps up it’s acrobats today” nuzzling into her neck, Jeremiah kissed the soft skin before pulling away slightly “She’s never hurt her Momma” he said, giving Connie’s rounded stomach another soft touch “So sure it’s a girl, aren’t you?” she grinned, wishing it to be a boy as she started to make his breakfast.

So much had changed since the day Connie had come screaming across his overgrown back yard and into his arms. So many things were finally laid out in front of him so that he could see the truth. And the truth was frightening. All his life Jeremiah had been shipped from house to house, family to family till he ended up in the care of the Balder’s. A fate that had been written into the stars from the moment he had been born in this house “Are you sure you’re up for this shin dig tonight?” he smiled, sneaking a freshly crisped piece of bacon from the plate “Don’t think I didn’t see that, Miah” she chuckled, landing a dainty fist to his abdomen playfully like she had been doing since the day they met. Tapping the egg against the side of the pan she let it fall, the sizzle telling them that the pan was hot enough for it “And yes. For the last time I am up for this. I’m pregnant not on death‘s door. And it’s ‘Alban Eiler’ we cannot miss this festival, it’s almost as important as Samhain. Plus..” turning sideways she ran her hand across the width of her stomach, pulling the sheer fabric that covered her skin tighter, before looking up at him “I think we have to be thankful for what we have been given, we’re about to transition into the next phase of our lives” rubbing his hand over the stubble that covered his chin he nodded “I know, I guess” he sighed and shrugged, not wanting to admit that he was afraid “I know, Jeremiah” Connie’s southern twang filled the kitchen like a bright summer’s day “I’m scared too, b…but one thing’s for sure, we ain’t gonna give up livin’ just because someone wants to kill the world of things that are, ya know, different and all” Giving Jeremiah a grin, Connie twirled the spatula in her hand before flipping the egg out onto a plate “Sunny side up” holding it out she cracked more eggs into the pan “BREAKFAST Y’ALL” shaking his head as he feigned a racing heart Jeremiah headed to the seat at the head of the table with his plate, as he watched the heavily pregnant woman he loved, dominate the kitchen as she handed freshly plated eggs and bacon to every single person who came through the door.

Taking her seat at the other end of the long oak table, Connie raised her glass of Orange juice and smiled “Family, New and Old, raise your glasses” waiting she watched as her mother raised her glass and smiled at her “The shamrock with its leaves of three, like a blessed triple goddess be. Of earth and fire and ether free on this our Alban Eiler day. To the new Dawn, the new beginning and a new earth” lifting the glass to her lips she took a sip, before sitting down. “To New beginnings” the voices around the table echoed before the noise of knives and forks against the fine bone china of Virginia La Croix. In just over a year, La Croix manor had gone to being the solitary home of Jeremiah, to a bustling household that was expanding week by week. When Connie had dropped the bombshell on him that Magic was real, Jeremiah wanted to laugh in her face, but a small anchor inside he told him that it was real, that everything Connie had said that night was true. And that meant that Jeremiah needed to protect her. Love hadn’t been on his mind that first night. It was more revenge that had set his heart beating so hard that he felt it was going to bounce out of his chest and across the gravel driveway. That moment had changed their lives to a point that he was now sitting down for breakfast with nymphs, shifters, wolves, elementals and one very broody creature whose origins had yet to be discovered. Jeremiah was in over his head on all this Supernatural mambo-jumbo, but he had his Connie by his side, so he knew he could do anything he set his mind to.

Standing up, Jeremiah gathered his dirty dishes and placed them on the sink before turning to look at the gathering around his table “I’m heading into the forest today to grab some things for tonight, I expect everyone to help Connie and no buts about it. “Alberto, Tobias, I think we’ll take the day off building the new housing and enjoy the day, but could you help Connie with setting up the tables that are in the barn?” The two wolves nodded in his direction, although they weren’t fond of taking orders from Jeremiah they knew they owed him their lives, he had taken them in when Robert and his bunch of goons had chased them out of the Bayou. But they were determined to go back and find their families. Jeremiah had agreed to build a new housing building for the wolves to live in after they had an argument with the shifters “Thanks” Jeremiah nodded, walking out of the room as he rubbed his forehead, the affects of a headache slowly sinking into his train of thought.

* * *

When Jeremiah came back downstairs from getting dressed, the kitchen was almost quiet. The males had departed to get the daily chores done early so they could spend the night relaxing and hunting in the forest. Walking over to the sink he kissed Connie on the shoulder before whispering in her ear “Don’t forget to relax, my love” chuckling as she flicked soapy water over her shoulder “Y’all gonna treat me like I fragile till this baby comes out aren’t you” Nodding Jeremiah grabbed an apple out of the fruit bowl that dominated a large portion of the end of the bench “I’ll make sure she doesn’t over do it” the voice came from behind them as they both turned around to look at the white haired woman standing in the doorway in a yellow sun dress “Mama, don’t you be siding with him now” Connie shook her head as her mother laughed watching Jeremiah slip quietly out the back door.

Moving the apple around in his fingers, Jeremiah stepped into the shade of the trees. Slowly heading deeper into the forest that dominated most of his estate with every footstep. He was going slower than he usually wood, but for some reason the forest today seemed damper, darker and the fog clung to the mossy underbrush. Stopping to take a bite out of his apple he heard a twig snap nearby “Hello?” he called out, arching a brow in interest as to what had made the noise as he heard another twig snap, then the hushed tones of someone whispering to themselves. “I won’t hurt you, I promise” Jeremiah called out, taking another step in the direction of the noises he had heard. Another step, then another step, slipping slightly on the moss that covered the steps carved in the stone heading down to the stream below. “Shit” Jeremiah growled, grabbing the tendrils of a nearby bush to stop himself from slipping as a hand reached out of the fog. The small fingers gripped his shirt and pulled him back toward “Be careful, Human” the females voice whispered as her face came into his vision. Coming face to face with spherical orbs of azure that he had never seen before in his life, he realised the figure in front of him to be feminine. Her dark hair curling softly around her arms and hanging down her back “Well” swallowing the mouthful of apple he had he stepped back toward the top of the stone steps, backing away from the creature.

Stepping forth toward him out of the fog that surrounded her she bowed her head in acknowledgement of him, her lip curling up in what seemed to be a smile “I am sorry for startling you” she spoke clearly with a hint of an accent, taking another step forth she was out of the fog completely and for the first time Jeremiah could see just who had saved him from slipping to his death. “Wings?” he asked, not really too sure of what was coming out of his mouth as he took in the full visage. Nodding she raised her head, the spike like teeth could be seen just past her opened lips as she spread the purple/blue wings that hung on her back “I take it this is new to you, Master of the woods?” laughing at the name she had given him Jeremiah nodded “I’ve never seen.. wings before, better yet, I have never seen anything like YOU before” reaching out he touched the bicep on her left arm softly where a slight splattering of blue and purple freckles ran across the skin. Shuddering at his touch, her markings instantly disappeared along with her wings. “I am Liliana, of the Oaklands. Daughter of the Summer Priestess, Seelie Warrior for the Tuatha Dé Danann” bowing her head slightly she relaxed her hand on the bow that had creaked under the pressure of her nerves “And I fear I am lost in your world now” the somber look that came to rest on her face made Jeremiah feel bad for laughing at her “Call me Jeremiah, and I’ll try to find you a way home” holding his hand out to her he noticed for the first time the scars that covered the skin that was visible to him “So…you’re a what, exactly?” he didn’t care much for the formal side of things when it came to creatures, though he felt ashamed after he had said it “I am Seelie” she swung the bow around till it hung safely against her back, watching the confused look on his face “Fae?” still he was confused. Jeremiah was new to all the creatures of the world and though he was blunt about asking people what they were, he didn’t want to disrespect them by thinking the wrong thing “I believe in your world, we are called Fair folk, or Fairies” stopping he turned to look at the raven haired girl with the eyes so blue they looked like inviting pools to swim in “Shit eh? Fairies are real?” nodding she crossed her arms in defence of her kind “We have been around longer than the Human race” raising his hands Jeremiah smiled “I didn’t mean no offence, Lils” adopting a nickname for people who amused him was an old trait of Jeremiah’s “I’m just amazed that there are so many things in the world that we, I mean I, don’t even know about yet. But welcome to my home” He spun around a little, gesturing the woods “This is La Croix estate, and I am guessing there’s a crossroads somewhere around here that will help you get back home to, wherever it is you exist”

The day hard started off normal, and ended in Jeremiah getting another taste of the Supernatural world. He seemed to be a beacon for them now, although he was grateful that the Fae had shown up when she did, he wondered if she could be trustworthy. Fairies from the stories they had heard when they were younger were troublemakers and miscreants, and that was something Jeremiah needed to watch out for. She was more than she said she was and more important to him and his cause than he knew, but only time would tell exactly how important the Fae would be in their lives, and the life of his unborn child. 

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

Glimpse into another world.

"Deep in the legends of time, there stands a myth of the stone creature. The Tuatha Dé Danann fought side by side with this creature in their battle to keep the dark from taking over the world. With it's mighty wings and powerful arms, it destroyed everything in it's path. Cursed, some would whisper. Blessed the rest would say. But honorable would be the only words the Tuatha would associate with it. The kings of old would gaze upon the Gargoyle in awe as it fought for them, with them. At the end of the war, the Fae granted them one wish. Their wish was for skin not stone. A gargoyle walks among us without our knowledge, weapons of good, waiting till their called upon by the Danann."

Writer Note ~ I wrote this a while back with a good friend and fellow writer in mind, but it's also a sneak peek into a new character "Liliana", her back story and the creatures she fought side by side with in the Tuatha (Mythical Irish gods). The creatures she left behind. The friends she lost.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

Kicking the tires he shook his head “Those Lug nuts need to be tightened Kid” the large man, with his shaved head and dark endless eyes gave him a look that said he should have known that. As Jeremiah grabbed hold of the front of his overalls and lifted them enough so he could bend he grabbed the wrench and started to do as he was told. The quiet whisper of a sigh escaped from his lips “Why do we have to do this now? It’s clock off time” Jeremiah sighed louder this time as he started tightening the nuts on the first wheel.

Jeremiah didn’t want this job, but he knew he needed something to fill in his daylight hours. His life had taken a drastic turn when he was 16, his best friend had disappeared over night and his foster mother had revealed to him that she was different. When he questioned her about this she revealed that he already knew which confused him more. What she had meant to say was that she wasn’t one hundred percent human. Patty was born different and Robert could never handle that side of her, so he took her away from her family and secluded her, eventually her family found her and wanted to take her home. Reeling from this discovery, Jeremiah started to distance himself from her, she was the only mother he had ever known and she was trying to tell him that everything he knew to be true wasn’t true at all.

Dropping the wrench, as he felt someone approaching him from behind, he looked up, the dark hair hanging over his eye made it hard to see who the person was, but he knew it was female. Raising his hand he tucked his hair behind his ear, catching a full view of the female “I see you still haven’t cut your hair, Jeremiah” she smiled her old smile as the tight curls bounced slightly in the breeze that blew in behind her, wafting the familiar scent over to him “And why should I, Constance?” he growled, moving onto the last tire as he tried to ignore her. “So formal, Miah, what ever happened to the boy I grew up with” bending down, Jeremiah picked up the wrench and threw it into the tool box, closing it with a loud clatter “He grew up” ignoring her as she stepped into the space beside him he quickly moved away as she raised her hand to touch his hair, something she used to do when they were kids.

The shock of his movement made her frown, but it was short lived. “Ah, miss” the garage owner walked out of his office, giving Connie a look up and down as if to say he appreciated her and the way she had dressed “You’re car’s all ready” nodding she grinned “You mean my daddy’s car” she smiled again, unrolling the wad of bills that she had curled up in the palm of her hand “This should be more than enough for your trouble, Sir” she blinked a couple times, the darkened lashes making her bright blue eyes stand out more. Jeremiah chuffed at her, shaking her head at how she was trying to work her way with his boss. Turning around he walked off, tugging on the front of his overalls as the studs popped open to reveal his well toned body and a scar that ran across his upper right peck.

“Miah!” Connie called his name, noticing him leaving as she finished up her dealings with the owner “Jeremiah! Stop!” she called out, her heels clicking across the garage floor, getting louder the closer she got to him. Stopping he let his shoulders slump “What Constance?” he asked, not really knowing the painted up woman standing in front of him, she looked similar to the girl he had loved, but she was different, painted, preened. “I…” she pulled her stained red lip into her mouth with her teeth as she struggled to find the words to say to the man who was her best friend “Thought so” he growled, stepping around her as he entered a door that said ‘Employees Only’. Sitting on the bench inside he sighed as he slipped the overalls off his shoulders and let them hang. His temples had been throbbing since the moment he saw those blond curls. It was a mixture of anger and desire but the latter was something he wouldn’t give into. He didn’t need love.

Changing out of his overalls, Jeremiah neatly hung them in his old beaten up locker. Slamming the door he slipped his leather jacket on and zipped it up. “Yo! Night Mister Rucker” he called out, beating on the office door as he heard a murmur of thanks from the man inside. Tugging his collar up he started for the long trek home. A home that was three times too big for him, but knowing it was his, meant more than anything. La Croix Manor sat nestled in the hills, dark and mysterious it had been closed up for eighteen years till Jeremiah turned of age. The day he collected his birthright was the day he decided to change, the day he decided to turn his life around and leave his childhood behind. Leaving Patty and Bella was the hardest thing he ever did, but the best thing he ever did also. He was a La Croix, not a Balder.

“Go away” he sighed, as he reached the end of the long gravel drive to the manor “Miah, please?” Connie stepped out of her Daddy’s car and straight into the path of Jeremiah “I don’t want to talk, Constance” he balled his fists in the pockets of his jacket as he stepped around her. “STOP calling me CONSTANCE!” she screamed, grabbing his jacket with more strength than she should have for a woman her size “It’s your damn name!” he yelled back, knowing no one would hear them and come running. Jeremiah lived in the manor alone, and it was far enough from town that he could practically shoot someone and no one would notice. Sighing she let her hand fall from where it was clinging to his jacket “I was never the name you called me” crossing her arms she shivered a little as he blew out a breath that made a puff of steam in the cold air “You were my friend before, you’re not now” he gave her a snarky grin as he felt the blow he just dealt her hit her right in the chest. It was a low blow, but Jeremiah needed to blow off steam, he needed to release the feelings he had bottled up since that night five years ago when she disappeared from his life.

Bending down he got closer to her face “You’re nothing to me, Constance, so leave” her eyes widened at the coldness in his voice, he had changed and it was something she didn’t like, but mostly she didn’t like how her body reacted to his words. The brightness in her eyes faded instantly as large tears welled in the corners “You’re a mean man, Jeremiah La Croix” stomping her heel against the gravel in an attempt to show anger. His laughter filled the air around them, echoing off the hills and being sent back to them “Go home, Connie” he mumbled, turning around as he walked inside and closed the door behind him. No longer could she hold back the tears, the spilled out of her eyes and streaked her cheeks till they fell to the ground. The man she fought to stay with was lost to her. Climbing back into the car she revved the engine more than it needed to be revved, spinning the wheels as she sped down the gravel road toward town. “Gonna wreck that car, ConCon” he whispered to himself into the darkness of the manor as he looked straight ahead at the double staircase that stood before him.

Rolling over in bed, Jeremiah looked at the clock and grumbled. He’d only been in bed a couple hours when he was woken by something he couldn’t remember. Rubbing his eyes he slipped out from beneath the covers and slowly made his way through the house to the kitchen. Although the house was huge, Jeremiah was happy to use the servants quarters at the back of the house. Leaning his hip against the bench he filled a glass with water when a blue light moving through the trees outside caught his attention. Rubbing his eyes he tried to focus his sleepy gaze on the outside “You’re seeing things now Jer! Way to go” shaking his head he emptied the glass of water when he heard his name, looking out the window he saw the figure of a woman standing near the tree. “Come to me, Jeremiah” the voice whispered, as he slipped his jacket over his naked torso and walked out into the cold “Who’s there?” he gasped as his bare feet touched the frozen grass “Miah” Connie whispered, stepping closer to him as the light surrounding her turned into material that trailed behind her. Noticing his shoulders slumping in anger she smiled and reached out, touching his cheek gently “I never wanted to leave” she whispered, afraid to raise her voice near him “Go home, Connie” he shook his head, pushing her hand away “Go back to where you have been for the past five years” taking a step back she blinked, the bright aura that was around her faded “Can we talk, please?” shaking his head he headed back inside “No” was the last reply she got before the door was closed in her face again.

In the week following the late night visit, Jeremiah didn’t lay his eyes on Connie, but he knew something was in the forest surrounding the manor, something or someone was watching his every movements. “Ah, Saturday” he smiled, scratching behind the ear of the cat he had taken home from the garage “What shall we do today, Mr. Whiskers?” he asked as he pulled some eggs out of the fridge, his stomach growling at the idea of ham and eggs for breakfast. Standing at the sink he looked up, dropping the egg he had in his hand on the floor as Connie came limping out of the forest, her clothing splattered with blood “MIAH!” she screamed, her blue eyes wide with fright as she looked over her shoulder. Dropping the pan he called out her name as he ran to the back door, tugged it open and ran into the cold of winter “CONNIE!” he screamed her name over and over again as he ran across the grass, catching up to her just as she stumbled “ConCon, you‘re safe now” he sighed, bending down he lifted her easily off her feet and into his arms “Miah, take me inside” she sighed, glancing into the forest as the look of fight still littered her features.

Striding across the lawn, Jeremiah glanced over his shoulder and saw nothing there, whatever she had been afraid of was gone, or not showing itself to him. Kicking the door closed he looked down at her “Going to tell me what the hell is going on?” placing her on his favourite couch beside the fire “You care now?” she asked as he stroked her cheek with his thumb, removing a splash of blood “I do when you come to my back door looking the way you do and screaming my name” he pulled the ottoman closer to the couch and sat on it, waiting for her explanation as Mr. Whiskers made himself comfortable on her lap “They’re all dead” she sniffed, her eyes filling with tears “Miah, they’re all dead. Patty, Bella, Mama, Papa…they were murdered” the look of horror seeped into his eyes, “No, no…Connie, who did it?” closing her eyes she felt the tears start to make their way to her chin “Robert and Bobby Jr” covering her face with her hands she sobbed, the pain of whatever happened was too much for her.

Sighing quietly, Jeremiah let a little of his pent up anger toward her disappear as his arms pulled her into him, her tears splashing down onto his chest as he tried to be there for her, tried to comfort her. “I don’t know what to say” he grumbled, as he struggled to keep his own emotions in check, the tears pricking the corner of his eyes “I’m sorry, Connie. I’m sorry I didn’t listen” he felt the brush of her curls on his shoulder which told him she was shaking her head “Don’t Miah” she whispered “It’s not your fault” she pulled back, looking at his chest before averting her eyes to the cat that she had accidentally knocked off her lap “Wouldn’t have taken you for a Cat man” she sniffed, managing to lift her lips into a small smile. Shrugging Jeremiah ran his fingers through the soft fur on top of the cat’s head “It was here, or death. I chose here” he leaned back, watching as her cheeks grew red “Don’t start that again Connie” he whispered. She had always blushed when she saw his naked chest, it wasn’t anything she could control “I’m sorry” she whispered.

“When you’re ready, I’d like to know what happened” he looked down, swiping a stray tear off his cheek with the back of his hand as he stood up “We’re different” she sighed, taking a moment to glance up at him “I tried to tell you once before but you pushed me away. I’m not human, Miah. Patty wasn’t human, Bella wasn’t human” the look on his face made her realise that he thought she was crazy, but she knew deep down that Jeremiah always knew about the different creatures that filled the world. He himself was special. “The reason you disappeared was because of Robert wasn’t it?” she didn’t need to voice her answer, he read it in her eyes “I didn’t want to leave you, Miah. I never wanted to leave your side, but I needed to. We all needed to, but Patty chose to stay with you because she loved you like you were one of us!” taking a deep breath he finally asked the question that was lingering between them “And what are you?” her eyes made their way up his body, finally meeting his “The women of my family are known as Nymphs” she screwed her nose up like the word felt foreign being spoken aloud “And you’re the only male ever born of a Nymph that held his mother’s powers” she blinked as she stood, her hand touching his shoulder “There are none other like you in the world, Jeremiah. That’s why, that’s why Robert left you with Patty. He knew you were different. But now his coming for all of us”.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

The sharp snap of the oak cane hitting the hardwood desk top was enough to snap Jeremiah out of his day dream “Jeremiah La Croix! What is so important outside the window?” the teacher bellowed at the young man with the ice blue eyes. Raising his shoulders in a small shrug he blinked at the teacher through his hair “Dunno, Miss” he slanged out as the fury started boiling in the teachers eyes “Headmaster’s office. NOW!”. Pushing back his chair with a loud scraping noise, Jeremiah grabbed his notebook and walked out of the room.

Passing closed door, after closed door on his trek down the hall to the Principals office, Jeremiah wondered why he was even bothering. It was his last week at this school. The story of his life, another family, another school. Bounced from one place to the other till he was found a ‘suitable’ long term home. Striding right past the Principal’s office Jeremiah made it to the front doors of the school, leaning against the door handle the latch soon sprung free, releasing him into the bright light of summer’s midday sun.

Taking side lanes and climbing through overgrown paddocks, Jeremiah avoided the main street of town as he decided on his destination. Just outside of town there was a small creek, large enough to swim in but not large enough to get into trouble in. Jeremiah’s feet could touch the bottom when the levels were low enough. There was a wooden structure that spanned the width of it, Jeremiah thought it must have been a bridge at some point in history, but like much of the town it was a mystery.

For that moment in time he was safe, nothing in the world mattered to Jeremiah and he didn’t care. Tomorrow would be different. But this time now, was his and only his “Daydreaming again, Miah?” the lilting voice behind him startled him enough that he almost dropped his sandwich in the water behind him “Wha... How the hell, Connie!” he yelled, standing up to face the young girl with tight curly blonde hair. As a smile spread across her face he couldn’t help but smile back “I saw you leave school, so I followed” she shrugged, dumping her own bad on the edge of the creek near his and pulled her own sandwich out “It’s our last day together Miah, I wanted to spend as much of it as I could with you”.

Connie had lived next door to Jeremiah since he had moved in with the Balders four years ago, his third family since the day his mother died. He hadn’t known his mother, or father. His father had been murdered the month before he had been born, and his mother had suffered post natal depression and eventually taken a shotgun to her head two months after his birth. Jeremiah Theodore La Croix was a child of the System till he reached eighteen. Two more years of never fitting in before he became self reliant, two more years before he could access the items left to him by his biological family. The Balders weren’t all bad, it was just they moved so much that it made it impossible to settle down and find stability. Connie’s family was as bad as his. She wasn’t originally from the North. She came from Louisiana and still had the twang to her accent.

When they first met, Connie had accidentally sprayed Jeremiah with the garden hose as he watched her watering their new garden from between the fence pickets. Their friendship bloomed instantly, as if it was fate. Jeremiah used to laugh at Connie’s accent and the way she pronounced his name, so when she shortened it to ‘Miah’ he started to miss her twang. They were best friends, as much as their parents tried to keep them away from each other they always gravitated together. “It’s Fate” Connie always told him when she wound up on the ladder to his tree house in the backyard as they stared out at the stars through the hole in the roof that his father didn’t have time to fix. Patricia ‘Patty’ Balder wasn’t as against Connie as everyone else was, she saw the changes in Jeremiah when he was around her, and eventually adopted the nickname of Miah for him when he was around the house.

Swallowing the bite of his sandwich he looked into the water below them “I don’t want to go, ConCon” he sighed, putting his food aside as he lost his apatite completely “I don’t want you to go either, Miah” she frowned, tapping her knee against his to break the awkward tension between them. Mister Balder had taken a new job in New York and he was forcing the whole family to go with him. Last time he took a job in Canada he refused to pull Jeremiah and his other two children from school but this time his reasoning was ‘for the greater good’. As the day wound down, Jeremiah began to feel unsettled within his own skin, being with Connie was his time, the time when he could stop thinking about his life with a family that didn’t want him and think about being happy. Connie was his happiness. Laughing as they talked about their memories of each other they stopped taking notice of their surroundings till the crickets started chirping “CONNIE!” Jeremiah yelled, startling her as he stood up quickly “What Miah?” she asked with furrowed brows as she glanced up at him. Pointing to the sky she noticed for the first time that the bright orange and pink streaks of sunset were already starting to disappear “uh, oh…” she groaned “GO” she slid his bag closer to him and smiled. One thing Connie always knew was that Jeremiah had to be home before dark, her parents were different, much much different.

Slamming the door behind him as he entered the house, Jeremiah noticed the house was completely dark “MOM? DAD?” he called out, dropping his bag next to the door. Walking into the house he started to feel sick, like something grabbed hold of his stomach and was twisting it. “Mama?” he called out, tilting his head to the side like he always saw people do when they were trying to concentrate on a sound. A soft sobbing could be heard from the top of the stairs “Mirabella, is that you?” he whispered climbing the stairs slowly to see his little sister curled up on the floor in front of the bathroom door, her dirty face from playing outside was stained with tears as she raised her head and pointed to the door “Mommy” nodding, Jeremiah knelt beside his sister and wiped her chubby cheeks with the bottom of his shirt till she pushed him away “Where’s Bobby Junior, Bella?” he whispered, not ready to disturb his mother yet as he watched the tears start to shine in Mirabella’s eyes again “Papa took him!” she yelled “It’s all your fault!” she pushed with all her strength against Jeremiah’s stomach before running to her room and slamming the door. Wiping his hand over his face, Jeremiah tried to figure out what had happened during the day.

Knocking softly on the bathroom door he whispered into the keyhole “Mama, it’s Miah” turning the door handle he blinked into the darkness “Close the door” she whispered, as a small sob escaped her lips. Doing as she said, Jeremiah closed the door behind him as his hand moved up the door frame to the light switch “Don’t” his mother groaned, her eyes had become adjusted to the dark so much that she could see his movements “I can’t see Mama” he sighed, flicking the switch before turning around. His eyes couldn’t believe what they saw, his brain couldn’t grasp the image that was now embedded within his memories forever. Sitting propped up against the ornate bathtub was the only woman he ever thought of as a real mother to him, and she was covered in blood “What happened?!” he demanded as she lifted her bloody fingers to her lips and shushed him “Please, Miah” she groaned “Don’t alert Mirabella, she heard enough already” shaking his head, Jeremiah pulled a small hand towel off the rack and held it under the faucet, dampening it to clean up some of the horror scene.

“What happened?” he asked more calmly as he bent down onto one knee in front of Patty, keeping his balance as he gently dabbed the wet cloth against the gnarly gash in her bottom lip “You’re father happened” she winced, touching his hand till he released the towel to her. Letting himself fall back onto the floor as she began dabbing at her own bloody face she took a deep breath and attempted to explain. “I told him I didn’t want to leave” she shrugged, blowing off the afternoon events in a blasé attempt to make it seem right for him to hit her “He threatened to hit me, so I told him to. I should never have opened my mouth” she moved the towle, and turned it around in her fingers so she had a white corner and not a red one “Why did he take Bobby Junior?” Jeremiah asked, wrapping his arms around his legs as he watched her move the cloth over the dark bruises that were already visible “Your Father…” she started to say before she was cut off by Jeremiah “His not my father, never was” sighing at his words she knew Jeremiah and Robert were never warm and loving toward each other. Jeremiah with his rebellious dark hair that he refused to cut and his ice blue eyes was the complete opposite to Robert’s mousey brown hair that was always slicked down and the darkest eyes that could look straight through you and never actually see you. “Robert, believes that Bobby is his only child” frowning Jeremiah pointed at the wall that backed onto Mirabella’s bedroom “Does he forget that Bobby and Bella are twins?” shrugging Patty shifted position, her wrist sitting at an awkward angle “MOM!” he gasped loudly as his eyes widened at the injury “We have to go to the hospital” he stood up immediately and grabbed her uninjured arm, shaking her head she pushed him back gently “Connie’s mother is on the way to help” she smiled, something that threw Jeremiah off a little. Wondering what was going on with her “ConCon’s Mom?” he asked again, wondering if he was hearing things.

A knock at the door stopped his mother from answering his question “I’ll get it” he frowned, rubbing his temple as he walked down the stairs “Yes?” he asked as he opened the door, the person on the other side smiling wide “Well, well, well, we meet again so soon, Miah” her eyes sparkling in the shine of the moon that had risen “ConCon… and Connie’s Mom” he struggled a smile at the guests that had turned up on the doorstep “Jeremiah” she nodded, stepping up to the door with an odd black bag in her hand “Where is she?” Connie’s mother wasn’t the nicest person on the earth, well at least to Jeremiah, she was cold and direct. Turning his feet slightly, he raised his arm to point up the stairs to the bathroom “Up there” taking a step backwards so he wasn’t pushed, he watched as the woman walked up the stairs with a supernatural easy, like she was a ghost or something. Shuddering he looked at Connie “Coming in, or staying out?” he gave her a bored but worried look as her fingers grazed across his cheek as she entered. Taking a deep breath Jeremiah closed the door, resting his head upon it as he finally managed to breath out fully for the first time since he came home “Looks like I’m staying” he sighed, tilting his head to the left and right till he heard it crack, the tension building again in his shoulders as the urge to punch something rose within him.

“All done” Connie’s mother smiled at Jeremiah as her foot touched the bottom step “What’s done? What’s happening?” his face mirrored his emotions, angry confusion touched every inch of him until he heard her voice “Calm down please, Miah” her fingers lightly brushing over his shoulder as he glanced to the side “What did she do to my mother, Connie!” he demanded answers from them “She healed me” his mother spoke from the top of the stairs, as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a smile on her lips. Taking a step forward, Jeremiah blinked. The unthinkable had happened and he had nothing to explain it with “We need to go now” Connie’s mother spoke softly, but firmly as she wrapped her fingers around her daughter’s wrist and pulled her toward the door “Goodbye, Miah” Connie whispered, knowing that this would be the last time she would ever see the Ice blue eyes that she loved with all her heart.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

Manhattan, New York, December 1919 to January1920 ~ Prohibition “This is going to be the death of our business, Virginia” Theodore sighed, tossing the daily news paper onto the bed next to his wife as she read the heading *U.S IS VOTED DRY* shaking her head as she adjusted her pantyhose she looked up at him “Oh Teddy, you’re going to make yourself grey before your time” flicking her legs out she stood with the grace of the dancer she once was as she finished getting ready for the evening, running her fingers through the side of Teddy’s hair where it was staring to gain it’s Salt and pepper status. Teddy and Virginia, had been married all of four years when they had moved to New York for Teddy to expand his horizons. At the age of Twenty-two he knew what he wanted and where he wanted it to happen. Virginia was Eighteen when they married and gave up her dream to be a ballerina to follow her husband to the big apple to pursue his dreams of being an entrepreneur. The first of his family to do anything outside France Theodore La Croix was determined to make his parents proud, even though they were gone. Jean-Louis and Claudine La Croix had stayed in France as their only son’s dreams took him half way across the world, proud of what he would become they gave him every last coin they owned upon his departure to the United States. Sadly, that day would be the last day Theodore would see them as they succumbed to the great flu epidemic of 1918. Shaking off his jacket, Theodore glanced at the photograph hanging on the wall of his parents. The only thing he had left of them apart from the house in France they had left him. “I won’t let this stop my dreams, Virginia. Coolidge has to have some skeletons in his closet that we can discover” unbuttoning his wrinkled white shirt he slipped it off and reached out for the one that was laying on the bed, his nose wrinkling as he felt the stiffness in the material “Surly the new housekeeper has learned by now not to starch my shirts so much! They feel like cardboard” a swishing of material summoned his interest to his wife and not the shirt he had slipped on. Reaching out she helped him with the buttons “Now now, Theodore, She’s still new” fastening the top button he smiled at her before kissing the tip of her nose “I’ll give her another week” he grinned slapping her on the behind a pleased smile on his lips at the squeal of enjoyment that came from his wife’s lips as he walked to the dresser to search for a decent pair of cufflinks for the evening. Manhattan, New York, January 1921 ~ One year from the official beginning of the Prohibition. Slamming his fist down on the leather topped writing desk that had been a gift from his wife, Theodore looked at the two roughnecks starting at him. The last year had aged him beyond his twenty-eight years, the crows feet had started appearing the day they close his establishment almost one year ago to the date. The big dry had arrived and Theodore La Croix had essentially been put out of business “But Boss. I swear to you this is going to be the next big this, bootlegging is starting near the border” Jimmy had been a faithful worker of Teddy’s since the day he opened his first establishment, Teddy trusted him with everything. Rubbing his fingers through the overgrown hair on his face, Teddy motioned to the chairs across from him “Tell me everything” Sitting down, Jimmy started from the beginning and explained the inside workings of the bustling bootlegging business as Theodore leaned back in his chair and listened carefully nodding every now and then when he liked the sound of something. This was risky and held persecution but it would keep him in business and at the end of the day Theodore was a business man first. “Set up the meeting” he smiled, and indicated the door with his finger, signalling that the conversations were over for the day. Theodore spent the rest of the day, combing the outlying towns for the right location to situate his new enterprise. Finding a small coastal town in the bordering state of Maine “Perfect” he smiled to himself as he packed up his brief case for the day and headed home to his wife. Greyfriars, Maine, June 1924 ~ The Hustle and Bustle of life. From the moment Theodore set his sights on the town of Greyfriars, he knew it would forever be in his family. Since the prohibition started he had places a considerable amount of money into a sleepy coastal town to develop it into a booming enterprise. The long winter hadn’t even keep the customers away. Rubbing his hands together, Theodore breathed onto them, the night wind still crisp as it blew in from the ocean. “Virginia? I’m home” he called out as he opened the door to the small apartment they were lodging in while their house was being built still “Here!” Virginia called out from the kitchen as she stirred a pot of boiling stew “Mmm, smells good, love” he smiled, resting his chin on her shoulder as his hands caressed her stomach “How are you feeling?” Placing the spoon on a dish beside the stove top, Virginia placed her hands on her husbands and enjoyed the closeness that they were experiencing “I’m certain it’s going to be a boy” she smiled “No girl would give her mother this much hell” laughing Teddy kissed her cheek “A girl might give you more hell” chuckling they stood there, soaking up the moment as they watched the soup boil gently. Virginia was only a couple months pregnant, but they cherished every moment they could even her sudden bout of morning sickness wasn’t enough to keep their spirits down. Finally they were going to be a family and have a real house. They say we will be able to move in by the end of next week, Teddy smiled, stepping away from his wife as she nudged him in the chest to give her space to finish fixing their meals “That soon?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder as he opened the fridge door “Business has been good over winter, I was able to hire a couple more workmen to get the job done quicker” cracking the seal on his bottle of soft drink while wishing it was a glass of moonshine from his hidden establishment. Virginia had known they moved to Greyfriars for a new life after their New York business had been closed down, but she never asked questions about what her husband did when he left the house in the morning. What they had moved for was an underground secret Speakeasy, built on the grounds of their new estate. Theodore had his men spread out along the border intercepting deliveries to other people. It was risky business, but it was making him rich, and the more money he took in the happier he was that he could give his growing family stability. Boarder of Quebec and Maine, November 1924 ~ All’s not right. The cold was setting in early as the Speakeasy was bustling with people, the word had got around that The Cross was the place to be, the Americanised wording of Theodore’s last name never bothered him before, but he started wondering if he was betraying his family by allowing this to happen. Jean-Louis La Croix had always been a proud and noble man around Ville de Paris. Kissing Virginia on the cheek, Teddy ran the palm of his hand across her growing stomach “It’s only for the night, Gini” he grinned, bending down to pick up the small suitcase “I promise I will be safe” nodding she rest her hand on her hip, pushing her stomach out a little to support the growing weight on the front of her “You better be” she smiled, wishing her husband safe travels before closing the door behind him. Virginia didn’t know that this was the last time she would ever see Theodore, she didn’t know that she would be widowed at the age of Twenty-seven, with a child on the way. But this is what would happen. Upon reaching his destination, Teddy, Jimmy and two other men were ambushed by their competition. The supply and demand of moonshine for these establishments was rising and it was a dog eat dog world. Many of the delivery men were now heavily armed and not willing to disobey their bosses, meaning they would deliver the product no matter what. Theodore had been on this trip to make a new deal with the supplier, he wanted to double the deliveries and have them met further interstate, but things went horribly wrong. Theodore stood in front of his friend as a gun was pulled on them, demanding answers from middle men who had orders when a loud bang split the noise. A defining silence fell over everyone before Jimmy screamed. Theodore’s head had been split open by the flying bullet as his friend cradled his cooling body the shouts of “FREEZE! HANDS UP!” could be heard echoing across area. They had been followed. And in the blink of an eye “The Cross” had been taken out of the game.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

"The Dawn of reckoning is coming. The day when man and monster stand side by side on the battlefield. Fighting for a better world. A better life. Together, and only together can they survive judgement"

~ The Cross of Saint Lucian

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

The calm before the storm, the beginning of it all.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

The Storm is here.

** Present Day ** “It was like one of those old fashioned horror movies. The ones in black and white. You know the ones I am talking about, right” turning her gaze from the roof she looked into the blue eyes of the aging man who sat next to her feet. Nodding his head she turned and focused back on the spot on the roof. Wondering if it was once a bug, or if it was just those black spots of mold that accumulated on the roof in damn rooms. Linking her fingers she shook the thoughts of mold out of her head as the man’s monotonous voice seeped into her mind “Go on?” he looked at her over the dark rim of his half-glasses edging her to keep talking. Taking a deep breath, the girl started talking again, revealing things that she couldn’t possibly know “It’s the same every night, but it gets longer the more I don’t sleep. It was dark and there was a storm rolling in off the ocean, one of those storms that we get every couple years, the big ones that do damage” her mind took her back to that day, the smell of a storm was in the air as she continued to fill the therapist in on what was keeping her from getting any decent sleep. ** 23 Years Ago ** The day had started out just like any, the summer sun beaming down on the pavement as people went about their daily chores. The town of Greyfriars, Maine was normally relatively quiet, but during the summer it swelled to capacity with people wishing to have the ‘Small town experience’. As midday rolled around, the center of town filled up with customers. Harmony, was a young girl with dark brown eyes and fawn colored hair. She hadn't been in the town long, but she was one of the popular waitress’ at The Rum Monkey, her age was barely legal, but Judas Le Croix had taken pity on the girl when she sauntered into his establishment with a tear stained face. Like most people passing through Greyfriars they had a history, secrets to hide, pasts to escape. Harmony’s secret was one that she couldn't keep hidden for long. She had done what most people her age had done on their twenty-first birthday, she went out and partied. Loosing herself in the club scene in New York city had lead to a one night stand with some guy out the back of some club. She didn’t even know his name, but she would forever be reminded of him. Pausing on the sidewalk, rubbing her hand over her stomach she felt a sharp pain radiate through her pelvis and up into her chest. She had grown accustomed to the kicking, it had been a feeling she had hated in the beginning, but after eight months and two weeks, Harmony was finally ready to look into the innocent eyes of her child. It had been a long road of recovery, that first day, walking into the bar she had almost stumbled backwards when she was confronted by a tall man with shoulder length black hair, a look of anger in his bright green eyes as he demanded to see her identification. Judas Le Croix, wasn’t always a likable man. His family had co founded Greyfriars and with it they became hated by everyone who didn’t have what they had. When Judas’ father passed away he was left holding everything. The Rum Monkey used to be his only problem, now he was owner and custodian of ‘Saint Lucian’s home for wayward children’ his father’s mansion, hidden in the hills surrounding Greyfriars had become a safe place for children who had been deemed replaceable by law. Jacob Le Croix had been a troubled teen who was shipped from home to home his whole childhood, when he was old enough and had enough money to back him, he petitioned the courts to allow him to take on children who were like himself, give them everything they needed and ship them back into the world when they were adults. Jacob was a good man, his childhood shaped him into what he needed to be, a saviour. Judas, was the result of Jacob’s second wife, although he grew up in the house his mother wouldn’t allow him to mingle with the other children, the ones she called evil. But Jacob knew Judas was more like him. Judas found ways to sneak away from his mother to play with the wayward ones. Those he grew close to were still considered family to this day. Judas was a tough love man, the children who lived in his home followed his rules or they were gone. He didn’t like second chances. The wind whipped up more as Harmony approached The Rum Monkey for her shift. Although Judas refused to make her do work in her condition she still showed up, and he still paid her. Harmony in the few months she had made her mark on everyone, and they all enjoyed seeing her face as they showed up for work. “Let me get thaat” Alice-May ran up behind Harmony, her heels clicking as her footsteps hit the cement pavement, her hand reaching the door handle seconds before Harmony’s “How’s you feelin’ lovie?” Alice-May drawled slowly in her southern accent as she pulled the heavy door open, spluttering as another gust of wind blew her cheap perm into her mouth. “A little rough today” Harm smiled slightly, rubbing her stomach as she felt another twang of pain. “Lord, honey. You look about near to pop” Alice-May called out over the whirring of the wind outside as she bustled the heavily pregnant girl into the empty bar. It was early in the afternoon but they always arrived promptly to set up for the night. The Rum Monkey wasn’t just a bar, it was also a restaurant that was popular for it’s brown butter lobster tails and blueberry pie. Judas had hired a new chef, Pablo, who needed to get out of the city. He didn’t ask why, all Judas cared about was pleasing his customers so they came back. And it was working. The day outside started turning bleak, the storm weaving it’s way up the coast. The lights in The Rum Monkey had been flashing on and off for the last hour as Alice-May and Pablo leaned over the bar the radio screeched with static as the voice came over loud and clear *Hurricane Bob is expected to touch down on the coast of Maine come nightfall. Beaches along the east coast have been closed down until further notice* glancing at each other, Alice-May and Pablo pushed themselves off the bar at the same time. “What‘s going on?” Harmony asked, looking at them like they had suddenly gone crazy as she walked out of the ladies room “Oh Honey” Alice-May drawled “They say there’s a Hurricane on the way” all three of them jumped when the front door to the bar flew open on it’s own “Híjole!” Pablo gasped in his native tongue as his hand flew to his chest in fright. Waddling over to the door, Harmony reached out and grabbed it, struggling to close it again “Pablo, I need your help” she groaned as she felt another sharp twang of pain, this time it radiated down her thighs making her weak at the knees “Argh…” she screamed, letting go of the door and grabbing her stomach as the door slammed against the wall, splintering in two. “ ‘Armony!” Pablo looked at her as he slipped in a puddle of water surrounding Harmony’s feet “Lordy me, looks like you’re about to have that baby in this storm” Alice-May smiled as she moved in behind them and pushed what was left of the door closed, locking it behind them. Grabbing Harmony under the armpit, Pablo and Alice-May helped her to the office, and the comfortable red couch that was Judas’s newest addition to the bar. Frowning but letting them fuss over her, Harmony shook her head “I’m not due, the baby isn’t coming” Taking a deep breath she tried to ignore the shooting pain that was radiating through her pelvis as she tried to tell herself this wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening. “the phone” Harmony groaned through the pain as she heard the dull sound of the phone ringing in the bar area. The one thing she had always hated about The Rum Monkey was that there was only one phone, Judas preferring to do all his business via email or mobile phone, leaving the bar line open for customers. “I get it” Pablo smiled as he rushed out of the room, his soft accent could just be heard over the noise of the storm outside. “It can’t happen, Alice-May, I’m not ready” Harmony’s eyes sparkled with the arrival of tears “It just can’t” tapping her on the hand, Alice-May looked at her “Honey, it has to come out no matter if you’re ready or noooooot” Harmony had decided to grab Alice-May’s had as another contraction hit, squeezing it hard so the knuckles crunched together. Both of the girls screaming together in pain, Pablo ran back into the room a look of worry and confusion on his face “Hell little girl that‘s some grip!” Alice-May yelled as she rubbed her raw knuckles “Sorry..” harmony frowned, breathing slowly as she tried to think of something other than wanting to push the lump from her stomach. “Señor Judas called” Pablo said coming back into the room as he placed a pile of clean bar towels next to the couch before sitting in the black swivel chair behind the desk “He wants us to stay here, and wait out the storm. When I told him Miss ‘Armony was in labour, he said he was on his way” shrugging as the female’s heads whipped around to look at him, he gave them his trademark grin. Pablo, though he was a talented chef was only in his mid twenties. None of them really knew that much about his, but they knew he would do anything for them if they asked. As another contraction started, Harmony watched as Pablo stood up and walked out of the room without another word. “They’re getting’ closer” Alice- May smiled, grabbing a towel off the pile and dabbing it against the sweat beads glazing Harmony’s forehead “I need to push” Harmony groaned, wrapping her hands around her stomach, almost like she was unconsciously trying to protect it. Suddenly, a loud rhythmic banging vibrated the walls, the shutters on the outside of the building had come loose and were now threatening to break off completely. The tin on the roof was flapping madly and Harmony knew the storm was closer than they had thought. Judas had every intention of making it to The Rum Monkey to help Harmony, but he only made it as far as his front gate. Pulling his car slowly to a stop he opened the door and looked down towards the town, the swirling clouds had come closer than he had ever seen them before, almost an unnatural phenomenon. Leaning on the open are door, Judas cursed loud enough to hear it echoing in the wind as the rain started coming down on him. He was too late, and there was no time for him to make it safely to the bar without risking his life. Giving up in defeat he climbed back into his car and drove up the long driveway to Saint Lucian Manor and the children that were currently huddled in the basement awaiting his return. A sinking feeling sat deep in the pit of his stomach, like a rock of regret. He was torn between his responsibilities. The children who relied on him to keep them safe till they come of age, and the people who worked for him. The storm hit hard and fast, people weren’t as prepared as they thought they were. If the wind hadn’t destroyed it, the torrential rains had, and through the crumpled rubble of the well known establishment The Rum Monkey, a baby could be heard. The frantic cries of a newborn taking it’s first breath “It’s a Girl!” Alice-May screamed as she held the child in her arms, the small arms and legs moving as if they were trying to reach out to something as they were swaddled in a bar towel “Harmony, did you hear me, it’s a girl” Alice-May glanced over the wiggling newborn in her arms. A gasp of shock escaped her lips as she realised Harmony’s blank stare wasn’t natural “no no no no no no no no” Alice-May mumbled in shock as she placed the baby at the feet of it’s mother, the red couch now a dark maroon as the blood seeped in more. Pounding on Harmony’s chest, Alice-May frantically tried to resuscitate the young woman. After fifteen minutes, Alice-May stopped her efforts, the sobbing tears had taken over as she attempted to close the eyes of the woman she had considered a friend. Scooping the child up, Alice-May didn’t know what to do. But she couldn’t stay in that room anymore, she couldn’t stay in that bar anymore. Stepping out the door of the office she gasped as she stopped suddenly. The body of Pablo rest on the floor between the office and the bar. Covering her mouth, Alice-May ran, jumping over the bloody body of her other friend Alice-May grabbed an old slicker from behind the bar. Judas always had something laying around that was for ‘Just in case’ moments, and Alice-May was glad for once about the junk that was laying around the bar. Placing the baby in a box, Alice-May slipped on the slicker, struggling to find her hands in the tool long sleeves as she picked the child up and cradled it against her chest, pulling the coat over it to protect it from the rain that was still falling outside. It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was the only one she could think of. Getting out of the bar was first on her mind, getting the baby to Judas was her second. Pushing open what was left of the double doors at the front of the bar, Alice-May covered her eyes with her free arm, blinking as the wind and rain hit against her body hard, the baby crying in her arms. **Present Day** “And that’s just about it” the brunette sat up running her hand through her hair to settle it down, just as a loud buzzing noise filled the room. Standing up quickly the therapist let his notes fall to the floor “Oh, my. I’m sorry Mikah… I mean, Miss Le Croix” turning off the timer he walked over to Mikah who had moved off the couch and collected the noted he had dropped on the floor “Same time next week?” she asked with a smile on her face as he gazed at her “Actually, I was wondering what happened next, if you have time” he gestured towards the couch again. Looking down at the brown suede couch, Mikah shrugged and sat down after all she was getting used to the couch being her new best friend “So, what do you want to know?” she asked the therapist as he clicked his pen on again “what happened next?” he asked, glancing up at her over his glasses like he always does. “Well…” leaning back against the couch Mikah got settled as she started talking “Alice-May didn’t make it to Judas. Instead she was found on the side of the road next to a fallen tree, the baby still cradled in her arms. She was less than 200 metres from the front gate of Saint Lucian’s” closing her eyes, Mikah wondered if the therapist had put the clues together yet “Then what happened?” he asked, leaning forward a little as he took his glasses off, the need for writing notes was forgotten “The sheriff who found her body had an idea where she had been heading. When he showed up at the door and described the scene to Judas, he knew what must have happened, although he sent the sheriff back to town to check The Rum Monkey to confirm his thoughts” fiddling with the zipper on her leather jacket, Mikah wanted out of the room now, but she had a feeling the doctor wanted more so she gave him what he wanted, the final clue “Judas knew the baby in his arms was Harmony’s, even though she was tiny, he said she had her mother’s eyes. He eventually was granted adoption rights and named the baby Mikah May” looking over at the therapist his mouth dropped open at the final words, his breath gasping as he struggled to formulate proper words “It was you!” he finally said with a little more gusto than he should have as his secretary knocked on the door. Nodding, Mikah stood up and grabbed her keys off the coffee table “Yup, It was me” walking over to the door she opened it and smiled at the secretary, calling over her shoulder “See you next week, Doc” as she walked past the next patient in the waiting room, sitting there chewing on the corner of a piece of paper. Mikah, knew she was different, but she was thankful for not being that different.

[thecrossofsaintlucian]

My first tumblr post!

Well… What to say, what to say. You would think someone who dreams of writing for a living would know what to write. But this is daunting for me, my first step into the world of Tumblr.

No, I am not a social media noob. I just never been a tumblr person before. But in a society where things change so suddely I thought I should take that first step and venture onto this medium.

I’m a “Dumblr”. (Love my girl, Looney for coming up with that word) 100% totally Tumblr Dumb. I find it a wee tad on the confusing side. But if you stick with me, and bear with my confusion. I promise to open the doors and let you into the world of The Cross of Saint Lucian.

What is “The Cross of Saint Lucian”? It’s a story, a brain child born out of hope and inspiration. It came to me one night while I was showering and it has stuck with me ever since. The highs and lows of these characters send me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

I ask the same of anyone who reads my writing, give me your opinions. Constructive critisism helps me become better. Helps me make something more enjoyable for my readers, my Lucianites.

♡ B, creator of The Cross.