Read Online Jude Stephens by Touch of a VAmpire - Free Book Online

do you look so….”
    “ Old?” she filled in for
me.
    I felt my face flame. “Well, even Cheve thinks you
are my grandmother.”
    She sighed. “It’s true; I was
older when the great spirits blessed me with a child. I was almost
fifty. Your Han’nih, your father, could hardly believe it when I
told him. He was a good man. He died before you were born in a car
accident of all things. He was stuck over on the mainland during a
brutal snowstorm. He was anxious to get back home to
me.”
    I kept quiet. She seemed to be lost in some sad
memories.
    When she spoke again it was with a surprisingly
strong voice. “It was after that, that I knew you were going to be
a special child. I began having visions. The Great Spirits told me
that my unborn child would be a Sensay. Not only that, but that the
child would have the power to unite all of the earthly beings.
    They told me that I was to keep you safe at all
costs, for there would be many who would do you harm. It was also
at this time that I got my gift of seeing. That, more than
anything, kept me strong. I was able to at least see you in visions
from time to time.”
    Hearing of her visions gave me the nerve to say,
“I’m not sure but I may be having visions too. I’ve had a few
instances where I seem to go into a trance like state.”
    She shrugged “It’s possible, but we will talk more
on this tomorrow. You look like your are very tired, Khe:awak. I
will show you to your house.”
    “ Am I not staying with you?” I
asked looking around the large longhouse.
    She laughed “Oh no. You will need a house of your
own while you are in training. I am too old to be kept up by
that.”
    I groaned, thinking about the rough road ahead of
me; probably long hours of martial arts and cardio training. I let
out a long sigh to which the woman just laughed. Bullet and I
followed her out into the warm summer night. She led us to a
smaller house set apart from the others. When we entered I was
surprised to see there was a regular bed and small dresser.
    “ I thought having some of the
things you were used to would help you settle in better. I know
this isn’t easy for you Orenda.” She stood close to me and reached
up to place a hand on my cheek. “How I wish things were different
and you were not standing in front of me looking at me as a
stranger instead of your mother.”
    I started to protest, but it was true. She was a
stranger.
    “ What shall I call you? I don’t
think I can call you mother. Not when I was used to calling my real
mom…I mean my…” I stopped embarrassed.
    She dropped her hand from my cheek and said, “Don’t
worry. I understand how you are feeling. Why don’t you just call me
Onatah? That’s my name.”
    I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, I didn’t want
to call her Mother. It was too soon. The wounds were still too
fresh. I smiled at her and said, “Thank you, Onatah.”
    She gave a small nod and said, “Goodnight then
Orenda. Sleep well and I will see you in the morning.”
    After she left I glanced around the small house and
took in the furnishings. I saw that someone had brought my backpack
in and laid it by the dresser. There was a small wood burning stove
in the corner. And although there was no firing burning, Bullet
curled up in front of it. I laughed at him “Ahhh. Staking out your
territory already?”
    A round table and two chairs sat at the far end of
the room. I noticed a door and went to investigate. To my delight
and relief I saw a small bathroom. There was just a toilet, sink
and shower stall, but I was still very happy to have them.
    I decided to grab my pajamas and take a quick shower
before climbing into bed. I got in and turned the water on. I
turned the knob until the water was steaming. Even though the night
was warm the hot water felt wonderful on my weary body. The bar of
soap I grabbed looked homemade and when I lathered it up the scent
of honeysuckle delighted my senses and I sighed with pleasure.
    “ I like the