Chapter 10Lucian listened to the echo of his footsteps on the granite entryway floor. The chandler glowed to life as he hit the switch on his way to Adrian’s den. It wasn’t the first time Lucian felt the cold emptiness of the house. It had never been a real home. The warm homily feeling of Arabella’s cabin, Lucian finally knew what was missing in his life. He never had the companionship that most kids had with their parents. Adrian was a cold hard man that drove Lucian without mercy.Lucian stepped into Adrian’s study and shook his head. Even here, with the supposedly brown hues and leather furniture, was a feeling of cold ambition. He stood in the middle of the room and looked around himself, not sure where to start. Tier upon tier of books lined the study walls. Paintings done by the Masters hung perfectly as though someone had just straightened them. On the desk, everything was cleared off except for a picture of Lucian, in cap and gown with a far off look on his face. He wondered
Chapter 11Arabella stared at herself in the full length mirror. Her skin was still pale; eyes lacked luster. She sighed in sadness when a knock came at the door.“May I come in, Arabella? I don’t want to disturb you if you are resting.” The sweet, gentle voice spoke softly through the door.Arabella tried to rein the sadness in., “Please, do come in, Jenny.”Evan’s mother, Jenny, stepped into the room, smiling shyly at the young, dark haired girl. Arabella smiled back at her as she turned to face here.“Can we talk for a while?” Jenny shyly asked. For some reason, Arabella kind of scared her. She loved her, so Jenny didn’t understand this underlining feeling.Arabella sat on the bed and patted the space beside her for Jenny to sit. Looking at her face, Arabella could see Jenny had something serious on her mine. She figured it was about Evan one way or another. Evan was Jenny’s only child and she tried to spoil him. That Evan was not an arrogant monster said a lot for his character. Ev
Chapter 12The time Arabella and Lucas spent at the cave helped restore her spirit. She thought about her parents and how Edmond would bring her to this cave. “It’s magical,” Edmond laughed, “Just touch the ground Ari, it will revive you. You can talk to the Gods here.” Arabella would look around the cave in awe. She would dig her hands into the soft sand that filled the cave. She could feel an electric charge go through her fingers until it filled her whole body. Any scraped and bruises would fade away. The cave was truly magical for the little girl.Edmond and Maeve practiced a very old religion, a religion without name. They believed in the restorative energy of the earth. The healing powers of the herbs and oil derived from the herbs. They believed in nature and all of its promises. Arabella took their belief with her as she grew up with Jack and Nancy. They did not understand her ways but did not keep her from from what she learned as a young child.Arabella and Lucas last day an
Chapter 13Arabella sat in the window seat of her bedroom, over looking the forest. All was silent this night, even the house did not moan and groan as it settled for the night. This would have been her wedding night. She mulled it over again in her mind as she thought about Evan. The silence played into her dark thoughts. Arabella was grateful Lucas was at Jack’s. She did not want him to feel her thoughts. Lucas was growing into his own gifts one of them being his ability to feel sadness. She did not know if that was a gift or a curse. Only time would tell. Soon, it would be two O’clock and the world slept.As she thought about Evan, a slight frown marred her brow. All in all, Evan had taken the broken engagement, so close to the wedding day, well. He did not care about the money already spent on Boulder’s most lavish wedding. Evan was not so much as hurt as it was that he half way expected it. He grinned boyishly as he spoke to her.“I get it Ari, that is one of the things I love ab
Chapter 14Lucian sat in his empty apartment, head resting in his hands. The last month or so had been unbelievable to him. Arabella’s appearance in his life, her presence, filled his heart. She changed who he was and challenged what he believed in. She brought him out of his complacency and gave him reason to fight for himself. He looked back on the life he lived these last years and was not happy with what he saw. He was not living’ he was just going through the motions. Not anymore. He did not know how he could have such deep feelings for a woman he hardly knew.He stared at his computer and the online news article. It was the announcement of Arabella’s wedding. Today was her wedding day. Lucian’s heart clinched at the thought of her married to another man. He cursed himself for not going after her. Reading the announcement again, Lucian felt empty, lost. He might not remember the life she said they had together but he remembered the love. He did not know how that was possible, but
Chapter 15Arabella stared down at the letter crumbled in her trembling hands. She could feel anger begin to rise up inside of her. How dare he? The arrogance of the man! Arabella could hardly breath as anger threatened to overwhelm her. She slammed her fist into the wall, trying to relieve the pressure before she did something stupid, like ripping Lucian.s head off..“You Alexanders are all alike, aren’t you?” She whispered, a tear shimmering on her lashes, “Always taking what you want and hang the rest of us.”Arabella received the letter in the afternoon post; a Solicitor’s heading on the envelope. Her eyes widened as she read what was printed on the letter.Ms Brennan.This letter serves to inform you of the intent of my client, Mr. Lucian Alexander, to seek DNA testing on one, Lucas Brennan.Please be aware that papers have been filed in the Boulder County court to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.A hearing will be set in the court docket within the month. In order to
Chapter 16“It’s okay, Lucas. I will be fine while you are gone. It’s only for a month and hey, think of it like this, you are going to New York. Your wish is coming true. You wanted to know your dad and this is a great opportunity for you.” Arabella smiled as she ruffled Lucas’s hair.“But mom, who will look after you and Thorn and gramps?” Lucas looked at Arabella with worry in his eyes. “I don’t think they have fishing in New York.”Arabella laughed, “Lucas, they have the finest museums there and broadway shows and so much more. Soak up all you can and see it as a learning experience. We will be all right and will be happy when you come home.” She could not let Lucas see how much she would miss him.Lucian had asked for this month with Lucas through Arabella’s Lawyer. She refused to see or talk to the man, there was nothing else between them except for Lucas. For the boys sake she agreed to allow Lucian this time with his son. All she could do is hope it was the right thing for Luc
Chapter 17“Geez Arabella, its been 3 days already. Time to wake up.” Sybil whispered. She sat crossed legged on a natural stone ledge that ran along one wall of the cave. Sybil was nervous; Arabella hadn’t woken once from the dream state she was in. Sybil tried to be patient, after all, Arabella was suppose to sleep while the memory of love faded. Still, Sybil was nervous. She had the awful feeling that she did something wrong.Sybil worked through the layers in her head. She followed all the steps she seen Mother do. Sybil did not admit to Arabella that this was the first time Sybil ever did anything like this. She was better at giving memories not taking away love. After all, what could go wrong?Arabella groaned as though she was in pain. Sybil started to sweat as she watched Arabella twist on the floor. ‘Now this is something new,’ Sybil thought. ‘Not good, not good at all.’ She didn’t see this happen when Mother did it. Sybil jumped down off the ledge and went to Arabella’s side.