Chapter seventeen
The weeks dragged on. Every time I closed my eyes all I could hear was the sound of the crash. I had barely slept and Aiden practically had to force me to eat. I knew this wasn't healthy for me or our children but I just felt awful. I didn't want to believe it but the truth was Mark was gone permanently. A small piece of me was happy because that meant he could never bother me again. A part of me was sad though because I didn't think he deserved it.
A small sliver of me thought death was too good for him after everything. I was a mixed sea of emotions and it drove me mad. Despite the lies, the cheating, the constant make up break up cycle, the emotional and mental manipulation and abuse, and just all the shit he had put me through I couldn't bring myself to hate him completely.
I had chosen to go to his funeral, only to have his deranged mother screaming at me and insisting it was somehow my fault. She kept saying that she had told him not to try and talk to me, to stay away from me because I was trash. His dad didn't blame me though and knew his son had lied about me a lot to them. His grandmother didn't even blame me. His mom and brothers did though.
I had been respectful and said my farewells to him. I had insisted Aiden wait out side for me because I didn't think me bringing the guy I was dating to my ex's funeral was something I should do. Carmen had flipped out that it was my fault he dumped her the minuet she saw me whisper my goodbyes to him. It was so weird seeing him like that in the coffin for me that I hadn't heard her at first. I of course ignored her and left before the sermon started. I knew where he was going to hurried thanks to his dad who also gave me a couple photos of Mark and I when his mother wasn't looking. His dad insisted I have them and that if I wanted anything of Marks to text him. I just smiled and nodded.It all felt like a nightmare for a moment.
I hadn't wanted the photos or anything of Marks. I didn't even want to remember him really. Even Aiden insisted that I keep them which was weird considering how he was with me. A small part of me couldn't believe I had spent pretty much the majority of June just laying around and not really doing anything. I shouldn't be this upset. He was awful to me.
I had turned down a couple of double dates with Teighlor and Adam and although my best friend understood I could tell she wished I would stop being so moody. Today would be a different story though. Today was July 1st and it was Aidens fathers 800th birthday party.
"Letty honey if you don't want to go you don't have to. I'm sure my family will understand." I shook my head.
"No. I wanna go." I muttered. I forced myself to sit up and stretch. I smiled at Aiden. "Besides I'm worried if I stay like this for much longer it might hurt the children." I say resting my hand on my stomach. I had a small baby bump now that I was two months into the pregnancy.
"Are you sure?" Aiden asks resting his head on my shoulder. I nodded and force myself out of bed.
"You pick an outfit for me while I take a shower ok?" I ask smiling at him. I can see concern in his golden eyes but he nods and I give him a quick kiss on the cheek before sliding off the bed and walking around the room into our bathroom.
By the time I finished showering there was a gorgeous forest green dress that shimmered in the light hanging on the back of the door. I slipped on my favorite black bra and panties set and slid into the dress with ease. I wiped the fogged up mirror and smiled at myself. Once again Aiden had out done himself. I applied black eyeliner and green eyeshadow to go with the dress. I left my hair down and smiled at myself again as I stepped out of the bathroom and tossed my dirty clothes into the hamper.
I ignored the lustful look on his face and made my way to my side of the bed to my jewelry box. I of course put my crescent moon necklace on since I wore it practically all the time. I wore the set of emerald earrings I had bought a couple years ago and the silver and emerald bracelet my grandmother had given me forever and a half ago.
"You're making it hard for me to want to go to my fathers party." Aiden said in a deep husky voice in my ear. I grinned.
"Oh?" I turn and kiss his nose.
"You're gorgeous." He says as he pulls me closer to him. I laugh.
"Not quite" He frowns at me.
"Why do you always put yourself down like that?" I can hear the hurt in his voice. I stand up and sigh. I slip on the black flats and grab a small black bag throwing some makeup wipes and what not into it.
"I honestly don't know. I've been out down by other people for so long. Mostly because of my size I guess. I've literally had instilled in my brain since I was a kid that plus size girls like me will never be considered gorgeous." I watch Aiden get off the bed and come to my side. He pulls me into his arms and rests his head on mine.
"But that's not true." He whispers.
"Deep down I know that but honestly I hate how I look. I don't even think I'm pretty. I'm just ok looking." I say burying my face in his chest.
"I can tell you this much baby before our children are born you will start seeing how beautiful you truly are." I shrug and shake my head.
"I doubt it but I won't stop you from trying." He tilted my head up and kissed me gently.
"I love you Letty don't forget that." I smile at him.
"I love you too Aiden." He pressed his lips gently to mine. I offer him my best smile as I look up at him. His golden eyes radiating how much he cares for me. I could stare into his eyes forever.
"Come on darling it's time for us to head out if we want to be on time." I nod and head for the front door. Making sure I look ok in the hallway mirror.
Once we're in his truck I get comfy to take a nap since I know it's a bit of a drive to his family's house. Aiden climbs into me and understands my desire to sleep since he turns the radio down some for me. Despite my desire for sleep though I can't seem to get comfortable. Somethings wrong I can just feel it. Which is weird for me because I hadn't had strong feelings like this since I started taking my anxiety medication years ago. As if feeling my unease Aiden takes my hand in his.
"Baby what's wrong?" He asks before pulling out of the parking spot.
"I don't know. I can't describe it. It's just this guy feeling that either something is wrong or something is going to happen." He looked at me confused.
"Like women's intuition kind of thing?" He asks.
"Sort of except every time I get this feeling I've never been wrong."
"Baby it's my dads party nothing bad is going to happen. If something were to happen though you know I would keep you and our babies safe no matter what." I nod.
"I know Aiden but I can't describe it. It's not like I can pinpoint what's going to happen. I don't have premonitions. Well at least I haven't in a very long time." Aiden shakes his head putting the truck into reverse and backing out of the parking spot.
"Baby if something bad was going to happen you know for a fact that Sylvia would of called us and told us."
"What if she didn't get a vision about it but someone else did?" Aiden looked perplexed for a moment.
"I'm not sure. But usually someone would of told Sylvia if that were the case and the laws state that if it involves a direct
Family member being in some kind of danger then the Fates can freely discuss it with their family."
"I don't know I just have a weird feeling." Aiden wrapped his large hand around mine and gave it a light squeeze.
"Relax baby girl you know I'd keep you safe no matter what. Me and my whole family would fuck upset anyone who tried to hurt you and trust me that's not something you would want to see." He said with a light hearted chuckle.
"You're right." I said relaxing into the seat of the truck as much as I could. I knew I was safe with Aiden and his family.
"Just relax my love, take deep breaths and start imagining everything I'm gonna do to my little brat later on." He said giving my thigh a light squeeze. I feel the heat creeping to my face and look away. Asshole.
I watched the scenery fly by from the truck window. You could tell when we left the city because out of no where it was just woods. I loved the woods though. Unlike some of my friends I had grown up in the country side, I never lived in the city until I went to college. I wasn't completely against living in the city I just liked the quietness of the country side.
Aiden turned on some music to break the silence and I honestly didn't mind despite the fact we didn't like the same music. I just enjoyed hearing music though. I didn't hate the R&B and pop music he liked it just wasn't my preferred music. I had always been more into rock music and as I got older I started listening to some of the older goth rock groups and then I found industrial and dark wave music and just fell in love with the sound. Although Disturbed always has and always will be my number one band and Evanescence right behind them my other favorites were Aesthetic perfection, the birthday massacre, blut Angel and KMFDM just to name a few.
Thinking of KMFDM made me think of Mark and my heart began to ache a little. Mark had introduced me to their music with their song Virus. We had gone to two KMFDM concerts together as well. We had also seen Aesthetic perfection, Ohgre, Assemblage 23, skold , PIG and so many other wonderful bands together. That was definitely something I missed.
A buzzing from inside my little purse snapped me out of my thoughts. I dug it out and looked at the caller I.D. and inwardly groaned. I hit end call because I really didn't feel like talking to Teighlor at the moment. My phone started ringing again.
"Hello?" I finally answered.
"Letty what are you doing right now?" She sounded panicky.
"On my way with Aiden to his fathers surprise party. Why? What's wrong?"
"Can Aiden hear me?"
"No." I replied
"Something is wrong with Adam."
"What do you mean?"
"He's going on about being a reaper and what not and that the reason we hadn't had sex yet despite almost going there a few times is because he was waiting to tell me because he didn't want to scare me and idk I think the dude is nuts." Panic was still evident in her voice. I didn't know what to say.
"Hold on a second sis." I finally said. I put the call on hold and looked at Aiden
"You said non family is coming to the party too right?" Aiden nodded. "Was Adam and Teighlor going to come?"
"Adam yes but he didn't wanna bring Teighlor because she didn't know about us yet." I nodded.
"Still there?" I asked unmuting the call.
"Yeah, what do I do?"
"Ok listen to me I know this going to sound crazy but just trust me. I assure you everything will be ok. I want you to go to Adam and tell him you believe him. I want you two to have sex then you will see the truth. Afterwards you will notice his eyes are golden and you'll have a strange mark on your neck that matches his, don't panic. Insist on going to the party he's going to today and I will meet you there. Can you do that?"
"What!" She practically yelled.
"It's a lot to explain and you don't have much time before he leaves. Just do it and when you get to the party I will explain everything to you along with some of Aidens family ok."
"Ok. This makes no sense at all."
"I know sis but just trust me ok." I heard her take a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"Ok but promise you'll explain everything?"
"I promise." We said our good byes and I hung up. I could see Aiden looking at me confused.
"Care to explain why your encouraging your best friend to have sex with mine?" He finally said.
"Basically Adam told her what he is and she doesn't believe it. It'll be easier for me to explain it to her and prove he's not lieing to her once she's marked like me."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I looked at Aiden and glared.
"You didn't hesitate when it came to me and now lol." I said pointing to my stomach.
"That was different." He said blushing.
"No it's basically the same thing." He sighed.
"I guess you're right and at least he waited two months to tell her."
"Precisely when you waited like what a week?" He shrugged.
"Something like that." I smiled and shook my head.
"Everyone moves at their own pace Aiden. You were eager to tell me the truth of your nature and couldn't hold it back. Adam tried to assess the situation first before telling her so you really can't blame him."
"True." I could still hear the hesitation in his voice.
"I wonder if Sylvia saw this coming?" I said looking out the window. I had yet to meet any other fate.
"Doubt it. She would of told me otherwise because she knows Adam is my best friend. He's like a brother to me much in the sense Teighlor is a sister to you." I nodded.
"I know. I was just curious. Will I ever meet any other dates?" I asked with an exasperated sigh.
"Well Sylvia said we are having a daughter so I suppose you will after the children are born. At least the council of the fates will come and introduce themselves once the children are born." I frowned.
"And then they will take out daughter away from us." I relaxed my hand protectively around my stomach. He shook his head.
"Not until she's five. And even then you can still see her every weekend and she is allowed home for the holidays and her birthday. They're not completely heartless." I looked Aiden.
"Not completely heartless? You barely would get to see our daughter until she's eighteen!" I felt anger start to tear it's ugly head inside of me.
"They do that so she can be taught how to control the visions Letty. Otherwise they would overwhelm her and she would loose her mind. Sylvia can obviously tell you more about the education and what she went through with the other fates but I assure you it's for the best."
"How can you say that? You said yourself that the fates keep so much hidden."
"They do but Letty Sylvia wouldn't like to us. She told me what it was like before she learned proper self control and even then she also learned to speak half a dozen different languages in school and so many other wonderful things. Sylvia absolutely loved school." I replaced a little.
"What about our son?" I added barely audible.
"The school for reapers is just as good as the ones for fates. We learn to control our powers and how to be reaper essentially. We learn how to blend in with humans. Basically everything we need for our job we learn it." So our son woods recorded a amazing education as well.
"So why won't you and our son be able to see our daughter on the weekends." Aiden shrugged.
"I don't know that's just how it's always been." A random thought crossed my mind.
"Aiden can family members be soulmates?" He looked surprised by my question.
"No. Well at least as far as I know it's never happened. I don't think the fates would allow it to be honest with you." I shuddered.
"Good." He raised an eye at me.
"Where did that come from?" I shrugged.
"I thought of your brother." Aiden laughed.
"He knows who is soul mate is." I looked at him confused.
"Then why is he not with them?" Aiden looked sad.
"As punishment for something he did a long time ago my brothers soulmate is not destined to be born for at least another two hundred years."
"That's harsh. What did he do?" Aiden shrugged.
"I don't know it happened before I was born and my family doesn't talk about it."
"I see." I felt bad for his brother.
"Half the reason he acts the way he does is because he's heart broken over it. The other half is because he truly is an ass hole" I nodded and started out the window. This was the world I had joined by finding Aiden. Was there anyway to escape the fates my children were subjected to? Could things ever be different?