Chapter 10: Family

The ride from the academy to Dallas was a quiet one. Darren drove because it was pointless to take a car when there were only two people going. I got all my assignments for the week because I didn't know when we'd be back and I didn't want to have so much makeup work. On the three hour drive where neither of us was talking, I did my homework so I didn't have to think about what was going to come when I got home.

When we got to Dallas, the media was hovering around mine and my grandparents' houses. My grandfather was waiting on me when we got to the house. I stepped out of the car, scared and happy to be home even if it was for a sad occasion. My grandfather swept me into his strong arms and held me tightly.

Jackson Bates, or Jack by his friends and family, was the son of late Senator Martin Bates and the great-grandson of Harriet Briggs, founder of the Twilight Foundation that helped families in need around Dallas. He had curly white hair and big blue eyes, the same eyes my father had had. He was on the tall side, about six foot two, and lean even in his late sixties. He smelled of peppermint and old man cologne, just like I remembered.

He stepped back and looked at me. "Oh, my baby girl. How are you?"

I looked up at my grandfather. I wanted lie and say I was fine but I couldn't. He knew about my quirky trait and knew how hard it was for me to lie. Even if I could, I couldn't. I couldn't lie about this feeling inside me; this feeling of desolation and loneliness. So I told the truth.

"Numb," I answered with a shaky voice. I felt Darren take a step closer to me.

My grandfather's eyes softened but he didn't notice the Darren yet. He probably did but he was too concerned with me to care. "Oh, baby, I know. Your grandmother feels the same way."

"Speaking of her, where is Grandma?"

"Back at the house finishing ordering everyone around. We're having the food at our house." He tilted his head to the side when I frowned. "What is it, baby?"

"No offense, Grandpa, but I'd like to have it here. Daddy lived here for twenty years

and I want everyone to see him as he was: a family man."

He smiled. "Is that what you want?" I nodded as I looked around my house. "Then it shall be like that. Your grandmother won't mind as long as she gets to do it."

"I really don't care how it's done." It was harsh but I didn't care. This was my father's funeral and I wasn't going to let anyone do it any other way than the way Dad and I wanted it.

He looked at me speculatively and nodded. "Okay." He pulled his phone from his pocket and called my grandmother. He spoke quickly and quietly obviously trying to keep my grandmother calm.

When he was done, he looked at us. This time, he really looked. His eyes singled Darren out. "She's fine with it. Now, introduce me to the young man who has accompanied you."

"Grandpa, this is Darren Starland. Darren, this is my grandpa Jackson Bates, my father's father," I said quietly. I was too busy watching Anita flit about the house as she cleaned before the guests arrived tomorrow to pay attention.

Grandpa stuck out his hand, which Darren took and shook like a gentleman. "Nice to meet you, son."

"Nice to meet you as well," Darren replied respectfully. "You have an amazing granddaughter."

"That I do. She's my only one."

"Are the rest boys?"

"No, my dad was an only child," I replied. "Grandpa was mayor when my dad was born. Then governor after that. They never had any more children because my dad was a handful."

Grandpa turned his soulful eyes to me, humored by the stories he had told me of my dad as a child. But that humor soon changed into something else as he really looked at me. "Maddie, why don't you go upstairs and rest? Darren and I can get to know each other while you sleep."

I nodded and grabbed my backpack, too tired to argue when I normally would have. Grandpa was very protective of me, especially with guys I brought over. "Anita, would you please take Darren's bag to the guest room?" I asked nicely as I ascended the stairs.

"Yes, Miss Maddie," the maid said. She grabbed Darren's bag and caught up with me. "I will draw you a warm bath so you can relax before you sleep."

I didn't answer as we walked toward my room.

Darren

Darren watched as Maddie trudged up the stairs then down the hallway out of his sight. She had closed off all her emotions in the last two days since she had gotten the call her father was gone and they set up the funeral for four days later. She had been so quiet it scared him sometimes. Most of the time she would disappear and they had no clue where she had gone. They were unhappy with it but they didn't want to push her.

The saddest part was her eyes weren't alive anymore. When she looked at him, she looked right through him. He knew she was trying to keep from losing what little control she had left but it was better to have no control than no emotions.

He knew she hadn't been sleeping. Not since the night he had allowed her to stay with him, anyway. Beca had told him she had stayed up all night the night after staying with him and last night. He knew she was going to be anxious to see everyone because today was the wake, which she had resolutely decided to miss. All he wanted was to take her in his arms and hold her tightly.

Her grandfather cleared his throat, drawing Darren's attention.

"Be honest with me, son. How is Maddie?" he asked as he motioned for them to sit down.

Darren sighed as he sat down in the overstuffed chair. Immediately his face went in his hands. "Not good, sir," he replied as he lifted his head.

"What's going on?"

"She's not sleeping and she barely eats."

"She does that when she's upset."

"It's not healthy."

Jack sat back and looked at the young man in front of him. He was utterly broken for a young woman he barely knew. It was something he hadn't seen in a long time.

"I'm going to be frank with you, son, because I know you can take it." The young man lifted his head once again to look at the older one. "I was uncomfortable when my son said he was sending Maddie to Union. I know of the prophecy my family was told generations ago. The school is to be the battle ground. That is the reason I do not want my granddaughter there."

"Excuse me?" Darren said, waving one hand to clear his mind. "What prophecy?"

"Centuries ago the wizard Merlin handed a prophecy to my ancestors." Jack rose to walk to the bookcase opposite him. He pulled a book from the top shelf and opened it to a marked page. "Here," he said as he handed Darren the book. "Read it."

Saved by moonlight

It is how she is protected;

On the beams of dust

She was sent.

Born into a world of pain

She shall walk the highroad

Her heart shall beat

In the time of mortals

The twenty-five shall rise

To protect her;

All of horses and

Swords and bows.

Together they will defeat

The one who opposes them;

Reclaiming what is rightfully

Theirs by birth.

Darren looked up. "It doesn't rhyme."

Jack smiled. "It's in prose." The smile faded. "You were there, Arthur. How did she die?"

"She didn't. She gave up her physical body to save her soul. She was sent away on a full moon." He stopped. "'Protected by moonlight.' She was sent away on the full moon."

"Maddie was born on the full moon in the early hours of April eighth."

"The moon would have been at its zenith. Tell me, Mr. Bates."

"Call me Jack."

Darren nodded. "Tell me, Jack. What is your birthmark?"

"A moon burst on my right shoulder."

The younger man looked thoughtful. "I get it. She was saved by the moon and she's protected by it. Your family was chosen to protect her soul. Have you had any daughters before her?"

Jack shook his head sadly. "No, none of them have ever made it past the age of six."

Darren's head snapped up from the text. "Six? Maddie was six when she cut herself with the knife."

"How do you know about that?"

"She told me. If the blade had gone any further left, it would have nicked an artery and she would have bled to death." His eyes lit up. "That's it! She was saved because she has Camelot's spirit. It doesn't explain how she has that sword."

"That pendant is a family heirloom. I got it from my father. It was for my sister but tragically she passed away at three. I gave it to Bill and he gave it to Maddie when she was fourteen. It is a symbol for any of the knights who come across her. They could not help but swear loyalty to her. It comes with a heavy price. Many will want to simply protect her, others will want to claim her, and still some will want to love her. Only she must choose."

"I don't like what that means."

"It is her decision." Jack watched the emotions in the young man's eyes. "You care for my granddaughter, don't you?"

"Very much. I would do anything for her."

"Do you care for her simply because she is Camelot's reincarnation?"

"She asked me the same thing."

"She is very wise."

Darren nodded. "I'm going to talk to the headmaster about training her and Beca in swordsmanship and archery."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Why are you telling me this?"

The younger sat back a moment. He had no idea why he was telling Jack what his granddaughter was doing but it felt right.

He shrugged. "It's what my gut is telling me to do."

Jack nodded, understanding everything he said. "Continue to follow your gut. It will never lead you astray. I've told Maddie that on countless occasions. If you do that, I have no qualms with allowing her to stay at Union."

"You're going to allow her to stay?" Darren didn't want to get too excited because Jack could easily change his mind.

He nodded once again. "I will allow her to stay on the account that you and the Knights will take care of her. If you don't, I'm bringing her back here where she will finish high school."

"Yes, sir."

Jack smiled warmly. He knew this boy would be the one to protect and possibly even love his granddaughter. Darren seemed very trustworthy and sincere. Jack's only concern was that Darren would try to dominate her. Maddie was very independent and had shown that on several occasions. If Darren tried, she would assert her Bates personality.

He sat down in his chair and watched the teenager as he tried to go over the prophecy and make it fit. He had a sneaking suspicion Darren knew what it meant but was keeping it quiet until he could discuss it with the others.

"How many Knights do you have?" he asked as the thought hit him.

"Three: Galahad, Alymere, and Lancelot," Darren replied automatically even though his eyes were glued to the page.

"It's in your best interest to find the others soon. Whatever evil is hunting my granddaughter will attack soon and hard. Do not let her face it alone."

"She won't." It was spoken matter-of-factly and emphasized so Jack wouldn't forget.