Caged in Darkness by J. D. Stroube Read Free Book Online Page B

homework aside. “Is
that really why you came up here?”
    Maye chuckled, “You’re too smart for me; you
always were.” She sighed. “I am assuming you saw the text I sent
you earlier today?” I was silent, but nodded in ascent. “Good. I
found a buyer for your parents’ home, but I think that we need to
make a visit to the house before we sell it.”
    “Why? It’s not like I want anything that
belonged to them!” My anger began bubbling up and Maye looked
around in surprise to see my furniture shaking in response. “That
house is supposed to be, what…a legacy from them? It’s a legacy I
want nothing to do with.” I ground my teeth, and sat up to look at
Maye. I tried to calm my anger and saw the furniture’s shaking
dwindle to miniature spasms.
    “Child, I am not bringing you there for your
parents’ legacy. I am bringing you there for your ancestral legacy.
You shouldn’t turn your back on your ancestors just because your
parents took a dark path.” Maye fixated me with a stern look, and
shook her head in disappointment. “You of all people should know
not to judge someone by who they are related to. Your line is
filled with extraordinary witches who have passed down heirlooms
that belong to you.”
    “Couldn’t you just go and bring me back
whatever you think I should have?” Silence greeted my question, and
I hesitantly began to explain, “I’m not sure I can face that place
again. I don’t know what it will do to me. Please don’t ask me to
do this.” My head bowed in personal shame at admitting my
weakness.
    “Darling, I will be with you. Your parents
are gone; they can’t hurt you. All that is left to bring you pain
are the memories. If you face those, you’ll be free. You can’t
spend the rest of your life hiding from yourself; always afraid
that your memories will incapacitate you, and they will if you
continue to bury them.” She gripped my hand, while her eyes flowed
with a river of emotion.
    “Why do I need to face the memories in that
house? They already plague me every night in my dreams? I can’t
escape them.”
    Maye looked disappointed, “Sweetheart, you
know I love you, and part of loving someone means that sometimes
you need to save them from their self. You are not confronting the
memories in your dreams. The nightmares are your minds attempt at
repressing demons that refuse to leave.”
    “Okay, okay. You win, but before I agree to
go, you have to promise me one thing. If I want to leave, we leave.
I’ll face my demons, but on my terms.”
    “Agreed.” She smiled and kissed my forehead.
“If you were strong enough to become the woman you are, after being
subjected to such evil, you can overcome any obstacle.” She walked
slowly from the room and closed the door behind her.
    Her faith in me was eternal. I never knew
unconditional love and support until I came here. Maye and Ash had
given me more than a home; they took my fractured soul and somehow
pieced it back together. The damage was still done, but now I knew
I could survive. I wouldn’t fail them.
    My body became overwhelmingly lethargic. It
was as though the stress that had built up over the course of a
lifetime was suddenly slamming down on my shoulders, and forcing me
to kneel before the memories. My eyes drifted shut and I passed
into a dark sleep filled with nightmares. My mind swam with blurry
images of my parents committing horrendous acts, and switched to
visions of red eyes following me as I ran for safety. I
continuously turned and each time I was confronted with a new image
that left me whimpering beneath the sheets. I was becoming fitful,
when something cool grazed my cheek. A soothing sound quieted me
into a restful sleep and I was at peace.
     
    I woke to the sound of my alarm clock
indicating that it was 8 o’clock. It felt much earlier. The sun
shone through the glass, which made my room look larger than it
actually was. I opened the bay windows to step onto the terrace.
The rush of damp