The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga) (4 page)

Frank was crying along with
Libby and then he grabbed her by the head and pulled her to him to kiss her deeply. He pulled back and looked from mother to baby and said,

“I am so, so unbelievably proud of you! Both of you, both my girls! I love you so much! Thank you
God! Christ I love you baby, I love you… You did it!... Jesus, Libby we did it!” He said and Libby looked down and kissed her baby on the head. 

“Yes, we did. I love you to
, both of you.” Libby said and the heart melting moment was perfect.

“So
, we were a bit late then?” A paramedic said from the doorway, smiling at the sight. I quickly moved out of their way to let them get to work on helping my sister and when I stood up, I knew that this was one of those rare times in life that I was witnessing pure greatness. I don’t think for as long as I lived that I would ever forget this moment in time, this sight right now that had me realising just how precious life really was. Of course, one look to the man on my right had me backing up that statement with a shudder.

Carrick walked over to reclaim his jacket and bent down to retrieve his black case that never seemed to leave his side. That’s when I added a deep shiver to the shudder
, as I remembered in detail just what powers lay within that innocent looking case. He came back over to me and nodded to the door and I followed him out.

His hair shone like silver thread in the sunlight and I saw him lift his head to the fresh air to inhale deeply.

“Nope, still prefer the smell of death I am afraid.” He said looking back at me smiling and I wrinkled my nose.

“
Uhh, gross Carrick!” He laughed and the sound of it actually had me smiling. He was a really nice guy if you could overlook the whole ‘Soul collecting’ thing.

“So, don’t fancy a career change then?” I asked only half joking. He gave me a dazzling smile and for an older gentleman he certainly didn’t lack in the looks department. His steel coloured eyes that matched the silver in his hair gleamed at me.

“I think not. Besides, most deaths aren’t half as messy.” I laughed in disbelief and he raised an arched eyebrow at me.  He then looked me up and down and I followed his eyes to find my top soaked in blood.

“But all births are without a doubt… bloody affairs
.” He added and I took in his crisp beige suit wondering if he owned any other colour, but thankfully I stopped myself from asking.

“I can’t believe I am going to say this Carrick
, but I am actually glad you were here.” I said and then offered him my hand. He looked taken aback for a moment and there was no hiding the emotion my gesture put in his eyes. He transformed his cool features into a breathtaking grin and took my hand in his. He started to shake it and I was so overcome by the moment that I said out loud,

“Oh
bugger it, come here!” And I pulled his hand to me as I stepped in to wrap my arms around him. If someone had told me five months ago that I would be hugging Death himself in thanks, I would have been asking who supplied their crazy pills!

He stiffen
ed in my hold at first and then decided to just roll with it. He patted me on the back softly before I let him go. When I pulled back I had tears running down my face. He reached up and took away one of my tears, holding it in his closed palm before lifting it to his mouth. I gasped when I saw him lick it from his skin and then close his eyes. Once again he was looking up to the sky as if listening to someone.

“Such an unpolluted soul and rare….
very
rare indeed.” He said to himself before looking back at me.

“And of course
, still as feisty as ever, which I am most pleased about. There are not many people that would be so bold as to threaten Death itself Keira but I must say, you do so very nicely. Until next time, Chosen One.” He said, nodded and then he turned to walk away.

“I hope not Carrick
, but no offence!” I shouted back and without even turning his head he responded,

“Oh but we will Electus, you can be sure of that. Oh and Keira…” I didn’t say what I wanted to but instead just waited for him to finish.

“….take care of that niece of yours…she is special that one and…most important to him” He said and without a look, he simply swung up his briefcase over his head in way of a wave goodbye. He left me stood there feeling baffled by his cryptic parting comment, but I was soon brought back to the now when Libby was being lifted into the ambulance I had only just noticed waiting there.

I ran over to my sister and gave her a teary kiss and told her I love
d her. I touched the baby’s head, who was now resting her little eyes in sleep on her mother’s chest and was touched to see her still snuggled peacefully in my dad’s old sweater.

Libby was still so emotional and Frank had to pry her curled fingers from my top to let me go so as they could
both go and get checked out at the hospital. After a mammoth bear hug from Frank, I told him that I would stay at the house and clean up, ready for when they got home. He thanked me again, only this time there was a single tear running down his cheek.

He leant down and whispered in a thick emotional voice,

“I could never thank you enough for saving them both, you did it…you saved my family and…man…Jesus kid, I love you!” He said and I felt more tears hit my neck before he turned his face away and jumped in the back of the ambulance, wiping his cheeks as he went. Once they went out of sight I fell to the ground and cried, but for the first time since Draven had left, leaving my chest feeling empty, I felt it full and the tears I shed were finally ones of utter happiness.

The rest of that day I spent cleaning up, which I am ashamed to say also made me a little sick. I didn’t know how all these great people that became nurses and docto
rs did it, but they had my deepest respect even more, that was for sure.

I got
a phone call from Frank later, telling me they were keeping them overnight just to be sure, but for me not to worry. Libby was doing great and the baby was sleeping and feeding like a trooper, Frank’s words not mine. He also told me quite a few times how damn beautiful his baby girl was and I knew by the added ‘F’ word that Libby wasn’t in hearing distance.

It was
this amazing feeling that had me on this sort of cloud the rest of the day and for the first time in a week I couldn’t wait for people to come home. I just kept seeing my little niece’s face looking up at me and my heart seemed to swell. It was only when I was washing up humming ‘You’ll be in my Heart’ by Phil Collins to myself, that I looked up and saw a shadow of a man in the forest that surrounded the driveway.

I squinted my eyes as the sun was going down
, but I could still make out the giant of a man who stood staring at the house. I still couldn’t make out any features, only that he wore black, was extremely tall and had a heavy frame to match. It wasn’t a wild guess to know that it was the same man I had met in the woods, the one that had helped me get to Libby in time.

So what did I do
...? The only thing I could think of, I clicked the kettle on.

I was soon walking out to the forest
, that now looked even darker than from the kitchen window and with both hands I held on to the steaming mug.

“
Hello
...Hello?” I said a bit louder but I didn’t get any response or see anyone through the thickness of the trees. But something in my gut told me he was still there, waiting, so I did what I came to do.

“I umm…I wanted to say thank you… for my sister and the baby, what you did…well, I will be forever in your debt…I wish I could say this to your face
, but something tells me that isn’t going to happen, so this was the only way I could think to thank you.” I placed down my Homer Simpson mug and then dug out the mini packet of Oreo cookies from my coat pocket to place next to them.

“I made this for a friend of mine once and he seemed to enjoy it.
It’s hot chocolate and some biscuits. If you need anything else or want anything else to drink, just let me know.” I said feeling like a right dork talking to the trees. I started to walk back until I whizzed back round, thinking of something else.

“Unless
, that is, you’re a Vampire! ‘Cause trust me, I have seen enough blood for one day and that didn’t go so well for me…oh God, now I am babbling! What I mean is…if you fancy a beer or soda or something but NOT blood! No blood for you…Ok well… I guess bye then and thanks.” I said hurrying back to the safety of my house after freaking myself out.

He wouldn’t really be a Vamp would he? I mean
, being behind my neck like that he would have had a taster, wouldn’t he? No, he wasn’t a vamp but that still raised the important question…

Who was this guy?    

Chapter 4

Draven’s Legal Mind

The next week came and went in a baby blur. It was filled with sterilizing bottles, changing nappies, feeding, bathing, changing the tiniest baby clothes and playing host to a stream of people, all desperate to see the new baby. It was a heart-warming time, the second Libby and Frank came home with the new family addition.

And the very first thing they did was ask me to name her. I was so touched I just sat there dumbstruck for the entire time it took for Frank to make me a cuppa.

“So, what do you think?” Libby said finally, bringing me from my shock.

“I…Lib’s, you can’t…I mean…re
ally?” Not my brightest literary moment, but what do you say to something like that?

“Absolutely!” Frank joined in, handing me a steaming
LFC mug.

“Guys, I am touched but come on, you really want me to name your child?” I just couldn’t get my head round it. I mean
, it was a massive responsibility even for a parent but for an Aunt, this could literally be a make or break situation…what if she hated it while growing up?!

“I know what you’re doing Kaz
, but please don’t. There is no need to try and talk us out of this, we have talked about it and we couldn’t think of anything more fitting that having the very person who brought her into the world to name her.” Libby said wiping a stray tear from her eye and Frank was nodding like a little dog on a dash board with a massive grin, next to her.

Of course
, I soon realised that Carrick had left them both with a void in their mind as to his role in her birth, which had left me looking both crazy when asking them about it and also looking like the heroine of this baby miracle. Next time I saw Carrick, if ever, I would be giving him an earful for the lack of a heads up, that was for sure.

“Yeah and can you imagine if a doctor named Donald had delivered her, I mean how do you change that into a girl’s name?! Poor kid would get crucified in school
, that’s for sure.” Frank said making light of the situation and we all laughed.

“Are you guys really sure about this?”

“Yes!” They both said at the same time so I gave in, getting up to hug them both.

Later that day I had thought about the baby and must have run through every name I had ever heard but nothing seemed right. It was only when stirring a big pot of chilli that night
, that I thought about something that was significant to the whole situation we all went through when bringing my niece into this world. So at dinner I explained myself.

“I’ve thought of a name,” I said causing both Libby and Frank to drop their forks at the same time. They looked up at me and Libby took Frank’s hand in hers as they waited for the sound of their baby girl’s name to be said for the first time.

“I umm, well ok, I guess I’d better just come out and say it. I was thinking about Carrie Ella but like me, using her second name Ella for most of the time…what do you think?” I asked, biting my lip waiting for the name to sink in. They just turned to each other and my sister tested the name, saying out loud,

“Carrie Ella…Ella, Umm…baby Ella, I like it…no, no…in fact I love it! Oh Keira, its perfect!” She said and jumped up and threw her arms around Frank who laughed heartily with his wife. He looked to me over Libby’s shoulder and winked at me.

I went to bed that night smiling.

The naming of baby Carrie Ella was a big hit with everyone and soon everyone took Libby’s lead and started calling her just Ella. She asked me that night where I had got it from and I shrugged and told her ‘it just came to me’. I mean it wasn’t like I could tell her that it was the only female version of my buddy Death Carrick or the fact that Ella came from the ‘
Helluva’ time we had delivering her into this world, of course I just knocked off the H U and the V to make Ella.

That was over a week ago and I was now sat in the house alone
, trying to catch up on end of the college year course work that I had missed due to the depression I’d had thrust upon me. I can’t say that life was ever going to be what it was for me, but Ella’s arrival had at least given me an even greater purpose to life. I found every time things got too much for me all I needed to do was look at my perfect niece lay sleeping, to feel better.

I still went about my life and instead of finding the time to cry, I would us
e it helping Libby with the baby or cramming in last minute studies. This was enough to put off the inevitable questions about Draven, where my friends were concerned but I knew it wouldn’t be long.

The on
ly other question that was never answered, was that of the mystery man in my life, who hadn’t shown himself again since that day. I had, however, found a Homer mug waiting for me one morning and I smiled down at it for a few minutes before picking it off the porch. I examined it to find it had been cleaned and I even sniffed at it to find it smelled like it had been washed in the stream not far from the house, one I often passed on my walks.

H
e may not have shown himself, but I still felt myself being watched sometimes. And in a strange way, I was comforted by the fact, however annoying it was that I still didn’t know who he was.

I was just getting up after a three hour round with one of Reed’s history assignments
, when my need for tea dragged me downstairs. I had just clicked on the kettle when I heard the knock at the door. I was alone, which was unusual these days and I didn’t like being without Ella in the house. Libby and Frank had gone to Frank’s parents to stay the night, so that the rest of his family got a look in with the babe. Of course, they had invited me, but having the amount of work I had to finish, I knew I couldn’t say yes.

So now I was answering
the door to a suit who drove a silver Mercedes.

“Can I help you?” I asked cautiously knowing, one, I had never seen this dude before and two, I was in the house alone.

“Miss Williams?” This instantly put me on guard considering very few people actually knew my real last name. I knew, now that Morgan had died, that there was little point still keeping up the charade, but it just never came up to the point of changing it. And besides, most people still thought that Morgan was still out there somewhere, so it was just easier letting them carry on believing the crazy bastard had probably killed himself and at some point the authorities would be discovering a body. Well, even if they did start searching the bottom of a ravine that was extremely difficult to get to, by that time I doubted there would be much left to discover or so Draven had told me, I thought with a shiver.

“Yes
.” I finally answered, coming back from darker pasts.

“I have much to discuss, may I come in?” I a
rched my eyebrow in question before I asked,

“And y
ou are?” His answer blew me away.

“I am Mr Jenkins, Mr Draven’s attorney
.”

I soon found myself sat opposite a softly spoken English man, dressed in an impeccable crisp navy suit, white shirt and startling red tie. He was handsome in an unconventional way, with sharp features and soft blue eyes. He must have been in his late forties and took his tea with lemon instead of milk. I decided
, when he told me this, to give him the posh stuff we had gathering dust at the back of the cupboard.

“So Mr Jenkins, is it too soon to ask what you are doing here?” I said after he had just taken the tea and smiled at me.

“Ah, direct and to the point… A much preferred personality trait in my line of business.” He said nodding after he took a sip of the tea. I gathered I was on to a winner with the posh stuff.

“Which is?” I prompted.

“Well, unfortunately right now, dealing with Mr Draven’s Estate.” He said placing the cup down and lifting his briefcase. The word ‘Estate’ had me slopping my own tea on my jeans. I closed my eyes for a few painful seconds to try and barricade the torrent of emotions that singular word brought me.

“And why does that include me
?” I forced the words out, still keeping my eyes shut.

“And why wouldn’t it? After all
, the information I had from the man himself suggests you weren’t far from being his bride. Of course, as you no doubt know, he was a man who liked to take care of his business in
all
aspects.” I shook my head at hearing this and rubbed a spot on my forehead as I processed his words.

“I am…was… his girlfriend
,
not
a business deal. I think I know why you are here and I don’t mean to be rude, but I think you will find it has been a wasted trip.”

“How so
, Miss Williams?” He asked me, being genuinely shocked.

“Well knowing Draven as I do…did…” I swallowed hard at the slip ups I kept making and carried on,

“….you are no doubt here to give me some ridiculous amount of money he left me, or something even crazier like a car, house… Christ, I don’t know, maybe even a horse, but I am telling you now, I don’t want any of it!” I said getting up making him do the same. However, he didn’t take the hint and instead of following me to the door, he just stayed where he was and started laughing. The look I sent him was deadly.

“Sorry, I umm…I guess I can see now why M
r Draven did things in this manner.” I frowned at him and held up a hand.

“Stop right there and rewind
…what do you mean, ‘in this manner’?” This got a little smirk from him which kept me frowning.

“I am afraid
that if you wish for me to say anything else on the matter you will have to sign this paperwork.” He said getting a cream folder out of his case.

“Oh no, I have seen this movie, this is where I get screwed over for something
and find I’m legally bound to running some bloody hillbilly ranch in the wilderness! I am not signing anything without first reading it!” I said folding my arms across my chest.

“Certainly
, but I must inform you, I doubt you will be able to make much sense out of it.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

“I may not be a hot shot lawyer
, but I can read.” I responded coldly.

“Persian?” He said handing me the paperwork, which was indeed written i
n a language Draven knew that in no way would I be able to make sense of.

“Ok
, so Draven expected me to sign something I can’t read so that I am forced to receive some of his money that he knew I wouldn’t want. Nice try Love…” I said looking up to the Heavens and then handing the paperwork back to him saying,

“…b
ut no dice. I thank you for coming but I will not, nor will I ever be signing that.”

“He thought that would be the case, so he added something that would interest you. If you sign the paperwork, at any point, you will then receive this letter from
the man himself, which is only addressed to you, but only to be yours with this little condition of course.” He added smugly when he saw my eyes light up at the sight of more words from Draven.

He held it up for me to see like bait to a fish but the question was, would I survive the hook
? It took me all of nano second to decide as I snatched the paperwork back off him and took the pen he had offered me. I signed on the line at the bottom and an emotional shiver rippled along my body when I saw it was next to Draven’s own signature. I had to sign three more times but got to keep one copy. I asked what the point was, but he just shrugged and said he’d had his orders.

He placed the other co
pies back in the folder and into the safety of his briefcase. He held out a hand to me and I shook it, doing close to anything he wanted just to get my hands on that letter. He gave a little laugh at my eagerness when I took the letter from him and held it to my chest. I at least had the mental ability to walk him to the door, remembering my upbringing well, even under the circumstances.

“It was an experience doing business with you Miss Williams
,” he said kindly and I smiled.

“Like
wise Mr Jenkins…oh and please call me Keira.” I said thinking this was a bit late, but saying so anyway. He nodded and then shook my hand once again.

“Only if you call me Daniel, as I am sure to be meeting you again, in the future of course
.” He said giving me a wink before getting into the back of the expensive car thanks to the driver who held open the door for him. I was left wondering what on earth that had meant and why would he need to be seeing me again? But none of these were the reasons I was running to the car window, tapping on the side.

The blacked out glass slid
down and I could see he wasn’t alone but being hidden with a full black hood, I couldn’t tell who the other passenger was.

“Yes Miss Will…Keira?” He said correcting himself.

“You never explained to me what I actually signed…what did I get myself into?” I asked feeling slightly embarrassed asking this in front of someone else, someone I was trying desperately to make out.

“I left you the paperwork, Keira.
I think you will find by the time I have gone you might be able to make more sense of it.” He said with a smile.