Chapter Two: Dreams of the Past
Tyson “Ty” Hale
Tyson was exhausted when he went to bed. His day had been filled with trail rides and city tourists who had never been in the great outdoors before, not the way they made it in Colorado. He loved watching their enthusiasm when they saw the wildlife or caught a glimpse of an eagle, but babysitting them so they didn't get hurt was always over the top. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow, and the dream started almost immediately.
The sun was shining brightly, its golden rays feeding the luxurious flora that graced the veil of waters cascading from the falls above the cave entrance. The cobblestone walk that meandered through the hidden valley allowed the heavy clomps of the soldiers' feet to alert Vinia that they had visitors. She twisted her hands together. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Her beloved Jeremiah had left early this morning for what she had assumed was to stretch his wings, but he had never returned, and the supper hour was drawing near. She had gathered her five children on the sofa. The interior of the cave was modern, hotel suite like in design and had been a comfortable home. The dripping of the water that flowed through the core of the rocks matched the clang of the footsteps. It was getting closer, and fear settled into the depths of her stomach. Vinia's anxiety and fear had reached its peak when the banging startled her back to the moment.
She answered the door to find not one, but several soldiers.
"Can I help you?" She fought to keep the trembling out of her voice, to no avail.
"We are under orders of the Alpha Dragon King to search your cave dwelling. Step aside."
They didn't give her the chance to move before pushing their way in. She stumbled backward then caught her balance.
"What is this about?" She asked.
The soldiers ignored her question. The one who had spoken grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her toward the sofa where her children sat. Fear was prevalent on each of their young faces. Little Sarah, who surely had no concept of what was going on, teared up as she was grasped tightly in Colton's arms. He had a protective streak a mile wide, and Vinia prayed he didn't jump to his feet and make demands of the soldiers.
"Do not interfere." The soldier ordered and pressed her down until the arm of the sofa bumped into the back of her legs.
Vinia had no choice but to obey. She sat perched on the arm of the sofa, one arm wrapped around Drake, her youngest son. She could hear her dishes and glassware shattering in the kitchen, drawers being upended in the bedrooms. A loud crash from the game room made her jump. They were destroying everything. Everything they had worked for, everything that belonged to her children, and she still did not know why.
When the soldiers came back to the living room, they searched every corner, upending furniture and end table drawers. One grabbed the area rug and with a quick flick of his powerful hand lifted it from the ground, knocking the coffee table to the side as if it were an annoying fruit fly. Her children were crying in earnest now, except for Colton. She could feel his anger rising next to her and she stared at him until he made eye contact. With a quick shake of her head from side to side, she conveyed to him that he needed to stay his tongue. His eyes narrowed, fury showing with red splotches on his face, but he nodded. He understood. He didn't like it, but he understood.
When the soldiers finished, they stood casually amongst the ramshackle disaster they had created in her living room, in her home. The soldier in charge cleared his throat, avoiding looking at her children.
"Your mate, Jeremiah, was caught at the temple of Brigid. He was charged with theft of the sacred cross. During his detainment a fight ensued, and he did not survive."
She jumped from her perch; her fists clenched so tight her nails were digging into the palms of her hands. She could feel her dragon rising as her emotions spiralled. Anger, fear, and denial consumed her all at once.
"He did not! He would never. You killed him. You killed Jeremiah." She screamed, her voice breaking on the last sentence. She was vaguely aware of the cries of her children. Colton was yelling and snivelling. He shoved Sarah in Tyson's arms and jumped to his feet. Vinia barely grabbed ahold of his arm before he launched an attack on the soldier.
"I'm sorry, he did. And we did, as is our duty. You have been ordered out of the Sacred Garden by the Alpha Dragon King. You are never to return. You will be given five minutes to gather what you and the children need then we will escort you to the gates to the world. The clock is ticking."
How, Vinia thought, how can they destroy their belongings, deliver the news of her mate's murder, and that's what it was. Murder. Vinia had no doubt of Jeremiah's innocence, as there was not a more honorable dragon shifter in all the Sacred Garden, and then to expect her to gather her children and what they needed from the mess they had made. Brigid, she silently prayed, you know he is innocent, help me, help us.
Colton chose that moment to jump up and kick the soldier in his shins. The soldier placed his hand in the center of Colton's forehead and gave him a shove. Not enough to hurt him, but to knock him back. Vinia grabbed Colton by the arm again and pulled him to her side. She needed to get the children away from here, away from them. She didn't have faith that they wouldn't harm her or the children.
"Colton. Colt, honey, look at me." Vinia forced him to look at her. "I need you to stay here, right here on the couch and watch your brothers and sister while I gather what we need."
"We're not leaving." He said fiercely, but his bottom lip was trembling in tandem with mine.
"We have to, baby. We must leave now."
"I'm not a baby."
Vinia looked at her boy. So much of Jeremiah showed in him. Not just his looks, but his protectiveness of his family, in his demeanor. It nearly hurt to look at him, knowing that she would never see Jeremiah again. At least she has them though, all their children, created from the love of two mates who were completely devoted to one another.
"You're right, you are not a baby. So please do this for me."
Vinia scrambled through the cave gathering a change of clothes and boxed juices and snacks for each child. She shoved pull ups in a sack for Sarah along with her juice and toddler cookies. She looked at the three backpacks she had sitting by the door. She would have to carry hers and Sarah, as well as Sarah, but the boys could carry their own. She grabbed a favorite toy for each of them then hurriedly placed her clothes and a stash of money they kept in a safe that the soldiers had cracked open but left untouched. In the center of the floor was a photo of her and Jeremiah at their mating ceremony. The glass was shattered, and the frame was bent. Vinia stepped over the mess and knelt, carefully removing the photo. A sob caught in her throat and all she wanted to do was break down and scream curses for allowing this to happen. But she could not. She had five children, and she was all they had now. She placed the photo in the bottom of the backpack then carried them one by one to the children, placing it on their back.
"Time's up." The soldier said.
Vinia placed her backpack on, slung Sarah's over her shoulder and reached for her.
"All of you hold hands now and stay with me." Vinia ordered her children as gently as she could. She tried to keep the fear out of her voice, but knew she failed. She watched them follow her instructions, then turned to follow the soldiers out of their home. At the door, she stopped and turned, taking one last look at the place she thought she would live out her centuries, with her mate lovingly beside her. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that her children needed her then turned and followed the soldiers out onto the cobblestone paths and into the bright sunlight. The cheerful reds, purples and yellows of the flowers and the swooshing of the falls did not bring her happiness, for the first time. The Sacred Gardens was no longer their home.
