Part of the past III

That night, Caitlin stayed in her room and after an hour, she dropped the sacred book on the table and held a torn-out page close to the burning fire. Her breath shuddered as she stared at a picture of herself in the paper she held and confusion was written all over her face. She does not understand how she is connected to the book or what was written in it but one thing she knows is that, it is not her, but her own child. From everything she read and understood, it says that she is the key and her child will be the savior of mankind when evil is near. She has to offer her own child to save all mankind, including their own kind.

Now it made sense to her on why the witch had said to her that she does not know what she was dealing with but then, why did she leave her with the book?

“No! I am not sacrificing my own child for the sake of mankind. The fate of my child won’t be determined by a book.” And after saying that, she took her cloak and leapt out through the window.

*

In Creeksville, Aiden walked like a gentleman and responded to the greetings of the people on the way who recognized him as he made his way towards a shed. His mind has been troubled since afternoon after speaking to Father Antonio and he doesn’t like that the Father is not reasoning with him. When he got to the shed, he took a sharp turn and went behind it.

Caitlin, who had been following him, pulled her hood backwards and also took the turn he made only to end up in the dark with no sign of him. She moved her eyes frantically and looked at every side but all to no avail and she cursed in her mind.

“I knew you’d come.”

Caitlin turned sharply to the sound of the deep but gentle voice and she was surprised to see him standing there. What did she miss? She asked herself only to realize that it was vain to read him.

“Were you expecting me?” she asked in return and wonder how someone can be so poised.

“Not exactly,” Aiden replied, “but I knew you’d come.” Stretching his hand forward, he said, “Please, if you don’t mind, I’ll like you to take a walk with me.” And he turned around only to start walking back from where they had come.

Caitlin stood there, deciding if she should walk with him or not but she knows he gave her no choice of decision and she was meant to walk with him. It was authoritative and it just felt ironical to her. But what choice does she have anyway? What if he was reading her mind instead of the other way around? Then in that case, she would need to question his existence.

As she followed him to wherever he was heading to, she suddenly heard the church bell toll, signifying midnight and most of the townspeople had already retreated to their homes. Now she could not help but feel he could be a threat, especially because she does not know what was going through his mind and she kept her guard on.

“I have been seeing you frequently for a while now,” he spoke and Caitlin moved her neck to look at him, “and you were here this afternoon,” he continued. “I guessed you don’t live around this place and you are always in a hurry to go back, but don’t worry, I won’t take much of your time. And if I do, then it will be worthwhile.”

“Who are you and what do you want from me?” she asked as she moved her eyes back to the front.

“I know ‘what’ you are,” he said, specifying, and Caitlin turned her head back to meet his eyes, “and I know you seek answers.”

“Then you must know the sacred book is in my custody.”

Aiden stopped walking suddenly and he turned to face her fully. “Is it?” he asked her and Caitlin tried to read what his expression was saying but all vain, again. “Please, come with me,” he said and made his way towards a cottage. He pushed the door open and stepped inside and Caitlin looked at either sides of her before also stepping inside.

The moment she was in, the lights turned on and she paused to look around the place. There are papers everywhere, mostly of torn pages and drawings, ancient ones, of what had happened, and what seems like is about to happen from what she had read from the sacred book.

“Welcome to my uhm…abode. Well, I would not want to call it that because of…”

“What is this place?” Caitlin asked in surprise and what seems like clear confusion. “Why do you have all th—” she stopped talking and moved towards a drawing before trailing her fingers on it. “Lady Renee,” she muttered and her eyes moved to take in all the other ones when a soft gasp escaped her lips and she shut her eyes as she buried her head down. When she opened them, they had a flicker of red which was as a result of the rage she was feeling and she turned to Aiden. “What is this?” she demanded to know.

“Prophecy,” Aiden simply replied from where he stood. “It’s more like a divination or foretelling, insight,” he said and nudged his head a bit.

“I get you,” Caitlin said, raising a hand to stop him. “I can’t read what is on your mind but I know this is where you think I do not understand what you mean by prophecy. Of course, I am not an illiterate.” She groaned and let out a sharp breath.

“Breathe,” Aiden tried to ease her nerves. “We are not debating about how educated we are here,” he said calmly. “These, are the works of my Fathers, and by Fathers, I mean founders of the church.”

“Shouldn’t they be at the church then? Does the Fathers know they are in your possession? Like how you stole the sacred book?” Caitlin asked.

Aiden paused and then said, “I stole nothing from the church. These are all paper works of mine.” He moved closer to the table where the drawings are and he looked at her. “I know I shouldn’t be telling you this, but since it has come to this then I’ll say it.”

Caitlin looked around again and then turned to face him before she heard him say, “I see visions. I tried to talk to father Antonio about it but he doesn’t listen to me. Please don’t ask, I know. I see revelations, of what is going to happen and that sacred book is the book of prophecy. It is what will happen and has been written down by my Fathers. I believe I have been gifted but he doesn’t see my talent.”

“Book of prophecy?” Caitlin wondered. “What has it got to do with me then? Why is my drawing on it?” she asked, showing the drawing she tore from the book to his face.

“Because it ends with you.”

Caitlin lowered her hand and heaved out a sigh.

“You must have received the book of prophecy from Hazel,” he said.

“Wrong! I took it from her,” Caitlin retorted. “And what relationship does a priest have with a witch? Does your Father know you are seeing a witch, Aiden?” she said his name for the first time.

Aiden went quiet for some seconds, looking at her and then he said, “I find Hazel to be good, not corrupt. She has the same goal as me. We are both looking for a way to stop this from coming upon us. She is only trying to help.”

Caitlin shook her head and said, “You can never trust a witch. Why then did she take a young girl hostage, killed off her family when she somehow knew we were coming and what does she wants our blood for?”

“That must be it,” Aiden suddenly said and Caitlin had no idea what he was talking about. “They would get to know about this prophecy very soon and the world would come to an end if we don’t act fast.”

With a frown, Caitlin asked, “What do you mean?”

“Don’t you see the point? Her sister, Hannah, tried to steal the book of prophecy because she somehow got to know about it and I very much know that the other covens would find out and would try to stop you. They would all come for you.”

Wait a minute… a witch that tapped into black magic, thought Caitlin and she suddenly raised her eyes.

“If this is true then how much time do I have?”

“Just before they come for your family.”