Unchosen Destiny

Chapter 1

My name is Kayla Green and I am considered a white witch. The Craft has been handed down for centuries on both sides my family.

I have inherited the unusual talents of the medicine women from my father’s side and the uncanny ability to dream walk from my mother’s Wiccan side.

I will totally admit that I am a thirty something normal Heinz fifty-seven American female. Yet, I tend to curve back to my Cherokee heritage a lot.

I am also the mother of three children that I always refer to as my monsters.

My oldest is a head strong thirteen year old young lady. Her name is Ayla, which is Hebrew for oak tree. Coincidently, Oak trees to Druids are sacred.

She, like me, also has ability to dream walk. Her other talent, controlling animals, comes in very handy especially with our brood of pets.

My only son, Jacob, is a nine year old with an imagination that tops anyone around. He has a talent that to me is a bit strange because he can speak with the unseen and ghosts. It gets interesting sometimes because I think he’s talking to me or his sisters and he is actually talking to someone none of us can see.

Last but definitely not least is my eight year old daughter Erika. She, like me, has inherited the abilities of the medicine woman. She is also a very strong empath and can tell if a person is trying to fabricate any type of story or blatantly lie anywhere in near proximity to her. Her talent also comes in very handy every now and again especially when I want to get to the truth of things.

Now I get to Steve. He is five years older than me and of German and Norwegian descent. He has been told many years ago that he is considered a White Knight. Most people don’t understand what a White Knight is and yet it is so easy to understand. A White Knight is a person whose soul protects others from evil entities and I guess I tend to believe that since almost all malignant spirits seem to give the house that we live in a wide berth.

He is a very good man but, the only bad thing is that he works in a rendering plant just eighteen miles from where we live in Mead Nebraska. So he tends to keep that smell on his clothes and skin no matter how well he scrubs after work.

We have been together ten plus years and sometimes he complains and whines at me because we have not been married yet. Well, after two failed and abusive marriages that didn’t start out abusive until I said I Do; I don’t think I will find anyone to blame me for being deathly afraid to get married again.

Both of our fathers were in the military and good men. Coincidently they both passed from diabetes and other things that can happen when you don’t take care of yourself when you have that genetic disease. Believe me it is a very disgusting disease when you do not follow your doctor’s orders. You tend to run the risks of kidney failure and dry gangrene just to name two.

My mother, Carla, is opinionated, overbearing, high tempered, and yet lovable woman who sometimes drives me crazy always talking about politics. Sometimes, she goes on and on about the past also. More times than not it will get even the most patient of people unnerved or even highly irritated.

Her boyfriend and my stepfather, for all intents and purposes, is named Guy. He understands better than anyone what kind of turmoil I go through raising children with, what normal people would call, unusual talents. I guess he understands more because he has a few talents of his own.

He has the ability of being able to tell you that you are on your right path or not and it has to get irritating at times especially when you are not listened to. Which admittedly, sometimes, I don’t more often than I should.

Now before you think I am an only child, I have to tell you, I am the youngest of the six children in my family.

My oldest sister is named Gina. She is the kind of person that will help you as much as she can with the talents she has and damn is she smart. We understand each other to a point. You see, there is a ten year difference between us.

We have both chosen the path of Wicca, which seems to have linked us just a little bit but, I think she is so lucky to be an empath with precognition. She has also gotten so many awards that it isn’t even funny. I still contact her every now and again just to give her updates on the kids and what is new in my dealings with them. Most of the time she thinks it’s funny when Erika calls someone on a lie or when Jacob starts talking to someone than none of us can see when I am on the phone with her.

My brother Alvin is a born again Baptist Christian. We all think the less he knows the better because he is very anal about his beliefs. He is always right and every one else is always wrong.

For being a Christian, I think he acts like a jack ass most of the time. For the simple reason that he will push your buttons to make you upset and or cry on purpose. To me that is wrong for someone to do in any religion. Yet, Steve sometimes wonders why I don’t have any contact with him any more. Go figure!

Then there are the twins, Anna and Lynda. Now they have problems of their own that even I can’t help with. They try to get me involved with their individual problems, every now and again, and it tends to drive me up the wall because of their nagging.

They have let their own gifts literally drive them crazy. Instead of embracing their gifts they fought them and wound up becoming schizophrenic. Very sad but, I told them and so did our father that you don’t fight your gifts you embrace them.

Last but not least is my brother Mark. He has always been the only one that has resisted any kind of belief system. Yet, he has always been the type of brother that any girl could ever want.

I write to him when I can, since he is in the Army and is stationed in Germany. He has had many girlfriends and I have met every one of them. For years he has told them all that if his little sister doesn’t like them then they are history. It makes me smile to think that what I say means that much to him.

No matter what anyone might think, the person you are today is made up of everyone you have ever been around. From brothers and sisters, to friends, to mothers, to fathers, and spirits.

*     *     *

My days are usually spent taking care of the kids, getting them ready and off to school, feeding and letting out the animals, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, and preparing all the meals.

For the first time in quite a while I was having one of my normal days and it was going particularly well. I had noticed in the morning that there were moving trucks pulling into the driveway of the empty house next door.

Great! New neighbors. I thought sarcastically to myself.

I never really enjoyed meeting or having new neighbors. They all seemed to be way too nosy or they gossip way too much for my taste.

When I went inside, I did my normal ritual of feeding of the pets. I had a few dishes from breakfast and did them as quick as I could hoping to get a few minutes to relax by myself for once.

Time flew and way too soon for comfort I had gotten the kids from the bus stop, made dinner, and got the kids to bed.

There was a strange feeling that I was having all day. It was like something was trying to tell me that things were going to start to change drastically and there was nothing I could do about it.

I was hoping to get some understanding or comfort for what I was feeling so, I tried telling Steve about the strange and awkward feelings that I was having all day.

I don’t know what it is. Something is going on and I can’t put my finger on it. It’s bugging the hell out of me! I told him while he was sitting on the couch watching television.

Seriously, I think you are making something out of nothing. It seems like you get these feelings or ideas in your head and then you start to think that something bad is going to happen. Which, has never panned out to be true. He said laughing.

I glared at him and shook my head. Still part of me couldn’t believe that he had just said that.

So, I was wrong when I had a bad feeling then you got into a car accident? I asked feeling a little angry.

All coincidence. Now, can you leave me alone for a while, the news is on. He said giving me a dirty look.

Fine, I will just go to bed. And thanks for the understanding oh high one! I said with as much acid as I could marking my words.

I hated it when he underplayed everything I said and thought.

It had gotten to be like I was just going through the motions. I cared about Steve but, I wasn’t quite sure if I was in love with him anymore. His actions and comments from the last few years were telling me that he was feeling the same way but did not want to say anything about it.

Instead of trying to really think about what he just said and how it pissed me off, I went in and took a shower. The hot water once again did the job that I was wanting it to do. As soon as I got out of the shower it felt as if all the stresses of the day were melted away. I put on my comfy pink flannel pajamas and climbed into bed. I closed my eyes and relaxed breathing deeply as I waited for sleep to take me. I felt lucky and relieved that it came for me quickly tonight.

*     *     *

It was not quite sunset yet as this dream started. The air was warm with the hint of rain that was soon to come. The grassy knolls where I was standing tickled my ankles in the breeze and off in the distance there were beautiful mountains covered in evergreen trees.

I had this feeling that someone was watching me so I quickly turned around to take a look.

When I turned around I saw a tall man standing right there just a few feet from where I stood. He was wearing a black hoodie and worn blue jeans. I saw him quickly turn around and then he had his back towards me. That seemed to make me a little unnerved.

Who in the hell would wear a hoodie on such a warm day like this? I thought to myself being a little baffled by what he wore.

Hello he said, it’s about time you made it here.

His voice was one that warmed the soul but, he spoke in a seemingly strange accent that seemed like he once lived in places like London England. Yet is was the kind that would make you listen even if he whispered.

Who are you? I asked not knowing what else to say.

My name is Artemis Young but, you can call me Artemis. He said with that soothing drawl.

Ok Artemis. My name is Kayla. I said as I smiled and started to blush.

I felt like I was very embarrassed for what I thought was no reason at all. It absolutely did not make any sense to me because I had no clue who he was.

I had so many questions like why would he be expecting me, why do I feel drawn to him like I need to know what he thinks, and why am I having such a strange dream. So, I decided to ask him the first of my many burning questions.

Why are you expecting me?

I was little curious and on guard.

It seemed like the question had taken him aback. He never turned around to answer and he just shook his head like he couldn’t believe what I was asking. I thought this would be easy for you to figure out. You mean, no one ever told you about me? Obvious shock took over the tone of his voice.

No, no one has ever told me about any Artemis. Why?

More and more this has started to irritate me because he didn’t answer my question but, kept talking as if I had never said anything.

You seem more inquisitive than your ancestor. I can feel the emotions just roll off you like once you talk you will never shut up.

He laughed what sounded to be a small nervous laugh.

Who and what are you talking about? Look, I know this is a dream because I remember going to bed. I started saying and getting a bit irritated I continued starting my rant. Now who do you think you are because this is starting to be the most irritating and annoying dream I have ever had!

I was trying to keep a lid on my temper but, was failing miserably at the attempt.

So you think you are having a dream? I have to come up with better places then.

It seemed like he saw some kind of humor in my irritation.

WHAT! Answer my questions will you because you have really pissed me off. I demanded trying to keep my temper in check even though I heard what he mumbled and it made it even harder for me to ignore it.

His laughter was a beautiful sound but, with all the unanswered questions I had, all it did was irritate me to the point to where I was getting close to just losing it when he spoke again. Such a temper you have Kayla and so impatient. I am not here to hurt you or your children I never have been. I wish there was some way you could believe me.

Yeah right! Is that why you won’t turn around when you talk to me? That is so normal for any man wanting to hide that he is lying and how do you know that I have children?

I was totally exasperated from what he had just said.

How dare he accuse me of first not believing him and second not looking at me while he was speaking? Am I that hideous that he can’t even look at me when he speaks to me? Hell, it is bad enough when men look only at my boobs when they talk to me, now this one won’t even look at me. What a messed up dream! It is as bad as watching Steve and the kids playing video games; it seems like I get ignored until they want something.

I never said I was a normal man. So you don’t have to have all this hostility rushing off of you towards me. Next, I am not trying to hide that I am lying to you because I am not. I just think it is better in the long run that I don’t let you see me. He said in a decisive tone.

I wanted to get this dream on the road or over with so I chose my words carefully before I answered. Fine! What do you want from me so I can get this crazy dream over with?

You still think you are dreaming? He asked with a chuckle.

Yep!

To prove you are not I will end this now and I will see you again tomorrow. I promise on all that I know you will see me again in your dream but it will be in a place you recognize. He said it like he was the one that was becoming nervous.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He wanted me to end this dream now. That just wasn’t going to happen if I had anything to do with it and it was my dream so I was just going to say what I wanted.

You know this just doesn’t make any sense. What do you want with me? Why are you being so damn cryptic? Who the hell do you think you are! Look at me when I talk to you damn it! I am not some bimbo that deals well with the cryptic shit! I shouted at him.

He just started laughing and the sound started to be so calming to the point that I almost started laughing too but, I was doing my best to keep a straight face with a slight tinge at anger.

How so much alike you are. He was saying in between laughs.

All I could do was stand there and watch him laugh and, for some strange reason, I started to wonder hard now what his face looked like. So taking advantage of his uncontrollable laughter I took a few steps toward where he was standing just six feet in front of me. I was intent on pulling back his hood to see his face so I could quench my now untamed curiosity.

I grabbed, reached, and almost got his hood pulled back. I stood there in shock when I saw his shoulder length hair the color of a dark blondish sunset. But I still couldn’t see his face as if it was a blur like the ones you see on television when there is something or someone’s face there that they don’t want you to see.

His hand reached up and grabbed mine to stop my advance. His skin was pale white and it felt like a cool and silky stone was in place of his hand. It started a chill up my spine but, I knew that it wasn’t from his body temperature.

What the . . .

It was all I could get out.

I felt like my breath had caught in my throat. I took two steps back trying to jerk my hand out of his grip. He wouldn’t let me go. He just kept a hold of my hand and with his other hand he pulled the hood firmly back over his head.

What do you think you are doing? If I wanted you to see me I wouldn’t have taken the precautions I have. I don’t want you to see me! It is not right! You have no idea or any clue of what you have tried to do!

It seemed as if he was starting to get angry and my gut told me that it wasn’t because of me. Even with my gut feeling there, I couldn’t help but not doubt that I was the cause of him being upset.

I’m sorry. I just wanted to know who I was talking to.

Tears started streaming down my face. It felt wrong to cry but, he made me feel like a small child the way he was chastising me.

His hooded head bowed like he was ashamed of what he had just done.

Don’t cry please. I should be the one to be sorry. I should have never raised my voice to you in that manor. Please forgive me for already breaking my promise.

He said it in such a way that I had no reason not to forgive him.

Curiosity started to overwhelm me once again. I couldn’t help but to ask another question. I really didn’t want this dream to end yet. I was feeling like I was starting to be drawn into some sort of fairy tale with the way he spoke and the way he moved.

What promise are you talking about? I asked trying to keep the tears going to try and get my way.

Another time.

How do I know I can trust you if you don’t let me see your face? I asked sniffling trying to play up my emotions so I could get my way and get answers.

He placed his hand gently under my chin and lifted my face to where it was at the same level as the dark shadowed area that his hood covered.

Another round of shock waves rolled through me. He showed me his eyes. A Beautiful soul piercing ice blue. His lashes were as dark as his hair and framed them perfectly.

I guess he read my shock and it seemed like a smile framed those to die for eyes. I could feel myself start to blush with the way he was looking at me. I felt like I could stare into his eyes forever and would have no problem doing so.

Now, I really do think that it is time you should go. He said and I could hear a little bit of regret in his voice.

I knew he was right and I knew I should go but, I really didn’t want to.

Not yet, please. I want to know something first. I said bowing my head and looking at the grass between my bare feet.

He laughed again and even though it was a happy laugh I could still hear some sadness within its depths.

You are as stubborn as your ancestor. All right Kayla ask away but, then you must go.

I smiled a little bit knowing that I got my way and I couldn’t help but look in his eyes when I asked him what was on my mind.

Your laughter may be happy but, I hear also sadness hidden within it. Which brings me to the question of why are you so sad?

I watched his eyes slowly close and reopen. It seemed as if he was trying to hide the shock that I had seen flash across his beautiful blue eyes.

You are very observant Kayla. More observant than you have ever been given credit for. He started and took a deep breath like he was trying to calm himself before he spoke again. My sadness should never concern you. It has become a part of who I am. Now, go and you will see me again I promise.

Everything started fading out like I was being pushed away from a place where I wanted to stay. I wanted to talk more to this Artemis and find out what all this cryptic crap was all about.

For some unknown reason, I wanted to get to know him as a person. I wanted to find out more about him and try to help him with his sadness. I wanted more time but, my time had run out.

All too soon I awoke and was saddened by the day that had come all too soon.

Chapter 2

Things were starting to get more than weird, almost insane. I have been having the same dream over and over again, night after night.

It all starts with a man named Artemis Young. I can never see his face. He speaks to me with a sensual yet, strange accent. It’s just that voice! It is like it can penetrate every part of you from the inside out and I can’t get it out of my head! But, is it just a dream or is it more? It kept my head in a constant spin every morning after I got up. I didn’t want the dream to end I wanted to see those eyes again.

I wanted to tell Steve about it but, I was afraid that he would think that I was going nuts or make fun of me and my dreams. Are you sure you are not becoming schizophrenic like your sisters? He will say with an, I caught you and your imagination again, look. Then he will laugh at me as per usual whenever I would bring up my dreams.

That is why I quit telling him about my dreams and what our children can do. It just became useless trying to explain to him that the reason that Erika is crying is because her friend scraped her knee or Jacob’s imaginary friend is really an earth bound ghost. It doesn’t really fit well into the conversations that we have. So what do I do at an impasse like that? I wait till he goes to work and I call my best friend and fellow White Witch, Ben.

Hey there I said it with too much enthusiasm and I knew he could tell.

What’s up Kay? He sounded a bit nervous and I hoped it was not from my enthusiasm.

I have a situation and I need you to come over. I started. It’s hard to explain. Just a reoccurring dream that is driving me up the wall and I really need someone to help me make sense of it.

He hesitated for a minute and I could tell by the silence that he was curious yet, scared to find out all at the same time.

Can we do this over the phone? He said stammering a little.

I knew that to get him here I had to pull all the stops and stoop to a level that was normally never me.

No too many strange details besides, I made cookies.

I was that hoping that cookies was the magic word and the trigger for him to come over.

Cookies! Cool I will be over in fifteen minutes.

Good see you in fifteen then.

I hung up the phone delighted with myself that I now had the key to his Achilles heel, my homemade cookies.

It seemed like the time went by way too slowly. I was getting more and more antsy by the second as I waited for Ben to show up.

When he finally arrived I told him everything putting in as many details as I could remember. The whole time I was talking Ben was eating cookie after cookie and sometimes missed his glass of milk while trying to dunk them. I was sort of hoping for a better reaction when I told him about how I went off and felt like I was being not only treated like a child but, like I was a very dense teen-ager. All Ben did was shake his head back and forth and laugh. He knew me and my temper all too well for someone that I had never been married to or dated.

So let me get this straight. He began. You have been having a dream about this guy and you can’t see his face. He started almost laughing. And he makes you feel like you are comfortable but, a child, and he said you are just like her. He finished.

The grin on his face told me that he could see through me and read in between the lines that I had told him.

Yes! I said a little exasperated.

Ok. It sounds like you have a crush on him but, now I have a question. Who is the her he is talking about and what is this promise? He asked with almost a fascination and also a smirk on his face.

I don’t know and he never told me! He is just so damn cryptic! I don’t understand why me and why this dream!?

I was trying to keep my temper in check and again failing miserably at the attempt.

Ben was asking me the same questions that I had already asked myself and I couldn’t believe he thought I had a crush on this Artemis.

I tried to clear my thoughts and ask him about another detail in the dream when all of a sudden there was a knock on my front door which made me jump about a foot.

Are you expecting anyone Kay?

No, but I guess I better go answer it. I told him as I was getting irritated at the interruption.

Not wanting to end the conversation I was having with Ben, I frantically walked to the door. This had better be good or somebody better be dead, I kept thinking.

When I opened the door I was shocked. There was this strange woman standing on my porch. Her dark brown hair hung to almost her waist. Her skin was a light shade of tan, her eyes were a warm brown, and she was maybe an inch taller than I was.

Can I help you? I asked a little warily.

Yes, I know this seems strange but we are just moving in next door and I wanted to come and introduce myself. I am Georgia by the way, Georgia Bernasty.

She smiled with a gleaming smile that almost made me puke because her teeth were perfect and an almost pure gleaming white.

I smiled back and it was hard not to. Sorry bout the way I answered the door. My name is Kayla, Kayla Green.

She looked at me in an odd way but she quickly straightened herself out and was as cool as a cucumber again.

I am sure we will be great neighbors.

It seemed like she had a little bit of difficulty spitting it out because the look on her face was like she had just bitten into a lemon.

Sure. Well I have a guest now and I better get back. I was becoming a bit uneasy because she looked way too perfect to be my neighbor.

I am sorry that I interrupted you. I will come by later and we can talk and get to know each other, you know, neighbor to neighbor.

She was smiling again and it was getting on my nerves. So, being polite I smiled back.

I guess that should be alright. Why don’t you come over around one o’clock then?

I was hoping to get some more insight on my dream by then. It would also give me some time to try and be as perky as she seemed to be.

That sounds great. I will see you then! She said with what I considered an overload of vigor.

Maybe it was her being so dam perky so early in the morning that had irritated me and made me a bit jealous about the way she looked. I hoped that the later it got the perkier I would feel and that the jealousy would leave.

Sure, see you. I said and I closed the door.

As I walked back to my kitchen I kept thinking that it seemed rather odd that I would be getting strange dreams right before new neighbors moved in. But, I quickly knocked it off to just coincidence.

You finally get back here Kay and sorry you are out of cookies. Ben said seemingly ashamed of what he had done.

"Yes and no. There are some more cookies in a lidded cake pan inside the pantry. And what do you mean finally? I was only there at the door for like three minutes tops and I know you can hear a whole conversation sitting here it