Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Fallon POV

Bruce and I go into the back dining room. I look around, but there is no one with us. A table is set for us, and our food is waiting. I see the bloody mary and go straight for it. I need a drink. I begin to drink the bloody mary. I have never been much of a drinker, but right now, I need it.

"You don't turn 18 until next week. Am I right?" A rough growling voice says.

I turn to see a woman. She is thin and short. Her hair is long, and her face is covered. "That is right. I am only 17," I answer.

She moves closer. "Well, don't get drunk in my place and cause me to lose my liquor license," she says, laughing. I am not sure the supernatural has a liquor license or if anyone can get here that isn't special in some way. I nod while she laughs.

"I am Umbra," she says. She moves closer, and I can see her hair is white with small pieces of copper. She was once a redhead, like me.

"I am Fallon, but I guess you already know that," I say.

Bruce steps behind me as Umbra moves closer to me. Umbra removes the purple jewel-embedded cloth that covers her face. "Don't be afraid," Umbra says. Her voice echoes as she goes into some sort of trance.

Her eyes turn white as the blue vanishes from her eyes. She takes my hand and holds it tightly. "Fallon, you are home. We have waited so long for you to return to us," Umbra says.

I feel a scream welling inside me. Do I scream? My heart races, and I begin to panic. Bruce touches my shoulder, calming me. I see the ancestors appearing from behind Umbra.

"No one here will hurt you, Fallon, but there are people who will try to stop you and your purpose. Be careful of lies and deception," Umbra says.

Umbra looks like something out of a horror movie or a graphic novel. Bruce said Umbra was hard to look at, but that was not it. She is not hard to look at. She is terrifying.

Umbra reaches for me and takes hold of me, pulling me closer to her. I cannot stop looking at her eyes. "What am I?" I ask her. My voice seems to come out in a whisper, but Umbra's voice echoes into the room. It is loud and sounds like thunder.

The room becomes a void of darkness, magic, and bewilderment. "You are not only a witch but a reaper of the supernatural. Your father was a hunter, and your mother a powerful witch. They policed the supernatural and kept everyone in line. With them gone, now it is your turn. We need you," Umbra says. She has said that more than once, but why me?

"When did they die?" I ask. I am unsure if I want the answer, but I know it is a piece of information I will need at some point.

Umbra releases me. Her eyes return to blue, and the hollowness of her face returns to something easier to look at. She covers it with the purple jeweled cloth before answering me.

"They died a week ago. I dispatched a messenger to notify your family and Dr. Braum," Umbra says.

Umbra moves to the table and takes a seat. Bruce follows her. I stand waiting for the ceiling to cave in or wake up in my room, and this all be a bad dream.

"This isn't a dream, Fallon," Bruce says.

He sits with Umbra. The young waitress that took our order comes from the back, bringing food and drink for Umbra. "Bring a bottle. Fallon might need something stronger than a bloody mary," Umbra says.

I look at the ancestors. They seem to move from the spiritual place they are residing in and into this world. They gather around me. "You should eat and maybe drink while we explain your purpose," Anna says.

I sit down beside Bruce. Umbra sits with food in front of her, but she doesn't eat. She drinks under the purple cloth. Maybe she is waiting for us to leave before she eats. "Ea. t Fallon," Bruce says.

I pick up the vampire burger and take a bite. I suddenly realize I am starving. I haven't eaten anything since this morning. I dig into the burger and fries. The room is silent while we eat. I am thankful for that. It leaves me alone with my thoughts about my parents, my adoptive parents, and whatever it is that these people want from me.

I am not sure I want to police the supernatural. It sounds dangerous and terrifying. What the hell is a reaper anyway? Is that someone that, oh my damn, they expect me to kill people? My mind races as I eat.

The young woman comes back with a bottle of whiskey. I shake my head. "I want to be sober for this. I am not a drinker. Bring me a coke," I say.

Bruce takes the bottle and pours himself a shot and Umbra a shot. The ancestors move in and take the bottle. "Offering," Bruce says.

Anna takes the bottle. "We will return tonight. Fallon, we are always close by if you need us. There is nothing to fear. We need you," the ancestors say in unison.

"Why?" I ask. The ancestors pass the bottle between the three of them.

"Because without you and your gift, our world will die, and the supernatural will destroy your world," the three say.

The rain falls heavy where the ancestors are standing. They disappear into the pouring rain. Thunder and lightning seem to be over us, and then it is gone with the rain.

I sit in silence for a moment. I try not to think. I do not want Bruce reading my mind right now. I can't stop the thought. My best friend is a watcher, who might also be more than a friend, and I am some sort of supernatural policeman. My family is dead, and my adoptive family is dead. Why? I have more questions than answers.

"Wait, you said Dr. Braum? So is he a watcher, witch, or something?" I ask.

Bruce looks at Umbra, and I know the look he is giving her. He wants to tell me the truth. "Dr. Braum is a vampire. He lives in your world and is a very accomplished research physician," Umbra says.

I look at Bruce. "So what are you, the vampire assistant?" I ask him.

"I guess so are you," Bruce says. True, I guess we both are vampire assistants, but I did not know.

"Can you help me with my family history?" I ask Umbra.

I start to pull the book out of my bag. "Stop, don't take that out here. There are things in there you will want to read alone, not even with Bruce," Umbra says.

"Why?" I ask.

Umbra leans over the table, removing the cloth. "Trust me, there are some things you will have to do alone, Fallon," Umbra says.

The room falls silent. "I think I need that drink now," I say.