FREE AGAIN.

CHAPTER 69: FREE AGAIN.

ALEENA'S POV.

I looked in the direction where I saw the figure moving, still having my brow furrowed. An eerie feeling gripped me.

"Lady Aleena," Malcum called, drawing my attention. I looked up as he walked up to me.

"Do you mind if I join you?" he requested.

"Of course," I replied as I scooched. He grunted, sighing, as he sat beside me.

"I hope the meal is manageable. I know you're used to palatial delicacies," he asked.

"Oh, what's there to manage? This meal is delectable," I replied with a smile.

"I'm glad we didn't fall short then," he responded with a smile also.

I turned and looked in the direction where I faced before he came. I did it unconsciously anyway.

"Is anything the matter?" Malcum asked.

"I don't know. I thought I saw something. Well, I guess I'm just being paranoid," I shrugged, shoving aside my concerns.

"You need not worry about anything. We're safe here," Malcum said assuredly. I nodded in acknowledgment, looking away.

A couple of the folks of Havenville were still dancing merrily as they sang, going around the fire.

"I heard you were talking to yourself."

"Well, I guess it was all in my head. Speaking with the figment of my imagination. I must have been quite desperate to make sense of all the things that have been going on in my life recently," I replied.

"And did it help?" Malcum asked.

"Yes. It did help, actually," I nodded.

"Just so you know, that wasn't a figment of your imagination. That was actually your mother."

"What?" I quickly turned to him furrowing my brow.

"Havenville is no regular place. It's a Haven not just for the living, but also for spirits, especially the spirits of those who have roots here," he responded as I looked at him in perplexity.

"They may depart from our plain of existence, but they aren't lost. Like I said, the love we have here binds us all, both the living and the dearly departed," he added.

I gulped and turned sober. "So, do the spirits of the departed just show up at will to anyone?"

"No. It doesn't work that way. If your desire is strong enough, it weakens the plain of spirit and enables them to manifest themselves in our plain. So, I guess your desire was strong enough. Not many have been able to randomly achieve what you did without realizing what you did," Malcum explained.

"It was comforting seeing her once again," I said smiling.

"I'm sure it must have been," he remarked. "You know, Havenville is powered by the power of the spirits. Well, not of the vengeful spirits anyway."

"Vengeful spirits?" I asked furrowing my brow.

"Oh, yes. There are vengeful spirits, Aleena. They thrive on chaos. Those are the spirits that influence the nightcrawlers. But our's thrive on peace, maintaining the balance that has kept the world in place for millenniums," Malcum explained.

I listened raptly to him as he spoke.

"You know, the nightcrawlers are an aberration, a disbalance to the natural order of life. No being is meant to have dominion over death. We are all meant to die sometime. No pun intended," he quickly said. He quickly recalled that I was part vampire as well.

"It's okay," I smiled.

"But your case is different. You were not the product of some self-seeking maniac who was hungry for power, even the power over death. You are nature's answer to this imbalance. I believe you are the answer we all need. We all believe so," he said.

"I still fear that everyone's faith is misplaced. I have no idea what evil I am to stop, and I don't know if I am strong enough. There's a hand I feel reaching for me, and it scares me that I may not be strong enough to resist it," I said exhaustedly.

"You would not have been chosen if you didn't have what it takes to overcome the darkness that seeks to cover the earth. You have all it takes, Lady Aleena. I believe in you. We all believe in you. All you have to do is believe in yourself," Malcum said.

"My mother must have learned to be optimistic from you," I noted, smiling.

"She was a quick learner and a good leader at that, although young," he replied smiling.

We both got quiet as we looked at the jubilant folks. One of Malcum's men walked over to him and spoke into his ears. He nodded then the man left.

"Please excuse me. I need to go attend to something," Malcum said.

"Of course," I nodded. Then he got on his feet.

"I'm glad I finally got to meet you, Lady Aleena," Malcum said, then he walked away and was accompanied by the person who came to him.

I smiled as he walked away. Once again, a calm and peacefulness I hadn't felt in a long while after the dreadful night of my near-death experience flooded my being.

I smiled as I recalled the moment I had with the spirit of my mother. Part of the void I had carried for years was filled, a bit anyway.

The merriment and feasting continued for quite a while. I was truly entertained watching the people. Then, one of the women walked up to me wearing a smile.

"Come. Join us," she requested, stretching both her hands to me.

"Oh, no. I'm fine. Thank you," I nervously declined.

"Come on. You can't just sit there and watch. Join in," she insisted still holding her hands out.

"Honestly, I'm okay sitting here," I said.

She grunted and took me by the hand, disregarding my choice to not be involved with the jubilation. I sighed as I hesitantly got up, and she pulled me to my feet, dragging me to where the others were, dancing and jubilation.

I was a bit hesitant to participate, but little by little, I caught the rhythm of the melody they danced to. I began dancing along with them.

It was ages ago I had been that free and carefree. It was nice to experience that one more time.