Bloodline

AuthorHouse

Contents

Chapter 1 Confusion...................................1Chapter 2 Hidden Realities............................25Chapter 3 Too Much To Fast............................55Chapter 4 The Manor...................................79Chapter 5 Questions...................................99Chapter 6 The Story...................................121Chapter 7 One Thing After Another.....................145Chapter 8 Past and Present............................169Chapter 9 Destructive Emotion.........................185Chapter 10 Rules......................................201Chapter 11 Learning...................................219Chapter 12 Time.......................................245Chapter 13 Major One Eighty...........................271Chapter 14 Commotion..................................295Chapter 15 Run........................................315Chapter 16 Power......................................337

Chapter One

I was finally settled in. Everything was done. Now what? I had found a small quiet town in La Pine, Oregon. It was very quiet, which was a plus. My mind had lately been preoccupied with finding a house. Nothing fancy, just a one bedroom by a lake set in a woodsy area with no neighbors. It was beautiful. Bigger than what I was looking for, but I had to have it. The yard was a decent size and had plenty of shade. There was enough room for setting up a chair to sit outside and read. Flowers and trees were beginning to blossom. A giant oak tree stood in the center of my third of an acre. I decided that, that's where my reading chair would go. My light tan house was just what I wanted; total solitude.

A group of hiking trails sat at the edge of my yard branching out to unknown destinations. A small, stone path led to a front porch I love nature and the sound of it. Reading outside was one of my favorite things to do. This oak tree seemed like an outcast considering the woods were covered in pine and fir trees.

Through the front door was a small foyer. The floors were a dark hardwood except for the bedroom and living room. A plush, charcoal dark grey covered them. The walls were a shade lighter than the carpet. The kitchen to my left was small and cozy with dark brown cabinets and an island in the middle. Another door at the far end by the fridge led out to the side of the house. My bedroom sat in the back of the house. It was probably the second biggest room next to the living room. A decent sized bathroom sat to the left of that complete with a shower stall standing to the left of the room. In the center was a bathtub with jets in it. That was heaven. To the right wall was the sink and again dark cabinets for towels and such. I fell in love with this house right away, just for the atmosphere of it.

I was pretty pleased with the way things were going so far. The furniture was bought and the fridge was stocked as full as I could get it. I hated going out in public if I could help it, so I would always try to get everything that I needed in town, done all in one trip. I would smile and pretend I was just a normal person. Inside it felt like a struggle. And sometimes I wanted to die. The piece that was missing in my life would never be found. The hole in my heart would never be filled. Somehow I had to accept that, being alone was the easiest way, as I didn't wish to ruin anyone else's mood with my depression. I could still laugh and joke around; but that aching thing in the back of my mind was always there.

Unfortunately I had to get a job. I still had my savings at least. Damn it! The only thing I knew how to do was writing and playing poker. Instead of sitting there and whining, I got in my car and went to town to visit one of the local bars.

La Pine, Oregon was a lot bigger than I thought. Everything was spread out so much that it set a relaxing quiet atmosphere. Pine trees were everywhere along the country streets and there was nothing "city" about this place. I drove down the winding roads passing cottages and bright colored houses. All of them with enough privacy for pools and volleyball nets in their backyards. But always the houses were far enough away from each other that your neighbors couldn't be nosey. I was glad I had none.

The air was fresh and smelled of honeysuckle as the flowers began to bloom. Birds were singing their songs all over the trees. Mourning doves were cooing and robins were chirping.

Once in the small town, I pulled my car into a parking lot of the local tavern. It was a two storey bar called, "Carlie's Place." I stepped through the door and was amazed how big it was inside. Rustic but friendly was my impression.

At the far end was a long bar that wrapped itself around the whole back wall. Circular tables were set in the middle of the room, two pool tables to my right and two dart boards on the wall to my left. There was also an upstairs but I didn't bother checking it out.

The smell of bleach and pine sol immediately hit my nostrils. Someone had been cleaning this morning. It was pretty quiet except for some clinking noise coming from behind the bar.

I strolled over to it where a small woman with short brown hair stood wiping the counter. She smiled at me and asked, "What can I get you?"

"The manager if he or she is here," I said politely.

"That would be me. I'm Carlie. I own this place," she said kindly.

"Oh," I said.

In my head I was picturing the manager or owner would be a burly man that smelled of tobacco and beer.

"My name is Ariana; Ari for short. I have a proposition for you if you would be interested," I said politely.

She considered me for a few seconds. I started feeling a little nervous. Carlie stared at me like she had never seen anyone like me before. It was kind of unsettling.

"You're not from around here are you? Did you move here recently? I am only asking because this is a fairly small town. It doesn't really seem that way but the population is not that high."

"Yes actually," I replied. "I moved in about a month ago over by Pinewood Lake. I know it's very quiet here. I was counting on that," I said.

She looked a little put off for some reason. I dismissed her reaction to me so I could try to get to the point of my coming into the bar.

"Well, what sort of proposition did you have in mind? If you're looking for a job, I am afraid I can't help you. I have all the help I need even with the dart league and the pool league. Pretty much all of the locals are bored as there is not much to do in this town. They like to flock here a couple times a week for recreational drinking and competitive games. Too bad they're so competitive they don't drink much," she said rolling her eyes.

I thought for a split second on how to convince her to say yes to my proposal and continued. "What about a poker league? I belonged to one back home. It started out small and took off pretty quick. The game itself addicting and it brought a lot of money into our venues. Also if your customers are getting bored with the usual gaming, this would bring something new to them. There are a few rules and such. Plus my fee for providing everything you would need. And of course the dealers fee would have to be discussed," I added. I could tell she was considering everything I was offering. Then she smiled at me.

"Okay. Let's try it and see what happens. If it works to my advantage after two months we'll keep it...