Chapter 9

By the time Jordan decided to finally emerge from her little hiding spot Meagan had already arrived.  It was time for her to greet her little sister and her nephew.  Meagan was sitting on the couch getting the generalized update on what was going on.  “Jake, that’s insane”, Meagan said.  “Someone seriously tried to shoot Jordan with Jasmine in her arms?”

“I saw the ding in her Range Rover, Mae”, Jake said.  “I saw the police report.”

Meagan shook her head.  “Insanity.  Pure fucking insanity.  So, Mom and Dad know?”

“Yep.  They’re the ones that issued the order to gather here at homestead.  I mean, someone sent me a little wooden box with a green marble bag full of ashes through Miri, Meagan.”

“What?”

“Yeah, someone sent me ashes through Miri.  It was delivered to her school with a note not to open the box, but to make sure that I get it.  The note inside the box for me actually instructed me to send it to the police and to keep everyone close.”

“What about Mom and Dad when they come home for the holidays?”

“They’ll be here before that and they may be staying”, Jordan said when she walked into the room.

Meagan looked up.  “Hey Jord.”

“Hey Mae.”

“Jake told me that we’re going to have to learn how to shoot.  You up for the challenge?”

“As up for it as I’m gonna get”, she said with a sigh as she pulled her little sister into a hug.  “It’s good to see you, little sis.”

Meagan smiled.  “It’s good to see you too, Jord.”

Jordan pulled away.  “Where’s Anthony?”

“He’s upstairs getting caught up with Levi, Miri, Ira, and Hunter.  I’m glad I adopted an older boy rather than an infant.  He’s actually much easier to take care of than Ira or Levi was when they were small”, Meagan laughed.  “Plus, I just don’t have the time for a baby, you know?”

“Yeah.  Working at NASA is bound to put a damper on that.”  Jordan sighed.  “Well, Mae, I think maybe we should start getting ready to do this shooting thing.  What about you?”

“Yeah, it would probably be wise.”  She looked over at Jake.  “I’m going to go change into something a little more fit to lie in dirt in.”

“Good idea, Mae.  Malachai, Skyler and Maddie are setting up a range in one of the many clearings on the property”, Jake said with a sigh as Meagan walked away.  “Oh, Jordan, I would suggest you change into a more practical pair of shoes.”  He glanced down at the heels she was wearing.

She laughed.  “Good thing I packed a pair of hiking boots when Davi and I packed, huh?” and headed for the stairs.  When she was half way up, she paused.  “Oh, Jake.  I talked to Mom and Dad a little while ago and they said that everyone that already knows how to shoot should be keeping their aim crisp and sharp with practice.”

Jake chuckled at the way she worded the newest order from their parents.  “Crisp and sharp?  I know they didn’t put it like that, but I get the message.  How often did they say?”

“Mom said at least every couple of days.”

“Did they say anything about training the in laws?”

“You could always call and ask, but they’re at the hospital with Jessi.  She’s about to have the baby.”

“Nice.  Almost wish we could be there, you know what I mean?”

Jordan sighed.  “Yeah.  It wouldn’t be nearly this hectic if we were there.”

He smiled.  “Yeah, I know.  Hell, I might even get to catch”, he said with a laugh.

“Haven’t you been asked to move to Jerusalem to work at one of the hospitals out there?”

“I’ve been invited.  I’ve considered it a few times, but I’m not going to pull Lilah from her massage practice.  And, you wanna know something cool?”

“What?”

“I’ve seen her actually stop a seizure using her body- mind training.  It was the most amazing thing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.  I had a young woman in at CSMC that was having really bad seizures- Grand Maul.  Lilah had come up on a break to bring me some lunch and the girl started seizing.  We both ran in and she acted purely on instinct and grabbed the girl’s head, one hand on each temporal lobe and she started talking to the body.  It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen.  The girl stop seizing.  Once the seizure ended she carefully disconnected and the girl was breathing on her own, and then she looked at me and said, ‘Jacob, run an MRI and a CT scan.  I bet you anything that she has a brain tumor’.”

“Wow.  And, here I thought that body- mind therapy was just to release trauma from muscles so that people can move on.”  She laughed softly.  “I’m gonna go change my clothes, bro, so that ‘Chai and Maddie can teach me how to put a bullet between people’s eyes.”

----------------

Brie and David were sitting in the cafeteria at the hospital where their youngest daughter was giving them a new grandchild.  Brie had to get something to eat because her sugar had crashed.  When she checked it, she was very low.  Her blood sugar was 85 and her normal level was 200.  She was too low.  So, she and her husband sat in the cafeteria and ate a late dinner.  “I can’t believe she’s stuck at 8 cm”, Brie laughed.

David laughed as well.  “No kidding.  At least we know she’s fully effaced and they’re doing everything they can to get her to 10.”  He popped a chip in his mouth with a chuckle.

“A petosin drip is better than nothing, I suppose.  But, her doctor- though amazed that Jessi’s the baby of ten- is skeptical of massage so she won’t allow me to do anything that I know will work.”

“Things that you’ve tried and have seen results from, I know.  You’ve told me on several occasions when you’d come home from having to jump up in the middle of the night to go deliver a baby somewhere in town.”

“I don’t miss those days.”

“I don’t miss you doing it either.  When I wasn’t at home, of course, I didn’t mind.  But, I did not like your phone blowing up at 2:30 in the morning because some of young woman who had never had a baby before and wanted to do it at home.  Then you’re gone for hours at a time to deliver said baby.  Thankfully, Maddie and Delilah had no problem covering your appointments while you slept.  But, I didn’t like waking up alone most mornings when you had to run out and deliver a baby.”

“And you’re the one that encouraged me getting my midwife’s training after Malachai and Mandy started having babies.”

“So that you could deliver all of the babies our kids are having.”

“Well David, baby, I had to learn how to do all that stuff by jumping up in the middle of the night and running to the hospital, or to a patient’s house.  I didn’t just learn to do that shit overnight.”

“What I find interesting about the whole thing is that you still managed to keep all of your clients, go to class, work at the hospital, and keep shit running while I was away.  How did you do it?”

She laughed and checked her phone as it buzzed on the table.  “I have no idea.  There were times, though, that I wanted to pull my hair out because your children wouldn’t cooperate.”  She sighed.  “Guess the petosin drip worked.  Adam just texted me to tell me that she’s fully dilated and if we want to witness the miracle of Abigayle’s birth, then we need to book it.”

“How’s your sugar?”

“I’m fine, baby.  Feeling much better now that I have solid food in my body rather than a damn candy bar on the way out the door.  Now, let’s go.”  She stood and gathered her trash so that they could head up to Labor & Delivery to witness the birth of their twenty- fifth grandchild and he followed suit.

Thankfully, Jessi’s room was right across the hall from the elevators, so David and Brie were able to arrive in plenty of time to see that Jessi’s doctor was about to have her start pushing.  They ran into the room and split up, each taking one side of the bed.  David Adam and one of the nurses were holding Jessi’s feet so that she could push so her parents held her hands.

“Ok, Jessykah, with the next one, I want you to push with everything you have so that we can get this head out”, her doctor said.  When the next contraction came on, Jessi pushed as her mother and the nurse counted.  They managed to get three pushes and the head out with the first contraction.  Both David’s and Brie were smiling from ear to ear when they say the head full of dark hair.  “One or two more, Jessykah, and we’ll have shoulders and a baby.”

Jessi was covered in sweat as she looked at her parents.  “I don’t think I can do it”, she panted.

“You’re doing fine Jessi, baby”, Brie said softly.

“I’m so tired.  I can’t do anymore.”

“Jessi, you can do this, baby girl”, David- her father- said.  “Just dig down deep.”

Jessi nodded at her father’s words.  When the next contraction came on, she mustered every ounce of strength had left and pushed, letting out a scream as she bore down.  Everyone counted out loud as the doctor maneuvered the baby’s shoulders out, pulling the tiny body from Jessi.  Jessi relaxed against the pillows as she tried to catch her breath.  The doctor looked up at Jessi.  “Congratulations.  It’s a healthy baby girl.” 

The airways were cleared and Jessi was handed her new daughter with tears in her eyes as the little girl screamed with every breath.  She was smiling from ear to ear as her baby was wrapped in a towel so that she could hold her for the first time.  “Hi there, little Abigayle!” she laughed.  “Welcome to the world, little one!”  Her husband moved to stand at the head of the bed so that he could see his new daughter and her parents moved out of the way.  All either of them could do is smile.

“She’s absolutely glowing”, Brie said.

David nodded.  “I know.  I remember each time you glowed like that after a baby was born.  You’ve done it with each of our children together.”

“I glowed like that after Jessi and Marc were born, and after the quads?”

“You did.  And you were beautiful.”

She smiled and cuddled into his body.  “Well, why don’t we stick around to see just how much she weighs and how long she is, then we can go home for a little while and get some sleep.  We can come over here tomorrow and see Miss Abby Sariah.”

David smiled.  “I like that idea.”

-----------------

Jake offered to let any of the spouses that were interested train to use firearms.  It only made sense to make the offer.  A few of them were interested.  Davina, Delilah, and Makayla’s husband Kylely were all interested. James’s new wife Kenna was interested, but she was pregnant and due in November.  Neither James or Jacob would allow her on the range while pregnant.  She wasn’t far enough along to know what she was having, but neither was willing to take the chance.

Jake’s stance was, Who better to teach those willing than people that have actually had to use the training in combat situations?  That meant Malachai, Skyler, and his father’s former bodyguard- the fear provoking Morbus.  Jake had put in a phone call to one of the last students of his Uncle in order to insure that everyone got the training necessary if whatever was coming ended up becoming war.

Two hours after everyone that needed to learn how to handle a firearm had gone out to the makeshift range with Malachai, Skyler, and Maddie, Jake received a phone call.  “Hey Dad”, he said.  “It’s midnight over there.  What are you doing calling at that time of night?”

“Calling to give you the stats of your new niece”, his father said.  He sounded exhausted.

“Jessi had her baby?” he said with a smile.

“Yep.  Get your brothers and sisters together because I’m not repeating myself and after I hang up with you, if I receive a phone call from any of you before 8 AM I’m going to kill you all.”  He heard a grunt on the other end of the line.

“You ok, Dad?”

“Your mother and I have been at the hospital since noon.  Your sister was in labor for a little over 12 hours seeing as it took an hour for her water to break.  In that time, I had to have a heart to heart with Adam about him bolting from the room when Jessi had a contraction and screamed in pain rather than just breathing.”

“First time father jitters?”

“I have no idea, but I told him that he got to enjoy making that baby and he needed to get his ass back in the room and be with his wife.”

“And Mom got to coach until the two of you returned?”

“Yep.  Where are your siblings?”

“Once everyone comes in from the range, I’m going to get the boys and Makayla down here and you can announce the stats of the new baby in the family.”  As he finished the sentence, everyone that had gone out was walking through the kitchen door.  “Hey, ‘Chai, could you get everyone over the age of 21 from upstairs?  I’ve got Dad on the phone and he’s got stats on Jessi’s new baby girl.”  Malachai’s eyes lit up momentarily and he headed for the stairs.  It took no time before all of the adults were down stairs or inside so that they could hear their father’s announcement.  “Alright Dad.  It’s all you.  What are the stats?”

“It’s a girl.  Abigayle Sariah Yaron; 7lbs. 12 ½ oz, 21 inches long.  Born at 11:23 PM Jerusalem time.  Jessi is perfectly fine.  Just exhausted.  She was feeding little Abby when your mother and I left.  We will be sending pictures as soon as we have them.  You mother and I got out of there as quickly as we could because we both need sleep.”

Everyone laughed.  “How should I expect the pictures, Dad?” Jake asked.

“One of us will email them to you and you can share them with everyone.”

“Where’s Mom?” Maddie asked.

“I’m driving at the moment, so your mother has her head on my thigh and is asleep.  We’re both excited to have yet another grandchild, but we’re tired and comforting your baby sister is a tiresome job.  You must have endless patience to do that, and I swear there were even times that your mother was reaching her wits end.”

“Whoa”, Meagan said.  “Our Sainted mother, the most patient woman on the planet, was getting aggravated?”

“Yes, Leann.  Your mother was getting aggravated, though not at your sister.”  The sound of tires squealing sounded and then they all heard their father shouting in Hebrew at someone as he laid on the  horn of whatever car they were driving came next.

In the background, they heard their mother speaking to the man she loved.  “David, calm down.  I’m sure that it wasn’t intentional.  Calling the other guy a son of a whore is highly uncalled for. Calm down.  Don’t you have the kids on the phone?”  The children all laughed as they listened to the exchange.  Their mother was doing what she did and keeping their foul tempered father from doing something rash and, frankly, stupid.  Finally, they heard static, then their mother.  “Hello children.  Did you father give you the stats on little Abby?”

“Yeah, Mom.  Abigayle Sariah; 7 12 ½, 21.  Born at 11:23”, Jake replied.  “What happened that Dad’s calling someone a son of a whore?”

“Some ignorant person that wasn’t paying attention to where they were driving just rear ended us.”

“And you guys are in the Chevy?”

“No,  the Mustang.”

“OOOOHHHHH” , they all replied.  “That Mustang is Dad’s baby”, Malachai said.  “He’s going to kill the other driver.”

“No.  You’re father’s talking to the police about the accident.  Insurance is being exchanged, yadda yadda.  Your Dad will file with the insurance company in the morning and if need be, he’ll sue for repairs.  You all know your father.”  There was a pause.  “And here he is.  I think I’m going to take over  the driving for the moment because Dad’s pretty pissed.  We’re going to let you go for now.  Call if you need anything but please don’t do so before 9 AM our time.  Good day, kids.”

They all chuckled.  “Good night, Mom.”

---------------

After the enlightening conversation with their parents, Jake pulled his brother in law Colton into his home office.  “Colt, have you been able to call your shaman yet?”

“No Jake.  Sorry.  I’ve been waiting on everything to calm down before I did that.  Did you want all of the dream seers and Skyler present when I did?”

Jake laughed.  “Stop reading my mind, Colt.  It’s scary.”

“You and your little sister think a lot alike, Jacob.  I read Maddie’s mind all the time.  She’s easy to read.”

“Nice.  Ok, well, when is the best time to call your shaman?”

“Now.  Anytime really.  He keeps odd hours.  Unless he’s on a quest, we have nothing to worry about.  He’ll answer his phone.”

“Then, I’ll get Jeremiah, Maddie and Skyler up here and we’ll just call him and see what he has to say.”  Jake shook his head as he walked away.  He walked half way down the stairs then called out to his brother and sister.  “Jeremiah, Maddie; can you two come up to my office please?  And, Miah, call Skyler and have him come up as well, please.”

Jeremiah nodded.  “Be right there, Jake.”

Maddie stood and headed up the stairs.  After the phone call from their parents, everyone else had kind of broken off into different conversations.  She was just sitting and listening to what everyone was murmuring in their side conversations.  She didn’t care, she was just gathering Intel if she needed it.  Once Jake asked her up to the office she jumped up and headed up the stairs.  She just sat quietly as she waited on her brothers, Jeremiah’s father in law, and her husband to come back into the office.

Skyler, Jeremiah and Jake came into the office and Jake took his seat behind the desk in the leather office chair he’d inherited when their father left it after moving to Israel nearly five years before.  Jake loved that chair and let no one other than his four children sit in it.  Well, maybe his wife, too.

Colton soon followed and took a seat on the arm of the chair that Maddie was sitting in after closing and locking the office door behind himself.  Skyler and Jeremiah both sat close to the desk.  Jake spoke.  “Ok 

Colton.  Do what you gotta do, brother.”

Colton reached out and dialed the number of the office phone, putting the phone on speaker as they waited for the shaman to pick up his phone.  “Hello Colton”, an older man said.

“Hello Albert.  I suppose you know why I’m calling.”

“Ah yes, dreams of war, death, destruction… things that cannot be comprehended.  What puzzles me it that you have four other people in the room with you, but you don’t have all of the dreamers.  Where is your wife’s young nephew?”

“He’s playing with his other cousins”, Colton said.

“And your mother in law lives in Israel, correct?”

“Yes.”

“One of the men in the room with you, Colt, is not a dream seer.  He’s a true seer.  He has visions.  Older gentleman.  Skyler, if I’m not mistaken.”

“That’s right.”

“And you all want answers.”  The older man made it a statement.  “‘The Lord is my Sheppard, I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.  Yea, and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me.  Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me’.  Jacob.  Your twin will need to stay very close or very bad things will happen.  As for everyone’s visions and dreams, big bad things are coming.  An old rival of your father’s is trying to come back to haunt all of you.  Malachai and Jordan are in grave danger.  As is Logan, but not nearly as much as Malachai and Jordan.  When you speak again to your famous father, refrain from telling him that when they come out in June for the birth of the new baby- which will be perfectly healthy, Jeremiah, just to put your mind at ease- but, in June, your father and mother will not be heading home to help your baby sister with her new baby.  Instead, suggest to your father that he bring Jessykah and her family back with him.  The month of July will be a very eventful month because I can already see that Jordan will be stubborn like your father and she will be very much worse for wear.  Let her exact her revenge after you rescue her.”

Jacob, Jeremiah, and Skyler all sat and looked dumbfounded.  “You see all of this?” Jake asked.

“Yes, Jacob.  In order to, in essence, prevent the visions you’ve all had from coming to pass and seeing the horsemen ride, Jordan must be allowed to avenge what’s going to happen to her.  No matter how much you beg her not to go out on her own, she’s going to.  Don’t take it personally.  She’s just following her own fate, though she doesn’t know it.  Tell your father everything I’ve told you other than what I’ve instructed you not to.  Anything else?”

“How do you know who we are?” Jeremiah asked.

“And so much about us?” Skyler added.

“Well, Jeremiah, Skyler, I’m very in tune with my guides.  I know things about you that I’m sure that none of you know about yourselves or each other.  And, just a little warning for Jacob, you’re going to want to keep an eye on your little princess.  She’s going to scare the hell out of you soon.  Be on your guard.”

“Which of my little princesses are you referring to?”

“Green eyes, brown curls, or do I have to spell it out for you, Jacob?”

“Oh, that little princess.  Gotcha.  What do you mean she’ll scare the hell out of me?”

“Now Jacob, I can’t tell you everything.  I’ve given you all that the spirits will allow me to.  All I was doing there was giving you fair warning.  Now, I have to hang up with you.  Jacob, I recommend that you don’t call your father until midnight your time.  He might be up and crawling around about that time.  Your mother certainly will be, though.  She’ll make sure he’s on his toes.”

“Our mother’s always been that way”, Maddie said, speaking for the first time during the entire phone call.

“Ah, Madison.  I was wondering when I’d hear your sweet voice.”

“Hello Albert.”

“Well, Draiman Clan, Mr. Mason, I hope you all have a fantastic day.  Keep my warnings in mind and the war to end all will not come to pass.” 

And the line went dead.

Chapter 8

Jake was up with everyone the next morning and was on the phone pulling Miri, Ira, Sammi, and Seth out of school.  He had his brothers and sisters that lived in the area doing the same.  He had those that lived out of town calling the tutors that their kids saw to come out and tutor the children.  Jeremiah was going to handle pulling Matthew out of school while he was out.  Unfortunately, he couldn’t get out of work.  School didn’t get out until the end of May and being the only professor in CSU-CS’s Theology department with a PhD meant that his management skills had to be put to use as well.

“I fucking hate this shit!” Jordan complained as she called up to the school that Levi and Jasmine were in so that the kids were no longer in school.

Jake had just hung up from pulling Miri and Ira out of school.  “What seems to be the problem this time, Jordan?” he asked.  He was struggling with his temper as it was.  He’d gotten no sleep the night before.

“First, we’re stuck in the house all the time.  Shades of childhood for all but 2 of the 10 Draiman kids.  Now, we’re pulling the kids out of school?  Mom’s having cryptic dreams that you won’t tell us about and now I know you saw something thing because I can feel it in my gut and you’re not sharing.  What the fuck is up with THAT, Jake?”

Jake closed his eyes as he set his phone on the table.  “Ok Jordan, how do I explain this in terms you’ll understand?” He removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.  The reason behind the glasses was that he needed to have his contact prescription refilled.

“Just fucking say it, Jake?” Jordan recommended.

“Ok, Jordan.  You paid attention in American History in college and high school, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You paid attention when they talked about the Italian Mafia and the structure thereof?”

“Yes Jacob.  You were in the same class I was in high school.”

“I remember, Jordan.  I don’t miss freshman year.  Anyway, as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me.  The person at the head of a mafia family; what are they called?  Anyone?”

“They’re called the Don, or the Godfather.  What are you getting at, Jake?” Jordan said.

“And the person under him is the Capo.  Ok, so, who’s the Don of the Draiman family?”

“Dad.”

“Making me his Capo and all of the boys in the family, including Caleb since Dad and Mom treat him like family, lieutenants.  Now, when the Don gives an order the Capo is the one responsible for making sure that everyone else in the family- or associated with the family- follows said order.  Dad gave me orders the last time I was on the phone with him.  By the way, that was at about 2:00 AM this morning.  I’m following said orders.  Oh, and just so you know Jordan, don’t make any plans this afternoon.  I spoke with Malachai and Maddie this morning before you decided to drag your diva ass out of bed.  Everyone that’s over the age of 14 that doesn’t know how to fire a rifle or handle a firearm of any sort is going to start training at 1300 hours with them and Skyler.  I’m being nice and making it at 1 in the afternoon because I’m still trying to give Meagan a chance to arrive.  Not only did she have to find a house sitter, turns out that Anthony had to be pulled out of a special advanced program in Houston.  That takes time.  Meagan and Anthony should be here later this morning.  Now, if you don’t like following Dad’s orders, then feel free to call him and bitch about it.  My complaint department is officially closed.”  He picked his phone back up and started dialing the number for the Pre-K that Seth and Samantha were enrolled in so that he could pull them out.

Jordan sat at the other end of the table and gaped at her twin.  He’d never spoken to her like that in his life.  She had no idea what his problem was, but she was going to get to the bottom of it.

--------------

“Breathe, Jessi”, Brie coached her daughter as she held her hand.  “I know it hurts, baby.  Labor sucks, but you have to breathe.  Nice, deep breaths.  Remember your breathing techniques from your classes.”

Jessi was in the thralls of a contraction as her mother murmured in her ear.  She tried to breathe through the contractions.  It just sucked having to do so.  “Mama, it hurts to bad”, she cried when the contraction ended.

“I know, sweetie.  I’m here.  I’ll talk you through it.”

“When are Dad and David supposed to be back from the cafeteria?  I want my husband.”

“They should be here any moment now.  I’m sure that your father’s just trying to ease David’s fears about becoming a father for the first time.  Just hold my hand and squeeze the hell out of it if you need to until your man gets back from where he’s at and what he’s doing.”

The doctor came in as Brie finished the sentence.  “Jessykah, how are you?”

“In a ton of pain”, Jessi responded.

“If you would like an epidural, let me know and I’ll get an anesthesiologist down here to give you one”, the woman said as she pulled up a stool.  “Can you scoot to the edge of the bed for me, Jessykah?  I need to check your progress.”

Jessi scooted to the edge of the bed carefully as a contraction hit.  She cried out in pain and clutched at her mother.  “Ow, Mama it hurts so bad”, she cried.  “There is nothing natural about this level of pain.”

“I know, baby.  I carried three pregnancies to term and all three of them were vaginal deliveries.  And for two of them, I didn’t have to option of an epidural because they were home births.”

The doctor looked up at Brie Draiman.  “How many children do you have?”

“Ten children total.  All but two of them are multiples.  And this will be grandchild number 24.”

“And you said you carried three pregnancies?”

“Yes.  My first four children I carried to term.  Two singles and a set of twins.  After the single girl there’s a set of quads and then the set of twins that Jessi here comes from.  Those two pregnancies were from surrogates.”

“Do they all live here in Israel?”

“Oh, dear Lord no.  All of my other children and their families live in the US.”

“Mom, can we focus on me please?” Jessi groaned.

“You don’t need to worry about what the doctor and I are talking about, Jessykah Danyelle.  You just need to focus on breathing through the pain so that you can have this baby girl.  Your doctor is going to marvel at the size of the family anyway because I said that little Abby here is going to be your father’s and my 24^th grandchild.”

“I still can’t imagine a family that big.  How do you do family get togethers?” the doctor asked

“Very carefully”, Brie laughed.

Jessi visibly relaxed as the David’s walked into the room.  The doctor had just finished checking Jessi’s progress.  “At the end of that contraction, you’re at 6 cm, Jessykah.  You’re just about there.  Do you want that epidural?”

Adam had made his way to her side and they exchanged a look.  “Are you ok with me getting an epidural, baby?”

“If it will help with the pain, I’m more than ok with it.  But, I want you to be sure that’s what you want, love.”

She looked back at the doctor.  “Get the anesthesiologist.  I want the pain reliever.”

“You go it”, the doctor said.  As she headed out the door, she stopped and looked at the Draiman’s.  “How did you two do it with 10?”

“It’s a long story”, David said with a laugh.  “And just think, this in will make our 25^th grandbaby.”

“24^th, David.  Abigayle is our 24^th.  Rina will be number 25 when she comes in July”, Brie corrected.

“Oh yeah.  That’s right.  How the hell?”  All Brie could do was shrug.

“You two are very inspirational.  Was it that you wanted the traditional, large Jewish family?”

“No”, David chuckled.  “I wanted a big family and I got it.  I was lucky that it only took five pregnancies to get what I wanted.”

“Anymore than ten kids, and he would have had to find another woman.  I was done Jessi and her twin brother”, Brie laughed.

“I don’t blame you.  I would have been done too”, the doctor said.  She looked back at Jessi.  “I’ll have the anesthesiologist down here stat for that epidural.”  Then, she looked back at David and Brie.  “It’s been educational speaking with the two of you.  I look forward to doing it again at some point.”

“Anything is possible”, David said.  After the doctor walked away, he looked at his wife.  “How’s Jessi doing?”

“She’s experiencing the joys of a vaginal child birth.  How do you think she’s doing?” Brie asked.

He looked at his daughter in the hospital bed.  “Yeah, she’s not doing very well, I take it.  I was grateful that the labors I was present for progressed relatively quickly.”

“Yeah.  I was fully dilated in no time with Jake and Jordan.”

David felt his phone vibrating in the pocket of the shorts he was wearing.  “Yippee, gotta to answer a call”, he said sarcastically.  “Care to join me outside?”

“No problem.”  She looked toward the hospital bed.  “Jessi, Adam, your father and I are stepping outside to take a phone call.  We’ll be back shortly.”  And with that, she followed her husband out the door and down the hall toward the elevator so that they could return the phone call.

----------------

“Damn it, Dad.  Answer your phone”, Jordan growled under her breath.  “I don’t see why you’ll pick up for Jake right away but you make me wait.”  Finally she got the voicemail.  Before her father’s message finished, she’d hung up again and counted to five and dialed the number again only to listen to it ring and go to voicemail again.  This time, she counted to ten before starting to dial the number again.  Her phone started playing “Liberate” by her father’s former band as she dialed.  “Hello?” she said.

“What is so damn important that you’re blowing my phone up, Jordan Hannah?” David asked his oldest daughter.

“Why didn’t you answer when I called the first time?” she asked.

“Well, not that I have to explain myself to you young lady, but your mother and I aren’t at home at the moment.  We were on the fourth floor of the hospital because your baby sister is in labor right now.  Now, I’m pretty sure that I haven’t done anything to warrant getting an attitude from you, and you know better than to get one with me anyway.  So, before I decide to turn off my phone and go back into the hospital so that I can witness the birth of your newest niece, why don’t you lose the attitude and tell me what the problem is Jordan Hannah Draiman?”

She took a deep breath.  “Why do I have to learn how to shoot?”

“Because I said so and until I’m dead I’m still the patriarch of the family.  Any other stupid questions?”

“I didn’t think it was stupid, Dad.”

“Jordan”, her mother said, “just do as your father and brother are instructing you to do.  That’s not a request either.  That is an order.  Learn how to handle a firearm and do so well.  And, pass on to Jacob that those who know how to use them need to be practicing at least every couple of days.”

Jordan took a breath to argue, but her father cut her off.  “Don’t even think about arguing with your mother.  Relay the message, or put someone on the phone that will.  Better yet, put your brother Jacob on the phone and we’ll tell him ourselves.”

She groaned.  “What is going on that you’re having everyone learn to use a gun and practice?  Why are we pulling our kids out of school?  Why are the nine of us that still live in the states gathering at homestead?  What’s with the rally call?  Damn it, Mom and Dad, we have the right to know.”

David sighed.  “I know you have the right to know, Jordan.  You are in danger.  You’re going to have to accept that.  Malachai may also be in danger; as well as Logan and Caleb.  All the signs are pointing to something huge happening in the coming months.  You need to just take it in faith right now that what I’m instructing is in everyone’s best interest.  Your mother and I will be out in June because Miri asked that we be there for her birthday and we’re going to be there for the birth of Rina in July.  Now, I know that all of this is wearing on your nerves, Jordan.  Believe me.  I remember the Occupation better than you do.  You’re mother was 6 months pregnant with you and Jacob when we went into hiding.  I know what it’s like not to get any news on the state of things and to feel like no one is telling me anything.  Right now, you need to do as you’re told and not ask questions that we don’t have answers to.”

“What don’t you have answers to?”

“The biggest thing we don’t have answers to is why”, her mother said.  “If we had all of the details of what’s going on then we could give you more answers, sweetie.  But, the fact of the matter is that we don’t know what’s going on and what we do know is very vague.  Stop fighting against it and just do as you’re being told.”

Jordan sighed.  “Ok.  I’ll do what I can to stop fighting this.  But, this is worse than the Utopian Conflict. We all have careers and kids now.  Reckless Disregard is supposed to be getting ready to tour.”

“Jordan, when we had to go into hiding Disturbed had just finished one leg of the ‘Asylum’ touring cycle on the Uproar Festival and we were supposed to do a small club leg before starting the Music as a Weapon V leg.  We missed out on money there.  Trust me, Jordan Hannah; your bank account will survive”, her father scolded.  “Are there any other questions, comments, or concerns?”

She sighed.  “No sir.”

“Good.  Now, you’re mother and I have to go.  Your brother in law just texted your mother to let her know that Jessi’s progressed to 8 cm and she’s 95% effaced.  It’s almost time to meet Little Miss Abigayle Sariah.  We will talk to you later, Jordan.  We love you.  Pass our love to your brothers and sisters, as well as all of our grandchildren.”

“I will, Dad.  Love you guys, too.”

“Remember, just do what you’re being instructed to do right now.  Bye Jordan.”

“Bye Mom and Dad.”  She hung up and stuck her phone back in its case on her hip.  She stared out over the property at the trees.  I wonder if my little hiding place is still up in that tree, she thought and headed down off of the patio toward the third three on the left hand side of the yard.

---------------

Another day, another plot to try to take out Jordan and Malachai Draiman, as well as Logan Moyer.  Porter Grissom wasn’t nearly as worried about the Moyer boy as he was about the Draiman children.  He knew that the good doctor had given the ashes to the police.  Now, Dr. J Micah Draiman, MD was on his shit list too.  The doctor didn’t need to die though.  Just his older brother and twin sister.

Many people didn’t understand how he knew so much about the Draiman family.  It was more than just research.  He had been a client of Irian Cartwright’s before her ‘death’ in 2010.  He had been a staunch supporter of the Utopian movement then.  He was her client because she gave an exquisite massage.  He could have cared less about her blatant stance against everything he supported.

He had been a member of the Utopian War Council and knew Samuel Tuchman personally.  When Samuel Tuchman went UA after the Lieutenant’s death, Grissom had learned where he was going.  It was the address that had been given in the final monologue taped by David Draiman.  He knew that Tuchman had a niece that was a supporter of the old government.  When he heard that the traitor was going to the Disturbed Compound in Greeley, he looked into the man’s family.  It turned out that Tuchman’s niece was his late therapist.  At the time, he thought nothing of it until he saw Draiman’s wife standing next to him at the press conference where he announced that not only would he not be serving as Gail Richardson’s Vice President, but he would not be running for President in the future.  Grissom recognized his former therapist.  

And that’s when he really started digging into the Draiman family.  He wanted to know everything.  Did Brie Draiman do massage?  Did she own her own business?  What were the children’s names?  He watched Brie make strides in massage.  He watched as Disturbed started raking in the awards and recognition they’d waited nearly twenty years to receive- though he thought that Draiman was a loud mouthed Jew that didn’t deserve anything other than bullet between the eyes.

He followed each of the Draiman children in their endeavors. He watched as Reckless Disregard put out their first album and he followed their career closely.  He wanted to know what made them tick.  What their inspiration was.  He watched them win each and every award they had been nominated for.

He watched as the young doctor, Jacob, did interviews for a treatment for traumatic brain injury and talked about the nomination for the Nobel Prize in Medicine.  He even watched the Nobel Prize ceremony.

He watched Madison and her sister in law Delilah start making huge strides in massage- even having a technique named after them.  He intentionally subscribed to the massage publications that the girls were in published in so that he could get insight into them.

He watched every press conference that James did on behalf of Intoxication Records after he and the Donegan boy took over.  He actually attended the graduation ceremony of Jeremiah Draiman where he received his PhD in Theology and Meagan Draiman received hers in Microbiology.  He knew that Jeremiah was a teacher and that Meagan worked for NASA.  Now, technically, the Draiman family had a total of four doctors: one MD with Jacob and three PhD’s- Jeremiah, Meagan, and the Patriarch- David, who had been given an honorary doctorate in Philosophy from the family Alma Mater.

Grissom watched Makayla and Marc Draiman win Oscars for the work they did in different movies- Makayla for Choreography and Marc for Visual Effects.  Year after year, both Draiman children- though now adults- were walking away from the Academy Awards with little statues in hand.

He knew of the baby of the family- Jessykah- and her job at the American consulate in Israel as a foreign translator.  He knew that she was fluent in several different dialects of Arabic, as well as Farsi, Hebrew, and Armenian.  She was even invited to different schools around the world to lecture on the subtleties of the different dialects of Arabic- how region can affect the inflection and even the meaning of a word.

Finally, he watched as their father and his band mates performed their final show in Chicago and broadcast it in real time around the world.  He knew that his chances of ending David Draiman were slim to nil after the man retired from the music industry.  It was only made more certain when he spotted the man and his wife on a flight from Denver to LA where they would catch a trans- pacific flight to head toward Israel.

Now Porter Grissom, at the age of 59, was sitting at his desk in the city of fallen angels and trying to figure out what it was about Malachai Draiman that he was missing.  He knew that there was something missing in the man’s biography on Wikipedia.  He knew for a fact that Malachai personally edited his Wikipedia page as well as the band’s group page, but he knew that something wasn’t right.  When he was receiving massage from Brie when she was Irian, she never spoke of a child.  There wasn’t usually a lot of speaking going on in the massage room because he was too damn relaxed to speak.  Malachai Draiman’s life started at five years old when he was adopted by David and Brie Draiman.  The footnotes even had a link to the court house record’s department in Tennessee where the adoption papers were held.  But, something wasn’t right about it and Grissom knew it.  What it was, however, he couldn’t figure out.

But that was for another time.  He had to figure out a way to bring Malachai and Jordan Draiman to their knees.  His phone rang.  “Hello?” he said.

“Mr. Grissom, I’ve just received information that all of the Draiman children that live in Colorado have been pulled from school.  Both the Doctors- Jacob and Jeremiah- as well as Jordan and Malachai have pulled their children from school.”

“I wonder if that had anything to do with the little present I sent little Miriam”, Grissom said with a smile.  It was obvious that he was starting to lose his mind from the tone in his voice.  “No matter.  If I can’t get to Jordan and Malachai through their children, I’ll find some other way.  Maybe I’ll raid their houses.”

“Satellite images have shown that neither of them have been home in a few days.  There hasn’t been any movement in houses other than the cleaning crews and the yard workers.  Jordan’s wife has a green house garden with tropical flowers that has to be tended.”

“Hmm… no movement.”  Grissom paused.  “I wonder if they’re at the mysterious homestead that no one knows the location of.  No matter.  I’ll get them one way or another and when I do… Jordan and Malachai Draiman won’t know what hit them”, he said with a twisted laugh and a maniacal grin.  He knew that he would have a chance to get his hands on the loud mouth little bitch and her fucking brother.  There wasn’t a doubt in his mind.  But, there were things that Porter Grissom didn’t know about the Draiman children and he wouldn’t live very long to regret the miscalculation.

Chapter 7

It wasn’t often that David and Brie Draiman went to the market in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem together.  Usually Brie went alone because David- even five years after retiring- couldn’t walk down the street without being recognized and asked for an autograph.  He was a hero for many Jewish people.  They appreciated his ability to become a rock star and still “be a hazan”.  There were a few Temples in the area that wanted him to teach their young cantors.  David wanted no part of it. 

He’d sign autographs graciously and tell people that he was happy that his music or actions could help them in some way.  Brie was even as understanding as she could be- even when she was in a hurry to get back home- but there came times when he would have to tell people no because his wife wanted to move along.  There were times when the crowd would be so thick that Brie would leave him where he was so that he could attend to his fans; come back and the crowd was thicker than it was when she left.

After being back home in Jerusalem for a few days, they were running dangerously low on certain necessities in the house- like tea.  “David, baby, we’re running low on the necessities”, Brie told him.

“Like what?” he asked.

“Like sugar, vegetables, flour, meat, tea.”

“How are you doing on that sweetener your doctor told you to start using when he started making you test your blood sugar and take insulin?” he asked her, giving her a pointed look from where he sat on the couch.

She groaned and rolled her eyes.  “Did you have to remind me that he’s making me use Splenda?”

“So I take it that means you’re almost out.” He made the observation a statement.

“Yes”, she groaned again.

“Brie, you know that the doctor told you no more sugar.  Your sugar can’t be controlled by diet alone anymore.”  He got up and wrapped his arms around her.  “I know you hate it baby, and I hate it with you, but you have to do it so that I don’t lose you before your due time.  I don’t need you to lapse into a diabetic coma because you overloaded your pancreas with glucose.  Can you do me that favor and just follow the doctor’s orders?”

“I am, but that Splenda stuff doesn’t taste right, David.  They say that it supposed to taste like sugar, but they lie.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead in a kiss.  “They’re supposed to lie so that people will buy the product.  It’s marketing.”

“No, it’s false advertisement.”

“There’s no getting you to bend on this opinion of yours, is there?”

“No, but either way, I’m going to buy it and drink it and use it in my food.  Now, are you going with me or am I going alone so that we can avoid you being stopped in the middle of the market place and/ or the grocery store?”

“I’m going with you.  I’ll just have to tell the fans and people that stop us in the street/ store that I can’t sign autographs today.”

“I try to be understanding, David, I really do.  But, you’ve been retired for five years.  I’d think that you’ve signed every autograph in Jerusalem by now.”

“Don’t forget that I’ve been signing autographs in every other country that we’ve travelled to as well.”

“I understand that.  We haven’t visited the same country twice.  Every time we leave, we visit different cities you've visited in your career and they’re all excited to see you whether you’re recording or not.  We live here and it seems like it doesn’t matter what part of town we visit- someone wants your signature on an old poster or CD or download receipt that they kept because things like that are becoming valuable. If they could collect all four signatures, the memorabilia would be nearly priceless.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“I’ve listened to a few people when they’re gathered trying to get your autograph and I’ve done a little research of my own.  Did you know that my messenger bag that dates back to the ‘Indestructible’ cycle is worth about 5 or 6 hundred thousand dollars?”

“What?”

“That’s the last estimate on several Disturbed auction sites I’ve looked at.”

“What about t- shirts?”

“That all depends on how often the shirt was worn, how visible the signature is on the shirt; things like that.”

“Wow.  I didn’t know that our merchandise was that valuable.”

“You’d be surprised.  You should see some of the CD prices and how high those things climb at auction.”

“Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack. There are collections of all of your work- rare B sides included- that are going for several million dollars.”

All David could do was stare at her in shock for a few moments.  When he gathered his thoughts again, he blinked and cleared his throat.  “Why don’t we get things together and head to the market, love?  We need meat for dinner tonight, don’t we?”

She laughed and pulled herself away from him.  “Let me grab my purse, love, and we’ll go.  But, no signing autographs.”  She walked away and went to their bedroom to grab her purse and a pair of sandals.

“I won’t.”

“I mean it, David.  If I so much as see one pen in your hand to sign a-ny-thing other than the check to pay for the grocery bill and you and I will go round and round.  I’ll win.”

He laughed.  “You got it love, though I won’t be signing a check.  I’ll be signing for the credit card.”

“Either way, if you sign one autograph I’m going to kick your ass, David Michael.”

----------------

Jake was tossing and turning that night as he slept.  His mind couldn’t be still.  His dreams were strange.  Most nights, he could tell prophetic dreams from dreams that were normal.  This was not one of those times.  He was having what he saw to be an apocalyptic type dream.  Fire and brimstone, the end of the world; the war to end all wars.  He couldn’t make heads or tails of it.  He’d taught himself not to come out of his dreams gasping, but this was one of those strange ones that he couldn’t help it.  He shot up straight in the bed with an audible gasp.  He looked to his right to see if he’d awaken the beautiful woman he’d been calling his wife for ten years.  He hadn’t woken her so he crawled out of bed quietly and went into the bathroom of their master suite after wiping two fingers across his chest.  He had broken into a cold sweat.  He knew it was a cold sweat because he had a chill when he came to.

In through your nose, out through your nose, Jacob, he thought as he tried to slow his heart rate.  He’d washed his face and neck with a wash rag before looking into the mirror to calm down.  Don’t freak out.  You have no idea what it could mean.  It could just be a fucked up dream.  Then his mother’s dream came to mind.  He hadn’t shared what his mother had seen with any of his siblings.  A voice in the back of his mind whispered, you should call your mother, Jacob.  She’ll know what to tell you.  He moved back into the bedroom and picked up his cell phone from the bedside table.  As he made is way for the door there was a gentle knock.  He opened it and two of the eight of his siblings that were in the house were standing at his door.  “What’s up, ‘Miah?  Maddie?”

“We need to talk to you, Jake”, Maddie said.

“Now would be best”, Jeremiah added.

“About?”

“We’ll tell you as soon as Jona gets Matthew settled down from his nightmare”, Jeremiah said as he checked a message on his phone.  He took a deep breath and checked another message.  “Skyler and Kaylian are on their way over from their little house.  Kaylian’s going to take care of Mattie.  Jona, Skyler, and the three of us need to talk from what I understand.”

Jake sighed.  “Then let’s all wait on Skyler and Kaylian to arrive in the living room.”

Jacob, Madison, and Jeremiah all turned and headed down the hall toward the stairs.  The moment his feet hit the bottom floor of the two story mansion he bought from their father, Jeremiah’s in laws knocked on the door.  Jeremiah went to the door to let them in as Jake and Maddie sat down in the living room.  Kaylian Mason didn’t bother greeting any of the people in the house.  She just ran through the house toward the back door and the old guest house that Jeremiah and Jona called home with Jeremiah hot on her heels.  Skyler took a seat in one of the arm chairs.  “Sorry to wake everyone at this time of night”, he said.  The look in his eyes was one of worry.

“I was up anyway”, Jake said with a sigh.  “I was actually about to put in a call our parents.”

“You too?” Maddie asked. 

Jake just looked at her.  “I think you need to explain, Madison.”

“She will in a minute”, Jeremiah said as he helped Jona into a chair and sat on the arm if it.  “First, Mattie had a nightmare tonight that has me worried.”

“What did he see?” Skyler and Jake asked at the same time.  “Sorry, Jake.  He’s my grandson.  You understand.”

“He’s my nephew, so yeah.”  He looked back at Jeremiah.  “What did Matthew see?”

“Four horses with scary looking riders.  One was wearing black and made of bones.  One was wearing red and was dripping blood.  One was in yellow and had nasty looking crust in his eyes, dry lips, snot coming out of his nose.  The other was wearing brown and where his horse touched the grass wilted and died”, Jona said in a voice that was as calm as she could manage.

Jake and Maddie looked at her with wide eyes.  “Death, War, Pestilence, and Famine”, Maddie said softly.

“The Four Horsemen?”  Jake made the statement a question.  “Isn’t he a little young to be seeing the Four Horsemen in his dreams?”

“Apparently not”, Jeremiah said.  “I was seeing the war to end all in the dream I was having before I woke to my son screaming in fear.”

“I saw death and destruction everywhere I turned”, Maddie said.  “Colton is worried.  He said that he’s going to call his tribe’s shaman in the morning to see what he suggests.”

Jake looked at Skyler.  “Have you had any visions, Skyler?” he asked.

“Just a bunch of jumbled images that I can’t make sense of.  ‘The Lord is my Sheppard, I shall not want’”, Skyler said.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures?” Jake asked.

“You say that as though you’ve heard it before.”

Jake sighed and placed his elbows on his knees as he wiped his hands over his face.  “Fuck”, he said under his breath.

“Hold on a second here”, Jeremiah said.  “You said when I came in that you were about to call Mom and Dad.  Why?”

“To see if Mom could help me explain the dream I just had.  It looked Apocalyptic.  A bunch of shit I couldn’t understand.”

“Ok, so let me get this straight”, Maddie said.  “You had a fucked up dream, I had a fucked up dream, Jeremiah had a fucked up dream, Matthew had a fucked up dream, and you know the quote that Skyler heard in his vision?  Where do you know it from, Jake?”

“It’s not important right now, Maddie.  What is important is that we get to the bottom of this so that Jeremiah and Jona can put little Matthew at ease.”

“Where have you heard it before, Jacob?” Maddie insisted.

He growled under his breath.  “The last time I talked to Dad.  Mom was asleep, but she had a dream that contained that verse.  It was actually Psalms 23: 1 and 4.  ‘Yea, and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me’.  She had seen a bunch of jumbled images that she couldn’t make sense of.”

Everyone in the room exchanged a look.  “CALL MOM”, Maddie and Jeremiah said in unison.  “CALL YOUR MOTHER”, Skyler said at the same time.  Jake just picked up his phone and made the phone call.

---------------

They had managed to get in and out of the grocery store and the market district with next to no problems.  The only issue was that the cashier at the store had a visible Disturbed tattoo that he wanted signed.  David told the boy that he had to talk to Brie about it.  Brie looked at the boy and her husband then told him that he was to be the only one.

One their way home Brie’s phone buzzed.  She pulled it out of her purse as it played some new Reckless Disregard song that she was using as her ring tone for all of her children at that moment.  She saw Jacob’s number on the Caller ID, and she looked at David.  “It’s Jake.”

David checked his watch.  “It’s 1:30 in the morning there.  What is he doing calling at that time of night?”

“One way to find out”, she said as she answered the phone and put on the speaker.  “Yeah, Jake?”

“Mom, we have a situation here and we need your advice”, Jake said calmly.  She could hear in his tone that he was stressed and trying not to let it show.

“What’s wrong son?”

“Are you and Dad sitting still?” Maddie asked.

“No, we’re driving down the road toward home.  We just left the market.  Why?”

“Call me back after you two get home and get your groceries put away.  I need your undivided attention for this”, Jake said.

David and Brie exchanged a brief glance.  “Jacob Micah, answer your mother”, David said in a stern tone.

“I’d love to, Dad, but you two need to be sitting still and not having to worry about putting food away before it spoils.  Get home, put your groceries away, and then call me back.  We’ll all still be up, trust me.  I think the only one that will have gone back to be will be Jona once Kaylian has Matt calmed and back to sleep.”

“What happened to Matthew?” Brie snapped.

“All in due time, Mom”, she heard Jeremiah said.  “I’ll explain when you call back.”

“I don’t like the sound of this, kids.  Do your father and I need to jump on a plane and come home?” Brie asked impatiently.

“I don’t think that’s necessary”, Jake said.  “We just need your help interpreting some dreams and visions.”

“Can’t Skyler help you all in the morning?”

“I’m at just as big a loss as your children are, Brie”, Skyler said.

She sighed.  “Ok, give us about fifteen minutes.  We’re about five from the house and it will take ten minutes between the two of us to put everything away.  If you haven’t heard back in about thirty minutes, call back.  Either way, the next time you all hear my voice, I want answers from any one whose last name is or has at one time been Draiman.  Do I make myself crystal fucking clear?”  The tone in her voice said that she was not to be questioned on this and that her orders would be obeyed or else.

“Yes, Mom”, Jake said.  “We will explain everything the next time we speak.”  He hung up.

Brie put her phone back in her purse and looked at her husband.  “David, something’s not right at home.  I can feel it.”

“You want to know what I think?”

“What do you think hon?”

“I think that there is something huge coming for our kids and there’s not too much we can do to stop it.  I mean, we might not be living in the US anymore, but I still try to keep my finger on the pulse of things back home.  There’s a Utopian party in the race toward the Oval Office.”

“What?”

“Yeah.  Backed by an organization that calls themselves the People in Support of a Utopian Society.”

“You have got to be kidding me.  The Utopians are trying to take over again?”

“Yeah.  And they’re getting close from what it seems.”

“That’s not good news, David.  I’d like to hear some good news.”

“I don’t know about that, love, but I do know that as much as Jake’s been calling the last few days, something is after them and we may need to head back to the States to guide them through it.”

---------------

Once their food was put away and the kitchen straightened up, David and Brie called their second oldest son back.  “Now, start talking someone”, Brie said as she set her phone on the glass coffee table in front of the couch.  David was sat back and comfortable as his fingertips unconsciously traced up and down his wife’s spine.

“Mom, it appears that everyone has had some strange dreams or visions tonight.  And that includes young Matthew”, Jake said.  This time, the stress in his voice was showing through.

“Hold on”, David said calmly.  “Jacob, why don’t we start from the top?  What was Matthew’s dream?”

“In essence, Dad, he had a dream about the Four Horsemen.”

“The Four Horsemen?  The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?” Brie asked.

“Yes ma’am”, Jeremiah responded.

Brie looked over her shoulder to her husband as his hand on her back became very still all of the sudden.  He sat up and was suddenly very interested in the conversation rather than half assed listening.  “Ok.  Jeremiah, what did you see?”

Jeremiah explained his dream in detail.  Then they asked Maddie what she saw and she told them in detail as well.  Jake soon followed with his details.  Then Skyler told them what he could of his vision.  Brie looked over at David.  “Where does Skyler’s vision sound familiar from?”

“You the other night.”  David sighed.  “Kids, I’ve been keeping an eye on the political climate there in the States.  I know what’s going on in the Presidential race.  I’ll tell you all now that I’m not happy about it.  Based on everything I’ve heard and everything you’re mother has told me of her dreams, I have a feeling that something big is coming.  Bigger than anyone of you alone and that includes all of you that don’t have dreams.  I caution all of you that do see things not to tell the others unless or until you feel that they are all ready to hear the truth.  Try not to alarm anyone.  Stick with the plans that you all have already set forth.  Pull the kids from school and have them tutored there at the house.  Maddie, you and a couple of your brothers need to teach those who don’t know how to handle a firearm.  I suggest that Miranda, Isaiah and Elijah learn as well.  They’re more than old enough- especially Miranda and Isaiah.  Logan should be there and I hope that Justin was smart and went down with James.  That’s two more rifles if you need them.  Skyler how’s your aim?”

“Still sharp, David”, Skyler responded.

“Good, would you mind assisting in teaching those of my kids that don’t know how to shoot how to do so?”

“No.  Which of your kids knows how to shoot?”

“All of the boys, Maddie, and Makayla that are there.  Jessykah does as well, but she’s here rather than out there.”

“Got it.  Is there anything else you need from me?”

“Not at the moment.  Right now, we’re waiting until Jessykah has her daughter before we make ourselves available to do too much travelling.  At the first sign of trouble, give us a call and we’ll be there as soon as the plane can touch down.”

“You got it.  First sign that you’re needed, David, I’ll make Jake here call you.”

“Dad, you want us to call you even if Jessi hasn’t had the baby?” Maddie asked.

“Yes.  I’m sure that Jessi will understand, though we’re both sure that she will pop any time now.”

“You got it, Dad”, Jacob said.

“Meanwhile, I want daily updates before you go to bed, Jacob.  And I want them on everything.  Politics, how the kids are taking confinement, how you’re all handling things, dreams, visions- the whole nine yards.”

“You got it Dad.  Should I inform Jordan of this order?”

“No, but tell her that if I hear of her leaving the house on her own that she will be in hot water with me.”

“You got it, Dad.  Anything else?”

“Nope.  Not that I can think of.”  He looked at his wife.  “Anything from you?”

“No, I think you’ve about covered it.”  She spoke to her children on the phone.  “You kids try to get some sleep.  I’m sure that your significant others are lonely in those beds.”

“They are.  Oh, Mom, Dad, Colton was talking about calling his tribal shaman in the morning.  What do you say to that?”

“Maybe the shaman can make heads or tails of your dreams and give you something more than we can.  I’m just as confused as all of you are”, Brie said with a sigh.  “Let Colton make the call and see what the shaman says.”

“Ok.  Will do.  I’m sure you two want to get something to eat soon”, Jake said.

“Yeah, and I need to test my sugar and take my insulin.”

“I still can’t believe that”, Jake sighed.  “Well, we’ll let you go so that you two can do what you have to do.  Let us know when Jessi has the baby, please.”

“Will do, Jake.  Good night you guys.” And Brie ended the conversation with the touch of a button on her touch screen phone.  She looked at her husband with a sigh.  “So, how long do you think it will be until we’re making a trip out to Colorado to prevent the war to end all wars?”

“I don’t know.  I’m hoping it won’t have to happen, but you and I both know how Jordan is”, David said as he sat back on the couch.

“The holidays are going to suck, David.  We both know it.”  She sat back with him and curled up against his side.

“I know, love.  I give it until Thanksgiving before Jordan does something stupid and we have to coordinate some sort of rescue attempt”, he said with a chuckle.

David had no idea just how accurate his attempt at a joke was.  But, he wasn’t going to get much of a chance to think about it because his phone started ringing.  It was his son in law, David Adam.  “Hello?” he said when he pressed the phone to his ear.

“Dad, Jessi just went into labor.  We on our way to the hospital now”, his son in law said.

“Alrighty then, Adam.  Mom and I will meet you guys there.”  He looked at his wife.  “It’s that time.  We get to greet another grandchild’s entrance into the world.”

Chapter 6

The man was tied bound with his hands in front of him and his feet together.  He was on his knees and he was naked.  His face was covered in a burlap sack.  He had no idea where he was, but he knew that he was in trouble.

Suddenly, his face was immersed in a tub of water and her struggled to breathe and get away.  It was useless.  He was bound and he’d been beaten.  There was no escape.

“YOU BUMBLEING BUFFOON!!!” his boss yelled.

When he was brought up out of the water, he coughed.  “What did I do this time?” he cried out, gasping.

He was shoved under the water again, and he struggled some more.  “It gave your team a simple task.  Burn the bodies to nothing.  Now the COLORADO STATE POLICE HAVE THE ASHES?!” his employer shouted.  His head was brought out of the water long enough to get a deep gasping breath before he was shoved under again.  “You fool.  Now the police are going to know that I killed those kids.  Do you know who their father is?”

His face was brought out of the water again.  This time he was allowed to catch his breath.  “If the Colorado State police make the connection to the ashes of those kids and me, you are a dead man, do you understand me?  A DEAD MAN!”

He heard the clicking of his boss’s loafers across the floor and the sack was removed from his face.  He coughed water out of his lungs as he recovered from nearly being drowned several times.  Carter, you need to get out of this shit.  You know this bastard is crazy.  Why continue to allow this psycho son of a bitch to own you?  Get your ass out, he thought to himself as he considered what had just happened.  Then, he remembered his family.  He had a wife and three young children at home.  Grissom knew that.  How could he leave this hell on earth and keep his family safe?

---------------

Jake had decided to do a little research of his own while he was at the office the next day.  There was no telling what it was that he was going to find, but he needed answers.  He needed to know why the PSUS was after Jordan so that they could develop a plan to keep her safe.  He knew that his twin wouldn’t go for having company every time she left homestead for very long.  Stubborn like their father, his twin sister was.

His first order of business was to research the group itself.  The People in Support of a Utopian Society were a group that held that the United States needed to be a country to be rid of the “natural evils” like pain and fear in order to lead the world into the new century.  He looked over their website in disgust.  If there was anything he knew for a fact it was that there was no such thing as a perfect world.  People suffered and died all the time.  To think that there could be any other way was ludicrous.  He knew it.  These idiots should have known it too.  Science had yet to perfect an elixir for eternal life and they probably never would.  People weren't meant to life forever.  It just wasn’t possible.  The higher powers hadn’t meant for it to be that way.  Human beings were mortal for a reason.

He stumbled across a familiar name; Porter Grissom.  He was the corporate head of York Industries- the nations leading importer and exporter of textiles on the West Coast.  He was situated in the heart of Los Angeles.  Jake had to do a criminal search.  Something about the content of that box he’d receive the day before didn’t feel right.  He went to the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s department website and did a criminal search on Porter Grissom.  There wasn’t much; a few drunken disorderly charges that stuck.  But what caught his eye were the investigations that went nowhere that looked at Mr. Grissom for rape, molestation, and murder.  He couldn’t believe his eyes.

He turned on some music that was ancient by modern standard; an old song by a group of his father’s friends.  They were five men that had called themselves Avenged Sevenfold.  Jake had gotten to see two of the five original members perform live the day his father retired.  M. Shadows and Synyster Gates were both dynamic on with his sister and older brother.  The song was called ‘Afterlife’.  It had helped him move past the death of a dear friend when he was a teenager because he could imagine her saying the exact same thing that the lyrics were saying.  “I don’t belong here; I’ve gotta move on dear escape from this afterlife cause this time I’m right to move on and on, far away from here!”  He just nodded his head as he listened and read over the information in the page.  It made sense.  But, in order to get any real information, he needed to hack into the PSUS’s financials and that wasn’t something he knew how to do.  That was something that was more up baby brother’s alley.  He’d call Marc on lunch break to see if he could do it and set all of the house’s computers to scramble their ISP before logging into any website.  He didn’t want there to be any chance of the family being in danger because of one of them logging in to the wrong site. 

The things that Jacob was seeing put him ill at ease.  The more he read the less he liked it.  Something caught his eyes in the literature that the PSUS and the Utopian party were publishing.  It was literature that stated that Reckless Disregard, much like Disturbed before them, were satanic and evil.  He couldn’t help but laugh out loud.  His sister was far from evil.  She was more like naïve.  He saved the page to his bookmarks as he headed out to see his next patient.  He couldn’t wait to see what else these retards had to say about his brother and sister’s band as well as his father’s.

The patient had beginning stage MS.  There wasn’t a lot that could be done for Multiple Sclerosis, even with the advances in medicine that they had.  I think that’s going to be my next big project, he thought with a chuckle as he knocked on the door and headed into the room to talk to his patient.

---------------

Jordan, Malachai, Logan and Caleb all sat in the basement studio in the Draiman homestead and tried to figure out ways to entertain themselves.  Jordan was having trouble with the idea of confinement; with staying in one place.  She was frustrated enough that she planted her fist in one of the sound proofed walls and growled.   “I CAN’T TAKE THIS SHIT!” she shouted.

“Jordan, calm down”, Caleb said as he sat and twirled his drumsticks.

“No, God damn it!” she yelled.  “I can’t do this confinement bull shit!  We have a huge tour coming up to promote our new record and Jake wants everyone here at homestead.”

“Because you’re in danger, Jordan”, Logan said.  He sounded bored.

“Oh please!  Like it’s as bad as he’s making it seem.”

“Jordan, be rational for a moment.  You asked him first thing this morning if he’d had a dream about the situation.  He said no, but Mom had.  Then, he wouldn’t discuss it.  It’s worse than you want to believe it is if he didn’t share what Mom saw.  Think about it Jordan”, Malachai retorted.

“How do you know, Malachai?”

“If you’ll recall, little sister, I am five- almost six- years older than you and Jake.  I was there when she was having the dreams about Dad getting shot and dying while she was pregnant with you and Jake.  If Mom’s not saying, and if Jake’s not saying, then shit is a little more serious than Jordan wants to believe.”

“Maybe for the kids.  Hell, maybe for his kids.  Miri’s the one that brought home the mysterious box.  What was in that, anyway?”

“Ashes.”

“Of what?”

“Jake’s waiting to hear back from the police on that.  And, like it or not, Jordan Hannah, Jake talked to Dad and he’s doing what Dad would do were he home.  And who was the one that kept pushing Jake to call Dad, Jordan?”  She stared at him.  “You know the answer, Jordan.  Say it.  Own it.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes.  “Fine.  I was the one that kept pushing him to call Dad.”

“And now you have to live with the consequences.  Look, Jord; Dad trusts Jake.  You should too.  He’s making the best decisions for the family.  Let him do so and we’ll all be safe.”Malachai’s voice was soft when he finished speaking.  “We all need to put a little faith Jake right now and trust him.  He’s filling the mantle of patriarch of the family for a reason.”

“Yeah, because you didn’t want it.”

“It’s not that, Jordan.  Jake is a lot better suited to lead the entire Draiman clan than I am.  I recognize that and Dad did too.  That’s why he didn’t throw a fit when I said no thank you.  Trust that your twin knows that he’s doing.  He could stand to have us all behind him right now.  He feels lost, I can tell.  Stand behind him and show him some support Jordan.  He needs it so that he can make the right decisions for everyone.”

She sighed.  “I hate this shit Malachai.  It’s like the Utopians trying to kill Dad.”

“That didn’t happen and they’re not going to get us either.  Don’t worry, Jordan.  We’ll be fine.”

---------------

Ira, Miri, Levi, Hunter, and Asher had a little meeting amongst themselves.  The boys were all curious as to how Miri felt having to talk to the cops.  “What was it like to talk to the police in an investigation?” Levi asked.

“It wasn’t scary or anything, Levi.  All I had to do was tell them what happened when I went to get the box in detail.  It wasn’t that hard.”

“Did they shine a light in your face and make you talk?” Asher asked.

“No, Ash.  I just sat next to my Dad and I told the cops what happened when I was called to the office.  That’s it.  It wasn’t anything huge or special.”

“It wasn’t like on TV?” Hunter asked.

“I think Uncle James lets you watch too many cop shows”, Miri said with a laugh.

“Well, it’s not like I have a lot better stuff to do, though football is fun.”

“What are Nikki and Josie doing?”

“They’re both in gymnastics and tumbling.”

“Fun.  But, yeah, it wasn’t like those corny cop shows you watch in Chicago.”

“Oh.  Well, that sucks.”

Miri rolled her eyes.  “Why are you so disappointed?”

“I don’t know.”

“He’s just being a baby”, Ira laughed.

Miri couldn’t help but laugh.  “I don’t see why.  It’s not that big a damn deal.”