Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
T he week goes by in a flash. After dinner that one night, Marcus had me do all sorts of drills, saying he saw too many weaknesses in me at Mishkutou. Marcus would always find a way to have some sort of weird meetings with me about my future and lecture me like he’s my father.
Work has been a wonderful distraction. There has been little time for anything. Kieran and I have even been sneakily training with Kai whenever we could, since the warehouse was listed as condemned before they completely demolished it. Kieran’s smile lingers in the back of my head, along with the thought of making out with him more this week than I even did in all my teenage years combined. And yet my heart sinks that I haven’t heard a single word from Aidan. He has been far from my mind recently but still lingers in the back like a tumor. Maybe it is time for me to get on with life.
Finally, the night has come. I stare at the hazel-eyed woman in the mirror, happy at coming to terms with my new life. My eyes are worldlier than before; they have seen more of life in the past month than I could have ever expected. The red form-fitting trumpet dress hugs me in all the right areas then elegantly falls toward the ground, leaving a soft train. My long hair in loose tendrils has more body than I’m used to, but my mother did my hair. I’m loving the off-the-shoulder look that I sport this evening with the bustier that makes me look even more voluptuous. I didn’t think that was possible. My plunging neckline leaves little to the imagination, in a classy way.
“Ava, hurry up. The limo is here to pick you up.” My mother’s voice bellows from downstairs up to my room.
“Coming!” I grab my clutch and high heels off the bed and run gracefully down the stairs, always making sure to keep it human, since I haven’t told her a thing.
I give both my mother and Laila a kiss as I exit the house and send them a parting wave from the porch. The limo driver opens the door, and our hands glide against each other. It’s something I have been intentionally doing to read people lately. This man is harmless, purely human, and just doing his job.
“Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?” My arms latch around Kieran’s neck and instinctively pull him into a kiss like he’s my whole world as his hand skim my body.
My kiss surprises him with the driver looking back through the rearview mirror. “Door-to-door service, remember? You are breathtaking, Ava.” Lust circles dangerously in his eyes, and a flush hits my cheek.
I scan his body. The typical t-shirt and jeans look is pretty much his staple, and damn do I wish he didn’t hate me before. I would love to see him dressed to the nines, and I wish I had the balls enough to cancel on my other date.
“Yes, door-to-door. I thought that stopped. ”
“What’s one more day?” He smiles at me. “Plus, I wanted to make sure you got there safely. I wish you would let me pick you up, too…” It’s a soft plea and not a demand.
“I’m getting a ride back with my boss, remember?” I say, like we didn’t have this conversation a few times this week already. He keeps hoping I will change my mind.
The whole drive to the venue, I sip on champagne, snuggled under Kieran’s arm, thinking about how this night could turn out and how there is nothing but good things to come. My mind trails for a moment to Kieran and how we have spent every night together since the battle. There is a tension growing within both of us which is noticeable to anyone around us. Even with him here now, my body relaxes under his touch.
“You know Marcus told me we need to stop training together,” I state, tucked under his arm with my head on his chest, enjoying the sound of his heart beating.
“There is a reason all of a sudden he increased your trainings. It’s me,” he states so plainly, and yet there is more.
“Yeah, Marcus doesn’t seem fond of us being around each other, so much so, in fact, he threatened to stop training me. Imagine the heart attack he’d have if he found out we were living together. It is silly, since I train better with you than anyone else. Look how far I’ve come.” I place my hand in front of us and twirl a small ball of electricity in my hand that pulses out through my fingertips, turning it on its axis like the world.
“It is the only card he has to play in his hand. Living together, huh? I like the sound of that.” A kiss grazes the top of my head.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“Don’t be sorry, because I really do like the sound of that.” I can feel his smile from my spot on his chest and the way his heart races in excitement at the thought.
Wednesday night, I walked in on Kieran and Marcus having a huge blowout at the warehouse before it got torn down. Marcus told Kieran to stay away from me, and Kieran refused, saying it was not Marcus’s place to say that. Kieran went on to say it was not in his destiny to stay away from me. I tried to save the moment and walk in, but that only made matters worse. Marcus stormed out, saying he was going to speak to Aidan, and he would return shortly. It made me laugh, considering Aidan has fallen off the face of the planet and won’t give a rat’s ass. I shake my head of the thought and get back to the great night ahead of me.
“Tell me why Marcus doesn’t want you around me… There’s something...” This time it isn’t a question, but a demand, one I never pushed before tonight.
“Ma’am, we have arrived at the destination; please remain seated, and I will get the door for you.”
I remove myself from under Kieran’s arm to lock eyes with him once more. “Tell me.”
“After your event.” He scoots to the other side of the limo to hide in the darkest corner. “I’m a phone call away if you need me. Always.”
From looking out the window, the Ritz is lit up beautifully, making the passersby glare in longing. It is a standard fund-raising event with business professionals, some normalcy that I will enjoy, since this will be my last normal evening for the foreseeable future. It will be interesting to see how my date fits in with my coworkers, but I think he will do just fine. After all, he’s used to high-pressure situations and conducts himself very well. Plus, Dino will be here to save him from any awkward encounters .
The kind-faced driver opens my door, and I try to casually exit the limo. I manage to do just the opposite and nearly fall flat on my face in these massive heels. Seems the champagne has hit me more than I care to admit.
“Good to know you still have terrible balance.” Dillion’s hand reaches out to mine as I laugh, trying to pull myself together curbside, in front of the Ritz Carlton. Evading his hand but making eye contact, he looks as dashing as ever. So is Dino, flashing me a huge smile from the main door while talking to my boss.
“Always a klutz,” I giggle. As soon as we pulled up here, I felt off; my body is warning me of something.
“You look radiant as ever, Ava. I’m glad you had Dino ask me to be your date since Cross couldn’t show up. His loss.” With a small distance maintained between us, we head to the revolving door where I greet Dino with a huge hug. He picks me up and spins me around and lets out a whistle when he puts me down. It is amazing how much I miss my best friend, and I’m so glad we are back to normal.
Since I’m in the hugging mood, my arms open up to Harrison, and he in return gives me a huge hug, whispering in my ear, “Wow, Ava.” Then he not so quietly announces, “The guys here are going to go crazy. We have to have you in the dance auction.”
“In the spirit of giving, sure!” I have nothing to lose but everything to gain for those children in need. Normally I would sneer at the idea of being auctioned off for a dance to the highest bidder, but I can make an exception for this evening.
“This is my date, Dillion.” Dillion steps forward to shake my boss’s hand.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Greene. Ava has told me a lot about you.” Oh, have I? If I have, I do not recall. Perhaps Dillion is just being nice.
“Dillion McCormack, in the flesh. You are one of the best players in the world. Call me Harrison, man.” Harrison is starstruck, and I seriously hope the rest of the men aren’t like this.
“Let’s find our seats.” I break up the bromance and get inside to the music. As Dillion and I walk through the main entrance and into the ballroom, I greet all of our guests I have met and introduce myself to the ones I have not.
I leave Dillion for a moment while I go onstage to make the introductions. All of the well-groomed guests file into the astonishing ballroom with pillars that reach the top of the ceiling. All the guests have been served with their champagne. Dillion and Dino socialize with the men from work as well as a few other guests. The bright spotlights turn on and point right in my direction. All eyes are on me as I stand, shaking, holding the microphone.
“On behalf of Greene House Contracting, we would like to welcome you to the thirtieth annual charity event. This year, all the proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House, located in Delaware. Please, enjoy your evening. Now, without further ado, please welcome the host, Mr. Harrison Greene.”
Applause echoes throughout the large space as nearly 300 people stand in applause. Mr. Greene gives me a hug as he takes the microphone from me. This is my time to leave the stage, but he holds me by the arm and starts to give his speech. Awkward. At the end of his speech, he points out the women who volunteered for the auction, myself included. My head lowers as I start feeling the blush come across my face and listen to the comments from the crowd. Even Dillion and Dino chime in; hopefully one of them gets me for the dance. All of this attention blows; I just have to keep telling myself it is going to a good cause.
We leave the stage to take our seats in preparation for dinner. People are scattered, some at the auction baskets, some back at the bar, and the band has finally set up. Sitting at my table are Dino, Dillion, Harrison, Shane, and myself. Perhaps tonight will be the night Shane actually speaks to me for more than two seconds. I’m upset to see that Harrison hasn’t brought a date, so I really didn’t need to bring one either. He sits next to me, so I make sure to bring it up, but he laughs it off.
Our table is already on the third round of drinks when dinner shows up. Harrison looks over at his father’s table. Mr. Gideon Greene is at a different table with four big charity donors, laughing and having a great time. This is the first time I have actually laid eyes on him. His son resembles him in a way; they have the same eyes filled with kindness. Gideon has gray hair and would be tall in stature if he was not in a wheelchair. Harrison tells me about his father’s illness and why he cannot be without his wheelchair. He loves his father and would do anything for him, including giving up his dreams to help with this business. I enjoy looking around and seeing everyone happy. The lamb is delicious and cooked to perfection. After many drinks, Harrison finally talks to Dillion as a normal human being.
But Dillion is quick to pull my attention and whisper in my ear. “You’ll be the sweetest little butterfly when you grow your wings. I hope they turn black. So rare and beautiful.” Then he darts his attention back to Harrison. Dillion sneaks a note to me under the table, while still maintaining conversation with Harrison :
Everyone withholds the truth with you,
When you are ready for the truth
Call me
I will take you to my archives.
Dancing music begins, and I tuck the note into my dress top without anyone knowing, and I’m the first one up and moving toward the dance floor, without a care that no one joins me. My body moves to the music, and all the men gape at me. I need to take it down a notch. I pick up the end of my dress to make it a little easier to move, and other women finally join me on the dance floor for the second song. A few goofy men join in, making black-tie into a comedy with their snorkel dancing.
Without skipping a beat, I hug each newcomer to the dance floor. Ages ranging from as young as me to as old as seventy dancing; it is hilarious. Song after song, we dance, until the Ritz Carlton planner that I have met with before takes center stage and has the music lowered.
“Would all the women participating in the auction please step on the dance floor,” her sweet voice announces.
The champagne that has not left my hand and has been constantly refilled eases my nerves. A few women leave the dance floor, and a few more replace them. There are ten women in total, ready to be auctioned off. The first woman goes for a shocking $5,000. They roll through the motions, auctioning off the women for an obscene amount of money, leaving me for last.
Mr. Greene walks on stage to escort me to the front of the girls and our fingers touch, it takes every morsel of strength I have to not convulse as my eyes roll back in my head, smiling through the pain as a vision takes over me.
It's Harrison’s voice I hear first.
“Where the hell is she? What is she mixed up in?” He speaks to a police officer, and while this conversation is happening, I’m still very much aware of him guiding me to the front of the stage.
“Listen, Mr. Greene, we have your number, and we will keep you posted.” The officer attempts to shut him down, but it isn’t working.
“She has no one. No siblings that I’m aware of, her background check is clean as a whistle from employment screenings, and you are saying with the amount of blood, someone died in there. If I don’t advocate for her, who will?” He is stressed, his voice is shaky.
“One day if I go missing, I hope my boss looks for me the way you are looking for her. Here’s my card…”
“Now we have the beautiful Ava Buchanan, assistant to Mr. Greene himself. As all of you have seen, she knows how to dance. Starting bid at $5,000.”
Well, holy cow shit. That’s the starting bid? Her loud announcement pulls me away from the vision and with a nervous glance around I find all attention on me as the crowd of applause stop for the last girl that was sold off. Dino better dig deep in those pockets to save me from whatever creature lurks in the shadows. Some man I do not know yells from the crowd, placing his bid.
“Seven thousand!” Dillion approaches the dancing area with his hands in his pin-striped suit pockets, looking very serious.
“Thirty thousand dollars!” That voice so familiar rings through my ears. The highest bid tonight is placed by the well-dressed Irish man who captivated my heart in Mexico. Dillion is just as surprised to see him as I am.
Aidan makes his way to the dance floor through the crowd as they part like the red sea. It’s his confidence and power with every step that has every woman here eyeing him. He technically does not have an invitation, but I doubt Harrison would turn down his money. Aidan means business, it is written across his fierce face. All others take notice of this as well, so the bids stop rolling in, even from Dillion. They know he will get his way no matter the cost.
“Sold!” The short and pretty brunette planner announces from the stage. “Please take the hand of your dates, and let the dance begin.”
Aidan approaches me in the casual, elegant walk that only he can pull off, wearing a tuxedo to die for. I love it when a man can wear a bow tie. He reaches his hand out to me, and I take it, loving the feeling of our hands intertwined once again. He spins me in close to him, and I let out a belly laugh.
“How I have missed that sound.” His voice is so deep and seductive I cannot help but hang off every word as it rolls off his tongue.
“You left me in Mexico without saying good-bye.” The sadness emerges in me, but I calm down. “Then you sent a stranger to make sure I was fine.”
I have half a mind to punch him right now. “Aidan, he had evil in his eyes, and his aura was strong. It doesn’t make sense to me. Why would you do that?” We slowly move around the dance floor, and everyone else fades away, just like our last dance together.
He tucks my hair behind my ear and pulls me even closer. “I’m glad to hear Marcus has been training you. As for Bruce, he works for me, and I trust him. Perhaps you see evil because he has had a rough past and killed many people. I had to leave Mexico because there was news of the militia, and I thought you would be safer without me. I fear I brought people to you. I also had to relay the message that you in fact were alive and well. You have not been returning my calls.” His eyes lower to me, holding resentment.
“Please, I know you trust Bruce, but there was more to that in him. The training battle literally almost killed someone who means a lot to me. Sure, Marcus has done a great job training me, but this isn’t something I’m cut out for. Why have Marcus come spy on me, why not come see me yourself? Marcus did call us the modern-day beauty and the beast. What beastly thing are you hiding?” That resonates somewhere within Aidan, and he lets out a loud laugh, greeted by my inquisitive look.
“Marcus could not be more right.” He leans down to kiss me, but I pull back. There are too many people here, and my questions need to be answered. “Ava, please, don’t do that to me.”
“I thought we were done. I thought you weren’t going to be here. And there’s someone...” Putting my feelings out there is hard, but it is something he needs to know.
“Ava, we will never be done. I’m yours. Forever. You asked me to be your date in Mexico, and here I am. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be.” That is true. He would not come all this way if I did not mean something to him.
“Please, you know more than you are telling me. I can handle it. Plus, you said you spoke to my father?” He has been holding information back from me since day one; at this point I have a right to know.
“First off, I cannot believe you came here with that Grimmer. Especially now that you know what they are. Also, you will be happy to know that there has been a new decree… The tradition of Mishkutou is temporarily banned…” He shoots a terrifying look over to Dillion.
“I have touched him and see nothing. He cannot be a Grimmer. Do not change the subject. Tell me what you know.”
All others have moved off the dance floor, and the next slow dance has begun. Sheryl Crow croons through the DJ booth and poses a question that hits me close to home. She asks a man if he’s strong enough to be her man.
“You must understand, Ava, I have to protect you. It is my job here on this Earth. I thought after the first life we shared that I would never see you again. We were torn apart, which led to your death. You need to trust me.” The frustration overtakes his face. He holds on to so much inside that he needs to release.
“It’s okay, Aidan, tell me.” I pull him closer, hoping in my embrace he knows he can say whatever weighs on him.
His eyes close, and my hand reaches for his face, but his eyes pop open quickly.
With passionate blue eyes, he opens up. “Dino came between us. Before you ask me more about him, I do not know. He has been hiding something about himself to you this whole time, and when I saw him in Mexico, he acted as though we have never met. He was lying. I decided to give him a chance, but fuck him. He is here once again, trying to drive a wedge between us, but this time using a Grimmer, when he realized you wouldn’t leave me for him. Your death before killed me. I thought that was it for sure, and I would never see you again, and you were safe in my family’s tomb. Until somehow, someone stole you out of there, a mystery I’m still trying to solve.” He is so vulnerable.
This is a lot of information. Without breathing, he continues, “Then, I saw a sign, or rather your father. I was walking down a street in NYC, and he was standing there, smiling at me, his eyes speaking to me. His eyes told me you were alive. He swayed over to me, and he looked like a ghost but told me about a package he left for you. You were never far out of my mind. I just needed to find you.
“One night, you must have let your guard down, and I had the ability to track you. I saw you were going to Mexico. So, I went to Mexico, not knowing if my mind was playing tricks on me. I saw you standing in the lobby, and I knew you felt the electricity, because it never went away. You were as radiant as you always have been to me.”
He searches my face for an expression, and I stand still, no longer dancing. He takes my hands in front of my stomach and pulls me in close again. “Ava, I have strolled this planet for centuries, waiting for you. Not caring whether I live or die, because my life was purposeless without you. We are destined to be together, everyone knows it, and you were taken away from me. I cannot put into words the elation I felt when I saw you… Ava, please, say something.”
“You said you had history with Victor. What did you mean by that?” There were a thousand other things I should have said. I could have consoled him, told him how much I miss him, anything but what I just asked him.
“You really want to know?” He is hesitant to answer as he pulls away from me, something he has never done. I nod and pull him back in closer to dance with me as another song begins to play, trying to appear as though we are being playful, so the onlookers don’t get nosey .
“When Dino came between us, he had you convinced I was trying to use you, which you did not believe because our feelings for each other were so strong. One day, you were supposed to meet me; however, Dino told you he had an emergency, so you went with him. That was when your brother killed you. He used Dino to lure you away from me, so you would be vulnerable. Then he attacked you. You refused to fight back because he was your brother. When I found your lifeless body on the ground, I lost my mind. Ava, I ended up killing your brother.”
Well, this is not where I saw this conversation going. My brother killed me in another life. I wonder if he knows about this now or Dino. Or do they not have a memory of past lives like myself? Then Aidan, trying to defend me, killed my brother. I take steps back from him and watch as he throws his hands through his hair in frustration at my lack of words, letting his composure slip in front of everyone for a brief second.
All too loud he says, “What did you expect me to do?”
People can hear him, and heads start turning in our direction. Calmly, I leave Aidan standing on the dance floor. The lights, the people, the attention, they all drive me away to seek the opposite. One day, I hope to break the pattern of leaving him on the dance floor. I walk in haste past my table to the back of the room and out into the hallway. Dino and Aidan are having some sort of altercation; their voices carry. There is no need to concern myself with that right now. I ask one of the wait staff if they have a back alley or somewhere where I can get fresh air, not to be bothered with the passing lights of cars on the main street. One directs me to a sketchy door leading out the back of the building.
Normally I always sit, but I refuse to ruin this dress. Soon I will have to return to explain to my boss what just happened and hope it wasn’t as big of a scene as it appeared to be. Pacing back and forth, I try to decide which conversation to have first and with whom. My life would be so much easier if none of this happened. The alley is not a safe place; it is dark, blocked off at both ends by adjacent buildings, and all-around scary.
My thoughts are distracted by the loud outside door slamming shut, “Shane?” The man who never speaks to me is coming out back to have a conversation with me.
“Ava.” His voice is cold and unwelcoming. His body isn’t functioning like a normal person as he slithers over to me. He stands directly in front of me, too close for my comfort. My hand presses against him, and gently I push him back. He grabs my wrist in an attempt to stop me, then he starts altering. Flames incinerate him and burn off his clothes, and the ashes hit the ground, then his skin slowly peels off.
Shane begins to appear bright orange with lumps showing on his body like those who morph into another form. He grows wings and a dark black tail, paired with orange demon-filled eyes. He is a Golfenite. The gold in my watch must have caused him to change.
Without hesitation, I try to shock him and the force pushes him away but does not create enough distance between us to get away. He flies around my head, making it impossible for me to reach him. At this moment, it is too risky for me to expose myself by taking another form. There is no way to tell who will come out that door. There is a broom leaning against the dumpster, and I use that to swat him away. The door opens and slams again just as Shane starts breathing fire in my direction. Aidan stands between me and the fire-breather, saying something in a language that sounds a lot like what was whispered in Victor’s ear, and Shane flies off into the midnight.
“This whole time he was right under my nose, working with me, and I had no clue.” I have learned so much from Marcus, but never would have thought someone at work would be a Golfenite. This explains why Shane would never touch or speak to me. Who can I trust?
“You have been hunted since you were a child, Ava. There are many people out there who want to bring you harm. You must err on the side of caution. Did you use any powers?”
My arms fold across my chest, and I feel uncomfortable with how this night is turning out. I nod my head yes to answer his question. Aidan tells me that I’m in more danger now that Shane is aware my powers are in effect, yet I’m still vulnerable until they completely develop. When will that be? Opening the heavy door, Aidan and I begin our trek back inside to the ballroom. Even though I know Aidan is dying to speak to me more, he resists and follows me closely.
My first stop is Harrison to apologize for the scene that was made. He is very reassuring, telling me that everything is okay, and he’s glad that I seem to be in good spirits. Dino and Dillion both try to have words with me, but the sound of the music from the dance floor lures me in. I could use an emotional release right now. What better way to do it than dance with strangers?
After about an hour of dancing, my feet are sore and I’m ready to go home and sleep it off. Dillion, Aidan, and Dino are nowhere to be found, and hell if I’m hunting them down. So, I say good-bye to those around me, as well as my boss, who insists on walking me out front to get a cab, since leaving early means no limo return for me.
“Ava, I’m glad you managed to stick around tonight. One day you will have to explain to me what happened.” He leads me away from the revolving door, opens the side door, and walks me out to the curb.
“One day.” Not a promise or even a chance.
“You are lucky that directly after your scene, some old couple got into an even bigger argument.” Knowing that Harrison is trying to lighten the mood, I shoot him a smile.
“Thank you for walking me out, Harrison. I will see you next week at work. That is, if I still have my job after tonight? I’m mortified, and I cannot say sorry enough.”
“Relax, you still have a job. No one can replace you. Don’t worry, I will tell your date and Dino that you went home.” At least they can enjoy the rest of their evening. The dark black SUV ride share pulls up, and Harrison opens the door for me. I give him a thank-you kiss on the cheek and slide into the car. I wave through the glass as the SUV pulls away from the curb and off onto the road to take me home.
“A kiss?” That low Irish voice mumbles in my direction, and I jolt so high I hit my head on the roof. He is barely noticeable at the other end of the SUV. His blue eyes pierce through the darkness. How did he get in here?
“It was on the cheek. Calm down.” For such a large man, he’s able to shuffle around the vehicle easily and has moved right next to me. He places his arm around my shoulder and instinctively I lean into him, but I’m unable to fully relax my body as I would with Kieran. It amazes me that even after tonight, my body still has that natural reaction to him.
“What was that language you spoke to Shane?” Let’s hope his guard is down enough to speak to me.
“Similar to what you heard, but a different dialect. The language is called Vorhemis.” He doesn’t want to share by the tone in his voice, so I must push .
“What is Vorhemis?”
“Vorhem was a bordering town of the old world. It was the first defense if humans tried to invade. At a time when all of those filled with magic and powers lived in peace. Their lands connected our world and humans.”
“How many languages do you speak?”
“All of them,” he said curtly, shutting down further questions.
At some point between the serious talks about how Aidan killed my brother, my brother stabbing me in the back, and the language Aidan spoke to the Golfenite, I must have dozed off because the SUV comes to a stop in front of my house. The porch lights and living room lights are still on, which is a good sign that my mother is up and moving around the house. At least I get to see her face before I go to sleep. This has been quite the night, and it will be nice to see a loving face.
“Come inside, please.” I slightly beg him to stay with me. and without acknowledging my request, he gets out of the car and takes strides to open my door, but I have him beat. I’m near the porch when he lifts the bottom of my dress so I do not trip, like my mishap earlier in the evening.
I fumble through my purse looking for my keys. It is useless. Even in a small clutch, they are lost. Hopefully I have not left them at the charity event. They should be on a chain around my neck, with this other key. I reach my hand up, making sure the key my father has given me is safe. It is.
I jiggle the door handle, happy it is unlocked. “Come inside and join me for tea.” This time it is not a question but a statement. We stroll through the front door, and Laila instantly greets me. Leading the way into the kitchen, Aidan spots the beautiful flowers that still grace my living room .
He finds a seat at the kitchen table, and I move around the kitchen looking for the teabags. Something about being in the kitchen makes me happy, and I start humming. Aidan just sits there with a giant smirk on his face, looking at me sashay my way around the kitchen.
I hear another set of footsteps enter the kitchen. It must be my mother. Before I can fully turn, Aidan stands defensively in front of me, blocking me from my mother, and Laila is barking much louder at her than ever before.
“What are you doing? That’s my mother.” How dare he act this way toward my mother? But as my eyes reach her face, she’s not the mother I have known. It is her, but her eyes are black, hair purely red, and she’s laughing evilly at me.
“Ava, this is not your mother!” Aidan yells to me. She reaches in her pocket and pulls out a bright yellow stone with flakes of green inside. My mother is a witch and holding the tool that harnesses her power. She’s trying to cast some spell in my direction, fiercely staring at me with those dark eyes locked on me. Aidan lets out a low growl, and his body starts to transform. Hair arises on every inch of him, and he begins to expand, growing larger and larger until I can no longer see my mother or the rest of the kitchen in front of me. He is a beast, in every sense of the word. His footsteps crack the tile floor, and he lifts the island from the ground effortlessly and throws it in her direction. He turns to look back at me, trying to assure me of my safety. I have seen this kind of creature in my study books.
My mother is no longer in my line of sight and neither is Aidan. They have made their way out of the kitchen, leaving me behind. The doorframe has been ripped to shreds by his massive claws. The heavy footsteps lead upstairs, and broken objects fall down the stairs in their aftermath. I run outside, Laila following me; it is all I can think to do. Looking up to the second floor, my mother flies out of the window and off into the sky with the amulet in her hand. She mumbles parting words in my direction. I’m frozen to the ground, even as my house goes up in flames.
Aidan jumps out of the window and lands on his four paws. He is dark black, not one other speck of a color shows. He runs to me, and I tremble from head to toe. Beauty and the Beast; Marcus was absolutely right.
“So, this is your other form? You are a werewolf. Who was that woman?” So much for not crying anymore. Tears stream down my face, and electricity builds stronger in my body. My house is in flames, and I can only think of one thing. The answers my father left me.
Full speed, I run in the house, not giving Laila or Aidan a moment to stop me. My foot pounds through the wooden stairs that are falling apart. None of that will stop me. I find the creaky, wooden floorboard and pull it up. With the contents my father left me in my arms, I turn to make my way out of the room as quickly as possible, but I’m pushed down and pinned to my floor by a hot, burning beam.
Faint barking reaches me as the smoke fills my lungs. I’m drowning, but in a sea of fire and smoke. There is no way I can die like this, but smoke filled with a venomous spell angrily attacks my face.