33. Aster
THIRTY-THREE
ASTER
“ I don’t have a sister,” I grit out.
“Yet here I am.” She motions to herself.
Who is this girl claiming to be my sister? Mom and Dad were taken away, and, as far as I know, Mom wasn’t pregnant at the time. She would have told me. That isn’t something she would ever keep from me. My fists clench at my side, my eyes boring into hers.
I study her face, my thoughts nearly too chaotic to focus. Her hair is a light blonde, almost white, and she has brown eyes that kind of look like my dad’s, but the shape of my mom’s. That’s just coincidence; there’s no way she’s who she says she is.
“I know you probably don’t believe me, long lost sister and all, so.” She reaches behind her, pulling out a piece of paper. “This should convince you.” She jumps down off the counter, and I snatch the paper from her, instantly recognizing my mother’s handwriting. My hand crushes the corner of the paper crumpling it, as anger, confusion, hurt, swirl through me.
My Little Fox,
I know you haven’t heard from us in a long time. Probably thought we were dead, me and your father. We are not, and I am so sorry for never writing. You see, after we were taken, I wrote you the letter I hope you were given. It was meant to be the last time you heard from me. That wasn’t for no reason; you see, a couple weeks after I wrote that, I found out I was pregnant. I was in a state of shock. Your father was locked up. I was locked up. I knew they would never let me keep her; she’d be placed in the system like you. Never knowing who we are, or that she had a big brother. To deal with that, I had to become stronger for both my kids. Your father and I made connections everywhere we could, and when I gave birth, your sister was taken from my arms, I went into a fit of rage. One of our friends calmed me down and said he would find out where she goes and keep eyes on her for me. I asked him to find out where you were and what you were doing. He did, and as you both grew I heard everything from the inside and had him relay it to your father as well. When he found out your sister was snatched from my arms, he killed a guard. That got him sent underground for a while. He never could manage his impulsiveness well. But my companion told me who you became, that you were doing what you were destined for. I am so proud. Then, when your sister came of age, she started to have questions. I didn’t want her to know where she came from yet, she was too young to start, but your sister is smarter than she looks. She found out my connection was watching her and almost killed him for it. The only thing that saved him was breaking my trust and telling her who we were. She demanded to know the truth, and he told her everything. She sought me out, and I had my first visitor after eighteen years. Seeing her in person took my breath away. She is so beautiful and looks just like you, with Dad’s eyes. She would visit when she could, and my inside contacts let us have private time, where I finally taught her everything I know. The woman before you is your sister, Zephira; she’s known as a man eater. She has much to tell you that I can’t write, but heed her warning or there will be consequences. I love you so much my little fox.
Mom.
I crush the paper in my hand, throwing it to the ground, angry at my mother for never reaching out. She waited eighteen years to tell me. She should have told me the moment she found out or when I turned eighteen myself.
She didn't.
She waited for this moment. Mom has always been one to plan, to wait patiently; she wasn’t spontaneous like Dad. She's methodical. Cunning. The only thing that has changed in my life is Serena. She couldn’t possibly know about her though, I’m observant; I know when I’m being watched. I pace in front of Serena, looking down at the floor, fingers running through my hair.
I didn’t know I was being watched though. Her connection is better than I thought. When I find out who he is, he’s going to pay.
My sister is a serial killer like me, and she happens to be one of the best. I never care to know about other killers since I like to work alone. As long as they don’t get in my way, I don’t get in theirs. With the Man Eater only going after men, and myself only going after women, I didn’t look into them. Turns out, she’s my own flesh and blood.
I’ve always wondered what it would have been like to have a sibling. What it would have been like to grow up, being molded into the person we are today. I was born to be a killer, but my sister; how did she follow in our parents footsteps?
I halt my pacing, looking at her once more. She looks young. Maybe early twenties? Her eyes show the tortured parts of her soul she tries to hide. What has she been through to age her so?
“Believe me now?” she asks, opening my fridge to grab a bottle of water.
“What do you need to tell me that Mom couldn’t?”
“Oh, we’ll get to that, but first I’d like to get to know my big brother and-” she looks behind me “-your little lamb.”
I push Serena further behind me, but she steps around me and holds her hand out. “I’m Serena, but you already knew that. Which means you know I’m not his little lamb; I’m his vixen.”
Instead of shaking her hand, Zephira pulls her in for a hug and smells her. I snatch her back instantly, putting myself between them once more. My hand tightens around Serena’s arm, as jealousy of my sister sniffing her courses through me.
“Oh, I like you. You smell good, and you’re spicy, Such a shame. I’m Zephira.”
“What’s a shame?” Serena asks, sticking her head out.
I wish she would just stay behind me, where she’s safe. Zephira may be my sister, but there is something about her I don’t trust. My little vixen is too trusting. She trusted me easily, and now she’s trusting her. I don’t like it.
She ignores Serena’s question, a seductive smirk twisting her lips. “Serena, how did you become wrapped up with my brother? Wouldn’t you like to sample something a little sweeter?”
“Mom said you’re Salem's Man Eater-”
“You’re the Man Eater?!” Serena gleefully steps beside me, closer to Zephira, excitement shining in her eyes. My little vixen really has a thing for serial killers.
Zephira smirks, stepping closer to Serena. “I am. Have you heard of me?” Zephira teases.
Serena’s eyes widen. “Heard of you, try you’re my second favorite serial killer. Next to your brother.” She starts to fiddle with her hands, her eyes plastered to Zephira’s face. “I have this fascination with serial killers, I’ve been collecting newspapers of The Morbid Monet’s since-”
“You have newspapers of my kills?” I ask, looking down, bewilderment shining in my eyes.
She looks up at me, her little brow furrowed, annoyed that I interrupted her, but this is more important. Another way we are connected.
I cup her cheek, her eyes softening. “Serena, I collect those papers, too. A different reason-”
“Another way we’re connected,” she whispers.
“Hate to interrupt whatever moment you two are sharing, but I was just about to ask your little lamb if she wanted to have a one on one with the Man Eater?” Zephira’s eyes darken as she bites her lip, her eyes raking up and down Serena’s naked body.
My eye twitches, and teeth grind. Is she asking what I think she is? Is she hitting on my girl right in front of me? Is my sister gay?
“N-no thank you, I prefer men.” Serena stutters, backing into me.
Zephira shrugs. “Can’t hate a girl for trying; you, brother, have impeccable taste.”
If she wasn’t my sister, she would already be dead. Even looking at my girl has my hand twitching, begging me to choke the life out of her. But she is family, and as much as I hate how she keeps looking at Serena like she’s a snack, I can't blame her. We share the same blood, so there is no surprise we share the same taste in women. But Serena is mine, and she needs to back off.
“Stop looking at Serena like you want to taste her and answer the question.”
“Oh, but I do want to taste her.”
My hand tightens around Serena’s. My patience is wearing thin. If this is how she is as an adult, I’m glad we didn’t grow up together.
“Zephira,” I say through clenched teeth. It feels weird saying her name as a threat. Not because I haven’t threatened women before, but I usually threaten to kill. Except with Serena. My threats to her always end with pleasure.
“You’re no fun,” Zephira pouts, crossing her arms. “Fine; Mom sent me here to tell you she put a hit on your little girlfriend.” My hand falls from Serena’s.
I hear Serena gasp behind me, and the anger I’ve been holding boils over. “She did what?”
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” she says, walking past us.
Mom put a hit on Serena? Why? How did she even find out about her? I have to protect her; no one, not even my mother, will come between us.
“She said she’s been distracting you from who you are and needs to be put down.”
“She’s not a fucking dog.” I feel the vein in my neck throb, and if I clench my jaw any harder, I know I’ll break a tooth.
“Never said she was; those were Mom’s words.” She walks to the front door. “You have a month, then other serial killers from all over are going to come, and they’ll keep coming until she’s dead.” With that she shuts the door and leaves.
They’ll have to go through me first; they’ll be the ones whose lives end if they even lay a finger on her. I hear Serena's breathing fluctuate, my heart fracturing from her fear.
“Aster…” She clutches her chest, eyes wild in a panic. “I’m scared. I don’t want to die.”
I grab her face in my hands and guide her eyes to mine, “Breathe Serena; nothing will happen. I won’t let it. I will protect you.”
“She said they’ll keep coming until I’m” she whispers the last word “dead.”
I should kill my sister for scaring her like this. I should kill my mother for putting a hit on my girl. She may be the woman who raised me, but she’s no longer the most important person in my life. The day she got caught, and then never reaching out, is the day she died in my mind. She has no right to my life. She will regret doing this to us; that, I promise.
“We have a month; I will teach you everything I know. You’ll move in here.” Her eyes widen. This isn’t how I wanted to ask. “I will train you to protect yourself. Those killers coming for you, will be coming for us . I’ve seen what you can do in your element.” I squish her cheeks, making her have a fishy face. “They will be hunted, not the hunters.”
She starts crying, but nods her head. Pulling her into me, I brush my hand down her hair. We stay like that until her breathing begins to even out. I lift her up bridal style and carry her to our room. Laying her under the covers, I hold her until she falls asleep.
She is mine, forever and into the next life. I will kill a hundred men, women, everyone to keep her safe. Nothing and no one will ever come between us. She is my vixen, and I am her fox. My mother will rue the day she ever threatened the woman I love.
That is a promise.
To Be Continued…