Into The Shadows (The Shadows Trilogy Book 1) Page 2

  He tilts his head to the side a bit, brows furrowed while he thinks, pondering and says, "Of course! How else would there be descendants, and I guess they still haven't told you" sounding disappointed.

  I pull my hand away only now realizing he was holding it and demand "What do you mean by that?" He sighs and shakes his head a little.

  "Well, Ava, I want to be honest with you about certain things but until you understand, I can't, and I don't want to lie to you. I think you have a right to be knowledgeable about who you are. I didn’t just ask to sit here for no reason, so I'm going to give you a tip. Start asking the right questions from the right people and the next time you hear a twig snap don't be afraid. When you see your favorite wolf, he likes his ears rubbed" he winks, stands up and before I can say a word he’s out the door. I'm left reeling from the fact Kyran seems to know more about me than I do and the fact he just admitted to being the wolf even though I already figured that out, it’s different having it said aloud.

  I walk back to work in a daze completely lost trying to think of what I don't know, who I’m to ask what, and adding pieces together, like how I feel something in me is missing. I'm quiet at work for the rest of the day looking around for Kyran to see if he’s around and a worried looking Una keeping a watchful eye on me. And when I leave for home, I'm so lost in my head that when I hear my sister Aaliyah slide up beside me with my German Shepard; Axel, on the sidewalk, I jump, putting a hand over my mouth to stop from shouting in terror. Obviously, she's the one who took him on his evening run since I couldn’t do it.

  "Whoa easy Ave, it’s just me, and well Ax," she says holding up a hand, the other holding Ax's leash and a worried expression on her face.

  "Are you ok sis?" she asks chewing on her lip, a nervous gesture we both got from our mother.

  "Yeah Li I'm ok just had a weird day that's all" She looks at me interested.

  "What kind of weird are we talking?"

  I study her clothes recognizing them as mine.

  “Is this my pink sweater and black jeans you have on?" I ask pretending annoyance. Knowing I'm not bothered, she asks again, “What’s wrong Ave?"

  "It’s probably nothing, forget it," I say.

  Aaliyah stares at me with a long pause then adds, “Ava, I'm your sister, and you have good instincts. If something is bothering you, trust it for a reason and should look into it" but then turns away.

  Now it's my turn to stare at Li my nickname for her since she was a baby. And now facing back at me, she's staring into my eyes and I'm sure I see something in hers that she knows what kind of day I’ve had and is urging me to do what Kyran asked; to start digging but honestly, I'm afraid of what I'll find.

  "You know something don't you?” I finally say.

  She looks down at her feet, brows crunched deciding what to reveal and suddenly looks up at me and says.

  "I don't agree with what Mom and Dad are hiding, but I also understand it was necessary when you were younger. I don't think this is right anymore, and you need to learn and train to protect yourself. You need to know the dangers out there and the strength of who you are. So yes I do know something, but I think Mom and Dad should be the ones to tell you and besides I don't know everything they do."

  She looks back down again and sighs before adding, “Mom and Dad are gonna kill me".

  "Don't worry I'll kill them first for apparently there is a huge secret." I added.

  Almost at the entrance, I waved at Alfie the doorman who nods back, walk over to the elevator in our building, putting my thumb on the fingerprint scanner. Aaliyah does the same since the elevator recognizes two passengers and then takes us to the tenth floor. Li and I are staying silent both pondering what she had revealed upon the ping alerting us to our arrival, the doors open up to our entry hallway. I walk down to the door opening it with my fingerprint again and heading into the living room and kitchen with its open plan. I see Mom cooking while singing and my brothers laughing at the TV. I stop and pause for a few seconds standing, looking at the home I grew up in and deciding what to do. Axel who's now sitting at my feet starts whining with impatience to greet me since he saw me on the sidewalk when my Dad enters behind us with a handful of cases he no doubt has tomorrow.

  He walks over to Li who waited beside me while I looked on in thought and that brings me back to the present while Dad is studying me and gives Li a look like 'Is it time?' and Li answering with a subtle nod.

  Chapter Two:

  Secret Kept

  * * *

  I unglued myself from the spot I was standing in and bend down to Axel jumping up on me and tail wagging.

  "Who's a good boy? I missed you Ax" Making his tail thump faster on the floor. While I rub his ears which bring me back to what Kyran had said: "When you see your favorite wolf he likes his ears rubbed." I look up to find Mom in her blue blouse and her white cooking apron on, black trousers and shoes, her hair still up in a bun looking at me with concern.

  That's when I notice my hand is shaking, and a tear has rolled down my cheek because I know my life is about to change and the government is going to be watching me if what I suspect is true is indeed reality, but I'm not ready for that. Remembering about the tickets to view The Legends live tomorrow is just what I need. God, I love Una. She always seems to know when a distraction is in order before I even do and that again makes me wonder, does everyone have a secret?

  I stand up taking off my navy blue sweater and hanging it up on the coat rack by the door, aware that now everyone is looking at me. I retie my long black hair into a ponytail fidgeting and looking everywhere but at my family unsure how I feel with the secret they all apparently kept. I'm the big sister shouldn't I be protecting my brothers and sister, not the other way around? Well now I will introduce the James family my Mom Ariana is forty-seven and a lawyer, my Dad Kai is forty-nine and a judge then there's me the first baby and I’ve just turned twenty last week born on October 21st, 2980. Aaliyah was born 21st December 2983 making her seventeen and Addison and August are twins born 21st August 2985 making them fifteen.

  My mom, Aaliyah and I, look the same almost, same black hair, blue eyes, skin, oval face but different heights and sizes. Mom petite and 5'5 while Aaliyah is a little curvier and 5'8, My Dad and twin brothers look alike too they also have the James trademark of black hair, blue eyes, and diamond shaped faces, but all are tall and muscled kind of like Kyran. My thoughts slow at that.

  Addison and August are still in school at New York High, NYH for short, and Aaliyah finishes soon but unsure what she wants to do afterward, and our parents are giving her space to figure that out herself. Whereas I did not go to college and got a job at Blue Starr, honestly something in me just wants to lay low not to be noticed by officials or government, and I guess now things are making sense which brings me back to me just standing in the hallway and a very nervous looking family watching me.

  "Well, what's for dinner?" I ask walking over to the dining table in the kitchen pulling out a chair, smelling the goodness in the oven. My brothers and sister go back to laughing at whatever it is they are watching while Mom and Dad look at each other. Mom is about to speak when I put my hand up and say, "Please, I just want to know what's for dinner right now.”

  "Ok sweetheart, I've cooked lasagna and garlic bread, how was your day, busy at Blue Starr?" Mum asks. Dad pulls out a chair and sits down at the head of the table while Mom dishes up dinner bringing the rest to the table.

  "No mostly quiet", I say and pick up Axel's bowls putting pedigree nuts in one, fresh water in the other and setting them back down. I like him to have his dinner time with us, so he's not left out. I always got the sense he liked it too. Mom and Dad got him as a birthday present for my 19th birthday knowing how much I wanted a dog.

  Sitting back down, everyone at the table is eating and discussing topics among themselves when Dad asks.

  "Are you working tomorrow? We could talk." I pause mid-bite then chew and swallow before saying.

  "
No, I swapped shifts. Tobias got me and Una tickets to see him play in SoHo," Dad has a mixed look of relief and disappointment on his face. "Well the day after, Saturday then?" knowing I couldn't put it off longer than that I agree by nodding and finish my dinner in silence watching people go about their lives outside even though they’re dots from up here.

  After finishing dinner, I get up and help Mom clear the table with Aaliyah while Dad goes off to his office he built in his and Mom's bedroom. Addison and August go to the games room to play pool. I put plates in the dishwasher, "How was work?" I asked mum.

  "Oh it was all right honey just got a big client, so I'm happy about that," she says while turning on the dishwasher.

  "Well, that's good," I say and start to turn for the spiral staircase going up to the bedrooms on the second floor.

  "I'm going upstairs to shower and probably talk with Una to plan tomorrow."

  "Ok honey I'll speak to you later" Mom shouts back as I climb the first step with Axel hot on my heels beating me to my bedroom, sitting outside. I laugh to myself; gosh he can make me smile.

  My family lives in Central Park Condos on Longford Avenue, a black brick building with nine black framed windows looking into the reception area, a double door entrance and a doorman. And to the side is a vehicle entry which takes you to the car park and trees surrounding the front and when you look up it goes from brick building to a glass skyline with balconies added on and only 15 Condos. We live on the tenth floor, and the elevator is fingerprint operated taking the residents to their floor and opening up in the entry hallway near the living room area.

  The living room is all floor to ceiling windows overlooking New York City with black oak wooden flooring. A big L shaped couch taking up most of the room with a chandelier hanging low. On the left side is a dining table with ceiling lamps hanging and on the right side is the kitchen. It’s square shaped with white marble counter tops, modern black appliances and an island used for sitting or cooking.

  My bedroom is all black oak wooden flooring with the bed facing floor to ceiling windows while the rest of the room is walls painted a beige color, a cream couch, cream wood bedside table with a lamp and en-suite attached door and walk in closet. The other bedrooms are similar, bathrooms are all black and white marbled with a shower and bath, a mirror over the sink with cupboards for medicine, towels, and toiletries.

  The library is all wood walls and flooring with a spiral staircase going up to the second floor where most of the books are but on the first floor is a seating area and a chandelier hanging. The gym is just a room filled with equipment, cinema is a dark room filled with black leather pull out seats facing the screen and popcorn stand. Games room is just a white-walled room with a pool table and chairs. The pool is long rectangular and there is a door to the changing room.

  We have Five Floors. The first floor is the living room, kitchen, and balcony it's all open space with a door for the main bathroom. The second floor opens up to a hallway with six doors leading to the six bedrooms, and en-suite's attached. One bedroom is for guests. The third floor opens up to a hallway with four doors leading to the library, gym, cinema and games room. The fourth floor is the pool and changing room and the ground floor is underground parking with Central Park just across the road.

  I open my bedroom door, flick on the light switch manually and take off my ED putting it on my bedside table and head straight for the shower while Axel lays on the black rug I bought for him beside my bed. It hides the fur and I wash it once a week. I turn on the shower and undress sliding in and leaning on the wall just letting the hot water soothe me, trying to clear my mind off worries. And I can't stop thinking about Kyran, how tall and muscular he was and his dimpled smile. I didn't spot it earlier but remember it now. That twinkle in his green eyes, his long gorgeous blonde hair down to his shoulders tied up in a man bun; not many men could pull that off. I feel drawn to him and all day my mind kept going back to him.

  I wash my hair with my favorite scented strawberry shampoo and wash my body with a perfume free body wash, my skin is too sensitive for anything else and I brush my teeth. I turn off the shower, open the shower door and grab my black towel wrapping it around myself. Red and black are my favorite colors.

  Entering my bedroom, Axel still in the same place lifts his head, looks at me then puts it back down. I get out my hair dryer and begin drying when my ED goes off. I walk over to my bedside table and clip it back on my ear clicking the Project button and immediately Una is there, her hair tied on top of her head, no makeup on, fresh from a shower herself, and she sings songs.

  "Ava, Ava we’re going to watch The Legends tomorrow" and laughs.

  "Does this have anything to do with Rick?" I smirk back and walk over to the HES (home electronic system); it's built into the house, and as a house sitter it monitors everything like opening doors or windows and understands spoken commands. It is an ED but on a much bigger scale and if I'm on a video call on my ED but wish to switch over to HES as I do now, I simply say “Video call ED" and it takes over from my ED, and a glassware screen comes out the wall called ES (electronic screen), and now I can see and talk without my ED. ES is how we view things like TV, video calls, messages, and emails.

  I take off my ED putting it back on my table and talk to Una on the ES.

  Una laughs saying, "Maybe, but you have to admit he’s hot", but I just stay silent, and her eyes widen.

  "Oh, you like someone! You always get quiet when you don't agree on a hottie cause you are hot for someone else so spill", and she walks over to her bed while I do the same. I sigh fidgeting with my hair and finally say, “Yes there is a guy, but I'll tell you tomorrow. So what time are you coming over?"

  "Ok Ave save your mystery man secret for tonight and I was thinking around noon cause Tobias and Rick said we could hang out at the venue with them until show time."

  "Yeah that's ok. Will I pick you up?"

  "No that's ok I'll walk to yours it's only a ten-minute walk, and we can take your car."

  "Ok I'll see you then.”

  “Bye Ave and goodnight Axel" Axel lifts his head and barks and Una laughs and clicks off, ending the call, I get up off the bed.

  "Axel let’s go" and he jumps up and follows me down the stairs and into the living room where the family is watching TV. They all look over and greet with hi’s lost in the program. I reply with a “hi” back and continue to the balcony, open the glass door and let Axel out for a toilet break. He uses a corner we made for him to use at night or emergencies and clean up after him. I walk him before work, and someone walks him during the day if I'm not home and he runs around in Central Park daily so gets plenty of exercise and freedom to move. I stand and wait for him to finish and five minutes or so later, he’s done. After some sniffing around and playing with his ball he walks over to me stroking his head against my hand for a rub behind his ears, I oblige then head back inside, closing and locking the door with my fingerprint and head into the kitchen for a bottle of water.

  I grab one from the fridge and start for upstairs with Axel following. I reach my bedroom, climb into bed and begin to relax and sigh.

  Sleepily I say aloud, "Set alarm for 9 am."

  "Alarm set. Goodnight Ava."

  "Goodnight house, goodnight Axel" Axel barks.

  Chapter Three:

  Kyran Lewis

  * * *

  I wake up to Addison and August sitting on my floor playing with Axel, I roll over to my bedside table and check the time; 8:30. I sit up and all three heads turn to me, my brothers stand up and say.

  "Hi Sis" together. I swear twin connection can be creepy, Addy my nickname for Addison is wearing blue Batman pajamas and Augy my nickname for August is wearing red Superman, I make a point of staring at their pajamas. One eyebrow raised and cleared my throat before saying, "Aren't you a little old to be wearing those and you're not planning on going outside in them are you? I smirk.

  "We didn't know what time you were getting up, so we were gonna t
ake Axel for his morning walk and run. Hey, how did you figure out what we were thinking?" August adds while rubbing Ax's ears.

  "Because why else would you be in here?" I respond, yawning, Addison rolls his eyes and turns to his twin.

  "I told you she isn't working, so that's why Ave isn't up yet she wouldn't let Axel miss his morning activities." August scowls back and folds his arms then plays with Ax as I pull the covers back and stretch, putting my feet on the floor and standing up, I tell them, "The HES was set to wake me up at nine, I'm gonna take Ax out now so I can be ready before Una comes at noon besides shouldn't you be in school?"

  "No, we have a free period." Addy answers.

  "Till eleven" Augy adds

  "Well we’re leaving so you can be ready," Addy says.

  "Aww you're the best brothers," I reply teasingly, both turn to each other, roll their eyes and walk out, I walk into my closet picking out white underwear, white socks, blue tank top and black gym shorts with my black sneakers and go into my bathroom and change.

  I comb my hair back into a pony and brush my teeth returning to my room to find Ax waiting with his tail wagging, and I laugh, gosh I love him so much. He tilts his head to the side. Sometimes I feel like he can hear me. I pause for a second thinking this through, knowing what I do now that things aren't quite as I thought and wondered if it is possible that he can in fact understand me but shrug it off thinking, no way. I stroll over to my bedside table, collect my ED and click it on my ear then walk to my door open it and head downstairs into the kitchen for a glass of orange juice. On the fridge is a post it note:

  'Gone to work. Have fun in SoHo and talk to you tomorrow, love Mom and Dad.'

  I open the fridge, grab a small glass and pour some juice. I drink fast and sigh from how refreshing it is as I put my empty glass in the dishwasher walking to the coat rack where Axel is waiting and pick up his leash. I bend down on one knee clipping his leash on, ruffle his fur with a quick hug and exit the condo, walk to the elevator and put my thumb on the fingerprint scanner. The doors slide open, we stride in pressing “G” as doors slide close, and Ax sits for the ten-floor ride down.