Into The Shadows (The Shadows Trilogy Book 1) Page 4

  “Twenty, like you.”

  After that, the rest of the night passes by in a blur of drinking, dancing, taking to Una, Kryan, and Avery. After the show, we met up with the band in their dressing room and drank some more before leaving with Una, my Jeep on electric drive only, taking her home first.

  Walking into my bedroom at 3:15am I whisper "Turn on the lamp," Axel's head pops up and his tail wags, I undress clumsily and then put on my red pajamas, brush my teeth and comb my hair tying it in a pony. I sit down on the rug giving Ax a hug and rubbing his ears, odd he smells of beer as if he was at the concert tonight yeah, impossible right?

  "Goodnight Axel I missed you. I'll take you for a run in the morning just wake me with a bark or two," I say laughing drunkenly, he barks his goodnight as always, and I climb into bed falling asleep before my head even hits the pillow.

  Chapter Four:

  Powers Unbound

  * * *

  Arriving home after walking Axel and my head is pounding, Ax woke me up by licking my face at about 10 am and I jumped in the shower brushed my teeth brushed my hair and threw on red gym pants and a red tank top with my sneakers. I was out the door stopping by a coffee vendor. I ordered the biggest cup and drank it fast, it barely helped.

  Now walking into the living room and everyone is seated at the dining table, Mom, Dad, Aaliyah, Addison, and August. Axel heads for my usual chair sitting beside it keeping his eyes on me. Something seems really different about him, and I'm stunned but walk to the table.

  I sit down and stare out the window not sure if I'm ready for this but sighing I turn back to my family to find all eyes on me, guess this is my show.

  "Well let's start with, what am I?" I ask turning to mom and dad not sure why I asked that but knowing it's the right one cause I'm not human I sense it I think I’ve always known secretly.

  Mom is chewing on her lip her nervous gesture, dad is making coffee he’s also nervous giving his hands this need to be busy, Addison and August are looking down at their hands as if all the answers in the universe are there. Only Aaliyah shows the guts to look me straight on without flinching, and dad puts the coffee in front of me saying.

  "I think you need it, and well sweetheart you're a mixture" he’s about to continue when mom chimes in.

  "Honestly, Kai that isn't the way to start it off saying she's a mixture, Ava dear, the truth is you've got a witch, an elemental, and a werewolf gene in you." My calm breaks and jumping up so fast my chair falls backward hitting Axel. Ax barks at it, like it was the chair’s fault, turning to him I apologize and spin back around to everyone else who's now standing although much calmer than I did.

  "How can I be three things? I ask in a mix of confusion and horror looking at all of them who are tensed watching me as if I'm a snake ready to strike. Mom finally answers, "Well, your grandmother Abby is a witch she does all spells including magic, and your grandfather Austin is elemental who wields water and fire, and they passed both to me making me half witch, half elemental and your father is a full werewolf." Mom stops when she notices my eyes are the size of saucers, but I need more this is too shocking, so I stammer out, "How does that make me three paranormals?"

  Apparently mom is taking the reins of the total ‘drop a bomb on Ava’ day.

  "You were born with all three in you, it's never happened before. We found out at the hospital. All newborns are required blood testing for their paranormal gene to be entered in the system, and yours showed all three. Your dad and I were terrified cause paranormals are being kidnapped to be cruelly studied and tested for human health benefits and the immortality serum" she takes a drink of the coffee I left on the table and continued. I walk to the couch with everyone following suit sitting down beside me with Axel watching me from his rug. I bring my knees up to my chest listening intently to Mom as she continues.

  "When paranormals had been discovered in 2050 when a vampire named Jonny Larson going around feeding on humans in public and discarding their bodies like trash, too many people had seen for it to be explained away by a freaky murderer. Johnny had to be punished by a paranormal council. Leadership with one member from each paranormal group advocating for their kind, exposure to humans was the biggest rule of all and punishable by death. Some say he was so tired of living and wanted to die so did what he did to be put to death as he hoped". I never knew this much about the history of how everything came to be. It's interesting, and I'm so enraptured I almost forgot why Mom was telling me all this. This time, dad is the one who adds more.

  "His plan worked cause he was indeed executed the same day but the damage was done, thousands saw what he did cause there was some festival on, bringing in a lot of tourists and the man we understand as The Government who runs America, real name Clark Taylor came in and took paranormals in for questioning. Once he realized all the benefits we could provide he was helpful to us all but planning to use us for his gain, and we expected that. I thought if we willingly allowed ourselves to be used as test subjects he would realize we meant no harm. He was the first to become an MH, which changed our history and broke us down into four species".

  All four of us, me, Aaliyah, Addy and August are staring at our parents eager for more, mom and dad seem happy to be finally telling me the family secret as we are all gathered together with dad holding mom's hand.

  "Weren't you just babies when this happened right? I ask them, and both Mom and Dad look very uncomfortable but he continues "Erm, sure sweetheart, some paranormals got away when the government came for us and hid all the children." So much is spinning around in my head that I messed up the dates thinking of the year 2950, not 2050. But both are talking as if each were there but I miss this subtle clue.

  "Wait, if I was tested at the hospital then how is it a secret about what I am or what this family is? I ask turning to mom.

  "Cause the government would want you, you'd be his new project of why this little girl is showing three paranormal genres. So we paid the nurse who tested you to fake the document that you tested human like ours had been falsified after the capture by our parents." Mom says looking at all four of us.

  I turn to Aaliyah and ask "So what are you?"

  She smiles answering, "I'm like mom, half witch, half elemental. I do some magic not advanced like Grandma Abby, and I inherited the air element the same gifts as Mom" I turn to my twin brothers and without needing to ask Addy answers "We're full werewolves like dad."

  So thinking it through, I reply, "Do daughters take after mothers, and sons after fathers in the gene pools?"

  Mom laughs relaxing, now that the worst of revelations are over, or at least I hope they are.

  "Yeah, been like that for generations."

  "If I'm paranormal why don't I have powers like you all do or why am I not immortal, meaning I assume you are, right?" I ask confused. Mom and dad are tensed again looking nervous.

  "Well, your father and I didn't know the kind of powers you would receive and we were scared for your safety. I was thinking you might be happier without having to live your childhood in fear of accidentally using your abilities around the wrong people, so we decided to bind you till you were old enough. We couldn't tell you, and it was wrong of us we accepted that, but it was only to protect you." Mom says pleading for me to understand.

  I stand back up and start pacing thinking everything through when I turn asking,

  "And why didn't you bind theirs how come my siblings had this secret when I didn't?" Mom moves closer to me and calmly says.

  "Because we needed them to help protect you in case the government found out and came after you. Without your powers or fight training you are defenseless, and you can't bind werewolves the wolf in them would drive its human half crazy to be let out." I nod that I understand so hiding the secret from them was impossible but, "What about Aaliyah?" I ask, crossing my arms in a show of defiance like I'm a petulant teenager again, mom and dad laugh at my unusual childish behavior while Aaliyah smirks and my brothers chuckle.

&n
bsp; "I walked in on them all furry when I was fifteen so yeah, but by that point, my powers were kicking in so noticed I was different," Aaliyah responds. Mom walks into the kitchen to start cooking dinner for later.

  "Mom and dad asked us to keep this a secret for a while till it was time to tell you and to help them protect you," Addy adds trying to be helpful, but it made me feel worse like it should have been me protecting them.

  "I'm the big sister I should be protecting you." I insist, and turn to mom "And who are you to decide when I'm ready?" I snap at her. She stops cooking the chicken curry turning to face me.

  "I'm your mother that's who but when I bound your powers I also added a spell that when you're ready, you will find out somehow." She assures me, turning back to cooking. I snort in annoyance.

  "Well ain't that rich? I found out there was something I needed to discover from a guy who was only a wolf to me in Woodlands Creek who seemed to make sure I got to and from work almost daily." Everyone turns to stare at me with surprise on their faces confused I step back almost into Axel, I didn't even know he was there.

  "What's his name?" Dad wonders.

  "Kyran" I answer automatically, his eyebrows shoot up and clears his throat.

  "Kyran Lewis?" He muses, and I nod not understanding, seeing my bewilderment dad explains.

  "His father Gabriel is New York's Alpha with Kyran being the beta, we’re all good friends." Well lovely I think, hearing a growl and thinking its Ax I turn to him but his asleep on the rug.

  "What the..." I muse aloud, dad shifts his eyes to me from slicing the peppers helping mom with dinner.

  "What is it, sweetheart?" He queries.

  "I heard a growl, but Ax is asleep," I reply sounding baffled.

  Addy gives me a quick glimpse before turning back to the TV, saying "My bad that was me didn't like a scene in the show" and turns to the screen.

  "But you haven't growled before…"

  "When you need to pretend you’re human all the time you train yourself to act that way but subconsciously I figured it is ok to be me fully around you since the secret is out."

  "Are there other types of werewolves or just gray ones?" I ask Addy.

  "No only grays, and we first turn into our wolf at around one year old, but there are different types of Werecats though" he adds almost as an afterthought. Dad chimes in

  "Lion, Tigers, Pumas, Coyotes, Cheetahs, and Jaguars but off course, no one's seen any in years, so we don't know much anymore."

  "I'm going to bed for a while I need to rest and digest everything," I mutter and about to turn, but mom calls out.

  "Grandma is coming over tonight to unbind your powers. You need to learn what abilities you possess and start training."

  "Yeah, ok whatever," I respond my head about to burst. This is all too much for a few hours and in another few hours I'm getting my powers? I'm finding it hard for me to stay calm.

  "Let her go" I hear dad say presumably to mom. I take off for the stairs running up them so fast.

  I'm lying in bed waking up a few hours later after I drifted off to sleep because the last thing I remember was my eyes slowly closing with me wishing this was a dream. And now something woke me, I listen hearing light whining coming from behind my door I move opening it to find Ax laying down his head on his two front paws. He jumps up wagging his tail when he sees me.

  "Aww I missed you to buddy," I tell Ax, letting him in and checking the time on my ES, 6 pm when mom calls up.

  "Ava, dinner's ready."

  I realize I'm famished. Wow turn a girl's world upside down and it makes her hungry. At the dinner table, mom and dad talking about work which makes me wonder why work for the government if they fear him. So I ask and told by dad

  "Cause it is a good way to keep an eye on him and what he’s up to. If he gets suspicious of you or us I'll have enough time to alert you." I mulled this over and got to agree it is a smart move.

  I'm helping mom clean up the plates after dinner "I took Axel out earlier for his run so he’s good for tonight" Addy says, and I freeze, guilt washing over me going over to Ax who's on his rug getting down on my knees I whisper.

  "I'm sorry we missed our run I totally forgot."

  "I think you are entitled to some alone time and forgetfulness, you had a lot dumped on you Ave don't beat yourself up."

  "Yeah, you’re right," I almost whisper back exhausted.

  "At least you’re still the same" I muse at Ax, and everyone goes quiet and by God, I know all too well what this means, so I standing up carefully say, "Wait, what now?" I ask crossing my arms and tapping my foot with a stern display on my face.

  "Well, ok honey, you see Axel well he’s, he’s your..." Mom pauses and getting impatient I make a gesture with my hand to hurry her along. Aaliyah snaps, "Oh for goodness sake, Axel's your familiar Ave."

  I don't move rooted to my spot shocked and look at Ax who is standing tail wagging uncertainly, almost as if he’s unsure if I will still love him after this. And there I go again able to read him in a way I shouldn't be able to, and it all comes to me so fast like a train just hit me. I stumble back still staring at him. I'm witnessing mirth in his eyes, and I can't help it I laugh which makes the family join in too breaking the tension.

  "Aren't familiars supposed to be cats?" I ask after my laughing fit that was somewhere between amusement and hysterical.

  "Why would you think that? Cause of how it is in books?" Mom chuckles back asking me.

  "Well yeah" I add laughing with real joy now.

  "You always wanted a dog, so we thought a dog who's a familiar is a win for both of us, you get your pet, and we get the peace of mind that wherever you go you've got protection."

  "Wait a minute," I say holding my hands up as if warding off evil.

  "What do you mean everywhere I go? And how do you even acquire a familiar?" Mom smirks.

  "I mean everywhere apart from the bathroom of course" her lips twitching, my eyes bug out in alarm not that I’ve been doing anything shady but still.

  "You can acquire familiars in three ways, one being that a familiar finds you and bonds itself to you, through a spell and a particular type of tattoo." I frown.

  "Familiar finding you and spell I understand, but a tattoo?" I ask Mom as she sits down beside Dad.

  "Yeah you pick a creature to tattoo like normal except when completed whatever animal you tattooed comes to life, jumps from your skin and in front of you is your familiar, but even then a bond needs to form for it to be permanent." I agree not every animal and me bond but with Ax, it was always different we had a tight relationship from the first day I held him as a puppy which makes me wonder.

  "So how did we find Ax, how does he follow me?" I ask dad.

  "A spell asking for a puppy to protect and love you but if Ax didn't bond with you, he would have disappeared one day, and we would have got you a standard puppy if that happened. And erm… he follows you by two ways, one being that he jumps into your skin and you can either see him as a tattoo, he goes invisible, or two, changes form looking like a fly following you or maybe a cat, a spider and everything else".

  "Is there anything still the same in this house?" I cry.

  "Me." A voice is heard and turning around, Una is there with a tentative smile on her face, wearing pink sweatpants with a yellow t-shirt, sneakers, and hair tied in a pony, looking haggard. Concerned I ask "What's wrong?" She frowns at me, walking over to hug me tight and I feel a wave of emotion this is getting a bit too much and didn't realize I needed Una till my eyes landed on her.

  "I wanted to come over straight away, but I know you, and you needed time alone, I called on the ES, was about to talk when your parents started explaining what you were and I listened in" she admits sheepishly.

  I laugh feeling relieved to see her "Oh don't be, I would have had to explain it all anyhow" now it is her turn to be relieved.

  "Which is why I accepted the call when she rang" Mom offers in. Smiling, I hug her.

  "Tha
nks, mom, I'm betting today hasn't been easy on you either, on any of you" her floral perfume always a comfort but turning to my family, I need to ask one more question.

  "Is there anything else I need to know, or am I not able to trust my family anymore?" Looking shocked and a bit wounded by my question everyone sits up in alertness on the couch. Dad comes over hugging fiercely kissing my forehead then holding me back at arm's length to look into my eyes before saying, "Sweetheart keeping this from you was wrong, but we knew when you were ready you would find out, and you did, but we did it out of love, not deceit. So please don't even consider not trusting us and yes now everything is out in the open, but obviously you need to learn more about paranormals but personal truths are outed no more lies".

  He pulls me back into his soft embrace; one of my favorite scents is pine and mint, my father's smell.

  My brothers, sister, mom and even Una all gather around us hugging any space that's left considering dad is hogging me.

  "Well, I see everyone's here, it is time" Grandma Abby's voice comes through the door as she arrives, turning we see her carrying a bag and taking off her coat. Grandpa Austin walks in after her saying, "Now, now Abby, don't rush our Ava." Grandpa is ninety-one but being immortal, looks thirty he has a six-foot frame with a small beer belly wearing blue jeans, black t-shirt, black shoes, a hint of gray in his black hair, friendly blue eyes and he always has a scent of tobacco. I always thought my grandparents were MH's, not paranormals.

  "Oh, shush no time to waste danger is on the horizon" Grandma admonishes him back.

  I clear my throat catching her attention "Hi dear, are you ready? Let's go to the library save all the chitchat for later, come on everyone chop chop" she says clapping her hands impatiently. I move towards mom a little panicked who quietly explains to me, "She's always had an intense sense of knowing about things before or after they have happened so if she's in a rush for you to get your powers its best you do as she says, baby." Taking Mom's advice, I follow grandma to the library.

  Wearing a yellow flowery long sleeved dress down to her knees with brown ankle boots and her shoulder-length black hair down, Grandma Abby has the same features as me, mom and Aaliyah, it seems to run in the family. Grandma is the shortest of us all with her five-foot frame, at eighty-nine she looks like she's still in her twenties and always smells of flowers.