by Alexis Batty
“Jared isn’t this house supposed to keep outsiders out?”
“Yes. That is its main purpose. It keeps outsiders out, and the family and their secrets safe,” replies Jared.
“Then why do we have an intruder?” I question.
Jared looks dumbstruck. This is unfathomable. While we are all trying to figure out what happened, the front door opens. My parents run into the kitchen, out of breath and clearly worried. It’s my fault. I’ve doomed us all. My parents aren’t safe here and neither am I.
I look to Ash for help or comfort, but he has gone completely still and quiet. He’s breathing deeply through his nose. I guess he’s trying to get a sense of who we are up against and how powerful they are.
“JARED!” a voice booms through the house. All eyes snap to him, he looks confused,
“Dad?” Jared heads for the front of the house. “Dad what are you doing here? How did you get here?”
“That is not important. What are you doing here? Your mother sees Doctor Michaels and has a vision of you here with a group of people. What in the world are you doing here? As the head of the family, I demand an answer,” screeches Jared’s dad. He hasn’t noticed us standing in the hall yet, and I don’t think I want him to.
“She is not my mother,” spit Jared. “And as far as your head of the family demand for answers, I think it is more important that you answer my questions. Being the head of the family doesn’t give you supreme authority or power over the rest of us, and you tarnish the family trying to suggest it does. You’re the emissary for the counsel not a king.”
Ash has visibly calmed down. His canines are back to normal. In fact, he’s looking irritated at Jared and his father. I guess his dad had stopped Ash from kissing me, and nearly caused a couple of heart attacks. Just thinking about it made my hands clench into fist. I grind my teeth ready to spit fire at him.
“You know what I don’t care if Jared was the one asking the questions first, I am asking them now. Since I am the head of this family, you will answer to me.”
Ash snaps to attention next to me and puts himself slightly in front of me, ever the bodyguard. Jared’s dad’s eyes shift to Ash and his lips curl back into a snarl.
“How dare you allow this mongrel to be here!”
I can see Ash’s canines again as he bares his teeth rather menacingly. Normally, when a person bares their teeth it just looks weird, but with the added addition of elongated canines, Ash looks scary. Go wolf boy.
“Careful, Father, you don’t want to get Woods any more pissed off with you. I’m sure he wouldn’t take kindly to you calling his beta and son a mongrel,” taunts Jared.
I place my hand on Ash’s shoulder, which draws the attention of Jared’s father.
“No,” he whispers. His face pales with fear, which was amazing since he was a splotchy bright red and purple seconds ago.
He looks a lot like Jared, the same dark brown eyes and shade of auburn hair with some streaks of gray. The only thing different is that Jared’s father has a dimple in the middle of his cheek. He looks behind me and the splotchy purply red is back. He looks furious, more furious then he had been with Jared.
“How could you tell her? You were supposed to protect her.”
My father steps forward, “We didn’t tell her, Doc did. Before you get all worked up, he had to tell her. Somehow the secret was found out. She needed to know for her own protection.”
“What could possibly have happened to make you think that?” he demands.
“I was attacked twice within twelve hours and nearly killed both times. The first time was-”
“Gwen, why don’t you go into the kitchen and eat something? You missed dinner and must be hungry,” Jacqueline suggests as she walks past me
I roll my eyes. My mom never likes it when I try to explain anything. She claims I’m too long-winded.
“Mom, it’s my story, and I should be able to tell it.”
“Sweetie no one wants to hear your exaggerated version. Just the facts are needed. I love you, now go eat,” orders my mom.
I’m about to tell her no when my stomach growls. Ash turns and grabs my shoulders, kisses the top of my head, then steers me to the kitchen. I protest the whole way, but he won’t listen.
8
I pull out and slam down a tub of chocolate ice cream. I nearly shatter the bowl. Furry is raging through my veins. I force myself to calm down. It’s my life and my story and no one will let me tell it. Ash is staring at me with his head tilted to the side and an odd expression on his face.
“What?” I snap, probably a little too harshly.
Ash smiles, “I think the last of the puzzle pieces have fallen into place for me, that’s all.”
I put the ice cream back and grab some caramel syrup out of the fridge. It’s probably the best homemade caramel syrup magic could make. The smell soothes my fury. “And what puzzle piece would that be?”
“I’ll tell only if you get me a bowl of ice cream,” Ash said with the smug look of someone who knows something and that you are too susceptible to the urgings of curiosity.
I grind my teeth as I get a bowl and ice cream for Ash. Guilt has already started gnawing at me for snapping at him. He isn’t the one who isn’t letting me tell the story of how it all began. The only reason he started pushing me towards the kitchen was my traitorous stomach.
I hand Ash his bowl of ice cream. “Ok, now spill.”
He tilts his head and apparently listening to the people in the front room. Looking back at me he smirks and says, “Remind me to be just a smidge nicer to Jared. It isn’t often that a witch of one of the ancient families is willing to defend shifters. Come on let’s go sit on the porch swing.” Ash grabs my bowl and heads for the door. I’m confused.
It’s a little chilly outside. I wish I had a blanket or a jacket until I sit down next to Ash. He’s on fire.
“Do you need a doctor? You’re burning up,” I ask placing the back of my hand on his forehead.
Ash chuckles, “It’s a shifter thing. We have a high metabolism so our body temps are higher than the average fever. It’s nice. I’ve never been cold in my life.”
“Oh, ok, um.” I can’t help but repeat ‘I am such a dork’ over and over in my head.
“Eat your ice cream, and I’ll explain the puzzle piece that fell into place. Jared’s dad’s name is Xerxes. He’s a bit of a snob; well that is what I always thought of him. Not all witches belong to one of the families; they are descendants of them or more accurately several of them.”
Ash looks at me and smiles before slowly taking a bite of ice cream. I turn my attention back to the bowl in front of me. I needed to listen to what he was saying and not be wondering what he would do next.
“There was a division a few centuries ago and all the families except yours lost half of their members. They didn’t agree with the direction the council was going and basically ceded from the union.
“Your family didn’t lose any members because they were already being hunted, but didn’t see a need to tell the others until it was too late. So the witches that are affiliated with a family see themselves as a higher class of witch and those that left don’t really care about class,” explains Ash.
“Puzzle piece Ash. You’re stalling. So while that was an interesting bit of history, I’m a bit more tenacious than that,” I prod.
“Well here’s the conundrum I have. On the one hand you deserve to know, and on the other hand snob or not, Xerxes may have the right to tell you himself. But then there is the possibility that he isn’t man enough to tell you, which leads me right back to you deserve to know,” sighs Ash.
I’m sure the look on my face implied he’s a crazy person. I really shouldn’t be judging because I’m sure he has had more than enough reasons to give me the exact same look and hasn’t.
Sighing Ash gave in, “Xerxes is most likely your father, your biological father.”
I swallow my bite of ice cream and set my bowl on the groun
d. Such a waste of good ice cream, I barely touched it. “What evidence do you have to support your claim?”
“Well first off, the fact that he knew how to get here. My guess is that your mom told him at some point during their relationship. Then you have the fact that Jared, Xerxes and you all have the same dark brown eyes, same color, and shape. When you’re mad, you have a little dimple in the middle of your cheek. It’s there when you're happy but not as distinguished. Xerxes has the same one. I would say you probably look more like your mom than Xerxes.
“There is also a distinct smell to their family, and I have caught whiffs of it with you. I just assumed it was because Jared was here, but with all the other stuff, I would have to say you have the water family blood running through your veins,” Ash answers as he stares into his bowl of ice cream.
I’m shell-shocked. This is the biggest bomb dropped on me to date, well that probably is an exaggeration. I never knew about my father. When I was put up for adoption, all my birth mom had said was that he was unknown. Now, he’s apparently alive and fully aware of me and standing in my house. Ash wraps his arm around me and pulls me close. I sit there as he plays with my hair.
I don’t know how long we sit like this, but I knew the moment we were being interrupted. Ash growls at the interruption. It isn’t really audible, but I can feel the vibrations. The door clicks as the knob is turned and swings silently open.
Ash is gearing up for a fight; I can feel all his muscles tightening up. It must be Xerxes because Ash didn’t have an issue with anyone else here.
I probably should move or get up and leave them to hash out whatever their issues are, but that would mean moving and walking past the man who is possibly responsible for my being alive. I’m not sure I can deal with looking at him right now. I’ve had way too many shocks recently.
“I would like to speak with her alone. We need to talk,” Xerxes states in a cold flat tone.
I clutch at Ash’s shirt afraid that he’s going to leave me here alone, defenseless.
Ash looks me straight in the eyes, “I will be right inside the door. He just doesn’t want to see an audience. There is no way I am going to move more than a few steps from you. He won’t be able to hurt you.”
Shaking my head, “There is more than one type of hurt.”
A wicked smile spreads across Ash’s face. “Well, then he better not hurt you in any way. Cause according to pack law that means I can rip his throat out.”
I can’t help but laugh. “You could stay,” I suggest.
Ash kisses the tip of my nose and whispers, “It’s better if I just stand inside the door.”
The loss of his heat is instantly apparent. I start shivering. A blanket appears next to me on the swing. Ash picks it up and wraps it around me.
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Buttercup.” Ash winks as he turns to go inside.
“Mutt,” snarls Xerxes as Ash walks past.
Ash smiles and whispers something to Xerxes that I can’t hear, but Xerxes' face pales. I imagine it’s a threat of some sort; however, I can’t be certain.
Xerxes sits next to me on the swing. He is far enough away that I don’t have to worry about touching. This is awkward.
What am I supposed to say? Hey so someone told me that there is a possibility that you might be my daddy? Or hey daddy-o how’s it going?
I decide to say nothing at all. I sit squirming waiting for him to say something.
“I, um, well,” Xerxes stumbles over his words.
It would have been nice to be able to appreciate the fact that talking to me brought him to monosyllables and uncomfortable silence, but I’ve broken out in a cold sweat bringing with it a desire to run far away.
“Alright, well then its good talking to you, but there are about a million things I would rather be doing right now,” I rush the words so fast I’m not sure they are actually intelligible.
“So he did figure it out. You can never trust a lupine to keep their noses out of where they do not belong. I am your Father,” sighs Xerxes.
“Yeah, I'd really hoped I could go my whole life without that Star Wars reference actually being used on me,” I say rolling my eyes.
Xerxes looks at me perplexed, “I have never seen Star Wars. There are more important things for me to do with my time.”
“Wow, so glad you weren’t my father. Poor Jared,” I respond without thinking. I grimace. That did not come out the way I meant it.
Xerxes sighs, “I am not sure what you want me to say or what I should tell you. I never thought I would have this opportunity.”
“You could start from the beginning and tell the truth. I’ve always been able to tell when someone is lying,” I say pointedly. I turn to look at him for the first time since he came outside.
Xerxes smiles, “Your mom could as well. She was beautiful. You look just like her. Except for your eyes, she had blue eyes that reminded me of a clear blue spring.”
“You loved her.” It was pretty obvious.
“Yes,” he whispers. “I would have done anything for her, which is why when she found out she was pregnant, she hid it from me.
“No one knew about us. She wanted it that way. As the head of the Council, she did not want people seeing her relationship with me as; well I am not sure what she thought.
“I believe she did not want to get me mixed up with whoever was hunting her family down. She was the last one for a very long time.
“One day, she just disappeared. I feared the worst. I searched everywhere for her. This was the one place I could not get to. Then one night I found a piece of paper under my pillow. It was her handwriting, and it led me here.”
I’m not sure if I really want to hear the ending of his story. What if he got here and found her dead or dying. Or there was a fight about what to do with me.
I hadn’t known him long enough to know what I should expect. He was arrogant and a jerk. He treats Ash like he’s an animal.
“You were already gone. She knew that I would have done everything in my power to bring you home. Piper would not give me a reference point to start looking for you. I did not even know what doctor she had gone to or what adoption agency was used.
“Piper explained why she did what she did. She was sorry about it but still believed that it was the best for you. At the time, I could not understand,” Xerxes gave a self-depreciating smile.
“I never got a chance to tell her that I understood. She was found six months after you were born. They had to identify her through dental records.
“I promise you will not end up like that. I have been searching for them ever since. I will not stop till they are eradicated.
“I am sorry that probably sounded very strange. I have worried about you every minute of every day since I learned about you. Every strange death I read about, I thought of you and wanted to go investigate to find out if magic was involved,” sighed Xerxes.
“You can tell?” I ask.
“It is rather easy. Just like shifters being able to smell magic, a witch or warlock is able to sense magic. There are spells you can do to find out more about what kind of spell it was.
“If you are really good you can find the magical fingerprint of the person who cast the spell. The more generic spells are harder to find that fingerprint.
“Magic is very simple. You feel it in your veins and change it into what you desire. Magic is something you have to channel, so part of you leaves an imprint.
“Some are adept enough at sensing that imprint that it does not matter how generic the spell. Jared can find the magical imprint in any spell. In addition, once he sees someone cast a spell or learns their imprint pattern, he can always tell if it was their spell or not.”
“That’s cool. I wonder if they had him check out the area we were attacked. I’ll have to ask Ash.”
Xerxes leaned forward placing his arms on his knees. “He did but he did not recognize the signature. The girl that attacked you was killed by
Ash. It would not have helped much. He checked it out hoping to see if there was an imprint of one of the families. There was not. It looks like she was someone outside of the families.”
“Ok.” What did you say to that?
Clearing his throat, Xerxes looks at me, “I know Jared has been trying to train you, but he is not an adept teacher. If you will let me, I would like to teach you.”
Did he just give me a way to get out from under Jared’s harsh teaching method? Then again what if Jared learned it from Xerxes? Well worst case scenario, I can fire them both and figure it out on my own.
“Ok, as long as you promise not to resort to name calling and dictatorial tendencies.”
“Promise. Oh, I almost forgot,” Xerxes reaches up and pulls a book from out of the air. “This belonged to Piper. In case I ever found you, she asked me to give it to you. I am not sure what is in it. Piper put a spell on it. Only someone who is related to her can open it.”
Gingerly, I take the book. Xerxes goes inside the house. I’m not sure what to expect from the book when I open it. It’s small like a pocket journal. Inside I find a flowing script. Piper, my mother, must have written it.
My Dearest Gwendelyn,
If you are reading this, then your secret is out, and I have failed in my plan to protect you.
9
My breath caught in my throat. My mother wrote a journal with instructions and information for me in case my secret got out. I have always wanted to meet her and talk to her about her decision. I’ve always loved my adoptive parents and have trusted their story about my adoption. But sometimes it would have been nice to have been able hear her story in her own words.
“Gwen, Gwen?”
“I’m sorry just a little shell-shocked. Apparently, my mom wrote this to me in case my secret got out. I’ve always wanted to talk to her and now, in a sense, I finally have that ability.”
Ash chuckles, “Well then why don’t you head up to your room, so you won't be disturbed.”