“But Mom, I don’t understand why you’re—”
“No, you wouldn’t,” Alexis said with a smirk. “Of course, you wouldn’t, so I’ll spell it out for you. The rapist wasn’t a man. It was a demon.” She lifted her gaze and turned her head until she focused on Nolan. “Just like you.”
Celestina winced as though blamed for something she knew nothing about.
“Do you think I wanted a reminder of that?” Alexis asked. “Every minute of every day of every year?” A disturbing grin, reminiscent of a creepy clown, fixed in place.
“But I’m not like that,” Celestina said. “I’m just me.”
“Just you? You mean the girl who has demon blood in her? The girl who can do more than any witch in our line?” She shook her head emphatically. “No, Celestina, you aren’t normal.” Without looking Nolan’s way, she pointed at him. “You’re like him. Evil!”
“I’m not!” Celestina said, stomping a foot into the dirt. Tears slipped down her cheeks. “I’m nothing like a demon.”
Unable to see my niece endure any more emotional hardship, I approached Alexis, trying to maintain a cool demeanor. “That’s enough. Leave her alone.”
“Really, sis? You’re coming at me with that?” She gestured at Celestina like she was an object, not a person. “I’ve dealt with it for over a decade, and you…someone who’s known her for, what, a few days…comes here telling me what I should do?” A cackle erupted from her throat, one filled with vigorous animosity. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“This is…too much,” said Celestina. Her voice mirrored her eyes–timid and uncertain whether she wanted to hear the truth or not. Yet, her determined stance and her broken expression made it clear she not only wanted to hear the truth, but she needed to hear it.
“I was raped, Celestina,” Alexis said once again, as though trying to pound it into her daughter’s head. “And what did I get from it? You! A constant reminder of everything I never wanted to remember. You! A constant reminder of everything I hoped would never happen. You! A constant reminder of the life I wanted…until you barged into my life.”
Celestina’s eyes crossed as though she’d seen too much activity pass before her eyes than her mind could process. ”Wait!” She shut her eyes and shook her head. “You’re saying—”
“That you were never wanted?” Alexis admitted, nodding for emphasis. “Yes.” She took in a deep breath as though expunging every last bit of responsibility in her life. “That you have been a weight around my neck since the day you were born?” She let her head dangle back against her neck. A vibrant smile touched her lips. “Yes!”
“Hey!” I shouted, storming up to Alexis, pointing a finger in her face. “That’s enough!”
“Oh, no, it’s not enough. You don’t realize how good this feels, how long I’ve wanted to admit this, how long I’ve felt like a prisoner because of…” Her gaze found Celestina’s. “Because of that…that…creature!”
Shaking her head, sucking in a deep breath as though uncertain she’d be able to capture enough oxygen with a regular one, Celestina’s nostrils flared as she took a step back. Dried streaks of moisture remained her face, but her eyes were no longer glassy but firm, resolute. “That’s not true.”
“Did you know Mother hexed me?” Alexis asked. She nodded with bitterness. “I resented you so much she actually forced me to love you. Well, Zephora just broke the spell. She set me free. And I’m no longer obligated to care about you.”
Celestina shook her head as she strode up to us. Her cheeks reddened as she squeezed her way between Alexis and me.
“It’s true,” said Alexis with a smirk. “Every word.” Her face vibrated as her grin elongated. “You weren’t planned. You were never wanted. But,” she said, unfurling both arms at sides, “you came anyway…disrupting my life, which is a habit with you. Let’s be clear, Celestina. I never wanted you. I had dreams and goals. And you stole them from me. You stole everything I could have been!”
Alexis chuckled and placed her attention on me. “And you!” She lowered her gaze to the floor and shook her head as though disappointed in herself to have forgotten to address me. “Such a disgusting reminder. What did you steal from me?”
Anger throttled through my veins, and I did my best to keep my cool. “A role on Housewives of the Bitch and Famous!”
“Twins often steal from each other in the womb,” my sister said. “You knew that, right?” Without waiting for me to respond, she said, “Characteristics, traits, and all that. Who knows what I could have become if I didn’t have to share with you.”
I’d never given it any thought, possibly because, up until a few days ago, I’d never known I had a sister, but Alexis had known for two decades and resented me because of it.
“Imagine what I could have been,” she said, more to herself than to me, since a wide grin flexed her facial muscles. “Stronger than both of us combined.” Then she turned an angry expression upon me. “Way stronger than Mother.”
I gave that some thought. Based on what paranormal creatures have told me, I doubted Alexis would’ve exhibited supernatural abilities beyond that which she had already shown herself capable of.
“You don’t think so?” she asked with a half-smile. She appeared grateful to have considered me an unsuspecting villain. “I have three times the amount of power you have.” She smirked. “What does that tell you?”
“That you’ve been a witch for over a decade, and I just became one a few days ago. Because, really, Alexis. If I know how to use my powers this well after just a few days, I’ve gotta ask: what’ve you been doing the past decade?”
Alexis’s lips drew back. Her arms did likewise, apparently expecting me to attack, so she could respond in kind. “Taking care of that thing,” she responded with a self-righteous glare. “What about you?”
Taken in that context, going through the public education system, followed by obtaining my Bachelor’s degree, made me feel like an entitled, spoiled little brat.
“You!” Alexis shouted. “Someone who thinks I’m a piece of shit.”
Although I’d planned to strike back at my sister for judging my station in life, I swallowed and found it difficult to respond when it came to questioning my sister’s predicament.
“Nothing to say, huh?” she asked, glancing over each shoulder before directing her attention to me once more. “You see? Take a child away from me, and we’re no different! We want freedom. We want excitement. We want to take our own path!”
I couldn’t dispute the assertion. I wanted to tour the world while stopping at one venue after another, preaching our band’s music to the masses. But Alexis had a child! And no matter if she came from an unwanted pregnancy or not, Celestina was an awesome kid. Yes, my sister got pregnant in the most horrific of cases. But now, having learned Celestina resulted from such a terrible situation, I would have counted my blessings. After all, how often does a smart, fun, good-hearted young woman come into your life?
Upon discovering Alexis felt otherwise, I wanted to tear her eyeballs from their sockets. “You’re ignorant,” I told her. “And selfish. You have a beautiful child…someone who loves you.”
“Ohhh,” Alexis said. “Are you having a tough time facing the truth? Okay, I’ll give you my point of view.” The smile, however arrogant, disappeared. “I pretended to care about you, just like I pretended to care about my daughter.”
A smarmy smile tugged at her lips. “Oh, does that disappoint you? Sorry, Little Miss University, but here’s the truth: there’s a reason why Celestina keeps seeing you and me locked in battle…it’s because I’m going to kill you…Again!”
I had difficulty believing my sister uttered those words, but as I inspected Alexis’s eyes for mistrust, I found only certainty.
“Don’t play stupid, little sis. You had to have known.”
“Yeah,” I admitted, “I’m surprised. My Magic 8-ball didn’t tell me you’d turn evil.”
“Evil?” She chortled. �
�Pretty dramatic, even for you.” Her whimsical demeanor lent the impression she still didn’t believe my assertion, that she found my accusation ridiculous.
“Evil people kill helpless people. You did exactly that a little while ago.”
“I wouldn’t have turned them. The vamps would have done it. You planned to look on and then control them afterwards. You’re no better than the vampires. You’re a murderer, Alexis.” Seeing my sister shake her head in refutation, I said, “Was I your first victim? Or were there others?”
“I don’t have to listen to this.” Alexis raised her hand toward me and waved it as if to clear a foul odor.
I got into a combat stance, but before Alexis could mount an attack, she…vanished.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“What the hell!” I said, glancing around, only to find Nolan standing beside Celestina with a proud smile on his face. “What happened?” I asked. “Where did she go? Where did Zephora go?”
His grin grew wider. “I made them disappear.”
“How?” I took a step backwards, uncertain how he’d teleported them elsewhere while simultaneously afraid that he had that ability. “Where did you send them? They’re not—”
“Dead?” he asked. “No. I just thought of a place in my mind, and a second later, they disappeared.” He nodded, impressed by his skills.
I had so many questions to ask him about this newfound ability, but I was far more concerned about Celestina. She’d endured a brutal tongue-lashing of epic proportions. It’s not every day your mother calls you a creature, blames you for her plight in life, and disowns you.
Celestina had placed her hands on her hips and stared at the ground, her brow furrowed as though deep in thought.
I knew that while she did a fantastic job of putting up a false front, her world was in turmoil. Nothing I could say would comfort her, so I went over and wrapped my arms around her. I couldn’t envision how I’d have felt if Grams had spewed the same venom at me that Alexis sent toward her daughter.
My niece didn’t budge. Yet it felt like she’d tensed every muscle, as though anticipating another verbal assault. Shock probably made it difficult for her to move or speak, much less concentrate with a rational mind.
I clutched her tighter and kissed her temple. I let out a loud breath in an attempt to cleanse my soul of the nastiness Alexis had unleashed. That’s when I felt Celestina’s shoulders jerk once, similar to how a body would convulse upon having a defibrillator placed on its chest. A few seconds later, another twitch occurred.
“I’m here for you, Celie.” I hoped she knew the depth of my feelings for her.
Her frame shook inside my embrace once, twice.
“And I’ll never leave you.” I needed her to believe me, needed her to realize someone cared for her, that someone loved her, that no matter what her mother said, she was important.
Wheezing erupted from her mouth, revealing she’d been holding in a sob for the past thirty seconds. A second later, she took in a ragged heap of air, making her spine quiver as she curled her body into mine.
Her arms slipped around my waist and then she clasped her hands tight, drawing me closer and expelling some air from my lungs as well as hurting my ribs. Still, I didn’t say a word. I needed Celestina to see and feel my words.
A low, shrieking howl passed through her lips as she tightened her grasp around me. Her body quaked with every cry and whimper.
Through it all, I didn’t move, hoping my embrace comforted her at least a little and soothed some of the self-doubt now tearing at her heart and mind.
As time slipped by, Celestina’s hold on me lessened, her cries softened and became fewer and far between, and her breathing pattern returned as close to normal as could be expected under the circumstances.
I always presumed my sister blamed her daughter for ruining her life, one she preferred to fill with drunken days and wasted nights, but I’d never imagined she’d utter such horrific words to her daughter.
I’d trusted my sister because I’d wanted to believe in her, especially since she’d told me she’d never lie to me. Up until five minutes ago, I’d even wanted to believe that Zephora controlled Alexis, that she’d compelled her to speak each word that slipped between her lips. After all, Alexis’s love for her daughter seemed so natural, so evident. If she could turn on her own family, someone who shared a physical part of her being, what would stop her from doing likewise to me?
Alexis had a strong personality, one I doubted could be compromised. No matter how much I’d wanted to believe Zephora had something to do with her insidious attitude, perhaps even invading her body in hopes of trading an older model for a newer one, I knew that unlike others who had allowed spirits to control their bodies, my sister remained in full-control of her capacities.
I felt horrible for my niece, who deserved a positive parental role model to emulate. What did she get instead? A selfish, power-mad alcoholic who placed her trust in the wrong people – first her mother, and now Zephora.
I looked up at Nolan, who had remained silent, allowing me to share this moment with my niece without interruption, while glancing around the park in case either Zephora or Alexis returned to exact some form of retribution.
Finally, Celestina withdrew from me, but she hung her head, her gaze lingering on the ground. She rubbed her eyes with her fingers, sniffled, and shrugged as if to say…what now?
I slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “You’re staying over with us tonight. We’ll do whatever you like, okay?”
* * *
Half an hour later, I opened the front door of my home, and found Kendall and Brandon staring each other down in the front room. In the background, an episode of Friends played on the television but was muted, since the song “Goodbye to Romance” by Ozzy Osbourne played on the stereo. The lingering scents of pizza and popcorn drifted through the air.
“I think I’d know if we had sex,” Kendall shouted at Brandon. “I don’t do drugs and I didn’t have a drop of liquor.”
“What do you want me to say?” Brandon asked, raising his hands with his palms up in confusion. “Maybe you…forgot?”
“Oh, yeah,” she said, nodding with indignation. “I have sex so much its easy to forget, especially when your phone shows it happened five hours ago. And the last time I looked in the mirror, I didn’t look anything like that slut you were with.”
“Hey!” I shouted to get their attention because I didn’t want Celestina to endure any more arguments, fights, or confrontations. “Let’s just chill for a minute.” I caught sight of Lulu lying down in the kitchen corner, looking up at me with frightened eyes. I could understand why Kendall went off on Brandon, but her anger had frightened my dog. It shocked me that Lulu could be so brave in the presence of the supernatural, but when my friends fought, she couldn’t handle it. On my way over to Lulu, I snagged her leash from a hook and went over to her. I knelt down beside her and stroked her head with a smile, hoping I calmed her down a little. “Wanna go for a walk?” When she lifted her ears and her eyes glittered, I got to my feet and she did likewise.
“Great!” Kendall said, ignoring me and tossing her hands up with aggravation. “It’s not like I can’t get her out of my mind, but now you did this?” While still glaring at Brandon, Kendall extended an arm toward me. She held Brandon’s cell phone. “Did you know about this?” she asked. Onscreen, an image of Alexis writhing on top of Brandon played out.
With speed that shocked me, I spun around, not just to avoid seeing Alexis or Brandon naked, but also to place a hand over Celestina’s eyes. I let out a sigh, thankful I’d shielded her from seeing the image on Brandon’s phone. Celestina had already seen enough ugliness out of her mother today.
I directed her toward Nolan and nodded toward the door, hoping he got the hint to go for a walk with Celestina and Lulu. An hour from midnight was quite late for a walk, but I wouldn’t allow Celestina to hear what my friends were arguing about. I handed the leash to Nolan.
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“Come on,” Nolan said, turning Celestina around toward the sidewalk. “Let’s chat for a bit.”
She drew back. “Why?”
“Because,” I said, “you need to get to know each other better.”
“I figured this was coming.” My niece looked too emotionally exhausted to even roll her eyes. “They’ll probably make a movie about us.”
“Movie?” Nolan asked.
“How to Train a Demon.” Celestina waved a hand at Nolan to follow her out the door.
Kendall’s mouth dropped open, her anger substituted with shock. “Huh”
“You’re a…demon?” asked Brandon. He stepped back.
Celestina turned and nodded, unfazed. “A witch yesterday. A demon today.” She shrugged with disinterest. “Homeless tomorrow.” Expressionless, she turned around and walked past Nolan, who gave her an empathetic nod before leading Lulu outside. He shut the door behind him.
“She’s a demon?” asked Kendall. The severe expression on her face morphed into confusion. “When did this happen?”
“When?” asked Brandon. He held up a hand as though back in middle school, hoping the teacher would call upon him. “A better question is: how did this happen?”
I spent the next ten minutes explaining everything that occurred since I’d left the Home Bar. Although they were shocked into silence, I could tell Kendall was still stewing with plenty of hostility after seeing Brandon and Alexis on his phone, so I backtracked and spent some time unraveling what I’d seen at Alexis’s home earlier today.
“That fucking bitch!” Kendall shouted. I pointed a finger before my eyes. “I swear to God, she’s the biggest bitch in…Bitchville.”
“In that case,” Brandon said, “she’d be the mayor then, right?”
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