"Did Grant get a new car?" He asked him.
"Yeah he did." He said.
"What type?" He asked him.
"Umm... a black dodge charger." He told Ben. Ben nodded at him. He exhaled and said with grief,
"Avery, your in the clear." I smiled to my self. Then Cathy walked in...
"What is this?" She sneered down at the the food.
"Pizza. I got you your own sausage pizza." I told her. She nodded and took a slice of pizza. I walked out of the kitchen and went into my room and locked my door like I always do.
Silence
Jericho
I unlocked the front door and walked in. I heard the pitter-patter of small feet running down the stairs. I then saw Erika's dark ash brown pigtails bounce as she ran down the steps. When she reached to bottom of the stairs her face lite up when she saw me. She ran full speed towards me, but tripped over the curled edge of the floor mat. She looked up at me with teary eyes.
"Oh Shit!" I said as I ran towards her. I scooped her up in my arms , and she wrapped her arms around my neck as she sobbed. Although Erika was six years old she was born with a growth defect and looks to be about four. I sat her on the third step and tried to walk away to get the first aid kit but she held an iron grip around my neck.
"Hey, Erika I need to get you a band-aid. Okay?" I told her calmly as I stood in an awkward bent over position. She shook her head at me and squinted her eyes shut.
"No." She said.
"Eri-"
"No don't go. I'm fine." She tried to say but the tears continued to flow.
"Yet your knees are bleeding." I said. I tried to stand up again, but she prevented me from leaving.
"No. I need to learn how to be tough." She said. I smiled down at her and ruffled her hair. Her hands instantly flung to the top of her head and she glared at me.
"Now what do you mean?" I asked her.
"I'm daddy's daughter and the youngest. So I need to be tough like you." she explained. I laughed and lifted her up again. I rested my forehead against her's and said.
"Erika your right, you are the youngest, but you don't have to be made out of stone. You understand? That's why you have us, to be tough and mean for you. Got it?" I told her. She had stopped crying by now and nodded at me.
"I get it Jeri." She was the only person on the planet that I let call me that. Not even Mom could call me that.
"Now do you want a hello kitty or spider man bad-aid?" I asked her as I walked to the bathroom. She scoffed and said,
"I'm to old for that stuff. I'll have a red sparkly one." She said seriously. I laughed at her and took her to the bathroom.
I sat her down on the toilet seat as I searched for Erika's band-aid box.
"So... why do you smell funny?"she asked me. I smiled to my self sat the thought of Avery.
"I say a friend to day." I told her.
"It was a girl wasn't it! Is she pretty?" she asked me. I looked over at her and smiled. I thought about Avery when she smiled, her laugh, her freckles, her stunning green eyes, and her florescent orange hair. I loved how she had now use for cosmetics. She had nothing to him, well except for that nasty bruise. That then brought me to the thought of her leaving. If she knew what I was to her would she leave? Perhaps she would stay here with me, where she belongs, or perhaps she would be horrified and leave right then and there. I was brought back to reality when Erika snapped her fingers in front of my face.
"You in there , Jeri?" I looked over at her and said,
"Is she beautiful?" A smile once again played upon ,my lips at the mere thought of her. Erika's eyes shined with curiosity.
"Whats her name?"
"Avery"
"Is she like you?"
"She's human."
"Do you like her?" I felt completely godsmacked. MY mouth opened and closed like I was going to say something but I was at a lack of words.
"What? No- I mean-" I didn't know how to explain this situation to a seven year-old. She squealed and leaped of the toilet seat. before she ran out of the bathroom, she snatched the band-aid from my hand and ran down the hall. I got up to follow her and saw that she had stopped to put the band-aid on her knee and continued running. I laughed and started to follow her down the hall again.
"Mommy! Mommy!" She said as she burst in to the living room. My mother looked up from the book she was reading and smiled at us. Erika hopped up into her lap and started bouncing like the young giddy child she was.
"Guess what I heard." She said. My mother brushed her light brown hair over her shoulder and smiled down at her youngest child.
"And what might that be?" She asked her playfully.
"Jericho likes a girl!" Erika said with excitement. My mothers face went flat. She then looked over at me.
"Jericho, library now." She said with authority. She stood up and placed Erika on her feet. Erika look confused thinking she had done something wrong. My mother walked past me, but I walked over to Erika.
"Did I get you in trouble?" She asked me. I shook my head at her and knelt down to her eye level.
"No. Never. Mom just needs to talk to me. You just go play with Chris and Mia, and I'll see you later okay." She smiled at me and ran to find her siblings. I then turned and looked don the dark hallway that lead towards the Library. Have you ever gotten that heavy felling in your chest when your nervous and somewhat scared? That feeling you get when you parents call you to talk to them, and you know your in trouble? That's what I'm feeling now. Except my mom is at times a ruthless, viscous, and murderous alpha female. I dragged my feet down the hall as I walked towards the library. I gently opened the door and peaked in side. I looked over to see my mother sitting in a chair with a displeasing scowl on her face. There was hardly anything that terrified me but one of them is my mother.
"Close the door." she said using her alpha tone. Needless to say I did as I was told. Stepped onto the room and sat down across from her.
"Jericho, what did she mean you have a girl that you like?
" She asked me sternly.
"exactly what she meant." I told her. I dared not even to look into her eyes. To be honest my sub-conscious told that I would turn to stone if I did.
"I forbid you." She told me. My head shot up and I looked at her in shock.
"Mom, you can't do that." I was almost in a panicked state. Not allowed to like? Is she denying me my mate? My eyes were wide as I searched hers for the slightest hint of compassion.
"I just did." Her eyes narrowed at me.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" I raged at her. She flinched slightly and then she became angry. Oh shit. The irises of her eyes turned a deep, shocking yellow. Mama wolf was here. She shot up out of her seat, causing it to fall over. She towered over me and looked murderous. I stayed in my seat and tried to stay calm. Future alpha or not, to her I was deifying her and her beast didn't like it at all.
"I know very well 'what the hell' I'm doing. I'm protecting you. Your almost eighteen, Jericho. You are at the age where you find your mate. What the hell are you going to do if you get serious with this girl and your mate pops up? Hmm? Are you just going to leave the girl? Will you reject your mate? Or will you stoop so low that you decide to have both? I'm not going to let that happen. I let you date other girls in the past because you need to feel as human as possible, but not any more. Do you understand?" Protect me? Protect me?
Was she serious does she even know?
"Mom-" I was cut off by her.
"No, Jericho. You think you get it but you don't. I-" I then returned the favor. I shot up from my chair, causing it to fall over as well.
"Dammit Mom. Will you listen to me for once?" I practically screamed at her. She was taken back, and her eyes faded and her teal colored eyes returned. I took a deep breath.
"Mom, I don't need your help."
"But I-" I cut her off a again.
"Mom, Avery isn't just some girl. She's-"
"She's what?" She snarled at me.
"M
y mate!" I yelled at her. She stared at me in shock and brought her hand to her mouth.
"Sh-She's what?" She said in disbelief.
"My mate." I repeated. Tears were now streaming down her face.
"Mom..." I lost my train of thought when she wrapped her arms around me.
"I'm so proud." She whispered. She then pulled back and said.
"Well..." She said. I stared at her confused.
"Well what?" I asked her.
"What pack is she from. Who's her alpha?" She asked me. I exhaled and shock my head at her.
"Mom... Avery doesn't have an Alpha." I told her. Her smile widened,
"So she's the Alpha?" She asked hopefully. I shook my head at her.
"Oh my God, she's a rouge!" She gasped. I shook my head again.
"Well then what is it then?" She snapped.
"She's human." I told her. Her eyes widened.
"Have you told her?" She asked me.
"No." I told her.
"Well when will you?"
"And exactly what would I tell her? That I'm a wolf and she's my mate? She just agreed to be my friend you really think she's going to be okay with that?" I asked her. She sighed and said,
"I guess your right, but your going to have to tell her soon." I nodded my head at her and said,
"I know."
"You are dismissed." She told me. I bowed slightly and then turned to leave.
I walked up stairs and to the third door on the right. Allen and Ash's room. I knocked on the door and waited. Allen opened the door and looked pissed.
"What do you want?" He asked me.
"I need to speak with Ash." I said. He glared at me and opened the door and I saw Ash sitting on the bed with a flustered look on her face. Her blonde hair was tousled , her cheeks were a bright crimson red, and her top was't buttoned correctly and the first four buttons were undone. I raised my eye brows at Allen and said,
"That's gross." I told him.
"My room. I can use the bed how I want." I scoffed at him and called over to Ash.
"Hey Ash." She looked up at me and blushed as she remembered her current appearance.
"Um- Yeah?" she said nervously.
"I need to talk to you. I'll give you a minuet to rearrange
yourself." I said with a smirk as I closed the door. I leaned against the wall and waited for her. About five minuets later she opened the door with a new top, glossed lips and perfect hair.
"I take it I interrupted something then?" I said with a wide grin. She walked past me as she mumbled.
"The hell you did." She snapped at me. We walked to the end of the hall to doubled door archway. This was my room. We walked into the room and she held her hand open. I went to one of the shelves and picked up a bundle of dried sage and then tossed it to her. She immediately walked over to one of the candles, and began to burn the sage. She was preforming a secrecy spell that prevented other from hearing us.
"So what do you need?" She began.
"A favor." I said. She rolled her eyes.
"When do you not?"
"I talked to Avery." I told her.
"And..." She urged me on.
"She's giving me a chance."
"Well good for you. Now cut to the chase." She ordered.
"Here's the thing. I need Aver in my life, and she said she would give me a chance, but she's worried that Terrance will blab. That's where you come in."
"So do you want a silence spell, recurring memory loss, or preferably death."
"Can you do both?" I asked her. She looked at me with a smug look on her face.
"I could do all three if you want." I take it she's still pissed at him for the hazing incident a few years back.
"I don't want him dead. Now what could you do?" I asked her. She smirked and I could see something flash in her eyes.
"I have one in mind. I'll be right back." She then turned and left the room. I sat down on the edge of my bed and waited for her. I watched as my ceiling fan circled around and around. My head shot towards the door as I heard yelling and heavy foot steps.
Suddenly a highly annoyed Ashlin burst in with her grimoire in hand, and a fuming Allen on her heals.
"Ash, are you even listening? I said no!" He yelled at her. She rolled her eyes at him and turned to look at him,
"No, Allen I didn't here you. I was trying to tune you out." Allen's face grew redder at her comment.
"Did you find one?" I asked her.
"Yeah I did, but Mr. pussy over here has his panties in a wad ,and won't let me try it."
"Because I said hell no!" Allen shouted. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply in an attempt to calm her self.
"So what's the spell?" I asked her. She set it down on the coffee table and opened the grimoire and pointed to the page.
"Ash- are you even listening? I said no!" Allen yelled at us. Ashlin snapped. She turned to him , as mad as hell and said,
"Enough Allen! Hakkpeashka
!" She shouted a muting spell at him and even though he continued to yell no sound came out of his mouth.
"Thank God." She said under her breath.
"Why didn't you do that earlier?" I asked her. She looked at me and gave me the "duh!" look and said,
"What do you think happens when I remove it?"
"I think this spell will be the most effective. It's a removal spell. This one uses a elixir, and requires an assigned trigger word. I think I should use both your's and Avery's name. Basically I would give him the elixir, say the triggers and then he would become incapably of saying her name as well as yours. Also every time the word is mentioned he'll instantly forget all the events involving you two a few hours prior." She explained to me. I just nodded.
"So why is he so pissed over this? Seems easy." I said. Her cheeks heated up as she said,
"To give him the elixir I have to k-kiss him." Her face flushed after she said it.
"Then it's not an option." I told her.
"Yes it is. It's the best one." She argued.
"You and I both know that Allen will kill him."
"Does that matter?" She mumbled.
"Ash!"
"Look I know that it's humiliating, but it's the best one! There isn't a damn spell in there that's comes even close. The others only stay in affect for a few hours! This is the best one. I can deal with a bit of humility for about 20 seconds, after that you two are home free." She justified.
"You really are bent on this aren't you." I stated. She nodded her head at me.
"I want to help you two. I need to get close to Avery to see Angie." She said. I instantly understood every thing. She is convinced that Avery is in connection with her old friend Angela, and she sees earning Avery's favor would help her see Angela again. She scoffed at me and said,
"I'm doing it with or without both your approval. Jericho, you wanted my help and now your gonna get it." And with that she left the room.
Rats Tongue
I tried my best to stay focused on the road ,but that was hard hard to do when Ash kept complaining about Allen's "possessiveness" as she puts it. Ash typically road to school with Allen, but after she said she was going to do the spell, Allen went nuts. And when she removed the mute spell, he had a lot to say... more then she could handle. Henceforth why I have a pissed off and slightly bitchy Ash in my car, and a beyond angry and overprotective Allen using my motorcycle. Poor Tyler. His iPod broke this morning so he is forced to listen to Ash, and every now and then Ash makes him agree with her. Over the years I have learned how to tune her out when she gets into these rants. I love Ash. I really do, but right now I could do with out her.
"Jer? Jericho! Are you even listening?"She asked me.
"What?" I said blankly. She looked at me in disbelief.
"Are you serious? I just asked you if you think Allen should apologies." She said.
"Yes. Ashlin, he should. Are you done with your rant?" I said. She looked at me with a insulted look on her face. She then rolled her eyes at me and said,
"You just want to see you little mate." she stated.
"Now that your right about." I told her. She looked out the window with a wide smile and scoffed.
"Males." She said under her breath.
"Hey did you read her fill? I left a copy of it on your desk last night." He asked me. I nodded my head at him in the mirror.
"Not all of it but the major things. Her birthday is on April 29th, She is allergic to celery, mustard, and parsnips, and she has a tendency to get sick in the middle of the day." I told him.
"Don't forget the fact that in fourth grade, she was suspended for fighting." He said. I laughed slightly. Avery fighting? I couldn't see it.
"Or that she plans on becoming a florist or art major." Ashlin Chimed in. I smirked and said,
"I didn't read the whole thing because I would feel like a stalker, but I see you two didn't restrain from reading it." I teased them. Ashlin punched me in the shoulder.
"Hey, I just wanted to know more about the girl that's stealing my man from me." She teased me.
"Say that in front of Allen." Tyler mocked her from the back of the car. Ashlin turned around in her seat and tried to look offended ,but instead she ended up smiling at him.
"I'll burn you." She threatened him. He laughed.
"With what your freaky bane powers or your demon powers?" He said sarcastically.
"No with holy water. And my powers aren't demon powers. I'm Christian thank you very much." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Oh my God! A Christian witch! I need to find the camera this is a rare sighting!" He teasingly grabbed his bag and started digging through it. I laughed as he pulled out a camera and snapped a picture of a scowling Ashlin. He looked down at the screen and said,
"Aww! So cute!" which earned him a,
"Fuck you." From Ash. I laughed at their childish behavior as we pulled up to the school. Ashlin stiffened at the sight of the school.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked her. She didn't respond. I looked back at Tyler and jerked my head to the side telling him to get out of the car. His eyes widened and he scampered out of the car.
Haunted Page 6