(Sarah)
I splayed out underneath the tree, swinging in the swing. The summer sun baked my skin, bringing me a lull. My black wings splayed out, catching the sun. My dangling arm swung back and forth as my face was leaning on the mesh.
Two nights ago were exciting, strange, and a pain-in-the-ass. I couldn't get that dagger out of Daimon's back. The past few days, I lazed around, enjoying the summer sun, catching the rays to recharge. Darkness wasn't my friend, especially for collecting much-needed energy that my wings needed to keep charged. Every day, like a cat, I stretched out under the sun for thirty to an hour. It was the only time I had a moment where nothing mattered and I just existed in the silence.
I flapped. It blew and tickled the grass under my feet. My bare toes tickled, and I stretched.
The phone rang. My wings retracted, leaving me wingless.
A name, the soldier with a heart next to it.
"Sam," I said.
"Sarah. I'm here."
"What?" I got up, jumping out of the mesh hammock. "You're here?"
"Yes."
I looked around, trying to see where he was. Nothing. I bolted, going around the house. Standing with a wheelchair and two children with him. Multiple bags and suitcases were next to him as a cab left them behind.
"Sam?!" I stopped, flustered. Standing in front of them with my breath held in place.
Sam's silver whitish hair glimmered in the sunlight. His golden-colored eyes glimmered with joy when he saw me. Soft but sharp features, high cheekbones, and a jubilant smile that said 'I'm home' plastered on his face. His massive, intimidating frame was coiled like a spring.
"Sam!" I walked over. "I can't believe you're here."
"It's good to see you, Sarah." Coming over, he walked around his sleeping wife. He pulled me in; a giant bear hug followed. As he squeezed the life out of me, I returned the squeeze with equal force.
He let me go.
"Jeeze, Sarah. You've grown."
"I have been the same." I snorted at his statement. "You've changed."
"Yes. I have. This is my family, come here." Sam motioned, his son and daughter. His son was cute, holding a teddy bear against his chest. His white hair and angelic look made me want to squat down and squeeze his chubby cheeks. He was wearing black shorts, teddy bear shoes, and a white shirt with a bare face on it. "My second-born, Nate."
Nate hides behind Sam's leg, peeking out and hiding back behind his own leg.
"Hi Nate." I waved, smiling.
Nate blushed, hiding even further behind his father.
"He's three years old and not this shy," Sam then pushed his daughter forward.
She was wearing a yellow sundress, cute sandals and a straw hat. Her eyes were just like Sam's , glimmering with curiosity. "I'm Sally." Her voice spoke out, holding Sam's hand. "You're pretty."
"Thank you. You're cute. I'm your aunty Sarah."
"Aunty Sarah?" Sally looked up at Sam, questioning him.
"She is. We'll be living together while we take care of your mother."
"Mom? Is Aunty Sarah our new mom?"
"No, sweetheart, she's my sister. That's why she's called Aunty Sarah."
"Ohhhhhhhhh," Sally spoke, rocking back and forth. "I like that."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"She's four years old. Quite a handful, I assure you."
"I believe it." I chuckled.
Sam let go of Sally's hand. He walked over to the beautiful lady, who was sleeping in the wheelchair. The beautiful lady tied her golden hair in a bun. Hands crossed, she looked as if she would wake up if she were shaken.
"This is my wife, Penny," Sam motioned his hand to his wife in the wheelchair.
"How long has she been in a coma?" I asked, we were walking to the house. "It's been two years."
"Two years?" His information shocked me. "What happened?"
"I'll tell you when we get in. Let me get set up and put them into their room."
"Alright. You still have your own room. The guest room next to it is good for your children."
"Thanks."
I reached over, grabbing the suitcase as I rolled it along behind me. All of us went into the house. The kids ran around the house eagerly and their parents ushered them into their new rooms as they settled in.
"Aren't your teammates supposed to be here?" I asked.
"Yes, they'll be here in the following week."
"Gotcha." I brought his suitcase into his room.
Sam picked up his wife, carrying her up the stairs. I opened his bedroom door; he walked through, putting her down on the bed. I could see the love and care in how he held her and placed her. His gazed lovingly; his hand pulled back a piece of her hair and tucked it against her ear.
"You love her," I broke the silence, pushing the suitcase against the wall. I wondered what was in his bag to be so heavy.
"Yes, she's the love of my life, and I am grateful that she came to me."
"I don't get it. How did she get like that?" I straightened up.
Sam looked at his wife one more time before he walked out the door. I followed him right after, and he closed the door. We walked down the stairs and took a seat on the sofa.
"Now, tell me. What happened?"
Sam leaned back in the loveseat, his hands folded. His eyes darkened as a simmering fury bubbled in the back of his throat. His hand clenched and his teeth gritted. "The police officer said it was a car accident, but I know when there is a stink of malice lingering in the air. It carries the same stink when our mom and dad were killed.
I leaned forward, listening in. This was news that I didn't think was possible.
"What do you mean?"
"Malice lingers. You remember what Dad used to say?" Sam gazed at me, his eyes flashed a swirling gold and a deep dark blue that swirled in his eyes. His power shifted in his eyes.
"Yea, any traumatic events surrounding death linger as a spiritual imprint. The dead relive the incident repeatedly until someone prays for their release. Malice traps them. Though not all tragic deaths have malice behind it as it's their time."
"Correct, Penny stank of malice when I arrived at her car accident. Someone wanted her dead." Sam spat. "I smelled it and felt relieved. Her brakes faltered, almost killing her. Someone tampered with her brakes to disable them. What's worse, there was a magic that clings to her skin, hidden away if she didn't die."
"Why?" I gasped. "I don't get it. Why would they want to get her?"
"It wasn't her."
"Are you saying it was for you?"
Sam shook his head. "I was supposed to take the car that day, but she took it in between the time when she stopped by to get it oil changed. I...." His shoulder slumped, his hand brought to his face as pure sadness drenched his face.
I got up and stood next to him. With a gentle hug, I wrapped myself around his shoulder. "I am sorry."
"I should have been the one who was out, not her." Sam's voice hitched, his voice shaking. "I should have been the one to take the car. Why? Why couldn't I just take it myself?"
"Sam. Stop that. What if it will not solve anything? It's just put down in a spiral. Instead, we're going to find those assholes and make them pay. First, we need to wake her up." I pulled away, stroking his back. "I'm glad you're here as a family we would be stronger rather than separate."
Sam patted my hands, "You're right. I can't let this overwhelm me. Let's focus on how to break the spell."
"Do you think it's those people that killed our parents?"
"I think so. It makes no sense; why not? That lingering malice came from the same people. I remember that energy trace anywhere."
"Did you find anything else?"
"No, someone wiped all traces as if covering its trail. What about you?"
I stopped rubbing his back and stepped away. I walked back over and took a seat. "Someone had put a hit list in the underworld here in Hilmont County, Georgia five years ago at the Midnight Store, a metaphysical store that sells supernatural stuff for people. A cover-up to sell spells. It's been a hit for the past ten years and is becoming a growing trend. I'm not sure how they're doing it, but they have the best black market on the east coast. I believe it starts around 12 am to 3 pm, during witching hour."
"That's more than I got. Were you able to get in?"
"No. You need to be invited in for that."
"Alright, I'll get you in with my teammates and connections. Maybe you can find how to break the curse while you are at it."
"Alright. I'm just glad you are here." I chuckled; it wasn't easy to dig up information. Especially when it didn't want to surface. Someone or something was hiding the information, and they were bent on nobody finding it.
"How was the Luna gathering?" Sam asked.
I thought about it, frowning. My body shifted, tapping my hand on my leg. It took a moment for me to plan how I wanted to go about this. Telling my brother, I slept in the same bed as Daimon would have Sam choking on his own spit. Even I was too embarrassed to bring something like that up.
"Different," I said, thinking it over. "It was a costume party, though it was my first time seeing so many people with red strings of fate appear in one room."
"What? Are you serious?" Sam asked in shock. He looked at me, making sure I wasn't lying.
"I'm serious. I have never seen so many in one room. Heck, witnessing those during the full moon finding the 'one' counts as a miracle, but I have never seen anything like a room connected as if predestined.
"Your gift is not acting up, is it?"
"No," I glowered, "I'm sure of what I saw. I even took part in unraveling some knots that were formed."
"That's quite peculiar. Do you think all those people that came to the gathering are different or the place is different?"
"That's a good question. I felt nothing in the area that was special, so I think it's the people."
"Supernaturals."
"What?"
"When I was traveling the world, I stumbled upon many supersnaturals. We aren't the only ones, sis."
"I assumed we were different from regular people, but you're saying that there is something more out there that we don't know."
Sam shook his head. The way he said that there were supernaturals made me wonder, what kind. Were they evil? Good? Or something nobody would ever want to entangle with.
"You remember those stories that Mom used to read to us at night?"
"Stories about mythical creatures?" My thoughts drifted to the nights when my mother would tuck me into bed, reading stories of gallant heroes slaying dragons, fighting monsters, and saving damsels in distress. But the stories that I remember the most weren't the heroic fights, but the monsters that lurked in the darkness and the light, hidden away from prying eyes: The shapeshifters, the dragons, fairies, demons, and evil creatures that came out to prey upon men.
"You think that gathering was one of those." I said, hoping that wasn't the case. If so, I was in the middle of something dangerous.
"Yeah, to see that many red strings of fate, it means that Hills, Sol, and Regis are supernatural and or their company hosts supernaturals. I bet money on it they aren't human."
My heart clenched, worry dropped in my stomach, curling around like a hot kettle ready to boil over. This wasn't good. I knew nothing about the other supernatural beings. We have never met one before. Heck, our family was so hidden that we met people. It wasn't until my parents passed that we integrated into human society.
For me, it took a good 3 years to feel normal, and another year to get the lingo correct.
"You're saying I'm in a cesspool of supernaturals."
"Yes. Don't forget, you're considered part of it, so I wouldn't say we're not out of place," Sam chuckled. He had a point; we were beings with wings. People assumed we were messengers.
"True." There was a truth to what my brother had said. To the regular people, we were not the same, though I concur and believe we are. "I'll see what I can find at work. Maybe I'll find out something about them."
"Fair."
"Are you hungry? I can make dinner." I stood up, heading toward the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'm hungry. I'll bring the kids down."
I opened the refrigerator, pulling out ingredients to make some fresh pasta. My mind was racing on what combinations of food I could make. With efficient hands, I pulled out different ingredients. Placing them on the table, I begin my family pasta recipes.
I pulled up my hair, tying it back. It didn't take long for me to be engrossed in cooking, cutting, stirring, and tasting the food before me.
Sally came hopping over, her golden eyes looking up at me with a smile. "Aunty!"
I looked down. Her chubby cheeks were pouting, her hand clutching her skirt. She swayed back and forth, and her eyes became big. She sniffed.
"Yes, sweetheart?" I stirred the pasta, finishing up.
"What are you making?"
"Our family recipe. The forever bomb."
"Forever bomb?" Sally tilted her head.
"Yes, food that explodes in your mouth."
"That sounds dangerous, aunty. I want to keep my mouth shut." She scowled, "I don't think I want to eat something that will hurt me."
I burst out laughing. My heart melted at how she took that. "It won't hurt you, I promise. It will taste good, though."
"Really?"
"Yes, sweetheart. Now, let's go sit down and eat." I pulled a utensils from the drawer and plates from the cabinet.
"Okay. Will Dad and Nate be eating too?"
"Yes, if they are not down here, go grab them for dinner."
"Alright!" Sally raced out of the kitchen. I could hear the pitter-patter of her feet hitting the floor as she dashed through the living room and up the stairs. Her cute voice shouting that dinner was ready.
I walked over, placing the utensils and plates down. Plating the food for four people, I placed it down. A delicious smell of basil and cheese permeated the air; the hot steam rose from the dinner. The dining room was large, fitting an eight-person wooden table. My parents bought such a large table to accommodate small family gatherings, which we had. Mom didn't mind, but she used it as often as she could.
The children pulled themselves onto the chair, while Sam and I took a seat.
Sally poked her food with a fork, examining it like a science experiment. While Nate held onto his bear as if his life depended on it. Sam reached over, placing Sam on a toddler's chair. He wrapped him with a bib and looked at his son without words to hand him his bear.
Nate clenched, challenging his father with his eyes. His little hands squeezed the ears of his bear a few times.
Sam motioned with his hand again.
With reluctance, Nate handed his bear over.
"Do you need help to feed them?" I asked, stabbing my fork into the food. Taking a bite, a blast of cheese erupted in my mouth as many herbs of spice followed. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for my mother's cooking lessons. I nearly succeeded, but fell short.
"No, they need to learn to eat for themselves." Sam replied, placing the bear right next to Nate on the other empty chair.
We ate. Sally and Nate, shoveling food into their mouths. They smacked their lips loudly, plastering their lips with red sauce. Their eyes twinkled with joy at what they were eating. My heart melted, enjoying the sight before me.
I was so thankful that my family was able to gather. I didn't realize how much I missed my brother, and to see new life here in this house brought a sense of joy in itself.
"Can they fly?" I asked, taking a stab at another bite. My plate is half-finished.
"Not yet, but Sally had her first molt. Nate's wings are still growing, and he's having trouble keeping them out."
"First molt. Wow, she's about to have her first flight feathers."
"Yep," Sam said. "I see her fluttering around the house sometimes, and she have been lifting off the ground a few inches. Probably, she will fly by the end of this year."
I chuckled, "I remember you learning how to fly. You hit and broke a few of Mom's vases, got scolded by Dad for getting tangled up in the trees, and that one time you fell into the lake."
Sam snorted, shaking his head.
Sally gasped, "Did you, Dad?"
"What? Fall into the lake?" Sam said, looking at his little girl with a crooked smile.
"Yeah. Did you fall? Were there alligators in the lake?"
"Yes, I fell."
Sally gasped, holding her hand in front of her mouth.
"But luckily there were no alligators. Now, finish your food, and you can go out and play."
"Okay~,"
"Kids," Sam shook his head.
"You were them once." I snorted at him, "It's not like you didn't get into strings of trouble."
"Hey now," Sam waved his fork at me, "you caused half of it. I remember you almost got fried on the telephone line."
"Yeah." I blushed, "That was a mistake. Dad could swoop me out of the sky before I tumbled into that."
"You're lucky you didn't get fried."
"Not like you were doing gymnastics in the air." I jabbed at him, "It took you until 7 to get everything under control."
"Bah. That's when I outpaced you and flew further, and outmaneuvered you."
I rolled my eyes. "You're just two years older than me. For sure you'll fly better."
"I'm done!" Sally said, placing her fork on the plate. She slid off, running around grabbing Nate. Nate bobbed his head, smacking his lips. He still had some juice on his face, but he didn't care. He motioned to his dad to pull him out of the chair.
Sam sighed, looking at his son. He then grabbed a napkin, wiping the juice off his face. He then reached in to pull him out. He placed Nate on the ground. "I want you near the house, you got it." He looked at both Nate and Sally. "I will ban you from playing outside and ground you for the day in the room if I find you walking out of sight."
Both Nate and Sally looked at each other, horrified. They nodded their heads in agreement like a bobby doll. Sally grabbed Nate's hand, running out the door as if their little feet could outrun us from catching them.
"Kids," Sam got up, picking up the plate. "I'll wash the dishes; could you watch them?"
"Yeah," I got up, finished with my plate and followed the kids behind me.
I smiled.