Back to the House

You slowly get to your feet and gather the shawl up in your arms. Quietly you walk across to where the twin you’d known about for less than twelve hours had disappeared, it felt as if a piece of you had gone with her. In such a short space of time your life had been turned upside down. Right after the big moment in the library you were sure your life couldn’t get any worse and you would have done anything to make things normal again. Now…now you wouldn’t go back to that life for anything.

Reaching out you slide your fingers down the cold rough stone. Out the open doorway the cresting morning sun was shooting golden rays through the trees and across the lake. Never had you been so sorry to see the light of morning. You surmise that the environment had simply become too bright for your dark sibling to maintain her connection. This gives you hope. Perhaps you just needed to find a dark enough space again, and even if that wasn’t the answer you were confident that you’d see her again once the sun went down. That spell Dad cast last night might still be in effect but from what you had heard your sister always found a way through sooner or later.

Furrowing your brows you try to think back to the other place though the details are fuzzy, as if you were trying to remember something from early childhood. All you could recall is that it was a terrible place. As different as your sister was you couldn’t believe she belonged in such a bizarre and grotesque realm. You pray that she was okay there, though you knew she’d gotten on fine all these years. It was hard to forget how she clung onto you before the moment she knew she’d be **** away. You grip your hand and remember her firm grasp, wishing so hard you could have kept her from leaving. Hopefully knowing that she wasn’t alone anymore would brighten her time away.

“Love you sister.” You whisper. Folding the shawl you throw it over your shoulder and head out the doorway and back toward the manor. The chorus of morning birds filled the air and all seemed right with the world again. No, not right. Normal. On a lovely morning like this it was hard to believe the supernatural truth that hid from the sight of you “normies”. You pass through the same wooded space where you and Vespera had played like children all through the night and it made your heart feel good.

You to get the lawn, happy to have its soft surface for your sore feet to walk over, and swiftly head for the house with a suspicious side long look at the hedge maze as you pass by. It looked harmless enough now though last night it nearly claimed your life. It was a good wake up call that things weren’t going to be the same anymore. You trot through the garden where bees and huge blue dragonflies buzzed about their business then up the steep steps. In an upstairs window you notice a face looking down at you, your mother’s. Relief at seeing you home safe and sound is evident on her demonicly beautiful face. With a smile you pat the shawl appreciatively and blow her a kiss. She grins and blows you one back before disappearing behind the heavy curtain. Thankfully the door is still unlocked. You hang the shawl and make your way through the house and toward your room.

As you climb the stairs you are greeted by the sight of father coming down the other direction. Despite the early hour he was already groomed and dressed in a forest green tweed suit giving him his usual old fashioned professorial look you were so accustomed to. There’s no avoiding him and, judging by the look in his eyes, he was looking for you anyway.

“Mornin Dad.” You greet him casually as you try to move to pass by.

“Where have you been?” He asks sternly as he blocks your path.

“In the yard. I just needed some time alone. To think. It was a lot to take in last night, I needed to clear my head.” You say without meeting his gaze. “I went for a walk and fell asleep in the woods.”

“In bare feet? In your pajamas? After what you learned last night? What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking straight. I just needed to get away from…all this.”

There is a long tense pause. “I could make you tell me.”

“Make me?” You look up at his looming form, his hard eyes told you that he wasn’t bluffing. You rise a step closer to him and in your most sincere voice say. “You don’t believe me? Dad, I was scared. Confused. I needed to get my head around this. I just needed to be alone. Away from monsters and magic and…everything. I just went for a walk like I’ve done a thousand times.”

“Things aren’t like they used to be. You can’t just get away from it. It’s your life now.” His features soften with genuine fatherly concern, though suspicion still lingered in his gaze. “You should have told me you were going out. I could have had Bron or Devany keep an eye on you. You could have gotten into trouble out there.”

“I’m not a child Dad.”

“Without your protection spell you might as well be. You are in a unique position son. You know about the things that go bump in the night. You know a secret, a dangerous secret for…someone like you. There are things in this world that you…” He sighs. “Jacob, please, stay close. Until you learn more.” His eyes harden and so does his voice as he lays down the law. “I don’t want you going out after dark anymore. Not for a while anyway.”

“Dad…”

“Jacob.” He says in a tone that told you this was not up for debate.

You hadn’t the energy to argue with him right now. With a long breath of frustration you simply nod. “Sure Dad. Whatever you say.”

Stepping down onto the stair just in front of you he leans down and hugs you. “I just want to keep you safe.”

“I know Dad. I’ll be fine. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

“Atta boy.” The hug parts, he pats your shoulder and steps to the side allowing you to ascend the stairs. Passing by him you hear that doesn’t move for a time, probably watching you, before you then hear him grumble under his breath and continue down the stairs.

You had to tell him about Vespera. But when? And how? It didn’t feel like the right time yet. There was too much you didn’t know. You couldn’t afford to screw this up. You needed more time to think about this.