COLD SUNRISE

My eyes were wide open gazing at the ceiling in my room, an electrifying pain all over my body with a migraine on the right side of my brain. It was a bright morning and this time it was for real and I was sure I was truly awake, the only problem I seemed to have at the moment,was i couldn’t a muscle or hear anything else except for the ringing sound in my ear from when I got hit by the train in the dream. I was trapped in my body unable to speak, screaming on the inside, I wanted to hear something…No I needed to hear something anything at all loud enough to make my body react to it. I tried forcing words out of my mouth but no luck .

Then luckily there was a loud bang at the door, the sound sharply piercing through the ringing in my ear, quickly translated as an impulse by my brain my body responds with a shudder. My fingers slowly began to twitch next my toes I noticed I was slowly regaining control, I heard Judy voice.

“Nathan! Nathan! Are you all right, are you in there?” that was all I needed to hear I sprung up panting.

“Nathan!” she called knocking harder.

“yeah…I’m fine, I’ll be out in a minute” I replied audible enough but weakly trying to stand up my body still hurts like hell.

“Okay, breakfast is ready in the kitchen I’ll see you then.”I heard her footsteps fade down the stairs I also found my bed empty raven was gone. Worst of all my room turned upside down like it had been hit by a hurricane, photos on the clipboard scattered on the floor, my ward-rope wide open with half the clothes yanked out, books flipped wide open and thrown in different directions.

She must have jumped from my room once she regained her strength cause my door was still locked meaning she didn’t use front door or the window either that was also shut too. I must have been in very deep sleep it’s the only explanation why I didn’t hear or feel anything even when it happened. At least her jump didn’t quake the house or do much damage like it did Aarons back at the lake house although I didn’t get to see the full thing I’m sure there were cracks, yeah, large cracks on the floor spreading into the walls accompanied with an intense vibration that would have sent my grand folks sprinting and screaming out of the house. Funny but it wasn’t the major thing on my mind I still had memories from the dream last night Aaron and I in the park facing the Eiffel tower, the beach before that, Limbo, I can remember everything he told me even though it’s a dream and it’s also possible my imagination must have created some kind of reunion scenario…cause maybe I sometimes thought about him a lot. I stared closely at my face at my bathroom mirror only to discover traces of blood on my nose.

The weekend passed a new week took its place, I haven’t heard from Raven since she spent the night room, I tried her number severally it was unavailable I had a lot to tell and ask the same time. About the dream I wanted to sure it wasn’t just my imagination running wild. On Monday after I got to school early I waited at the parking lot for the Lansdale’s arrive, I mean Raven, I got no business with the rest, No show, not Raven nor boy’s either same with next day and the day after. It went on all week and now it’s Friday already, during classes I found myself staring at the door waiting, Hoping, she’ll just walk in… I found her absence was very disturbing after I tried calling again and texted a thousand times, No answer, no reply nothing. Something is wrong, something may have happened, a reason for their absence and why she hadn’t made contact. Well aside from that I had quite a problem with my normal friends, they look at me strangely and we’ve hardly had a chance to talk.

Would I blame them, through out last week it seemed like I ditched them and for a good reason, I have to find a way to make it right, at the cafeteria I carried my lunch tray sucking it up marching towards their table, they were all chatty taking about stuff like they usually do for the girls it’s about gossip, who was caught hooking up with who or who shagged who, conversations like that was always spearheaded by cherry, scarlet is the one who makes whatever story enters the school newspaper. Allan was seated quietly having his lunch, the table wasn’t full the only empty space I could find was close to him.

“ hey guy’s” I said guiltily standing like a lost puppy whose finally decided to find its way home, I had their attention but some of them pretended like I wasn’t even there like my buddy Allan whom I’m right now standing next to.

“Well, well, guess who it is, the mystery man of Franklinton high Nathan Lansdale has finally decided to grace us with his presence.” Wade announced sarcastically.

“And where are your siblings again, I don’t see them anywhere in the cafeteria. Oh I forgot they haven’t been in school today, and yesterday, and the day before that, something must be wrong. So since they aren’t present you’ve decided to reach out to old buddies cause you can’t stand sitting alone anymore with everyone watching you,” Cherry pointed out, and she was right, I couldn’t bear sitting alone it made me feel odd and being odd doesn’t always feel so good. Right now if I could find a dark hole I might probably just crawl in, did I mention before that Raven and I made front page at the stupid school newspaper at the beginning of the week, yeah scarlet did that. I’m not surprised getting such a reaction from cherry either.

“Alright I get it, I’ll find another table.”

“No, No, Nate, go ahead sit. You’re probably the most popular guy in school right now, I want you to tell how you did it.” Wade smiled suggesting.

“Did what?” I replied putting my tray on the table sitting down, Allan didn’t even bother to look not even a wink.

“Hey Allan,”

“Hey, yourself.” he muttered coldly still fixed on his food.

“Ahem!” cherry cleared her throat to get my attention.

“ Wade here was asking how you were able to break your way through the giant brick wall of Raven Lansdale when other guys have tried and given up, now you two are like a thing just within a month you show up in town something that’s never happened since she set foot in this school, I want you to tell the full story” scarlet demanded.

“ the answer to that scarlet is Nate here is a lucky son of a gun, I mean he’s not jock, he’s not super rich or something but he’s got the hottest chick in town, to me that’s the definition of a miracle.” Darrel said amusedly.

“ shut up Darrel let him talk,” scarlet scowled.

“We’re not a thing like you call it, we’re just friends that’s all.” I answered.

“Hello! The both of you showed up together to school in the same car every day all through last week and I’m sure you guys aren’t reading partners either, Come on you can come up with something better than we’re just friends,” Scarlet replied.

“ you should give scarlet something to use for the school newspaper now she’s the in charge, except you want her coming up with bright ideas of her own.” Cherry added.

“Sorry scarlet I got nothing, No comment!”

I chased after Allan as soon as the class we had together was over, I knew he was still mad at me somehow, what I did distancing from them was for the best, what had in my mind was what if I was always with them and the council comes for me they might all just end up being collateral damage caught in middle something they’ll never understand, I wanted to avoid that that’s why I did what I did. Allan is my friend he’s been there for me before the accident and after, in a way he helped me fit in and I didn’t get to feel much like an outsider when I first got here, if there’s anyone that I needed to get through to and make amends it was him.

“ Hey man, I know I suck by the way I acted last week not returning your calls and messages, I also know your mad me for other things too and I’m sorry, there’s just been a lot going with me.” I walked alongside him as he tended to ignore me marching to his next class.

“Come on, say something.”

“I’m not mad at you, I just find it hard to believe you’d want to ditch me to be friends with a bunch of pretty faced anti-social freaks.” He answered.

“Hey, you know it’s not like that.”

“then explain to me how your all with people you hardly know or have anything in common with right after your accident, there’s has to be something between you and the Lansdale’s that no one knows about.”

“yes…I…uhmmm..” I didn’t know what to say or how to explain that I’m just someone trying to stay alive and keeping everyone around me out of harm’s way.

“you know what, it’s none of my business but one thing I’m going tell you is that your sailing in uncharted waters friend, so be careful.”

“ I know,” I replied glumly.

“What about your girlfriend and her brothers, do you have any idea why they haven’t been in school this week?”

“No, I have called and texted for a thousand times nothing,”

“ then go over to her house and check on her, you’ve been there before haven’t you ?”

he asked,

“yes, but I don’t think her brothers like me very much.” I said.

“What do you mean I thought I saw you all bonding last week and you’re dating their sister what problem could they have with you,”

“Raven and I aren’t dating, we’re friends like I mentioned earlier nothing else, what you think you saw last week for all of us was only circumstantial, they’ll rip me apart the moment their sister is not looking, they are not comfortable with fact that their sister and I are friends.”

“Well screw it that’s my say, don’t give a shit about whatever they think,” Allan replied.

“I’ve seen the way you’ve been acting recently you know, acting all quiet and lost, staring at the parking lot in classes waiting for her to show up or your eyes at the door hoping whoever walks in would be her. You like her I get it and you’re worried about her, how about instead of moping around, you suck it up, go over to her house and check on her to see if she’s okay.”

“Yeah, your right I think I should, thanks buddy,” I patted him on the shoulder. What he said finally gave me the conviction I needed. I don’t care what happens, I’m just going to go there. I needed to see her again.

I drove out of school not minding I had a final class for the day, I was able to retrace the road back to her house following the same lonesome route I found her on that rainy evening I gave her a ride home, The first time I tried getting to understand her, that I’m not so sure I succeeded in. I passed the signpost of the close a few minutes later arriving at the mansion. I parked right in front of the metal gate then taking a deep breath, folding the sleeve to my shirt while looking at myself I the rear. Stepping out of the car for the awkward part, I walked through the slightly opened gate the mansion quite distant from it. The lengthy environment beautifully decorated with an ornamental garden, the building itself large and classically old fashioned like built during the 1800ths, three black S.U.V’s parked close to the entrance door, the main parking lot at the side was, Raven’s Mustang, a black convertible, the silver Mercedes the boys usually show up with and a cruiser, the compound was quiet, there was no one outside.

I felt a firm grip on my trachea the moment I walked past the water fountain at the middle, like someone hands on my throat pressing hard, I couldn’t breathe and the only hands on my throat was mine searching for a release as I gasped for breath, I heard gentle approaching footsteps behind me.

“Didn’t you ever learn it’s rude to trespass on someone else’s property?” said a deep unfamiliar male voice behind, I turned around falling on my knees, my lungs felt like they were about collapsing, my eyes and nostrils flared wide open, I saw his face he wore a tux, his hair and eyebrows white like an albino.

“Lucius, who’s that?” someone else approached, this time the voice sounded familiar it was Chris,

“Come see for yourself,” the grip still on my neck, my eyes rolling up to my skull out suffocation.

“Wow! Ha-ha,” Chris chuckled callously,

“Look what the cat dragged in, unbelievable! Nathan bale finally decided to pay us a visit after all,”

“You know him?”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s my sister new pet the one I have been telling you all about, let him go before Raven comes around and makes a fuss out of this.” I caught my breath deeply when the grip vanished.

“You sure got some brass ones coming here Mate I’ll give you that,”

“My God! What have you lunatics done to him?” I heard the door of the mansion open, Raven rushed out to my aid, she took my face in my palm kneeling in front of me, I continuously took slow deep breaths.

“Nathan, are you okay?” she asked anxiously in soft enchanting voice, I gazed directly into her perfect blue eyes, she wore an elegant blue dress that matched her eyes, My God, she was devastatingly beautiful than I had ever seen her. I acknowledged the fact that I had never felt this grateful about seeing a person before, her presence proved that my worries were for nothing, she was fine that’s all that mattered.

“If anything happens to him, I swear to God...” She snarled.

“Hey, don’t look at me I didn’t do anything,”

“I thought he was trespassing, humans don’t get to step on our property if not properly invited.” The guy with the white hair said defensively.

“That doesn’t mean you have to hurt them,” she replied grimly.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be alright Nathan, can you stand.” I nodded. She took me by my right arm, I felt the hairs on it stand upright, we jumped from outside into a broad bedroom. Brightly lit room with gray brick walls, a flat-screen TV mounted on the right and below it a rectangular fireplace, where I stood the room window was behind me, Raven walked over to the mini-fridge at the corner pouring me a glass of water.

“I’m sorry about what Lucius did to you, we don’t often get human visitors around here and my people tend to get jumpy when they see one.” She apologized handing me the glass, I could feel my throat again when I chugged it down.

“So who is he anyway? I haven’t seen his face around town before,” that guy would have totally strangled me if Chris hadn’t shown up at all.

“He’s my cousin from my mother’s side The Blackwell’s, they came into town for a meeting with my Dad and Lock,”

“Oh!”

the older family Aaron mentioned that once lived in Franklinton.

“I’m curious what are you doing here? Normally you should be frightened of coming anywhere close to my house.” She said smugly.

“ I was worried about you, you hadn’t shown up in school for the whole week, I tried calling, texting, whatnot, and no answer, so I figured I come on check on you myself.” I said glancing around I didn’t miss the sight the luxury bed, everything else seemed too organized, it was her room I’m sure.

“that’s very sweet of you thanks, but I’m fine and I also got my reasons for not being at school same with my brothers, We’ve got this sort of family thing going on with the Blackwell’s ,”

“at least you should’ve replied my texts to give me a heads up,” I said archly.

“Yeah, about that I’m sorry, there’s just been a lot going on around the here that I barely even remembered to,”

For a second there we were just staring at each other, I wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked in that dress, in fact I should have said it right away but I didn’t, shit! What the hell is wrong with me. I like her but she’s way out of my league, I’m standing here like an idiot who’s run out of things to say, and now the silence is becoming awkward, I can’t just go ahead and throw the compliment I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying too hard. I shifted my gaze to the painting on the wall behind her to break the moment, taking a closer look while approaching I noticed it’s resemblance to one of Picasso’s masterpiece LES FEMMES D’ ALGER {Version O.}

““Wow! I think I’m a bit confused right now. This can’t be what I think it is right, the original of….”

“LES FEMMES D’ ALGER by Picasso, yes it is,” she stated proudly.

“I see you’ve got a keen eye for art,”

“No, I’m just a Picasso fan and if I’m correct this is regarded amongst one of the most important paintings made by him, how did you guys get it anyway?” i asked, because that thing if it’s really the original would be bloody expensive, not some ordinary painting that should be hanging on a teenage girls’ room.

“it was my Grandmother’s Maggie, she used to be a collector once as I was told, it’s been in-house for as long as I can remember, Maggie obtained this original piece from the museum of modern art in 1980, hiring a very skilled art forger to make the exact copy of the painting down to every brush stroke made by Picasso himself then replacing it for this original you see right here, my mom told me she got it as a wedding present from her,”

“So you’re telling me your grandma took the original painting from M.O.M.A back then and replaced it with a fake and that fake is currently hanging on the walls of Christie New York auctioned to be sold at over a hundred million dollars and the whole world has no idea is not the real deal,” I said astonishingly, with my eyes on the painting.

“the forger who made the fake was one of my kind, Mom said that the fake looks pretty much more convincing than the original itself.” She replied standing beside me

“You just vanished from my room last week without saying anything,” I brought it up.

“ I told I was going to leave the moment I regained my strength and you were deep asleep what was I supposed to do, wake you?”

“well, when I woke up it was like my room had been hit by a hurricane, I’m guessing you did your jump thing from there.”

“ Yeah, sorry I couldn’t leaving through the front door, long jumps are always like that but I’m getting a hang of it though.

There was a record player on top the mini-shelf beside the painting on the wall, a collection of uniformly stuffed record albums in the glass case it drew my curiosity to know her taste in music, the type of music a person listen to tells you a lot about that them. I pulled a handful, the set I took comprised of Johnny Cash, AC/DC, Imagine Dragons, the script, the black keys, 5 Seconds of summer, and more of LANA DEL REY.

“hmmm, I see. So you’re more of a rock and roll kind of girl and you’re also an Elizabeth Woolridge fan,” I said.

“Yeah, she’s alright,” she replied.

“What of Taylor Swift and Katy Perry girls usually dig them,” I tried checking out another set.

“I like them too but I don’t have their albums in record players, now will you stop snooping around my stuff,” she grabs them away from me.

“Hey, you know that’s not fair when you were in my room you had the freedom to roam however you liked.”

“But I didn’t go through your stuff did I? And besides this is my house so you play by my rules,” she said smugly.

“Okay, ma’am .” I laughed enjoying the moment.

“I’m curious, what other special ability do you have apart from the ones I have seen myself.”

“Oh! Now you want to know almost everything about me,”

“ I guess, I mean we’re all in this together I might as well start getting used to stuff like this, not to get any more unpleasant surprises in the future,”

“Nice try, but I’m not going to show you my box of tricks if that’s what you’re suggesting,” Raven pointed out.

“Do you have super strength? Or freeze breathe, Can you see through solid objects and shoot fire out of your eyes cause that would be incredibly cool,” I asked taking wild guesses.

“ really, is that what I seem like to you? Some super freak from a science fiction movie because I’m different,” she said disappointedly.

“That’s not. That’s not what I meant,” I answered guiltily, I hope I hadn’t upset her. Gosh! I’m so insensitive at times

“I know,” there was silence between us for some seconds but she looked calm not angry.

“it’s just that I’m not much of a show-off person,” she looked away from me fitting I took out the albums back on the shelf.

“ I’m sorry, I didn’t know it made you feel uncomfortable, I should never have brought it up in the first place forget I said anything.” I apologized.

“No, I’m going to grant your wish but just once.” Raven smiled, before slowly closing in on me, we were standing inches away from each other, she took my palm in hers and our fingers crossed.

“Hold still,” she softly whispered to my ear, while I felt her body slightly press against mine, she placed her other palm at the left part of my chest, i felt my blood rise from within and not cause whatever she was about doing but from the sensation of our bodies in contact starting from her first touch...then she lets go backing away from me suddenly.

my joints became stiff I could hardly move anything else aside from my fingers.

“Wait, what’s happening? Why can’t I move?”

an unexpected coldness under my feet in my shoes, I watched them depart a few meters above the ground.

“Whoa! How are you doing this?” I asked astoundingly, goose bumps broke out all over my arms...Raven statically stood there with a piercing gaze in her eyes at me, like she was concentrating. The meters continually extending as I levitated. I got myself turned horizontally at half feet between the floor and the ceiling, I saw a smile stretch across her lips, I got jolted upwards again forcefully this time, my back slumped hard against ceiling almost close to the turning fan.

“Ouch! Okay, okay, please do you mind putting me down now I think I have had enough.” I groaned, my back firmly pressed on the hardwood. Raven laughed while I hung there watching from above..

“No, not just yet....” she chuckled like she was actually having fun.

“Wait! Can’t you see what you’re doing to me right now, are you enjoying this?”

“Of course I am , I haven’t gotten the opportunity to do this to anyone in a very long time,” she replied excitedly...her smile was like twisted crazy and it frightened me.

" you know I can do to you whatever I want, toss out of my window or out of my roof.”

“How about you do neither and put me down you’re literally scaring the crap out of me saying stuff like that.”

“I thought you wanted to get a glimpse of the awesomeness of my terrible powers,” she grimaced

“Well i didn’t mean they should be tried on me and this probably covers all of them, now please put me down,“I begged and I prayed she wouldn’t simply let me drop like a can from that height cause it would definitely hurt a lot, she lets me descend gently i came down with my front to the floor.

“Who would have guessed you’re such a crybaby.” She jeered with a faint laugh, I sighed in relief getting up to my feet.

“It’s not funny, that was terrifying. Look at my arms you gave me goosebumps.”

There was a knock at the door and someone walked in. Adam also wearing a dark tux with his shiny hair glossed with oil and curled backwards, the cold look on his when he glanced at me..

“Father is aware of his presence here and wants him to stay over for dinner,” he announced.

“Yeah sure that’s fine by me,“I replied Adam, it came as a surprise but I was willing finally I’ll get a chance to see the mysterious billionaire Michael Lansdale and the whole family .

“No, No, Adam please tell him he can’t stay, he’s just about leaving.” raven shrugged

“Nathan trusts me its a very bad idea, I think its best you leave now. If you ever want to get back home in one piece,” she urged, the way she talked like she was scared of him.

" it’s not a request raven, the boy will not leave until father says so,” Adam stated clearly walking out of the room.

“you make it sound like your dad is going to eat me,”

“Not necessarily, but I can assure its possible you won’t be the same like when you came after dining with us.” I laughed at her statement, I mean it was kind of funny the way she reacted.

“I’m sorry but maybe he’s simply just inviting me for dinner no big deal,” I said easily, I’m guessing he must know about me by now.

“You don’t get it, today is the anniversary of my mom’s death, every year on this day a dinner is held with the Blackwell’s in memorial, which means to the elders of both our families this day is very significant to them.” She explained.

“You’re worried About me being there?” I understood why.

“No, not just that I’m worried about my dad’s intentions towards you, my dad is as cryptic as ever, since this whole thing between us and you started he’s barely talked about it with anyone maybe except Lock and we’ve never had a human over for dinner before, you’re going to be the first..”

" it would be an honor then, “I replied smugly. I had to admit i was taking this more casually than I was supposed to, and I get it she was worried about me, what the invitation meant, what might happen.

A lingering thought immediately brought itself to light in my head, it was part of the reason I decided to come here apart from I longed to see Raven again, it was about the dream I had, things Aaron conveyed to me last week, its possibility. I had to be sure it wasn’t just my hyperactive imagination.

“You’re taking this situation quite casually than you’re supposed to, you know that right?” She said bewilderingly.

“Yes, I know and I’m not scared to dine at a table full of supernatural’s you know why?”

“Why?” She muttered I drew closer to her in assurance.

“Because I know you’ll be beside me the entire time, so what have I got to be scared of.” We stood silent for a moment, a saw a smile with a hint of surprise stretch across her lips.

“you know that’s another way of saying you expect me to be your personal safety net and your life is my hands,”

“Well that’s one way looking at, I mean whom better to trust with my life than the person that saved it,“I replied.

“Hmmm, you’re braver than you look,”

I chuckle inwardly backing away, sitting on the chair in the dressing mirror, the thought of the dream crossed my mind again.

“is there something else on your mind?” Raven asked.

“Uhmmm, yeah there’s something I’ll like to confirm.”

“DOMUS duo decim, its the Latin meaning for The houses of twelve, that what the organization you refer as the council is called right? ”

“Yes and how do you know that?“She asked curiously.

“great! So the dream wasn’t just a dream after all.” I muttered to myself.

“What are you talking about?”

“you wouldn’t believe me if I told you,”

“try me,” she urged.

I exhaled deeply, “That night you slept over, I had this dream about my Dad we met for the time and he told me things, when I woke up I thought maybe it just my head making things up and now it turns out it’s more than that.”

“He said he’s been watching me, he knew about your family and what happened that night in the woods, he said something about lock being part of the reason why the council is after your family ,” the puzzled look on her face..

" its true isn’t it?” She didn’t say anything.

“Look, I’m just trying to get the whole picture here nothing more, you don’t have to tell me the reason if you don’t want to,”

She sighed deeply.

“Yes, before we caught ties with the council, they first made lock an offer which he rejected, they don’t take rejection very well, that was the genesis of the problem and as part of his family the council also made us out to be targets.”

“What I don’t get is how whatever you learnt from your dream turned out to be right , I knew you were odd but you’re normal odd, I don’t sense anything weird about you,”

The evening drew in, Raven had gone downstairs to help set up for dinner, I exhausted the remaining time alone with the TV set in her room,

“Dinner is ready, its time Nate,” she informed when she returned. I felt my anxiety slowly creeping in. I mean who in their right mind wouldn’t be nervous at a dinner invitation by the mysterious town billionaire, and also in the presence of the oldest family in Franklinton.

“You’ll be my escort downstairs right?” I asked nervously adjusting my sleeve in front of her dressing mirror.

" sure who else, except you’ll prefer the presence of my butler instead.” She sounded I’m used.

“You guys have a butler?”

“Quit staring at yourself in the mirror you look alright, come on let’s get this over with.”

She led the way to a long passage with old classic chandeliers that emitted dim lights, I followed behind looking at both sides of the wall with different hanging paintings. Their other rooms too but with closed doors, the last painting I found was on the wall at the end of the passageway, a portrait of an old man with a beard larger and likely more expensive than the rest perhaps a van Gogh.

“Before I forget that’s something you have to do,” raven paused facing me as we were about going down.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Avoid handshakes with my father,”

" why is he going to electrocute me if I do,” I replied jokingly

Her request was weird, I knew she was suspicious about what her father was up to, but it didn’t guarantee anything bad might happen.

“Hey, I hope you don’t mind me saying but I think you’re blowing a little bit out of proportion here, it may be simply just dinner in order to get to know me,”

“Really and you believe that,” she scoffed.

“.ok what do expect me to do when he shook’s his hand, leave it hanging!” I argued as we headed downstairs, at the corridor stood an old man in a neat suit and bow tie.

“this way, Mr. Bale.” he ushered us into the dining hall at the left, the first thought I had of him was of his personality alike to Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s butler.

“Alright, here it comes.” She took a deep breath

the mild chattering from the room went silent the moment we walked in, both families seated at a long dinner table, their glances immediately strayed towards us except the blond-haired graceful male figure seated at the head of the table backing me whom I assumed to be Michael.

At his left was a ten or an eleven-year-old kid with dark hair, beside him were two empty chairs before Adam who looked briefly at the both of us uninterestedly and returned to whatever he’s doing with his cell phone.

“Ah! Finally, the man of the hour has arrived Nathan bale, please join us come sit.” Said Lock cheerfully, he was seated at the other end of the table fronting Michael, at his left, was the albino whom I met earlier that tried to strangle me, Chris seated directly opposite him, everyone else’s their eyes pinned at me with that same look on their faces when an oddity is in their midst, I have dealt with that look before with the Lansdale’s alone when I first came into town I thought I got used to it, but now I might as well practically piss myself, I too nervous to realize I froze in the process, that was when I felt ravens hands reach out to mine, her touch warm and comforting, our fingers gently locked, even when we sat between the little boy and Adam she didn’t let go till my hand stopped shaking.

A lady in her late thirties facing us with her straight curious eyes at me, she scoffs at raven and shook her head in disappointment, I assumed she was raven aunt. The young pretty redhead beside her who’s lips glossed redder than blood grinned flirtatiously at me with a gum in her mouth, she made me more uncomfortable than I already was.

“So you are Aaron’s boy, I have heard much about you,” a deep masculine voice spoke from the right quickly drawing my attention, the second I set eyes on Michael I was stunned, his face was angelic and he looked so impossibly young like someone in his mid-twenties, I was confused if that was actually ravens father the real Mr. Lansdale or someone else although his eyes were covered with dark-rimmed shades..

“Yes sir, its...it’s an honor to finally meet you in person sir.” I tried not to let my voice stutter.

“Likewise,” he made a nod unsmilingly, his gaze facing blankly foreword and not at my direction, which proves the rumors to be true he was indeed blind.

A tall young dark haired lady walked into the hall with a broad tray containing two large grilled turkey with stuffing’s along with female uniformly dressed cooks carrying different set of dishes, placing them in order at the table and the turkey was kept in the middle, the aroma from the dishes and Turkey combined made my mouth water despite being nervous to be at a table full of supernatural’s.

“Alright, looks like everyone is complete, so I’ll introduce you to the unfamiliar faces first Nate,” Raven said clearing her throat to sound confident.

“These are my cousins, Lucius whom you met earlier, Raina and little bass,” she made a facial gesture in form of a pointing nod referring to red-haired girl before playfully shuffling the hair of the little boy, he leans away in irritation.

“And this is my grandmother Gloria,” she referred to the lady who I taught was her aunt, holy hell! her grandmother looked younger than Diane, what in God name are these people freaking vampires!

“And my Aunt Mellissa,” she said meaning the lady who just walked in and sat at Michael’s right.

“Nice meeting you all,” I said politely forcing a smile, the cooks moved around setting the table and wine glasses and once they were done, the Alfred looking guy, the Butler I mean, showed up with a wine bucket full of ice and three bottles of Chardonnay placing it gently on the table.

“Hmmm, he’s cute raven I’ll give you that, but he doesn’t look much like an Alpha male to me, where did you pick him from,” said the red-haired mockingly with her eyes in observance at me, Chris laughs in support.

I tried not to be offended.

" His name is Nate and he’s a friend, not an object. Maybe you can do us all a Favor and keep your damn questions to yourself.” Raven replied with a scowl.

“Wow, look at you, Chris was right after all. you’re damn touchy when it comes to this one, look at you already swooping in to defend his honor,” Raina teased.

“Alright! That’s enough both of you, Raina, you get a hold of yourself we’re about to eat.” The dark haired lady Mellissa scolded.

“Is not been more than half a minute and you two are already at each other throat.” I watched both girls dart glares at one another, it obvious that Raina was ravens Nemesis in the family.

The butler opened a bottle with a corkscrew attempting to first pour in Michael’s glass.

“No need to bother Norman, I think I can take it from here,” Michael said calmly gripping the bottle at the bottom, taking it from the Butler and dismissing him.

I watched him as he gracefully stood up from his chair without any aid of a walking stick or something to support him, he walked behind Mellissa first like he could actually see, filling up her glass with the sparkling transparent liquid. The astounding part was that he wasn’t even looking at it, his gaze fixed forward to the wall but he stopped before it reached the brim like he already knew, then moving over to the older lady, he was a strange fellow indeed though I had expected something of sort, looking at him I can’t help but wonder for someone as youthful as him how on earth could he be a parent to three fully grown teenagers maybe he’s like lock or something.

i noticed how calculative he walked too, hardly moving his head and somehow he knew the exact spots the glasses were placed. It was freaky I have to admit say, either this man lies amongst the fewest people in the world who possessed extraordinary abilities with their remaining keen four senses or there’s some other way he’s able to do what he does that I can’t fully grasp.

" in the latter Mr. bale, I think there’s where you’ll be able to grasp the answer you’re looking for,” Michael replied abruptly emptying the bottle on Chris’s glass.

“Uhmmm, What?” I said confusedly, Michael laughed,

“I have been listening to your thoughts for a few minutes now, and you’ve been wondering about me, how I’m able to move normally at the same time fill each glass accurately, I’m not a blind man with superhuman senses if that’s what you’ve assumed because I bet that’s what you young people watch in the television these day’s,” he said with a light grin grabbing another bottle from the bucket, picking up the cork crew and drilling out the cork, I saw the muscles on his arms tense from his designer suit.

Holy Crap! he’s a freaking mind reader, why didn’t i remember that. He’s been listening all along even i bet even now. My jaw almost dropped, another telepath like Adam and I’m guessing even worse, that’s where Adam got the genes from.

“Jesus! Dad, must you always do that he’s our guest, my guest.”

“That’s one of the parts i detest about you Michael, no respect for privacy, you just go ahead poking into people’s thoughts like you own the place just because you can,” Gloria cursed taking a sip from her wine. Michael laughed airily on her judgment, walking over to our side after filling locks and Adam’s then continuing with me.

“Well you can’t blame me Gloria, I don’t majorly do it on purpose, everyone’s thoughts are simply open to me especially mortal’s, theirs is like a radio broadcast you can’t shut out and you’ve got no choice but to listen to as long as you’re in same room.” He taps my shoulder gently in an act to make me comfortable filling raven and the little boys before his.

“But I have to admit Mr. bale, I’m quite flattered you think of us mythical creatures, Vampires as you assume, cause how youthful we appear to be.” He sits back in the head chair comfortably, while airing my thoughts.

“Novel’s and TV series these days clouding societies young minds with fictions, this is a reason why our young children should abstain from watching too much television,” Gloria grumbled, everyone at the table laughed

“But Michael he’s right you know, for a father of three you look pretty abnormal, but I’m guessing you’ve been this way for as long as you remember,” Mellissa added. They were having Fun with the idea in my head.

“Uncle Michael, my grandpa told me you were born in the 17th century is that true,” the little boy Bass asked with his childlike innocent tone.

" Uhmmm, Yes little Bass, that’s indeed correct,” Michael answered with an earnest smile.

“Then, that makes you older than my grandpa Charlie and Gloria too, yet I don’t see a gray hair on your head and you kind of look like Roger Raina’s old boyfriend.”

" ha-ha, so it’s Roger now Raina,” asked Chris evasively.

“Shut up Bass!” Raina scolded him in embarrassment.

“Raina, I will not have you scolding your brother like that,” Mellissa warned.

“And the answer to your question Bass, Michael killed a unicorn and drank its blood that’s how he did it, little man,”

“I’m not stupid Chris, I know unicorns don’t exist.” bass shrugged.

“Well believe me bass they did back in his day,” Chris said jokingly.

“Come on Chris, Bass is a big man now you give him a little credit,” Raven said.

“You’re right bass, pay no attention to your cousin. There are no such things as unicorns, what do you know about budenje?” Michael asked.

“Uhmmm, for one thing I know it’s the Croatian word for Awakening.” bass answered.

“Hmmm, impressive, I see you keep him educated about our history Mellissa.”

" i try but it’s mostly Gloria and Charles that do most of the teachings, he’s also fluent in over 600 languages now ,” Melissa replied proudly.

“i see, that’s very good bass, there are six thousand five hundred languages on earth I’m sure you’ll be fluent in all by the time you’re up to your sister’s age.” Michael said.

“He’s a Blackwell, he’s aware such is expected from him.“Gloria added.

“Alright, and bass what did your grandparents you teach about an Awakening.”

“Charlie compared it to puberty, he said it was a period amongst our kind when our general abilities are unlocked and sometimes special one’s too, it’s usually detected with the appearance of strange marking on our skin, like me I started seeing mine last week.”

Bass rolled his left sleeve to his elbow, revealing dark red scribbled symbols in form of burns on his skin and they looked hell of a lot painful to have for someone his age to have in fact anyone,

“well, we all know bass isn’t the only one at the table who hasn’t had their awakening.” Raina said casting a mocking glance at Raven who sipped from her wine ignoring her, for a second there was silence at the table, no one added anything else. Mellissa glared at Raina again.

“what! is not like I’m wrong,” Raina murmured.

“Raina, I think its best you shut up for now,“Gloria warned.

″ ah, we see you’re growing up quickly already little one, this year marks to be the most important year of your life, I hope you make the most of it, raise a little if want to.” Lock suddenly said grinning at bass breaking the tense mood

“Yeah about that, his father and I plan on flying him over to Rome, I heard the council has a facility in the Vatican city-state, bass will be due for his awakening in six months. I was told they are equipped to handle these sort of things because there no way on God green earth I’m letting him go through that experience in an open society, where he could leave so much havoc in his wake, I mean I can barely even keep him in line now, “Mellissa added.

" looks like soon someone is getting shipped off to a special boarding school,” Chris laughed mockingly.

" but mom, I don’t want to go to Rome I hate Rome!” Bass cried.

" bass we’ve talked about this and your dad and I have agreed.”

" don’t worry bass, I’m sure it’s a nice place, the reason your parents are sending you there is so you can learn to control your abilities when they start surfacing and on the bright side you’ll make a lot new of friends,” Michael assured him.

" and during that transition after your powers are unlocked, the line that once limits you to use them becomes blurred making it possible to go past your normal limits and maximize your full potential, everything else becomes amplified a thousand times. If you could move a rock before, you could move mountains.”

“That’s sounds amazing” bass chortled.

" yes it is, but like all great things little man they often come with cost, that is if you constantly keep using your gifts. your body is mortal, which makes it prone to exhaustion by frequent discharge of energy and trying to contain all your powers at once, if you continuously keep pushing for a while your body will learn to adapt and then it’s no longer be able to contain your energy, a breach is created.” The boy was seriously being lectured, I also remembered raven might have mentioned this stuff to me not like this though, but I remembered she said part of the effects might be slow aging process, maybe that the thing with all of them the elderly at the table I mean, that’s what happened to them.

Michael continued. ” the effect of that breach will cause your body to be trapped into a specific stage in your aging process think of it like a butterfly stuck in chrysalis, that’s when you achieve immortality and you’ll never get to see a single gray hair on your head.”

" trust me Dad you’d have made one hell of a biology teacher if you were normal,” Raven added.

" Thanks sweetheart,”

" I somehow get what you said uncle Michael but not totally, does it mean if it does happen to me I’ll be stuck at eleven forever?” There was a mild laugh at the table.

“Stop! Why are you guys laughing it’s not funny,” he cried out.

“you! Did you laugh too?” He scowled pointing an accusingly at me.

“No buddy, I did not.” I answered.

" because if you did I’ll make sure I shove a fork down your throat before you can even blink, yeah! I’m that fast.” He said glaring at me.

" Bastian that’s very rude of you!” raven scolded, Raina giggled in support of her brother.

" ha! The boy is a potential terrorist already” Chris chuckled.

“I’m sorry about that Nate.” Melissa apologized.

“sure, “. I nodded.

“Bastian Blackwell you’ve exhibited a poor behavior at this table and for that you’re saying grace,” Gloria ordered.

“But I don’t want to be the one to pray,” he murmured.

“Well sorry little brother those are the house rules and you don’t have a choice.” Raina stated.

“Let’s bow our heads, “Gloria announced as bass stood upright from his chair frowning and squeezing his eyes shut. He began, I bowed slightly with my eyes open while everyone else’s was shut even Raven’s except Adam who relaxed with his head tilted upwards like his mind had travelled somewhere else, lock who glanced at me with a short smile taking a sip from his glass.

“our graceful lord and Savior we gladly thank thee for tonight may you bless and sanctify this dinner.”

“Amen!”

Pronounced together in unison by different voices. I chuckled faintly in disbelief.

“Is there something funny to you Nate?” Michael asked.

“No, it’s just I wasn’t expecting that, you Guy’s being religious I mean.” I said carefully.

“Why because of what we are?”

“Nevertheless my kind and yours may differ, the one thing we have in common is religion, in some way it also relates to our origin. Our families we all acknowledge the supremacy of the creator though we may not completely follow his ways but our prayers are our own way of showing respect.“Mellissa, raven, and Raina went ahead and started dishing.

“Unlike my son Adam who believes in nothing but himself and lock who renounced God.”

“What can I say Michael, God and I don’t get along very much.” Lock replied smugly.

“Chris do you mind doing the honors’” raven requested after everyone’s had been served, I stared down my plate of green bean casserole, glazed carrot, a spoonful of potato casserole at one side of the plate, cranberry sauce at another side and finally a skillet cornbread that smelt nice.

Chris took a deep breath removing the leather gloves from his right hand which he always wore, he stood reaching for the candle placed at his near end of the table, using his two right thumb to press the unlit wick while he’s gaze darted towards the other candle kept on our side, he face grew pale when he shut his eyes I couldn’t predict what he was about doing until I abruptly I saw a large flame burst out of the candle wick on our side and then settling. He smiled proudly opening his eyes let off his thumb on the first candle and it lit also everyone clapped.

The scenery was mind blowing like a magician on stage, I sipped my wine to soothe the moment.

“Nice one Chris, your tricks are ever impressive.“Adam comments, his voice being heard for first time Lucius and him where the ghosts of the table.

“Thanks, “Chris bows like a stage performer sitting down afterwards.

We began to feast, it was quiet for few minutes, the food was delicious as expected, I kept trying to focusing on keeping my head quiet, not letting my thoughts stray to avoid Michael from listening, that thing he does was bloody inconvenient, I used the right corner of my eye to watch him while he handled the set’s of cutlery perfectly even better than me with he’s forward frozen gaze.

“I know by now, you must be curious on why i insisted you stay over for dinner Nate.”

" and I’m sure my daughter must have warned you about me before you two walked down here,”

" do you blame me dad, i mean you’ve been pretty calm and cryptic about him being in the middle of everything since all of this began.” Raven replied,

“yes, you’re right sweetheart, so let me put your uneasiness to rest, I don’t intend any harm towards your friend,” he stated with a plain smile, I felt the anxiety in my body lessen a bit.

" not right away at least, I just needed to make contact with him, which I achieved. it gave me access to everything about him, I now know him better than he knows himself. ”

I recalled when he poured me a drink before tapping my shoulder, maybe that’s what he meant.

“Your father Aaron and I were old acquaintances once Nate which I’m sure you’re already aware of. He was an optimist, one of the qualities I admired about him, it’s a tragedy what became of him at the town’s hospital all those years ago, this town lost a very important man.” He knows things about me now, I’m guessing he somehow knows about the dream too, what he just said about me being aware confirms it.

“Unbelievable! What a small world indeed, so Michael this boy is the spawn of Aaron Bale. I sensed something oddly familiar about him but I wasn’t sure,” Said Gloria in astonishment.

“Don’t you remember the name, Melissa?”

“Aaron bale? Yeah, it kind of sounds .familiar but I can hardly recall who he was, “Mellissa replied honestly with a pondering look on her face.

" that human boy your sister was infatuated with when you two were younger,”

“Oh yes! I remember now, but that was over 25years ago, the one Charlie almost blew his head off with a shotgun.”

“Yes, that one!” They both laughed, it was some kind inside joke between them from an old memory.

“I’m sorry about what happened to your Dad Nate, from what I can recall of him he was quite brave, “Mellissa said in admiration.

“thanks, ” I nodded.

" but it doesn’t change anything, the council wants the boy Michael,” Gloria added sternly.

“I thought they wanted him dead according to yugorov’s visit in town last week,” he replied.

“Well it seems like they’ve got something better in mind this time, they want him alive.”

“What’s she talking about Dad?” Raven asked.

“The council wants us to personally hand him over to them,” He answered.

“the attention of a very old powerful organization has been drawn towards you, I hope you realize that Nate,” Michael said to me, all I could was gulp, trying to swallow the food in my throat.

“Clearly we all know that’s not his fault dad, he got caught in the middle of a problem he knew nothing about.”

" think of this as an opportunity Michael, you do this it is a step for you and Lock to get back in their good graces.” Gloria urged ignoring raven’s comment and also not minding my presence amongst them.

“that’s not going to happen grandma, I’ll tell you the same thing i told the yogorov guy last week, he’s not going anywhere. “Raven replied grimly.

" I don’t think you understand what’s at stake my dear, the lives of your siblings and father depends on whatever decision you take, whatever affection you hold for this boy is blinding you from knowing must be done, this is no time to tow in your mother’s footsteps having flimsy infatuations for a mortal.”

" Gloria, that’s enough! ” Michael growled defensively, the whole thing had turned into an argument in that minute.

“Look, Michael, if you stand against the council you and your children will be eradicated, they are the oldest and highest order of the supernatural community formed since the beginning of the anti-duvilian ages, i just don’t want to see my grandchildren get hurt.”

“Lock, what do you suggest we do?”

Michael asked wanting to get his opinion, every attention turned towards him, quietly he gradually finished his meal, reaching for the wine bucket and uncorked the last bottle of Chardonnay to refill his glass.

“You know, I can’t really explain why I find the taste of this wine so sublime, but I think it’s mostly how the grape blends with the other stuff that perfects it.” He replied airily without the slightest interest of the issue at hand.

“Lock!”

“Oh! Sorry about that, for one thing i have no love for the Nate, i might as well simply decide to kill him myself right now at this table which I’m sure raven would do her utmost best trying to resist. “he smiled crookedly at the both of us.

“But it wouldn’t change anything Gloria, i don’t intend on being in their good graces, if they want the boy they should come get him themselves, besides this conflict of interest between the council and us has been long overdue.”

“Say who, the elder who to rejected to take a seat at their table and has been on the run for over a Millennia, inhabiting bodies and now has got himself stuck in the body of a teenager, you were the genesis of the problem with the council, you didn’t just endanger yourself when you choose to turn them down, you endangered what remained of your lineage.”

lock grimaced.

" you know there was a time when kingdoms fell at my feet, my name, my presence drove quiver to the spines of my adversaries. I was feared, I was worshipped, long before you were born Gloria.” He spoke proudly.

" then with the power i possessed, the council and its elder were nothing more compared to the specs of dust beneath my fingernails, i sort a new way life of after two thousand years of drawing power from the dark, mainstreaming. Inhabiting new vessels and changing forms was the cost for the new path i choose.”

" yes, we’ve all heard the stories, but you’re not what you used to be, not anymore and now they think you’re vulnerable and obsolete. “replied Gloria repulsively.

“obsolete!“Lock scoffed.

" that’s a new one, i know they are aware this form of mine is mortal, weak, that it can’t be used to utilize my full potentials without completely burning itself up, But let them come we’ll be waiting. “he scowled. The light around the room began to fluctuate.

“Lock! contain yourself.“Michael warned, Lock gently suppressed the flash of anger in expression exhaling and then arch smile on his face. The light’s steadied, there were responding to him.

“Michael, you can’t seriously be considering what he just said.”

“Gloria this is how it plays out, my daughter will protect her friend if that’s her will and I’ll ensure i protect my daughter same with every member of this family , tell Charles to inform the elders that Nathan bale is a resident of Franklinton and therefore under the protection of the house of Michael Darius Lansdale.”

“Thank you Dad.” Said raven in relief.

“You’re making a big mistake you know that, once that message is relayed and they receive it, their response will be to send in a death squad,” She warned.

“Lock was right, this was to long overdue,”

" and i also hope you’re aware dad by this act of resistance by putting him under our protection, you’ve consciously declared war against the council,” Adam stated clearly.

“Come on Adam, we both knew this day would come since we were kids, Nate here is just a cause that’s about to accelerate the process don’t tell me your scared already, “Chris teased.

“I’m not, just Analyzing the gravity of the situation we’re about walking to, someone has to.”

“I hope your life is worth the trouble boy.” Gloria sneered at me.

it was getting late, i had to head back home, Raven offered to walked me down to the gate after the dinner. for one thing i was glad to be out of the mansion alive and she was right though i wasn’t leaving the same way i came, mostly in my emotions, the fear of what’s to come re-ignited in me. The council wants me alive which is more preferably than the opposite, but I’m puzzled on why? I felt this guilt like a pit in my stomach that raven will be putting herself danger for me and not just her alone, her family too, while she’ll be trying to keep me alive they’ll be doing their best to keep her alive also.

“At least that ended quite well, you’re still one piece.” Raven sighed in relief as we sauntered together

“Yeah, i told you being invited to dine with family wasn’t going to be of a big deal. I was right after all, your dad just wanted to meet in person though it got a little uncomfortable when he started with the mind reading thing.” I replied trying not make myself look gloomy.

" i guess i freaked a little when he insisted you stay and with good reason because we usually don’t have normal people over for dinner except the cooks who gets their brains poked and wiped if they were to see anything unusual.”

“What about the butler?” I asked.

“Norman is one of us,”

“Oh, i wouldn’t have guessed that, he looks old and normal to me unlike your grandmother than looks younger than my mom and your Dad who looks unbelievable, its no wonder no one knows what he looks like cause he’s hardly seen.” I said jokingly.

“Immortality is a choice for us,” she smiled.

“So what happens now? With you, your bothers and stuff will you Guy’s show up for school next week?”

“Yeah, probably, our absence this week was all mostly family stuff having the Blackwell’s over, we don’t know what or when the council will decide whatever they decide on doing, it’s likely going to be one hell of a busy week but we’ll be ready for them when they come. for now, we’ll return back to our normal lives and prepare for the worst,” she answered.

“yeah! normal like that’s ever going happen,” i laughed.

“Why do you think that?”

“Well, for the meantime it’s about the new rumor in school and it’s about us,”

She chuckles faintly.

“Alright what are they saying now,”

“Actually, its more than just talks, its also articulated on the school’s newspaper That we are the couples of the month, this week has been kind of my little hell, i couldn’t even crawl into my own jacket without everyone gawking at me and i had to go through that alone.” She giggles again and this time warmly as the gentle tried sprouting her perfect hair.

“High school is bliss, you should try enjoying that part of your life as long as you can.”

“And you, wouldn’t take part too in the process, its your life you know,” i said archly.

“I don’t really have that kind of luxury, you know that and besides I’m not normal.”

“Normal is boring and overrated raven trust me i have lived it, you can’t predict you limitation to something if you haven’t tried it.”

“What do want me to say Nate, I’m not cut out for ordinary stuff like every other girl, “she murmured.

“yes warrior princess, that’s because you’re not like any girl i have met before, you’re different and that makes you special.” She chuckles casting a mocking glance at me.

" why are looking at me like that, I’m serious and i wasn’t trying to give you a line or something,” i tried covering up.

“but it sounded like one, Wow! I bet you say that to all the girls,” she teased.

" actually i haven’t said that to anyone before, you’re the first.”

“Another line! you just can’t help it can you?” she chuckled.

“Alright, you win, how about i bring the ordinary stuff to you then, will you be busy tomorrow?” i asked.

“Maybe, maybe not, why?”

" i plan on heading into town tomorrow, pick up a few things and mostly explore cause i haven’t totally gotten used to the place and I’ll like you to come with me we might even catch a movie at the end of the day,” i said nervously as we reached the gate.

" is that your funny way of asking me out on a date,”

“Yeah, sort of and it also can be seen as two teenagers with secret abnormal lives trying to have fun together, it’ll be great i promise.”

I smiled positively.

She smiled back looking me straight in the eye.

“I’m sorry, but no.” She replied, i got a bit confused.

“Can i ask why?”

" i don’t go out on dates,”

“Ok my bad, how about two friends hanging out getting to each other a bit more better,” i rephrased it.

“My answer will still be no,” she smiled saying firmly again, even helping me to button the top of my shirt.

“Now that’s better,” she slightly pats my chest. Her facial expression, the way she said it had me perplexed the entire moment.

“Alright, but I definitely think it’s better you sleep on it, there’s still time. I’ll call you tomorrow,”

“And when i wake up my answer will still be no.” She said

“Sleep on it,” i urged

“And by the way i forgot to tell you earlier, your dress looks beautiful,”

“Thanks, its Armani,” she smirked. My cell buzzed, i slipped out , it was frank.

“Go home Nathan,”

" tomorrow,” i said again backing away leaving the gate as she stood waving at me till got to my car and drove off.