One in Every Family
By: Starwolf Magic
Summery: Every family has one, someone that is rarely spoken about, and never seen. Even a family like the Strongholds has one. A villain.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sky High. I wish I did however, but I don't. Any songs I use belong to their respective artists not me. This is the only time I will post this disclaimer so enjoy it while it lasts!
A/N: This is my first Sky High fiction. Please don't kill me! I am attempting to make this a NON Mary-Sue kind of thing. Constructive criticism is welcome. Flames will be gathered together and promptly laughed at. Have a nice day and enjoy the fic!
Pairings: Will/Layla, Magenta/Zack, Ethan/OC, Warren/OC
Rating: M For strong language, violence, and lime/lemon type scenes
Chapter 1 The Family Secret
"Ah Summer time!" Will Stronghold said brightly as he wrapped is arm around the girl next to him on the bus. It was the end of their freshman year. Besides the incident at Homecoming, nothing rally happened that was really exciting. Layla smiled at him and cuddled into him resting her head on his shoulder. "Hey guys!" Will called as his four friends boarded the bus and sat down around them. Zack and Magenta sat in front of them, Ethan sat across from them and Warren sat behind them, promptly opening a comic book and started to read.
"You guys have any plans for the summer yet?" Layla asked them curiously.
"Camping," Zack said with a grin.
"Traveling out of town," Magenta replied.
"Nothing planed yet," said Ethan.
Everyone the looked back at Warren, who was attempting to ignore them all. After a few moments of their stairs he muttered, "Work," then fell silent.
"You guys are all invited to my place tonight to celebrate out freedom from school with a barbeque!" Will said, smiling. Everyone agreed to this as the rest of the students boarded and the bus took to the air and drove them all home. Will and Layla were the last to be dropped off. They walked down the street, holding hands happily.
"Hello kids!" Called an old woman from her yard. Will and Layla looked at her and smiled.
"Hi Mrs. Comish!" they called back.
As the pair came into view of The Stronghold house an odd site greeted them. There was construction going on behind the house. The teens ran inside and were greeted by Josie, Steve, and a woman they had never seen before. She had long brown hair that had two streaks of red in it, much like Warren's hair. She was pale, but not sickly. She wore a black business suit and black dress shoes. The adults turned to them as they came in the front door.
"Welcome home." Will's mother said with a smile.
"This is little Will?" the woman asked suddenly. When Josie nodded the woman smiled kindly. "Last time I saw you, you were barely a week old! My how you have grown!" At Will's confused expression she grinned. "I am your Aunt Orenda. I'm your mother's older sister." The look of surprise came to Will's face. He then stepped forward and embraced the unknown aunt for the first time. When they released one another, Orenda turned her attention to Layla. "Is this your girlfriend?"
"Yeah. This is Layla. She lives next door," Will said with a grin and put an arm around Layla. Layla offered a hand to shake with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you," stated Layla. Orenda smiled and shook the girl's hand. The woman then turned back to her sister and Steve.
"The construction should be done before your barbeque, Steve. And I thank you for taking this precaution for me," she said with a bit of sadness etched in her voice.
"It's not a problem, Orenda. One can't be too careful. And we are her God Parents after all. We are more then happy to take her in if anything happens to you. I just pray nothing does," came Will's father's reply. Both Will and Layla were curious about this. But neither said a word. They walked into the kitchen and out of earshot of the adults.
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As Orenda had said, the construction of the extension had finished long before the barbeque. The woman had excused her self for a few hours to pick up her daughter for the cook out. Will and Layla didn't know anything about the new girl and were unable to explain to their friends about the addition to the house when they arrived.
"Will, I think that aunt of your is a pyro," Layla stated suddenly causing the group of friends and Will to look at her funny.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, her hands were far to warm for any normal person and… the red streaks in her hair are a lot like Warren's. We all know Warren is a pyro. I just think that she is too."
"Layla, I think you might be jumping the gun here," Will stated rather firmly, "I mean, sure she seems to be somewhat similar to Warren-"
"Please stop talking about me as if I am not here…"
"Sorry, man," Will said apologetically. Before he could continue, however, the aunt in question had arrived.
The girl that walked in beside her seemed to be about Warren's age. She was dressed from head to toe in black. Her image screamed 'Goth Chick'. She wore a long sleeved shirt with a fire fairy on it, her pants jingled as she walked from all the random chains that hung off them. A pair of chains crisscrossed behind her legs. Her boots had about a three-inch soul on them making her appear taller then she was. Twenty-four metal bracelets seemed to dance up her right wrist, eight plastic and rubber bracelets danced up her left wrist and both hands were covered by black gloves that vanished under the sleeves of her shirt. The only bit of skin that was showing was from her neck up. Her lips were painted red, there was dark eye shadow and eyeliner around her icy blue eyes, and her silver hair was pulled back from her face leaving her long blood red bangs to frame her pale face. She looked rather out of place as a member of the Stronghold family.
"Is that your cousin, Will?" Zack asked looking the girl over. Magenta saw his look and elbowed him.
"I don't know," came Will's rather stunned reply. The group of teens watched the girl look around at everyone. It was just Will, his parents, Layla, Ethan, Zack, Magenta, and Warren. Layla's parents were there too. As the girl looked around her gaze settled on the teens. She took an involuntary step back now looking like she was about to bolt. Almost instantly the girl turned to Orenda.
"Why did she look so frightened?" Layla wondered curiously. She was about to head towards her when Orenda looked in their direction, smiled, and with a hand on the girl's shoulder headed their way. The girl seemed to be forcing herself to walk as they came over.
"Hello there!" she said brightly. All six teens noticed the flame tattoo that looked like Warren's that went from her wrist to the middle of her upper arm. The red streaks in her hair and the flame tattoo were the mark of a Pyrokinetic. They all knew this because of Warren. "I am guessing these are your friends?" Orenda seemed like a very nice person to them. The girl next to her seemed unwilling to be standing there with them. "Will, This is my daughter, and your cousin, Leslie. Say hello to them, sweetheart."
"Hey…" All eyes were on her. They were not even sure if the girl spoke at all. Her voice had sounded more like a whisper of the wind then a greeting. This soft-spoken 'Goth Chick' seemed to be very uncomfortable around the group. She wanted to leave their presence. The only thing that kept her there was her mother's hand on her shoulder.
"Now I trust you could keep an eye on her for me, Will?" his aunt asked him. Leslie looked up at her mother with terrified eyes as Will agreed with a nod. "Now, Leslie, you be good and play nicely. I'm going to be over there with your aunt and uncle, ok?" Leslie nodded mutely and watched her mother leave her side.
The group watched her for a moment. "Hi there. I'm Will." He held out his hand to her. She looked at it as if it was going to bite her and took a step back. "This is Zack, Ethan, Magenta, Warren, and my girlfriend Layla." They nodded to her as they heard their name mentioned. She looked at them as Will pointed them out. Zack and Ethan both tried to shake her hand. She regarded their hands in the same way she had Will's. Warren simply nodded at her in greeting. Layla and Magenta both held out their hands to her and she shook them rather timidly. This made the guys arch and eyebrow at her, yet none of them voiced anything about it.
"Is your mom a Pyrokinetic?" Layla asked curiously. Leslie looked surprised by the question. She nodded that her mother was indeed a fire creator. Will looked rather surprised.
"Wow. There is a pyro in my family. I wonder what else there is," Will grinned at Leslie.
"…Cryokinetic," came the soft reply.
"Ice powers? From who?"
"…My father…"
Everyone was curious about this girl now. She seemed reluctant to voice any information, but she was truthful. She avoided eye contact with everyone and looked around.
"What do you mean Donovan is still active?!" Came the sudden shout of Will's father. The teens all looked over at them in surprise.
"Steve Calm down!" Orenda snapped.
"Orenda, If he's still active then he will be attempting to break his friend out of prison, and your telling me to be calm? He told me, when I put Barron Battle into solitary, that he was going inactive to help you raise his daughter! If he's still active he will try and free Battle! I WILL NOT BE CALM!" Steve roared.
The teens noticed Leslie flinch at Mr. Stronghold's words. The adults tried to calm Steve down, yet it seemed as if that was not going to happen. Steve Stronghold stormed out of the back yard and into the house; his wife and sister in-law hot on his heals.
"What was that about?" Magenta asked as if it had been the stupidest thing she had just seen. Everyone, including Leslie, looked at her funny.