Chapter Two: Tonight

Confused and shocked I looked directly at the guy from the woods. He had a devilish smirk on his face - does he ever do anything else than grinning? -, and casually leaned against the doorframe, hands shoved in his pockets. Chuckling because of my expression, he took a step back so I could walk in, thinking this was everything else than funny. I had seen him still lying on the forest floor as I started running back, how was it possible he had gotten here faster than me? How was it that he was completely fine while I was slightly out of breath?

All the time he was watching me, not taking his eyes off me. It unnerved me because it felt a bit like he was stalking his prey, an innocent falling victim to him. But despite all this, there just was something about him, that made my heart skip a beat. Involuntarily, of course.

His stare seemed to burn on my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"There you are!"

Never had I been happier to hear someone's voice; Josette's in this case. She was standing in the corridor, hands on her hips and looking like she was just about to scold the guy. Something, she never did. So now I walked past the guy who lightly, nearly unnoticed, brushed his fingers against my hand. Again this feeling was igniting a fire deep inside of me which I couldn't control, even if I wanted to.

Trying to shake the feeling away, I followed Josette upstairs back into her room. His look was only leaving me when I was out of his visual field.

Lucas and Olivia were gone in their room by now, continuing playing in there and giving Josette and me more space as she closed the door behind us. This time we both took a seat on the chairs, facing each other. While we were sitting there in silence, it suddenly hit me why this guy had seemed so familiar. He wasn't just another coven witch; he was Josette's brother, Malachai Parker. Although it had to be many years ago, a little part of my brain had remembered him from one of the other meetings in the past.

"He's your twin, isn't he?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. Josette's full expression darkened as she slowly nodded, confirming what I had thought from the beginning. They both didn't get along too well.

"If he's bothering you, just ignore him. That's what I always do." She explained curtly.

I hadn't expected this answer. I might have been an only child and therefore had no idea how I'd handle siblings, but completely ignore them, always shutting them out? That just didn't seem right. Especially to someone in one's own family and even more special if this someone was actually your closest blood relative of them all.

"But he's your brother. Your twin even!"

A hint of bitterness was showing on Josette's face. She was obviously aware that her behavior was wrong, however, because she didn't know it any other way she wasn't going to change it. Or maybe not because she didn't want to, but because she wasn't allowed to. Malachai was a siphoner, just like me, so his life was probably equally miserable with the only difference that he was the leader's son which brought him in a far worse situation. At this moment I felt sorry for him even though he still creeped me out a bit.

"No, he's an abomination. Trust me, Callie, I know him better than you do. He's no good." Josette asserted, and in a sudden change of expression, she smiled again. "Anyway, enough about that. What would you like to do?"

I didn't answer her right away. Instead, I was still thinking about what she had said. She called Malachai an abomination, only because he was different. Because he was a siphoner. What would she do or say if she'd find out I am one, too?

Instinctively my hand reached towards the amulet around my neck, holding it tightly. The magic tingled on my skin, reminding me of my powers. Nervous, I played with the pendant, twisting it between my fingers and hoping Josette wouldn't read too much into it. If they even treated their own family like this what would just happen to me, a stranger?

"Callie? Is everything alright? All of a sudden you became really pale." Josette brought me back to reality, worry visible on her face.

I needed to come up with an excuse, fast. Or else she would definitely know something was up. Something, I was hiding from her and everyone else. I went through different ideas until I've found the one that even wasn't too far from reality.

"Yeah... umm about that... I'm just... hungry. Yeah, hungry. I haven't eaten in all day. Or at least not since we set off this morning."

It was evident I hadn't truly convinced Josette. Nevertheless, she stood up and asked me to follow her - again. We walked downstairs, directly heading towards the kitchen. On the way, I paid attention to the pictures on the walls for the first time. Most of them showed Joshua's children all of them except Malachai. He was only in one picture (at least that's what I thought since it displayed four people: younger versions of Joshua and his wife, each holding a baby which were probably Josette and Malachai).

As we reached the kitchen, I saw a boy not older than twelve preparing some sandwiches. At first sight of them, my stomach let out a low growl. Until now I hadn't even realized my subterfuge wasn't just a pretense but contained an iota of truth, too. We stood on the other side of the counter while the boy was layering vegetables and lunch meat on toast.

"Hey, Joey." Josette greeted her brother, tousling his brown locks when he was near enough for her to do so. "Do you mind if we take some of these?"

"Mother said they are for our guests." He explained, looking around like someone who got caught doing the wrong thing. Only when he was sure that no one was around, he got another plate and put two sandwiches on it. Pushing them towards us, he blinked before he continued preparing more sandwiches. Josette took the plate and placed it on the table so we could do it while sitting. But before I completely sat down I glimpsed someone quietly sneaking through the corridor, Malachai.

At that moment something hit me, a thought popping up in my head. He knew about I secret; he was aware of what I was. How could I even think for one second that he wasn't going to spill the truth about what I really was? Yes, he may be seen as an abomination, but there was nothing that would stop him from telling his father about me. Why didn't it came earlier into my mind, he could've already said it to him? Joshua could already be on his way to send me away, locking me up inside a Prison World.

My breath got caught in my throat as fear started to creep in.

"Do you have any idea where I can find my parents?" I asked, my voice higher and faster than usual. I definitely needed to talk to them, warning them about a possible exposal. Josette raised a brow, obviously confused. Nevertheless, she replied to me, explaining that I'd probably find them in Joshua's office, second door on the right from the hall.

I muttered a quick "thank you" before I left, forgetting about the sandwiches and not caring that it must look strange that I had been hungry at first but walked away as soon as we got our food. Following Josette's instructions, I went the way hopefully leading to Joshua's office. As I was about to knock on the door, I was firmly pressed against the nearest wall.

Just from the feeling of electricity flowing through my body, I knew it was Malachai before I even had the chance to see him. Indeed he was standing opposite of me, his blue eyes piercing into mine.

"This has to-" Malachai put his index finger on his lips, implying I should shut up. I rolled my eyes; nonetheless, I kept quiet. I didn't know why but again I totally ignored the fact he might be responsible for me going to be trapped inside a Prison World.

He placed his hand on my cheeks like when we had been in the woods. Only this time he leaned forward, slightly pressing his body against mine, as I felt his hot breath on my neck. Holding me in place, he whispered something in my ear. "There's an old well near the place we met. Meet me there tonight."

Not giving me the possibility to properly think about it or answer something, he vanished into thin air. It seemed like he had melded with our surroundings, making it impossible to be seen. I didn't even know if he was still here or already gone away. Anyhow, I kept standing still, my back leaning against the wall and my hand moving up towards my cheek. Still feeling the warmth, I was quite sure they had been reddened during our short moment. Slowly, I slipped down until I was sitting on the hard ground.

Only now the words finally seemed to reach my brain, as I now got the meaning behind them. Malachai wanted to meet me, privately.

Maybe he hadn't spilled the beans about my secret. Maybe my family's secret was his secret now, too, and he was going to protect it just like us. A small smile spread across my lips, hoping, that I had finally found someone outside my family to whom I could go whenever I had problems. After all these years of hiding maybe I'd finally found the one person I could trust. But could he be trusted? Despite everything he must be going through, he still was the son of the leader of the Gemini's.

I couldn't tell how much time had passed after Malachai had left. Ever since I had been lost in thought, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. I even forgot about why I'd originally come here. At least, until the door to Joshua's office was opened and my mother walked out. She was astonished to find me sitting there, staring at one spot on the white wall.

It took her calling my name multiple times until I came back to reality. I must've looked like I had been sleeping with open eyes since she was looking strangely at me.

"Hello, mother." I greeted her, flashing up a smile. I then stood up, brushing off the dust from my trousers. "Can I talk to you for a sec? It's about... it; kind of."

"This is neither best time nor place, Callie. Is it an emergency or can it wait until later when we got to our hotel?"

Hotel? As far as I remembered we never stayed in a hotel, we would always stay in guest rooms here because then we would be nearer if anything urgent happened. So now it was my turn to ask a question, as amazed as I was startled. Because even if though I hadn't made up my mind about the meeting with Malachai I was sure it would be impossible to do so if we stayed in a hotel. Depending on how far away it was there was no way I'd get to the spot we were supposed to meet.

"Not this time. Your father and I thought it would be better not to stay here the night. Just in case something happens." Mothers voice had become quieter, and it had become harder to hear it. "But the hotel isn't that far away. I think it's nearly two miles from here; we could even walk there."

I nodded. Two miles didn't sound too bad, and maybe it would be possible to go meet up with Malachai yet again. Of course only if I managed to sneak out and get back in time so I wouldn't be standing in front of a closed hotel and had to explain where I'd been. No one needed to knew it yet if I really was going to the meeting.

"We will soon go." Mother continued, the corners of her mouth twitching to form a smile. "In an hour at the latest. I need to get back now."

Without another word, she turned around and walked back into the office from where I could hear loud voices. It sounded like an argument which was becoming more heated with every passing second.

Unsure of what to do know I decided to go back to the kitchen, remembering that just because of me Josette had organized some sandwiches. With another low growl, my stomach confirmed me that it had been the right decision. Like I had hoped Josette and Joey were still there, all sitting around the table. The only difference was the blonde girl who had joined them, sitting next to Joey and eating one sandwich from a plate filled with different types.

I took place next to Josette, grabbing a salad and ham sandwich. Taking a bite, I curiously looked at the blonde girl who probably was another one of the Parker kids.

"I'm Lena." She introduced herself at my quizzical expression, reaching out her right hand. "Their sister."

I shook her hand, trying to guess her age. Probably around sixteen.

We all talked, laughed and ate while the time was slowly passing by. By now I liked the Parker kids - at least the ones I'd already met, there were two I still didn't know - but I was simultaneously afraid how they'd behave if they found out about my little secret. At first, we didn't even realize how it had become louder from one moment to the other. Different loud voices were coming from the corridor, followed by footsteps not soon after.

One hour seemed to have passed and today's meeting was over. People - coven members - were walking through the hall while I kept looking to find my parents. Not until everyone else was gone they appeared in my visual field as the last members to leave the room. They waved as they saw me, mentioning for me to come with them.

"I need to go now. See you tomorrow?" I bade goodbye, the last part sounding more like a question than a farewell. They smiled and wished me goodbye as I walked up to my waiting parents, quickly heading outside where a few other members were still standing and talking to each other. But we ignored all of them and went our way.

Suddenly, I was under the impression someone was watching me. A gaze was burning into my back, and I just couldn't shake the feeling I knew exactly who it was who was looking at me. Malachai. While we were still walking towards our car, I turned my head around and gave a small, hardly noticeable nod. I wasn't even sure if he had seen it, but if he did, he would know what it meant. I had made up my mind.

The past hour I had been thinking about it until I had come to the conclusion that it would give me a chance to talk to him freely, asking him if he did talk to someone about my secret. Or maybe this would be my chance to finally meet the first person outside my family I could fully trust. My chance to enjoy my life for the first time ever.

Ninja Vampire xx
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