Chapter 9

I had spent most of the morning talking with my dad. Believe me, the feeling was still foreign having someone to call dad. No, not step dad. But that was my next issue. I hadn't quite figured out what part of my life was next to tackle. I mean, sure, everything had finally worked out with my dad, but for some reason I had a feeling that this was only the beginning, and that I had just gone through the easy part.

After I came back to the house, I was bombarded by questions, mostly from Patricia. "How did it go? Did he bug out? Did you bug out?" I laugh, shaking my head. We go to my room, and are surprised to see Fabian not there.

"No, we sorted everything out, and we talked." I explained.

"Oh, so that's what took you so long." I nodded.

"He asked about you." I blurted.

"What? Why!?" She asked, astounded. I laughed.

"I'm not sure; apparently he heard it from around school. Seems like we've already got rumors going around Yacker." She rolls her eyes but sends a smile. "So, we've yet to go on a proper date."

"We went to the New Year's party." She opposed.

"Yes, but with the rest of the house, and we were kind of required to, so it doesn't count. So how we go to dinner sometime?"

"Eh, I'm not the best with restaurants." She admits, flushing. I grin.

"We'll see about that."

I run my finger over the call button, debating whether I can press it or not. My mom's phone number has already been entered into the dial pad, and now all I need to press is one button. If only it were that simple…

Before I know it, I hear the phone ringing and I felt my heart stop. It was almost about to go to voicemail when a voice picks up. "Hello?"

"Mom? It's Eddie." I say breathlessly.

"Eddie! You need to help me! They've kidnapped me, and they're set out for you next, you have to-" Next thing I heard was a scream, and the phone dropping to the floor. But I didn't hang up, I just wouldn't. I held my breath, and fell silent on the other line. Next thing I heard was movement.

"Hello Edison." I gulped. It definitely wasn't Richard's voice, or one that I recognized.

"You let my mom go. She hasn't done anything to you."

"Correct, and we will not do anything to her as long as she cooperates." I let out a heavy sigh.

"What do you want with her? As far as I'm aware, I don't even know you."

"No, you don't. But I know you, and your secret. I'll give you time, not enough, but time to fix the mess you've made. I highly suggest obeying my orders, Edison." And with that, he's hung up. A shiver runs down my spine, and I run a hand through my hair.

I discovered a few hours later what direction I needed to start off in, but it was a risky path. I glanced over at Fabian as he entered the room. "What?" He asks as I continue to stare at him. I feel my heart race about one hundred miles per hour.

"Alright, I'm going to ask you to not play any games with me here. I know that you know who I am. And I know who you are. Thing is, I don't want to be who I am." He eyes me carefully, and I get his full focus.

"What are you playing at Sweet?" I grimace.

"Don't call me that." I grit through my teeth, causing him to smirk. "Listen, I don't want to be a part of The Society, but I'm forced to so my mom can stay safe. I'm not the bad guy here, Richard is." I explain, and he nods.

"I know about your mission, that's why I have been keeping my eye on you. So what are you saying?"

"What I'm saying is that if I'm taking The Price Society down, I'll need your help." He nods, and extends his hand. I take it gladly, and we begin to discuss strategies. "Wait, so does Patricia know about anything?" He shakes his head no.

"I mean, of course we're stepbrother and sister but I haven't been allowed to tell anyone." He explains.

"What about your brothers and sisters?" I question.

"They know. Once they turn thirteen, they are allowed to begin training." He explains.

"But that means that before we get things started, we're going to have to tell Patricia." Realization floods over me, and I begin to panic.

"Me? No way. You-"

"No, not just me. I'm not the only one who's been keeping secrets from her." I stiffen.

Fabian and I find ourselves standing face to face with Patricia's door the next morning. We had practically spent the whole night discussing bout what to do. "You knock." I nudge.

"No you." He whispers back.

"Fabian, knock on the-"

"Hey!" Fabian and I chime with fake enthusiasm, as Patricia opens the door staring at us.

"Hey… what are you doing outside my door? Why are you even up here?" She questions. We glance nervously at each other. "You know what, whatever, I probably won't care." Once she walks off, we breathe a sigh of relief and instantaneously begin scheming again.

Patricia sits down in between Fabian and I at the breakfast table, leaving us little to no time to discuss anything. I spend the day way too caught up in my thoughts that Mrs. Valentine has to check on me to make sure I'm paying attention. I manage to convince her I am.

Later, in my dad's class, I once again found myself not paying attention. But this time, I was passing notes with Patricia.

How about we get around to that date later? ;)

She rolls her eyes, but manages to scribble back a short reply.

Sure, just let me check my schedule first.

I scoff, and turn to see her smirking at me. I laugh.

Mhm, sure. I'll pick you up in your room around seven then?

It's a date Slimeball

Later that evening, I stand in front of the mirror, wearing a simple black tee shirt and a blue button up top over it. My hair is side swept as usual, and I look around to see if I am forgetting anything. "Here." Says Fabian, placing my brown leather cuff in my hand. "Patricia likes things like that, trust me." I nodded, slipping it around my wrist.

Before I know it, I am upstairs waiting for Patricia, and she comes out just minutes after. I smile. "Hey."

"Hey. So where are we going?" She asks.

"That is for me to know, and for you to find out." I grin, leading her down the stairs. She rolls her eyes, but gladly follows. We walk out the door of the house hand-in-hand, and I take her down a trail. "Now, I know I promised you a restaurant, but I've heard about history of beverage dumping." I joke, causing her to laugh.

A few feet away is a candle-lit picnic, full of her favorite foods. She gasps and her eyes light up, tugging on my arm. We sit down, as I pour her drink, and we begin to snack. "How did you know what food I like?" She questions curiously.

"I have my resources." I answer. She raises her eyebrows, but goes back to her meal. I take a bite out of a brownie, savoring the flavor.

"So do you like it her in England?" She asks.

"Well, the weather sucks." I state, causing her to give a slight laugh. "And it's weird, because sometimes people's accents are too strong, and I can't understand them." She rolls her eyes, and takes a sip of her drink. "What about ,you?"

"Me? Well I've lived in England my whole entire life, so I'm pretty used to the weather." She jokes.

"I meant tell me more about your life. Interests, favorites, past memories…" I suggest.

"Well I'm not really sure about the first two things, but maybe I can tell you a few Anubis memories."

Patricia walked up the steps of Anubis house, ready to start her first day at the school. Her dad held her hand, guiding her. Earlier that morning, she had already said goodbye to her twin sister, Piper that morning. Mr. Williamson had decided that a few both of his daughters should attend boarding school. Patricia, to Ra International and Piper to Ludwig International, a school for musical prodigies. Ever since his wife, Johanna, had passed away, he thought that it would be best for the girls.

"Are you ready Patricia? You're eleven now, and officially old enough to go to school here. I bet you're going to make lots of friends." Encouraged her father.

"What if they don't like me?" A nervous Patricia asks, clutching onto her father more than ever.

"They're going to love you, pumpkin." He called her by her favorite nickname, which she was given by her mother at the age of four. "Besides, everyone's new here, just like you. So you'll fit in just great."

"Alright. I guess I will. When will I see you again?"

"In two weeks, at Prospective Parents Day." He nods, ruffling her hair. Patricia fixes it quickly. "I have to go now; I'm expecting a business call. I'll see you in two weeks, okay?" And with that, he was gone.

Patricia nervously walked through the house. And the minute she did, she was sprayed with some sort of silly string. "Hey doofus! What was that for?" She scoffed, looking at the African-American, and a boy with big hair.

"Tough luck- what's your name?"

"Patricia."She raises her eyebrows at them.

"Patricia huh? Eh, I'm not gonna remember that. How about Trixie?"

"If you call me Trixie, will you knock it off with the pranks as long as we live here together?"

"Deal." He agrees.

"That's how you met Alfie and Jerome? Sounds exciting." I laugh, as she finishes her story.

"Yeah, it was." She chuckles.

"So I've noticed that all of you here aren't normal teenagers…" I start off.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She challenges.

"Well, first off, you're always doing something. You guys can never just sit down and watch TV or something."

"That's not true!" She imposes. "Believe it or not, I did watch TV the other day."

"Oh really? What did you watch?" She looks down, and I see her cheeks flush.

"The news." She murmurs. "It was actually pretty interesting. There was a story about some foreigner, who moved to England, and he was a part of some mob or something, and he is supposed to kill some girl, because their fathers are enemies." And as soon as she said that, my throat ran dry. My eyes widen, and I could feel my heart beating through my chest. "Are you okay?" I nod slowly, thinking about how this would be the best and worst moment to tell her.

"Wow, that's…something alright." She shakes her head. "Okay, I'm just going to come right out and say it: I'm the foreigner."

"Nice try Slimeball, I think I'd know if you were a criminal." Criminal, that stung.

"Patricia, I'm being serious. My dad moved away, and once he did, my mom got remarried to a guy named Richard, who is the leader of that mob. It's actually called The Society. He forces me to do these tasks that usually end up in death." I blurt out. I wave my hand in front of her face, waiting for a reaction.

"Suddenly this doesn't sound like a joke anymore." I hear her whisper. "B-but that means, I'm the girl, and you're here to kill me."

"No, Patricia, that's not-"

"Get away from me you creep!" She shouts at the top of her lungs, running back to the house. I quickly chase after her.

I manage to catch up to her enough so that I'm only about 10 feet behind her, and chase her straight down to Fabian and I's room. When I open the door, she is cradled in Fabian's arms. "He's a criminal Fabian! He's part of some mob that kills people and-"

"I know, Patricia. He's a part of The Price Society." Patricia's jaw drops in disbelief. "And I'm a part of The Rutter Society."

"Y-you mean that you've been hiding this from me? The whole time I've known you, Fabian?"

"Patricia, I had to. It was-"

"I don't want to hear it! You lied to me! I thought that we were brother and sister, but I guess I was wrong." Her voice calms down now, and neither Fabian nor I speak. "I hate you. Both of you." Then with that, she's walked out of the room, completely broken. And when I go to bed that night, only three words run in my mind:

I hate you.