Sorry, this chapter is a little shorter than the others, but a lot happens!

Chapter 4

Fabian and Jerome were talking at the dinner table before their housemates came. They were talking about Fabian's conversation with Theodora the night before.

"She said we are among the werewolves" Fabian whispered.

"So you think someone in the house is a werewolf?" Jerome asked.

"Yeah possibly" Fabian said as their housemates filed into the rooms. It was finally their first day back to school so everyone had to get up early.

"Twilight is the best book ever" Amber said walking in with Nina.

"I agree with you, but I don't want a movie marathon of Twilight tonight" Nina said

"Vampires are cool" Mara said, everyone at the table now.

"I'm happy you said that" Jerome smiled.

"Why?" Mick asked him

"Because Vampires are cool" Jerome said.

"I like werewolves better" Joy said.

"Yeah, werewolves are hotter" Amber said.

"Oh come on, if you had the choice to be a vampire or a werewolf, don't you think being a vampire would be cooler?" Fabian asked.

"Ooh, let's take a vote" Amber said.

"Everyone in favor of vampires, raise your hand" Nina said. Jerome, Fabian, Mara, Eddie, and Patricia raised their hands. Amber, Alfie, Nina, Joy, and Mick kept their hands down.

"You would want to be a werewolf?" Eddie asked Amber.

"Well actually, I would stay human, but if I had to date one of them, I would date a werewolf" Amber said. "I mean, they're so big and manly, and rough on a full moon. Vampires are... Sparkly"

"And murderers" Alfie mumbled.

"That's how they stay alive" Fabian said.

"Maybe they should find a different way of living" Nina said. "At least some vampires only kill animals. But the others kill humans and don't even care"

"But the werewolves kill too" Jerome said. "Even if it's only on full moons"

"But they kill vampires who kill humans. So ultimately they're being helpful" Joy said.

"That's on Twilight and that's one adaption" Jerome said. "But on pretty much every other adaption, they kill any meat that moves"

"True but they only do it on a full moon, so they're doing little damage" Nina said. "Whereas the vampires..."

"They go at humans every day like a buffet" Alfie finished.

"But they don't have a choice, they have to or they die" Fabian said.

"Maybe they should die if they put everyone else in danger" Joy said

"Maybe everyone should be vampires" Jerome shrugged. "Then there would be no humans to kill"

"And no humans to feed on, and it would be the end of mankind, thanks to vampires" Joy said. "I can't stand the mere thought of vampires, I'm so glad they don't really exist"

"Same here" Alfie said.

"Yup" Nina said. Fabian and Jerome glared at them, and the rest of the house stared at the five.

"Wow" Mick said. "Intense Twilight debate. I didn't even think you guys were big fans"

"I just think werewolves are hot" Amber mumbled.

After dinner Patricia and Amber went off alone, confusing everyone again, to talk.

"I think we should talk to an old witch. Someone who will know what to do about this... thing" Amber said

"It's not a 'thing' it's just that I don't know how to control my magic yet" Patricia said annoyed. "But I know who we can talk to. Mel"

"Who's Mel?" Amber asked

"My bad ass grandma. But she does not want to be called a grandma" Patricia said. "After I got my mark my mom told me she was a witch. Actually my mom was supposed to be a witch, but she got skipped over"

"How close is your, uh Mel" Amber asked

"She's actually really close to the school" Patricia said

"Well then let's go!" Amber said. The ride was twenty minutes. The neighborhood was quiet and peaceful. Mel lived in the oldest house. It was probably older than Anubis. When they knocked a little old woman with streaks of gray hair came out. She wasn't wearing old clothes and holding herself up with a cane. She leaned on the doorway with her hand on her hip and a scowl on her lips.

"Hey Mel" Patricia said

"Hi Patty" Mel said.

"You know I hate when you call me that" Patricia said

"That's why I do it" Mel said. She turned her attention to Amber. "Who's the blonde"

"That's Amber, she's an Element" Patricia said.

"So what do you want from me?" Mel asked

"I'm having trouble with my magic, I was wondering if you could help" Patricia said

"'Course I can" Mel said. "Doesn't mean I will"

"Ugh stop being difficult" Patricia said.

"Fine, come over here" Mel said directing her to a couch. She took off Patricia's coat and looked at the mark. She inspected, before stopping at one part. She kept looking at it. "You're sick"

"I feel fine" Patricia said.

"Not that kind of sick. It's a magical sick. It's like a magic flu, and it started right here in the collarbone area" Mel said. "Here, I'll perform some kind of voodoo magic whatever and remove it. I got sick like ten times when I was learning"

She held her hands up and nothing happened at first. Then Mel began to shake and Patricia's mark turned red. Patricia screamed loudly and Amber's eyes widened. She didn't know what to do, but Mel was really shaking. She was breathing heavily and rocking back and forth. Amber began to try to snap Mel out of it, shaking her and saying her name. It was hard to focus with Patricia's screams. Finally Mel stopped shaking and Patricia stopped screaming.

"It was burning, my mark was burning" Patricia said. "Is it gone?"

Mel looked fearful at her granddaughter. "No. This is something different"

"Different?" Patricia asked. "What is it? Magic pneumonia?"

"You have a virus" Mel said. "It takes over your magic and grows stronger the more you use it. You have to stop using your magic. There was only one other person who had this virus"

"Who" Amber chimed in.

"Annabelle Baker" Mel said. "She couldn't control her magic, and had no recollection of what she did once she used it. When the mark was complete, she was out of control. She created havoc throughout the village, and once it was burnt down moved to the next one. It seemed like she was indestructible, but she wasn't. After a little while the dark magic consumed her and destroyed her"

"Well how do you get rid of it?" Patricia asked

"You can't" Mel said. "You can't use your magic. Promise me Patricia"

"I won't use it I promise" Patricia said. They left afterwards. Patricia was uncharacteristically quiet the entire ride back.

When they got back they stood at the door not yet going in.

"You ok?" Amber asked Patricia.

"Peachy" Patricia said bitterly.

"Do you wanna talk?" Amber asked

"No" Patricia said. "I want to be alone"

"Ok" Amber said and went off. Patricia went inside and to her room. Luckily neither Mara nor Joy were in there. She sat on her bed and took out her phone.

"Hey" Piper said. "You know I love you but make it fast, I have to go to my class"

Patricia broke down in tears. "I need you" she choked out.

"Patricia what are you-"

"Patricia?" Eddie asked at her doorway. She quickly hung up and wiped her eyes. "Are you crying?"

"No" Patricia said, not facing him.

"It's ok if you are, I just couldn't see you with tear streaks" Eddie said coming in. When she didn't answer he closed the door behind him. "Everyone cries. I've cried"

Patricia looked at him.

"Every time my dad didn't answer my letters" Eddie said. "So you don't have to tell me what's wrong"

He sat on her bed next to her and she leaned her head onto his shoulder and cried. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling a bit angry. 'Whoever or whatever made her cry so hard that she's shaking should be shot.'

Fabian walked to the school to find Ms. Robinson in her office. He didn't know why a coach needed an office, it wasn't like she had papers to grade.

"Hey Ms. Robinson" Fabian said getting her attention. She looked up and smiled.

"Hi Fabian" Ms. Robinson said.

"I was wondering if you had any spots to fill on the football team" Fabian asked.

"Actually I do" she said.

"Can I try out?" Fabian asked. She was surprised. She didn't know much about Fabian, she only met him a few times because of his friendship with Mick. He didn't seem like the type who would be interested in sports.

"Sorry Fabian, we take serious athletes"

"I'm serious about this" Fabian said

"You don't strike me as the athletic type" Ms. Robinson said

"How do you know what I can do when I haven't even tried out yet?" Fabian asked. Ms. Robinson eyed him for a second.

"Alright, let's see what you can do Rutter" Ms. Robinson said.

Amber went off to a wide open field. She decided to practice her powers. She realized just how gifted she was.

Mick was close by and saw her, and decided that if they didn't believe him he would show them. He hid behind the trees again and pulled out his phone to record.

Amber stood in the middle of the field, taking in the nature around her. Then she placed her palms over the ground and a tree emerged right in front of her. It grew tall and tall until it was the tallest of the trees, reaching the skies like a mountain.

Mick was recording all of it, but was still slightly stunned. It was hard to get over. This was the type of thing that happened in movies.

Amber felt a disturbance in the nature, the wind moved around something that wasn't supposed to be there, so there was someone watching her. She looked over to see Mick hidden behind a tree. He ducked when she looked over and she became angry. She moved the tree to the side and revealed him.

"MICK!" Amber yelled stomping over.

"Uh hey Ambs" Mick said nervously.

"Why were you spying on me?" Amber asked angrily.

"Amber why are you hiding this stuff? It's amazing" Mick said

"Don't change the subject Mick, that was beyond rude!" Amber said. "I can't believe you really were spying on me. That's an invasion of privacy. And you were recording me?"

"I didn't know how else to show everyone, they didn't believe me" Mick yelled feeling the frustration he felt before.

"Don't you dare show anyone" Amber said her eyes a dangerous red. "Be lucky I don't burn you on the spot"

Amber was never the threatening kind, and she rarely got angry. Unless something expensive and pink of hers got messed up or someone hurt Nina somehow. But this was a side of her Mick had never seen.

"Fine" Mick said. "I won't tell anyone"

"This is why no one tells him anything" Amber muttered to herself as she stomped over to the house, after putting the tree back in the ground. "He can't keep a secret for his life"

Mick was confused, what else is being hidden from him?

As he thought of every possible thing that could be hidden from him he got angry. Why were there so many damn secrets in the house? Why was he left out of the loop? He became determined to find out.

"You think they're the wolves" Fabian asked Jerome.

"I definitely think Alfie is a wolf, my glamouring didn't work on him. And he's stronger than most humans. What else would explain it?"

"...Steroids?" Fabian suggested. Jerome chuckled. "What about Nina and Joy?"

"I don't know. They're always hanging out, and they're more annoying than usual" Jerome shrugged

"Nina wasn't usually annoying" Fabian said.

"I think we should confront them. Ask them straight up if they're werewolves" Jerome said.

"And if they're not?" Fabian asked. "How will we explain our question?"

"We'll just tell them it's a joke or something" Jerome said. They walked up the stairs to see them all together, as usual. Fabian did note how that used to be him Nina and Amber that people would think that about. Just when they were about to approach them, Trudy called them for dinner and the trio was off. When everyone was downstairs for dinner, they were surprised to see Mr. Lewis at the table.

"Dad!" Alfie said in a panic. If he had known he were coming he would have made himself 'presentable'.

"What are you wearing?" He asked surprised to see him still in his Pjs. Alfie said nothing and just sat down.

"SO how was everyone's day?" Mara asked sensing the tension.

"I made the football team" Fabian said. Many chokes, silverware dropping, and spit takes were followed.

"You?" Eddie asked. "You're joking right?"

"Not at all" Fabian said.

"But you're not even athletic" Nina said.

"Why is it that you think you know everything about me?" Fabian snapped at her

"Well I thought we told each other everything so I just assumed-" Nina started.

"Dad why are you here?" Alfie asked in the most respectful way possible, also ending a fight that was bound to start.

"I will be taking you and your friends somewhere after dinner" Mr. Lewis said.

"Really?" Eddie asked interested and excited.

"Not everyone, just Ms. Martin and Ms. Mercer" he said. Joy and Nina looked up, shocked.

"Why?" Jerome asked.

"I believe I was talking to my son" Mr. Lewis snapped, surprising everyone. He had always been fond of Jerome.

"Uh, Mr. Lewis, I'm afraid I'm not able to allow you to take the girls without written consent of their guardians" Trudy said cutting in. Mr. Lewis went through his stuff and pulled out two slips of paper.

"I have word from Joy's father and Nina's grandmother" he said. "We talked and planned this before school"

"You did?" Alfie, Joy, and Nina said surprised.

"Yes" Mr. Lewis said. "Now, were you dressed like that all day? Did you wash? Did you do anything productive today? Or did lounge around in your pj's all day?"

Alfie was in panic. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"It was pajamas day at the house" Jerome spoke up.

"Yeah, that's why Joy and I are also in our pajamas" Nina said, even though the actual reason was because they were all sleepy and spent the day watching movies.

"We're not in ours because we just changed out of ours" Mick said.

"Yeah, Alfie, Nina, and Joy didn't get to change out because..." Mara started

"We were working on a presentation for History and we lost track of time" Joy said.

"Is this true?" Mr. Lewis asked. Alfie nodded.

"Alfie didn't even want to participate in Pj Day" Fabian said. "He thought it was stupid and would only distract him from his work"

"And every time I tried to hang out with him he would only dismiss me" Amber said. "But I'm used to it, he has good priorities"

"He is always busy, with him being Head of Anubis" Patricia said quietly. Eddie, however, had never met Alfie's dad and never knew of their relationship.

"I think you should be proud of him" But Eddie knew what it was like to always want to impress his father.

"Very well" Mr. Lewis said. "Very good dinner, Trudy"

"Thank you" Trudy said and Mr. Lewis went to the bathroom. Alfie looked at his housemates. He smiled at them. They all smiled back, even Jerome and Fabian. Amber couldn't take it anymore. She got up and hugged him. Everyone else followed after her and they just sat there embracing each other.

"Come on Alfred" Mr. Lewis said. "Ms. Mercer and Ms. Martin, if you would please follow me"

"Coming" Alfie said and gave Jerome a look. They went into his room and closed the door. "I just wanted to say thank you. We're not the best of friends right now, but it's good to know that you still have my back"

"Always" Jerome said immediately.

"I wanted to say that in here because we made a pack. No mushy stuff in front of other people, if ever"

"I remember" Jerome chuckled. Alfie put his shoes on and ran out in the hall to find Joy and Nina.

They put on their coats and headed out the door. Surprisingly he took a detour to the woods and into the warehouse. He turned on a light in there and brought out the chains.

"Sir what are you doing?" Joy asked but he didn't respond.

"Dad what are we doing here?" Alfie asked.

"Get against the wall!" he said in a very different tone than he usually talks. Mr. Lewis usually talks in a calm, assertive nature, but now he seemed forceful, so they did as they were told. He began to chain up Alfie.

"What are you doing" Joy asked. "I don't think my dad will be happy with you chaining us up"

"He requested it" Mr. Lewis said.

"Please just tell me what's going on" Nina pleaded

"You are going to feel pain, and you are going to suffer" he told them. "Luckily for you, the first time is always the worst. There are secrets you do not know about your family, and you must keep quiet. This is dangerous. You are going to feel hunger you could never imagine, and you have to fight it"

"Dad-"

He was cut off by a light coming from the window. The three teens looked out the window simultaneously. They tried to move closer.

"STAY AGAINST THE WALL" Mr. Lewis yelled startling them out of their small trance. They quickly walked back to the wall.

When they began to change, it hit them like a ton of bricks. Screams, loud and twisted, erupted in the silent night. They screamed for hours, pleading for it to stop. Crying. It broke Mr. Lewis's heart to see his son so defenseless. He wished he could help, could do something to stop the pain. But he couldn't.

That's when the internal change became physically apparent.

Nina felt the first change, her skin began to feel weird and her bones were distorted.

Joy felt it next, her skin began to grow prickly, and her brain became fuzzy

It hit Alfie hard and fast and he began to break out, same as Nina. Mr. Lewis quickly rushed to his son and secured him so he was unable to move. He did the same with Nina, and moved on to Joy.

Except Joy wasn't there.