Chapter 6
At six I went to go patrolling since I hadn't in a few days and I fought well enough for Wesley; Spike was there as well, just in case. Angel was now convinced that people, demon and human, were out to get me and even with my begging not to have someone spying on me, he ignored me. I threw a severed head at Spike and hit him in the gut, he growled at me and I laughed at him. Wesley wasn't pleased with our behavior.
"Why can't you and Angel trust me Wes?" I asked him while Spike took over for a while.
Wesley glanced down at me, "because- we trust you Lilith. We don't know what other people are thinking; we cannot predict what they will do or how they will react. Once we know that, then Angel will let Spike have his life back." He told me, silence from both of us. I only could nod ever so barely and go over and help Spike fight the three vampires at once. I killed one when his back was turned and got rid of the second; I let William the Bloody deal with the last.
I pulled Spike aside while Wesley was busy talking to someone, "Spike do you think that someone is out to kill me?"
"People are always out to kill you slayer." He grumbled, I sighed.
"I mean it- not because of being a slayer, but because of my mom. She's Gloria and I'm Lily- the singer's daughter. Someone has to have had figured it out by now, take me hostage and Glory will give everything up." I whispered. I had no idea why I was, it just felt right. "It's been so long since I've lived a life without knowing Brad or Angelina, Reese Witherspoon, James Blunt, JT, Robin Williams. I've met more actors and performers then Bruce's kids!" he smiled at me.
"Really?"
I could only nod at him; I sighed again and leaned against the tree. I pulled out my cell phone to check the time. Still an hour yet, only eight-fifty-seven. I moved my weight from my left foot to my right, I put my hand over the scar the stitches had given me and I could still feel out through my shirt.
"Can I see the scar?" It occurred to me, that only the doctors and I have seen it, so I shrugged and stood straight up and balanced out my weight and lifted my shirt enough so he could see it. It was thin, long, and an odd sight to see; it was at a slight curve and went from my direct side to near my belly button. He smiled at me.
"What?" I frowned.
"Bigger then what I expected it to be. Seems a little low though, you sure he said kidney?" I nodded and lowered the shirt, it fell into place and I leaned against the tree again, "Hmm." He only said. I watched his expressions for the next five minutes, he finally walked away. I followed as we went back to Wesley; he hung up as we got there.
He turned to me, he looked angry- I wondered what I did now? "Do you know a man named Jager?" I shook my head. "Do the names Risika, Nickolas, Christopher, Edam, or Arubey come to mind-."
"What, why are they here?" Spike interrupted him.
"Apparently Lilith is good friends with the oldest, Arubey Karew."
"I don't know," I lied. "I'm tired, I'm going home. My doctor said no extreme playing, I consider this extreme." I added. Spike grabbed me around the waist.
"They are murderers, dangerous, and vile."
"Oh you mean like yourself and Angel?" I snapped, he let me go- technically he threw me to the ground. I gasped and lay back; I sat up right away and stayed down for a moment. "Does it matter; Jager seems like a nice dad. Edam and Arubey saved my life-."
"Thought you said you never met Jager?" I bit my lip and looked away from them both. "You're not going anywhere until you tell me where and when you met Jager." I got up with some difficulty.
I glared at Wesley, "Why not? Fine Jager was at my house and I do know all of them, they're somewhat nice- Risika and I don't really get along very well. Arubey and I-."
Spike stopped me, "Don't befriend him. He'll use you for a while until he's content and then leave you for the wolves. I mean werewolves by the way, he likes watching the beasts tear humans apart." I felt my eyes roll around in the sockets. Spike growled, "I'm not joking about this."
"Fine." I muttered, I tried to sound defeated. "I'll stay away from them all and I'll avoid them from now on." I turned and left to go back home, I needed to shower again and I make sure Cyrus had dinner; he made me go out tonight and spend time with friends. He said he'd go get Subway tonight.
When I got home, Cyrus was in his room watching TV on his little twelve inch next to his bed. I just peeped inside; I didn't go into the room. I showered and dressed slowly. What if Arubey was dangerous, just like Spike said? Charles Gunn probably recognized the name from his many vamp books, and did some study work and let Angel know he was in my hospital room. Angel was old enough to probably have hunted with Arubey before he and his fellow vampires decided to lie low… but why? Did they kill some Gypsy woman? Slaughter a village of underage children with disabilities? Smother elderly with pillows and their own knit-work? Bash in lumberjacks with their own tools and branches?
Or. Maybe they decided to lay low because they want to be; they want to reform and not be killers anymore. They probably drink animal blood… nevertheless how did Jager get the job at the museum? I was sure he has no credentials, let alone work experience if he's been a vampire long enough. Angel barely can run Wolfram & Hart! Jager, Arubey, Risika, Edam, Nickolas, Christopher is LA's family of murderers and they're vampires for Christ sake! As Slayer it was my job to kill people- things-monsters- demons just like them. I was sure at least one of the boys have raped his victim before killing her; in fact I was sure of it. Spike was in love with Buffy and he tried to do that exact same thing; she kicked him- according to Angel- and he left that night to get his soul back. It took her weeks to realize he got his soul- it took her months to realize she loved him finally….
I groaned and fell onto my futon, still in bed mode. I heard Cyrus get up and turn off his TV, he was snoring in minutes. I breathed out slowly but loudly and buried by face in the pillow like I had on my first night back in my room. As a slayer it was Buffy's job to kill Spike, she never could and I don't think I could ever kill Arubey if I had too. I sat up suddenly: what if that was their plan? Befriend me and then slowly give me hints to their vampirism and if Angel finally made it clear I had to kill them… I wouldn't. I frowned and lay down again burying my face once more. I heard someone enter my room.
"Asleep without me?" I looked up. He was smiling down at me; I took his hand and pulled him to me.
"I've never used the bed mode of the futon before." I whispered, he chuckled amused. He held me in his arms comfortably and asked if I was content, "Yeah." I smiled and he pulled me up closer to him, he kissed my lips gently and I kept my left arm at my side as my right felt his cheek against my palm. He lifted his head just above mine.
"Aren't you afraid of what I am?" he whispered, he sounded sad already before he even found out my answer. I shook my head and moved my right hand into his hair, behind his head and pulled him back down to me. "Why not," he whispered.
I sighed, "I'll show you why." I told him and got up; I went to my closet and opened the left door. I knelt down and pulled out the book that Charles gave me, he called it 'homework'. I went back over to Arubey; he lay on his side on his elbow. I sat down and tucked my legs under me as I sat right next to his head, he could clearly see his marks on the side of my neck. He looked away. I opened to the page about Angel. I pointed at Angel's picture, "He and my Watcher work together- Angel is CEO of Wolfram & Hart. My Watcher's name is Wesley, I've been a slayer long enough to know how to fight without barely getting touched by the opponent and Gareth, my first Watcher… was like my father since Cyrus was out of the picture. I patrolled tonight," I hesitated. He looked up at me; I closed the book and pushed it away from me. "Charles Gunn, the man who gave me this book- I think he recognized your face or your name or something. Wesley spent a good five or ten minutes, trying to convince me to stay away from you. Do you know Spike?" I asked.
Arubey nodded, he sat up and pulled the book back to us. He opened to a page and Spike was looking back at us, "We hunted together many decades ago. We slaughtered a village Medicine Man, his family tried to kill us for the following five months. I killed the Man's children and wife. Spike watched laughing-." I took his hand as if he did nothing wrong. As if it wasn't his fault.
What ever reason why I couldn't be friends with the Karew-Dawson family, this was it. I was over looking their pasts and falling for who they were now: good people, working and going to school. "That's not you anymore Arubey, you're better then who that was."
"I can still murder people, I can slit your thro-at right now and I wouldn't give a damn." He said, his voice cracked, I smiled at him. He scowled at me and turned away from me. I took the book and set it on the floor behind me. Then I got up and went before him, he looked up as I sat down on his left and I put my right hand on his left shoulder with my arm against his back.
I wasn't teasing him when I told him to. "If you're dangerous and you'll someday kill another human. Then bite me and prove it," he glared at me. He tried to get up but I was also strong enough to pull him back down. "I'm not joking Arubey," he glared at me still. "I want you to bite me if you're still dangerous; if you don't… then you're not a monster anymore. You're just you, which also means, that Angel, Wesley, Spike… all of them won't have to worry about you killing me." I added, he shook his head. I moved so I was sitting on his lap, he put his hands on my waist.
"You really aren't afraid of me?" I shook my head no, "I don't understand Lilith why you're not. I can barely look at Nickolas or Risika because I know of the pasts we had. I killed Risika's human brother the night she was turned and Nickolas and I made the entire country it Italy fear us. His twin brother Christopher is a child at heart, he rarely drinks from humans," he told me. I smiled at him, "I'm really old Lilith." I giggled, "I'm about 5043." I still smiled at him.
"I did this survey on the internet that says my real age is like two-forty-seven, course that was about five years ago so I'd be… two-fifty-two. I'm catching up," I teased. He wasn't pleased, he reminded me of Angel and Wesley. I sighed and frowned, "Stop looking at me like that Arubey Karew- did you know you're in that book too?" he looked around for it, when he figured what I did with it, he tried to get it but I grabbed Arubey's forearms and he watched me as I kept my eyes on his and I put his arms around my waist. I kissed him this time and he held me even tighter and he made his way down to my neck.
Arubey put his hand up to the back of my head to cradle it and I felt his teeth against my skin. Like before he bit me but didn't take any blood, I think I heard myself say his name and then he took my by surprise as he punctured a vein. I kept my eyes closed and my arm around his neck as if it keeps him in place, although we both knew I was ready to let go when he was. The pain lasted only for a few seconds when I got over it and it actually tickled a little.
He pushed himself away from me and shoved me beside him as he got up, he didn't even look at me as he hurried toward the door. I asked him to stay, in order to get him from leaving my room, Arubey turned back to me. I wasn't delusional, scared, worried, or even crazy.
"I could have killed you just now!" Arubey snapped when I got up and went over to him. I walked as strongly as I could. I took his hand and made him come back with me; he tried to pull away because I nearly ended up dragging him back with me.
He said something but I wasn't listening. "You didn't kill me Arubey."
"I drank your blood Lilith; I'm still the monster that Angel used to know me as. Once Angel smells me on you, it'll be the end for us-."
"So you admit there is an 'us'?" I asked him, he growled at himself.
"Vampire and slayer won't work. Buffy Summers and Angel… she eradicated him."
"To save the world. I already know about that Arubey- I need you in my life." I told him plainly.
"If I'm in your life, it'll be very short," Arubey argued.
"I'm eighteen; I've had a good existence. I'll take that chance for you-."
"No." he growled, I trepidation for him when he said it that way.
I said nothing for a moment; Arubey realized he was suddenly sitting down next to me again. I promised, "I won't ever kill you Arubey. I can't kill people I care about," I told him. He looked away again so I took my hand and put it on the side of his face and turned him back to me. "I need you here, with me Arubey. I need you with me," I whispered. He glanced down at my neck for the first time; he wanted to do it again. His eyes told me he did.
He took me by the forearms and spun me so I was on my back and he was over me slightly, "I'm going to kill you." He muttered, I said nothing.
"I've died twice, I'll be fine." I told him.
"I mean it."
I smiled and reached up and we kissed; Arubey kept his body against mine and his hand where he drank from my neck. He ran his mouth down; I could feel his breath on my skin. Then he pulled his head away, he kissed me on the mouth once more.
"See, you're not a monster," I whispered. He smiled for the first time in a long time and slide his arm under my lower back and left me over to the head of the futon where the pillows where….
I dreamed of Aldo, my dead Great Uncle. He told me that my father and mother missed me, that my brother needed me and that my Godfather was now dead. He told me that a war was starting, that I was a normal human being according to my father's world. Aldo Cross told me that my real parents wanted me to be with my younger brother and that they were sorry they couldn't have raised me themselves. Aldo Cross told me that I looked just like my parents; that my brother looked like our dad. That I was the older sister of a very famous sixteen year old wizard, living in my birth place of London, England
The next morning I woke in Arubey's arms, he was still asleep when I got up and found Cyrus sipping coffee; he looked uneasy about something. He wore his pajama pants and a flannel; he even had on his moccasin slippers. He glanced when I walked behind him.
"Well?"
"'Well' what?" I frowned.
He smirked at me, "Who is he?" I nearly dropped the glass of milk I had just poured, "Ha, see I know you know who I'm talking about."
"Dad we didn't do-." He turned around and held up his hand.
He smiled, I frowned however. "I know Lilith. You're a very responsible young woman; your room is also right below mine. You woke me up."
"Sorry dad." I mumbled, I had to look away. Cyrus chuckled, "Why is this funny- I lied to you and right now I have a guy sleeping in my room… on my futon!" I gasped.
He laughed this time, I muttered his full name and he told me. "I woke just as you finished debating if it safe enough for him to be with you Lilith, the vents are like walkie-talkies. You can hear everything, I'm sorry I spied on you Lilith." I shrugged and muttered I probably deserved it. He scowled but smiled at me right away again. "I like him Lilith, don't date him for three months then break it off when summer comes, okay?" I laughed this time and promised I wouldn't. "DO you like him sweetie?" he asked curious.
I nodded again, "Very much father. We're still unsure of the situation however, it's complicated. It's like he's… an illness and I'm the pharmacist trying to kill it. They aren't meant to date but, Arubey and I will find away around the needles." By 'needles' I meant Angel and the fights that were sure to come. I hated the example I used too, he seemed to have gotten along with it well. "Dad?" he turned back to look at me, "did you and mom-," I chickened out. "Did you and mom talk about getting back together while she stayed here?" he sighed.
"I brought it up," he admitted. "She's uncomfortable with me being in her life Lilith, I'm sorry." he said in a soft voice. I groaned and went over to him and hugged him, "What?"
I spoke quickly, "I didn't mean to bring it up dad, I swear. It's just-."
"I love your mother more than anything, except for you of course. I raised you for four years without her and I'll be having you here for another couple months. You graduate soon Lilith?" I shrugged. He stood up and kissed my forehead but sat back down right away, I went over and got the coffee and poured him some more. He chuckled and said I treated him like a husband too much. My face mixed up oddly and pretended to gag, "Yeah that came out wrong. Forget it," I laughed at him and hugged him again
I entered my room to find Arubey Karew just waking up; I went over and lay down next to him again, "where were you?"
"He knows you're here," I muttered. He groaned, "Don't worry." I told him quickly as he sat up, some time in the night he had taken off his shirt. I muttered that he was a show off.
Arubey laughed as he asked, "What?"
I ran my finger across his abs, "This. You think you're all tough because you have a couple muscles."
He laughed again, "Yeah, actually, I do." I giggled and he came down and kissed me, "Wanna show me yours." he whispered as he slipped his fingers under the hem of my shirt.
"I'd love to, but not with my dad up and ready to come in at any second." I reminded, he sighed and kept his chest on top of mine. Arubey sat up anyway and pulled me up with him, I sat with one leg on either side of him- they wrapped around his waist; he moved what hair I had managed to grow out since I got here and looked at the scars he gave me last night. Arubey bit his lower lip. "Don't be sorry, it didn't hurt me."
"I don't care, it was wrong for me to come here Lilith," I shook my head.
"I love that you did, I think I actually prefer the bed mode to the futon-couch mode now." I added looking at the bed. He chuckled at me and kissed me; he moved to my neck on impulse and then moved his head back.
Arubey lay down and I had to bring my legs back to either side of his body, "Did you know that I can control and read minds of humans. Right now your father is trying to listen to us through the ventilation system that goes from this room to his above us. He's thinking that we're doing something that produces kids. However, he thinks that if we're not doing that- he's thinking that we're trying to think together to come up with a good excuse with why we never told him about my little sleep over last night." I smiled and bent over him to kiss his neck this time. He pinned me to his body and ran his cold hand up and down my spine, "Don't you think he'll be angry with us?"
"No," I muttered.
I felt his hands on my hips; he was holding me in place as I stay above him slightly. "What about Angel and your Watcher, they have rules as does Cyrus-." I kissed his mouth again so he'd stop talking. I sighed when my cell phone went off.
"Don't go anywhere." I told him, he laughed at me.
"I'm not going anywhere," he assured me. I smiled as I got off him and answered on the fifth ring.
Before I could even say anything, my mother's voice greeted me with: "Ellen told."
My heart skipped a beat, I felt it and Arubey heard it. "What?" I frowned.
"Ellen, she had that done to you," Glory spoke quickly, she was near tears. "Right now there's people outside and my father is here with me, Punky, Rick, the twins, they all over here right now. I tried calling Cyrus's house phone but he never picked up-."
"Mom, slow down. When did she-?"
"Two days ago. She told her lawyer everything; she said that you were with your father and who I really am. Lilith, it's gonna get messy unless if we tell the world-."
"No, mom. I like the world we live in now, this was going to be my last summer. We decided on that-."
"For what?" I ignored Arubey, I sat down. My head felt dizzy and light headed, I ran my fingers threw my short hair. "Lilith?" He said.
I heard the phone being taken over by someone else, I sighed when I heard Duane's voice, "Lilith?"
"Hi Pa Duane," I said smiling.
"Do you want to stay there, the news will be all over this within a couple more days?" he told me.
I told him I'd call back in an hour or two and I hung up before he could say anything. I turned to Arubey who watched me carefully, "My mother's friend, Ellen tried to kill me because I was writing a Biography on Gloria the Singer. Glory and Gloria are the same person; I'm Lily- Gloria's daughter. The one who travels and acts like manager. We're also the reason why the Grammy's have to be during the summer. I won't portray Lily and my mom won't be Gloria during the school year." Arubey frowned and sat back with his bare back against the blanket. "Arubey, I'm so sorry. I should have told you last night-."
"No," he muttered. "It's alright," he started laughing, "I already knew. I read your mother's head when I met her in the hospital, I've known for a while." I frowned and went over to Arubey.
"You knew and didn't say anything?" he nodded smiling at me. I got up and paced, I told him everything that I was told. "Gloria and Lily have a summer home in London, I'm assuming that if we come out with the truth- we'll go there this summer. People there are nicer when it comes to musical personas." I explained.
He grinned at me, "So that guy you dated a few years ago. That was just a fling-?"
"In Italy?" he nodded, "I never really liked him, I just liked the Italian accent. I thought it was cute," I shrugged. "Mom wants me to come back to her, well my grandfather does at least." He frowned a little and got up and pulled me towards him, he held me tightly and kissed me hard. "Come with me." I whispered.
"Where?" Arubey asked me; I grinned as I pulled Arubey up and went to the bathroom with him. Right away I kissed him and he started the water for the shower, I raised my arms and he pulled off my shirt with delicacy. We undressed and entered the shower together….
My mother went out into the open and moved to a hidden place somewhere in the world and Ellen laughed about it all, Cyrus found out when the story came out in Los Angeles. For my own safety I was moved, to London. I didn't want to go so shortly before I graduated but I needed too, Glory and I would be fine there; the great city likes to act blind. I tried to convince Arubey to come with me, but he wouldn't. The last thing I told him before I left on the plane was that I loved him; I never looked back and my mother watched me the entire time. Cyrus came with us, he was shaking the entire way there; he glared at me when I told Glory about dreaming that I had a younger brother, who was also a famous wizard.
"Stop it Lilith, you don't have a brother." He muttered under his breath, I frowned at him. He tried to convince Glory and I to go to France instead; we've always loved London more. Glory can't speak French at all and I can only say a few words. Glory and I both glared right back at him, "I never wanted more kids."
"I did," Glory admitted in a small whisper. I shrugged.
"Was I born here dad?" I asked him.
He said nothing to me so I avoided him like he avoided me, "You know girls, it's not too late to switch to Italy or Germany; even Ireland is alright with me." He said, Glory rolled her eyes and went over to my father. They spoke in low voices for a long time, I couldn't read lips that well but I made out my name a few times and the name 'Lily' and 'James'. I knew that Lily was my mother; James could have been her brother or something. Cyrus looked up at me and then looked away when he saw me watching him, Glory said nothing when they stopped talking. I knew that he confessed something to her; I just didn't know what and it was bothering me more and more as we flew to what was my real birthplace.
When we landed in England (London) we got off the plane and went to the home that Glory set up for us right away. It was in a large residential neighborhood. A park was down the street, when we pulled into the driveway- across the street was a woman with a long neck and a man who looked like he's killed someone before; he was beefy, scary and had a bushy mustache under his nose. The woman waved at us and my father waved back, he froze suddenly and hurried inside. I would finish my senior year in London and I'd never see Andy or Joe again; they planned on joining the Military after high school and they were sure to be shipped out to some scary jungle somewhere. I needed Devin with me right then, we could comfort each other. Arubey had not escaped my head either, during the plane ride here.
Our new house looked just like the one on the right, left, behind, and across the street to the Neck and Potential Killer. The yard was small, boring and no lilac trees were around; I felt suffocated. I begged Glory to let me go and live with Pa Duane in GB but she wouldn't hear it out- she looked at me strangely and turned away from me. Cyrus and Glory wouldn't make eye contact with me for weeks. I had stopped eating, I became immune to food and got depressed. I slept whenever I could because I worked in near by cemeteries as I training myself and learned from my mistakes. When I did graduate from the University in London where I attended the British style of High School, I had lost about fifteen pounds and I felt weak constantly. Patrolling was difficult and so was everything else. My mother and father didn't even notice because they could barely look at me, I wondered if they blamed me for everything? If I hadn't started that damn memoir, I never would have been kidnapped and this never would have happened.
Glory lost a lot of weight too, Cyrus noticed her though. They also remarried in a private union, the husband-wife from across the street served as witnesses. They were Petunia and Vernon Dursley; their son Dudley was away at some high fine prep school that they sent him off too. Petunia considered me her new cooking buddy and I was stuck at her house a lot. With the cooking was the tasting, when their nephew, Harry came home I was already there with Dudley and Petunia. Vernon left to get the boy they called 'odd' and 'abnormal'. When we first saw each other we both paused and I knew what he was thinking because I was thinking it: He/She looks like me- kind of. Harry James Potter, he told me for his name.
"James?" he nodded. Petunia and Vernon had left the kitchen. Dudley was watching TV in their living room; we were alone. "Why do you live here Harry, there're no pictures of you anywhere." He shrugged.
He told me, "I'm used to it. My mum and dad were killed about fifteen years ago."
"I'm sorry," I mumbled. "I never met my mother, Cyrus raised me alone." I stopped then said, "My mom- her name was Lily. She died not long after she had me, at least you got to spend a year with yours Harry." He shrugged.
"Would be better if I could actually see her again though. What's your name?" he added.
"Lilith Cross, I live across the street. Your- aunt and uncle were witnesses for my dad's marriage to his ex-wife. Apparently they fell in love again," I shrugged. That's what I told the friends I had made at school, I knew they hadn't; it was just that people would think it strange: living together with a daughter and not sleeping in the same room. They married out of pressure from the neighbors.
I frowned a little and turned back to the oven, "Petunia likes me." I said with disgust, he smiled when he recognized the hint. "She thinks that if I could cook, I'd have a better chance in my marriage."
Harry raised a brow, "You seem a little young for that."
"I just have the form of a child, I'm eighteen. Nineteen in July, she says for my future marriage." I added with a shrug. I went over and turned off the oven, I cleaned up and Harry helped me. I muttered a thanks when we were done. "Say, do you have a picture of your mom and dad?" I asked, he smiled and led me up to his room. his school things were sprawled out and a real white owl was in a cage asleep, "Wow." He smiled.
"That's Hedwig, I got her when I eleven. It was actually my birthday when I got her," he said proudly.
"Lucky," I stammered. I was totally jealous, "I pretended that the bats in out backyard were my pets when I was about seven years old. I told my classmates this and they called a freak. It got better as I got older," I paused. It only did because hormones kicked in and guys starting doing girls. Harry however chuckled and opened his truck with a snap and pulled out a book.
He glanced at me, "Er, you should know something first. The pictures move," I smiled and motioned for him to open the book. My eyes widened as I looked at the photos. "That's my Godfather Sirius Black, he died a year ago."
"I'm sorry." I muttered.
He shrugged, "He died a hero." He told me, "His cousin Bellatrix Lestrange killed him. And that's Sirius's youngest brother Regulus. This is the only photo of him in here I think." He handed the book to me and I looked at every smiling face there was. The wedding that his parents had was like a fairy tale. Lily was so beautiful and James was dashing in his black tux; Sirius and Regulus were also very handsome in their dark suites. Also Regulus had on black pants and a nice flannel with the sleeves rolled up. He turned the page and I frowned, he noticed. "What?" I pointed at a man with dark hair and a nice smirk, "That Cyrus Black, Sirius's other younger brother- he and Regulus were twins, a year or two younger then Sirius. Cyrus is supposed to be older and dead, at least that's what Sirius told me." I closed it and took his hand and I brought him over.
"Dad!" I called, he said he was in the kitchen. "Dad, this is Petunia's nephew, Harry-." He looked up right away and jumped from his seat.
"You're Cyrus Black."
"I knew it, what's going on!" I snapped at him, Glory came into the room.
"Harry, Lilith- please not now. He's not feeling well," said Glory as she went over and put her arm around his shoulder. He sat down again.
"Forget it, I want to know why he has a picture of you at his parent's wedding ceremony and why Sirius Black thinks you're dead. Why you never told me you had brothers and why I've never met my mom." I demanded.
Harry glanced at me.
"You're mother died when you were very young Lilith." He whispered, "Like I told you, I never loved her. I care for her as did Regulus. We got along very well and…" he trailed off right then. Harry stepped forward and opened the page with him on it. "I was only there for a few minutes Harry," he said.
"What does it mean?" he asked, his teeth clenched. Mine were too, my hands in fists.
He groaned and buried his face in his hands. He looked up at me, "Lilith, your real name- your birth name was Lilith Potter. I stole you when you were born, we had no idea that Lily and James would have another child. We hoped that if your body disappeared they wouldn't try again, but your mother wanted a daughter or a son." He pointed at Lily and James on the next page, "Lily and James are your parents Lilith, I name you after your birth mother. I adopted you," he sighed. Harry looked at me.
"No wonder why we look alike. We're brother and sister." I suddenly hugged him.
We knew were two years apart, his at sixteen and me at eighteen- we just didn't know we'd still share a birthday date. We were both born two years apart on July 31st; he stayed over that night and we stayed up all night as he told me about what he knew of our parents. He told me how they died and about a prophecy concerning him; that morning he sent a letter to a old friend of our father's and used Hedwig to get it there. Not long into the summer where the two us moved to his friends house; I met Remus Lupin who also came to my home in the dead of night. He spoke with Cyrus and Cyrus agreed to stay away from me and stay out of touch with his old classmates and friends.
Remus asked me about my childhood with Cyrus Black and I told him that it was wonderful; Albus only smiled and said I looked like my mother. Harry said I should get used to compliments like that. I personally decided to agree when I finally met Mr. and Mrs. Weasley a few minutes later; it had- by Percy who was there as well- that I was what they called a 'Squib'. Arthur Weasley, the father of the red headed group, scolded the third eldest son, but since I didn't know what that meant, I didn't care. I found out when Molly Weasley, the mother, told me in a hushed tone. She added that not being a witch wasn't a bad thing. I only smiled and glanced at my little brother, who was also taller then me. Ron, the youngest son, was taller then my by almost two inches; Hermione Granger, a close family friend was about my height and I liked that part of the deal. I was the twins' age at nineteen, Charlie and Bill were older then us and Percy was by two years. Bill Weasley was engaged to a French woman who I got along with fantastically because we could speak French for hours- not that we did. Charlie was near me throughout my first night at the Burrow- he gave me the full-out tour and sat by me, during and after dinner.
"What did Cyrus Black do to support the two of you?" Arthur asked at dinner. I noticed that it went quiet very suddenly.
"Well, um, he did side jobs and then went to school for his PhD in Anthropology. He was head of the Anthropology department in Los Angeles. He led a team of genius's in solving homicides and identifying victims. He never told me the stories, let alone the cases- but it was easy to tell he enjoyed it very much. His friends- his team actually, are nice people and Dr. Breanne is an author. Dad met Glory when I was four, they married not long after. Divorced and he had me stay with her, Glory became Gloria. Dad moved to Los Angeles and then I moved there as well a few years later." I told him, he smiled. Whenever I used the word 'dad' Ron and Hermione looked at Harry, he wouldn't look at me either.
Arthur chuckled, "What's Anthropology?" he asked.
I paused, how do you explain this to a grown man in his forties? I said what came to mind, "Well it's the study of the dead. Skeletal remains actually, it's hard work but worth it when you solve the case. Dad and his team were the best in the country…. Dr. Breanne was called to Washington, Texas, DC, and New York to solve cases. Gave the Getty Museum- where they worked, a lot of attention. Cyrus was and is a terrific Anthropologist, he left Dr. Breanne in charge since we moved here a couple months ago."
Molly bit her lip and looked up at me, "Do you consider Black your father?"
"Yes." I said seriously, Harry looked at me at this point.
"Why? He kidnapped you-."
"I've been kidnapped before, that was kidnap. What Cyrus did… wasn't, I love him as my father and I love Glory as my mother. That can never change because we're involved too much. I consider her family as my own, her parents are like my grandparents, her uncles and nieces and everyone- is like my family. Glory is a very nice woman Harry, I promise she is. Cyrus is a good man," I added.
He stared at me, then glared. "Sirius and our parents are our family."
"Harry I'm still getting used to the fact that I even have a brother- okay? Give it time to sink in," I told him, trying to stay calm. "I grew up with the knowledge that Glory Cross was my mom, and Cyrus Riddell as my dad. My family is back in GB and I intend to go back once in awhile. You're welcome to come Harry, Duane and Lynn will call you their grandson- I've told them everything." I told him. He gaped at me.
"Why, they don't even know me- let alone about out world."
"Magic you mean?" he nodded.
"Harry everyone knows about magic," I grinned. "My friends in LA did magic all the time and they born as you call it, Muggle born or whatever it is… they learned on their own and from books and within months they could make pencils float and the leaves turn orange in August." I should have mentioned that I never actually saw the leaf thing, but I was told about it. "Devin Grace is a level four Witch at the moment, and she plans on getting to six before starting her big plans on a family. Andy and Josh were great at the spells, their basement was full of potion ingredients and things. Crates of boxes- they were talented, gifted, cursed- whatever you want to call it." I muttered. I was sitting back with my left arm holding onto my right.
He sat back now too, he lost his appetite suddenly, I smirked at him. "What about the fact that a Death Eater raised you-."
I sighed, "Harry I have no idea what that is and I personally don't care. Mostly because that it sounds scary and Cyrus is a good man, Glory was the best thing that ever happened to him and I can admit that aloud because she was the best thing that happened to me." I told him, he scowled at me suddenly. I smiled at him, "I'm sorry you don't understand Harry, but the fact is this. I consider- Cyrus Cross as my dad and Glory Cross as my mom." I told him flatly.
"Wow." Charlie whispered.
I watched my brother for awhile, Ginny asked what I meant about being kidnapped. "Oh, yeah, I wrote a Biography for Gloria. And a friend wanted to make money off it before it even published because a book in the original writing by the author is worth nearly twice to five times as much. So she has me kidnapped to help raise the price."
"What happened to the kidnappers?" Charlie asked me.
"Well I accidentally killed the driver and the other two are currently in a coma at the Los Angeles Hospital. Three rooms away from my cousin Don Cross. He was the first to kidnap me, he's crazy." I muttered shrugging. "He was crazy and he threatened my life and the lives of a lot of kids. That's why Andy and his friends formed the Class Protection Clan; they kept an eye on Don throughout the day and whenever Don was about to do something bad, they took care of it. I helped as much as I could- Dan… Don's dad, was a very powerful man, he disappeared soon after Don was placed in his coma."
"Cyrus, he was good at raising you though right?" Arthur asked me, I nodded. "okay Lilith," he didn't sound convinced but didn't press any further. "So, according to you- how do you make a fire by sticks." I glanced at Harry.
"Can't you just use magic, since you're a wizard?" I asked him, he chuckled. So did everyone else….Arthur began asking me odd questions that involved the knowledge of a born and raised Squib.
"You were great today with dad's stupid questions," Charlie muttered to me. I glanced at him and grinned.
"The one about how to make glue was pretty neat, I was glad when he accepted that you could just use gum in some occasions." That got him to laugh again, I chuckled. We were the only two up now, we had the fire going and we were sitting in front of it as we used it as a light for the books we were reading. He closed his book with a snap, I looked up at him. "Going to bed finally?" he nodded and held out his hand. I took it and he pulled me up to my feet, the mid twenty-something-year-old held me close as he looked down at me. I knew within minutes of that tour that he wanted me alone for a while- I hated it when Percy went to bed to leave us alone together; it was something I didn't want to happen. Ever. Charlie took my hand in his and walked me up to his room, I wanted to go home but Remus placed me here for my own protection- I couldn't leave without causing an uproar and a huge search.
The only thing that happened was that I didn't fall for him, I didn't do anything with him except sleep next to him. He held me all night and I dreamt of Arubey for the first time in weeks. He was asking Fala to kill him and I woke up still next to Charlie, he shifted in his sleep. I rolled over so I was facing him, I hated being this close to someone besides Arubey; I meant what I said to the vampire, I loved him then and I still do. I wanted him not Charlie- although Charlie is a great guy but Arubey was everything for me…. I dreamed of Arubey again for the second time, it was still the same dream: Arubey and Fala are fighting and finally someone up behind the vampire and staked him.
I woke up this time and I stayed awake; I left the Burrow, I had too. I needed to see Arubey Karew and now wizard was going to stop me. I scrawled a stupid note and ran from the home; I ran the ten miles to my house where Cyrus and Glory had just gotten up a hour ago. Sitting with them was Angel and with him was the only man I could ever love… and Spike.