A/N: Alright, so this chapter is short, but for a good reason. Anyways, enjoy and I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve/Day! :D
Naru: Humph.
Mai: Sorry, he's in a bad mood.
Me: Eh...-sweat-drops-
Emiko: Lilac does not own Ghost Hunt!
Me: Let us begin(:
Mai's POV:
I felt my hands come up to cover my mouth as I stared in horror at the bloody words. Frozen, I was barely aware of the others rushing in. Naru, who I presumed came in first, had his arms around my waist and was trying to calm me down. Our parents were inspecting the damage and the writing, talking amongst themselves, and Gene was holding a frightened Emiko. Frederic and Annalise seemed to still be in the waiting room.
"Mai...it's okay, he's not here...you're fine." He whispered soothingly. A strangled sob left my lips, instead of words. How could he still be here? How could be be part-demon? Not unless one o his parents was a demon! Suddenly, something clicked. Memories of my father's stories of his childhood came to mind, about how he never met his dad. Suddenly, my petty fright vanished and in its place was cold-blooded fear.
"Grammy, you had children with a demon, didn't you?" I asked in a quiet, dead voice. Shocked, everybody in the room either stared at me or my grandmother, awaiting a response to the slight accusation. I only had eyes, however, for my grandmother, who seemed to age a couple dozen years in front of my very eyes. It seemed...almost magical, the way she suddenly looked. She sighed, and began the story of her life.
"Yes, I did fall in love with a demon." She whispered, her eyes glistening with tears that wouldn't, and didn't, fall. As if she shed enough tears over a lost and forgotten past.
"However, when he realized I wouldn't let him raise my children as demons, or his heirs, he left me. Broke my heart first though, I'll tell you that much." She continued, a sad smile playing her lips.
"But it's impossible to have children with a demon!" Martin protested, confused. My grandma laughed, and I winced at the hollowness of it; void of any emotion, like when I talk to Frederic about my parents and how I felt about the loss. There used to be days where the heartbreak came back in rushes, and I fell into his arms and wept. Yet nobody knows about those days. Nobody except for Frederic. Maybe, just maybe, I'll tell someone. Share the days of pain; but for now, I'll keep to myself. Besides, there was nothing to cry about anymore; I had my family and Gene back. I had a sister. My life had been fixed in a matter of a couple of days. Suddenly, the sound of my grammy's voice brought me back and out of my thoughts.
"Yes, but it's not impossible for a witch." She answered bitterly. I gasped in utter shock; a witch? Naru's hold on my waist tightened, as if he sensed my sudden shock.
"What? Mother, Frederic, Seika nor I have ever showed signs! How is that possible?" My dad asked, flabbergasted.
"Easy. Witch genes skip every generation. Meaning my beautiful granddaughters have the genes of the royal witch lineage." Grammy informed us, a glint of pride in her sunken eyes. My jaw dropped, and I exchanged gazes with Emiko. Witches? WITCHES?
"No!" Luella gasped, staring at us with what seemed to be...awe?
"It's true, dear. It's why Mai and Emiko both have uncontrollable PK energy. Emiko does too, yes, but Mai can harness and tap into her PK energy, whilst Emiko's still has to be awakened. They both have more in them than a normal level 10's PK multiplied by 100." My grandmother stated gravely. Everybody's eyes bulged out of their sockets comically, but I wasn't laughing. I was far from laughing.
"Is that why I recovered so fast? Why Seika was overwhelmed despite his demon strength?" I asked, already knowing the answer to be 'yes'. She nodded slowly, inspecting me. I wasn't showing any emotions though; they were all churning inside me like a raging storm.
"Is that why he wanted Mai?" My mother asked in a small voice, her pain visible.
"Yes. Her power, along with his strength, would make him, literally, indestructible." My grammy informed her. My heart almost stopped; what?
"Wait, what? He wanted me?" I asked, confused. My dad shot my mom a look, and she turned to face me fully, sheepish.
"Er, yes Mai. It's why he came to the manor that night, his plan simple. Kill us, take you. If it weren't for Frederic..." Her voice faltered, leaving my mind to come up with all the horrific possibilities of what Seika would've done with all that power.
"Either way, he's back and wanting Mai more than ever, having tasted her power himself. And he awaits at my house to do so." My grammy's voice faltered, her voice hitching painfully in her throat.
"We're going to her house." I announced, my voice leaving out any room for arguments.
"Hell no!" Naru growled, his grip tightened even further. I frowned and pulled out if his hold, whirling around to face him.
"And why not?" I asked, irritated. He's denying to help my family out?
"You almost died multiple times the last case where he was weaker. He's going to kill you for sure this time!" He snarled, his eyes ablaze. I stared at him, shocked. And hurt. A hell of a lot hurt. His words didn't hurt a lot, though. The thing that hurt the most was that he didn't believe in me. He didn't think I could end Seika's reign of terror. Before I could respond, though, Gene stepped in.
"C'mon Noll, you're not giving Mai enough credit here!" He reasoned, pointing at me for good measure. I didn't even spare him a glance, though; I kept my eyes trained on my boyfriend.
"Right. I should credit her for putting you in a coma for a couple years? Being the reason her sister grew up without a family?" He retorted, before he realized what he said. This time, this tears fell. Not because Naru, my boyfriend, was saying and acting the way he was, no. I was hurt, heart-broken, because it was all true. I deprived Emiko of a life. I was the cause Gene was put into a coma. The reason my parents were put into a coma. The reason for so much bloody trouble.
"NOLL!" Gene roared, enraged. He strode forward as if he was about to hit Naru, but I stopped him with a sad smile.
"Don't, Gene, he's right." My voice trembled, but my eyes were ablaze.
"No Mai, he's not-"
"Gene." I interrupted, my voice soft. "Shh. I'm going for a walk, nobody follow." I gave everybody a pointed look, adding onto my request.
"No, Mai. I'm coming with you." Emiko stated firmly, before grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the kitchen. Frederic looked up from his seat and smiled, but it vanished just as quick as it came when he saw my tears.
"Oh, love. What happened?" He asked, his voice soft. I shook my head; my way of saying I didn't want to talk right now, and god bless, Fre-Fre understood. He nodded and settled back down, even though he looked troubled. I let Emiko lead me out the front door, even though I saw Naru come out of the kitchen, looking lost and upset. Oh well.
A few minutes of fresh air later, Emi and I were walking through the local park.
"He didn't mean it, Mai." She whispered softly, gripping my hand tightly for reassurance. I shook my head; I didn't want to talk about him right now.
"Do you...do you hate me for depriving you of a family?" I asked, my voice hesitant. Instantly, she stopped and whirled me around to face her. Quicker than I've ever seen her, she slapped me across the face. Stunned, I stared at her, waiting to hear the justice behind the slap.
"It's insulting that you think I hate you!" She huffed, sounding offended. Overall, right now, she looked like a pissed-off bunny rabbit, and that set off the giggles. The giggles that turned into full-blown laughter. Together, Emi having joined in on the laughter, we sat down on a park bench and simply basked in each other's presence. Suddenly, an idea came to be, and I stood up abruptly.
"What is it, Mai?" Emi asked, curious as to why I suddenly stood up. Beckoning for her to follow, I led her through a medium-sized cluster of fully-grown trees, and into a small clearing. It was my special place, because I've never seen someone else in this small spot. I came here whenever I needed some time alone.
"This place is so pretty! Mai, how'd you-" Suddenly, she stopped in mid-question. Confused, I turned to see why she stopped, and I found her staring just past my shoulder. Turning around, I stared in horror at the message painted onto the trunk of one of the more larger trees: 'You better come, sweet Alexis, or the city will feel my wrath.'
A/N: So, I'm getting used to writing longer chapters, but I had to leave you guys hanging! I left Mai and Naru off in a fight because it shall lead to...things :D Anyways, I would just like to inform you know that there will be...no reason to rate this 'M'. Er...I'm only 13. I think that's enough reason.
Emiko: REVIEW!
Me: Please?
Mai: WHY AM I THE ONE ALWAYS ALMOST KILLED?
Me: Shh.