Chapter Five

I woke up in my room. A cloth was on my fore head. It was super cold. I took it off and sat up. My head began to swim. I felt queasy.

“Easy…you’ve been out for hours.” Sil’s face swam to view.

“Huh, that was not even a nice sleep.” I shook my head clearing the dancing colors. I blinked three times. My vision was still fuzzy. I looked around.

Sil was sitting on the computer chair. She looked tired. My clock told me it was five in the morning.

“How many hours?” My head felt like a rope was strapped to it and at the other end of the rope was an anvil. There was no light. But I saw the sun rising. It gave the clouds a purple-ish, pink-ish glow.

“It’s been 2 days.” Sil place her head down on my table and began to sleep.

“2 DAYS?!” the headache worsening as the sound of my voice echoed in my room.

“Shhh, I’ll explain tomor—” And just like that Sil was in deep sleep.

I knew it was useless waking her up and demanding answers. Not when I still had Daylight’s voice in my head. Be prepared for what, Daylight?

I was answered at ten in the morning. I went down for a cup of mocha when I saw the blue ball again. I stood frozen. The ball was lingering on my parents’ door way. Then suddenly a blast came. It shattered the door and splinters flew everywhere. I was knocked off of my feet. I landed on the step behind me. My back collided with it. Shooting pain sprang through my back. I might have screamed. I looked at the door and my dad was standing in the door way with his hand out stretched. It was glowing green.

“Morning.” He greeted me with a smile. My palms began to sweat. My mom was holding a scroll glowing with a darker green. She was reading something. She muttered a word under her breath and dad stepped out of the way. Mom thrust her hand forward and the blue ball floated and it tried to get out of the grip. Its flame was slowly burning out. My mom screamed an incantation and she fisted her hand. The ball disappeared in a thin smoke.

“Morning, dear.” My mom said putting the scroll down. I felt my skin burning. She turned to dad.

“Roger, we have to give them to her.” I didn’t understand what my mom was saying.

“I hate it when she’s right.” My dad shook his head. “Wake your sister and pack your things.”

“No. Not until you tell me the truth.”

“The truth will be told, but not today, sweetheart.” Her eyes looked at me sadly pleading not to fight with her.

I knew I didn’t have a choice. I went upstairs and saw Sil was leaning on my door.

“What was that about?”

“Pack your things. Dad’s orders.” I told her sternly. She moved away and went to her room without another word. A pang of guilt shot through me, like she knew something I didn’t.

I was stuffing clothes in my bag when I asked myself why I was even scared of a blue floating ball of fire. Then I looked down to my burned right hand. I felt the white-hot pain start in me again. I winced.

“You, ok?”

I looked at my door way. Sil was standing there with her hair tied and her pack was slung on one shoulder. She was wearing cargo pants combat boots and a black t-shirt with a text that was painted white that said---“This Girl Is Rogue.” I gave her a rueful smile.

“Why was there an explosion?” she crossed her arms.

“It’s better if mom and dad explain that.” I zipped my pack and slung it on my back.

Sil and I walked cautiously down the stairs, splinters of the door were gone and the place seemed fine. My mom and dad were waiting for us in the kitchen. They didn’t seem dressed for the occasion. They, both, were still wearing their night clothes.

“Hurry, now kids.” My mom ushered us to the door. A car was parked outside but it wasn’t our black Mercedes.

“Wait, mom you promised explanations.” I complained.

“Not today children, but soon.” She was such in a hurry.

My dad took up the rear. I looked at Sil. We made eye contact but nothing passed through it. My mom shoved me and Sil in the car.

“Good bye my love.” She kissed my forehead and she leaned in and kissed Sil’s forehead.

“Wait, mom, no—” Mom shut the door, uttered something and ran to the top of the steps beside dad. I pushed the door open but it wouldn’t budge. I glanced in front and a guy in black was holding the wheel. He was wearing shades and red dots glowed in where eyes should be. I had a fuzzy feeling that he was not human.

The car shuddered and I looked back. A tiny spark went in to the air. It rose with green flames bursting out. Then our house exploded in flames.

“NO!” I gripped the door. Sil wasn’t looking but judging by the way her head was down she saw everything. The car rippled because of the blast and the demon growled even louder. I looked at the house and it was engulfed in flames. I felt hot tears run down my face.

“Ian…let them go.” Sil said placing a hand on my shoulder.

“How can you say that?!” I swatted her hand away.

“Please…don’t make it harder than it already is.” She said. Her eyes where pleading. I loosened my shoulders. Sil placed her head on my shoulder and I placed mine on top of hers. I felt her tears run down and drip on my t-shirt. I needed to be strong for my sister.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” I told her stroking her hair. I looked back at our house which was now nothing but flames. I silently prayed their souls would be safe, but it was strange that I didn’t see their bodies seconds before the explosion happened.

The car stopped in an old looking house. It was in the middle of the night. Sil was sleeping on my shoulder but I could barely close my eyes. I was afraid to see my mom and dad beaming at me. The demon growled. I looked outside my window. The front light was on and on the steps a lady was waiting. Sil was in deep sleep and there’s no way to wake her up. I opened the door and pulled Sil out. I cradled her in my arms. The night was chilling. A slight wind blew my cheeks.

“How was the ride?” the voice was familiar. I squinted.

“Daylight?” she seemed to smile.

“No, but I’m sure she’ll have the pleasure to meet you tomorrow.” She told me. Sil flinched in my arms. “No…mom…dad…please…” Sil said winning. I felt tears build up in my eyes. I took a big breath and pushed them back.

“You must be tired. Please come in. You’re rooms are ready.” She said gesturing to the door. I looked behind me. The car disappeared. The moon was bright this night. I remembered my mom telling me that if they were gone I would just look up and talk to the moon. But now I doubt that I would have the strength to do that.

After placing Sil in her room I went to my own room. It was quite different from hers. I had a balcony and the room was painted blue. The balcony had the view of a lake behind the house. I really didn’t know where we were but my gut told me that we were safe. I placed my bag on my bed and opened the balcony doors. It had golden handles and green curtains. I pushed it open.

The night breeze flew to my face, freezing it. I held in the railings and watched all the grass sway gracefully with the wind. I really didn’t know how this world held so much beauty and so much pain at the same time.

“Pity the living not the dead, Ian.” My mom once told me. I felt the tears prickle again and this time I let them fall. My tears dropped on the bars. I hunched my shoulders up and put my head down. I grinded my teeth.

“Why couldn’t I have helped you?” I told the empty air. “WHY?!” I let the tears fall. I felt the hot tears fall to my hand.

“Stop mourning, dear. You’ll understand it in time.”

“Mom?” I whipped around but no one was there. My door was closed. I wanted to see them when I suddenly remembered that I placed my whole hard drive in my bag. All the files and photos in my computer were in there. But I didn’t have the courage to face it just yet. The breeze bit my back. Making me wince.

“Look at the bright side even if it kills you to see it.” My dad’s favorite thing to tell me when I get hurt or think it’s hurting. “Face things as the way it is and don’t make it harder than it already is.” Their words burning in my mind.

Did you know that you would go like that? That’s why you told me all of these things? I thought to myself.

I didn’t want to sleep. I felt wide awake after the death of my parents. I felt my heart lose a big part. Where my parents were and now, will forever be. Nothing will fill that empty space. I looked back at the moon and swore I saw my parents faces. I blinked and rubbed my face. It must be a flash. A trick of the light. “I miss you.”I told the empty space in my heart.

I didn’t sleep at all. The whole night I looked at the moon and stayed on the balcony until morning. A servant asked me to come and eat breakfast.

The servant led me to the living room. I didn’t notice the furnishings last night but now, in the light, it looked brilliant. Mahogany chairs and tables. Cream walls and silver lined curtains. The couches were lime green with black lining. I looked at the table. A lady was basking in the sun outside and Sil was sitting on a chair. She changed her clothes. She looks well rested. Unfortunately, I didn’t look any better.

“Hard night?” Sil look a piece of cookie and stared eating. I recognized the woman.

“Daylight.” I breathed.

“Yes.” She turned around smiling. She looked more radiant that in my dream.

“Oh, dear…are you okay?” she asked. I looked at Sil and gave her the “Can you believe this woman?” look. She shrugged and ate another cookie. 

“Our parents died.” I told Daylight cautiously.

“Dear…I knew that. But I asked you if you were ok, physically.” She said smiling.

A garden was behind her. It was huge with green grass and colorful flowers. I looked around not answering her. The polished staircase and floor reflected light. Technically, it looked like a normal lake house.

“Where are we?” I asked facing Daylight again.

“Lake Island.” She said smiling.

“I’ve heard of Long Island but never Lake Island.” Daylight threw her head back and laughed.

“Humans have limited knowledge.”

“So, meaning to say we’re in a place no one can see?” Sil said with her mouth full of cookie bits.

“Yes.”

“So, this place is magical?” I asked trying to piece things together.

“Don’t be silly. It’s just glamour. A trick to human eyes.”

“Please, by all means, call us humans even if you’re not one of us.” I told her sarcastically.

“People then. If you prefer it that way.” She said catching on my sarcasm. Sill tried to hide her smile but I saw it.

“Daylight, I don’t know you but seeing that my brother has I’m guessing he met you in one of his hysterical dreams.” She stood. Daylight looked at her.

“Oh, his dreams are very much real but I’m the first dream to ever come true. More of his dreams will come true. Eventually.” She said facing Sil.

“Excuse me? Hi I’m Ian Green and I think I know the person you two are talking about because he’s standing right here!” I shouted at them. My temper was rising.

“Tomorrow you will start training but today make yourself at home.” And just like that Daylight melted in to dust. But I wasn’t interested neither was I shocked. I had enough of that for one day. I marched to my room and slammed the door without even waiting for Sil who was calling for my attention.

The morning light my room looked like the one in our house. Except I have a balcony and the walls are blue. I look my bag and rummaged through it. I found what I was looking for. I plugged the computer in and turned it on. I placed the hard drive in its socket and played my music as loud as the speakers can take. I lied down on the floor and started to do curl ups.