Chapter 4

I entered the house to find it empty. I noticed a note pasted on the refrigerator from my mother, that she had to leave for work and would return again tomorrow. Being a nurse, meant working long hours, sometimes with extra shifts. I felt slightly bored and regretted arriving at home early. I could have stayed out a bit longer. I thought to myself. Sigh. 

I began to undress till I was only left with only my purple under garment. I threw my body on the bed and laid there for a while. A smile covered my face. I felt happy. As if I needed to go out. I could only see Jake's face whenever I shut my eyes tight. And imagined myself kissing him. 

Suddenly there was a loud ringing on my cellphone. It was Peter. 

"Hey! Where are you? I passed by your house. Your mom said you were with Jake." He said. 

I giggled. 

"Yes. I was with him" 

"Did he finally confess his feelings, is that why you're giggling?" 

I quickly grabbed a mirror and realised I looked like a hypocrite. Was I lying to myself when I said I don't like Jake or did I truly like him? I wondered 

"We didn't speak about that." I pressed trying to sound intense and serious. 

Peter chuckled in the background.. 

"What were you discussing then?"

"Nothing interesting. We just ate." 

"Alright cool." 

"I heard Jess was in the hospital, what happened to her?" I asked. 

"Now you want to know about my life. There's nothing to discuss."  

I felt rejected.. I wondered how long Peter had known about her crush's condition. And why he kept at hidden. 

"Sorry I asked anything." I said. 

"She's been moved to the Winslow mansion. The worst part is that her parents prohibited me from seeing her. They just told me to bring her schoolwork only then be off." 

I was shocked. 

"What?" 

"Don't worry. I will do it. Only because I care about Jess " 

"They want you to be their paper girl, you don't have to go there " 

"I really don't mind. I love Jess. I'm doing this for her." 

"But you're not dating." 

"Yes were not but she kissed me, at the hospital." 

"What, she did? That's great news " 

"I finally took the courage to confess to her about my feelings to her." 

I felt so happy for my friend. 

"And what did she say?" 

"You'll have to come with me to see." 

Peter was now making me even more curious. 

"Come where?" I wondered. 

"Come with me to the Winslow mansion tomorrow, since it's Saturday." 

I smiled. 

"For you, I'll do anything." 

Peter chuckled. 

"Good night Sandra." He said. 

"Good night buddy!" 

I laid my head down for a long evening rest. 

The Winslow mansion was not exactly a mansion as it was referred. It was a modern luxury home with vintage architecture style to make it look seem intimidating to the neighbours. The walls were grey while the main front door was covered by black marble glass,. The floor was a white sandstone. The entire yard from the entrance gate was filled with trees, flowers and grass. They almost closed the house, but that's how the Winslow's preferred their home to be. 

Jess

I'm sure you've been waiting for a long while to hear from me.. I wasn't keen on saying anything until now. I had been recovering from bad body pains as well as several scratches on my face.  However my body was finally able to gain back its strength. The scratches had even begun to slowly fade away. I had experienced a certain clutch which made me this way, but I'll tell you all that later. The ceiling had been the only thing I could stare at before since my neck was also injured but it was now feeling better than ever.  

The door opened all of a sudden, what a relief I felt seeing that it was my mother. 

"Mother.. what are you.." I said, still unable to fully utter the words properly yet trying to lift myself off the bed. 

"Don't hurt yourself dear." My mother begged. 

The second person stepped into the room, it was my father. I could smell him from far. He always smelled like pig fat. That's because he liked taking the fat and used it as body ointment since it takes away bad luck. That's what we all believed in the house. But instead of putting it on my body during the day, I would use it at night before sleeping. An example I took from my mother.

"Mavis help her!" My father shouted. 

"There's no need. I'm fine. See." 

I finally sat upright.. and felt proud of myself. 

"You still don't remember who did this to you?" My father asked. 

"George! How can you ask something so obvious." Said Mavis 

My father folded his arms. The bands on his wrist pushed against one another causing an annoying metallic sound. 

How many were they?" He asked. 

I felt angry just remembering the events. 

"I didn't even sense them. They were just so quick and strong." I said. My palms began to sweat. 

"How many were they?" My father repeated. 

"I think they were three." I confirmed. 

Mavis and George eyed me for a while. Their expression changing into an angry one. 

"I suspect that boy, from the Gideon pack. I saw him with Sandra yesterday." 

I was shocked. 

"What? Are they dating now?" I wondered. 

"I don't know but they looked happy." Said Mavis. 

"The Gideon's may loathe us but they are not sneaky. These ones are vicious. They don't mind using iron dust. Even if it hurts them. That's how strong they are." Said George.

"Well there could only be one pack that is so vile. The Zaldaks." 

"Fortunately for us, they no longer exist." 

"Then who could be this evil?" Mavis wondered. 

"The question is why they attacked me?" 

There was a sound of the door bell ringing. 

"Who might that be?" I wondered. 

My father left the room quickly. I could hear him talking with someone. It sounded like Peter. 

"Its my friend from school. Let him in!" I shouted

 My mother looked at me a stern cold face. She disliked visitor's.  

"We will have this conversation after your friend has left. Those dogs can't get away with hurting my daughter! I won't let them." Mavis pressed. 

I heard footsteps approaching. The door opened wide. I smiled as I saw Peter standing there. But what I could understand was why he brought a mouse with him. I never liked Sandra. She was always so picky and acting clean and innocent. She represented everything I hated. She was too good. Nothing like Peter. 

"Oh look darling, your friends from school have come to see you." George said with a wide pretense smile on his face. 

"Come closer." I said. 

I could see the eagerness in Peter's eyes, he feared me and that turned me on. 

"Don't be afraid, go to her. She's doing much better now." Said George.

Peter placed the paperwork on the side of my bed, his large hands were shaking. I stared into his hazel eyes and could see his wildest desires.  

"How do you feel?" 

I giggled. 

"Do you really want to know, or should I show you?" I asked. 

"No not here. Everyone's watching.." Peter whispered. 

I could see his forehead already being filled with the sweat of his insecurities. 

I laughed. 

My parents eyed each other with confusion.  I had kept my activities with Peter a secret from them. If they knew how I felt about Peter, they would destroy my fun. 

"Sandra was concerned about you. So I told her to come with me." 

That name alone felt like an illness deepening through my soul. I hated it. 

"How nice of her." 

The words alone were hard to release. 

Peter turned to face his friend. I could see Sandra smile and wave at me. 

"Hey." She said in a squaky annoying voice. 

My jealousy increased. I wanted to cut her throat, right there. 

My parents could feel the heat in my body from across the room. They sensed my anger. 

"Jessica dear, you've been up for a while but have eaten nothing since now. How about you meet with your friends another day." Mavis pleaded. 

I was so disappointed with my mother for disturbing me. If only she would allow me to use my magic anytime I wanted but that's not the case for the Winslow teenager, I guess. 

I watched as my lovely crush walk away. The mouse followed behind him. 

I could hear the main front door closing. I was so angry. 

I grabbed the paperwork and threw it in the air. 

"Calm yourself!" Mavis shouted. 

"I want to kill her!" 

"We don't kill without a valid reason." 

I laughed at my mother's hypocritical comment. I guess the best witches according to her were the best liars.