I woke up at two in the morning this time drenched in sweat this nightmare was not like the others. I shivered rubbing my arms, after taking a few short-ragged breaths I get out of bed to wash my face I glanced over at the artwork I brought home. If want to keep him safe even if it from nothing and I really am going crazy I have to finish it and make sure we have no other reason to be together anymore just in case my crazy dreams are real.
"Finally done." I stretch my arms over my head and look at my clock '5:56 am' "Well I might as well go make some coffee." I say to myself. I head down the back stairs that go straight into the kitchen halfway down I hear Isaac's voice.
".... yes, but has she said anything...... no, she's turning seventeen this year.... I know but they said eighteen.... no..... just one more year.... she.... but.... no..... wait.... UGH DAMN IT ALZIR LET ME TALK!!!" He semi shouts into the phone. "Tell the old hag that I will come to the damn meeting in her place she isn't ready she knows anything about this I'm not throwing my baby sister under the bus.... no Alzir it's an expression people don't really do that." He sighs, "Yes I'll meet you there after her birthday.... no, I won't come sooner.... because then I'll miss her birthday and I'm not leaving her alone on that day.... Yes, the day after no later." He hangs the phone up and I can hear him pull a chair out as he sighs, "How am I going to explain this to Ivey?" He sounded tired, even a little angry. My chest starts to ache my brother has always keep his cool when it came to things about work, something is wrong, I don't move from my spot for what seems like forever until my alarm goes off telling me that it's 6:15 am I try to quickly turn it off but my fingers didn't want to cooperate. I internally groan at myself practically smack my head when Isaac says my name,
"Ivey? Are you up?" I go the rest of the way down the stairs, out of my hiding spot and into the kitchen. He was tired it was clear on his face it was so bad that he almost looks blue in the face, the dark circle under his eyes did not help.
"Yeah, more like didn't sleep." I laughed a little, but it was more of a shy, awkward, 'I have something to hide' laugh.
"Oh well I guess I'll make some coffee." I nod and start to get things to make cereal.
"When did you wake up?" I ask sitting down trying to change the topic.
"A little bit ago someone from work called." He said tensely.
"Oh." Was all I had for a response and I start eating my cereal letting the silence fall over us as the machine gurgled as it brewed.
"So, I've noticed you haven't been drinking you milk like you use to it been going bad." I shrug,
"I'm just not feeling it." I finished my food, muttering to Isaac, who is staring at me intently, that I was going to go a take a shower. As the water ran over me I let the warmth help clear my head as I replay Isaac's phone call.
‘What was he talking about I know I was involved but how? What did he mean I was too young? Young for what I know I am too young for a lot of things hell I'm too young for everything. Maybe he's doing something illegal?’ I shook my head. ‘No, it's Issacs he's a good person he couldn't ever do anything wrong. Maybe he was talking about someone else or maybe it was a family thing.’ 'A little piece of home.' Why did that just pop up?' I look over to my bracelet on the shelf in the shower, it was as if my uncle said it, I can hear his voice. I sigh. ‘It's nothing just nothing.’ I try to convince myself closing my eyes and taking a deep breath and quickly continue with my shower. I got ready like usual making sure I have both my bracelet and necklace on looking in the mirror something was different in my appearance I can't tell what it is my hair in two long braids looks darker not the dark red from water but it was as if my hair is a crimson color and then my eyes looks like they got more of a mossy color.
'Uncle Anthony am I thinking too much?' I silently say to the sky out my window then taking a glance from to my clock I grab my bag and go down where Ashton was waiting, I felt a weight in my stomach like stones dragging me down, worry. I go down the front stair and as I walk out the door I shout,
"I'm going to school see you later." I was about to shut the door when Isaac shouted, "wait" So I stopped,
"Hey, I need to talk to you." I nod giving Isaac as much attention as I can without looking him in the eyes.
"Yeah?"
"It seems like I have to leave the day after your birthday for week for work." I nod.
"Okay, sounds fine." He looked confused.
"Really?" I nod and look at Ashton's car again. ‘If I can figure out how to get Ashton away from me then I will worry about him just not now.’
"I have to go to school.” I mutter my hands squeeze the strap of my bag. He nods
“Be careful.” I nod and walk to Ashton's car. I shut the door and sigh deeply. Ashton looks at me,
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just have a lot on my mind." I answer glancing his way he was covered in blood I almost screamed and jump out the car instead I froze for a second then clear my throat and sit back in my seat I glance out the window as he takes off,
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
“I…” I start but stop biting my lip then I shake my head, “I had an early morning so I’m just tired.” He gives me a small smile and take my hand gripping in gently. My heart lurched both happy and sadness sang inside. I close my eyes then look back out at the sky it was getting oddly grey. I sigh.
~back at the house~
"Yes, Alzir I told her." I say into the phone I was obvious annoyed by him right now.
"Sir, I'm just making sure, I know how protective you are after, well you know." Alzir said through the phone he is serious as always.
"So, what is the really reason why you called." I asked relogging in after moving to my room.
"Well sir, she's here." I almost dropped the phone.
"What do you mean she's there? I had a whole month till she came. Why is she here so early?" I asked leaning against my chair.
"Well, um, she, she said she wants to meet Ivey." I almost fell off my chair completely.
"NO! NO ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!" I shout. Then in the background I hear,
"Why not Isaac." 'Great I get to say no to her directly.' I grunt to myself.
"Because, you old hag Ivey is only sixteen she is too young to know anything."
"She's going to take over, she should have been properly prepared her whole life, she should have been with me in Ivearona, learning from her grandmother." Before she could continue to ramble on like always, I cut her off.
"Yes, and we've tried that for a few centuries remember what happened." I hear her sigh,
"Yes, yes, yes I remember she was almost killed but she was by herself it was her fault for leaving the party that.
“And what about all the other times after that?” I sneered into the phone I know it wasn’t her fault completely but what’s done is done there is no way he would be born on earth.
Which by the way did you ever find out who that boy was?" I shook my head knowing she can't see me,
"No, Put Alzir on." I hear shuffling then Alzir was on.
"Yes, sir?"
"Did you search that name I gave you?"
"Yes."
"And want did you find?"
"I'll send you the information right now."
"Thank you."
"So, Isaac tell me when she is coming to meet her grandmother?" The old hag asked taking the phone from Alzir.
"Not anytime soon." I answered bitterly.
"You are going to have Ivey meet me a week from now and I will tell her all she needs to know, I told you last year when my boy passed that if we want her to live we have to tell her, her powers are bubbling I feel and who knows who else can sensed it."
"No." I said immediately, her point were good ones however I cannot let uncles plan fail he worked too hard for her serval.
"That wasn't a question. It's an order from you queen!" She said angrily. “I don’t want this to be the first time I never see my granddaughter I won’t allow it!”
"If you want to meet her then visit like a normal grandmother." She laughs bitterly.
"I'm not a normal grandmother, I'm the queen of Ivearona, the Fae realm, remember your home your family decided to leave!" She snared.
"We both know it was my parents who wanted us to leave I had no choice in that matter you old handbag!" Anger just sued out.
"And look what happened MY SONS ARE DEAD!" She shouts into the phone. I sigh,
"Yes, and I've lost my parents and uncle, but we thought he wouldn't follow here." I said quietly.
"Look where they're ignorance got them!" She said rather loudly all these millenniums on the throne has made her very unpleasant.
"I would not call what they did ignorance." I commit trying to keep the anger in. “They found this world that was easy to hide in we were fine he has not found her this time he is have the hardest time to find her.” I start to hear my voice it was breaking and getting farther as I spoke, so I shut my mouth.
"I will meet her next weekend and that is that do you understand. Dear boy I know it hasn’t been easy on you and it isn’t on me either but we both know we can’t wait any longer a year will be too late." She sighs into the phone she was getting tired, but her anger did not waver.
"Fine where, and when." I gave in her walls are falling she is going to be no more soon.
"Pick a nice restaurant downtown eight o'clock don't be late." I can tell she left the room in a storm because when Alzir got on the phone he wasn't as serious more nervous than anything.
"It's really not good to pick a fight with her." He says once he was on the phone. I shrug a shoulder.
"I know but it's funny." He sighs. I hear paper getting shuffled around then he says,
"The papers about the boy should be there soon." After he said that paper start to appear on my desk. "There's something about this boy that doesn't add up." He continues to say.
"What do you mean?" I ask getting a little worried.
"Well in the files that I got it says he lives with his aunt just moved into town but there are no records of where they came from it's like they just appeared on this world." I look at the home records and he was right there isn't any previous address. "Also, on his hospital records there's something you need to see." I flip to the hospital records and with them was a picture of a baby boy.
"I'm on my way now."
"Now sir?"
"Yes, now." I answer as I get out the chair and go to my closet to get a jacket.
"Will you be arriving in car..." I cut him off.
"No, I'll use the portal." I walk to uncle Anthony's room and open his closet and take out the old box of files.
'I can't believe it!' I think to myself.
~Ivey pov at school~
"Are you okay?" I look over at Ashton, we are outside there's a slight breeze, but it feels so nice, I was leaning against the tree just finished eating my sandwich.
"Yeah, why?" I glance over at him I wanted to let him go but he is so breath taking I couldn’t find a way to let him go.
"You just sighed." I lift my eyebrows a little.
"Really?"
"Yeah." He looks worried.
‘This is not going to be easy.' I sigh to myself.
"See you did it again." He pointed out.
"I know this time." I laughed but it came out rather dry.
"So, what's wrong?" He asked. I look up at the sky, I want to answer him, but I might sound crazy if I tell him everything.
"I think we should see less of each other." I blurt out in a small voice.
"Oh." He was silent for a second I look at him again. "What do you mean?" He added the last part after a short pause I confused him.
"I know that you like me, but I have a lot going on and my brother is right I don’t need a boyfriend right now." I sigh again my heart broke as I spoke those words.
"What are you saying?" I shake my head and look at him was he dense? How clearer do I have to get?
"I'm not really sure we should date." I rub my face. He stares at me for a long time,
"What?" I finally ask. He shakes his head while blinking. He opens his mouth then closes it takes a breath, I scrunch my brows, he opens and this time he said,
“What happened between yesterday and today?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” He sighs this time,
“Of course not you aren’t telling me why.” I open my mouth to say something anything to make him understand and not make me sound crazy, but I didn’t get a chance since Ms. Heather Bolshiv the popular cheerleader came up to us with a pep in her step and a smile so plastered on her face, I always thought she looked a knot off from crazy.
“Hey there Ashton.” She sways her hips back and forth as she stood in front of Ashton with that stupid goof smile then glanced my way, “Ivey didn’t see you there.”
“Yet it’s impossible to miss your loud ass.” I grinned internally my eyes went wide, and I screamed at myself. She blinks at me,
“What did you just say?” She glared at me and snarls.
“Nothing, please continue Heather we are just dying to know what you have to say?” I smile at her.
“I just came over to say hi.” She said stuttering over her words lasers beams were shooting out of her eyes at me I smiled back.
“Oh, hi.” I said. “How’s it going.”
“Funny we never talked before.” Her smile wavered slightly. I laugh,
“I know instead you surround yourself with your b***h parade and talk shit.” I couldn’t stop my mouth from saying those words. I sigh and stand, “I think it’s best I’d go.” I stand before I make a bigger ass of myself.
“Hold on you started talking mess first.” She said taking hold if my upper arm as I got up to move. When she touched my skin, it was like she stuck a hot poker on arm.
“Excuse me, haven’t you been tormenting me since the fourth grade how about you f**k off.” I pull my arm out of her grasp, it was as if I was smacked by the winter breeze for a few seconds. My chest got tight as I move to pick up my bag, I catch Ashton staring at me. I sigh and continue to move to the door; I hear Ashton mumble something and foots stomping on the ground following me. I go to my locker and put books I didn’t need away then I called my brother as I walk into the girls bathroom.
“Hello?” It was my brother assistant Alzir.
“Yeah, can you get me my brother.” He said yes and then I was on hold for a couple of seconds,
“Ivey?” Isaac sounded frantic. I sighed I am making him worry.
“Yeah, can you come get me I am having unexpecting issues.” He sighs,
“What’s the problem?” I start to feel my eyes prick with tears,
“I have said something I never would, and I am crying, and I am having scaring dreams and you were talking about me, I need to leave the school, can you please just come get me.”
“I’m on my way tell me what is happening.” I take a deep breath,
“So, I just told Heather Bolshiv off and got angry for no reason, I’m kind of freaking out.”
“And the dreams?” I scoff,
“More like nightmares, I am flying with wings and the boy Ashton is there and he is dead, brother I am going to go crazy. I know I have always been so vague about them to you, but I can’t tell what’s real, the eyes…” He shushes me I take a deep breath slowly breath in and out,
“Oh, sissy it’s okay you’re not going crazy it’s nothing I can’t help you with just wait till I get there where are you?”
“Bathroom.” I breath in a deep sob.
“Okay get to the front of the building. I already got a hold of the office they know your leaving.” I nod and whip my eyes then hung up the phone I wash my face and leave the room face stoned.
“Are you okay?” Ashton asked as I came out of the restroom.
“I’m okay.”
"I... I. It's just that today you seem different it’s exciting and great like with Heather but you said you wanted to break up and it hasn’t even been a full day I don’t get it, then there are times it’s like I’m going insane because like well, okay it's like this there are moments like when we were in the car on the way here there times when it was as if you were glowing and your colors became vibrant, it is breathtaking. It's been happening on and off all day." I blink not sure what to say between having to find a way to break his heart and mine and my emotions going haywire it’s safe to say I’m short on words, "You seem different today." He adds before my phone goes off it was Isaac, he got here quick.
"Yeah, I feel different honestly." I take one of his hands in mine then rest my head on his shoulder. For a few seconds I stand there letting his warmth envelop me then I step back and say, “I’m not feeling great, so I am going to go home for the day I’ll text you later, I guess we will continue the conversation for another time.” I sigh and start to the front of the school.
"Ivey." He started to say something but must have thought against it because he didn't say anything just took my bag and held my hand a bit tightly. “I’ll walk you.” I slip my hand out of his and take my bag back shaking my head. The last thing I need right now isn’t a head filled with smog.
“Thanks, but you’ll be late for your next class the bell is about to ring.” Almost like a countdown struck the broken sound of dings rang in the air the hall starts to fill with people, I turn away from him and head to Isaac.
“Ivey are you okay?” Isaac was in front of his truck talking on the phone I heard names as he was waiting for me when he spots me, he hangs up, he starts to walk my way. I was not okay, I feel like vomiting and passing out right now but instead of the cold concrete I am meet by my brothers warm arms. “I’ll take that as a no, come on.” He picks me up princess style like I weighted nothing. He sighs, “You are getting to thin you need to eat more.” He mutters I chuckle softly.
“I don’t like eating alone.” I mutter back before falling asleep as he gets me into the car.
I wake up in Isaac’s office the lights were out the room wasn’t to dark the large windows were open and it let in some light as the sun began to sink and the moon rises.
“Ah, you are awake finally!” A women’s voice came from the doorway the bright hallway lights came pouring in as she opens it. I sit up the blanket that was coving me slips off to my legs. In the doorway was a tall Blonde hair women it was up in a ponytail with the strangest white dress that sort of resembled the Victorian style. She steps into the room turning on the lights the white fluorescein glare was harsh I had to blink a few times to adjust to the change, but it seemed to have faded a shade darker making it glare a little easier.
“Who are you?” I ask in the light she looks too young to have grey hair her look was deadly.
“Just call me aunty for now sweetheart.” Her voice was smooth she moves closer her heels echoes in the large room. “There’s some where you need to be right now.” She takes hold of my arm and like when I touch Ashton a warm sensation runs through my body in the places where she touched however instead of his warmth transferring to me it was as if it was going to her. I started to feel better in seconds we start to walk out the door and down the hall in seconds a puff of light blue appears ingulfing us and then we are in on the other side of the building I can hear voices.