Chapter 3

Matthew

Fuck Adrian, and fuck his life. What he did to me today is unforgivable. I can't believe that son of bitch set me up like that. A few moments after Amelia stormed out on me, the handcuffs just vanished. I thought taking this hot shower would take my mind off of today's events but clearly it has done the complete opposite. Amelia looks better than ever. By the way she looked at me I could still see that there is still a place in her heart for me, especially when I mentioned Lynnwood Hall. When we were teenagers we would go there and practice magic together just about every day after school. We swore that one day we would get married there.

She has every reason in the world to hate me, but I know if I can just get a chance to explain she'll understand why I made the decision to keep her in the dark. This time with any luck I'll be able to convince her to come with me. If she says yes we'll leave. I can start a new life with my old girl and I'll never come back again. We can be on the run together like Bonnie and Clyde and live a restless life of thrill and adventure until the day we die. If she says no than I stay, and whatever happens to me happens. The only thing I have to lose worth any value to me is my life.

I shut off the water and stepped out of the shower naked. I snapped my fingers and a soft blue velvet robe appeared comfortably on my back. Whoever the man of this house is, that lives here in this four bedroom single home has very good taste. Not just in clothes either, I'm talking about their fridge. It's stocked with grade A beer, snacks, and good fresh food. When I got half way down the steps I was startled when find my mother in the living room sitting in the black leather reclining chair with her legs crossed wearing a navy blue skirt, and a white blouse with ruffles, apparently waiting for me.

She is just sitting there with a blank expression on her lovely face. Her sandy hair tied up in a bun, and her light greenish-brown eyes were staring off into space before she turned to look at me. She probably saw something, but I know better than to speak first. When I finally got to her, I sat down on the black leather sofa beside her. "I have something very important I need to share with you," she said looking at me for the first time. "What's going on, what's wrong?" I asked, worried? "I need you to hear this; I have been carrying this for the last twenty-one years and I think it's time you knew," she said looking frightened, as if she is scared or nervous to tell me what it is. I sincerely said, "I'm here; tell me what's going on."

"Take my hands and see for yourself," she told me, stretching out her hands for me to take. I hesitated for a moment before I took them, worried about what I will see. I know she is going to show me a vision that she had. I reached out my hands and placed them on top of hers. Instantly our hands started to glow at the touch, and so did her eyes. Next thing I know I'm watching a scene from the past. I am in my Grandparents house in their bedroom.

My mom is in the bed sweating and asleep, breathing heavily. There are only three other people in the room, my grandparents and a strange man whom I've never met before. I walked over to them so I can see what they are doing. When I got over to them I saw myself as a baby. I can't hear anything, like I'm watching a silent movie. I guess because it's not my memory, I'm just here watching it. They all look happy to see me. Everyone has smiles on their faces, celebrating my joyous birth. The man is cradling me securely in his arms.

All of a sudden they all walked to my mother who is now awake. The man, who I assume now, to be my father handed me off to her, and gave her kiss on the forehead. She looks so young and happy, this is the first time I've ever seen her like this. It all changed the second she touched my little baby hand. She zoned out, and her eyes opened wide, as she received a vision. The scene around me changed, and I am now standing on the top of a roof somewhere downtown. I was nowhere in sight.

My alleged father was standing a few feet away from three hooded figures all of whom are wearing white. They are all facing each other talking, and I can tell that they are having a disagreement on something. I can't make out a word since they are talking so fast for me to read their lips. All of a sudden the man erupted into flames; I thought they had killed him, until he reappeared as a dragon made out of pure evil looking like the devil himself. I've never seen a dragon look so baneful before in my life. He looks like a savage animal.

The hooded ones surrounded him in a circle. It looks like they are chanting a spell or something, but the dragon didn't let them finish. He shot straight up into the air very fast. Then, the hooded ones joined hands, and began to fly up in the air as well, and so did I. Again, the dragon is in the middle of their circle this time with a really creepy smile on his face. He looked up into the blue sky, as it began to turn grey with storm clouds. The dragon raised his hands up to the sky and pulled a deadly supernatural tornado down around him.

Besides the hooded ones being scattered every which way in the wind, downtown Philadelphia is underneath this massive tornado. As it touched the ground it tore through everything in its path. I can still see the dragon inside the tornado pleased with the destruction he is causing. I don't understand how he can have so much power. If he erupted into flames then he must be a fire dragon, and the last time I checked they only have dominion over fire, not air, and certainly not the weather. No one alone can summon up this much power.

Buildings are being destroyed and I can see people, ones who have not yet been killed running for their lives. They never saw this coming. The hooded ones attacked the tornado with spells, but all their attempts failed. Things just continued to get worse when the creature lifted up his arms again causing lightning to fall like rain from the sky, striking down everywhere. Cars are exploding, and the remains of buildings are on fire, and dead bodies line the streets. Abruptly the dragon put his hands to his head, he appears to be screaming in pain, serious pain, but I don't know from what.

The tornado vanished along with the lightning, and storm clouds, everything began to slowly come to a calm. Center City may as well have been completely demolished. The dragon began to descend from the sky, still holding his head as he continues to rivet in agony. When he reached the ground he screamed once more before he erupted into flames again revealing the man I recognized. The smoke from the flames took on a life of its own for a brief moment.

I watched myself manifest out of the dense black cloud of smoke. I look extraordinary; just bursting with power. There are black veins framing my face, my eyes are a lighter color, and slit like cat eyes. My hands are on fire and the earth beneath me violently quake. The next thing I know I am back in the living room, out of the vision. I'm a tad bit disoriented, but I'll regain my focus pretty soon.

Although this is my first time being sent on a vision quest by my mom, this isn't my first time around the block. "What was all of that," I asked? "You just saw the past and a possible near future," she answered, sounding more like herself than she did before. "Was that man my father" I asked? "Yes, that was Gallo. I met him when I was 18, and he was 19. We fell madly in love with each other.

He is the only person that I have ever met that was immune to my gift; the only one who could surprise me. I was nineteen when you were conceived, but I was twenty when you were born. From the start of my pregnancy my body began to reject you, and we were at risk of dying. Fortunately your father, an expert at potion making, gave me potions that fixed the complications. When I asked him what the potions were he always just said medicine, and I didn't care so long as it worked and the pain stopped which it did.

I safely entered into my second trimester, at which time during a witch's pregnancy we normally start to get glimpses of the baby's gifts, if any. With you it was really different; I had full control of all your gifts, all of them. I had all three of your gifts, as well as the ability to control the four elements earth, air, water, fire, especially fire. At the time I was surprised that someone so powerful could come from Gallo and me. We later discovered that we were having triplets, which explained why there were so many gifts," she told me.

I nodded my head, and let her continue; she has my full interest and undivided attention. "Well, after that it wasn't long before my body began to fail yet again. Your grandparents believed that all the power inside me was causing too much stress on my body. They told me I could either terminate the entire pregnancy, save one child, or die trying to carry my pregnancy to term. Your father was very adamant on not terminating the entire pregnancy, so I chose to save one child.

Growing up I never saw you anywhere in my future. I grew up thinking that I would never have children, so if I couldn't have all three of you, I was going to have one of you. The spell they cast seemed to have worked, especially when only you were just born. After I touched you for the first time I had no other choice but to show my parents what I saw. I was too weak to confront Gallo myself about his true identity. The necklace you wear around your neck masked his scent as a warlock's, deceiving everyone into believing he was a warlock with a gift to influence fire.

I was so conflicted. I was frightened by him because of the vision, I hated him for lying about who he was, but none of that made me stop loving him, or make me love him less for that matter. Just as I had gotten everything I ever needed, it was taken. Without even telling me, your grandparents exiled him somewhere unknown to me. They never told me where they banished him, but told me that I couldn't bring him back even if I tried. They said it was necessary in order to keep the vision from coming true.

My father told me that the only reason he didn't kill your father is because he didn't want to start a war with the dragons, since they would feel it if he died. They told me to forget about him, the only man I'd ever loved. Then they took you away from me because-because I blamed you for ruining my life! They didn't trust me around you. I wouldn't-couldn't hold you, feed you, or even look at you because you reminded me too much of your father, tarnished happiness, and fear. So they sent me away. I had no choice but to obey. You know how it was with your grandmother and her nifty gift of command." It kind of hurt me to hear her say that, but it all makes since to me now.

Never in my life have I seen a picture of her and me together. The closest thing we have to a picture together is a pregnant photo of her with just my father's hand on her belly. It explains how she treats me, and why she distances herself away from me. It's because I'll always be a constant reminder of her greatest failure. Even though it hurts to hear it, it still isn't enough to upset me. I've always wondered why she kept me at distance; I just finally have my answer.

I always knew she resented me for something and now I know for what. "Your father is a dragon, which makes you a hybrid," she obviously explained like I didn't already catch on to that. I noticed she is now looking past me, instead of at me again. For some reason I actually feel indifferent, maybe because I don't know how to feel. I hardly know this woman I call mom. I also, if anything feel sorrier for her than I do for myself.

"Why did you keep this from me all this time? Why are you deciding to tell me now, and not earlier today when I asked," I curiously asked? "Lately, that vision of you has been on my mind. You're twenty-one now, about the age I assume you are in the vision. And I figured it is time you knew. You have the right to know after all," she answered, looking afraid of me again. I can see the fright in her eyes, but she won't show weakness; it isn't like her to show emotions like that in front of me.

I've never seen her cry, and I never want to either. "If I'm an abomination why haven't we been killed yet," I asked? "Look at you, there's nothing remotely dragon about you. As far as I can tell your scent is that of a warlock's," she said making absolute since. I don't know what to ask or say next, where to begin is the real question. "But there is one thing that never seemed to add up," she admitted. "And what might that be," I asked?

"After your grandparents cast the spell that saved us, I still possessed the other gifts. The gifts you don't have, gifts that must have been your siblings," she told me. "So what does that mean," I asked? "I don't know. Maybe something left over from them inside me I guess. I've already said too much as it is and it's getting late. We'll talk more in the morning." She told me, completely scrapping the conversation for a later topic of discussion that we will most likely never have.

This is too much to handle for one day; I need time to process everything anyway. She is cold and bitter when it comes to me and the craft, namely the craft. She stood up, and walked straight out of the door without even looking back. I have a feeling she is still withholding information from me, and honestly I'm thankful for it. Knowing her she must have been avoiding a possible question I might have asked. The vision is never going to come true, it can't, my father is most likely dead instead of exiled. Knowing my grandfather he told her that because it would be an easier pill for her to swallow.

Gallo

I sent my father a letter informing him on the complications Terri had been experiencing. When I received his response, I realized what my father and The Council were up to. He had me meet a woman who called herself, "Debel." I never saw her face, I just remember her wearing a red coat, and she smelled like apples and cinnamon. I met her at the park on a cold night in January on opposite sides of a bench. I didn't speak to her; I just listened to the witch's sick words as she explained to me what was actually going on inside of my fiancées body.

"Soon you would have discovered this, but it is necessary for you to know this now. The pureblood witch pregnant with your seed is carrying triplets. We believe there is a power struggle raging on within her. She is at the stage where their magic is developing and there is not enough to be divided and shared. If we do not intervene there will only be two hybrid children born of magic and that will not be enough. We have convened with a seer who has foretold that one child will be born more Wiccan than Dragon, one more Dragon than Wiccan, and the third shall be born untouched by magic, human, or dead.

If the seer is right, than there will not be enough magic for you and your father to tap into to defeat our enemies. In the brief case next to you-you'll find four vials, each of a different color. Each vial contains a very rare magical specimen known as an Elemental. Being as though you are a fire dragon and she is a witch, both of your abilities are drawn from the forces of nature. Therefore, in order to combat the struggle, adding the raw spirits of the elements should settle the storm within her. Give her one on the same day each week starting tonight. Tell her you made it. It is very important or she will die and this all would have been for nothing. Good evening Mr. Brimstone, and remember the fate of our people is in your hands," she told me before walked off, fading away into the night.

From that one meeting I knew everything that my father wouldn't tell me. I got close to her; I made her fall in love with me, and planted my seed like he ordered me to do. I was only trying to make my father proud. Proposing to her was my idea though and he was furious about it. My father never told me he was trying to make a hybrid weapon out of my son, or children rather. I considered it once but I dismissed the thought of it. I always wondered why they chose me, a dragon. Once my children were born I was supposed to add all of their power into the collective, and thus we will become damn near invincible.

The pure blood Wiccan magic mixed into the fold would boost our connection to nature tying us to the Moon. We would be able to make every creature swear allegiance to us. With that kind of power we would be able to take the world. It's was too late to stop them then. I couldn't let Terri die. If I had just listened to my father and never got my emotions involved I wouldn't be in this mess. I wouldn't have cared if she lived or died, and would have smashed the vials in the brief case and let all die. It's too late for regrets now though. I can feel their magic fueling me, especially a latent dragon begging to be set free. I'm trying to connect with him the most because he will be the one who sets me free.

CJ

I don't know what to think. The things I saw her do last night blew my mind. Not to mention the bruise on my back and the soreness and slight head ache that comes with it. I've come to the only logical conclusion that makes since to me, and that is Amelia must be some kind of mutant. I've been living with a freaking mutant all this time and she didn't even have the heart to tell me. I mean nothing's changed right? She's still the same girl that I fell in love with. I think it might be pretty kick-ass to be married to a special girl like her. I always thought she was unique. My life has been nothing but fun and happiness since she came into it.

I'm driving to Target where I agreed to meet her. I suggested a public location because I am bit afraid of her. I always knew there was something strange about her family. You can always tell when a family has dark secret their keeping. I hear them whispering behind my back, thinking that I don't pick up little words or sentences every now and then. I've heard both of her parents refer to me as "The Human" or whatever but I never paid that much attention to it. I just thought it was a snotty stuck up inside joke, but now I know it's something much more fascinating.

I'm just praying to God that she doesn't tell me she's an alien, and that in her true form she's like some scary octopus beast monster thing. That is where I will have to draw the line, although it's too late to say that I haven't already slept with it, if that is the case. In any other case I will remain open minded to whatever it is that she has to say for herself. I'm not going to judge her. Last night was rough for me, but I only have good feelings about today. Positive thinking equals positive results.

Amelia

Is he serious? What does he think I'm going to do to him? He has me out here baking in the Sun waiting for him at Target this late in the morning. I stayed alone awake at night thinking about him and us. All these people are walking past, all in my face, probably wondering what's wrong with me. I have on my big sunglass so I know it's not my eyes betraying me. It must be my crossed arms or the way I'm standing in my nude pumps. I got all dressed up to come to Target, I'm so irked. I guess because once again my mother is right, but in contrast I also look at the way he found out. I'm just going to make him forget. He'll remember that I loved my surprise so much that we didn't even have a chance to eat dinner because I let him skip straight to dessert.

Someone powerful is coming for me, I can sense it. My heart is beating fast and I can hear the spell rhyming in my head as my brain pounds away. "Bring together my love and me; the one who holds a place in her heart for me. Clear this distant space between, so that I may be seen." This can only be one person. "Found you," he said, standing behind me in his matured low relaxed voice. I turned around slow, still trying hard to catch my breath. Here he is. All grown up, staring down at me smiling that smile I like.

"You look nice," he said pulling out a full bouquet of fresh roses from behind his back, smelling like heaven. "Thank you. They're beautiful," I said, taking them from him, causing him to smile harder, which brought a coy smile to my face. He is my definition of tall dark and handsome. His mustache has darkened into a full goatee that runs up into the deep flowing waves of his thick dark brown hair. His gorgeous brown eyes are shining in the sunlight smiling at me as well. I finally stopped pretending to smell the flowers and removed them from my face.

"You can't be here right now Matt," I said taking off my sunglasses. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I don't even know what I was thinking coming here. I honestly didn't know the spell was going to work," he replied shaking himself out of his daze as he turned away from me. "Wait, don't go-don't go," I said stopping him both with my gift as well as my voice. I can't let him go again. "Where will you be," I asked? "No, wait don't answer that," I told him, before he could even mutter a mumble. "Are you leaving me again? Are you going far away I mean," I asked, keeping the ready to form tears in my eyes at bay.

"Because I would really like it if you stayed around for a while. If-if you can," I said. "I'm not going anywhere Amelia," he said moving in closer to me. "I didn't come here to tell you goodbye. I came to take you with me," he romantically confessed taking my hand into his; completely bringing my entire universe to a halt. "What the hell is this," shouted CJ as he approached the scene, looking deceived. I can see it all in his face, especially the hurt built up behind his eyes. "It's not what it looks like," I said, putting my hands up. He backed away in such a fright that he nearly fell to the ground. I actually feel offended. He thinks I'm a monster.

"What's your problem man," asked Matt defensively? "Does he know, is he one too," CJ asked me in reply? "Know what? That she's a witch," Matt answered before I could. "A witch, you're a WITCH!" He shouted, drawing even more attention to us. "Shut the hell up, are you crazy," Matt asked rhetorically? "What's wrong with this guy M," he asked? "This guy, I'm her fiancé. So would you please mind telling me why you were trying to hold her hand," CJ barked back, filling in the space between me and Matthew.

"I don't care who you are. We were having a very important conversation before you interrupted us. So find yourself a corner over there somewhere and let us witches talk," Matt responded ever so calmly grinning in CJ's face. Obviously feeling provoked, CJ punched him square in the jaw. He should not have done that. "Come on CJ, NOW!" I shouted pulling him by the arms trying to get him as far away as possible. Unfortunately, something's about a person can never change. CJ dropped to the ground as even his skin quickly grew cold at the touch in this eighty-five degree spring weather.

"Stop it!" I cried to Matthew, who is just fixated in a trance influencing the temperature around CJ. Matthew is a triple blessed fully grown adult warlock; CJ never even stood a fighting chance. He is shaking from hypothermia, as his whole body turns purple and blue. "I'm so sorry baby," I said kneeling down by his side unable to even hold his frost bitten hand.

I have to do something quick. People are being to crowd around us. I just can't let him kill CJ right in front of me without even trying to save him. I blinked my eyes at Matthew and the force of my power sent him flying backwards into the parking lot. His body smashed into the windshield of a moving car that was passing by. CJ's body temperature almost instantly returned to him along with his healthy tan complexion. "Come on," I said, pulling him, pushing through the small crowd of people around us, leaving my roses behind as I rushed CJ to safety. Today is not going as smoothly as I planned.

2: Prologue & Chapter 1

Prologue
 

Terri (May 31, 1993)

“Get that thing away from me now,” I shouted, almost throwing my new born out of my arms. I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! I can still hear it raining outside of parent’s bedroom window where I have just given birth. “What’s wrong darling, what happened, tell us what you saw,” my mother pleaded taking it away from me.  “No, no, no I can’t, I can’t please don’t make me mother please,” I asked; through my cries. “Queenie don’t use your gift on her dear,” my father said, placing his hand on her shoulders. “But how else are we going to help her if we don’t know what she’s seen. If it has to do with the fate of our grandson we have to know,” she responded. 
“You’re not going to use magic on the mother of my child if she doesn’t want you to. Haven’t the both of you done enough already,” asked Gallo, trying to defend me as he moved closer into my foggy vision? I can clearly see his treacherous nature now. “Get away from me you fucking monster!” I shouted. He backed away from me dumbfounded; he doesn’t know that I have just been made aware of his schemes. “What? What did I do? I’m on your side,” he told me, still pretending; keeping up his façade. 

“Shut up, and be quiet Gallo! Take that thing you put inside of me and go. That’s what this was all for in the first place right,” I asked, looking deep into his low dark brown eyes. “Enough,” said my mother using her gift of command silencing me, along with what little he was going to say. “Terri, my darling, I’m sorry but I command you to show us the vision you received from baby Matthew,” she ordered, placing my offspring into his rocker, while removing my will to refuse her. Both of my arms arose and offered my hands to be taken. My mother and father each took one of my hands into their own as Gallo stood staring at me.
Gallo
    I’m worried. This amulet around my neck is supposed to keep her from having visions of me. I don’t trust Wiccan's, especially not those two, William and Queen. My father told me to keep a close eye on them, but they’re sneakier than most of their kind. William’s an old white man with a salt and pepper hair, and he’s got amber eyes. Queen has wrinkle free milk chocolate skin, pale green eyes, and she’s short and feisty like her daughter. My Terri is hands down the most stunning biracial beauty that I’ve ever laid eyes on. She might not look all that hot right now, but she’s got a great excuse for it. 
    I wasn’t supposed to really fall in-love with her, but my heart just couldn’t resist. She’s got these alluring dark green eyes with a chestnut star-burst that fits her flawless cinnamon color skin, and her voluptuous plump pink lips are my favorite. I wish I could have met her on my own terms, and then things wouldn’t have to be so complicated. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here. I know we’re not going to ride off happily into the sunset together, I know that for sure isn’t in the cards for us, although I wish it were. Just her, Matthew, and me, is all we would ever need. He looks like me, just a newer innocent version.
    More importantly I don’t know what the Inquisitors have planned for him. Now that he’s here I want to do all that I can to protect him, but I know the Inquisitors aren’t going to hurt him. They've orchestrated his entire existence for a special purpose. What that is, I don't know. Sometimes I feel like he’s their child and not ours, even though I did promise him to them. “Sleep,” I heard Queen say from behind me, commanding Terri when she and William came out of their trance. “What was that all about? What did she see,” I sternly asked them? They shared a look together, a look that I don’t like. “She saw,” William answered as I rubbed my sons head. “What- she saw what,” I asked, trying my best not to get annoyed. 
        “She saw something we can’t allow to happen, something that we thought we fixed, but clearly did not,” William answered sneering at me. “What are you talking about,” I nervously asked; with a puzzled expression on my face? “Don’t move! Don’t Speak!” Queen ordered, using her gift of Command on me. “This is nothing personal Gallo, it’s just necessary,” William said as he walked around me. “You won’t be able to fathom the magnitude of his power. We would be merciful and kill you, but your father would feel it if you died, and he’d know it was us,” he said, ripping my amulet from my neck. "We'll tell him that you ran off because you couldn't face being a disappointment to him. Or something along those lines," he said.
    “There will come a day when someone free's you from the exile we are sending you to. When that day comes just know it will be in your best interest to forget about this all, what will be the past, and start a new life somewhere far away from here, this family, and especially him,” Queen informed me, pointing in Matthew's sleeping direction. My body is shaking fiercely as I try to break free of her hold, but nothing I try is working. William moved back next to his wife taking her hand. “Outside of time, inside of space, trap this entity here and now, forever in this place,” he chanted in a very unrelenting voice. 
        Tortured by the sound of his rhythmic tune, each word is like a bullet ripping through my mind as I hear the cursed words that will seal my fate. I didn’t feel anything until the second time the spell was repeated.  William held his hand out with my amulet in the center of his palm. This time hearing them chant the curse together, “Outside of time, inside of space, trap this entity here and now, forever in this place.” Each word sounded farther and farther away from me until there was nothing but silence and darkness. I am alone!
Matthew (Present Day)
        There is nothing here in this white room but a mirror suspended in the air. I know it is a mirror because I am looking at my reflection. It is identical to me, standing at exactly 6’0ft tall, russet-brown skin, thick dark eyebrows and mustache, light-brown hazel eyes, dark hair, mature disheartened good looks, nice 6pk action going on, and he's wearing the same blue pajama pants. 
        The only thing standing out about this reflection is my father’s pendant around its neck, but not around mine. For some reason the black fire opal stone that the silver dragon is cradling began to glow. When I moved, the reflection did nothing but stand there. I don't know why but I feel myself wanting the pendant badly. As I moved closer to the mirror to grab it, the room turned dark, and the reflection faded away. The only thing left in the mirror is the shining pendant still pressed against the glass, giving off the only source of light in the room. As I moved to touch it I began to feel small vibrations in my arm that got stronger as I came closer to touching the reflection. 
    Right before I touched the pendant, I felt the presence of someone’s hands on my shoulders behind me togging me away from it, but it didn’t pull me far. I am unable to put my hand down like the mirror is a strong magnet and I am a big piece of metal. It all feels real. Even though I am afraid to be pulled away from the mirror into the darkness, it feels okay, it feels safe. As to the pull of the mirror, it gives me a sense of relinquishing control to someone outside me. However, the pull of the darkness is stronger, and as I fell backwards I woke up. I’ve been having this dream for the last couple of weeks.
 I always wake up drenched in sweat with this pain stacking head ache, and this time is no different. It seems like each time I get a little bit closer to the reflection in the mirror. I don’t understand why I keep walking to it, I just can’t help it. It looks like me, but I know it’s not, even though it is. It’s like I don’t recognize my own self. I don’t know it doesn’t even make sense to me. Something is trying to tell me something, I just wish I knew what it is already.
Its six o’clock in the morning and the Florida ocean breeze is refreshing as it comes through fluttering the white curtains attached to the tall floor to ceiling windows. I spend my nights in vacant private luxury mansions or apartments. Often I stay in empty homes that are currently for sale on the real-estate market. Today is the big day that I’m finally going home, and I’m nervous. I’m tired of living this life of not having a life. I know the people who killed my grandparents are still out there looking for me, but I’m tired of running from faceless shadows. I’d rather die than live the rest of my life unsettled and scared. I need answers and I’m going to get them. 
Mariah
Owe, how I long to be free. This world of imagination that I live in has grown toxic. My emotions are polluting the atmosphere and there is nothing I can do about it. The trees in my forest are dry and leafless. The air is stale and never changing. Lightning cracks through the sky whenever it pleases. My animals have all fled, and left me with the insects.There is no one here to tell me no, because in here I am the highest authority. I am Mother Nature, and I want so badly to roar, but what is the point when there isn't anyone around to hear it? What is the point when it won't matter in the real world? What is the point when no one is around to feel it?
       Things were different five years ago when Matthew had a life, before he was forced to go on the run and leave everything and everyone he ever loved behind. I used to find pleasure in watching him have fun, living his life to the fullest, doing all of the things that I have only dreamt of doing. Now he's a lonely miserable wreck.
     Not to mention he has been reduced to a classy squatter, but a squatter none the less. I would lay naked on the banks of the pond, with my thick curly untamed black hair as the only thing covering me like I am now. The once free flowing water acted as my television, allowing me to see through Matthew's eyes. If there was ever a time when I was the most envious of Matthew, it would be whenever he was in the presence of Adrian Birdsong, the love of my life. Seeing him was always the highlight of my days.
     Only when he was around did I ever feel alive. He allowed me to feel an actual emotion. Everything else that I have ever felt was all fake, nothing but a mere shadowy glimmer of the real thing. However, I find myself slowly forgetting him. His laugh has become mute to my ears, and the sight of him in my mind has become blurred. His bright fiery red ginger hair is all that I can clearly recall. What I wouldn't give to be in his presence. Not Matthew, but ME. I want him to see me, but that is another useless wish that I have added to my list of things that will most likely never happen.
     This isn't the life that God planned for me. If it is then I must deserve it. I must have been a terrible person in my past life. What could I have possible done to earn a life like this, living prisoner in someone else's mind? Or maybe this is all just a sick mistake. Why did God only kill my other brother? I remember there being three of us, but there is no third person here. If I could only find the answers to these very questions that I have been asking myself for years now, I think I would finally be able to find some shred of piece. Not knowing is driving me crazier, and I no longer have anything to distract myself with.
        Matthew has fallen asleep, because the Sun has set in my ethereal plane. Oh no! The full moon is out, Matthew is dreaming. I dipped my finger in the pond creating ripples in the murky water. He has been having this same dream for many nights now, and each time I have to save him. I reached into the water and tried my hardest to keep him away from that dark entity in the mirror. It takes all my strength and might to keep my fully grown brother at bay. Finally he began to fade away, as he wakes back up. When I tried to pull my arms out of his dream, I couldn't. Than I felt a pair of hands pulling me under from the other side. Before I had a chance to let out a full scream I was submerged, falling endlessly into a dark abyss.

Michael
       I shot out of the mouth of the volcano that I call home, up into the eruption column like a bullet. Spiraling out of the ash plume, I opened my huge bat like Dragon wings and ripped straight into the clear air. I crave for blue skies and the feel of real wind beneath my wings. What I wouldn't give to feel the warmth of the Sun against my back. My sky is always dark red as if I am forever trapped in an eternal sunset. Beautiful hot lava is gushing down the side of my volcano. This is some of my finest art work. 
     I see all of the dinosaurs are out and about roaming around looking for food, and so am I. Even though I don't get hungry, I still like the sport of hunting, and besides its something to do than sit around and go crazy. Matthews life has become even more depressing than mine. I honestly feel bad for the poor guy. I can't even bare to watch his life anymore. No one ever told him that he couldn't have a life. I will give my brother one thing though, he's got great taste in whores. However, like my brother I only have eyes for one girl, but it hurts in my chest when I think about her. 
      "Come and see," I heard an ominous voice say off in the distance. It's happening again. Every volcano in the valley began to erupt, shooting toxic smoke and scorching debris into the air. Everywhere I turned the dinosaurs began to drop dead. "Come and see," it repeated. "No I shouted!" taking off faster into the sky at super sonic speed to safety, dodging everything like a swift razor. This is the first time it's been able to do this. 
       Nothing doesn't happen unless I want it to. So I'm really freaked out now if I wasn't before. Whatever it is-is growing stronger. But suddenly I hear a woman screaming. I turned around to look, and sure enough as if she fell out of space a naked brown girl with a lot of hair came crashing into my world. Something in me said I need to save her, so I reversed my flight pattern and headed to her rescue. As I approached, she appeared to have everything in control, nose diving gracefully in the air. However, once she got a look at me things took a turn for the worse.
        She looks familiar, actually she favors me a lot. Could it possible be? For some reason she panicked and began to spiral, spinning through the air like a drill. Bringing down a tornado the likes of which I've never seen before with her. She somehow managed to disappear into the air itself. The tornado is ripping through the valley, totally dominating everything. I think I see her standing in the center of the massive violently rotating column of air. This is my world, who does she think she is?
      Okay missy, two can play this game. I flew up way beyond the clouds, above the storm. Now I'm looking down, eye to eye with the tornado. I plummeted  down from the sky with the hopes of getting close enough to grab her. Immense radiating heat encased my body as I burned through the dense dark clouds. Of course she sensed me coming. It only took one look from her to stop me completely in my tracks. I'm not surprised because it's what I would have done.
       She held up her hands and gently carried me down to her cooling me off. She looks wild with power, and I see so much hurt and anger around her gorgeous serene silver moon eyes. We are now both standing, flouting face to face in the middle of the tornado. "Brother," she said, starring me in the eyes. "Sister," I replied, not breaking contact with her. I held out my hand and she looked down at it like she didn't know what to do with it. Instead she embraced me with a hug. When I placed my arms around her an electric jolt of magnificent energy rushed through us. The colossal tornado collapsed sending a pulse through the entire realm, shrouding it with glittery dream smoke. 

 

 

Chapter 1
Amelia
    Sunlight has only just begun to peak through my window. Delightfully warm beams of light stretch into my room touching mine and CJ skin as I lay across his back while he sleeps. I warned him not to eat my mom’s homemade bedside chocolate but he didn’t listen. She does it to keep us from having sex. His mild snoring fills the morning air but I don’t mind, maybe because I’m used to it by now. We’ve been together for four years, all the way through college, and now we’re trying to make it to the alter. Even though I never planned on being married this young at twenty-one, I have only good feelings about it. CJ is my once in a lifetime guy, and I’m not going to mess us up.
    He’s my college sweetheart, and my best friend, so I would never do anything to intentionally hurt him. Be that as it may, I do have a secret that I’ve been keeping, but not just from him. CJ doesn’t know that I’m a witch, and I don’t know if he’ll still want to marry me once I tell him. My parents said we can stay with them until we find our own place together. Our wedding is in two months and I don’t know what to do. I’ve never told a human my secret before. I don’t know what to expect. What if he doesn’t want Wiccan babies? What if it conflicts with his religious beliefs? I mean Christians have been known to burn my kind after all. More importantly, what if he thinks I put a spell on him. 
    My mother told me that he’s eventually going to become paranoid once he finds out because he’s going to be afraid of me. I don’t want him to live life not sure if he what he feels for me is real or forced. Hell I’m not even sure if she was trying to give me more anxiety or motherly advice. God knows she hates humans, and disproves of the fact that her only daughter is engaged to one. A part of me just wants to wait until a time comes when I have no other choice but to tell him.
    No matter how he takes it, I know me being a witch and having supernatural abilities is enough to complicate any of my human relationships. I guess I can always make him forget if things go left whenever I do decide to tell him. “Mhmm, morning babe,” he said to me as he rolled over, his voice raspy from just waking up. “Good morning,” I replied, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. “What’s the matter with you,” he asked, looking up at me with those manly jade-green eyes, and messy brown hair? “Nothing, you know I hate your morning breath,” I answered, smiling through my little lie. His charming muscular face stared analyzing me for a brief moment. 
    “You know you can tell me if you’re getting cold feet, right,” he asked, touching his hand to my face? I kissed his palm and held his hand in mine. “I know. I’m just nervous about my dress. What if it still doesn’t fit right,” I asked, deflecting his attention. “Stop worrying about the dress M. You know how obsessive you get over things that aren’t in your control,” he indicated. “Hahaha that must mean I have a lot of control over you then doesn’t it,” I jokingly said giggling. He sat up, grinning hard smiling at me, flashing those adorable dimples in my direction.
    He grabbed my hips and lifted me onto his lap. “Maybe!” he softly answered, before he began to gentle kiss the sweet spot on my neck. “Mhmm, stop, my parent are in the other room,” I told him, even though I really don’t want him to. “So what, that never stopped us before,” he said, tending to the other side of my neck. “You’re so dirty,” I said playfully, but serious. “I know-but you like it though,” he said smiling, and then nibbling a little at my chin. “No I don’t,” I answered, pushing him down as I climbed off of him. I slowly walked over to my bathroom door fully knowing that he’s watching me.
    I slipped off the straps to my sexy silk blue nightie, and allowed it fall down to my ankles. Then, I untied the black ribbon holding my long champagne blonde hair up in ponytail, letting it fall down my bare back. “Last one in the showers not getting lucky,” I said continuing on with my bewitching walk into the bathroom where he eagerly followed with haste.
After.    “What’s up fire crotch,” said my loathsome big brother, Adrian as he entered the kitchen half naked, disturbing me while I’m trying to make a pot of coffee for the house. “You’re the fire crotch jackass. I’m not even a ginger anymore, thank you very much,” I responded with a sarcastic smile. “Oh, so I take it you’ve dyed your pubs blonde as well, huh,” he said smirking at me with his nasty self. “Ahaha, you’re such a pervert, but if you must know you little freak-there’s no hair down there,” I said breaking out in more laughter. 
    “And you call me a pervert. Shame on you,” he said plainly not finding it funny, before chugging the last bit of orange out of the carton. He’s a tall strapping ginger, with what few freckles he did have covered by his neatly shaven beard. Adrian, me, and my mother, we all have the same pure electric blue eyes, and up until three years ago we all had the same shade of ginger spice hair. Now my dad isn’t the only blonde in our immediate family anymore. Clearly my mom has the stronger genes, although my brother and I do take more after our father magically. 
    All three of us are gifted with a degree of telekinesis. "What are you doing here anyway," I asked? "What do you mean? I just got in last night," he said causally. "Why aren't you at your condo downtown,"I asked? "I'm selling it. I put all of my stuff in storage, and  mom and dad said I could crash here while I look for a bigger apartment," he said, smiling happily. "This is going to be a nightmare. Like high school all over again," I said, looking back at those horrible mornings, fighting for the main bathroom was a war. 
  “Yeah, yeah, where is the human,” he asked, holding out a mug? “Pour me some,” he finished. “Do it yourself. And my fiancé is upstairs getting dressed,” I told him, putting a few slices of toast in the toaster oven. Adrian held his finger up towards the coffee maker and the kettle flouted smoothly through the air in his direction. He didn’t bother to touch it, for it appeared to tip and pour all by itself into his mug. “No magic while there are Humans in the house please,” said my father, as he obviously just used magic to teleport into the kitchen. “Good morning,” I said giving him a warm hug. 
    “Hi, honey,” he replied, giving me a full hug, while still managing to pour his self a flouting cup of coffee. “How are you,” he asked? “Great!” I answered. “Is she the only one you see in the room pops,” Adrian asked, kidding? “I didn’t forget my only boy,” my dad answered, giving him a hug as well. My father, Brett, is the most handsomely observant, straightforward man in his forties that I know. He knew CJ was going to propose to me before I did, and for my father to actually give CJ, a human, his blessings speaks the world about how much he loves me. He said that he only wants me to be happy, above all other things. 
    “Your mother is going with you to pick up your dress right,” he asked? “Yeah, you know she still blames me for her not showing up to the bridal shop the day I picked it out,” I said, spreading butter on my four pieces of toast that just recently popped out of the toaster. “You know she doesn’t like being in the company of Outsiders, (humans) unless their servicing her in a store or something,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m surprised she hasn’t disowned you-yet,” Adrian said with a smirk across his face. 
    “Don’t say things like that too your sister. You should be happy we don’t disown you for loving a Vampire,” my father revealed in my defense. “A Vampire, OMG since when,” I asked in disbelief? “Her name is Lila and she’s not just some Vampire,” he said getting defensive. “So what, she doesn’t need to eat people to stay pretty,” I asked, laughing at him starting to turn red in the cheeks. “He almost gave your mother a heart attack when he told us. Where do you get off talking about her relationship when you’ve become a dead girl’s nightly dinner,” added my father?
    “I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” he answered, folding his big arms across his chest, with a crass look on his face. “Don’t be like that big bro, we’re only teasing,” I said, trying to give him a hug. “Get away,” he said smiling, shaking me off. “What a good boy. You’re a smart little monkey aren’t you,” said my mother as she came waltzing in the kitchen with a pet monkey. The loose curls of her bob are bouncing all over the place. “Where did you get that monkey from Ash,” asked my father, as we all stared at her. “Yeah, and why is he dressed up so nicely,” asked my brother, whose looking at me.
    “CJ!” I shouted, but there was no answer. “Look he’s dancing,” said my mother through wild laughter as she played with monkey CJ’s arms. “What is your problem? Why do you have to be such a monster,” I asked, frustrated? “Oh be quiet, if it wasn’t for me you’d all be exposed right now. Do you know how loud you idiots were talking? And had he walked in what would he have seen, huh?  Cups of coffee just sitting in the air along with the damn kettle. Seriously, you all should know better,” she said shutting us all up. “You should be proud of the fact that I refrained from turning him into a roach and squashing the rodent underneath my heel. Lord knows I wanted to, but no-that would be murder,” she said, all the while feeding CJ a banana piece by piece. 
    At this point I can honestly say that I’m afraid for his life right now. My mother is one of the most insolent witches that I know. Suddenly she snatched CJ up and flung him towards me. One second he’s a screaming monkey flying through the air and I’m trying to catch him with my power. Than the next he’s just standing here in front of my face having a whole conversation with me. “What are you doing with your hands? Is there something on my face,” he asked? All I can help to do is give him a big wet kiss, and he’ll probably never really know why. 
    My brother and father both walked out of kitchen together, coffee mugs in hand smiling. They may find her behavior amusing but I find it disturbing. “Mrs. Birdsong you look absolutely lovely today,” said CJ blushing, complimenting my mother on her stylish yet very age appropriate black sun dress. “Why thank you CJ darling. You look very dashing as well,” she replied back to CJ, wearing a white polo shirt, and cream color khaki’s. “I’ll be in the car honey while you finish saying goodbye. It’s a beautiful day to be alive wouldn’t you say CJ,” she asked; extending her hand?
    “Yes Ma’am, I guess it is,” he answered as she walked out. “Your mom is crazy,” he said, before taking my last piece toast. “Believe me, I’m not the one you need to convince, she is,” I said, making him laugh. “I know she still doesn’t like me,” he said. “That’s not true. Why do you still think that after all this time,” I asked? “I can just tell. It’s all in her eyes; you know the look I’m talking about," he said, in a low voice, as if to keep it on the hush, hush. “Well as long as she doesn’t say anything to you. I can’t do anything about the way she looks at you babe,” I said smiling up at him. He slid his hand around my waist and asked me, “What time do you think you’ll be getting back?” 
    “Don’t worry. If everything is right with my dress I’ll be back before you know it. I know you hate it when I leave you here alone with my father,” I said, biting my nails in the back of my head. My Dad compares CJ to a child, and he’s not the best when it comes to “baby sitting.” Who knows what he might stumble upon if he's left here alone. By the time I get home CJ will most likely be asleep once more, and my father will be off somewhere hanging with his buddies. “It’s not that. I may or may not have a surprise for you when you get back,” he said, leaning down to steal a kiss, before my mom stole the moment by startling me with the car horn. “You better go before I get you into trouble,” he said, smacking my butt when I turned to go. I turned around and caught him biting his lip smiling at me. I blew him a kiss and said, “I’ll be back, love you.”
Matthew
    It’s been five years since the last time I’ve seen or been in East Falls, Pa. everything pretty much looks the same how did, with the exception of a few new stores. I’m not worried about anyone seeing me, even though I should be. However, none of my old friends better not still live here anymore, or at least not with their parents. Nothing much really happens around this part of the city. The only interesting things about East Falls is Laurel Hill cemetery, which happens to be a sculpture garden, and a historic landmark as well. East Falls also sits on the banks of the quote on quote "Beautiful" Schuylkill river, underneath the Falls bridge where the urban villagers gather once a year for the annual dance on the Falls.
    I missed this place until I actually got here. Now all I’m reminded of is the life that was taken from me, and all of the memories I missed out on. I didn’t even get to go to prom, and that’s the whole point of high school, especially when you’re not even human. I guess somebody had to be me, it just sucks that I had to be me. It’s almost noon and it’s May, so the Sun is really kicking my ass right now. I’ve finally reached my grandparents address, but the house I grew up in is not here anymore. This house isn’t the right one, but I know I’m at the right place.
    “They burned it down,” said a familiar voice  from behind. I turned to find my slightly aged, now forty-one year old mother standing there staring at me hard. She is wearing an unattractive business outfit like most other female bank tellers do. Other than her profession, I honestly don’t even really know this lady. Hell I don’t even know why my grandparents were the ones who raised me and not her. Ever since I can remember she’s always acted like she was afraid of me, or as if I did something wrong to her that only she remembers. 
    Being as though she can see both the past and the future, I probably just haven’t done whatever she resents me for yet. She’s staring at me, and I’m staring right back at her. I don’t know what to say, or what to do. We never had that mother and son kind of relationship. Growing up I only remember her coming around for the big holidays, and her purposely missing every single one of my birthdays. “The ones who killed your grandparents, and to frame you,” she answered before I could even ask the questions. “Frame me,” I repeated, obviously confused.
     “Come, walk with me,” she said walking ahead of me. “You need to leave Matthew. It’s not safe for you here, and you know I know what I’m talking about,” she said steadily looking ahead. “I know it’s not safe, but I need answers. I need to know why, because if I go another year without knowing I might as well do whoever a favor and kill myself,” I said. “Something’s that happen in the dark sometimes need to stay there,” she said cryptically. “What does that mean? I know you know what I want to know so why don’t you just tell me,” I asked, growing tired of looking at the back of her head.
    “It doesn’t work that way when I’m trying to keep you safe,” she replied. “Safe from what,” I asked? “I’m trying to change the future here Matt. I only know what’s going to happen to you, not the events leading up to it. So I don’t know if my interference is what causes it, or if my staying out of it does,” she explained, though not making any difference to me. “I’m sorry but that doesn’t change things for me. Obviously, I don’t care whether I die or not,” I reiterated. “You’re not the one who’s going to die. Everyone else is and that’s the problem,” she said looking back at me.
    “So what do you want me to do? Play hide and seek with the bad guys for the rest of my life,” I asked grabbing her arm? “You look just like your father,” she simply told me before she faded away into nothingness. I’m so mad I want to break something. I didn’t know that I’m wanted for the murders of my grandparent’s. I never wanted to know how they died so I never searched their deaths on the internet. It was easier that way. I was so caught up in running that I really never did actually look back. By the time they died I was probably already in Egypt. I always figured that I would be added to the missing or abducted list.
    Never in a million years did I ever think they would blame me for their murders. Though I get how police might consider me a suspect. I had nothing to run from really, it’s not like I was getting abused at home or anything like that. I guess murder really is the only reason why someone with a good life like I had would run away. Heaven knows I've been living like the cops have been chasing me anyway. Someone has made it their mission to destroy my life. I won’t let them get away with it, I can’t, not anymore. I’ve lost too much to turn back now. The only problem is I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking for or where to start. I assumed that by returning to the scene of the crime that I’d find some clues, but I didn’t expect all of the evidence to have burned up in a fire five years ago.
    This stall is very disgusting. Someone forget to flush; now the entire bathroom smells like crap. I feel like I should wash my hands even though I didn’t go. Most Wiccan's only need or use cars to keep up appearances with their human lives. Me, I don’t have one. I can use magic whenever I feel like it. Every now and then I might be a little careless and use my gift to influence temperatures on a human amongst other things. They can’t expose me for being a warlock if they don’t believe in magic. It’s funny especially when they know it’s me who did it, but they just can’t prove it or know how I did it. Who’s really going to believe anyone who cries witch in the twenty-first century?
    Humans are such a weird species. How can most of them believe in a religion consisting of Angels, Demons, Gods, and Heaven if they don’t first believe in magic? They're all heretics if you ask me. I wouldn’t consider myself an alcoholic, just a recreational drinker. Alcoholics are mean when their drunk, I’m fun. Judge me if you want, but I’m just making up for my lost college experience, although I have witnessed the  parties that the students at Oxford throw. They know how to have a good time in the U.K. 
    “Can I have a bottle of Jack please,” I asked the young bartender. “Sure thing boss,” answered Seth, wearing his all black uniform, along with his plastic name tag. “Here you go,” he said placing a whiskey glass half way filled with ice in front of me as he poured the Jack Daniels, leaving the bottle with me. “Thanks,” I said. He just nodded his head, and began to serve the next customer. 
    There aren’t very many people in this medium sized bar downtown in Center City. Everyone is off to the side having their own conversations. It’s pretty much what you can expect for a Thursday afternoon before rush hour. I downed my first drink and pulled out my cowboy killers. I only smoke this brand of Marlboros because my favorite color is red, which is ironic because my second favorite color is black and soon I’ll have the lungs to match. 
    I take pride in being able to be invisible without the help of magic. I’m already starting to feel GOOD, and I wish someone would change this damn channel or cut it off. Not everyone is a football fan. I personally prefer no sports at all, but who really cares about what I want but me. My head is getting hot and I can see smoke beginning to rise from the TV as it begins to heat up. I have control over my gift, just not my emotions. The more I try to stop it the more I think about why I’m doing it. All of damn sudden the thing just exploded when I took a hit of my cigarette, scaring the shit out of everyone. 
    Now everyone’s looking over here, so much for being invisible. I want to laugh really bad right now. Hell I twisted the cap off Jack and poured myself another glass. “Can I have some more ice please before you put that out,” I asked? He used a metal scoop to put a few more ice cubes in my drink before doing his job and extinguishing the fire. I guzzled my drink, slammed a twenty on the bar, and started on my way to the door. I took a deep drag of my cigarette as I endured the awkwardly short walk through the dead silence blowing out smoke. The touch of their eyes on my skin makes me feel uncomfortable. 
    The warmth of the sunlight and fresh air is soothing to my senses. Not to mention I feel all warm and buzzy on the inside. There are always so many people out here downtown. I see some people are going to work, taking breaks, or teenagers hanging out moving between classes or what have you. I’m always in the moment even when I’m on the move. There are some things that I find pleasurable about never having anything to do. I don’t have an annoying cell phone that allows people to contact me whenever they please to bother me with their nonsense. 
    I mean really, what makes people think anyone wants to deal with their problems, when they don’t even want to deal with their own. I don’t have any bills to pay or anyone else to worry about other than myself. My mom said that people are going to die if I stay here. Maybe I should forget that I had an old life and start a new one. Change my name and get reacquainted with society. In all honesty I do think that is the real reason I haven’t come back a lot sooner.
    I didn’t want to put anyone in danger because of me. I don’t even know whose after me or what mess my Grandparents were in. I just knew that they were serious and that they only wanted to protect me and that’s all I needed to know. I’ve been all around the world in search of nothing, just wandering across the world like a lost puppy in desperate need of a home. I’m beginning to think I only came back here because I was getting bored. What are memories worth if you’re in them alone? I’ve disappeared from the person I used to be, but that old person I still catch glimpses of in the mirror refuses to completely vanish.
    I’d be letting my sixteen year old self down if I didn’t see this through like I swore I would those years ago. It doesn’t feel as warm to me out here as it just did a few minutes ago. If only you could just feel the chill of my heart, than you’d truly know how cold I can be. Everyone who looks upon me fails true to see the hellish war raging on without defeat beneath my skin. But, again and again, a crown of beautiful hate adorns my head whenever I’m reminded of my ill fate; although every now and then I might find myself smiling again. 
    “Matthew, is that you!” I heard a deep familiar voice yell from all the way across the street. Breaking me out of what could have been one of my deep spirals of depression. Oh my God, why does this keep happening to me today? This is very unpleasant; it’s been a long time since I’ve been recognized in the street by someone who actually knew me. How did he know it was me, I look so much more different now. “Adrian,” I said looking at him crossing the street tall and bulky wearing blue scrubs, with his fiery red hair shining in the light.