Aathiray had come home two hours ago and after taking a bath and finishing her homework, she left the house again. When I looked out the window, it calmed me down a bit to know that she was just sitting on the porch… with Keroshan.

I still didn’t understand why I was starting to dislike Keroshan. Maybe it was because he wasn’t human. But wouldn’t that mean I would start disliking Aunty Seretha as well?

It was a little bit past nine and my parents were already asleep because they had a really busy and hard day. Aathy took this to her advantage and decided to spend time with Keroshan.

Me? Well, I knew it was wrong to be spying on my little sister, if she found out, she would go crazy.

I wondered if Keroshan knew I was listening. He probably did, but he didn’t mention it to Aathy. He probably knew she would be furious with me.

But what could I possibly do after such a strange conversation with one of her teachers?

I went straight to the mall after my classes were done so that I could get a gift for one of my friends, his birthday was coming up. I thought that some Nintendo Wii game would be the best thing to get him, guys shopping for games takes just as long as girls shopping for clothes.

Some person tapped my shoulder and I turned around and was surprised that I didn’t know him.

He seemed only a few years older than me and he also looked upset. “Are you Aathiray Aryan’s brother?” He asked.

I nodded. “Can I help you?”

He held his hand out. “My name is Nathan John. I’m Aathiray’s Philosophy teacher.”

I took his hand and shook it. “Oh, it’s nice to meet you, I’m Aathavan Aryan.”

“I’m glad I got the chance to meet you.”

I looked at him, confused. “Is there a problem?” Aathy wasn’t the type of girl to get into problems with teacher. She was a good student. Every teacher thought that about her.

“Yes. But it has nothing to do with school…”

“Go on.” I pushed.

“I’m assuming you know who Keroshan is, yes?”

I nodded. “I do.”

He hesitated. “Then let me get straight to the point… Aathiray is in danger.”

“Why?”

“Let me assure you that I’m not saying Keroshan is going to kill her—”

“Kill?” I exclaimed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

He took a deep breath. “My friend, I am a Raakshyan. Do you know anything about how our powers work?”

I nodded. “Aathy told me.” I wasn’t shocked with the fact that he was a Raakshyan, I guess I’ve gotten used to crazy things.

“Well, the gift that the goddess gave me is the ability to see when a person will die.”

I bit my lip.

“I don’t know the exact dates, but I am able to tell if it’s soon, or if its later on.”

“You can see that with everyone?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I can only see the time of death for the people that the goddess lets me see.”

I nodded. “Okay, what does this have to do with Aathy?”

“Her death is near.” He said.

“What?!”

“And another part of my gift is that I know whether the death is an accident, intended or natural and I will tell you that Aathiray’s death was not an accident and it’s not natural either.”

“Someone’s going to kill her?” I asked. It came out as a whisper.

“I’m sorry, but yes. And for some reason, the goddess is telling me that Keroshan plays a role in this. What I don’t know is that if he is the protector or the killer.” He forced a smile. “However, you can prevent this.”

“I can?”

He nodded. “All you have to do is protect her. Or find out if Keroshan is intending on killing her and stop him, and if he isn’t, tell him to protect her as well.”

“Keroshan is her… boyfriend. I find it hard to believe that he would try to hurt her.”

“I’m not saying he will. All I’m saying is that he has something to do with her death.” He said.

I shook my head.

He smiled at me and put his hand on my shoulder. “I promise you that if you try, you can prevent this. I can see it in you, Aathavan. I know you’ve saved her from her death before.”

After that, I drove home and when I realized Aathy wasn’t home, I started to panic. I then called Aunty Seretha and told her to send Aathy home. She came home about an hour later.

Before I left, Nathan John had mentioned something about a bruise around her neck. He told me not to worry about that, that it was a misunderstanding. He also mentioned the fact that Keroshan was the one who did it.

When I saw her using a scarf to cover it, I was definitely worried. I asked her what had happened and she told me that it was nothing.

When I told her that I already knew and I was mad at her for not telling me the truth, she apologized and said, “Honestly, Aathu, it was a mistake and I’m okay. Don’t worry!”

How could I not worry? Is she crazy? All I’ve been doing for the past few days is worry about her!

I sighed as I leaned against the wall and listened to Keroshan and Aathiray speak.

“How about we make one of the extra rooms in your house a library?” She asked. “I’ve always wanted a library in my house.”

He laughed. “Alright, but I don’t think we have enough books yet.”

“You don’t? I saw all those big piles of books in your room Kero! Those books can fill maybe six bookshelves!”

“Alright fine, but who’s going to pay for the shelves? They are pretty expensive.”

I pictured Aathy rolling her eyes. “Money, money, money. That’s all you men think about these days.”

Keroshan laughed at that.

I’m not the type of brother who would spy on his little sister just to be annoying. Actually, I never spy on her unless it’s necessary. I think it’s wrong to be invading her privacy and I know she would never spy on Maya and I, no matter what. But I was scared. I was scared because apparently, she was going to die.

My stomach twisted at the thought of her death.

It’s true, I am overprotective. But there was a time that I didn’t care about her. A time when all she was to me was another creepy girl. I didn’t consider her my blood sister and I hated the thought of having to share my parents with her.

I used to get yelled at for pulling her hair or not sharing my toys.

I remembered what Nathan John had said. “I know you’ve saved her from her death before.”

I looked up at the ceiling and remembered a time in my life that I really hated remembering.

“It wasn’t me though…” I whispered.

She was four and I was seven. I was a bad kid, a brat. Bad in the way which little kids normally are. I didn’t listen to my parents. I refused to eat my vegetables. I had my terrible tantrums and I would never share anything.

My dad was the only one who could control me. One look from him and I was silenced.

He had always scared me.

And it was that look that forced me to play with Aathy in the yard that day.

Of course, I did the playing and she sat there moping.

“Share with me!” She yelled.

“No.”

“I’ll tell daddy!”

That was the threat I was afraid of. “Fine.” I yelled and then I threw the plastic shovel at her.

It hit her on the head but rather then crying, she started to play with it, knowing I would take it back very soon.

It was then that I saw some very strange looking bug.

Now that I think about it, it looked somewhat like a scorpion, but smaller and it was more of a shade of purple.

The first thing that came into my mind was that if this thing bit Aathy, she would run inside and be too afraid to come back out. Then I wouldn’t need to share my stuff.

I turned around and saw that my dad, who was sitting on the porch, had left to get something. So now I knew it was safe to go on with my plan. I looked at Aathy, who was stabbing the floor with the shovel. “Aathy! Come here!”

She looked at me and then shook her head. “No.”

“Come!” I yelled as I got up. I then pointed at the bug. “I dare you to pick this up.”

She got up and walked towards me. After looking at the bug for a moment, she shook her head. “Ew… no. I won’t touch that!”

I rolled my eyes. “If you do, I’ll let you keep my shovel.” I didn’t mean it.

She looked at the shovel and then at me and then back at the shovel. “Fine.” She said. She then bent down and hesitantly poked the bug with the shovel.

It didn’t move.

I then started to worry. Was it dead? If it was, then I would have to give her my shovel.

She continued to hesitate but after taking a deep breath, she reached out to pick it up.

The second her hand touched it, it snapped its tail and started moving.

I didn’t know what happened but she started to scream. I assumed it was because it bit her. I started to smile.

But my smile disappeared when she continued to scream and the skin around her finger started to change into a bluish colour.

My dad came running out of the house along with my mom. “What happened?” He asked, pulling Aathiray into his arms.

“T-the thing… that bug… it… it bit her…”

“What bug, Aathavan?”

I looked down at the floor and realized the bug was gone. “It’s gone!” I said.

“Where did it bite her?”

“On her finger!” I started to cry as well when Aathy’s screaming got louder.

My mom took her hands and looked at them. “Oh dear…” She said as she looked at her right hand.

My dad rubbed Aathy’s back. “It’s okay, love, it’s just a small bite. You’ll feel better in no time.” He looked at my mom. “Go get that bug bite medicine.”

My mom nodded and rushed back into the house.

My dad picked Aathy up to take her in but she fought him.

“No!” She yelled. “It hurts!”

“Honey!” My mom called through the window. “I can’t find it! Where did you put it?”

My dad sighed. “Hold on.” He looked at me. “Watch your sister. Try to make her stop crying.”

I nodded and watched my dad run into the house.

I hugged Aathy and told her not to cry, apologizing for making her pick up the bug. I guess I hoped that she would stop crying.

But she didn’t.

And that’s when the weird stuff started to happen.

Aathiray started to fight me too. She pushed me back, got up and started to run towards the street.

“Aathy!” I called.

She didn’t stop.

Even when the car was coming.

The car honked its horns and then there was a cracking noise as I heard bones break.

I covered my eyes and turned around, not knowing what else to do.

My mom screamed and I saw her fall backwards, passing out.

My dad, who was standing at the door, turned around and ran towards Aathy, who was lying half dead on the floor.

Days had passed and Aathiray still hadn’t woken up. My mom wouldn’t stop crying, I wouldn’t either and my dad was constantly running around, trying to make sure that Aathy was alright.

Our whole family was there every day, except for one day.

They all decided to go to the temple, to pray for Aathy. I, however, refused to go. I wouldn’t go because I wanted to stay by Aathy’s side. It was my fault all of this had happened and if she woke up, I didn’t want her to be alone. But the hospital wouldn’t let me stay alone, so my grandpa decided to stay back with me.

I sat beside her and watched her for the longest time, eventually drifting off because I was so tired, even though all I had been doing for the past few days was cry.

When I woke up, I found myself sitting on the comfy recliner chair, far from where Aathy was. I was a little surprised, but then shook it off, remembering that my grandpa was with me. He must have moved me.

“Grandpa?” I called as I stretched.

There was no response.

When I was completely awake, I saw someone bending down over Aathy, as if the person were kissing her.

The person wore a long black cloak that covered their whole body and it also had a hood which covered the persons head.

“Who are you?” I asked as I got up off the chair.

The person seemed surprised by me. “You’re awake.” The male voice said.

I looked up at him. “I don’t recognize you…” I then noticed that he had one Aathy’s neck. “What are you doing to my sister?” I asked. I then tried to look strong and glared at the man whose face I couldn’t see.

The man let go of Aathy and stepped towards me.

Though I was scared, I didn’t step back.

He then kneeled in front of me and I could now properly see the bottom half of his face. “Your sister will be alright.” He said. His voice was kind and fatherly.

I hesitated. “Who are you? How do you know?”

“I healed her.” He said.

“Really?”

He nodded. “But you must promise me something, young man.”

I nodded, becoming happy because Aathy was going to be okay.

“Promise me you’ll protect her.”

I hesitated.

“I can only do my job if you do yours.”

“What’s my job?” I asked.

“To be a good elder brother.”

“And what’s your job?” I asked, curiously.

The man smiled. “To make sure innocent people don’t get hurt.”

I tried to look at the man’s eyes, but no matter which angle I looked at him from, I couldn’t see them. I sighed when I gave up. “But why do I need to protect her?” I asked.

“Child, people want to hurt your sister and the only way we can make sure they don’t get away with that is by protecting her.”

“Why do people want to hurt her?”

“For reasons I am not allowed to speak of.”

“But you’re on the good guy’s side, right?”

He hesitated. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“But you healed Aathy! Doesn’t that make you good?”

The man smiled. “If you want to consider me good then go right ahead, son.” He then put his hand on my shoulder. “But right now, promise me that you will be a good brother and protect your sister.”

I didn’t need to think twice about that. I had learned my lesson after almost loosing the only sister I had. I nodded. “I will be a good brother!”

“And you must promise me that you will not tell anyone about me. Pretend you never saw me.”

“Why?” I asked. “My parents would be happy if they knew you helped Aathy!”

He shook his head. “They mustn’t know. If people find out about me, I won’t be able to continue to help your sister.”

From what he said, I knew I had to promise. This man had saved my sister and I wanted to make sure that he would be there for her later on too. “Okay.” I said.

He held his right hand out. “Promise?”

I placed my hand on top of his. I was familiar with this way of making promises; it was how my mom did it. “Promise.”

When I pulled my hand away, I saw the star shaped birthmark on his right hand palm, similar to the one on Aathy’s. But before I opened my mouth to ask him about it, he had vanished.

The second he disappeared, I saw Aathy’s eyes open.

She blinked a couple of times and looked around.

“Aathy?!” I hollered.

She looked at me.

I ran up to her bed and tried to climb on. When I did, I kissed her cheek and looked at her. “You really are okay!”

She looked at me, confused.

“Look, I promise you that I will always, always, always take care of you from now on! You can keep all my toys if you want! Just never, ever, ever do what you did, ever again!”

She blinked. “Did the bug bite you too?” She asked, in a soft and weak voice.

I laughed as my grandpa walked in. “Aathavan! You know better than too—” He froze when he saw that Aathy was awake.

From that day on, I became the responsible brother that I promised I would be.

I know for a fact that Aathy doesn’t remember what had happened to her because no one reminded her about it as she grew older. No one wanted too. We almost lost her and everyone was completely prepared to forget about those days.

Everyone but me.

The last thing I wanted was to grow up as one of those brothers who didn’t care about their siblings. I was glad that I was the type of brother that everyone dreamed of. I knew that I was that type of brother because that’s what Aathy told me I was.

But one thing that bugged me was that I never saw that man ever again.

The weird thing is, the time that I was actually greatly reminded of the man was when I saw Keroshan in his true form for the first time. I guess it was because that was when I realized that the man who had saved Aathy was probably a Raakshyan.

All of what happened is my excuse towards why I’m over protective. I have a good reason to be, right?

I made a promise and what’s more important than that promise is that I love her.

Aathiray is my baby sister and no matter what happens that will never change.

No matter what happens, I will always look out for her.