***IMPORTANT***

Hey!

Just like in the first book as of now, if there is a name beside the chapter number that means the chapter is told in that persons perspective. For example, this chapter is told in Aathavan's perspective, and every chapter after this is told in Aathavan's perspective until it say's Aathiray beside the chapter title.

I hope that's easy to understand! If i'm making no sense than please message me!

Thanks!

and I hope you like the story so far!

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I drove down the street and sighed. Things weren't going well for Maya at all. "What did your mom say to that?" I asked.

"She told him to get out of our house." Maya ran her fingers through her messy hair. "Can you take me to my aunts' place?"

"Because..."

She frowned at me. "I need to change out of my pajamas."

I looked at her and smiled. She was still wearing her pajamas, her hair was a mess and she had no makeup on.

"I'll explain what happened properly after I freshen up."

I nodded and turned into her aunt's street. Her aunt welcomed me in and Maya guided me into the guestroom. She rummaged through a bag, pulled out some clothes and walked into the bathroom.

I waited patiently for her and sat on her bed. I then decided to call Aathy and tell her that I would be late.

When Aathy hung up, Maya walked into the room. She was now wearing skinny jeans and a normal white shirt with the words "Niagara Falls" on it. She put on a pair of hoop earrings and a simple necklace. "When do you have to leave?" She asked me as she put on her nose ring.

"I'll leave when you want me to leave." I said.

She smiled at me through the mirror. "Thanks Aathu." She said.

I nodded my head at her. "You want to start telling me what happened?"

She hesitated. "Let's get back to the car... I don't want my aunt to hear." She said as she combed her hair. She put on a hair band and then put on some eyeliner.

When she was done, she thanked her aunt and we decided to go to the mall. "Alright, go ahead." I said.

She sighed. "My uncle came over yesterday..." She started. "I was sitting in the kitchen, peeling potatoes, and I heard what he said... I don't think I was supposed to, but I did."

I stopped at the red light and looked at her. She looked stressed and like there was something she couldn't believe.

"He told my mom that he's been hiding something from her and she got mad... you know, since she's the eldest she sort of expects that she should know about everything that's going on in her family's life."

I nodded as I turned into the mall's parking lot. I knew exactly how that was. That's how it was with my dad but since he was so respected, he didn't need to worry about his siblings hiding anything.

"And then he's like it has to do with his wife. And my mom was getting pissed cause he was dragging it along. So my uncle just spat it out."

"What?" I parked the car in an empty space and looked at her.

She looked at me. "He told her that his wife wasn't human."

My mouth fell open.

"I know, right? You know about Raakshyans and what not... and your reaction is this, imagine what my moms' reaction was!"

I thought of Mayas nice, but very strict and logical mother. She wouldn't have believed it.

"My mom started laughing." Maya said. "And my uncle got really mad and started yelling. He's like he came to tell her because she's his older sister and he wanted her to know. And then my mom was like what the hell are you talking about. She's like, do you expect me to believe that your wife isn't human?" She sighed. "So he brought his wife in and she changed... and my mom screamed."

"What did she change into?" I asked.

"I think it was a mountain lion, or something."

"So is that when your uncle and mom got into a fight and your mom told him to get out?" I asked.

She nodded.

We were quiet for a second.

"Can you believe it? She's been a part of the family for five years..."

"Are you mad at her?" I asked.

"No! Of course not! I totally understand why it might have been difficult for her to say anything... besides; you've told me enough about these people. They're good people, right?"

I thought of Kero and the things Aathy has told me about him and then I thought of my own aunt. "Yes. They are."

She nodded. "And I also understand why my mom would be mad, but then she started getting mad at everyone! She was yelling at me and my brothers and sister and even my dad. I'm just so mad that she takes out her anger on us!"

I nodded. "My dad does that too." I said. I opened my car door. "Common, let's walk."

She got out of the car, ran to my side and held my hand. We walked into the mall together.

"So, how's Aathy?" She asked, probably trying to relieve the stressful atmosphere.

I sighed. "Still pouting over the fact that Keroshan's gone."

"She loves him, doesn't she?"

"I think so."

"You don't seem so fond of that." She said. It was then that I noticed that she was looking at me.

I hesitated. "He's... not human."

Maya frowned. "So? You said that they were good people."

"They are... it's just... I think there are so many things that she doesn't know about him and the fact that she fell for him so quickly bothers me."

"She's known him for seven years though... I think that's more than enough years to get to know someone, Aathu."

"Yeah... but for seven years, he was just a cat to us. A cat that talks." I looked away. "I guess I'm just worried about her. She's never chosen good guys to like."

Maya laughed at that. "You can say that again." She looked up at me. "But did she tell you herself that she loves him?"

I shook my head. "She says it indirectly. She hasn't said 'Aathavan, I love Keroshan' yet."

"Does your dad know?"

I shook my head. "That's another thing. If my dad finds out on his own... he's going to kill her."

"But he hooked up your aunt and uncle..."

"He's not going to kill her because Kero's not a human, he's going to kill her because she hid it from him, and worse, lied to him."

"Maybe you should talk to her." Maya suggested.

"I did. But does she ever listen to me?" I asked.

Maya laughed. "She does too."

I frowned at her. "Do not defend her."

"But really, she does... you should warn her. She's a good girl, I mean, you should be happy that she's chosen a good guy rather than a druggie."

Chris's face popped up in my head, along with James. "Yeah... I guess."

"And what's so bad about Kero anyways? He's hot, sweet, smart, and not to mention very sexy."

I stopped walking and looked down at her. "If you like him so much then why don't you ask him out?" I asked.

She grinned and took both my hands in hers. "Why would I do that when I already have a guy who's absolutely amazing?"

I smiled. "Hmm, I didn't think of that."

She smiled, and then sighed. "I wish my mom was like your dad." She said, looking at the floor.

"Hey, everything is going to go perfectly fine. You know your mom better than I do and I know that she's an understanding person. I mean, she freaked out when she found out about us, right? Now she's totally okay with it."

She scowled. "That's because she found out that you were from a good family and you had a sister that you took good care of and you hung out with good kids and you didn't have a police record and you were a student with a ninety-eight average who got into one of the best universities in the country."

I grinned. "Maybe your aunt has a ninety-eight average too."

She gave me a light punch.

I laughed and bent down to kiss her. The kiss was familiar, but it still made my heart jump. No matter how many times I kiss her, it was always the same.

She gently pulled away. "You know I love you?"

I smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Say it again."

She laughed, wrapping her arms around my neck. "I love you." She whispered, kissing my neck.

Her hugs gave me another feeling that was so familiar but still made my heart jump. I hugged her back. "I love you too."

After walking around some more, we bought pizza for dinner and ate in my car. I took a bite out of my pizza slice and looked through the windshield. It was dark out, I should be getting home. Would I have to pick up Aathy? I asked myself. Oh well, I would call my aunt when we leave. I then jumped when a bird caught my eye. It wasn't a normal bird though, I think anyone could figure that out. It was huge and black.

"Did you see that?!" Maya asked, mouth full of food.

"Yeah..."

I then heard Down by Jay Sean start to play. Maya pulled out her cell phone. "That's not me." She said.

I picked my cell phone up off the dashboard and realized it was mine.

"Jay Sean?" Maya laughed. "Really Aathu? I thought you hated him because Aathy and I loved him."

I rolled my eyes. "Aathy changed the ringtone." I flipped it open and groaned. "And the wallpaper."

Maya burst into laughter when she saw the picture of the shirtless Jay Sean which I had never noticed.

"Hello?" I said, ignoring the fact that my cheeks were burning in embarrassment.

"Aathavan?" It was my dad.

"Yeah, dad. It's me."

"Get your butt home right now, young man." He sounded very mad.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why dad? What happened?" I asked.

Maya stopped laughing.

"Where's your sister?"

"She's at aunty Seretha's place... what happened, dad?"

"I should be asking you that."

"Dad! I have no clue what you're talking about!"

"What happened to the slide doors?" He asked. He sounded angry and worried now.

"...what?"

"Their broken, like shattered, as if someone broke into our house! Are you sure that Aathy is at aunty Seretha's house?"

I stopped breathing. Aathy did sound weird on the phone. "No dad... not anymore. Call her. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Hurry up. I'll give your aunt a call. And I'm calling the police."

"Yeah."

"Hurry." My dad repeated, and then he hung up.

I closed my phone and shoved it into my pocket.

"What happened?" Maya asked.

I put on my seatbelt. "I have to take you home, okay?"

Maya put on hers too. "Okay, but what happened?" She repeated.

"I don't know... I think someone broke into our house." I said. I felt my muscles tighten. "And I think Aathy's in danger."