Weston POV

I know I acted like a complete jerk back in Rory's room, but I couldn't help it. Once I saw the painting, a flashback of that night in the hospital when I was little played in front of me.

...

I woke up because I needed to go to the bathroom. As soon as I was done and opened the door back to Ash's room I saw her. The woman was wearing white with pretty blond hair. She was touching my brother's forehead. I got closer "Are you a doctor, lady?" She didn't answer. Looking up, she put her pointer finger in front of her lips. Did she want me to be quiet? I heard my parents' voices coming from the hall and went to look for them. I didn't want to be a burden to the doctors when they were fixing my brother.

Looking back one last time in Ash's direction before exiting the door, I was stunned. She was gone. How did that woman leave the room if I was heading to the only exit and she didn't pass me? "Weston, what are you doing up this late?" My mother's voice echoed in the empty hospital halls. Was I dreaming?

...

It was her! Same hair, same eyes, same build. I lost it on my sister a little I admit it. Even calling her Aurora not the nickname I always used "Rory" was a bad move, but I couldn't help myself. The need to know was all-consuming. Did she see the woman somewhere? Does she know her? How could she know what the woman who saved my brother looked like?

Okay, I didn't know she saved him. There is a perfectly good explanation that didn't involve the impossible I was sure of it, but my mind couldn't grasp it. The only conclusion I came to was that I imagined it. Maybe I was sleepwalking or something, but if that was the only possibility, how did Rory know to paint her?

I scared my sister, which was the last thing I wanted to do, but my brain wasn't functioning correctly right now. I was still trying to figure out how this could be possible if all of the events in the hospital were my imagination acting up. When I heard her small voice my heart broke. I did that to her... But her words snapped me into another stare-off with Rory, this time from a distance. I couldn't find any indication that she was lying.

Why would she lie about what her mother looks like? But how did Rory's mom end up in Ash's hospital room all those years ago? And why does she look the exact same age she did when I was a kid? I needed to get out of here. Storming out of the room I headed straight into mine and locked the door behind me. I spent the next hour or two just walking back and forth between two of the four walls in my room.

My brain wasn't comprehending how it was possible. There could have been another door in that room I didn't know about. That makes sense, sort of, and the woman could have used it to get out, but if she was a doctor or nurse, why didn't she talk to my parents?

I forgot about the delicious chicken wings and pasta waiting for me downstairs. The hunger was also forgotten and in its place was this mystery. It plagued my mind for hours and I couldn't even sleep. I might have heard knocking on my door several times throughout the evening but ignored it.

At one point I even thought of texting Gina for a late-night rendezvous, or her brother, who is always down for a party, but thought better of it. She could have seen me online at one point because she was the one who texted me a few minutes later.

Gina: Can't sleep, Wes? I can help with that ;)

Still, I decided to ignore her. Distractions aren't what I need right now, I want answers.

Eventually, I decided to see if anyone was awake. I needed to talk to someone about this or I would go crazy. I would prefer Asher because I know he won't judge me or be rude about it. Everyone else would think I was crazy, while Mom and Grandma would look at me with pity, like I was broken and that's why I was imagining this. I'm not crazy or imagining things. They were the exact same woman.

Exploring the hallways, I found that everything was quiet. I was about to give up and go to bed, but I heard hushed whispers from my Dad's office. Quickly, I opened the door and shut it behind me. There were papers all around the desk and the mini tables that were used to serve guests with drinks or food for Dad's longer meetings. Mateo was on the couch with Uncle Alessandro, while Dad was behind the desk handing a file to my Mom, who was in one of the chairs in front.

At the same moment, all my determination faded away. I started pacing back and forth like I did back in my room. "Are you okay baby?" asked my Mom, but I didn't know how to answer that. I am guessing they exchanged silent glances before my Dad spoke.

"Weston, are you okay? What's wrong?" I continued ignoring them and pacing, I know it doesn't make sense, but tonight is a night when nothing makes sense. Stopping and turning to face my family, I was just about to start speaking, when Ash entered the room.

"Aurora is sleeping and the jackass decided to show up I see. Did he tell you how he spoke to her?" I started pacing again. I didn't need the reminder. My Mom stood up and stepped in front of me, so I couldn't continue with my pacing. She put her hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

"Talk to us. Something has you nervous and I don't like it. Please Wes, tell us what's wrong." I knew I couldn't keep it inside me anymore. What if something happens to my brother though? If I tell them about her and something happens to Ash... It was stupid and impossible. He was healthy, but the child inside me was scared shitless.

I needed a few minutes to gather myself, so I left the room and headed straight to Rory's. I'm going to show them the painting. Quietly, I made sure I didn't wake her up and took the piece of art with me. Entering the office again everyone stared at me like I was some kind of a freaking time bomb. Turning the painting around, so everyone could see it, I propped it up on the tables with one of the vases in the base, so it didn't fall.

Mateo was the first to speak "You were never that good at drawing, brother. Who painted this?"

Asher gloatingly admitted "It was Aurora. She is such a good painter. Maybe you can think about enlisting her in an art college, Dad. I am sure she would be great at it." Everyone smiled and admired her work. She really did do well. It was magnificent. And I didn't even compliment her on it. I shouted instead. Fuck! Apologizing is the first thing on my agenda tomorrow, but for now, it will have to go on the back burner.

"I've seen her!" Finally, I spoke for the first time in hours. Everyone's attention was on me. They were confused by my statement. Pointing at the painting again I repeated firmly "I have seen her!" Ash was the only one who understood because he was there when Rory explained this was her mother. He looked at me shocked.

Uncle Alessandro deduced first "You've seen the woman in the painting before?" I nodded. "Where?" He continued with another question.

I answered, "At the hospital..."

Before I could clarify that I was talking about the time we were kids, Ash shouted. "Aurora's mother was at the hospital and didn't visit her own daughter?" The room suddenly became too quiet. I needed to fill the silence because they were going to take this the wrong way if I didn't.

"No! Not now, I mean at the hospital when we were kids. After the car crash..." gulping, I took a deep breath and admitted what I never thought I ever would "I saw her in your room Ash. She was touching your forehead. I was returning from the bathroom and then she just disappeared, when Mom and Dad came back into the room." 

The silence was driving me crazy, I swear. "It was the night before Ash woke up. She was there, you can check the cameras or something." I am sure they don't believe me. 

Uncle Alessandro disputed the only thing I managed to think of to prove it to them "It has been nearly ten years Wes, I don't think the hospital backs up their footage that far back." 

My Mom spoke next "We will check it out. I promise. Why didn't you tell anyone you saw someone in your brother's room that night?" And here is where the crazy part of my brain made up the fact that this woman somehow cured my brother and I kept quiet because she said so... or more like gestured. I had to get it out because untangling this mystery on my own was impossible, I needed my family's help.

"The only thing she did was make a 'Shh' gesture when she saw me..." I showed them exactly what I saw and continued " And then she disappeared even though I was standing near the only door to the room and she didn't pass beside me to leave."

My Dad hesitantly spoke "Wes, we came back to the room that night, do you remember that?" I nodded and he continued "We would have seen if anyone left the room. You were alone, plus remember  that we cleared the VIP wing, so there wasn't anyone besides staff on that floor of the hospital, especially that night."

I shook my head searching for more memories from when I was eight. "Then she must have been on the staff there, we can find her even easier now." Everyone in the room was exchanging looks that I didn't like.

"I will personally look into this Wes. Maybe you should get some sleep, you seem tired. I can call over Benjamin to come by tomorrow if you want to talk..." My mom didn't get to finish her sentence before I nearly shouted at everyone standing there.

"I am NOT crazy. I saw her, she was there!"

Mateo stood up and offered his piece of judgment "We have no way of proving that Wes. You might have seen another blond staff member and confused her with Aurora's painting. You were a kid, it happens. Don't worry about it." I wasn't confused, that woman's face was etched into my memory. I would have never forgotten the person who... who I thought saved my brother. None of them believed me... even Ash, who was usually the optimist of the family.

Locking myself back into my room I spent the night trying to sleep with no success. I listened to music watched silly videos and even snuck to the living room and took a shot of the vintage whiskey my Dad kept in the cabinets, but it didn't help. My brain was in overdrive and I was losing it.

The sun was beginning to lighten the dark sky, but sunrise was still some time away. Looking out the window, I saw it was raining. Rory loves rain. I got up and dressed in comfortable shorts and a T-shirt. Downstairs, I went toward the back door that led to the yard, but it was already open. On alert, I carefully surveyed the room and kitchen but I didn't hear anyone. I peeked my head outside and saw Rory running around the yard barefoot. She was frolicking in the damn rain. It was so endearing.

Going outside, I closed the door and sat on the porch swing silently watching over my sister. She didn't notice me at first, but as the rain almost stopped, she started going inside, when her eyes finally saw me. "Wes! I know it's cold, but I'll be okay, I promise!" I tilted my head to the empty spot on the swing and she quickly sat. Taking the blanket that was behind me, I wrapped her up in it. She looked like a burrito with only her face sticking out.

"First, I have to say I'm sorry little sister. I didn't mean to scare you yesterday. And your art is amazing. I am sure you'll be the Monet of our generation." She smiled softly but didn't answer me. I might as well tell her too, so I continued "The woman in your painting looks exactly like a lady I once saw. Remember I told you about the accident we were in as kids." Rory nodded and I hurried through the explanation "The woman I saw then was in my brother's room the night before he woke up. For the longest time, I was convinced she healed him somehow, and if I told anyone Ash would die or something. But then I grew up and forgot about it... until I saw your painting."

Rory didn't seem like she was looking at me with pity or judgment like the rest of my family. She seemed like she was thinking about something really hard. I asked her a question to distract her because she seemed deep in thought "What does your mother do for a living?" Maybe she was a nurse or something. Rory looked at me for a minute before sighing.

"Blacksmith. She's a blacksmith. She creates the most beautiful and deadly weapons you can imagine. The best out of everyone that lived with us." That's a weird profession to have, especially for a woman. She shouldn't be hard to find then if she is registered somewhere. "Would you like to lie on the wet grass with me, Wes? It's refreshing and calming."

I shook my head and laughed "Why not? It's not like my brain would ever let me sleep again." She quickly jumped up and took my hand dragging me to a spot she picked. We laid down and closed our eyes. The rain hadn't completely stopped but it was reduced to a drizzle. My sister was right, it was relaxing. I nearly fell asleep on that grass. I don't know how much time passed, but Rory spoke up after a while.

"You most likely did see my Mom. If she let herself be seen and you recognized her from my painting, then I am sure she was there." Let herself be seen? What did that mean? Rory continued her thoughts "I can't be certain that she healed him, but I am sure she didn't want him to die. That would have hurt me very much if anything happened to you guys. My Mom loves me and I love her."

"Okay sis, even if she was there, she couldn't have healed him. That's not how things work."

"Of course, she could have. She is an angel after all. And I'm a Nephilim." I looked over at my little sister and her expression said it all. She was deadly serious about that statement. What nonsense did these people teach her?

"Rory, there are no such things as angels or Nephilim." I propped myself up to gauge her reaction better.

"Yes, there are. Wes, I'm not lying to you!" I knew she wasn't lying. She truly believed what she was saying, but those people obviously lied and brainwashed an innocent child. I think she saw that I didn't believe her and tried again "I would never lie or joke about something like this Wes. I shouldn't even be telling you this, but I thought you needed to know, so you don't drive yourself crazy trying to figure out things."

"Okay, sis! Stop stressing over this. If what you say is true, show me."

She looked confused for a moment and then looked down "I don't know what you want me to show you."

I explained, "Show me something angelic." She started to say something multiple times but stopped herself each time. I continued when it was obvious she wouldn't say anything. "Show me your halo or wings."

Rory scoffed at that "Angels don't have wings. I don't know where humans got that impression, but it's ridiculous!" After a slight pause, she continued "I don't have any special abilities, except that I can heal faster than normal. Like the hospital, I probably should have been there a lot longer, but I healed quickly, plus I didn't get sick even when I stayed under the pouring rain and wind, I still didn't catch a cold."

I didn't know what to tell her, she clearly believed this. And my mother shoved the shrink at me when she should have pointed him toward my sister. Even if it wasn't her fault, she needed help. "Forget it, Wes. Let's go inside." We made our way back into the house, which was still quiet, but the sun was already up. Before we headed our separate ways, Rory mumbled "Do you know when the flower expert will come by to work on the garden?"

Shit! I completely forgot to check on that. I answered her "I will find out later today and tell you immediately, I promise." Smiling sweetly at her, I tried to get her to smile back, but she just nodded meekly and went inside her room. I was exhausted and I needed sleep. Feeling slightly better after talking to Rory, but also very angry at her family, I managed to get to my bed and sprawled on top of it with everything around me turning dark.

Is Weston going to come around and believe Rory is telling the truth?

Which is the next family member that will find out what she really is?

Question of the day: What's your favorite place to travel to?