Weston POV

It was a short trip to the amusement park. Soon after we arrived, I found that Florence had lost Rory and couldn't find her. We were just about to involve the park security when she arrived escorted by some of the officers on duty. It took me one look to find out something wasn't right.

I took her to the bathroom and she puked her guts out, like the last time she was sick. Mateo drove Stella and Florence home, while me and Ash took Rory home. Later I took some of the homemade soup Grandma made upstairs. My sister was sitting up and watching the TV show on Netflix I showed her.

"How are you feeling? Any more nausea?" Rory looked at me with tired eyes and shook her head. "What happened at the carnival? Did you get lost?" I wanted her to talk to me. Knowing her secret made me see everything from a new perspective. Did half-angels even get sick? Was there something she was allergic to or something that weakened her that it wouldn't normal people?

I was never that religious to begin with. When I was little, the Bible seemed like a bedtime story. After Ash got hurt, I stopped believing. Now though, I had more questions than ever. What happened in the backyard the other day wasn't normal. Plus Rory knew something about my inner turmoil that I hadn't even realised myself.

The woman from the hospital looked a lot like Rory, but not just the same hair color. An angel saved my brother... The implications of that statement still haven't fully hit me. I'm not an expert in divine laws, but I would think that interfering like that wasn't something legal. I don't know, is free will even a thing? All I know is that my brother is alive because my sister's mother didn't want Rory to mourn. I know my mom has her opinions about Ariel, which was the name on the letter that was left, but in my opinion, she did what any good mother would. She protected her daughter however she could, starting with saving my brother and who knows what else we don't know about.

Rory shook her head "No, I left Florence on purpose." I didn't want to pressure her, so I let her tell me in her own time what happened. After some time, she told me about the events at the carnival and where she went alone. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. She left Florence to chase after a possible demon... 

"Are you insane? Why would you chase after it? You could have gotten hurt!" She looked guilty and couldn't look me in the eyes, so maybe she won't do it again. At least I hope so.

"I don't know, okay! Something inside me couldn't let them get away with influencing the boy like that." Her angelic side was influencing her to do stupid things without being prepared.

"You, my little sis are the bravest and most naive person alive. Don't go looking for trouble when you suspect there might be demons involved. I'm making that a rule." I changed the focus of the subject. She felt guilty enough, so she didn't need more piled on top of that. "Is that how demons affect you? You throw up in their presence?"

She shrugged at that question. "I don't know for sure Wes. I know it was way more intense than the first time I got sick. I suspect it was because Mr. Faraday was simply possessed, while this clown was a real demon in the flesh. No one taught me these things you know. The others thought I was too little, and that I should live a careless childhood, while I had the chance.

I was so confused by that statement, so I asked her to elaborate. We spent an hour talking about everything that happened to Rory from her point of view. I have to say it's enlightening to know the truth. The rest of the family thinks she was raised in a cult... if only they knew the whole truth.

The Faradays being evil doesn't surprise me at all, but since they are making my sister sick I won't let any of them near her in the future. Convincing Dad to enroll Rory somewhere else just became project number one for this summer. She can't go to the same school as Seth Faraday.

"Promise me you won't tell the others, Wes. I know I shouldn't hide things from them, but I'm not ready." As much as it pained me to admit it, my sister was right. They won't handle it like she thinks. They like having proof, especially Mateo. She can't prove anything, so they'll just think she is crazy, which I strongly believe will hurt Rory even more.

"I promise Rory. I won't tell them." We were interrupted by a knock on the door and a second later Ash barged inside.

"Hey! I just wanted to ask if you want to continue the Captain Fruit Punch marathon today since we have the time." My sister smiled lovingly at him and nodded. 

I offered "I'll go get the snacks, you guys start!" because I needed to arrange the surprise I'd been organizing for Rory with our parents.

Downstairs I was met with the inquisitive gazes of my mom, dad, and big brother.  "Good, you're here. I wanted to talk to you guys about something."

"Did Aurora share something about what happened at the carnival?" Mateo's concern was evident in his tone.

"She got sick from the rides and didn't want to spoil the fun." I smoothly lied to them because what else could I tell them? The truth would do so much more harm than good. They would think I'm nuts and Rory would have to deal with psychologists instead of live her life.

Ever the smartest and most perceptive person in the room, my mother didn't let me get away with it. "You're lying. I'm your mother, you can't get away with lying in front of me, son. Now, what did your sister say?"

I closed my eyes in frustration. Couldn't they just drop the subject? "It's not important! I actually wanted to talk to you about something else..."

Mateo interrupted me this time "We need to know if something happened, Weston."

"I promised, I would keep it between us. I'm not gonna break that promise just because you feel guilty about losing Rory at the carnival."

He tried to deny it, but he couldn't fool me "I'm not..."

"Oh, please remember who you're talking to. You didn't do anything wrong today."

Rolling his eyes my brother continued "I appreciate your assurance, but we were there to keep an eye on them. I didn't do that and now my little sister is sick. God knows what happened while she was alone!"

I snickered, he was so blind when it came to Stella "Dude, how did you not realize you were parent-trapped by Rory and Florence? You were there to have a date with your childhood crush. It was actually their goal to leave you and Stella all alone and distracted."

He looked surprised for a second and then annoyed. Mateo hated when the family meddled in his love life, not that he had one to begin with. He was forever swooning over Stella. I was pretty sure he was a virgin, too. Not enough play made my oldest brother very grumpy, which is why we liked to meddle or make comments about them. Those two needed to get over their shyness and admit their feelings for each other yesterday.

"It doesn't matter what their goal was. I was the adult in that situation responsible for Aurora and I fucked up and lost her."

I hated seeing my big brother like this. Now that I know the truth, things are clearer for me, but he is struggling. "You couldn't have known she was about to get lost, just like I couldn't have known she would run towards traffic. Sometimes bad shit just happens, bro. It wasn't your fault today like it wasn't mine that day in front of the church."

That statement made everyone gape at me like I was an elephant riding on a donkey. Mom was the first one to recover "Of course it's not your fault, Wes. Or yours, Mateo. What did Aurora say to you that made you realize something the whole family has been trying to tell and show you for weeks now?"

"Mom, you know I can't tell you guys. If you want to find out just earn her trust and she'll tell you herself! Don't make me break the promise I made."

I could see Dad and Mateo's sour faces. Mom looked sad, which hurt a lot, but I was right. Instead of plotting behind Rory's back, they should just let their relationship grow. I'm sure she will confide in them in time. Then it would be a matter of convincing them she was telling the truth.

"Anyway, I came down to ask you if we could take a family trip with Rory. We always went on family vacations when we were little, even if it was a day trip. I thought we could do that with her."

Dad beamed at me "That's a wonderful idea, Wes! We can take her to see the..."

This time I didn't let him finish. They could plot the next trip. "I already have the perfect place. You know we spent a day painting? Well, I asked Mr.  Tully for help to identify the place from Rory's painting. We can go there.

Mateo asked, "What makes you think she wants to go there?" I did not dignify him with a response.

"She confided something about her past, didn't she?" Mom asked. I wish I could discuss this with her. God knows I need to vent to someone about it, but I won't. She didn't wait for me to answer her question and addressed the others. "It's okay, Wes. You're right. She will confide in us when she is comfortable. I'm glad she already trusts someone from our family. Where is the place she painted?"

"The Chicago Botanic Garden."

Dad nodded "I'll arrange it. We can go when Aurora is better." That wouldn't do. We needed to go, but also we didn't need eyes on us there. What if Rory was right and her mother showed up?

"Maybe, we can arrange to visit the garden without other people there? I think Rory would be more comfortable. She might even share something with us." Thankfully Mom was on my side and agreed to try and get a private visit arranged just for our family.

Now that this was taken care of, I should go back upstairs. They probably started without me and I missed part of the episode. Mateo stopped me before I headed up the stairs. "You know I don't blame you for dropping our sister, right? The accident wasn't on you."

"And yet you blame yourself for losing track of a teenager in an amusement park?"

The corner of his mouth lifted in a semi-smirk. "Guilt is a funny thing. I know nothing happened, but it could have, you know?" If only he knew the truth. Something did happen, but it wasn't my brother's fault. "So, you're not gonna tell me anything?"

"My lips are sealed. Talk to her, she already looks up to you. Why do you think she studies and reads all those books you give her? Rory wants to impress you with what she learned."

Smiling he said "She is brilliant. I am sure she will pass the exam for the academy and might even be on a higher than high-school level. Although the stuff she reads is new to her, she is a fast learner. I'm sure she can handle whatever material she gets, even college classes."

No! Not the academy, there had to be another option. "You think Dad will agree to an all-girls school or something?" Not that demons can't possess women, but still. The farther away from Faraday, she is, the better.

"Why would you want that? You guys didn't go to an all-boys school. It's her last two years of high school. She needs some normality in her life and as much as I hate to admit it, keeping her away from boys won't work well in the long run. She needs to know what to expect and the academy is a safe environment, where she can learn. Plus, you'll be there to kick their asses if Aurora gets hurt!"

It wasn't the human boys I was afraid of. Let's hope Rory tells them sooner, so we can plan accordingly. Oh, my God! What has my life turned into? I'm planning on protecting my half-angel sister from possible demonic threats that I have no way of finding. Was it too much for her mother to give Rory some sort of angelic/demonic manual? It would have made our lives so much easier.

Have you heard of the Chicago Botanic Garden?

How will their family trip there go?

Question of the day: Which zodiac sign are you?