✖ Chapter 18 ✖

        SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS WERE for the most part, fairly simple. Rose and I took the spare room in Jane's house while the others piled in at Fay's. Who, by the way, was nicer than expected. She hadn't even asked a single question when we met her, only offered that we let her know if we ever needed anything.

        Raven was more excited than she should've been about two witches being housed in her house. Granted, she had no idea, but we were still strangers for one thing. Clark had taken a liking to Rose, and she's been playing hide-and-seek for almost three hours now. I was blown away at how good she was with children.

        Currently, I'm checking out this computer Raven told me about. She had gone off to play with a friend, leaving me clueless with where to begin. If this would even work. Who's to say Googling the supposed eldest witch in history would even come up? 

        My luck, I'd pull up a load of mugshots that would then alert some hit men who would be on my tail in days. Some people may laugh at the "exaggeration," but I've had my fair share of implausible things occur. Frankly, I could see that being one of them.

        So, I merely type in LEAH STYLES.

        Yep, called at least one mugshot.

        But as I continued to scroll, more mythology beliefs popped up. Of course witches are known around some parts of the world today, however most are still blinded by the immense power around them. Some have no idea of our existence, some are curious, and others are left in the dark. I'm still not sure how that is. Maybe because most deny the possibility of magic.

        I clicked on one written by a lady supposedly a historic genius. Though she called the article "Myth of the Eldest Witch", it still looked decently promising. Albeit I was feeling quite foolish for doing something as modern as using the internet to look up a person that may or may not even exist - a person with magical powers, no less.

        Shaking my head, I read.

                                                The beginning of witches circulates around 40,000

                                                years back, though the Middle Ages is infamous for

                                                witch craft trials. But who was the first witch? The one

                                                who started it all? There's a couple of theories, most

                                               being practically irrelevant and others seemingly

                                                very accurate.

                                                During the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, havoc reeked

                                                in Massachusetts. Panic was common around every 

                                                corner of a magical being lurking near. But what about

                                                the women who suffered through those trials? The 

                                                utterly innocent ones that paid the price? Or better yet,

                                                were they all innocent?

                                                Some people say they've heard stories of an accused

                                                woman, Leah Styles, who "magically" escaped the noose

                                                tight around her neck. This woman was allegedly known

                                                as the "first born witch" and therefore gave her immense

                                                power to flee such a crucial thing as hanging. Most say

                                                she was pregnant around that time, which was why she

                                                was so desperate to run away. To protect her child, a child

                                                that would soon blossom with her same unnatural abilities.

                                                While others say she simply spoofed away, many inform 

                                                historians that she had put up a great fight. One that would 

                                                have been a major fail if not for having the elements and

                                                spirits on her side.

        I nearly groaned at the failed attempts to find something useful. Maybe knowing my maybe-possible mother was in the Salem Witch Trials, but that did not help me at all. I needed to know facts. Not myths. I needed to know where Cecilia's lies started and ended, or if they had even ended at all.

        So I went for a different tactic, typing in ORIGIN OF WITCHES though not expecting much different. There were of course the historic pages holding information of when witches really became a solid myth and such, but there was one titled with her name.

        I clicked it.

        The computer crashed.

        Furrowing my eyebrows in confusion, I clicked around the screen as it fuzzed and flashed before it finally went black. I pressed the power button. It remained a dark screen. I unplugged it - re-plugged it. Still, nothing.

        Odd.

        Suddenly, Rose's voice was in the doorway. "I don't think I can crouch behind trees and bushes much longer. I didn't think I was this out of shape."

        I looked over at her just as she groaned, plopping down onto a chair and rubbing her calves. I smirked. "You'd think all the running would fix that."

        "It's hard to say no to someone so adorable," she muttered, tugging off her shoes.

        "Is that way I always get my way?"

        She gave me a look. "I don't think threats fall under the category of adorable."

        I laughed. "Close enough."

        "So what were you doing?" She nodded towards the computer. "Does it work?"

        Chewing the inside of my cheek, it's a quick debate with myself on what to tell her. I found nothing, so obviously, there was nothing to know. "No, I don't think so. Surprised they even have electricity for it, though, honestly."

        Rose smiled. "They may not look like it, but they still live in modern times, Harry. It's hard to not be civilized these days."

        "At least we aren't a bunch of cave men beating on our chests, yeah?"

        She rolled her eyes, but laughed nonetheless. 

        I checked on Jessie again later that night, his eyes still closed and his chest rising and falling slowly with every inhale and exhale of breath. Jane baked some pork chops with white rice and green beans on the side, and it was truthfully the best meal I had had in quite some time. The institution wasn't exactly polite with their - more so - lack of cooking finesse.

        And then it was off to sleep, and I had to admit how exhausted I was. It had been a long day, a long week, a long year. I wanted to slip into a deep hibernation like bears, except for an entire century rather than a season. Maybe things would've blown over by then. Imagine, waking up in a different era... 

        I held Rose awfully close that night. She was the anchor of comfort and I was the one drowning in sorrows. Of course she had found out news as well, but she had never liked her father to begin with nor really knew her mother. I, on the other hand, despised my father and adored my mother. I'm still not sure who had it worse.

        Maybe we both tied with the world's crappiest childhood.

        Dreams filled with bloodshed and falling bodies clouded my mind. I tossed and turned, tried to calm myself into happier dreams. Rose had shaken me awake at some point, informing me that I kept pulling her with me whichever way I turned. I had mumbled an apology when serenity nearly succeeded in reviving me.

        Nearly.

        I was being shaken roughly awake this time, the crack of dawn appearing close by but still hours away. My first instinct was to shove the person straddling me away and into the nearest wall, but I was thankful when I caught myself.

        Raven. And she sounded absolutely terrified. "Harry, please wake up! You lied! You said the man that stole your face was good! He's hurting my momma!"

        Rose was already on her feet and I nearly did knock Raven over on my frenzy to stand. Jessie was obviously awake, but why was he supposedly hurting Jane? It didn't take a genius to know the answer - Cecilia was still very much ahead with an advantage.

        Darting into the kitchen where a shriek pierced my ears, I didn't expect to see Jessies' eyes no longer brown but black. Totally black. His teeth were bared like that of a wild animal, both hands gripping a weapon - a knife and what looked like a broken off leg from a table.

        Rose grabbed Raven, who grabbed Clark, and they all stayed in the corner where I told them to. I grabbed both Jessie's arms from behind, attempting to lock them behind his back, but he was quick to turn and nearly slice me with the knife. Jane took the chance to run over with the others, and then it was me and my brother going head to head, once again. 

        I was quick to dodge multiple of his swipes, but one came a little too fast and left a faint cut on my collarbone. I was angry now, sick of not being able to get an entire night of sleep. Sick of not being able to finally settle down and not worry about being an outlaw or defending myself from some innocent person being controlled by a psychopath.

        Unfortunately, I took that out on Jessie when I flicked my wrist and sent him barreling out the front door. I was on top of him in an instant, pinning his wrists down while he weakly tried to harm me. I glared at him, put all my hatred into that stare though I hadn't meant to take it out on him when he wasn't even him. 

        His hands now struggled to wrap around his throat as he gasped, choked on nothing yet yearning for oxygen to enter his lungs. His eyes, slowly becoming normal again, was what made me finally back away, though keeping my stare stern. He hunched over, heaving nothing and I finally released him from my hold.

        I hadn't noticed we had grown an audience.

        But I tried to ignore them, focusing my attention on Jessie who pathetically looked up at me, still rubbing his neck as if I had physically injured him. "W-what's going on?"

        I bit my bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood. I couldn't tame the raging bull this time - he was taking over. I realized how much I hated everything, though I've noticed that multiple times. But this time was worse, more intense, more passionate. More impossible to calm.

        To keep myself from lashing out on anyone, I dragged my hands through my hair before tugging the roots. I clenched and unclenched my fists, desperate for something to land my fist on. I found a tree. That would have to do. Except I hadn't intended for it to crack and nearly fall over.

        I guess my own strength was still a mystery to me.

        And to make matters worse, the townspeople were gawking, wild sparks of terror in their eyes. I didn't want to scare them. Didn't want to scare anyone. I wouldn't hurt them, I knew I wouldn't. But it was evident they didn't trust me, didn't trust any of us. 

        Murmurs billowed from the crowd, talk of demons, spies, and other negative terms. I didn't know what to do. I had just seen my brother ballistic once again and nearly lost it. I'm still losing it. I wanted it all to end.

        Maybe that asylum was the best thing for me... maybe I really was crazy.

        Daniel was there, grabbing my shoulder and steering my towards Jane's house again. Rose was helping Jessie grasp reality again, and the people still gawked, still pointed, still looked afraid. Jane had tried to subtly usher them back into their homes, but they were too curious. And they had a right to be.

        Of course, we hadn't slipped away so easily.

        "Demons!" someone shouted. "They should be executed immediately!"

        Screams of agreement overwhelmed me.

        Daniel muttered under his breath, "This is the twenty-first century... what are they gonna do, hang us?"

        "I'd rather you not jinx it," I snapped back.

        Predictably, he had. 

        All at once, there were men running towards us with shovels and swords. Perhaps they hadn't civilized enough for guns, but that was to our advantage. They weren't quick enough for us. In fact, charging us was quite a bold move.

        But there were a lot of them, and I didn't want to hurt anyone, so I let them roughly yank my arms behind my back, wrapping a rope tightly around my wrists. I was pushed to my knees, glancing over my shoulder to see that the others were gaping at me in surprise. Had they expected me to fight back? More or less. Yet one by one, we were on our knees. Megan, Aiden, Jessie, Daniel, Rose, Marcus and me. 

        Maybe it was time to give up. It would be a peaceful, wouldn't it? To slip into an infinite void of darkness to escape the horrors that already surround the world. To give up the life of an outlaw constantly on the run for a man buried six feet under. I was almost encouraging them to get it over with. I was okay with it being the end.

        Of course, Rose was the only one struggling. Which meant they were using too much force to get her to obey. Which finally concluded that I wasn't going to put up with that.

        "Hey!" I yelled. "I'd get my hands off her if I were you because these ropes are easy to break, just like your neck."

        Rose finally shoved them away, huffing before standing in her place. "We're not evil," she stated. "If we were, I doubt we'd be so lenient after getting shoved around like that."

        Way to make peace, Rose. Guess I rubbed off on her a little too much.

        One of them opened their mouths to reply, but was cut short by a bulkier man pushing through the crowd. He was bald, and somehow that made him and his large build even more intimidating. He didn't scare me, but the link of thick chains in his hands did.

        "I hear talk of demons," he said, raising an eyebrow before eyes locking on mine. "Surely, I was mistaken."

        "Yup," Daniel grumbled. "Can you let us go now?"

        The odd man's lips curved into a sickening smile. "Of course not. We haven't gotten through a proper trial or any real fun yet."

        Rose took a step forward and he slung a part of the chain out, it hitting her diagonal across her back. He used such force, the sound of it slamming against her skin ran through my ears like a gunshot. 

        And I realized I hadn't given up quite yet.

        "Wrong move," I snapped before narrowing my eyes on him, taking great satisfaction in the way he fell to his knees. The once who supposedly was in power now under mine. I liked it that way. Being controlled had never been my forte.

        Rose was telling me she was okay, but I hadn't even heard her. All that rage came bubbling up again and I put that hatred in my invisible hold on him. He was near death at this point, leaving me to forget about my promise about not hurting anyone. He had hurt someone I cared about. It was only fair to return the favor on the bestower of the action. 

        But a whimper caught my ears, and it was Raven. She was staring at me like I was the bad guy. Like I had done every cruel thing known to man. If such an innocent thing could see the evil in me, how much was really taking over? Was I really that close to a strait jacket?

        I stopped, looking to the ground instead. Everyone was looking at me like I was a monster, and I was starting to believe it. I had always denied that sensation of hated inside me, but it was there now. I didn't like it. Didn't want to feel it.

        It didn't take long before we were snatched up, being dragged somewhere and I let them pull me along. I let them say things about me under my breath, and I let them think they were stronger than me. 

        Because it was clear now - I was a monster, and I didn't want to be.

(someone suggested I say a few of facts about the sequel, so here goes nothing:

1. Jessie going "missing" when they arrived at the town was totally unplanned. I had simply made an author error and forgot to put his name in the introductions. But then I thought a little more about it and the hanging thing happening and that's what happened... and there's more to come (;

2. @navigate made the new cover and is also my new best friend because she's amazing, so you should all go follow her <3

3. I've always known I wanted Rose to be more significant, in a way, than the others. In this case, basically a machine. Yes, she is human, just not... fully. I really don't know how to explain it, but I've always wanted that plot twist for some reason.

4. I can't believe the mass support these two books have gotten and I don't know what else to mention for facts except that I'm forever grateful. You guys are slaying unicorns, in Daniel's words, and I love you all to pieces x