***Persephone's POV***

I burst out laughing, with the others joining in, until I notice that Granny Dahlia is not joining in.

"You idiots," she mutters out, hitting Hayden upside the head, "he's telling the truth. Just let him explain, goddamn."

"Ok, but only because Granny said," I said, glaring at my supposed twin.

"Well, uhm..." he stutters out, "I wasn't joking when I said I had a twin earlier, it just conveniently happened to fit that show. When our mom was pregnant with us she had a vision. She wasn't a prophet and had never had a vision before. But being pregnant with you gave her new gifts. You see, she believed your magic came from the old lands and so you aren't only Kudak. You're a mixture of all the magic, and some of your inherent magic leaked into her."

Granny cut in, "She never told anyone exactly what she saw. All I know is she got frantic and made plans to try and hide one of you, coming and begging for us to find someone. Now, at the time we had been good friends with the Queen warlock, due to her previous marriage to a Kudak royal. We knew she was barren, a point of soreness for her. So we asked her to hide for 9 months, from the public and from her husband. When you two were born, your mother instinctively knew to hide the boy, changing his appearance with the strongest magic I've ever felt. Your magic, actually, Persey."

"What do you mean my magic? I was a baby," I say, slowly grasping the story. So... I have a twin? But what was the vision she had? And why would she hide him and not me?

"By then, so much of your magic had leaked into her she was bursting with it. She used it to change Malachi's appearance, into one of a warlock. She said that one day you would be able to change it back, but it would never wear off. I gave baby Malachi to the warlock Queen and she agreed to pretend it was her child, as long as we never told anyone she was barren."

"But, I feel like that's not that big a deal," I say, confused as to why she would do us such a huge favor just to hide the fact she couldn't have kids.

"Well," Malachi starts, "the King is kind of crazy. He really wants an heir and if he found out she was barren, there's a high chance he would just kill her in order to get a new wife."

"Why not just divorce her?" I ask, kind of pissed off they would just allow their king to kill some innocent woman.

"Warlocks are kind of archaic." Hunter cuts in, "They do a ritual that does not allow for divorced. You may only be with one person until they die, or sickness will plague you."

"Oh, so they can't cheat?" I question.

"Well," Malachi says, "you'd think that yes. But they made a side note for the King that pretty much says they can sleep with anyone, they'll just never be able to knock anyone but the Queen up due to the magic of the spell."

"So let me get this right," I say, "the Queen can never cheat but the King can, and if the Queen is barren the King can just kill her? What a load of bullshit, and how fucking sexist. The warlocks need to get their heads on straight, pronto."

"I agree," Malachi says, "but they are old-fashioned people with enough power to warn others off of passing judgment. Not to mention the fact that warlocks tend to veer towards the evil side, so no one wants to piss them off. But, yes, something needs to be changed."

"Ok," Hunter says, cutting in, "but how did you pass as a warlock? Kudak magic and warlock magic are quite different, not to mention you can't hide wings, and only Kudak have wings."

"Yes, well, this part is a bit hard to explain," Granny says, leaning against the bars, "but since it will take a while can we leave before satan himself comes back? We need to get in the car and go to the house."

"But, he'll know we're there and will just come for us again," I say.

"Not my house," Granny says, looking at me intently, "your house."

"We're in my house..." I say, but it sounds more like a question.

"No, you idiot," she says, grabbing me by the wrist and dragging me outside, "the house your mom had set up for you. Now let's go."

I look behind me and notice everyone is following us, warming my heart. My friends have been through hell for me but still stand by me, having my back when I need it. I'm not sure I deserve them, but I will always be grateful for them.

I look towards where Granny is pulling me to see a black SUV, hidden in plain sight by the side of the house. I jump in the back, tired of questioning and just wanting to get to somewhere safe.

Hunter jumps in beside me, smiling at me and holding his hand out for me. I hesitate for a second, not used to the gesture from him, but end up putting my hand in his, his hand dwarfing mine.

"Y'know what they say about hands...." Hayden says as he gets in the middle row, noticing me staring at Hunter's hand, "big hands mean big d-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT THIS INSTANT! I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THAT IMAGE IN MY BRAIN!" Brandi yells, jumping in the passenger seat with Granny driving.

Oh shit, we're all going to die.

I see Jordan sit next to Hayden and look out to see Zach and Malachi standing outside the car, considering.

There are only two seats left.

Please don't let Malachi sit here... Please whoever is up there cut me the teeniest bit of slack.

Zach hops into the seat next to Jordan, muttering something about "Why the fuck would you bring up your twin's dick size?"

I go to agree but I get distracted by Malachi climbing into the back and sitting right next to Hunter, with me on the other window seat.

Oh, shit. I know that supposedly he's my twin but I thought he was the bad guy like 15 minutes ago. I'm not exactly ready to explore the whole, 'hey I have a secret fucking twin' realm.

Granny starts driving, but instead of facing the road like a NORMAL PERSON she turns half her body around and faces the back part of the car, "So, when my d-daughter," she stutters out, grief evident in her tone, "had that vision she started to talk of a home. One where would be safe from anything, one where we could hide from your father and practice magic. Now she always thought she'd be able to give this house to you when you were reunited with your twin but... uhm... she was not able to," she breaks off, a single tear making its way down her face.

I stare intently at the tear, my heart breaking for my Granny. She deserved better than this, no parent should have to go through this pain. I understood, more than I could ever explain. My mom's death had ripped my heart out of my chest but due to the situation, I had to go on every day acting like it was still beating. Like I was strong, even when most of the time I felt weak.

"Granny, this is heart-wrenching, but CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK AT THE DAMN ROAD. WE FINNA DIE." Brandi says, tears in her eyes. She had always used humor as her coping mechanism, wanting to see us laugh rather than cry.

Granny turns back into her seat, reaching over and placing her hand on Brandi's, as Brandi silently cries.

My mother's death hit us all hard, she'd been the only parent that had been around all the time, until we were older, and she was all of our mom. She kissed all our boo-boos and celebrated all our triumphs. She took us too and from soccer, basketball, baseball, and swim practices. She took us back to school shopping and celebrated all our report cards.

There wasn't a day that she wasn't there for us, holding our hands and supporting us every step of the way. She had her flaws, sure, but she was still the best mother I could've asked for. That any of us could've asked for.

I feel a hand brush my cheek and see Hunter, with tears running down his cheeks, his hands wiping away the tears I hadn't even realized had started.

"Remember when..." Hayden starts, his voice garbled from the crying, "remember when we all practically lived there as kids and I complained about my house being boring and cold? The next day she took us all to Target and let us pick out anything we wanted as decoration, letting us all decorate a room in the house that she said would forever be our room."

"I remember when I first met her, terrified because of all the weight this one woman held," Jordan starts, tears streaming down his face, "She was the most important person to all of you and I was so scared she wouldn't like me. I took one look at her and I knew right then and there I had just met the best woman I will ever meet. She has this... aura that was just the brightest gold. She was sitting at the table, listening to Brandi rant about some drama at the time, holding her hand and consoling her. And when she looked up and saw me, she had this huge smile on her face. She came over and hugged me, welcoming me into the family without hesitation. A few weeks later she took me to Target to decorate a room, saying that she wanted me to have my own room there."

"I remember my first big breakup," Brandi says, after a few moments of silence, "We had been dating for months and I thought I loved him. I found out he had been cheating on me with his supposed 'girl best friend.' But when I felt my heart rip out of my chest, I didn't feel the urge to call my biological mom at all. All I wanted to do was go home to my REAL mom, the mom I had always been able to rely on. She had never been my best friend's mom, and she had never treated me as her daughter's best friend. I ran home that day, running into the house looking for her. I finally found her and the moment she saw me, she knew. She grabbed me into a hug, letting me fall apart. I cried on her for hours, all while she rubbed my back and comforted me. Finally, when I was ready to talk, she brought out cookies and milk and let me say it all, her focus never wavering. At the end of my rant, she told me one thing, one thing I will never forget. 'Brandi, darling, you are one of the brightest lights I have ever met. You are my daughter, and my children do not settle for less. And that boy was less. You are worth more than all the stars in the sky, and anybody not willing to acknowledge that does not deserve to be around you.' That wasn't the first time she called me her daughter, but somehow that time hit me the hardest."

I open my mouth, but Hunter beats me to it. "Me and Hayden's parents.... suck, to be honest. With them leaving all the time, I was an asshole to her all the time. My disappointment in my own parents transferred to anger towards her, angry that she was so perfect with Persey and so amazing with all of us. I just wanted my parents to be like her, but they never were. Eventually, I opened up to her about it and she told me she was sorry, hugging me and telling me how much she loved caring for me. One of the times they left hit especially hard for some reason, and when she noticed my disheveled state she pulled me to the side and said, 'Those people do not deserve you. You are not their son, you are mine. Never, ever let them bring you down, and never lower your chin for people lesser than you. And they are definitely lesser than you.' After that, I was never really bothered by their coming and goings, because I always had one parent to depend on."

He stops for a moment, his mouth opening and shutting, "When I first realized I was in love with Persey I was scared. Scared my only parent would hate me for loving her daughter. So I hid it. But she saw through my act easily, something she was always able to do. She pulled me to the side and hugged me tightly, tears in her eyes. 'You are the best son I could ask for. I will forever be grateful you and your brother came into my life, lighting my world up. No matter what happens later in life, know that you and Persephone belong together, and I will be in the background, cheering y'all on. You deserve the world, son, and I believe she can give it to you.' she had said, smiling at me with more love than I could comprehend. I had assumed she would pick her biological daughter over me, but she never made me feel like Persey was more important. She made me feel like we were all her world, and would die happy if she could just take care of us."

I'm shocked by Hunter's admittance, that he loved me so early and that my mom was cheering for us all along. I turn to stare out the window, my eyes blurry from the tears. I probably have snot on my face as well, but I honestly don't care.

"Ok y'all, she wouldn't want us sad," Granny says, trying to put some cheer in her voice, "But as I was saying earlier. She researched everything but couldn't find a place that had the protections she was thinking of, a place that could keep the strongest being in the world out. But then she went to this shady-ass witch who told her Eve and Adam's garden was real and that it was the safest place on Earth. I, of course, thought she was obviously a meth head who had lost it a long time ago but Eve wouldn't let it go. She looked for years after Persey was born, her search seeming to be in vain. But, one day, she called me up, telling me she found it. The only problem was, we couldn't get in. So, we went to a person who apparently specializes in sending us to dreams with the Supremes, a race of beings who watch over the Earth and all its inhabitants. I wasn't in the dream and don't know what went on but as soon as she was out of it, we head right back to the garden. Except, this time we were able to enter, and inside was the biggest house I've ever seen. Eve said the house had been sitting there, waiting for Persey to one day use it. As a base, a home, a training center, or just anything you could think of. She said we were only able to enter due to our blood relation to Persey and our permission from a Supreme being, so we occasionally went back to stock the house, care for it, and prepare it for you."

"Wait... so my dad can get in?" I ask, confused as hell as to why this would be a safe spot.

"No," Granny says, scoffing, "the Supreme beings don't just hand out permission. They only allowed it due to how young you were. The garden was always meant to be yours, and so only with an explicit allowance from you can someone get in. And if they have any ill intentions, well, I don't know what exactly happens but Eve said it was bad."

"What preparations did y'all do?" I ask, not trying to sound snobby but wanting to see if we had essentials there because we didn't have anything but the clothes on our back and this car.

"Yes, child, I keep the house stocked with food," Granny says, doing a creepy mind read, "I'm not an idiot for god's sake. And your mom knows how much you love music so she rigged a magical speaker system that will play anything. Oh and we learned the garden will grow anything you want if you ask, and the house seems to magically clean itself. We also set up a training room and put more comfortable furniture throughout the house. I think it was an easy way for Eve to keep herse-"

She's cut off by Malachi, "What was she like?" he croaks out, tears filling his eyes.

"Bitch- didn't you just hear us talk about her?" Brandi says, glaring at Malachi. I can tell she's warming up to him but doesn't want to talk about mom anymore. It hurt us all.

"I... I heard about how she was such an amazing mother to y'all," he says, "but I just don't understand. How could she leave me and just forget about me, raising all of you instead of trying to raise me? I never got to meet her, and now I never will, and I'm so fucking angry at her. I know she was doing what was best but why did she have to leave me here, hurting."

"Oh, child," Granny croons out, pulling over and turning around to face Malachi, "she loved you with all her heart. Leaving you was the hardest thing she ever had to do. She cried herself to sleep every night leading up to leaving you and every night after for years. She used her magic to check up on you and make sure life was going well. Your mother was the brightest light, and she loved with everything she had. She freely gave her love to all, seeming weak to many of the magic community. But she was the strongest person I had ever met, and unfortunately, sometimes she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She once told me she wasn't just separating you two for Persey, but for your safety. Never doubt her love for you, and never think she forgot you. She gave all her love because of you, because she was angry and sad that she couldn't give her love to you so she found ways to put love into the world. I was going to surprise you but I'll just tell you now. She designed a room specifically for you, never allowing me to step foot into it. She said the first person to see what she had done for you would be you. I'll show you when we get there."

Granny reaches out and squeezes his hand before turning back around and starting the car. "Ok, children, take a nap or something. This drive is a long one."

I turn to see tears filling Malachi's eyes and my heart breaks. The sight of him hurting triggers something deep within me, pulling me towards him, wanting to comfort him. I climb over Hunter, asking him to scoot to my now vacant seat.

As soon as I sit down, Malachi crushes me in a hug, burying his face into my shoulder. I see Hunter getting riled up, but pin him with a glare, stopping him.

I feel my heart breaking at the thought of Malachi never having the chance to meet our mother. At the horrible situation, he was put in, never able to be with his family. As I lay my head on his, I feel myself calm.

I hadn't quite believed it before but I know now more than ever, Malachi is my twin.

As he slowly calms and I feel his heart rate slow and his eyes droop.

My mind races with all the new information. While I do feel happy for having more family, my heart aches for both him and our mom. I almost wish to swap places with Malachi, to allow him that time to grow up with mom and not around warlocks. How odd it must be to be around people so different, with such different mag...

"WAIT," I yell, a little bit too loudly, startling Malachi awake, "oh shit sorry, volume control. But, uhm, if Malachi is a Kudak how is he able to pass as a warlock? I think Hunter kind of asked this earlier but we were kind of rushing out of the house."

"Well, you see," Granny says, making me tense up, "with your magic leaking throughout the womb, it kind of.... changed his magic. As I said before, your magic isn't simply Kudak magic, it is well... a mix of everything. Your magic is drawn straight from our Origin, where all magic resides, and so you don't exactly belong to any one race, you're just easily identified as Kudak since both of your parents are Kudak."

"And so, with your magic wafting off you and transferring into me, I didn't get just Kudak magic. I got multiple kinds, with my strongest being shifter, Kudak, and warlock." Malachi says, shocking us all.

After a few moments of silence, Granny speaks up, "It's why your mother was so adamant we placed him in the warlock community. Somehow, her vision told her it would be one of his stronger powers."

"Wait, so you're shifter?" Hunter asks, leaning over me to sniff Malachi, "I don't smell anything on you."

"Well, duh," Malachi says, rolling his eyes, "I couldn't walk around as a warlock smelling like a shifter. When my appearance was changed by my.... mother she blocked off those magic parts of me, only allowing me to access my warlock magic."

"That should be im-" Hunter starts before being interrupted.

"Yes, yes it should be impossible. Most of this is impossible. Pretty sure nothing is impossible when it comes to us," Hayden says, reaching back for a fist bump, "Hashtag group goals."

When neither I nor Hunter answers his fist bump, Malachi gives one back, making Hayden's eyes light up in joy.

"I like him. Can we keep him?"

"HAYDEN," we all yell out at the same time, except Malachi who says, "I wouldn't mind."

"Malachi, don't encourage him," Jordan says, shaking his head, "He only gets worse."

"I don't get worse," Hayden mutters, pouting, "I just become more loveable."

"Oh, yeah, totally, so loveable," I say, rolling my eyes at the ridiculousness that is my best friend.

"BITCH WHAT DO YOU MEAN MORE LOVABLE?" Brandi questions, her shout no surprise to anyone but Malachi at this point, "REMEMBER WHEN YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH A FUCKING STUFFED ANIMAL. THAT WAS IN A LITTLE GIRL'S ARMS. YOU LITERALLY TRIED BRIBING HER INTO GIVING YOU HER STUFFED ANIMAL. AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK YOU HONESTLY TRIED MAKING A PLAN WITH US TO STEAL IT. BITCH YOU ARE A PIG WIT."

With that, Brandi turns around, her breathing slightly heavier because of all the screaming she just did.

"What's a pig wit?" Hayden asks, breaking the silence.

I go to answer he's the definition of pig wit when Malachi bursts out laughing, his laughter pained and manic. We all stare at him, part worried and part confused. He finally stops, looking at all our expectant looks.

"Oh, sorry, just realized how much I missed out on. Being the 'Prince of Warlocks' I couldn't be friends with just anyone and the people they paired me with were snobby and boring. I only have one ride or die, and y'all all have each other's backs. I just... it makes me wonder what life would be like if I hadn't been sent away."

"Aww," I say, pulling Malachi in for a hug, "believe it or not you are part of this group. I think mom made sure we were all so close so that eventually we'd meet you and have a community for you."

"Yeah," Granny says, her voice apprehensive, "about that. She did make the group for Malachi to have a family but she also did it for another reason. Well, mainly she cared for you all. But also, y'all are all heirs. So, when she was thinking of how to keep everyone safe, she realized we'd need to take down the council. And we need heirs to take over, which is why your group is full of so many heirs."

"Wait, so she was just mothering us because she had a plan to keep her twins safe?" Brandi asks, tears filling her eyes.

"What?" Granny asks, looking startled, "Oh hell no, child. She came up with this plan years after meeting all of you, around the same time she started disappearing for 'work.' She was really looking for a way to take them down, and to put y'all in power. She wasn't just trying to protect her biological plan, she looked for years for a plan that would protect every single one of her children."

"But, how did she know I'd come into the story?" Zach asks.

"Well, she was smart, and Lucifer severely underestimated her." Granny says, chuckling at the last bit, "She planted the idea of Seraphina and Zach marrying in his head, knowing it would never go through but hoping it would introduce him to the group. And luck was surely in her favor since he found his soulmate in Brandi."

"Oh, well did she find a way to finish them?" Malachi asks, hope in his eyes.

Granny goes to say something but is cut off by Hunter, "Guys, I think I might know how to take them down."

***A/N***

Y'all this is my longest chapter yet, but I'm kind of thinking of writing a different story. Do y'all like this one enough for me to keep going or should I switch?