Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Alicia unlocked her door after a long and uncomfortable ride with Andrea. She hesitated at first, afraid to let Andrea in, but then, against her better judgment, let her in anyways. “There is a guest room down the first hallway. It is the second door on the right.”

Andrea nodded absently, looking around the room. “Did your mom leave you this house?” she asked curiously.

“Yeah…she said it was her mother’s or something like that.”

Andrea nodded with a knowing smile, which Alicia chose to ignore. “Go make yourself comfortable. I don’t know about you but I’m starving.”

Andrea nodded. “Go eat, I had dinner before I came to find you.”

Alicia rolled her eyes and walked to the kitchen, muttering the entire way.

Andrea grinned knowing the house was a gift from her mother to Samantha, but she also knew that Samantha would never tell Alicia, especially if she wanted to hide the fact that Alicia had powers. She shook her head and then looked towards the kitchen as she heard the sink turn on. She walked to the doorway of the kitchen. “Alicia…” she murmured as Alicia turned the water off.

“What?” Alicia snapped and then sighed. “Sorry…I guess I am a bit strung up after the events this evening.”

“That is understandable, but there are things that you cannot pretend don’t exist.”

Alicia rolled her eyes and turned away from Andrea. She moved to the counter and looked out the window. “Who was the guy who attacked me earlier? I know you have to know.”

“Well…he was a vampire,” she replied looking straight at Alicia.

“A vampire?” Alicia laughed humorlessly. “So what? This is the scene out of some horror story?”

“Not exactly,” Andrea said slowly. “Vampires are very real, and they are not at all friendly.”

Alicia turned to face her, “you have got to be kidding me. Look, if you and your mother need a bit of mental help, I know some great doctors.” She turned to grab the phonebook when it suddenly lifted up into air.

“You think this is a joke Alicia? You think I am lifting that book by using a simple magic trick? Or maybe I tied string to it that you can’t see. People are after you, the same people that killed your mother. Do you want to have the same fate as your mother?”

“Do not talk about my mother,” Alicia said, anger clearly noticeable in her voice.

Andrea nodded silently. “Of course,” she murmured and looked away. “When you turn twenty you will have to be careful about your anger.”

“What do you mean?” Alicia snapped and walked to face Andrea.

“Your powers will come into affect on your twentieth birthday, when they do, your anger could be a powerful thing.”

“You are crazy,” Alicia snapped softly. She ran her hands through her black hair, a nervous habit she had had since she was a child. “I want you out of my house Andrea.”

“I am not going to leave. Listen to me Alicia, your mother was a wonderful woman, and her loss hurt all of us. But her powers were something that astonished everyone,” she chuckled. “Including my mother. Samantha’s powers were stronger than anyone could of imagined, and soon you will have those powers. This is not a joke, and on your birthday you will see that.” Andrea moved closer to Alicia as she spoke until she stood only inches from her.

Alicia stared into Andrea’s eyes, unable to move but not because of magic this time. “Alicia, I know you do not want to believe this, but your mother hid this from you because she was afraid it would put you in danger.”

“But I was in danger anyways…” she murmured and turned away.

Andrea nodded silently. “You are tired, go rest. You will be safe tonight.”

Alicia nodded absently and turned to leave the room.

Andrea shook her head after Alicia left the room. That girl is just as stubborn as her mother, and if she doesn’t watch it, it could get her killed. She sighed and cleaned up the few dishes that Alicia had used. After she put the dishes away, Andrea walked through the house silently getting the feel of it as well as putting up wards. “The wards are just to protect her,” Andrea told herself silently. She soon walked to her own room and sat on the bed, her thoughts running crazy as she could swear she felt another presence in the room. “Samantha…?”

Alicia slept in fits of sleep. Dreams…no nightmares of her mother’s death haunted her. Everything in vivid detail, as though she was living through it again.

“Mom!” she screamed, her own tears choking her as she ran to her mom’s lifeless body. “Mom please talk to me!” she cried as she pulled her mom to her. “Please don’t leave me!” She looked up as a man stalked towards her. The blood dripping from his clothes and his face made her shiver in the humid night air. “Now little girl, run along before you get hurt.” His voice was so deep and dark that Alicia held her mom closer.

“Run…” a soft voice said and Alicia looked down at her mom who was barely conscious. “Get home, you will be safe…” she whispered before closing her eyes. Alicia cried harder as the man stepped towards her. “Better do as she said little girl run,” he grinned.

“Or what?” Alicia heard a voice from behind the man say. She looked up to see a beautiful woman holding a deadly sword. “You will run away like a little girl?” she asked the man and chuckled.

“Leave here! This does not concern you.”

“Oh but it does, you just killed my sister and you are threatening my niece.” The woman raised the sword and started chanting.

The man’s eyes widened and he turned, vanishing into the night before the woman had finished speaking. The woman walked over to Alicia and lifted her up. “All will be okay child…all will be okay,” she spoke softly but Alicia heard the tears in the woman’s voice.

“Mom…please no…” the words woke Andrea from her light sleep and she rushed into Alicia’s room to find her dreaming. She shook her head sadly, knowing Alicia was dreaming of the day her mother died. Andrea hesitated but laid her hand on Alicia’s head and the girl soon calmed down and truly slept.