Chapter 7...Snapping

Shan-Cassian didn't return home.

Kylen had managed to salvage what was left of the front door, using ropes to hold it in place and old blankets to cover the open spaces. I helped him to cover the windows with some old boards that he had in the garage. "I was going to build the girls a treehouse," he had said and then drifted into the depths of his mental archives. When we finished boarding up the windows it was pass midnight. I found myself leaning against a broom staring at the front door. Kylen had said that he would be fine but that didn't mean that something bad wouldn't happen.

Suddenly a scoffed brought me from my thoughts. Cleo stood a few feet away from me. Her arms crossed and her eyes glaring daggers into the back of my head. I shook my head and glanced away from her with a snort.

"I guess your here to tell me that this is all my fault," I gave her back the same energy that she was giving to me with a hint of 'I don't care'.

Cleo scoffed. "And it isn't," she said rhetorically. "Since the moment Shane found you, you have bring nothing but bad luck to this family," she yelled.

I sighed irritated. So what her nice act was sham. Suddenly she wasn't down with taking care of me while I was in a coma. Was she bipolar?

"What is wrong with you? You weren't acting like this before. If you really thought that I was some kind of cursed object why did you and your sister help take care of me."

Cleo paused, her shoulders dropped and her arms fell to her sides. She glanced away and brought her fury with her when her eyes met mine.

"I didn't know who you were then," she said coldly.

"And who am I, Cleo," I asked softly. I continued when she didn't answer. "Someone who would rather you spend your time with someone who respect you instead of some guy who takes you in a closet with his friend."

I hadn't noticed when she walked closer but I did feel the sting of her slap. I did see the tears watering in her eyes. I felt something changed…within myself. I blinked, letting the broom fall from my grasp and I turned towards her properly.

"You don't know him like I do!" She yelled frustratedly.

I found myself smiling but I didn't mean it. It was superficial…fake.

"Okay, Cleo," I said slowly in a soft tone. My eyes staring into her wide ones. "The guy you like is not creepy pervert and I am the reason why Sha-I'm sorry, Cassian fell from grace with his old pack and they came to trash the house. I apologize for being chased by hounds and then falling into a coma after saving your brother," I said watching as regret slowly washed over her face.

"Oh, yes how could I forget," I said suddenly with humorless chuckle and a snap of my fingers. "I am sorry that your terrible plan to get back at Cassian's old pack failed. And I'm sorry that your a bad sister for liking the guy that bullied Chloe for the majority of her preteen life. Congratu-freaking-lations, Cleo Cole! I'm your bad luck demon."

With that said I left her standing there tears streaming down her face. Excuse me if I was done being belittled or blamed for things that I didn't do. I was done being the excuse and although my heart did hurt at the thought of Cassian being hurt, I was not about to let a confused teenager project her issues unto me.

I sighed as I stepped off the last step. I didn't want to stay here anymore. I was going to pack all the new clothes that I was grateful for into the red and black duffle bag that Cassian bought for me and leave. I nodded to myself, sinking my teeth into my lips at this plan but as I pushed the door to the room that I was staying in open, my eyes fell on Chloe sitting on my bed. I desperately wanted to close the door but I decided to be nice to the sister who was nice to me.

"Hey, are you okay," I asked with a stressful sigh.

"Yeah, I was just a little scared that they would come back," she admitted.

I nodded entering the room slowly. I sat beside her on the bed, staring at the unpacked shopping bags.

"Very strange day," she commented. I nodded in agreement, sliding off the bed and unto the floor.

"Shane's going to be alright. He always finds a way out of impossible situations. I mean growing up, mom and dad were extremely hard on him. He was the only boy, so the heavy responsibilities fell on his shoulders," Chloe started to explain, sitting beside me on the floor.

I removed the duffle bag from the shopping bag that it was in and ripped off the tags and took out the plastic stuffings. My mother would always tell me to wash clothing or anything that I buy before I wear them or used them but I didn't want to stick around long enough to do laundry. Chloe helped me packed the clothing into the bag while she told me embarrassing stories of Cassian's past. I guess it helped eased her mind and worries. I appreciated learning more about him as well.

"What did Cleo mean when she said that this was all your fault," Chloe asked suddenly as I was figuring out where to put the heeled boots that I had chosen because they were half price, the ones that I really wanted were too expensive.

I froze. Should I tell her what ignited such an accusations? Wouldn't it affect her relationship with her sister? Cleo was dating a guy who bullied her for years. I had caught glimpses but I think he caused her to have a mental breakdown. Admittedly Damon was a stupid kid but he never apologized. I wouldn't tell her, Cleo would. After all Cleo was the one to lift Chloe up when she fell down.

I shook my head at her with a quick smile. I decided to stuff the boots in one of the old shopping bag.

"Why won't you tell me," Chloe asked her gray eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Because…" I paused to shift my body so that I was facing her. I tilted my head as I tried to answer her question. "Because…I know that she didn't mean it," I counted my words.

"She was just upset," I told myself with a hesitant nod.

"But you didn't do anything. Something was done to you," she said sympathetically.

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes. I don't remember talking about myself.

"Dad told us what he think happened and then Shane pitched in and I connected the dots," she explained, her hands moving animatedly.

I chuckled pulling my knees to my chest. "Okay young detective."

"Thanks," she responded with a large smile. A comfortable silence followed until Chloe's smile faded. "Cleo has been this way since we were young. Sometimes she likes you and then sometimes she hates you. She just wants someone to believe in her, someone to believe that she can make wise decisions."

I wanted to say more, specifically the fact that she didn't seem to make wise decisions or even good ones but Mr. Cole suddenly barged into the room, his chest raising and falling quickly. I was on my feet before he could speak.

"Chloe, you need to go," he said hastily.

"What," Chloe said with a tremor of fear on her voice. She stood to her feet and stepped closer to me. Nearly toppling over when a gush of wind passed by her. My hand reached out to steady her shoulders. I watched Kylen as he shifted the curtain slightly to look outside.

"Chloe go get your bags and meet your sister in her room!" He barked pointing at the door. Chloe flinched and immediately went to the door.

"Chloe," he called stepping away from the window. "I love you."

"I love you too Dad," Chloe said breathlessly.

"That was cute," I found myself saying a little bitterly.

"Get your bags too, we're leaving," he didn't acknowledge my rudeness.

"I only have a bag," I said leaning down to close it. I grabbed the duffle bag and the shopping bag with my shoes and followed Kylen out of the room.

"What's coming? Is it the wolves?" I asked.

Kylen didn't answer my question his eyes instead fell to the shopping bag in my had.

"You can't take that," he commented, entering a room with two large beds. Half of the room contrasted the other half. Kylen grabbed a small bag from one of the beds with a note on it. He stuffed the note into the bag and then my shoes.

"Where did the twins go," I asked glancing around, confused.

"You know as a telepath, you should be answering your own questions," Kylen said sassily, handing me the bag as he passed me.

"Thats an invasion of privacy and I'm not very good," I admitted, jogging to keep up with his long legs.

He hummed. "Is that why Cleo slapped you," he said casually.

I gaped at the back of his head, feeling my anger stir. "Maybe you should be a mind reader or better yet a good father," I jabbed, my words ran away from me and I instantly regretted it. Kylen stopped in the middle of the stairs and even though he was a few steps lower than me, I felt super small. I gulped.

"I trust my daughters and my son," he started. "I know that they are capable of taking care of themselves and although I haven't been there enough in the past, I am here now."

"Well I was with them," he added sparing my the intensity of his stare.

I sighed. "So this is my fault."