Chapter 2 - Power Flare

Two days after my graduation, I'm eighteen but I don’t feel happy about it, which is weird. Dad is keeping a party for me which I totally tried to stop him from doing without much luck. ”You're eighteen now and things will be changing for you. Most of our family and friends will be joining us so don't worry about it.” he explained simply. 

I hate crowds. I guess I'll just have to tolerate it then. Family and friends I can handle. I just have to find a way to sneak out and get some alone time and let off some of this energy build up, that seems to be getting stronger, I can feel it running through my veins.

 After my morning shower, I looked at myself in the mirror, I look a bit different than I was eight years ago. I no longer have pimples, however the freckles still remained, but they do look a little faded now. I have long black wavy hair that reaches down over my shoulder blades. I’m taller than my mother now by four inches. 

I heard a tap on my bedroom door. "Come in, it's open." Bruce stepped in with his hands behind his back. 

"That's new... since when do you knock?"I looked at him questioningly

He smirked at me. "Since you're actually a woman now I kind of have to.” he shrugged, “ Happy birthday Lia, it's not much but it's all I can do." He held out both of his hands, a bouquet of roses and a small black box in either hand. "You're not proposing, are you, I'm your sister you little perverted arss." I clenched my fists to whack him on the head but then  he snorted, "shut up and open it." Instead of murdering him, I took the roses and smelt them - they are my favorite flowers - I then opened the little black box and found a car key on a keychain that read 'You're the ARSS” I chuckled a little. 

"You're giving me your car?" I looked at him with a bright smile and wide eyes.

"Now why would I do that? Come on let's see your new car." he looked at me with a ‘what's wrong with you expression’  without another word he grabbed my hand and practically dragged me outside. On our way out, dad was reading the papers sitting by the kitchen counter while mom was in the kitchen cooking and our sister was watching TV. 

"Morning mom, dad, Liyah." I yelled as we passed them. I barely heard, "morning" from the threeo as I was being dragged out the front door by Bruce.

As soon as I stepped out of the door he let go of my hand and what awaited me took my breath away. "Chevrolet… Chevy… a goddamn chevy!  Bruce, what the hell am I seeing? Am I dreaming?" I grabbed his hand while my eyes were locked on the red Chevrolet in front of me. "Wanna go for a spin?" At that moment I swung my head to the side and looked him dead in the eyes, "Do you have to ask?" 

He laughed and walked his way to the passenger side of the car. "One thing. Bring me back in one piece I'm begging you." he squinted his eyes at me.

I gave him a little laugh with a smirk on my face, "not making any promises."

"Hey pumpkin, how was the drive?" Dad greeted us when we got back inside the house.

"It was awesome.” I practically sang that. “Bruce screamed like a little girl though. I'm practically deaf right now" I laughed, teasing my brother. 

"Hey who the heck taught the little wench to drive?" Bruce yelled holding his chest

"You did!" My family and I chimed in unison. 

"Oh. Well in that case she drives wonderfully. Good job sis, just try not to kill anyone next time will you." He said and slapped me on my shoulder. 

"Oh yeah dad I killed him so now he's a zombie out to get me, help me dad." We all laughed and everyone took turns in wishing me a happy birthday with hugs and kisses and tears from my mother. It's now noon and the guests will be there in six hours. The place looked good and smelled of food that came from the kitchen.

I was about to help mom in the kitchen when a hand pulled me back just as I was about to enter. "Hey mom, we'll be back in a bit and I still have something for her." Bruce dragged me out of the house again but this time out the back door. He had me jogging just to keep up. 

"Hey why the for-" he cut me off, " you're glowing " 

That got me into a full-on run to the forest with him on my heels. We got back to the place we found eight years ago. It's still the same. It's a wide-open place with a lake in the center. My brother is the only one who knows all my secrets and I know his. I ran into the lake not bothering to slow my steps, I didn't stop until the water was chest high. I was glowing like a freaking glow stick. 

I turned in time to see my brother sit on the ground at the edge of the lake. "Well?" I asked him with a questioning look. All he did was shake his head from indicating to me that he does not have the answer I'm looking for as usual. "Well we can start by trying to control it like all the rest," he suggested.

I nodded my head with a firm yes. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing and tried to battle this newfound power which is like a curse to me. At least Bruce is kind of lucky. He only has one power, which he got that day I found him at the lake. Whereas I got nine over the years, unfortunately, this one would make it ten. 

A shiver ran through me as the glowing light hovered unsteadily around me. I fought to gain control..I felt the power intensify as it exploded out of me. The water in the lake rippled as the wind blew heavily as if there was a storm.

After an hour or so I finally got my glowing body under control with the help of the lake. This lake was no ordinary lake. It helps me control the unexpected powers that I've been getting over the years. My brother is just like me but our powers are different and he controls his powers on land, unlike myself who needs the lake to contain it. 

"We have to get back, everyone will be here in four hours," he said, checking his watch.

I sighed and screwed my face, "if I can skip this I would. I hate crowds and to top it off I'm sore and tired." 

He gave me a knowing look. A girl can never know when her power will creep out and show itself to every human, like what happened a while ago. Thank heavens no one but Bruce saw it.

We got back to the house and Bruce covered for me while I went to my room to change before going back. As soon as I entered the kitchen I overheard my mother telling my brother to go on an errand for her. I snatched the opportunity as it came. 

"Hey mom, can I go with him? I'll drive, thanks to my brother I've got my own ride." I piped up with a hopeful look in my eyes. 

"Can I go too? I wanna try out the back seat…. Oh and get to enjoy the sound of a big girl screaming." My sister begged our parents. We all laughed at her reasons for wanting to go.

"It's fine with me." I chimed in and winked at her.

"Fine. Go before I change my mind." As soon as mom agreed Aaliyah and I were out the door, racing to my car. Bruce on the other hand took his time getting there. As soon as he sat down not waiting for him to close the door I pulled off screeching the tyres, causing him to swear. As soon as we got on the road though I took my time driving this time. I wanted to stay out as long as possible.

We were on the road for three hours and I loved every minute of being out talking and laughing with my siblings. We were two miles away from home when I slammed on the brakes causing the car to come to a complete stop. I felt nauseous. I looked over to Bruce only to see him mirror my image, clutching his chest and breathing heavily. 

"What happened? Why did we stop?.... you guys OK?" Aaliyah asked with concern. 

"We need to move now!" Bruce ordered ignoring her. At that moment I stepped on the gas, causing the car to speed for home. The feeling and the thudding of our hearts got increasingly stronger as we got closer to our home.

ALYSSA'S POV.

"Mia I'm scared." I said to my sister with tears in my eyes. She held both my hands in hers and gave it a little squeeze.

"You’ve kept them safe all their lives. Malia is eighteen, Bruce is twenty-one. All we have to do is wait for the prophecy to be fulfilled." Somehow the latter part of that was not settling for me. "I've seen Bruce trying to hide his powers a few times. He's really strong. What is troubling me is that he never came to us about it. Not once. He tries his best for us not to see him every time it acts up but you know me..." We both laughed at that, nothing gets by without me knowing. "What about Malia, anything?" She looked at me with a glimmer of hope. I shook my head slightly,

"No. Nothing, maybe she isn't gifted, it has happened before." She bent her head slightly and gave a little sigh, "I guess you're right. Maybe she just wasn't supposed to..." She said trailing off.

 "She looks like you, you know." I smiled at her.

In the middle of our talk I felt my sister stiffen and tightened her grip on my hands "No… They found us... How long will it take the kids to get back?" I looked at the clock above the kitchen counter and calculated when they had left. It's almost been three hours now. " Hour tops. Malia doesn't like crowds. She’ll stall as much as she can." 

She gave a nud of her head with a serious look on her face before we went back into the living room to find our husbands. As we stepped into the living room all of our guests, including our husbands, were on guard awaiting the inevitable. Our lives are about to change forever more so the children. I can feel it. Even though I'm the only one without any magical power in the house I felt the tension in the air. All I can do now is pray that the children are safe.

"Roge vamps!" One of my cousins who were on watch informed us on what we were in for. An hour later all I'm seeing is a blood bath instead of a birthday party. All of my guests with the exception of my sister and her husband are all dead. Bryan is wounded very badly and covered in blood. Mia is fighting by her husband's side. I'm helpless to everyone here. Bryan fell to his knees barely able to move after taking down a vampire.

Mia and her husband were still fighting with a few that surrounded them. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Bryan was on his knees and there was a shadow behind him. I ran as fast as my legs can carry me without thinking and shielded him from the intruder. I felt a sharp pain through my chest then felt hands grab me in a gentle embrace and saw the head of the vampire that just stabbed me falling off.

"No! No! No! No! No! Alyssa, baby. No!" Bryan cried, turning me to face him. "Alyssa!" Both Mia and her husband cried in unison and ran to where Bryan slid back to the ground with me in his arms.

"I love you-" I said before the door banged open and Mia almost zapped her power to the intruders at the front door.