Chp 1 Pt. 1 Summer Is Ending

Maliyah

“Maliyah!”

“Aspen,” I reply weakly.

“You’re okay. I’ve got you. Derek!”

I cough up the dirt I inhaled when the roof collapsed on me and my sister. I can feel Aspen using his healing abilities on me and feel my strength returning to me. I look to my left and see Malayah unconscious.

“Malayah!”

I rush to her side and shake her, hoping to see her eyes flutter open. She is out cold but thankfully doesn’t appear to be injured badly.

“Where is Enzo,” asks my father.

“I think I killed him. He attacked us as we reached the exit and I think I killed him. The ceiling collapsed and I lost sight of him.”

“Okay, we need to get you two out of here.”

Dad grabs Malayah and heads for the exit with Aspen and I right behind him. The minute we reach the top of the stairs dad is attacked by a wolf, causing Malayah to stumble out of his arms. I attempt to rush to Malayah’s side but Aspen grabs hold of me, preventing me to going to her.

“You don’t think you got rid of me that easy did you Maliyah?”

Dad growls at Enzo, diverting his attention from me to him, but he has Malayah by the throat. She is now awake and clawing at Enzo as she gasps for breath.

“Enzo.”

“Ah, Derek. I was wondering how long it would take you to find where we were hiding at. Malayah has been waiting ever so patiently for you to rescue her.”

I beg Aspen to let me go, but he refuses to listen. I watch helplessly as dad circles Enzo.

“What’s wrong Derek? Make a move, I dare you.”

I cover my body in an electric current and lightly shock Aspen to get him to let go and then I send a fire ball straight for Enzo. He drops Malayah and dodges my attack and Malayah scrambles to get to dad. Dad tries to get to Malayah, but Enzo is faster. He grabs Malayah from behind and snaps her neck like a twig, her body falling to the ground lifeless.

“NO!”

I sit up in bed with sweat pouring down my face along with my tears. I take in my surroundings and try to calm my racing heartbeat.

‘It was just a dream,” says my dragon Terra.

Damn these dreams. I’ve had them for the past six years since the end of the war and it’s always the same one. The day my sister died. I look over at my night stand and use my powers to make the wilting flowers bloom again next to my sister’s picture. There is a knock at my door that causes me to jump, almost knocking the vase to the ground.

“Maliyah?”

“I’m fine mom.”

“Are you alright? We heard you scream, do you want to talk about it?”

“No mom, I’ll be fine. I’m just gonna jump in the shower.”

I don’t give her a chance to respond as I race to my bathroom and lock the door. I know she can unlock it but she has never pushed me so I trust she won’t.

I turn the shower on, turning the knob to hot, and strip out of these sweaty, sticky clothes, tossing them in the laundry hamper. I take off my locket that has a picture of my sister and I as babies and a picture of the last time we were together, and set it on the counter. As I turn away from the mirror, my ugly scars catch my eye.

I sigh, tracing the ugly, black vein looking scars that travel up and down the left side of my body and stop at the base of the back of my neck. I lost some of my memories that day my mother, aunt Katerina and I killed Alastor, but I used too much power and now have the scars to remind me.

I force myself away from the mirror and step into the steaming hot shower. I let it cascade down my back, allowing the hot water to relax my muscles.

“Hurry up sis! Your boyfriend is here,” says my little sister, Accalia through the mind link.

Technically she shouldn’t be able to do that, but thanks to mom’s abilities to grant powers to anyone she wants, kids can now mind link without their wolves.

“I’ll be out in a minute Accalia,” I reply.

I know mom is going to tell him that I had another nightmare, but there is nothing anyone can do about them. I saw a therapist for years and the nightmares still haven’t gone away. I have just accepted that I am cursed to relive that day my biological father, Enzo, killed my twin sister, Malayah.

‘Don’t call that monster father, Derek is our father,’ says Terra.

‘You’re right Terra, he is more like my sperm donor. Using father and his name in the same sentence is a crime.’

I blow dry my silver hair and decide on braiding it in a fishtail braid, letting it hang on my left shoulder. I put on my make up, making my hazel eyes pop more than they already do against my olive skin complexion. Once I am satisfied with the results, I put my locket back on and walk across my grand room towards the door only to stop and stare out my balcony doors.

I have felt like I am being watched all summer, but every time I told my parents or Aspen they would double security and border patrol shifts. There has been no evidence to suggest anyone has crossed onto pack lands, so I stopped telling them when I have this feeling.

I concentrate on the forest, but can’t see a thing past the thick brush. I haven’t been able to push aside the feeling that something, or someone, is coming and it’s nothing good. We’ve had peace and been happy, but I have this horrible feeling it’s about to come to an end.

‘Come on Maliyah,’ yells Accalia through the mind link.

I ignore her and continue to stare into the forest. I feel it, someone is there. Before I know it, my bedroom door bursts open and the twins tackle me in a hug.

“Maliyah, we’ve been waiting for you to eat breakfast,” says Thierry.

“Yeah, come on,” whines Accalia as she pulls my arm.

“Okay, okay. I’m coming.”

“What were you staring at,” asks Thierry.

“It’s nothing.”

I turn my attention away from the forest and back to the task of going to see my boyfriend, the elf prince.