Chapter 6: The Killer

3 years later…

Angela sat down and watched Austin and Amanda as they played with their toys in the playhouse. Since they are werewolves, they grow up faster than normal humans. At 3 years, they look like they are 6 years old. They talk like they are 6 and they are both cute little kids.

Anytime Angela is close to them, she feels their powers humming out to her and she can listen to the humming all day.

“Mummy’, Anna called as she entered the room with a small dagger in her arms.

“Oh my goddess!” Angela exclaimed. “Anna, what are you doing with that”, she said pointing to the dagger in her hands.

The girl only shone her teeth. “Daddy gave it to me as my birthday gift yesterday.”

“What? And I knew nothing about it. And what is the dagger meant to be for?”

“For protection”, she said and swing the dagger like she was fighting off someone. “Daddy said I will start my practice soon. Since I am already six. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Angela smiled. She knows how Anna has been since she was a baby. She declines teddy bears but embrace wooden knives with open arms. Derek said since she is a warrior’s child, she needs to behave like one.

Austin’s voice was suddenly heard and when Angela turned to look at him, she saw Amanda sitting on his hand, laughing.

“Amanda stop”, he shouted.

“Oh my goddess!” Angela said and ran to them to carry Amanda away from her twin brother’s arm. “Amanda, you need to stop doing these things to your brother. You’re always making him cry”, she said and massaged Austin’s foot.

Amanda only laughed. She was enjoying it. Since they’ve grown a bit, Amanda was always hurting her brother in any way or the other. She finds fun in that. She also gets jealous whenever Austin is given more attention than her.

There was a time she broke Austin’s toy because their mum carried him to change his diapers. And once she does things like that, she will laugh meaning she enjoys it and doesn’t feel remorseful.

“You are wicked”, Anna told her and she glared in return.

“He is my brother, not yours”, Amanda replied with a low growl.

“Oh goddess”, Angela said. “Where did you learn to do all these?” she asked and carried Austin out of the playroom to get something to massage his hand with.

Amanda suddenly smiled as she saw the dagger in Anna’s hands. “Anna”, she said and pointed to the dagger in Anna’s hand with a smile on her face. “What is that?”

Anna held out the dagger. “This. No, I can’t give you. It will hurt you. You are still a baby.”

“I’m three”, she replied with a glare and immediately dragged the dagger from her.

“Amanda, stop”, Anna said and drag the dagger from her but ended up cutting her hand. “Oh goddess, Amanda I’m sorry”, Anna said and held Amanda’s hand which was bleeding. “Mummy”, she shouted.

Surprisingly, Amanda wasn’t crying. She was laughing as she looked at the blood in her hand. She removed her hand from Anna’s and licked the blood.

“Anna, what-”, Angela said but stopped when she saw Amanda licking her own blood. “Oh goddess, what the hell is happening?” she asked with wide eyes as Amanda continued licking the blood. 

Anna looked up at her mother with teary eyes. “I’m sorry, mummy. She dragged the dagger from my hands. And as I was trying to collect it, I mistakenly hurt her. I’m sorry, mummy.”

Angela wasn’t angry at the young girl. She was surprised by Amanda’s actions. Amanda looked up at her auntie and gave a sweet smile.

“Auntie”, she said and licked the last stain of blood on her hand. “See.”

Angela stood there with her eyes wide open. What is happening? She has no idea.

Amanda yawned while smiling and rubbed her eyes. 

“Sleepy?” Angela asked her and she nodded. “Come. Let’s take a nap. Austin is already asleep.” She carried her and walked but didn’t fail to notice Amanda still gawking excitedly at the bloody dagger in Anna’s hands. 

¶¶¶

Angela already put the twins to bed but she still couldn’t stop thinking of what happened in the play house. How Amanda cut herself with a very sharp dagger and didn’t even wince, instead licking her blood like it was lollipop.

“I need to ask the goddess about this”, she voiced out.

“About what?” she heard someone ask and she turned to the door. Tory and Dwight stood there each which a happy smile on their faces. “Hey, babe”, Tory waved and entered.

“Hey. Let’s go outside. You guys might wake them up”, she said and dragged the two of them out and they walked to the kid’s playhouse. 

“Thanks for helping me babysit, Angela. I really appreciate”, Tory said and hugged her.

“You’re welcome”, Angela said as she hugged back.

“Hope it wasn’t too stressful”, Dwight asked her.

“Of course not. I was really happy to be with them. How was your date?”

Since the twins were born, Tory and Dwight haven’t had a time for themselves. So, they decided to go for a date today and left the kids for Angela.

“It was amazing”, Tory said and looked at Dwight who drew her closer and kissed her forehead.

Angela rolled her eyes. “Here we go again. Always trying to make me jealous. Thank the goddess I have my own mate.”

They all laughed at that.

“You were saying something about asking the goddess about something”, Tory said. “What happened?”

Angela was thinking it would be best is she hide it from them but she shook her head knowing that is not a really good choice and they will still find out anyway. “You know Amanda is always hurting Austin?”

They both nodded. “Of course”, Tory said. “She’s always doing one thing or the other to make him cry. She did today again?”

Angela nodded. “She did. Today, Anna came to me, showing me a dagger that her father gave to her for training when I heard Austin crying. I looked and Amanda was sitting on his legs and laughing. I immediately went to them and carried Austin out so I can get a gel to rub on his leg. I did that and put him to sleep when I heard Anna call me. I quickly left the nursery and came back to the playhouse to see that Amanda already cut her palm with the dagger.”

Tory gasped. “Oh my goddess.”

“That’s not the scary part. The scary part was that she wasn’t crying. Instead, she licked her blood with a smile on her face.”

“What?” Dwight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes. Like she enjoyed hurting herself. Her wound healed but she didn’t even make a sound”, she said. “While I was carrying her out, she still look at the dagger excitedly.”

“Is it because she is an elemental?” Tory asked.

“Austin is also an elemental”, Dwight said. “And he is a very calm kid.”

Tory and Angela sighed at the same time. 

“So I will ask the goddess about it”, Angela said. “We need to know if we should be scared or it’s a normal thing.”

“Yeah”, Tory said with a nod. “We should ask her.”

Dwight placed his arm around his mate’s shoulder. “Don’t fret, babe. It’s probably a normal thing.”

“I hope so”, she said and turned to Angela. “When are you going?”

“I was waiting for you guys to come back before I go”, she said. “So I will go now. See you later”, she said with a little wave and walked out of the kid’s playhouse.

“Do you think we should be afraid?” Tory turned to Dwight and asked.

He shook his head. “Don’t be”, he said. “I’m sure it is not a serious thing and if it is, promise we will find a solution to it. Trust me”, he said and placed his forehead on hers.

“I hope it’s not a serious thing”, she said.

“It’s not”, he said and kissed her forehead.

¶¶¶

Angela got to the same garden she always found herself anytime it’s time for meditation and the goddess was standing as if waiting for her.

“I know it’s not time for my lessons”, she said. “But I really need to ask you an important question.”

The goddess chuckled. “I know what you are here for.”

“You know? Really?”

“Of course. I’m your goddess, remember. I listen to all my children. You need to know why your brother’s daughter, Amanda is like that”, she said.

Angela nodded. “Yes. Is it a normal thing or we should be worried?”

“I don’t know if you should be worried but it’s normal for a Killer.”

Angela scrunched up her nose in confusion. “I don’t get you.”

The goddess chuckled. “Amanda is The Killer.”

Angela gasped. 

The goddess chuckled. “She will always be like that. Happy at the sight of blood, excited when she kills or hurt someone and when it’s time for her to kill, she will do it without blinking an eye. All that is because she is The Killer.”

“Oh”, Angela said and covered her mouth with both hands. “That’s not what I was expecting. I was thinking a boy will be the killer.”

The goddess chuckled. “Who says a girl can’t be?”

She shrugged. “That’s what I thought.”

“So, is your mind at rest now?” the goddess asked.

Angela nodded with a smile. “Yes. I was thinking she is a vampire”, she said with a laugh.

Even the goddess laughed. “What? How is that possible? Her parents are both werewolves. How could she be a vampire?”

Angela laughed. “Don’t blame me. When she was comfortable licking her own blood so I thought she might be a vampire.”

“No, she’s not. And besides vampires don’t suck their own blood. They suck human’s blood.”

She chuckled. “I didn’t know. So, what of Austin? What is he?”

The goddess shrugged. “I don’t know”, she said.

Angela rolled her eyes. “You know. You just won’t tell me. But don’t worry, I will find out myself.”

“You can go ahead and do. But I doubt it will be easy to find out like that.”

“I will find the hints and you’ll tell which one he is. Will you?”

She shook her head. “I won’t tell you.”

Angela pouted like a child and the goddess chuckled. “Why?”

“You can’t find out which one of them is which now. They have to grow a bit before you can know.”

“But we found out Amanda’s own now.”

“Yes. That’s easy to find out. Not the others.”

“Oh”, she said. 

The goddess nodded. “Have you visited the other elementals since they were born?” she said.

Angela shook her head. “No. do I have to?”

“Of course you have too. You are their guardian. You should check on all of them not only your nephew and niece.”

“Oh, I didn’t know.”

“Now you do. You should go check on the remaining two. Let them know you and play with them. You can even stay overnight. So they can bond with you very well.”

She nodded in understanding. “When I get back, I will start packing my things. I’m going on an adventure.”

The goddess chuckled. “You are.”

“Okay. But can I meditate when I’m there?”

“Of course. You can meditate anywhere. So far it is quiet.”

“Okay. I’ll go now. See you next time”, she said and waved.

The goddess chuckled and waved too.

¶¶¶

Tory was pacing as she waited for Angela to finish her session with the goddess. 

“Calm down, babe. It’s nothing”, Dwight told her but she shook her head.

“She’s been gone for long. She should be back by now.”

Dwight raised his eyebrows in confusion. “She’s always late whenever she meditates.”

She stopped pacing and looked at her mate. “Is that so?”

“Yes”, he said and walked towards her. He placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer. “I told you, babe. Don’t worry. Our daughter is perfectly okay. Nothing is wrong with her.”

She looked at him. “You’re sure?”

“Absolutely”, he said and kissed her head. “Just calm down.”

“Okay”, she said.

“Mummy”, they heard a voice and turned to see Amanda by the door rubbing her eyes.

“Baby. Come here”, Tory said and opened her arms while Amanda ran to her with a smile. “How are you, baby?”

“I’m fine, mummy.”

“Where’s your brother?” she asked.

Amanda shrugged and moved closer to her daddy. “Daddy.”

“Yeah”, he said and carried her. “That’s my baby”, he said and kissed her forehead.

She giggled and put her hands around her dad’s neck. “Daddy?”

“Yes?”

“I want candy.”

He smiled. “You want candy?” he asked and she nodded. “Then I’ll get you one and get one for your brother too.”

She nodded with a smile.

“Should we go out and have some fun?” he asked.

“Yes”, she shouted and kissed his cheeks. 

He smiled and dropped her. “Go call your brother”, he said.

“Yes, daddy”, she shouted and ran to their room to call Austin. “Austin, we are going out”, she shouted as she ran.

Tory smiled and moved closer to her mate. “She’s so cute.”

He smiled. “Yes. Just like you”, he said and kissed her head. 

“I’m home!” they heard Angela say and Tory ran towards the door. “Hey, babe”, Angela said and gave her a kiss on her cheeks.

“What did the goddess say?” Tory asked immediately. 

Angela smiled and walked into the room. 

“What did she say? Stop keeping us in suspense.”

“Yeah”, Dwight said. “I also want to know what she said.”

Angela smiled. “The goddess said Amanda is The Killer so all she is doing is totally normal for her.”

Tory raised an eyebrow. “I understand the normal part but what is The Killer?”

Angela chuckled and explained everything to the both of them. How Amanda will be happy at the sight of blood and everything to be expected from a killer which she is.

“So, she is normal?” Tory asked again just to be sure.

“Yes. She is. There is absolutely nothing to worry about”, Angela assured.

“Thank the goddess”, Dwight said.

¶¶¶

It’s been two days since she had the meeting with the goddess and found out what Amanda is. She was packing her clothes when she heard Austin call her.

“Auntie”, she heard him call and she turned to him. He was standing by the door with a sad expression.

“What is wrong?” she asked and moved closer to him. 

He held out his hand and she gasped when she saw his pinky bleeding and his finger was cut off.

“Oh my goddess. What happened to you?” she asked.

“Amanda cut me with a knife.”

Her eyes went wide. “What? How come?” she looked at his finger again and it will heal but since his finger has been cut off, he will forever be left with four fingers instead of five. “Come with me”, she said and pulled him to go look for Amanda.

They got to their room and Amanda was sitting on a corner with her kneels pulled against her chest and she was crying. The knife was feet away from her and she cried as she looked at it. She noticed her aunt was already in the room and she crawled away from them.

“I’m sorry’, she cried. “I didn’t know it will cut him. I was just playing with the knife. I’m sorry.” She looked scared as she cried and Angela felt her heart clench. 

“Oh, dear. Come here”, Angela said and moved closer to her.

“No. don’t come”, she shouted as she crawled away till her back was against the wall. 

Tory and Dwight entered too and Tory gasped at the sight of the blood and the knife on the floor. “What happened here?” she said.

Amanda became more scared. 

Tory looked at Austin’s hand and gasped again. Then turned to Amanda. “You cut your brother’s finger?”

Amanda cried again. “I’m sorry, mummy. I didn’t know.”

Tory gasped again and took Austin’s hand in her won. The wound will heal soon enough due to his werewolf gene but there is no way his finger which was on the floor can be restored. “Oh goddess.”

Dwight moved closer to his daughter but she moved away from him. 

“I’m sorry”, she said.

He sighed and faced Tory. “Take him to the pack doctor.” 

She nodded and held his hand. “Come baby. Let’s go.”

Angela turned to Amanda again but Amanda was still crying and refusing to look at anyone.

“I didn’t want to cut him. I was just practicing with the knife just like uncle Derek taught Anna and he put his hand there. It was a mistake”, she said as she cried.

“It’s okay, baby”, Dwight said and moved closer to her. She slowed him this time and he hugged her. “We are not blaming you”, he said.

“I’m a bad person”, she said. 

“Shh”, Angela said and moved close as she cried and held her hand. “You are not a bad person. It’s okay”, she said and pulled her up. “Let’s get you cleaned up. You are covered in blood.”

Dwight gave her a kiss on her head before Angela pulled her away from the room. 

¶¶¶

Amanda was still feeling guilty and she hated herself for cutting off her brother’s finger. Since Tory took Austin to the pack doctor, they have not been back and Amanda has refused to eat till she see her mum and brother.

“Amanda, come for dinner”, Angela said but she shook her head. “Your brother is fine. He will be home in the morning.” But she still didn’t get up from the stairs.

Dwight sighed and sat beside her on the staircase. “Baby?” he called.

She looked up at him and he noticed she had tears running down her cheeks. 

His heart clenched and he pulled her closer. “Stop crying, Amanda. He will be fine.”

“B-but h-his finger”, she stuttered as she cried.

He sighed. “He won’t have his finger again but he will be fine. I’m sure”, he said and hugged her as she cried, wetting his shirt with her tears. “It’s okay”, he said and ran his hands down her back.

Tory stood feet away from them and watched. She knows it was not intentional and she doesn’t like the way she was crying. She moved closer to them and joined in the hug.

Amanda looked up and her eyes went wide when she saw her mum there. “Mummy, where’s Austin?” was the first thing she said.

“He is fine”, she told her. “But he will stay in the hospital overnight.”

“Can I go sleep with him there?” she asked with pleading eyes. 

Tory looked at her mate for support.

“Amanda”, Dwight called and she faced him. “We’ll go see him this night but you won’t sleep there.”

“Why can’t I sleep there?”

“We need to let him rest. You want his hand to heal faster, right?” 

She nodded.

“So it’s best if you don’t sleep there overnight. But we will go visit him now, shall we?” he said and held put his hand which she took.

“Okay”, she said and he carried her. “But he has not eaten. Should we take something for him?

Dwight turned to Tory. “Will you please pack some food for us?”

“I’ll be back”, she said and went to the kitchen to pack food for the two of them. She came back few minutes later and gave the lunch box to Dwight. “She is yet to eat too. Maybe she will eat with him.”

“Okay”, he said. “We’ll be back soon.”

Tory nodded and gave Amanda a kiss on her head. “I’m not angry at you, okay?”

Amanda smiled in relief and Dwight walked to the hospital with her in his arms. 

¶¶¶

They entered and saw Austin on the bed staring at his finger which was wrapped with bandage. Amanda felt bad and moved closer to him timidly. 

“Austin”, she called.

He quickly put his hand behind his back and smiled at her. “Amanda”, he said a little too excitedly and hugged her still not taking his left hand from his back. He pulled away and smiled at his dad and sister. “Daddy.”

“Hey there, big man”, Dwight said and ruffled his hair. “How are you?”

He shrugged. “I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt”, he said but didn’t show them the hand.

Amanda forcefully removed his hand and began removing the bandage.

“What are you doing?” Dwight sad and removed her hand but she already removed the bandage.

As she stared at his finger, tears poured down her cheek. It was almost healed. “I’m sorry, Austin. I didn’t know your hand was there.”

“It’s okay”, he said and wrapped the bandage around his finger. “It doesn’t hurt. I told you. See”, he said and pressed his finger to show that it doesn’t hurt but Amanda caught him wince a bit. “I’m hungry”, he said.

“Oh. We brought something”, Dwight said and put the lunch box on the bed. “Mummy packed something for you”, he said. 

Amanda cleaned her face and wanted to walk out of the room but Dwight stopped her.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I want to use the toilet”, she said.

“The toilet is that way”, he said pointing to another door which was in the room.

“I don’t want to use that. I will be back”, she said and ran out.

Dwight wanted to follow her but decided to give her some space.

As she ran back home, she cried. She made sure nobody saw her and she ran to the kitchen. She searched for it and finally saw it on the counter. Since her hand could not reach there, she climbed a chair and held the knife firmly in her hand.

And without thinking, she cut off her left pinky finger.