New Haven

PARENT’S DAY + GAS = DRAMA

It had been two weeks since the group had spent the night at Alec’s house. Since then Dawn and Dusk had been hard at work on Parent’s Day preparations. According to Angel, Alec hadn’t thought it was a good idea to have Dawn and Dusk do their punishment along side Kate so they had been assigned to do manual labor for Parent’s Day. Dusk was filling cups of juice as she looked down at the dress she had picked out for the day.

It would have looked better with my necklace Dusk thought to herself as her hand instinctively rose to touch her neck.

You still haven’t found it sis Dawn thought to Dusk as Dusk slowly shook her head, no. Dawn walked over to where Dusk was filing up cups with punch and began to help her. “It’s okay Dusk,” Dawn told her sister. “We’ll find it.”

“We’ve looked everywhere,” Dusk told her. “It’s just gone.”

“We’ll get you another one promise,” Dawn told her sister trying to make her feel better.

“It’s not the same,” Dusk told her. “Don’t worry about it Dawn. We have bigger things to worry about right now,” Dawn said as she and Dawn turned to watch the onslaught of parent’s and family members coming into the auditorium. “Put on your game face Dawn.”

It’s just Parent’s Day. Dusk repeated to herself over and over again as she greeted the incoming parents. She shook their many hands and acted as usher, showing them to their seats before Ms. Haven’s welcoming speech started. Dawn, on the other hand, was busy passing out the drinks to all the parents and their families.

“Hello, Miss! I think that name tag is mine,” a sweet voice with a strong Latin accent called to Dusk from behind her. As Dusk turned around to fully see who was talking to her, she noticed the voice that had called her had a very familiar accent, but she couldn’t place it. When she saw the person from whom the voice came from, she was stunned speechless by a dark haired woman. The woman was a tall, obviously Latina bombshell with an hour glass figure. She had the warmest brown eyes that Dusk had ever seen. The woman was smiling down at her as she took the name tag from Dusk’s hands and placed it on her blouse. Even the woman’s smile was warm Dusk thought to her self. The woman continued to smile down at Dusk, “Where should I sit?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry ma’am,” Dusk said as she finally seemed to snap out of it. She gave the women her best smile, “Sure I’ll take you to your seat.”

“Is this my seat mija?” Dusk turned and faced the woman smiling nervously as she answered,

“Yes. Here we are. This is row 3 seat B. If there’s anything you need at all please feel free to ask for my assistance. My name is Dusk…”

“NIGHTINGALE!” the women yelled in her thick accent, cutting Dusk off. The women’s smile seemed to grow across her face even more, if that were possible. She stared at Dusk, and with no warning the women wrapped her arms around her and brought Dusk into a huge bear hug, lifting her straight up into the air. “I knew it was you. Just looking at you I could tell. He was right about you. You are absolutely beautiful, ravishing even.” The strange women said laughing as she hugged Dusk tighter into her embrace.

“Put her DOWN” Alec said in a strong and clear voice, walking toward them his eyes wide with fear and his face was red with embarrassment, “Suelta la!”

Slowly the women loosened her grip from Dusk and slowly put her back on the ground. She fully straightened herself up turning around with a cold expression as she met Alec’s gaze. She walked toward him calmly and collectedly. Dusk could tell that Alec was having trouble thinking of what to do next as the women started walking toward him. Alec looked like a deer caught in the head lights the moment she stopped in front of him. Dusk watched as they stood, standing in front of each, suddenly she moved too quickly for him to react. The room shifted and all attention was now on Alec being hugged and kissed by who Dusk now noticed was Alec’s mother.

“Oye, I’m your mother sinverguenzo,” said the women who then slapped Alec lightly on the shoulder, “Don’t raise your voice at me.” Alec looked at Dusk and started to blush as his mother giggled next to him. “Anyways, Alec my love, why so mean to your mother, I was just saying hello to Miss Nightingale, I mean you talk about her so much…”

“Mother,” Alec exclaimed while freeing himself from his mother’s grasp. He looked at Dusk who he didn’t notice smiling brightly back at him.

“Cami, leave the boy alone,” Dusk heard someone say behind her and turned to see a man with a long black overcoat walking up to them. Dusks’ jaw dropped as a grown up version of Zane smiled down at her.

Damn. Is this an entire family of giants?

“I’m so sorry about my wife, but she has no self control when it comes to our children,” Alec’s father said to Dusk as she just shook her head at him, not really able to say anything else. Alec’s mother, Cami, looked just like Alec but in a female version. The only big difference between mother and son that Dusk could see were their eyes. Alec had his father blue eyes, just like Zane who also seemed to have his father’s eyes. Dusk stood next to Alec’s father attempting to put the pieces of this family puzzle together.

“Well, thank you for showing us our seats and please forgive my wife Miss Nightingale,” Alec’s father told Dusk as she blushed and shook her head.

“It really isn’t a problem.”

“You’d think my son was never taught any manners with what you just saw,” Cami told Dusk while she towed Alec behind her looking completely mortified by his parents.

“No I would never…” Dusk began, but then got so caught up in Cami’s smile she found it hard to continue, “Um, Alec’s always really nice.” She stated having the strangest urge to wear something more sensual and sexy.

“Mother stop it,” Alec whispered furiously into his mothers’ ear. Dusk started loosing up her tie, suddenly feeling the need to be unrestrained.

“What?” His mother asked giving him a perfectly practiced innocent smile, “I’m not doing anything” she turned to her husband, “Benjamin, tell your son to stop accusing his mother of scheming.”

“You know what you’re doing mother, and I would appreciate it if you didn’t do it to her.” Alec said staring down his mother. Dusk noticed Alec’s pupils expand suddenly as he spoke.

“Hey” Cami said as she tapped her son upside the head, “Ni te atrevas, don’t you dare.” His mother said as Alec rubbed the back of his head. His eyes went back to normal.

Alec’s father, Benjamin, politely coughed as he smiled down at Dusk “Maybe we should take our seats reina, I think they’re going to start,” Benjamin told his beautiful wife Cami.

“Ay Benjamin, you and your son acts like I’m going to eat the poor girl.” Cami said as Alec’s father just smiled and gently began to guide his wife back to their seats leaving Alec alone with Dusk. Alec stood embarrassed, as his parents left them both swimming in a pool of awkwardness.

“So… those are your parents.” Dusk said re- fixing her school tie. Not really understanding why she had loosened it in the first place.

“Yeah” Alec spoke trying to find somewhere else to look at except directly at Dusk.

“Your mother seemed very loving. She’s really, um”

“Overly done, yeah, I know” Dusk couldn’t help smiling at his annoyance, yet her smile seem to make Alec more relaxed. Dusk was stunned to notice this was the first time she seen Alec smile fully before, “Well, I should go back to…”

“Yeah, I have loads to still do to, so I’ll see you later” she said trying not to sound hopeful.

Alec nodded smiling at her “Bye Dusk.”

“Bye Alec,” She said. Alec walked past her straight to where his parents were sitting and seemed to immediately launch into whispering something to his mother. Cami stood to embrace her son in yet another bout of hugs and kisses.

Dusk tried to concentrate on the welcoming part of Parent’s Day, but the only thing she seemed to be able to concentrate on was thinking of Alec and Zane, the brothers that had her going crazy. Dusk was amazed to see how alive the great hall was for the first time since school had started. She looked around the hall and saw that all her planning and work hadn’t gone to waste. Everyone and their parents seemed to be having fun eating and drinking punch. Unfortunately, David and Sara were running late for Parent’s Day. They’d called Dusk and Dawn that morning to tell them they had missed the ferry because of David’s work and wouldn’t be able to get to the island till later that day.

Dusk came up behind Dawn, tired of seating people, and leaned on her little sisters’ shoulder. Dawn continued serving people punch with Dusk on her shoulder. When it had finally slowed down and there was no one to serve at the moment, Dawn took a drink from one of the cups of punch that were on her serving tray.

“That’s supposed to be for the parents not you,” Dusk whispered into her sisters’ ear.

“I’m thirsty and it’s not like anyone cares if I take one, or four, drinks. They’ll just get more refills it’s not like we don’t have enough punch…”

“Hey guys!” Clowe hollered excitedly as she waved to girls. She walked hand in hand through the crowed with a man wearing the same frame of reading glasses she did.

“Hey Clowe is he your dad?” Dawn asked handing the man in front of them a cup of punch. She took another drink from her own cup.

“Thank you misses,” the man said.

“Yes, guys this is my dad Luke Sparrow.” Clowe happily expressed. “Dad, these are my friends Dusk and Dawn, they’re twins, even though they don’t look alike.”

“Oh now I wouldn’t say that Clowe. There’s a definite common bone structure happening.” Luke Sparrow said as he smiled at the girls and shook their hands. “It’s very nice to meet you girls. My little Clowe here has told me a lot about you guys.” Clowe blushed as Dusk and Dawn both smiled at her. They couldn’t get over how much Clowe looked like her dad.

“Those are some interesting names you’ve girls have got there. Is there a story behind them?” Mr. Sparrow, asked but before the girls could answer him Clowe stepped in.

“Their thirteen hours apart. That’s where they get their names from. Get it dad. From Dusk till Dawn, isn’t that so cool, right?”

Isn’t that like totally awesome!

Dawn, be nice. Clowe’s just excited that her dad’s here.

“Okay,” Dawn said aloud.

“Okay what?” Clowe’s dad asked.

“Inside joke dad, they have lots of those,” Clowe answered brightly.

“Okay! Well, um, thirteen hours, wow that’s a really long time in between births. Your mother must have been tired to death.” Mr. Sparrow said as he began to take a sip from his drink.

“Dad” Clowe exclaimed completely mortified.

Both Dawn and Dusk looked at each other before speaking, “Unfortunately Mr. Sparrow, our mother passed away during childbirth.” Dusk said giving him a small smile. Mr. Sparrow choked a little on his drink as he began to turn a light red color.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry I …didn’t know.” He said looking towards Clowe for some help.

“Really its ok. My dad is just fine and he remarried Sara, our mom, when we were really little.” Dusk sincerely said motioning to Dawn and her self. Luke nodded, showing them that he understood. As the girls spent their time talking to Clowe’s father Dusk could feel someone watching her. She knew the feeling all to well. She turned toward the direction of Alec staring right at her from across the room. She smiled at him as he smiled back at her. He looked away when his mother nudged him in the side, winking at him and then looking straight at her. Staring at Alec, Dusk remembered the kiss that they had shared and it turned Dusk even brighter red.

For days she hadn’t been able to think of anything, but that darn kiss. She slowly lifted her finger tips and brushed them softly along her lips remembering the kiss vividly. She noticed what she was doing when she suddenly felt an overwhelming heat as hot as the sun being spread all over her. Dusk began blushing furiously out of control. She tried to shake the images of her and Alec. The images seemed to bombard her head all at once, but her mind wouldn’t budge. She glanced back at Alec who was watching her intensely with a crooked smile splashed across his face. She knew he had seen her. This time she was the first to turn around from him; feeling utterly embarrassed.

“Lady’s and gentlemen we are about to begin.” The announcer announced thru the speakers of the auditorium.

“It’s about frakkin time,” said Dawn.

Dawn language! Dusk said hitting Dawn across the shoulder.

“Ow, what?”

“You know what,” Dusk whispered to her sister as she smiled at Mr. Sparrow.

“I told you they were funny daddy,” Clowe told her father, snorting a little in the process, as Dawn led the way for the four of them to sit in the back row seats of the auditorium. Dusk could feel Alec’s burrowing stare on her as she made her way to their seats. It didn’t bother her as much as it did the first day of school. Dusk was starting to like the fact she was getting used to Alec’s stalking. In a way, it made her feel safe having someone watch over her besides Dawn. Dusk watched as the crowd began to move and settle down, yet among them she noticed one person who stood out from the rest. A woman was laughing, smiling, and having fun like everyone else, but somehow she looked oddly practiced or rehearsed. She looked out of place in the crowd. She took a seat in the back of the auditorium as the lights were turned down and a spot light appeared on Ms. Haven.

“Welcome students, parents, and faculty,” Ms. Haven began. An hour passed as everyone sat through performances given by the elementary and Jr. High schools and Ms. Haven’s speech. After it was all over the parents and kids went out to explore the rest of the school, guided of course by their children. Dawn and Dusk decided to walk around the campus with Clowe’s father. They went from class to class listening to teacher after teacher talk about how wonderful Clowe was to have in their classes. The parents of all the students were excitedly getting to know their teenagers teachers and Deans. Including looking into all the clubs and programs their children were involved in.

As they walked out of their English class, Dusk bumped into Holly and turned to notice that she was facing the entire Eve family. She needed no one to tell her who they were. You could pick them out in a crowd. The Adam’s family reincarnated. “We’ll catch up to you guys later,” Dusk said as she and Dawn waved goodbye to Clowe and her father joining Holly and her family.

“Hey guys,” Holly said turning to her parents, “Okasa-sama, Outosa this is Dawn and Dusk Nightingale. They are the new roommates of Clowe and me.”

Holly’s mother, a petite stern looking Asian women extended her hand to Dusk first, “Nice to meet you Dusk and…”

“…Dawn” Logan said walking up to them with two small twin girls hanging from each arm, “This, mother, is Dawn Nightingale…” Logan looked down at his mother with a loaded expression. Dawn flushed with embarrassment. Mrs. Eve took in her son’s expression then took a second look at Dawn. “…and this Dawn is my mother, Holly Eve.”

“Holly Eve?” The girls asked in unison, “but…” both girls pointed in Holly’s direction.

“It’s traditional in our family that the first girl be named after her mother.” Holly explained.

Ahhh The girls thought in unison.

“It is a family name…” Holly’s father explained as she extended his hand to Dawn, “…and I am Jonathan Samuel Haim.”

“Samuel Haim, Samuel… Sam…Haim wait your name is like Samhaim, seriously? Like the pagan holiday? ” Dawn said smiling up at Mr. Haim who nodded. That’s so weird she thought happily.

Dawn Dusk smiled at her sister’s comment.

Mr. Jonathan Samuel Haim continued talking to Dusk why all the kids had their mother’s name and why he decided not to take her name. Dusk continued to talk to the Eve’s. She was not so surprised to find out that the Eve’s placed a very high regard on education, family and cultural traditions. Mr. Haim seemed especially interested in the girl’s family and their beliefs. Dusk noticed as she spoke about how great David and Sara were to them, Mrs. Eve kept sneaking glances at Dawn, who was too preoccupied talking to Logan to notice. Dusk was starting to get a weird feeling.

“How are you doing today?” Logan asked looking at no one else, but at Dawn.

“I’m great, just, you know. Hard at work for Parent’s Day,” Dawn answered, “Who are these two little princesses?” Dawn asked as she bent down to be at eye level with the two twins who had been hanging on Logan’s arms just a few moments ago.

“These are my two little sisters Lu and Fey.” Logan patted the eerie girls on their heads as their eyes looked at Dawn.

“You’re very pretty,” the little girls said in unison.

“Oh, wow. You two talk at the same time.” Dawn said smiling up at Logan, “My sister and I do that sometimes. We’re twins too you know.” She told Lu and Fey.

“We know.” The Eve twins said not breaking their serious expression.

“Anyways, um, thank you for the compliment.”

“It is not a compliment.” Lu said.

“It was an observation.” Fey finished. Dawn tried to hold her smile in place, but she had to admit to herself Logan’s little sisters were kind of starting to freak her out.

“Well, then thank you for the observation.” Dawn said.

“You are very welcome.” The twins answered in unison.

“May we ask you a question,” Lu and Fey asked Dawn.

“Shoot”

“Are you Logan’s girlfriend?”

“Fey! Lu!” Logan obviously been shocked by his little sisters’ question, “That is not an appropriate inquiry!” Dawn laughed and blushed as she told the twin girls that she wasn’t.

“Why not?” The twins asked tilting their heads to one side. “Is it because she’s a Norm?” they asked tilting their heads to the other side.

“That’s enough.” Logan told his little sisters as he started to sweat a little. “Look over there,” Logan said pointing in the direction of where Jack and Nick Winters were standing. “There are the Winters. Why don’t you go play with Uncle Nick and Jack?” Lu and Fey smiled for the first time since Dawn had met the two youngest Eve girls. As soon as Logan had suggested it they were off like bullets yelling Jack and Nick’s names. They were soon lifted high in the air by their two favorite ‘Uncles’.

“Slick” Dawn smirked at Logan.

“I try. Sorry about that.”

Dawn shook her head brushing her hair behind her right ear bashfully, “Don’t worry about it” she said smiling up at him as he smiled down at her.

“Logan, where did your sisters go?” Mrs. Eve asked her oldest son breaking Logan’s gaze.

“They’re with the Winters.”

“Aw, they absolutely love Jack and Nick. You know our families are very old friends,” She told Dusk as Dawn and Logan joined the conversation.

“Well, then, it was very nice to meet you girls. I hope you continue to have a good year and that you will continue to look after my daughter.” Mrs. Eve said as she eyed Holly.

“Aw, okasa- sama.” Holly blushed. The girls said their goodbyes to the Eve’s as they turned to leave, Mr. Haim lightly grasped Dawn’s hand and smiled at her.

“Before you leave Miss Nightingale, My wife and I would be honored for you and your family to join us for a sit down dinner at our home sometime.” Mr. Haim asked. Logan seemed to hold his breath as we waited for Dawn to give her answer.

I don’t think you should accept the dinner invitation, Dusk thought to Dawn.

Why not? It’s free food.

At least wait till you know what the dinner really means.

Jesus Dusk. Dinner is Dinner. Stop over thinking everything…

Japanese culture is very different from ours…

Whatever sis, get a grip.

“My family and I would love to have dinner with you and your family Mr. Haim. Thank you so much for the invitation” Dawn replied.

“So that settles it. The Eve’s and the Nightingale’s are having dinner.” Holly said excitedly, “We’ll set a date.”

When they were done meeting all their teachers, the group headed back to the Main Hall for more punch and cookies. Dawn nudged at Dusk and pointed to the strange woman they’d seen before. She was still seated in the same seat she’d sat in when Parent’s day first started.

“Go see if she needs anything.” Dawn told Dusk as she pushed and nudged her sister toward the strange women still seated in her chair.

“Me? Why me?”

“Because you’re the reason we were forced to help out on parent’s day. This is your punishment too remember. Don’t be scared and just go over there and ask,” Dawn laughed handing Dusk the small platter of cookies and a cup of punch. Dusk took in a deep breath before walking slowly toward the woman, until she was standing next to her. Even though she was right in front of her, the women didn’t seem to acknowledge Dusks’ presence. She only continued looking straight ahead as Dusk called her by the name on the name tag she had on. She seemed to be concentrating rigidly on looking straight ahead.

“Excuse me may I offer you something to eat?” Dusk asked nervously. Nothing, not a twitch or a blink, Dusk thought leaning forward, “hello Miss. are you alright?”

The woman stood up in an instant and grabbed Dusk by the arm and held her there. Her hand was cold like ice and the more Dusk struggled the harder the women gripped. Dusk looked up at her and saw her eyes glowing just like hers did when she used her abilities. She felt cold and breathless and began slowly seeing double as Dusk looked through the crowd and searched for help. All she could see was Dawn looking suddenly very pale and leaning against the far wall.

Are you okay? Dusk mentally asked her sister.

Oh crap Dusk, I just got a huge headache. I think I’m going to hurl. Dawn’s chest was rising up and down slowly as Logan crouched down in front of her, asking if she was okay. She waved him off telling Logan that she was fine, just a little light headed. From the wall where she leaned, Dawn stared hard and confused at Dusk.

Dusk, something’s wrong. Dawn thought to her. Dusk turned her head back towards the crowd and it was like everything and everyone including her sister began to fade into darkness. Dusk could hear everyone laughing and having fun, but it was like they were all hidden behind a never ending veil of darkness. The only people not covered by the blanket of black were her, Dawn, and the women who held Dusk by her arm.

Dawn! Dusk waited for her sister’s response, but there was nothing.

I can’t… I can’t... breathe… I can’t breathe.

Dawn! Silence, Dusk began to panic, Dawn, answer me!

Dusk, I think I’m gonna hurl chunks.

Abruptly, the women that had Dusk in a vice grip this entire time finally moved. Her head shot up towards the ceiling and her glow was so bright she reminded Dusk of a star. Reacting to the women’s startling movement Dusk followed the woman’s eyes to the ceiling. Immediately, Dusk noticed the ceiling above them started to change. The more Dusk stared at the ceiling the more complicated and intricate the design seemed to become. A soft and barely hearable lullaby began to play, slowly burrowing itself into Dusk’s head until the lullaby seemed to consume her. Dusk felt light as a feather in front of the bright star that was the women standing next to her. The changing ceiling began to descend as the lullaby got louder in Dusk’s head. It moved all around and underneath her. She looked down as the floor turned into gold water, shinning brightly underneath her. Her reflection smiled back at her from the gold water.

So beautiful Dusk thought as she stared at the beauty of her own reflection, It’s utopia. She felt a peace within her so powerful and overwhelming, like nothing she’d ever felt before. Dusk didn’t know why, but she suddenly thought that this must be what death felt like, peaceful. Dusk slowly reached down toward her reflection that was now smiling back up at her and laughed when her touch rippled across the water that wasn’t still. The gold water began to make white glistening shapes that began to ascend up and around her. Circling her like her imagination was being given flight for the first time. The lullaby now filled her head and carried with it a lavender scent that filled Dusk’s senses till nothing else seemed to matter.

Hey! Dawn’s voice little by little sounded in Dusk’s head until it swiftly broke through the lullaby. It surprised Dusk that the voice was barely audible in her mind. She was suddenly acutely aware she could barely hear her sister. She closed her eyes and tried searching for Dawn’s voice, but the feelings of bliss and content wouldn’t allow her to focus. The more she concentrated on searching for Dawn’s voice, the louder the lullaby drummed itself into her skull till the reflection of herself in the gold water opened its mouth and called her name. The gold water had slowly begun to rise, but Dusk was absorbed too much in the experience of it all to notice. She looked back down into the gold water. Her reflection opened its mouth again and called Dusk by name until the rising water enclosed her and Dusk drifted off into oblivion.

“Dawn, we need to get out of here?” Logan shook Dawn out of her stupor.

“What? What’s going on?” Dawn looked around confused at the chaos that surrounded her. The parents and students were all rushing frantically out of the auditorium pushing and shoving each other out of the way as they all ran for the exits. Dawn saw Ms. Haven pointing and yelling. She seemed to be trying to lead everyone out in an orderly manner. The crowd wasn’t paying attention.

“There’s a gas leak in the auditorium. Ms. Haven needs the student council to help everyone get out. Go with my family.” Logan said as he guided Dawn to where his parents and little sisters were standing.

Dusk.

“I need to get to my sister.” Dawn slid out of Logan’s grasp and began weaving her way through the crowds towards Dusk. When she finally reached her sister, Dusk was catatonic. Dawn grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her roughly, “Dusk, there’s a gas leak. We gotta get the freak out of here.” Dusk kept her eyes glued to the ceiling, “Dusk!” Dawn slapped her sister across her face as hard as she could. Dusk snapped out of it with the heat of the slap on her cheek burning her. She could hear yelling and running as she felt Dawn’s firm grasp on her shoulders.

“Dawn” Dusk said weakly to her, “What’s going on?” Dusk looked around and saw that everyone was in a panic. Ms. Haven and other students, like Jack and Nick were helping everyone exit out the doors. Dusk could see Alec and Logan pushing their way through the crowd trying desperately to get to them. Both of them looked oddly scared for Dawn and her. Dusk tried to turn around and follow her sister, but couldn’t. The woman that was staring at the ceiling still had a vice grip on her arm.

“Hey weirdo, let go of my sister,” Dawn said to the woman amidst the chaos. She grabbed the woman’s arm to separate her from Dusk, but as soon as Dawn touched her, the color drained from her cheeks and she fell limp and grey on the auditorium floor.

“Dawn!” Dusk yelled, but it came out breathless, “Let go of me!” she said struggling to break free of the stranger, “Let go of me!” she said stronger. It was like pulling away from against a cold stone. “What do you want?”

“The Last Tear” She said.

“What tear?” Dusk asked breathless.

“The Last Tear” She kept repeating over and over again.

“What Last tear?” Dusk asked looking at the women.

The women answered with a smile, “Can’t you hear it? Can’t you feel it?” She finally looked at Dusk and became hysterical, “He doesn’t deserve it. It belongs to us. It’s ours, not his!” she roared at Dusk, squeezing her arm till Dusk heard a crack. Pain shot up her shoulder and began to spread like fire across her entire arm. She couldn’t help but scream in pain. Dusk looked down at Dawn lying unconscious on the floor. She shook her head trying to figure out what in the world the woman was talking about as she struggled to be free of her. Logan reached Dawn first and scooped her up off the floor like she weighed nothing at all. He sprinted towards the exit with Dawn cradled in his arms as Alec came up behind the women and covered her eyes with his hand. Dusk watched as he whispered something into the woman’s ear. She slowly released Dusk’s arm one finger at a time; the pain seemed to triple as Dusk held her arm tightly against her chest. The women’s eyes fluttered backwards as she fainted against Alec. He kept mumbling into the woman’s ear while he laid her onto the floor. She looked peaceful.

“Dusk, are you okay?” Alec asked kneeling in front of her as she held her arm. “Did she hurt you?”

“My arm, it hurts. I think it’s broken…”

“Let me see it,” Alec said, “It doesn’t look too good. I think we should get you to the doctors right away.” Dusk winced as Alec touched her arm. Even though he was gentle it felt like fire.

“What happened to her?” Dusk asked pointing to the woman lying on the floor.

“Forget about it. You need to get your arm checked out.” Holly, Angel, and April ran up to Alec.

“We got everyone out.” Angel told Alec then noticed that Dusk was still there, “We need to leave too, because of the gas leak.”

“Holly, can you walk Dusk out of here?”

“Sure Alec. Come on Dusk.” Holly led Dusk towards the exit. She glanced behind her and noticed Ms. Haven was walking over to where the woman was still unconscious on the floor standing right next to Alec and Angel. As soon as Holly and Dusk were out the door they both were mobbed by the rest of the Eve family. Clowe was standing with her father.

“What happened?” Clowe asked looking worried and confused.

“The main gas line broke and Ms. Haven….” Holly began to explain.

“Where’s Dawn?” Dusk asked cutting Holly off. Clowe looked sadly at Dusk as everyone in the group seemed to get really quiet.

Dusk looked at their faces and repeated the question again more strongly this time, “Where is my sister?”