Meeting At Sunset

Chapter 2

“Hello, father. This is Juniper, as you may already know,” Michael said, waving me over to greet him.

Michael’s father looked muscular and looked about in his mid-forties. He had a scruff of a beard, but it didn’t look bad on him and his hair was peppered. I stuck my hand out and he did as well and our handshake was strong.

“You are a lot more formal than I thought you would be. Sorry, I just thought from what my son has spoken about you from a distance you seemed more wild and informal,” he said his voice meaning respect.

“Well everyone seems to think they know me, especially myself sir,” I said, trying to be respectful.

“Well that will change in time won’t it Michael?” his father moved his eyes away from me to Michael.

“I plan on it father,” Michael said seriously.

“Good. Well, Ms. Juniper, I hope you feel right at home. I can have someone show you to your room when you are ready, or I can have Michael here show you if you prefer,” he said, being respectful of my wishes.

“I wouldn’t mind if someone here can show me to my room. I would love to get to know everyone here since I am going to be staying awhile from what I have heard,” I said looking to Michael’s father and knowing that Michael was a little disappointed in the way I saw him look at me before I turned to face him. “You don’t mind if I do, do you Michael?”

“It would be a great opportunity for her to get to know the pack father,” he said, acknowledging my question but not answering me.

“It would be, but Michael… You need to be with her when she does,” his father said vaguely.

“Sorry to intrude, but is this about me being more than a werewolf?” I said cautiously.

“You are quite smart at figuring things out. Aren’t you?” he said, with almost shock on his face.

“I wouldn’t call it smart…” I started out, but I didn’t continue.

“Hum,” he said before he whispered to Michael and Michael glanced at me for a second and he nodded. “Ms. Juniper, I am sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Aris Grey, just call me Aris,” he said pulling my hand and kissing it before he exited.

“Don’t mind my father, he means well,” Michael said, a little embarrassed.

“I thought he was stern but very sweet,” I said giving him a knowing smile that he returned and made my heart flutter with butterflies.

“Well I never thought someone describing him that way,” he said.

I looked back through the arched windows into the beautiful night view of the meadow and the forest that was beyond.

“Do you like it?” Michael asked after about fifteen minutes.

“No not like. It’s like a dream come true, I love it. I feel more alive here,” I said drawing in the feeling.

“You should get some rest before tomorrow,” he said genuinely.

I remembered my brother’s promise, “Crap! I promised my brother I would come back for him. I can’t leave him there. He’s the only family member that I really know cares about me, and feels the same.” A lump crowded my throat again and tears welled up in my eyes. 

That was when Michael pulled me into his embrace. I started crying and I never did cry pretty because my face would be blotchy red and my eyes would be swollen. I felt him ease into me as I stopped crying wanting just someone to comfort me and I was glad he didn’t pull away afterward. When I felt the sudden urge to kiss him I pulled away and wiped my eyes.

“Thank you,” I said, in a croaky voice.

“Glad I could help,” he said, smiling. “If you want to call your brother, you can.”

“Thanks. I probably should,” I said, grabbing my phone out of my pocket.

My brother was speed dial 1. It rang three times before he picked up.

Sis where are you? The police showed up at our house looking for you.

“I am somewhere safe. I wanted to call you and tell you I can’t come home for that reason. I hate to break promises, but I swear I will call you as much as possible. I love you. Don’t let our father influence you or mom ok? Promise me that you will do everything you can not to be like them,” I said with a lump coming into my throat again.

The only person I ever looked up to is you. If you can’t come home I understand. I will do everything I can to keep you happy. Don’t break anymore promises, all right? Promise me you will stay safe and don’t do anything that would jeopardize yourself, he said as if he was feeling the same way as I was.

“I promise. I got to go. I love you,” I said, I hung up when I heard I love you too.

When I put the phone away Michael said, “You are very caring about your brother’s safety and him you.”

“We have to look after each other or we would become our parents. As you well know,” I said looking at him accusingly.

“Sorry again for that. I was only curious about your life,” he said apologetically.

Changing the subject I asked, “Can you show me to my room now?”

“Sure.”

Michael was quiet but he seemed nervous. He took a turn and went up a flight of stairs that separated into two different staircases. The stairs were magnificent with it being made out of wood. As we went up to the last steps of the stairs there were pictures of a little boy, a woman beside him, and a man on the other side of the woman putting both hands on the woman and the boy.

I stopped and Michael noticed my sudden movements.

“Who is in this picture?” I asked curiously, as I pointed to the picture.

I looked at Michael and I saw pain flash in his eyes, but it was very brief.

“That is my father, my mother, and I. It was the last picture we took together as a family,” he said with a monotone voice. 

“What happened?” I asked cautiously.

“My mother was killed by a very powerful warlock. I believe my father isn’t telling me something about her death, but for now I don’t bother,” he said.

“I am so sorry,” I said apologetically, and I stepped closer to him for comfort. “I don’t know what it is like, but it must have been horrible to lose someone when you are so young.”

“It could be worse… It could end up that your family betrays you and hates you for the rest of your life,” he said, giving me an apologetic smile.

“Yeah, but I still have my little brother,” I said reassuring.

“Yeah,” he said unconvinced.

When he said that my blood boiled and I felt the strength intensified. I grabbed Michael’s shirt and picked him up and the shock on his face knowing that he wasn’t expecting me to be able to pick him up.

“Do not ever threaten my little brother. He would never betray me as would I. I have protected him through more s**t than even he doesn’t realize. I know one thing that keeps me from getting overwhelmed is knowing that my little brother has my back no matter the situation,” I said infuriated.

“Ok. I am sorry. I just have a gut feeling that your brother is going to betray you,” he said in surrender.

“Then say it to me and not act like it is a threat,” I said, putting him back down.

“You are strong… Does that happen often?” he said cautiously.

“Not until today when I threw my father across the room and now,” I said, taking deep breaths to cool down.

“Ok… Well my father found a school for all us supernaturals to attend and well you can register as well,” he said, changing the subject like a master.

“I have to release myself from the current school I go to,” I said seriously.

“My father has people that can do that for you,” he said encouragingly.

We walked in front of two doors that were right across from each other. In turned to the left and opened the door for me. He still looked anxious.

“Why are you anxious?” I asked curiously, before I entered my new living quarters.

“How can…” he looked at me surprised. “Never mind. I… well… I sleep next door.”

“Oh,” I said not really surprised.

“Yeah. Well if you need anything, you know where to find me,” he said with a genuine smile and entered his own room. 

I walked into my new living quarters. I was shocked and awed. The room gave off a sense of glow and feel of a home. The window was on both sides of the bed and the closet door was opened from the right and it was huge. I walked in and saw that my favorite car was posted onto the wall. In a creepy sense when I walked over to the nightstand I saw a picture of my brother and I playing in the backyard from want seemed like two weeks ago. Creepy! I flopped onto the bed and it was soft and it felt comforting than my actual bed. I heard the door from across the hall open, I looked over to see Michael staring a big grin. I surprisingly smiled back.

“Hey!” I hollered over to him.

He walked to the entrance of my room, but not daring to enter. He slumped up against the door wall and bored his eyes into mine.

“You like it?” he asked casually.

“Yeah better than my own room, besides having the creepy photo of my brother and me from two weeks ago,” I said accusing him.

“Sorry, but thought you might want something to remind you of home,” he said guilty.

“Thanks. Just don’t do anything that has to deal with anything related to me without me knowing please,” I said sitting on the bed now facing him.

“I promise,” he said. “Well, then I have to tell you something.”

I nodded for approval, “You can close the door behind you if you would like.”

He walked in and closed the door and sat at the end of the bed, while he didn't take his eyes off of me. It made my heart flutter, but I shoved it away.

“Can you tell me why your father and you are so interested in me?” I asked anxiously.

“Well, you are coming of age to be supernatural, unless you were a werewolf or vampire. Although you have the strength and courage like both of them. At first, my father thought I had fallen in love with another werewolf, but later found out that you were something more ‘profound’ as he recalled it,” he said peacefully.

My nerves calmed a little, “But no one knows what I am then?”

“No, but I promise you that the school that we will be attending next year since this school year is about over.”

We sat there in complete silence listening to nature outside.