Hidden Powers

Chapter 10: Hope

“Who are you?” I looked at the woman who appeared in my bedroom. She came out of nowhere. “How did you get in here?” Mark took a protective stance in front of me, not knowing if this woman was friend or foe. She had bright blond hair like me, but it was long instead of short. Her eyes were green with a red tinge. She looked at me and her eyes began to glow full red. My own eyes widened in shock which caused her to smile.

“My name is Holly. I’m your great aunt.” She held her hand out to me to shake. I was looking from her hand to her face, trying to feel the sense of good or evil within her. I felt nothing. It’s like she didn’t exist, there was nothing coming from her and it confused me. She put her hand down with a frown on her face. “I was hoping you would trust me right away, but I understand your hesitance.”

“How are your eyes red? I thought all the red eyes were chosen already?” Mark asked what I wanted to.

“I was the red eye witch years ago. Michael killed me and my twin brother before we could find the others. We had no idea if we were alone of not. It wasn’t until after death that we found out we were and weren’t alone.”

“Would you care to elaborate on that a little more please?” I asked as she smiled at me again.

“We found out that we weren’t the only ones with red eyes, but during our lifetime, no other red eyes were alive.” She clarified. “Michael was set on destroying everyone before there was a chance for them to come together and fulfill the prophecy.”

“I’ve heard something like that before. I think Ava explained that to me a while ago.” I whispered to Mark who was still standing in front of me.

“Ava is here with you?”

“How do you know Ava?” Mark and I asked at the same time.

“I know her Aunt Avery. She is Ava’s guide, as I am yours. We’ve been working together to try and make sure you all stay safe before Michael has the chance to eliminate you next. This is this time when the correct chosen ones are alive at the same time.”

The more Holly speaks, the more I believe her. Ava has told me about her Aunt Avery before, being a ghost guide of sorts. I close my eyes, trying to take everything in and make sense of what is happening. Then something clicked inside my mind. My eyes open and I really look at her for the first time after all this new knowledge.

“You’re a ghost, just like Avery.” She gave me the biggest smile and nodded her head. “You’re really my great aunt? I haven’t heard of you before. I’m sorry.”

“I realized that your mom was never told about me when she was born. Anne’s father is my little brother. He was only a child when I was killed, along with my twin Henry.” She looked sad, but quickly shook it off. “Anyways, I am here to tell you to be careful when it comes to Jack. I’ve been watching him for a while, and it won’t be long until he finds out Ava is the one who killed his half brother. He will do whatever it takes to get inside your bubble to try and kill her, then he’ll take you Hope.”

“He’s not getting anywhere near her.” Mark snarled out. I place my head on his shoulder and rolled my eyes at him. Silly protective vampire.

“I’m sorry Mark, in the visions we’ve received, you won’t be here to protect them. James and Holton are gone as well.”

“I would never leave Hope though.” Mark said as he looked down at me.

“We aren’t sure what happens, but that is why I’ve come to warn you. Something happens that we can’t see, and it is driving Avery bonkers. She is here talking to Ava and James as we speak. Since you two are together now, I was finally able to appear for you.”

I felt Mark shaking slightly, so I turned him to face me and placed my hands on either side of his face. “Nothing is going to happen to me Mark. We’re prepared now, and we can prevent anything from happening. Calm down please.”

“If anything happens to you though…” He whispers.

“I’ll be fine. I’m a pretty powerful witch after all.” I winked at him.

“I’m sorry to drop this on you, and I’m even more sorry that I have to leave too. We don’t get a lot of time to stick around. I’ll be back when you need me the most.” She was looking at me with a look in her eyes I didn’t recognize. I let Mark go and ran towards her. She opened her arms in time to catch me. “You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman Hope, and you’re going to have extraordinary powers when you find them all.”

“Can I tell mom about you? Can I mention to grandpa that you came to visit me?”

“Since your mom knows about you and your brother, you can tell her. Unless your grandfather knows, he should be left in the dark for now, but if there is ever a time you can tell him, please let him know that I love him.”

“I will.” We let each other go, and in a blink of an eye, she was gone. My arms fell to my side, and I felt exhausted, like it was my own energy being used to allow Holly to be here. Before I could collapse, Mark wrapped his arms around me, then picked me up bridal style and carried me over to the bed.

“It’s time to rest now. You’ve been up all night and with this information given to us, we need to rest and come up with a plan later.” I nodded my head as I felt Mark climb in next to me. I curled up next to him and waited for sleep to take over.

Mark

               I watched Hope fall asleep. I remember seeing Avery before and was confused with how her powers worked now that she was no longer with us. Seeing Holly now, there must be something about their power from when they were alive that allows them to come back. Something bad must happen to me and the other guys in order to leave Hope and Ava unprotected. I should be taking this time to sleep as well, but everything Holly told us keeps replaying over in my mind.

               After making sure Hope was in a deep sleep, I slipped out quietly and went over to Ava and James’s room. I knocked on the door lightly knowing they would hear it. James opened the bedroom door and stood aside for me to walk in. Ava was sitting up in bed watching me carefully. “What’s wrong?” She asked before I could step fully into the room.

               “Can’t I come visit one of my favorite people?” I tried to shrug it off since I didn’t want Ava to worry too much.

               “Don’t pull that crap with me Mark. I know when something is bothering you, and since Hope isn’t with you, I bet it’s about her and what Holly told the two of you.”

               “How did you know about Holly?” I asked surprised.

               “Avery stopped in to say hi and see how the babies were doing.” James went to sit down next to Ava and placed his hand on her growing stomach.

               “Yes, yes, everyone is excited about the babies. Now are you going to tell me what’s on your mind or do I need to try and find it out from Hope?”

               “We were given some information that isn’t sitting well with me.” She kept looking at me expectantly. I sighed and went over everything Holly informed us of. As I was retelling what we learned, I felt a darkness come over me as I thought the worst.

               “I don’t believe you wouldn’t be there for Hope or Ava if anything went wrong.” James pointed out. “Since Ava appointed you her personal guard, you’ve been with us every step of the way. You barely leave her side.”

               “I know, which is why I’m confused and why I have to be alert. Something is going to happen, and we have no idea what it could be.”

               “Jack.” Ava whispered. James and I turn our heads towards her. Realization settling on both our faces. “He has something planned, I’m sure of it. He knows about you by now Mark, and he’s set on believing that Hope belongs to him.”

               “She’ll never belong to him.” I snarled out.

               “Go to her. Be next to her. She needs you right now, I’ll see what I can find out.” Ava pushed me out the door without actually pushing me. She didn’t have to tell me twice when it came to Hope. As I walked into our room, she was tossing and turning in her sleep. I rushed over to her and placed my hand on her cheek, and she instantly calmed down. There was a presence in the room though. I sensed someone watching, but there was no one here with us.

               “Leave her alone Jack, she made her choice.” I called out knowing he was the one nearby.

               “That’s what you think.” He called back from the shadows, then his presence was gone just like that. We’re going to have to step up our game if we planned to beat this guy. First Ava had that Kyle guy obsessed with her, then we had to deal with Michael. Now we have Jack to deal with who is obsessed with Hope, and still Michael was out there, waiting for his moment to strike again. I fear what Michael would do once he finds out about Ava’s babies.

               It took a while to get comfortable after Jack was nearby, but I snuggled in close to Hope and pulled her against me. Knowing she was in my arms, and not in Jacks, made me feel better. I didn’t even know this guy and already I couldn’t stand him. There was something unsettling about him, and I haven’t even seen him face to face yet. I know Hope is still keeping something from me, and it has to do with Jack. Maybe she chose to forget something from her past with him. I plan to find out at some point. If she ever let me drink her blood, I’ll find out, but she needs to be aware that it could happen. Or maybe…she doesn’t remember and Jack put a spell on her to forget. I’ll find out one day, but for now I need to know what goes wrong to have her end up in his grasps to begin with.

               “You’re thinking too loudly. Go to sleep.” Hope whispered against my chest. I chuckled lightly and rubbed her back.

               “Sorry, I’ll try and keep my thoughts down.” I kissed the top of her head and waited until she fell back asleep.

               “I won’t be able to sleep until you go to sleep now. Whatever it is with Jack, we’ll figure it out together.”

               “How did you know I was thinking about Jack?”

               “Because of the nightmare I had of him, then you showed up and he left.”

               “I’m glad I can keep you safe in your dreams at least.”

               “We’ll figure everything out, don’t worry. Now, go to sleep.”

               We both fell silent and I let her breathing sooth me into a deep sleep myself. Whatever it was going on right now, we can deal with it after sleep.