Hidden Powers

Chapter 13: Hope

It’s been a couple of days since finding out Jack now wants to go after Ava. Emily has been in touch with Lucy, telling her that Jack is changing plans and might be unstable in his anger right now. The sky has been growing darker since that night as well. Mom keeps checking in with everyone and acting differently, like she’s hiding something. She knows more about the situation but won’t tell me. I caught her talking on the phone with someone yesterday but she put up a powerful spell to keep anyone from listening in. I haven’t felt the powershift she felt yet, but I’m still learning about how powerful I am.

“You look like crap.”

I jumped at the sound of Holly’s voice. That was something I wouldn’t get used to, her popping in and out all the time.

“Some warning would be nice next time,” I said while ignoring her rude comment.

“I’m a ghost, I don’t think there’s any warnings I can give,” She shrugged it off.

“What brings you here today?”

“I can’t come visit just for fun?”

“You could, but I don’t think you’d be allowed to.”

“Where’s your hot vampire? Don’t mates tend to stay close by when there’s danger nearing?”

“He’s on patrol with the others. What’s going on Holly?” The fact that she’s avoiding the main topic of discussion is starting to worry me. She went to open her mouth when someone started walking downstairs.

“No need to hide, I’m already aware of your presence.” Ava touched the floor at the base of the stairs. Her baby bump grew even more over night. I wasn’t sure how long pregnancies lasted for vampires, but I know witches last the normal nine months, and wolves last about five to six, depending on their rank in the pack.

“Ava, you should be resting.” I got up from my chair at the table to help her over to the same chair and sat her down. She was holding her back like the extra weight was too much for her to handle.

“I never thought these babies would come so fast.” She said while she sat down. “Now, tell me who your friend is.” Before I could make introductions, someone else popped up inside my kitchen who looked extremely like Ava.

“Aunt Avery, what are you doing here?” Ava asked the newcomer.

“It’s been a while, so I thought it might be good to visit next time Holly came down. You look great, by the way; those babies will be here before you know it.”

“How long do I have?”

“We know of the dream you had, Ava, and although what you saw is still weeks away, a part of your dream will happen sooner than later.”

I looked between the two of them, then looked at Holly who was watching me. “What’s going to happen?” I had a bad feeling about this, but even though I asked, I knew I wouldn’t get an answer.

“After this event, you all need to leave,” Holly said. “Ava, you, and James need to take everyone back to your place and start preparing for the main battle of your dream. It won’t be long after that until the babies are born.”

After that last statement, they were gone. My mind was racing all over the place. I couldn’t keep up with what they were saying because I didn’t know all the facts. What event was going to happen soon? It was time Ava gave me some answers if she knew what was going on.

“Not yet Hope. I promise to fill you in when I can, but right now, we should prepare for travel. I don’t know how much time we’ll have to pack before we have to leave.” She got up and went back upstairs. No one wanted to talk, and whatever this event was, I don’t see it as a victory if we didn’t plan for it.

When I stood up to look out the window, I saw the guys walking back towards the house. They were talking and laughing while pretending to push each other around. Holton never had many friends apart from Travis. It was nice to see my brother getting along with other people for a change. He had a temper when we were kids, so he kept to himself a lot. All three of them stopped for a moment, then turned to their right towards the barn. Panic struck across their faces, then they ran in the same direction. I ran out of the house and followed them to see the barn on fire, but it wasn’t a normal fire. It looked like a message was being burnt into the wall. The guys were stopped not too far from the barn, then something flashed on the lawn under the message. After the flash, the fire stopped.

Hand her over before someone else gets hurt.

Holton rushed over to the barn, then started screaming. He was in a lot of pain, which made me run over behind him. I slowed down as I approached and thought I’d collapse at the sight before me. If Mark hadn’t shown up at my side, I would have fallen over. Holton was holding onto Lucy, who was a b****y mess. There was a loud screeching sound when I arrived close to them and I wasn’t sure where it was coming from.

“Hope you have to calm down please.” Mark whispered in my ear. That’s when I realized that I was the one screaming. Jack attacked my best friend to get us to hand over Ava. Is this the event Ava dreamed of? “Shh, Hope. Everything will be alright.”

James walked over to Holton slowly and tried to help him carry Lucy, but he just shouted and screamed more. My parents came running over from the house and stopped as they saw what was burnt on the wall. Mom rushed over to Holton and Lucy.

“Thomas, go set up my office, quickly!” Mom yelled to dad, before she turned back to Holton, “son, she’s still alive, but barely. We need to get her inside so I can heal her. Either you have to carry her, or let James take her if you aren’t able to.”

“I can take her.” He whispered before he slowly got up and cradled her in his arms. He followed mom into the house, then Mark did the same for me. James followed closely behind us. Mom and Holton were already in her office, where dad probably was too. I knew they would be in there until Lucy was doing better.

“We need to go pack.” It was time to stop ignoring Holly and Avery’s warning. I didn’t know what was going to happen, and something told me that this wasn’t over.

“Where are you going?” Mark asked as he put me down on my feet, but still held me close.

“We’re going home.” Ava said as she came back down the stairs. “What happened?” She asked James.

“Jack attacked Lucy and transferred her here with a message. He burned it in the barn to make sure we saw it.”

“He wants me, doesn’t he?” She placed a protective hand over her stomach, followed by James’s hand.

“Nothing is going to happen to you Ava, I won’t let anyone take you from me again, none of you.” There was determination on his face, and somehow I knew he was speaking the truth. Ava was going to be safe, and her babies. “Let’s finish packing while they’re helping Lucy. If you say we’re going home, then it must be for a reason.” They walked upstairs, leaving me and Mark alone in the kitchen.

“What would you like to do?” Mark asked me.

“There’s not much I can do for Lucy right now, so we should pack our things. It’s almost time to leave, I can feel it.” I led the way upstairs and, once in my room, pulled out my suitcase. Mark was already packed; he was one of the neatest people I’ve ever met. He never unpacked his bag once they got there, he wanted to be ready to leave at any moment.

“What is this about?”

“Holly showed up and gave us a warning. It said that some event was coming, and then we’d have to leave. Ava was told to take us to their place.”

“Alright, well that works for me. My mom is excited about meeting you.” He smirks at me.

“Is she good with me being a witch?”

“She hasn’t said anything to make me think otherwise. She was never against other supernaturals, and she trusts what is destined for us.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting her too then.” I smiled at him while I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Hope?” My dad calls from the kitchen. I pulled away from Mark, then walked out of my room. I’ll have to finish packing later.

“What is it, dad? How’s Lucy?”

“She’s stable. There wasn’t as much damage as I thought there was. Can you pack a bag for Holton, and maybe pack some extra stuff for Lucy as well. I don’t think she’ll make it home to pack her own bag.”

“Of course, I have some of her clothes here anyway, so that won’t be a problem. I’ll finish my bag then get started on theirs.”

“Thank you dear, be sure to finish tonight. Your mother thinks you’ll be leaving in a couple of days.”

“We’re all leaving dad; you need to pack a bag for you and mom too.”

“I’ll start as soon as I can.” There was a flash of anguish in his eyes before he quickly hid it then walked back to mom’s office.

“He’s hiding something.” Mark said once dad was behind closed doors.

“You caught that too? I know mom has been hiding something lately, but I didn’t think dad was in on it. Why does it feel like they won’t be coming with us?”

“I’m not sure sweetie, but we have to trust in the warning right now. Let’s finish packing and get the others packed too.”