Sheewolf

Chapter Two

It was two days since the Ashburn's had moved back to Adelaide and to say it went well was out of the question. The initial thought about our new house was that they'd be in a nice house similar to their older one, maybe smaller, since we're just moving here. However, all thoughts were forcibly thrown out the window when they turned down a gated driveway, a nice long winding driveway. With several paddocks and surrounding woodlands, the grass was maintained to a fine standard and everything Kiara laid her eyes on seemed immaculate. Every tree perfectly spread, every flower on every bush made sense and the tiles on the pavement driveway appeared as though they'd never been used. She had yet to see the house but her imagination was running records around her. "What the f**k is this?" Kiara blurted out more so at herself, and yet the sentence came out so strong. Dalaus, who is usually the calm, collected of us, appears to be at a complete loss of the composer. "Dalaus, are you seeing what I'm seeing?.. Lonzo" Looking to her brothers for support, Kiara reaches her phone and takes a picture of the beautiful scenery. "I'm looking at the same thing you are, Ki.. The thing I wanna know is how the hell dad can afford a place like this and why? I mean, what is he trying to prove here?" Lonzo says, and they all agree with his words.

Suddenly, a large house appears ahead of us and can't be shielded by the roof of the car, the house itself seems to be separated by three sectors, but the main building is a large triple-story blue-bricked colonial house. Yes, blue with white window frames, trims and beams, the door is red as are the window shutters. The red is an elegant undertone, very fine. "I'd love to see this house in autumn", Kiara thinks to herself, imagining the breathtaking home in the warmth of fall. As it's coming into the middle of spring in the Southern hemisphere, it's more bright, pink and lime colours and the house stands like a dark shadow to those bright colours. Disconnected from the main house is a garage which is just as impressive and looks to be the size of my old house. "Wow", Kiara mutters in astonishment. She glances at the boys who're just as captivated and eager to explore the MANSION in front of us.

Before Lonzo could come to a stop, Kiara practically tosses herself out the door and runs to the first window, jumping to see through like some stalker. She makes some exaggerated gasp every time she actually catches a glimpse at something, making her brothers jump each time. Once they finally settle in the driveway, Braedon meets Kiara near the front door but is stopped when Raphiael comes charging towards him in a rage of fury. "Care to explain what the hell we're doing here?" Raphiael says, he looks as if he's about to challenge his own father an angry mess if I say so and yet Braedon only meets his sons gaze and tenfold. Kiara looks over to Dalaus or Kaycee to defuse the situation and they look at him with the same expression, but Lonzo is the one to step in "Hey Ralphs". He says, taking a step towards his brother and placing a comforting arm on Raphiaels shoulder, looking him in the eye, yet Raphiael seems not to hear him or ignore him either way. His reaction is still the same. "Look, I know we're all on the high edge right now, I mean look at this place!"Lonzo says, walking in the line of Raphiaels sight, blocking their dad from his view. He makes some wide arm motion with his hands raised on either side of his body to present the house behind him as if we hadn't noticed and Raphiael, out of force, finally spares his younger brother a glance. Lonzo makes some awkward chuckles feeling the weight of Raphael's gaze on him, but does his best not to be intimidated. "What I'm trying to say is I'm sure dad has some reasonable explanation. Why don't we all take a moment to breathe." he pauses and, in a calming way, brings his hands up to his nose, taking a long dragged out breath and exhaling before saying "Calm down, and head inside to have a civil conversation. We don't need to make a scene out here and ruin the beautiful outdoors with our bad juju" he's now turned his body to the side so he can look at both his father and his brother with the utmost respect and he looks between them, seeing Raphiael relax if only the slightest and Kiara fights the smile threating to appear on her face, "That was incredible' She thinks to herself" "Well done, brother" thinks a proud Dalaus and they wait for their father to unlock the large door and head inside the mansion before they each hustle to and thru the front door.

Oh my God..

The interior is just as nice as the exterior with everything you'd imagine. The first thing to note are the two chandeliers hanging above the entrance. To the left is a single staircase to the second floor and to the right a hallway to the kitchen. The floor was raised on a tile platform and then down to a dark wooden floor. The walls were a creamy white with dark wook undertones. The furniture was

old, antique, looking like we were in a museum. "Oh how I'd love exploring this place." Kiara imagines the adventures she'd have in such a mysterious place. All the secrets behind the pretty-looking house. Maybe she'll remember more about herself..

The thing about Kiara is, after the accident, her memory never fully recovered. It's frustrating and she'll drive herself mad at the thought of it. To make matters worse, for some reason her family won't share, she's given up asking them. "What's wrong?" Lonzo asks, worry filling his expression. They're the last two in the front area. She shakes her head and laughs, somewhat forcefully "Just.. Lost in thought." sounding as if she's trying to assure herself more than him, but Lonzo shrugs it off for the moment. The two had always been close best friends, it seemed. T'was as if destiny herself put them together, so he knew when she looked off. "Come on, dad's waiting" he said, calming her and leading her in through the eye-catching house.

Kiara was taking in every nook and cranny, memorising where each picture hung, each archway, the placement of a light or statue and what not. How many rooms she'd walked past already, six so far, but it looks like she's coming up to number seven. This was still only the first floor, yet there was so much to take in. Finally, she finds herself at a long table, the one in rich people's mansions where everyone sits so far away from one another. She glances at the boys, noticing how Raphieal is sitting across from her dad and Dalaus next to Ralphs in case he needs to calm him down. Lonzo sits at the head, which makes Kiara grin, and Kaycee is next to dad. Kiara decides to sit next to Kaycee but really doesn't plan on paying too much attention, not seeing the need to go through any gory details.

Braedon studies his children. One by one, Raphieal is slouchy and has a wicked attitude. "Remind you of someone?" he said to himself before. He sees Lonzo at the head of the table. "Must be an ego boost to put yourself there". He laughs at himself and studies his older boy's worrisome expression, as if Braedon would lose his temper. Sighing, pushes up and out of his seat and stands effortlessly carefully picking his next words. "It's been 8 long years since I've been back in this house." Braedon touches the wall and remembers the last night he was here. "My... Your grandparents owned this place. Passed to your grandfather by his father, who received the house from his mother, who in turn earned the house from her father. " he goes on to say "l hate your grandparents with a passion." Braedon expresses his disinterest in his parents with only a look in his eyes. Pure disgust and hatred radiating from this man is enough to show anyone he means what he's saying. "Long story short.. I almost lost Kaycee because of them. I will never apologize for keeping them from you children. My children." A strange glow clouds his eyes for no more than a few seconds, however it's long enough to notice Dalaus glares at his father as if a warning to calm the hell down it was like they were having some sort of internal conversation with each other.

Braedon sits himself back in his seat and focuses on his thoughts. "now that they're gone, this house belongs to me." He explains. and Raphiael, is the first to respond "So we're not going into debt?" The room goes quieter than before and everyone starts bursting out in laughter "Is that why you're so grumpy right now, son?" Braedon asks and Ralphs face just goes red with embarrassment and shame. "I'm sorry, dad.. I just thought.. It doesn't matter what the hell I thought, I was wrong getting so angry over something so small." Raphiael explains his eyes going blood shot as if he were about to cry, he doesn't but is so close to it.

Braedon walks over to his son and pulls him into a much needed hug engulfing him with love and admiration.

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After the meeting in the dining area, Kiara and her family spend the next two days unloading everything in the movers vehicles and decorate the mansion with the furniture. "In each vehicle there seems to be filled to the brim with so much more stuff; Yet it all seems small in the depths of this giant house that now belongs to us..." Kiara thinks to herself before grabbing a few boxes of her things, and taking them inside.

As said previously, the left wing of the house is the kitchen, dining, living space of the house. While the right wing is where the second living room, up stairs, bedrooms and most bathrooms are (there are at least eight or nine bedrooms in the house, two living rooms, five bathrooms a kitchen, a sun room and seven empty rooms inside the house.) Kiara heads upstairs and down the old corridor of rooms until she reaches hers, the third room to the left. Going inside with a box of things she notices the bed is already set up, just needing to be put in the right spot. She looks around surveying the large room "Is this really mine?" she muttered to herself.

Like the rest are the house, the room is twice as large as her old one including an on-suite and small walk-in closet. Does every room look like this? She wondered as you open the door you're greeted with light, so calm and refreshing. The large double windows open to the roof of the second floor and the window sill acts as a bay window of sorts. She plans on making this spot more friendly, perhaps turning it into a reading corner she imagines. Next turning to a nook in the wall "And that's where my bed is going." Kiara incisions the pictures she'll put on the large walls to cover the white, where she'll put all her knick knacks she'll finally have room to set up her instruments: the violin, guitar, piano/keyboard and even the harp.

Kiara is a.. Restless person, after being in a coma for so long she never wanted to waste time. The girl taught herself seven languages: Including Maori, Samoan, Russian, Japanese, German, Hawaiian and Spanish. and is currently teaching herself all dialects of each language she took a seven week cooking course and took an apprenticeship with a local mechanic for the time she was recovering.

Her boss Russell was a middle aged man with a heart of gold, everyone seemed to know and love him and he seemed to have a soft spot for Kiara she was the daughter he never had and his crew only consisted of five other men; One being his dear son, Lucas who was like another brother to Kiara. She made sure to give Lucas her number when she'd left so they could keep in contact. Both son and father were happily married Lucas has an older brother, Mark who is a very successful businessman and lives in New York.

Lucas and his wife Mary have recently discovered that Mary is pregnant and they asked her to be the baby's godmother. Could you believe that!? Lucas, Russell and Mary actually planned to visit Kiara and her family in the next holidays which is about three months from now and she could hardly wait. Mary had become one of her only girl friends she had. After her accident she only had three friends as well as her long time relationship with her now boyfriend, Troy. Her other friends are Troy's sister Jaqueline Kiara's best friend, Sage and Mary. They were her girls and she was sad to be leaving them.

She decides to check her phone for the first time today and sees the messages from her favourite people. Troy had been calling her since early this morning and she had a message or two from each or the girls wishing her well along with a video message from Lucas and his dad along with the guys from the mechanics. It made her feel like the most special girl in the world. Most people need recognition from hundreds and thousands of people to feel special, but Kiara felt special because of the messages she'd received from these people. she finally realised that her bedroom was ready. In all of her thoughts she had finished decorating her room and liked the outcome.

Smiling at her work she heads out into the corridor to make her way down to the first floor before she's stopped by Lonzo. "Hey.. Ki!" he calls out from behind her and she sees him come out of the last room on the right and figures that must be his room. She waits for him to catch up before acknowledging him, and he makes sure to check out her room making her a little self conscious. A feeling she's becoming accustomed to and doesn't enjoy it. Lonzo is now in front of her and he states with concern as if knowing how she is feeling without being told. "Am I that readable? Do I look as miserable as I have been feeling lately? Something is missing from me and I just can't let it go.." Kiara thinks to herself

"Ki.. Ki! Kiaraa? Oi, what's your problem?" She blinks back to reality again drifting off into nomads land. "I'm fine.." She says and walks down the stairs, leaving her brother behind. And heading into the kitchen. She sees Raphieal is sitting comfortably at the kitchen counter eating an apple and she opens the fridge to see nothing. "Damn it." Grimacing at the sight in front of her she turns to her brother again noticing his apple. She eyes it, realising she hasn't eaten since the day before.

Something she's begun doing lately not eating until the hunger begins eating herself. But just before she opens her mouth Lonzo rushes in the kitchen in a huff. "You are not fine, Kiara." he states as more of a fact than anything and finally.

Raphieal looks up as if seeing her for the first time. Is she really that invisible? "You can walk around pretending but I see it, Dalaus sees it. Heck we all see that you're not fine." That brings her back to reality and while she knows that her family is worried about her and to be frank, she is kind of sick of it. Being looked at like a stick who's going to break at the slightest touch. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about, Lonzo. I told you already that nothing is wrong, everything is great. Infact, it's f*****g amazing! I just don't understand why you won't take my word for it, and even if I wasn't fine. I don't need you guys babying me, looking down on me or whatever. I've had enough of the sympathy; treat me as.. Treat me, like you did before that accident. Please!"

With that she storms out leaving the two boys in the kitchen. "What was that about?" Raphiael says, a little startled by the sudden outburst made by his sister. Lonzo is pacing the kitchen, angrily what the hell is her problem anyway? All he ever wanted to do was help her and she knows that more than anyone. So why is she pushing him out? He goes to head after her but is stopped by a hand on his shoulder "I.. I think it's best if you don't go, Lonzo." His shorter, older brother says to him and for once he doesn't seem to be looking down on him.

"Look, I bet she's just hungry. I saw how she was staring at my apple and I don't remember if she's eaten in the past couple of days so I can bet on the fact she's hungry. I'm going to take her into the town, nearby and bring back dinner. Calming her nerves alright? Then maybe.. She'll open up to one of us." Raphiael says trying to mediate the situation. He sees his brother contemplating the idea before he receives the coldest look he'd ever been given from Lonzo "I want to know if he tells you anything. I feel as if it's my job to know." Lonzo says and the aura emitting off of him says everything. He's suddenly become so protective of his sister it's a little toxic. Animalistic even.. "Yes, brother.." Raphieal responds knowing he'd also been the same on the night of the shooting.

That cold night, none of the boys will forget the dreadful feeling of almost losing their sister. Their whole purpose in life was to protect her, she's their little sister it's what brothers are for and yet. They couldn't prevent what had happened that day and it played in each of their minds like a broken record. their mother had already died and the grief of losing her was overwhelming but if they had lost their sister, who was connected to them from birth. Then it would be like a part of their souls ripped from them. Raphiael got into the worst condition that night he doesn't remember much after the s**t ton of drugs he took; What he does know is how he woke up the next day in the city jail waiting for bail.

Apparently he had beaten the s**t outta a few guys at a pub and was also charged with drug consumption. He had to sit in a dark cold jail sell and reminisce the past seventy-two hours he lost his mother in a shooting and his dear sister is near dead he doesn't know what the hell has happened with her. If she's okay, alive or dead, how bad her condition is she was shot in the head after all. Raphiael remembers holding his head in his hands and sobbing for the remainder of the time he was in the holding sell. He was never the one to cry but that had done it. Not only that but he was still coming off the high from whatever drug he took and it wasn't for another day or so that his dad bailed him out.

Saying he was angry was an understatement but that was only the beginning of Raphiael spiral through self destruction and especially once Kiara awoke from her coma.

Raphiael remembers spending the first week she was home sitting at the bottom of her bed with a baseball bat just encase something happened to her, he almost took out Dalaus when he was trying to get him to go to sleep but Raphiael was so sleep deprived that he thought Dalaus was an intruder attempting to kidnap his sister. Lucky Dalaus has a hard head and Ralphs was tired from spending a week on Kiara's bedroom floor. Yet he refused anything less no mattress, beanbag, pillow, blanket no nothing because they'll make him tired and lose focus. Braedon in the end had to put his foot down and tell him to sleep in his own bed promising to take his place that night.

Blinking back to reality, Ralphs walks into the foyer and spots Kaycee and Kiara sitting on the staircase embracing each other. He wonders what they could've been talking about but brushes it off and instead grabs his jacket with his keys in it and throws one at Kiara. "Come on, we're getting something to eat." I say and her face lights up as does Kaycees "I want Chinese or Turkish!" he says while handing me a fifty dollar note. "Heck Lonzo didn't even contribute. The bastard."

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