Mad Bloods

Chapter 5 - Room

"That would mean so much. Thanks, son." Trina expressed when I offered to help her once again as a part of her organizing this school.

She had got students and teachers but needed help with the supplies and equipments. Of course, Elle had given her the contacts for the factories and wholesalers of products, and has even made contract with a computer company for the equipments.

All I have to do is go there and check if the point-person is still alive as they haven't responded to my mother.

I left Trina's office in the mansion to walk back to the main area.

My feet almost getting used to the way the leathers fit and how the pants hugs my legs.

The chandelier above the main area is larger than I remembered it. But way closer now that I've grown taller.

I decided to sit by the large couches here in the area. Normally, no one really bothers to lay here. This family's decorative logic lies on expensive couches for decorations and cheap wine glasses so there's no waste if it breaks. Can't argue with that. They all look the same anyway.

Before I closed my eyes, I went to glance one last time to the upper level, checking to see anyone even when I hear no one.

Elle hasn't really been a mother for Jade besides the name.

I've thought about it so many times but it doesn't hurt less. She has always called Elle her mother, but has always relied on her housekeepes and caretakers for basic maternal assistance.

It didn't really made sense until now.

Surely, Trina wanted me to know now for a reason. My forehead wrinkled in stress I couldn't even stop it from doing just that. I said I don't want to be their messenger but now all I want to do is tell Jade.

But then again, it's not my business to make amends.

Elle knows what she had done and she's got my mother to remind her that. What am I supposed to do?

I heard footsteps and I opened my eyes to stare at the ceiling. I waited for Betty to come down the stairs before I looked.

She half smiled, seemingly thinking whether to approach me or pretend she didn't see me.

"Hey there," I greeted.

Betty took her time to walk before sitting down the couch parallel to me.

"I've been studying herbs and I'm nowhere near learning." she complained.

Herbs can be the most healing and yet, it can also be a poison to feed somebody, both humans and supernaturals alike. And if Betty got someone she'd want to poison, I support that. Truly.

"Creepy stuff, I guess."

She shook her head no.

"Actually, healing herbs are more complicated. It's easier to poison someone."

"So it takes more effort to save someone than to put them in harm."

She shrugged before she stood up and motioned for me to follow.

"Where are we going?"

"There's a garden here"

I stood up and followed her out of the mansion. Betty may not be the kindest, but I trust she won't take me somewhere dangerous. Well, as if there's any dangerous areas in this town.

The garden looked beautiful and alive. It's near the mansion but I have no memory of it being here.

Different types of plants surround its circular area. Both natural and supernatural. I sensed some familiar ones not so far.

"How come I've never been here before?"

"Because it used to be a graveyard. Or, it looked like one." Betty explained, walking towards a wall of vines.

I noted one rare Black Prince Rubber Tree in one area. This isn't a normal garden at all. It has all kinds of different plants you won't see in a typical flowershop.

"This area came alive sometime around last week, very out of the blue really. But I took that to my advantage."

I waited for her to continue, avoiding the leaves to touch my skin but acting as normally as possible.

"I started to learn." she smiled.

Betty placed her hands above a sunflower. Its head was facing the sun but slowly, it leaned to her hand.

I couldn't help but be amazed and expressed it in words.

"Yeah. I'm not so very non-magic witch afterall."

She removed her hand and the sunflower went back to face the sun. It took me an effort to close my mouth back.

"That's really nice, Betty."

"I discovered this three days ago. I hadn't really told Belle."

I frowned. "For what reason?"

"I don't know, maybe because it probably won't feel nice after everything we've been through, we're both supposed to be non-magic twins. Can you imagine how would it feel like for her to learn that I may have magic afterall? She's got no one else, Rome."

"You'll never know what she'd feel unless you tell her."

Her eyebrows raised and she looked at me meaningfully. I shrugged and continued,"Maybe this gives hope to Belle too. Maybe she has magic too." I added.

"Really, Rome?" she asked sarcastically and added, "Have you seen her yesterday?"

Belle looked sad, I noticed. But the knowledge that she may have magic might light her up. Or give her false hope.

"She's been learning and she's good at that don't get me wrong. She's an intellectual girl but it's all on books. I love her, and I would believe in her if I could feel something in her too." Betty's hands speaks with her and I couldn't help but think maybe that's a power too.

Betty has always got her own way of communicating, even when I'm not a witch, I feel like I understand her perfectly by the way she speaks.

"When Trina suspected you may be supernatural, I was the one who told her."

Instantly, she caught my attention.

"What do you mean?"

"It makes sense. When I worked at the diner, I could differentiate people from just their...vibes."

This isn't what I meant when I said she could tell me her stories of working there in her own time. She's literally telling it in her own way, along with her discovery of her magic.

I stared at her, not wanting to ask about me again, but she got the point just the same.

"You have always felt...strong, and brave. And yet, so filled with rage." she explained.

"That's how you theorized I was a werewolf."

She nodded before starting to walk again. I didn't follow but I could hear her explaining how she had always known who was a vampire and who was not. Aside from only ever meeting humans in occassion, she has always known the difference between a vampire and a witch.

"Witches just feels more...natural, so powerful in a gentle way." she mumbled as she walked. Her head looked back and was surprised she had made it far from me. She gestured that I follow and so I sighed and walked to her. This is one huge garden for a long conversation. Why didn't she just invited me to lunch on tables and chairs?

"Vampires just... they reek of death, and youth, and they're lifeless and they can be calm but you can feel that any wrong move, they can attack."

I can't argue with her but vampires have their weaknesses too. She makes them sound so strong.

"I think I have the power of Intuition." she finally says.

"Oh you think so?"

She looked sad at first but then she went back to being her normal arrogance.

"Even when I read, I don't understand it. I can't for the love of life...learn." she exhaled in frustration.

"The only thing I could do is this." she placed her hand in front of a flower and once again, it leaned to her direction as if it's attracted.

"I hear you, Betty. I understand it can be frustrating. But hey, you felt happy upon discovering that right?" I gestured to the flower.

She looked at the flower now facing her hand and smiled. "Yeah, yeah I did."

"It felt good to be able to do something because you can. But then, how would you know your limit if you stopped trying?"

Abilities aren't simply discovered by doing, they're the result of practice and the experiment of just always trying.

I sounded like my mentor and I hated it. But the look on Betty's face made it worth it. That light slowly coming back to her face and her natural blush. That barely wavy hair of hers moving with the wind. She's found hope. And happiness even. Who knows she could feel warmth beneath that cold facade.

"Okay, fine. I'll tell Belle."

?

I walked Betty to their room, and I stood outside, rejecting their invitation. I figured I've had enough absence that they'd feel more comfortable talking in private.

It wasn't long until I sensed Jade coming out of her own room.

"Rome?"

Turning to look at her, I watched her close her door and walk to me.

"What are you doing creeping over the door." she looked at me with disgust.

"They're talking, I decided to wait outside."

Jade went to the door but I blocked her with my body. My height and width enough for her to step back.

"I said they're talking."

I looked down at her and her face went from plainly curious to mildly furious.

The twins voices aren't done talking so I can't let her in, not yet.

"What could they possibly be talking about that I can't join in?" she rolled her eyes.

"Witch stuff. Very creepy." I said seriously.

Jade placed her hands crossed in front of her chest and looked up at me. I could see those hatred again just as how she looked at me from the launching party.

"Aren't you supposed to be at dinner?" I asked her.

"Aren't you?" she raised her eyebrow.

I blinked and stared at Jade for quite a while before realizing the twins are done talking. I just moved aside and Jade proceeded to open the door and walk uninvited.

"Hi, we're fine." Betty smiled to me awkwardly.

"I'm sorry you didn't feel safe enough to tell me first Betty. Truly." Belle stated facing her twin before looking at us.

"What about?" Jade asked.

Jade has got enough secrets hidden from her at this point that I understand her need to instist on knowing the things happening around her. I just thought the twins needed a little bit of privacy first before sharing it with the group.

"I've got magic in me too." Belle said softly which made us move in forward to their room.

I closed the door behind Jade and watched as the three of them formed their circle unconsciously. I noted the smoke from the burning sage beside the door.

"If Betty can feel vibes, I can..."

Belle hadn't finished her sentence when a scream was heard inside the mansion. We all got alerted and looked at each other in terror.

"Stay here, lock the door. Don't leave no matter what happens." I commanded before closing the door in front of me, leaving the three of them safe in the twin's room.

I paced down by the end of the hallway to where I heard a woman scream.

It's a housekeeper, shaking in fear.

"A ghost." she whispered before I could ask.

She pointed to the corner where I looked to see nothing. No shadows, no human-looking hallucinations. None.

I would've comforted her on my own when a familiar older woman came. I recognized her as the head maiden in the mansion all our childhood, I hadn't seen her in a while I didn't even remember she was here. I bowed my head in respect. She smiled lightly when she recognized me too, before attending to the shaking woman beside me.

She has to be a witch. No human were ever allowed to work here. If that's the case, why would she lie about seeing a ghost? Or how would there really be one, in this town where security is as tight as it can get?

Maybe ghosts can pass through the borders, they're invincible anyway, right?

Before I flood myself with questions, I walked back to the girls.

I knocked, and Jade responded "Who are you and what do you want?!"

Smile couldn't fight not to show on my lips, this girl and her extraordinary way of protecting herself. Belle and Betty must've been so lucky to have her as their best friend.

"It's me."

I could hear them debating inside before slowly opening the door. Betty's face came up through the small gap between the door and wall.

Once she saw me, she pulled me in and closed the door behind us. I could say she had strength rooted in adrenaline to be able to pull my weight like that, although it's not like I was resisting anyway.

Six pair of eyes looked at me, waiting for an explanation. "All's good. Nothing worth the panic." I assured them.

Of course, that's not enough to settle a pair of olive green eyes cursing silently at me.

Lightly, I touched her by the shoulders to assure her. Though I'm not really sure why.

That slightest touch was enough for her to be quiet enough for the twins not to worry as well.

"So... you were saying?" Betty turned to Belle.

"You know what, guys, I'm not really in the mood." her doll face expresses exhaustion I couldn't exactly pin-point why.

"Well, you should go." Betty told us.

"I have to go to dinner anyways," Jade shrugged before walking out the door.

I assured the twins one last time before leaving them again.

It's not like they're not invited to dinner, but they have their own choice, usually, they don't join in. It's just us primary family.

"Rome." a loving voice called when I passed her room.

I turned to look at her only to see her hazel eyes nonverbally inviting me in.

"What do you want?" cracking my neck in annoyance, I looked at her holding her door open, acting like I don't care.

Her eyebrows knitted at my reaction and I Iaughed at her face once again.

"Just come inside or do you want me to pull you in as well?" she complained.

"I'd like to see you try," I teased.

"If you hadn't thought about it Rome, you're not worth my energy." she rolled her eyes.

I went inside her room only to feel something changed. Her vanity mirror hasn't been broken, her curtains aren't changed, her bed is still as clean as I remembered. But there's something out of order.

She closed her door and walked to face me, looking up at me with her hair woven in pigtails and her fist on her waist.

"No one has to know about this."

"About what?" I asked.

"Pinky swear!" she exclaimed and placed her fifth finger in between us.

Rolling my eyes, I closed mine with her smallest finger, electricity flowing with the contact.

She pulled away and walked near the light switch. What could she possibly keep as a secret, and yet want me to know about it?

I stared at her eyes as she stared at mine, her hand on the switch. As she flipped it, everything around us sort of glitched, or didn't. It complete changed. What once was modern styled feminine room, got replaced by a dark victorian themed bedroom. Her carved door finally making sense. It fits right with the wooden walls, dark red carpet on the floor and dim light filling the room.

"What is this?"

"I don't know, you tell me."

The room was architecturally the same, the walls and the measurements, but completely different layouts and furnitures. Everything just seemed, old.

I looked back at Jade but she just looked just as confused as I am. She might think I know everything as I have introduced her to the supernatural knowledge, but this is something I've never seen before. I'd hate to disappoint her but this is beyond my own knowledge too.

This seems to be one of those stuffs that concerns witches.

I would tell her let's go ask Belle and Betty, but her eyes expressed fear and confusion more than ever before. She has seen something more than this. She doesn't want them to know, not yet.

"Okay, we have to go to dinner right now but I assure you, we'll get answers. Okay?"

Her hazel green eyes sparkled before she nodded her head. Her lips flattened in fear even when she tries to hide it.

I flipped the switch back on and as expected, her modern room came back. That wasn't so bad.

"Do you want to sleep here?"

She thought and looked around her room before she answered. "Yeah, this is still my room I guess."

I smiled at her bravery. Ghosts shouldn't scare her. Her room turning into a whole new different place doesn't. Why do people think she's scared?

"You really are one brave girl, Jade."

"Woman." she corrected.

We walked together to the dining where we were met with four judging eyes of both our mothers.