The Light, The Dark and The In- Between.

"Look, I know I haven't been the best at being around you and I thought I could be better than your mother and all her family of secrets in a family-owned town. With even more secrets I might add. But maybe it is time for you and your sister to go with your other family. I called your mother and she is on her way to get you guys." I mean, yea, I understand dad doesn't want to raise two girls anymore. Even though he did none of the raising and not much of supporting us. I mean the guy always had some type of roof over our heads. But nothing solid. It was only a matter of time since the bleach-blond bimbo had him kick us to the curb. Surprisingly, my sister and I could give two shits about them. Now my mom, on the other hand. That's the first time he had mentioned them since he told us she died 9 years ago. Suddenly she is alive and on her way here. Dad always insisted mom was dead. But deep down we both knew that was a lie. He tried his best to get us to get off the subject each time, but it hardly worked. So we gave up on asking him. If memory serves me correctly, I do believe it has been at least fifteen years. Fifteen years is a long time. We are almost women now. Well I am at least. Saraphine, on the other hand, was born thirty. So a senior citizen is more her stilo. The girl knows everything about things I can not even begin to try to understand. She was the complete package. She had brains, she had mystery, she had no idea all the heartache she was gonna cause in the world. At least once, a boy came into her vision. But books are all that girl cared about. "Our mom? What do you mean?" " I told you she was dead for your own good. Lets just leave that in the past and move forward. So she will be here any minute. Better get going and get your stuff together." With that, he left the front door. I heard his car start and he took off. I stood there with my little sister and she was even speechless. "Well, I guess mom is alive. Explains why he would never take us to visit her grave ever." I sighed in relief at that bit of information. I am just finally relieved he told us the truth. "Yea, because there wasn't one." We are both just trying to process that bomb shell of information. But soon snap out of it and start getting the things that meant something into our bags. Believe it or not we both had one backpack each. And that was enough for me. "Well, Nancy Drew, are you up for the challenge of unlocking all those unspoken secrets?" "You beat your ass I am! Lets finish up, so we can get peace out of this hell hole." "Ruby?' "Saraphine?" "Do you think she looked for us at all?" "I do, but you know, dad never had us stay in one place for so long. Every month. Like clockwork." "What changed?" "I don't know, sis." "You don't think it's because we are getting older. Guys are always looking at you. Remember that one time?" "Dude , there are a lot of those and I would rather not think about it." "Fine, but I am just saying, maybe it's too much for him. Us being girls and all." "Well, it's not like the man ever really took care of us." "True, I am just nervous. I hardly remember her anymore. Just the way she smelled was divine. She always smelled of melons and cucumbers." "Yes, she did. Does." We both started laughing and the excitement was overwhelming and nerve-racking. We waited in the living room and when I looked up at my sister Saraphine I could tell the anticipation was killing her. Suddenly, an over-aggressive knock well banging on our door made Saraphine jump up and walk towards the door. Just to stop dead in her tracks. Luciana Star POV "Hello" "Lu?" "Grant? WHERE-" "Hey, before you start tracking my calls. Come get the girls." "Where are you and why, what's wrong?" "I'm sorry Lu. I tried to be strong." "They found you? How? Wait, where are you?" "They are at 8855 North Jasper Lane. In Sunnyvale." "You are just two towns over?" "We just got here. They are there waiting for you. Please, I know you will keep them safe. Just tell them I did it for their own good." "Grant, we made that decision together. I am on my way." "Lu, I won't be there when you get there, it's better they think I am on the run again. I will be in contact." "Understood. And Grant, Thank you." "Anything for you Lu, wish things could be different. But I know Oliver. He will die before anything happens to them. Bye Lu. You know the rest." With that, the phone went silent. Lucina looked up with tears in her eyes. Her father, Jess, and her brother Oliver, looked at her with impatience. "Dad, Oliver, it's time." "What are we waiting for?" I will watch from here. You should go and take whoever you need. You never know what to expect." "Be back in a minute, pop." "Go get our girls, hon. It has been too long. " With that, Luciana and Oliver headed out of the driveway with three SUVs trailing. Grant Blackwater POV It's been 15 years since RubyLyn was only 2 and Saraphine was just born. I was at the top King of Alphas. Everyone feared me. I had a wife who was not my moon mate but she was everything to me. We've known each other since before we were born. Our mothers were never without others. But that twosome was indeed a threesome. Those three were thick as thieves. I did everything together. Their families are the 3 most powerful families any supernatural being ever came across. The mob had nothing on them. So to speak. Because, after all, the outside world knew nothing about Lycans or werehumans. The outside world doubted witches or vampires existed. But they do. Every creature told about in the movies, oh it's real. People are just too blind to see the signs. Programed to do what certain society members want you to believe. Carrying on like a robot. Whatever keeps things in order. I have been running for years with my girls. Lucina and Oliver twins. The Star twins. Very well known, ruthless together. They held nothing back. Lucina had a gift for distinguishing the bullshit right in front of her. She could just tell when you are lying, holding something back, or just straight out trying to run game on her. You wouldn't expect it from her by her looks. She is the sexiest thing I have ever laid my eyes on. Long black curly hair, always bouncing when she put it in a pony tail. She was short but had a very mature appearance. Man, that girl could rock a skinny black dress. Our girls started to resemble their moms more and more every day. The attention they started drawing was getting more than this father could handle. Plus, it was getting close. In the darkness, I could hear them more clearly now. And that is never a good sign. Now Oliver was the devil in disguise. He is what every girl wants in appearance and charm. When he wants to be. Piss him off or make his sister doubt herself and there will be hell to pay. I used to think he enjoyed it. But now I know what it is that makes a man do some things. It's for the love of that one , and that one was his sister. Not just because they are brother and sister, but because they shared their mothers' womb. And they always had each other's backs. Still do. I miss hanging with those two. But sometimes you gotta disappear when things go sideways and south. Rubylyn Thomas (Black-Star) POV As the anticipation was building, I could tell my sister was getting restless. I was already on edge because my body was changing and becoming a woman consists of more than just menstrual cramps. I just want to die now. The sound of someone knocking startled me. Saraphine jumped to the door practically and was about to open it but stopped suddenly. She turned around and had a strange look on her face. "I don't think it's mom. We should get away from the door." I always listened to her. She had this woman's intuition. Why we decided to block the door with the table, I don't know. Just seemed right. We slowly backed into the hall and went to our room, grabbed our bags and waited for a moment to make a run for it. The banging got louder and then voices, but the way they talked was not like a language I could understand. But Saraphine, she may be beautiful and all, but she was a dedicated library on Friday night kind of girl. No one could tear her away from one of those places. She knew exactly what they said. The way she looked at me. "Let's go." We went through the connecting door that led out to the business next door. We put on our baseball caps and played the game our dad always had us play when we were together. We could slip in and out of anywhere undetected. We mastered that when I was 10. I mean if you win, you get to choose dinner and dessert. Saraphine and I went towards the exit. We got to the door when I heard our front door being broken. That was our cue to high tail it out of there. We ran out the door and made a left. Crossed the street and then two blacked out navigators pulled up and the whole world seemed like it just stood still. Suddenly the scent my sister and I have longed for for so long. Melons and cucumbers. Strong as ever. We didn't need any assurance, no introductions, anything. That smell alone was all we needed to know about who to go with. Before mom could say get in, we were jumping in the back seat and ducking. Playing invisible was also a big part of the game. We played in this scenario so many times. It was normal. Dad never blinked an eye. He was James Bond. He always made it look so easy. The man never had much of a loving father, taking over two roles. However, he protected us like the world needed us. I find it typical of him not to be here. As if this was another one of his drills. He made sure we could handle ourselves in any situation. He was always patient and understanding. Looking at Saraphine I could tell she knew what was going on. At least at this very moment. I sat on the seat and buckled my seatbelt. Looking at the front passenger seat. I nod to the woman who I have never believed was truly dead. She gives the okay nod back. And we play the disappear game. But nothing could prepare us for what happened next. Well, for me at least. Saraphine Thomas (Black-Star) I was dying. Mom was taking forever. Something had to be wrong. My mind was racing. All the little things our father did and all those games we played finally made sense. And that was just a tiny portion of what we endured. I always felt we were running from something or someone. And that story of mom being dead was a lie from the get go. I knew that. But it made me believe there was a good reason he would do things. I looked at my sister when someone banged on our door. Something about the bang screamed out. 'Don't Open It'. And the smell of mocha and cigarettes, menthol at that. That smell always meant trouble. I turned to my sister. "I don't think it's mom. We should get away from the door." I motioned for her to help me with the table. Man, she is freakishly strong. The girl can lift anything. We then backed up slowly towards our room. And grabbed our bags. Waited for the right moment to get dark, as my dad put it. I threw her her baseball cap as I grabbed mine. Wait for it. I listened and saw the language they were speaking. Couldn't be. No way are those people speaking the old world language, Farsi. Persian. I knew it. They were trouble. "Let's go." And out the door that connected to our building and to the left we went. Suddenly, like in a James Bond movie, these suburban-looking cars stop and I felt safe. Grabbed my sister's arm and went into shock or something. Opened up the back door and jumped in. Melons and cucumbers. That is all I know, what will cause this feeling in my stomach. Sense of calmness. The sense that our fears are not known. No matter what the world may throw at you. No amount of bad dreams or even bad days could add up to the sensation I felt in my bones when I was in contact with that scent. Looking at my sister, she had the feeling too. Right about now, normal teenage girls are screaming at the chaos around us. Not us. We just buckle our seat belts and prepare for s**t that is about to hit the fan. Now my sister, you gotta love her. She did things one could only achieve in the movies. She had a scary talent. Although it always took a toll on her. She would never once question how we got from one place to another in a matter of seconds. Once we were buckled in, all I heard my big sis say was one word. Invisable. Oliver Star POV The moment my sister hung up, I knew it was time. It has been fifteen years since I heard those two giggling or running around causing all kinds of trouble. The tears went by slowly at first, but then these last five happened in the blink of an eye. I could tell LuLu was about to kill someone. Me, if i didn't hurry up. The moment we exited the highway, I could sense the darkness near. It's presence was felt. And it could sense there was power near by. Power that we tried to hide from the third family. For good reason. All they wanted was to suck out someone's lifeforce just to live on for centuries. We didn't say anything at first, but the moment RubyLyn could disappear without warning, we all knew something had to be done. My twin sister Lu understood that she couldn't go with them. And it was a sacrifice I couldn't make if it was my daughters. But she did what she had to. We hit the corner and I broke the moment I saw two teenage girls each a splitting image of my sister in her former years. Long black hair, angelic faces, they jumped and ducked with elegance. Yup, my brother-in-law hasn't lost his touch. I bet he has been training those girls since the day they left. Next thing I see, the shorter one opens the door and grabs the other. They hop in and next thing I know, we are in Colorado. I can hear RubyLyn having the biggest argument with herself. "Rubylyn, you have no idea just how special you are." "What? I didn't say anything." I am in way over my head. "HOLYSHIT!" "Alright, alright, girls, let's calm down and relax. Now, sweetie, when you said invisible, what did you picture in your head?" "I thought of the Colorado Mountains." She definitely has no idea. LuLu tries to get her to focus. "HOLY s**t!" "Calm down sis. I told you. I mean I have been telling you. Come with me to the library. It is a vast network of all things possible. It is the gift of knowledge. It is there to guide you. But no, you would rather work." "Okay look at me Rub, now focus on this picture and imagine us there." "She's gotta be invisible mom." And in a flash, we are suddenly in the driveway. I look back and RubyLyn is sleeping. Saraphine is holding her hand. As if she is guiding her. I get out and open the back door to carry Rub inside when someone's hand grabs mine instead. "I know there is a library. Take her to the second floor. Second door on the left. I got me a library to inspect." And just like that she is running up the stairs. I take RubyLyn up to the second floor. I put her in the room she had before evrything went sideways. I can't believe it has been fifteen years. Soon she will be eighteen and the whole world we live in will be brought back together. No more killings, no more lies, no more stealing of innocent souls. The Dark's will learn. They think they can just break through the In-Between and steal souls just to stay here. Pathethic. I look at my niece one more time. Remembering when she just turned three. She was so happy. She showed me her magic trick. That was how we found out she could walk in the shadows. I freaked out when we did it together, she giggled the whole time. Never afraid. I know she will overcome whatever she needs to do in order to be who she needs to become. She is her mom afterall. And Luciana doesn't scare easily. I smile and say it out loud so she knows, "You are special RubyLyn. Remember that."