IceShine

III

After a few minutes, Miranda comes inside, and gives me a glass of water... I didn't realize when she left... I take the cup from her with trembling hands and begin drinking as if it was my life source.

After I finished, John takes the cup from my hands and puts it on the table, while Fiona is gently touching my back to calm me. When she sees I stopped trembling, she sits up and goes to sit again next to her husband, taking hold of his hand. Then I realize that he's trembling too, and his expression tells me that he's awfully upset.

"I'm sorry for my outburst... these 2 months were hell for me, and I'm still trying to cope with the situation..."

"It's quite understandable... I really have some explaining to do."

Jason lets out a bitter laugh while saying this, that sends shivers down my spine. I lift my eyes and brace myself for what I am about to hear, taking a deep breath.

"So, 2 months ago, you started calling me and texting me, but you couldn't find me... you also sent me some letters, if I recall correctly, that came back to you unanswered, right?"

"Yes, I thought I should inform you of my parent's passing, even if you didn't pick up the numbers I had."

He stops speaking for a moment and his eyes stay focused on the front table. Then his eyes find mine, and I get scared of the blankness I see in them.

"About three weeks before your parent's death, someone came and tried to kill me…"

What...? My eyes become as big as saucers for what seems to be the hundredth time today!

"When I got out of my car, outside of my workplace, someone shot me in the chest. It hit my lung, and when they got me to the hospital I was barely alive. After the operation, I was in a coma for about two weeks. When I got up, I realized who was the one that shot me, and decided it was time to tell my kids about what they were..."

"What? You mean they didn't know that they were Elemental Warlocks?"

"No. I thought it was better if I waited after they turned 18... but the one who wants me killed, wants all of us dead... I believe you understand that it was the descendant of the human leader... so they had to know... I told Fiona all about it when she got pregnant..."

I look at John and Miranda, who both give me a small smile. Miranda reads the question in my eyes and answers me.

"It was, and still is a little difficult to believe all that... but we manage! I believe when our powers start to manifest, we'll be better..."

John just nods at his sister's words and looks me in the eyes. But Jason's voice makes my gaze quickly return to him.

"We couldn't stay there... we had to leave and change our contact information... we moved to a small town away from there... I didn't want to inform your father before we were settled and that took 1 whole month! By the time I tried to get in contact with him, I couldn't find him... You know your father... he changed your personal numbers almost every month…"

I couldn't help but let a little smile... that's exactly right... My father changed our contact information quite often. It was his way of protecting, I guess... not that it worked well.

"So, I believed he would soon call me and that was it! It was always like this, so I didn't give much thought to it. But then came one of your letters... It must have been the second you sent. That one wasn't returned, thankfully, and the post office delivered it to us. When that letter came into my hands and I read it, I felt the world disappear under my feet. I was late... I was too late..."

He puts his head in his hands and exhales loudly. Fiona taps his back gently and with her other arm squeezes his thigh slightly. When he relaxed, he looked up at me again, with eyes that were glassy with unshed tears. I can't see him like this! Not when it wasn't his fault! But before I could talk, he continued.

"Then, when I told everyone what had happened, we sat down, talked, and decided that the best we could do, was come here, be there for you and protect you. But I didn't know a thing about you. Your father never sent me pictures, only when you were a little girl. So I only knew about your heterochromatic eyes. And that you were the same age as my children."

"And then they came and found me... but they couldn't be absolutely sure, so they followed me after school..."

Jason laughs and John raises his hands in the air.

"It was Miranda's idea, not mine. I was just making sure she didn't give you trouble…"

Miranda just laughs and gives a punch in her brother's shoulder.

"Shut up... as if you had better ideas!"

We all laugh at their little exchange. But Jason’s and mine were a little forced… we both didn’t stop looking at each other, me with suppressed emotion and Jason with blank eyes…

"I'm sorry, Lila... if I had informed your father sooner, this wouldn't have happened..."

I glance into his glassy eyes, and stand up. I go closer to him and stand right in front of him. And then I do what I wanted to do since he told me everything... hug him as tightly as possible.

"Don't say sorry... you were lucky you survived... You did what was best for you and your family..."

I can't help the tears that fall from my eyes. My voice becomes unstable but I continue.

"And finally, you came! You came for me! You didn't leave me alone... you were a little late, but... you still came! And I thank you for that! Thank you!"

That seems to wake him up, and he hugs back tightly. And then he cries too. He cries for his best friend and the lost time away from me. And, like this, we continue crying together, hugged.

…

When we both calm down, I return to my seat beside John, and try to wipe my tears with my hands. But John stops me and gives me a handkerchief, giving me a sweet smile at me.

"Thank you…"

I say with a little voice, just above a whisper. I take the handkerchief from his hands and wipe the remaining tears. Then, I look at Jason and Fiona and I see them smiling at me.

"I know it's difficult for you sweetheart... living in that house with the memories... So I want you to consider coming here to live with us. I believe it will be better for you..."

Fiona says gently and I start thinking. What she said is true... In my house, I can't help thinking about my parents. And there are many nights when the memories consume me so much that I cry myself to sleep.

"And with that you can help us with John and Miranda's training. Since you can control yours, I believe you will be a great help for them..."

I look at her and then close my eyes. I have made my decision. He was my father's best friend... and my father trusted him with his life. Whenever we talked about him, he always told me how trustworthy and how kind he was.

"If it's not that much of a problem, then I'd be happy to stay here..."

I said with one breath and in a small voice. At first I thought they didn't hear me, but by Miranda's reaction, I guess everyone heard me clearly... and by reaction I mean standing up fast and screaming at the top of her lungs:

"Oh, yes!"

And then she comes quickly to me and hugs me tightly. But, before I could react in any way to it, John takes Miranda's hands from around me and looks at her exasperated. "Miranda, please stop. You're scaring her."

"But I'm so excited!"

"I know you're excited, but that doesn't mean you have to crush her... Because that's what you were doing a moment ago."

She looks at her brother and gives him a pout.

"Fine..."

She says that with a roll of her eyes paired with the same pout.

"Anyway, kids! Now that Lila has decided to stay with us, you have to make her feel at home. Go and show her the room she'll be staying at while I finish up with dinner. I'll call you when it's ready. Till then, Lila, please make yourself at home, take a bath and relax a little... I know it's a lot to take in..."

Fiona says gently, and after looking at me with a small smile for a moment, she gets up and exits the room. Jason, too, gives me a smile, gets up and leaves the room. I stay alone with John and Miranda, and for a little while, there's only silence between us. Then John gets up and turns in my direction.

"Come on, I'll show you your room."

He says and waits for me to get up. I look at him and slowly get up.

We exit the living room and I follow them upstairs. When we get upstairs, there's a huge hallway decorated with different kinds of paintings. One of them caught my attention so much that I stopped right in front of it. It was of a warrior in front of a forest. He was standing tall and brave in front of the giant trees that seem to be threatening him.

"Hey, I'm going this way to bring Lila a change of clothes. Go ahead, and I'll meet you in her room."

That brings me back, and I look at Miranda who is already running towards the opposite direction of where we were going.

"Come on, your room is this way..."

Says John and continues walking. After passing another 3 doors, he stops.

"So this one is my parent's bedroom, and this door right here leads to the attic."

He points to two doors that were a little too close to one another.

"And this here is your room."

He opened the door right opposite the other two doors and welcomed me inside my new room.

With one word I would describe the room as bright... like really bright. The walls were white, and the furniture was turquoise. In the center of the room there was a queen-sized bed, with turquoise covers and white sheets. To the left of the bed there was a big nightstand with a lamp. On the right side there was a big bookcase, with most shelves vacant. I could only see a few dictionaries... Exactly opposite the foot of the bed there was an office desk with a chair, both white with turquoise details.

But what almost took my breath away, was the huge balcony on the right side of the bed... It was not too small, but not too big either. When you looked outside, past the turquoise curtains and the glass doors, you saw the awesome view of the sea. Oh yeah... I'm gonna really like it here!

As I was captivated, I didn't hear John calling my name. So, by the time I understand he is calling me and turn to look him in the eyes, he was really close to me. I could read worry in his eyes.

"Are you all right? I lost you there for a second..."

I give him a small smile for his consideration.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just captivated by the view..."

"Oh..."

He turns and looks outside too.

"Yeah... It's really beautiful..."

We continue watching the view side by side for a long time. That was until Miranda came barging in...

"Hey! I'm back with clothes for our little princess!"

At that, I turn and look at her with my meanest glare ever.

"Don't call me princess..."

She just laughs and comes closer to me to give me some pieces of clothing.

"Here. You can use these for today, and tomorrow after school, John and I will come with you to your house to help you pack!"

I watch her carefully. But when I see her smiling brightly at me, I can't stand denying whatever she proposed... Anyway, it might be better for me with someone else there…

"Thank you..."

"You're welcome! Now... John and I will leave you to it, and come and take you for dinner... I know the place is huge and you're gonna take one or two days to get a hang of it, so John and I will be your personal guides through the house."

I just nod at her, knowing full well that I'll just get lost if I try moving by myself. John then clears his throat and I turn my attention to him.

"This door right here is a personal bathroom for you... it has only one entrance and that is here..."

I look in the direction he's pointing at and see a big wooden door, and beside it a wardrobe.

"Okay, thanks."

He nods and leaves the room with Miranda hot on his tail. Just before she closes the door behind her, she says:

"Take your time and I'll inform you when the dinner is ready. I'll come and get you!"

And then she smiles a really sly smile and winks at me quite meaningfully... Okay! That girl is gonna really drive me mad!