3 Chapter 3: Fight & Flight

"What is with the frown and low energy, Jorgen?" mom says through gentle eyes and a delicate tone.

"An anonymous phone number keeps leaving me aggressive messages."

My father is not afraid of holding uncomfortable conversations with my mother. He focuses on the paper in front of him, gripping his pen tight enough that it snaps in two.

As teenagers, they were targeted by a group of sorcerers. The only time the group backed off was when my mother fell pregnant with my brothers.

"What else is bothering you, my love?" My mum never misses a beat. When more information is to be uncovered, she encourages whomever she is talking with to speak their whole truth.

My father closes his eyes, leaving a trail of blue on his face before sighing.

"I am worried about Lithuila's and our family's safety. Zyler mentioned you were knocked unconscious this morning."

My mother narrows her eyes, her cup hangs mid-way between her lips and the table. Up until today, she felt I had not developed a technique.

"Her cursed energy output has grown exponentially, Jorgen. That and she released something that is not cursed energy." She sips her tea and places her cup on the table. My father places his left hand atop her right.

A loud 'pop' coming from the woods directs my parents away from their conversation. They see the faintest glow of light near the lake. Their sorcery training puts them on alert as the front door slams open.

"Who is there?" My father yells while rounding the corner of the kitchen. My mother walks closely behind him as a backup.

"I just got back from my walk in the woods. Is dinner ready?" My voice is shaking and my body stiffens up sporadically from restricted blood flow. If I don't control my heart rate, I may pass out since it is racing ten miles a minute.

"Lith? What happened to your face? Why are you panting?" My father furrows his brow and presses his lips into a tight line. Mum holds a similar expression.

"Nothing, I just ran back from the lake to build up my stamina. I am going to shower. Bye."

I dash upstairs before my parents ask me more questions. I love them to pieces and stress them enough already.

"Sharah, why don't we continue our conversation back in the kitchen. There is more I need to share with you."

Once bathed, I look at myself in the full-length mirror hung inside my closet. The cuts above my left and right eye have healed neatly, and the back of my head is no longer bleeding. The muffled sound of voices echoes through the hardwood floor.

"Jorgen, how many phone calls have you received? What type of mission were you sent on this time? Do you think it is them, again?"

"Fourteen Sharah and three of them were death threats. I already submitted them to Rene, but he is swamped with work."

"And your mission?" My mother's voice is low and serious. My father takes a sharp in hail and a sharp exhale.

"I was sent to retrieve a Special Grade Cursed object. The phone calls started coming in shortly after I found the object. What are you trying to cover up, Sharah?"

"I received a note two days ago." My mother says while her knife bores down on the pizza.

I stop listening and try making sense of what I just heard. Something about phone calls, a cursed object, and a note...a knock on my door jolts back to reality. I gather myself up and throw on a baggy shirt and pajama bottoms. Zink's face emerges from behind the door.

"Mum wanted me to tell you the pizza is ready." Zyler is right behind him.

"Yeah kid, hurry along. We are hungry and tired of waiting."

It feels like the bedroom walls are closing in, caging me like a bird. Suddenly, my stomach drops and my mouth goes dry.

I have a gentle smile on my face, covering up my guilt for having eavesdropped on my parents. I help myself to a glass of water before sitting down. Zink and Zyler chart with our mother by the sink. I turn my gaze towards the lake, wondering how long until Andy and Jane are recovered

"How was your day, Lithuila?" My father smiles, his aura feels off.

"Uneventful, except for mum and I practicing this morning." I sip from the glass, averting my father's eyes, hoping he is too preoccupied with his worries to pick up on my mood. All hope sails away when I cough up my water.

Once the table is cleared, I remain seated per the request of my parents. They come over to where I am sitting, pull up a chair next to each other, and face me. My heart pounds loudly in my ears, I avoid direct eye contact, and play with the bottom of my shirt.

"Lithuila Balzertina-Croatia, what did you see this afternoon?" Mum used both of my middle names, this is not good at all. I clear my throat.

"A sorcerer." My mother looks at my father and covers her face with both hands. She rests her elbows on the table. My father rubs her back in support. Mine as well rip the bandage off.

"I could not see their face nor gather information on their physical appearance. I ran into two more sorcerers on my walk this evening. One presumed male, the other, presumed female. Both in their late teens to early twenties." I break out into a cold sweat and find it hard to sit still. My father's arms are folded across his chest and his cursed energy levels are slowly rising. My mother's heart rate picks up.

Silence fills the kitchen before Zink is told to go back upstairs. At this point my hands are balled up, resting on my lap.

"I exorcised two curses on my walk as well. The injuries you saw when I came through the front door have healed. My Reverse-Curse technique is growing."

I smile at this point, feeling proud of myself. Two years prior, my Reverse-Curse technique was abysmal…it caused more harm than good during a training session that nearly cost my father his life.

"What is going on?" Both of my parents stare at each other. My mother holds her right palm out to my father.

"Has anyone else tried following you the last couple of months?" My mother asks.

"No. I do not leave the house unless it is for training purposes." A knot forms in the pit of my stomach and I bite my tongue between words. "What is a Special Grade object? Is our family in danger?"

After a twenty-minute back and forth of questioning, I never get a satisfactory answer.

"Lith, wait, come back here." My father's plea lands on deaf ears.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I jolt awake, grabbing onto my chest for dear life. The water stains on my pillowcase are hard to miss, and my underarms feel like Niagra Falls. While brushing my teeth, I hear a low-creaking sound coming from downstairs. A gentle breeze crosses my face as I trip over a plate set in front of my bedroom door.

Lith,

Your mom and I want you to know it is alright to feel frustrated. Moving to a new country, saying goodbye to friends, and dealing with your older brothers, it's tough! After you stormed upstairs, I went to the lake and did not see any bodies. As for the Special Grade Object, I put it in the weapons chest.

Your mother and I took Zink and Zyler out for the day. We tried waking you up, but, you would not budge. (Your mom is a heavy sleeper too). While we are gone, practice your jujutsu. The house barrier is updated Of course, if anything goes wrong, I know you can handle yourself.

You are starting school in August. Enjoy your free time while you can, kid.

Love You Lots,

Dad

I read over my father's note three times before placing it on the countertop. Dimples form on my cheeks as I walk toward the basement.