Why Now?

Elinora

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Once we were all dressed, primped, and ready to go, we loaded into Zin's Range Rover. Apparently, the house, if you can even call a castle a house, is more secluded than it was as Split Creek. They let the driveway become lost to the main road, grown over and hidden. The signage indicating the turn was barely visible and not at all legible. The whole entryway is wrapped in vines coiling around any surface in reach of the wispy tendrils. With the apparent abandonment of outdoor maintenance, the Rover, in all of its 4-wheel-drive glory, is the best rig for the job.

I didn't understand why it seemed like they wanted it to be forgotten. For all the 7 struggled to take over the estate, I would've expected they wanted to be seen, if only to attract more freethinkers. Split Creek was secluded, but Misfit Mansion was all but invisible unless you knew where to look. I guess they had their family already. No reason to parade around looking for new faces.

From what I understand, you are accepted with open arms if you happen upon this castle in the woods. But, they don't want anyone who actively chose to uncover their residence.

Zindra says that Alec, one of the 7 and apparently the ring leader, lives by faith. By keeping their home hidden, only people who need to find their way will show up at the door, or at least that's the idea. Led by a blind pull to an old castle in the middle of nowhere, Texas. Completely normal.

I was zoned out, staring out the window, trying to prepare myself for the onslaught of emotion that always comes when meeting a new group of people.

"There she is!" Yelled Holly, "Home, sweet home."

Breaking out of my stupor, I commented on the overgrown driveway, "Yeah, sweet, that's the word I would use; not at all creepy or spooky."

"It's secluded, so no one tries to come and steal the magic of this place," she argued, "you'll see. You're gonna love it."

"Yeah, just don't mention it if you hate it here," mumbled Zin, disguising her comment with a short cough. I rolled my eyes at her, always the pessimist.

"I'm sure I will love it. I have never doubted that I would love the people you call family, and I am already feeling mesmerized by the driveway. Just the driveway, so far. Don't worry about me liking it here; I already love you both, which means I love this place and the accompanying strangers by proxy."

"Then why did I have to trick you into coming?" Holly pondered, "You've known me almost 4-ish years, give or take, and never once have you given in. I even begged! Literally, you still said no, even with me on my knees!"

"To be fair, on your knees puts you almost level with Nora's height," Zindra quipped, "she probably didn't even notice and thought you were crouching for better eye contact."

Shooting a quick glare in Zin's direction, I forced a laugh, "Alright, let's not start firing off the short jokes," before bringing the attention back to Holly's question.

"Holly, I don't know. I guess a lot of selfish fear kept me from agreeing. Zin seems to think I am overexaggerating-"

Zindra scoffed before interrupting, "Oh, you absolutely are!"

"BUT, I genuinely can't walk into a room without feeling the emotions of every other individual there. I feel all the heartache and frustration. I feel all the joy and excitement. I feel apprehension and confidence, lust and disgust. I feel it all."

I sighed, brushing a hand back through my hair, "Zin is half right,"

"CALLED IT!" Zin exclaimed, not someone to hold back an "I-told-you-so."

"I can control it to an extent, numb out and put on a brave face, but then I'm not there. I lose my own reactions, feelings, and attitudes if I do that. But, if I don't numb out, if I just take the onslaught of external emotion, I drown out myself, anyway."

Holly took a second to digest my explanation. They both knew about what my mother told me before her death, and they had read the notecard's explanation. I just didn't like talking about it. There was no way to train my so-called abilities. Google didn't have any magical courses on teaching ancestral empathetic powers, so I would rather just forget about it as much as possible.

"I understand, and I am really sorry I tricked you into this. It's just… I just… UGH! I want my extended families united, is all."

Holly looked sincerely apologetic, which only made me feel guilty for pushing her away anytime she broached the subject in the past.

"Yeah, yeah," chimed in Zindra, who couldn't stand a sappy moment and could always sense them approaching. "You guys love each other. I love both of you. We are just one big happy family. Holly, Nora accepts your apology, and Nora, Holly forgives you. Let's wrap up this mush-fest!"

Always the comedic relief, Holly and I accepted Zin's interpretation of our moment with a chuckle.

Holly added, extending an olive branch, "We can leave whenever you're ready, Elli! I don't want you to get tired of the squad before they even have the chance to know you."

I nodded in response but was suddenly speechless at the sight before me. A Victorian estate spread out ahead of me, the sun setting in the background. The architecture was gothic-style, regal almost. The building was so massive I would almost believe it had its own gravitational pull.

And it did pull you in. I couldn't look away.

The exterior, covered in creeping vines and moss from age, was absolutely bewitching. Complete with dramatic archways and cavernous window settings peeking through the intricate masonry. I almost overlooked the stained glass looming above in the tallest towers. To say I was in awe would be an understatement.

We parked under a willow tree, whose drooping branches made the perfect natural garage.

I was still gaping at the grounds surrounding the palace before me when Holly began rushing us out of the car.

"Let's go, let's go, let's go! Everyone else is already here, and I have told them enough about you that they are itching to finally put a face to the name."

Holly slammed the door behind her. Immediately opening my door, ushering, "M'lady," with a silly bow.

"That's the kind of attention that will go straight to her head," Zindra voiced her concerns, "she'll have us waiting on her hand and foot."

I let loose a cackle, "Whatever, Zin. If any of us hold ourselves like a queen to be waited upon, it'd be you."

"It's not my fault. I know what kind of treatment a gorgeous woman like me deserves," she remarked while flipping her hair from her shoulder.

All I could do was giggle. Zindra was right. For all her attitude, her beauty was undeniable. No one could match the way all eyes in a room magnetized onto Holly, but Zindra was a close second, with the most male attention by far out of the 3 of us. Which was a waste considering she was completely in love with women. She always said she couldn't be bothered to train a man into a respectable partner — and that breasts are the single most attractive part of human anatomy.

The bottom line, Zindra is stunning. Her eyes are unbelievable, a swirling blend of ice blue and grey prominent against her tan skin. She has midnight black hair that she constantly applies temporary blue hair dye to for the reflect it gives in the sun. Though not as tall as Holly, she can still reach the top shelves without crawling on the counters at a comfortable 5′7" (about 170 cm).

Knowing how to work her curves, Zin opted for a striking red body-con dress with a halter top that reached her mid-thigh. Never one for heels, her ripped, black pantyhose led down to her black platform Dr. Martens, scuffed with age and wear. Her classic leather jacket, also black, and minimal jewelry finished the look.

I always let Holly dress me for events or nights out on the town. She says my "girl-next-door-that-only-wears-activewear" aesthetic is boring. I'll choose comfort and functionality whenever it comes down to comfort or style. And, thanks to her eye for fashion, my outfits were always dazzling.

I wore a sheer, black mesh dress with long, bishop-style sleeves over a minimal black satin slip dress. A deep-v neckline accentuated my perky bosom, cinching at the waist before the circle skirt flared out, reaching just past my knees. Dotted all around the netted fabric were silver stars and crescent moons. I followed in suit and donned black pantyhose, sans rips, leading to my black, high-heeled booties. Making me at least 5 inches taller than usual.

Though she knew how to dress for attention, Holly always chose more subdued looks for herself, striking enough without an added ensemble. She wore a pair of patterned high-top sneakers with a pastel rainbow of watercolor splotches. A plain but fitted, lilac long sleeve tee paired with a white skater skirt. Always carrying her mini, white leather backpack for what she called the necessities.

All out of the car, I hesitantly followed my friends towards the castle they called home. My anxiety interrupted by a yell from one of the windows, "HOLLY! ZINDRA! Hurry your cute asses in here; the party has arrived!"