Chapter 17

When Emily got home, her parents bombarded her with questions about why she hadn't come home last night. She couldn't answer any of the questions because whenever she opened her mouth to talk, she got interrupted by another round of questions.

Victoria barged into their house, startling them. Rebecca rushed to her with a confused expression on her face. "Vicky?"

"Where's that foolish girl?" Victoria's eyes searched the room. "You idiot!" She started walking towards Emily when her eyes fell on her.

"You can't come into my house and call my daughter names." Rebecca stood in front of her, hindering her from proceeding further into the room.

"How dare she? She's an intruder! " Victoria screamed.

Emily was dumbstruck. She stood there and stared at the angry and violent woman struggling to move past her mother.

"Vicky! What are you talking about? " Rebecca screamed the question.

"She..." Victoria pointed at Emily. "She had the guts to tell Jacob the truth about who he is." She backed off a bit. "That was my job to do; she had no right to interfere." 

"Emily?" Rebecca looked at her daughter with a frown.

"And that's not all." Victoria continued, "Jacob was bitten by a werewolf!" She screamed at the last part.

"What?!" Rebecca screamed. "How's he?"

"She needs to be dealt with!" Victoria made her way and rushed to Emily, but Rebecca quickly caught her arm.

Victoria turned around, and hit Rebecca with her dark energy, hurling her across the room. She hit her back against the wall, fell on the ground, and struggled to get up immediately.

Victoria's black wings and claws came out, and she dived towards Emily. Richard hurried and stood between Victoria and Emily, receiving a heavy punch that was meant for Emily. He rocketed off, and he crashed into the stairs with a heavy groan.

Victoria moved closer to Emily. She flinched and took some steps backwards. 

Victoria held her fist to the air; dark energy whirled around it. She attempted to punch Emily, but Rebecca caught her arm. She screamed as smokes revealed itself from the grip on her arm. 

Emily looked up at her mother. Her fiery wings were out. They were huge and beautiful. She didn't know that fire was gorgeous. She had always thought it to be nothing but harmful and destructive.

Rebecca tightened her grip on Victoria's arm, and she yelled even louder. Rebecca flung her across the room. She collided fiercely with the wall and fell to the ground. She stood up and rushed to Rebecca, who was already set for a fight, but she stopped abruptly as Jacob flung the door open. "Stop!!" He yelled.

************

When Jacob got out of the taxi, he walked aggressively towards his house, not even waiting for Giselle.

"Mom!" Jacob called out harshly as he stormed into the house.

Giselle ran to meet him. "What are you doing?" She asked in a whisper.

"What is it, Jake?" Victoria asked, descending from the stairs.

"Why didn't you tell me I was a raven?" He went straight to the point. The last time he beat about the bush, he didn't get the answers he needed, and what he needs now is nothing but answers.

How did you find out about that? And why are you talking in the past tense? " Victoria frowned.

"Because I'm no longer a raven, mom, I was bitten by a werewolf." 

"What?" Victoria rushed to him.

"Don't worry, I'm fine, thanks to Emily and Michael."

"Who's Michael?" 

"A guy from Emily's workplace."

"That..." Victoria clenched her jaw. "I told her not to meddle!"

She pushed Jacob aside and stormed out of the house. "Mom!" Jacob called out, rushing towards her. She got into her car and drove hastily out of the yard.

"She's going to Emily's house!" Giselle said, almost with a holler.

Jacob ran to the roadside and Giselle followed. They stood restlessly for ten minutes, but they couldn't find a taxi. They decided to run as fast as they could to Emily's house.

Jacob was surprised at his speed. He could hear the wind whistling in his ear and he could feel it brushing harshly against his body.

It took some time before he noticed Giselle wasn't with him; she was far behind. He increased his speed. He couldn't wait for her to catch up; he was sure she would understand.

When he got to Emily's house, he flung the door open and was shocked by what he saw. He stood at the door for a moment, trying to process what had happened. He looked at his mother; her wings had popped out. It was the same as his the first time they came out, only that hers was larger. 

Emily's mother also popped out her huge fiery wings. He gazed at her fire-illuminated wings. He looked around the room; it was partially destroyed; the two women were positioned as if they were getting ready for combat; Emily stood, shocked and confused.

"What are you doing, mom?" He stepped into the house. 

"Go home!" Victoria yelled at him.

"I'm not going to let you hurt her." As Jacob walked over to Emily, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards the door.

"What do you think you're doing?" Victoria asked.

"I'm taking her away from you." 

"You're protecting the person that put you in harm's way?" You got lucky, Jake. No avian has ever lived after being bitten by a werewolf."

"She didn't put me in jeopardy, she literally saved my life, and I'm not going to let you hurt her." Jacob defended.

Victoria gazed intently at Emily. "Stay away from my family." Her wings went back in, and she stormed out of the house.

Jacob turned to Emily. "Are you okay?" 

"No," Emily said, shaking her head. "I'm not." She let out a sigh. Jacob enveloped her in a hug and let her sob quietly in his arms. 

"What happened?" Giselle rushed in, panting. She rested her hands on the door and lowered her face as she tried to calm her chaotic breathing.

.

.

.

Michael dragged himself to his feet. He massaged his sore neck with his jaw clenched. His eyes flashed green before he stumbled out of the room. It was already getting dark.

"Hope you enjoyed your little rest?" Michael turned to where the voice came from. Jacob stood there; he was relaxing with his back and a foot on the wall. He pushed away from the wall and walked to the door, then he paused. "Just for the record, you couldn't stop me from killing anyone today." He smirked and proceeded into the house.

Michael walked home, pondering the discussion he had with his brother earlier. He hated himself now for everything. He knew that he was the reason his brother had transformed that night; he was the reason he turned dark. The guilt was burning deep inside him. He wished he could counter-clockwise and undo what he had done, but it was never going to happen. Chris hated him now more than anything, and he had no right to blame him.

Michael pushed the door to his house open and stepped in. He couldn't help but embrace the shock and anxiety that attacked him. "Dad?!" He screamed.

"Michael, I've been waiting for you and your brother to arrive." Nicholas was seated on the couch, he moved his eyes from the television to Michael. He had a glass of wine in his hands, which he sipped occasionally while focusing on Michael.

Michael stiffened, balls of sweat running down his face. His father stretched and looked over him. "Where's Chris? And why do you look so tense up like you've seen a ghost? " He dropped the glass of wine and stood up. "Did something happen to Chris?" Nicholas rushed to Michael, who was dumbstruck. 

Michael opened his mouth as he attempted to talk, but then he closed it as even talking became one of the hardest things to do at the moment.

"Did something happen to Christian?" Nicholas asked again, and this time with a roar. "No," He backed off slowly and leaned against the couch. "You killed your brother already."

"I didn't kill Chris!" Michael narrowed his gaze on his father before he diverted it. "He's not dead, he... he turned into a werewolf and then he turned dar-dark." He stuttered.

"You made him believe he was a werewolf?" Nicholas pushed away from the couch.

"If you had just told me the truth instead of giving me false details, none of this would have happened. I'll find a way to fix him, I promise." Michael said, still standing in the same spot.

"It doesn't matter what you do now, you've been the worst brother to Chris. You weren't always there when he needed you! " Nicholas yelled.

"That's not true!" Michael retorted with a yell of his own. Don't put this on me. Since mom died, you've always been traveling. From business meetings to vacations, you've always needed some time to clear your head. I understand that you're trying not to feel broken and lonely, but you don't have to hurt us to do that. I've been the one who stuck my neck out for Chris. I've loved and cared for him. I feel guilty every second he's out there, and I'll do anything I can to make him turn on his good side. " He moved closer to his father. "Why are you so eager to cure Chris's werewolfism?" 

Nicholas looked away from him and took a deep breath before returning his gaze to Michael. "Trust me, ignorance is bliss." 

He stared at his father. He shook his head slowly as he backed off. He turned around and walked out, slamming the door behind him.  He had come home, gloomy and dispirited. He couldn't stay in the house now as it had become too hot for his temper. He only had one place in mind to go to.

Michael stood in front of Emily's window. She had left it open, so he launched himself into the air. He grabbed the tree and swung himself into the window. 

"Hey." He heard a familiar voice, and his eyes darted to the direction where the sound came from. 

He saw Emily lying on the bed. The moonlight flashed dimly into the room, making her sapphire eyes glim beautifully. She got up from her bed and strode towards him. 

"You don't look surprised to see me." Michael said.

"I'm not." Her standing in front of him, her scent creating fantasies in his mind. Her mesmerizing eyes pierced his eyes. She became the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her straight-edged nose perfectly suited her smoothly shaped lips, which had a strawberry red colour. Her wavy black hair rested on her shoulders. The arches of her eyebrows were a perfect curve. Her lashes were long, with their tips curled upward.

He raised his hands and brushed her lips with the backs of his index and middle fingers. "You're absolutely gorgeous." He whispered.

A blush crept over Emily's face, and his fingers sparked a blue light on her lips.

Emily staggered backwards. "What was that?" 

Michael frowned. "I don't know." He shrugged. "I had a really long day." 

"Same." Emily breathed. She moved closer to Michael hesitantly, and she slowly leaned in on him. He wrapped his hands around her and drew her further into his arms. His sweet smell of wet flowers, more like a forest rained on, enveloped her. 

She leaned in on him completely. She felt cozy, feeling his hot breath brushing against her skin. It was strange how this young man's presence made her feel safe and comforted.

Michael gazed at Emily, and he noticed her shivers. "What is it?" He whispered. "Are you cold?"

"No, I'm fine." she said in a low tone. She felt Michael reach for her legs and lift her off the ground. "What are you doing?" She frowned.

Michael didn't respond. He smiled at her and strode to her bed, laying her down like she was a toddler who had fallen asleep in his arms.

"I could've just walked, you know." She smiled. 

"This is way easier." Michael smiled back and sat next to her, his brows abruptly squeezed into a frown. 

"What is it?" Emily asked. 

"It's nothing." He shook his head and gave a sly smile.

"It's not nothing, your eyes are glowing." Emily sat up from her bed.

"I'm sorry." He pressed his eyes shut, and when he opened them, they were back to their normal brown. "I have to go." He stood up.

"Why?" She gazed up at him. "Can't you stay a little longer?"

He stopped in his tracks and sighed. "I want to stay, believe me, but I can't."

Before Emily knew it, Michael had jumped out of the window. 

She curled up on her bed and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the loneliness and discomfort that came in after he left.