Secrets: Zartoto, #4

By Callie Woodridge

Warning: This book has more than one point of view. If you prefer to avoid multiple perspectives, this book may not be your cup of tea.

Get ready for an electrifying ride in the fourth installment, where secrets long buried come to light with earth-shattering consequences. Three years have elapsed since the harrowing events of the last book, and William and Cameron, now sixteen, find themselves grappling with newfound powers that have lain dormant since childhood.

Haunted by the enigma of why Cyrus targeted their community on Zartoto, the boys embark on a quest for answers, joined by Hayden and their friend, Andrew. Delving deep into their family's history, they uncover a labyrinth of dark secrets buried within the annals of their grandparents' past.

As revelations unfurl and skeletons tumble from closets, the family's unity is tested like never before. Can they come to terms with the horrifying truths unearthed, or will the weight of their ancestors' sins tear them apart?

Prepare for an adrenaline-fueled journey where the bonds of family are pushed to their limits, and the resilience of the human spirit shines brightest in the face of adversity. Will the family emerge from the shadows of their past, or will they be consumed by the darkness that lurks within? Dive into this gripping saga, where every page holds a new revelation and every twist leaves you gasping for more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Callie Woodridge
• Release date: Apr 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224761654

Book preview

Callie Woodridge

Secrets

Copyright © 2023 by Callie Woodridge

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Callie Woodridge asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Callie Woodridge has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

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Contents

William

William

Tiffany

Tiffany

Hayden

Tiffany

Rebecca

Rebecca

Rebecca

William

Tiffany

Tiffany

Tiffany

Cameron

Aldophous

Paul

Lucy

Lucy

Hayden

Hayden

Alyssa

Rebecca

William

William

Stephen

Paul

Paul

Paul

Aldophous

Aldophous

Cameron

Cameron

Tiffany

Tiffany

Epilogue

Thank you for reading!

About the Author

Also by Callie Woodridge

William

Only thirty more seconds for you, Cameron said as he stared down at his device from his desk.

Can’t be fast enough, I said as I sat down on his bed.

We were officially sixteen, but because of annoying magic rules, we had to wait until the exact minute of our birth before our powers manifested.

When we were seven, the entire family gathered together to mark the moment, and once Cameron’s powers finished manifesting, we’d levitated our cake together, and perfectly, at least for a few seconds. It fell a moment later, and we ruined it until mom fixed it with magic. It was our favourite memory.

This year, however, we’d wanted to celebrate the moment as just the two of us. Mom and dad hadn’t been too happy about it at first, but we made a deal with them. We’d let them be there when we turned twenty, and they could plan the party however they wanted. It was hard to explain, but it was something the two of us wanted to go through with only the two of us this time.

Mom and dad promised to keep Alyssa and Hailey away from us, and Hayden respected our privacy enough to leave us be. He was one of the best big brothers (though my only one), and I was thankful he’d been brought into our lives, even though the circumstances for how he joined our family was unfortunate.

William! Cameron! We heard behind us, and I felt irritated at the sound of my little sister’s voice as she came into Cameron’s room.

Go away, Hailey, I said, not turning to look at her. You know we want to be alone right now.

You pranked Alyssa again! Hailey said, ignoring me as we heard her come closer.

She beamed up at us, her long blond hair swept back into a ponytail between her light blue Zartotian ears. She looked up with huge brown puppy eyes once she came into our line of sight, trying her hardest to look cute. She was still cute, but she was nine now. She was growing up. It didn’t have the same effect it had a few years ago.

Can’t you wait? Cameron asked as Alyssa teleported into the room in front of us. We haven’t even pranked her for three days.

Alyssa! I said with annoyance.

I’m trying to get Hailey, she said defensively as she took a hold of Hailey’s hand, who pulled away. I told her to stay away, and so did mom! She came anyway. I don’t even care if you pranked me.

Hayden rushed into the room, and Cameron let out a groan behind me and muttered under his breath.

Come on, girls, he said. You know they wanted to be alone-

Mom and dad appeared in the room as well, and I sighed. Our wish to be left alone hadn’t been granted after all.

Out, all of you, dad commanded.

You might as well stay by this point, Cameron said. It’s nearly there for William-

But I felt it start, and I could no longer be upset with them. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation at first until it grew even more. It’d been slightly uncomfortable the first time it happened, but it was much hotter this time, and the energy was even more potent. We all compared it to when a limb fell asleep. This was an even more intensified version of it. It was almost too painful as I felt the pins and needles sensation begin along with the numbness. I felt myself grow more powerful as it made its way through my body.

Around me, the others were arguing, but I didn’t even care. It was hard to really focus on them when so much was changing about me. When we were seven, it lasted maybe a minute or two, but this went on for nearly five minutes before it started to go away. The uncomfortable feeling finally went away, and I could feel the energy, but thankfully not the pins and needles sensation from before.

What was it like? Cameron asked. William, you had that glow around you that the Head Supernaturals have, and just as Lucy did! Not as much, but it was there!

I looked around in confusion to see that the room was empty again.

Mom made everyone leave, Cameron said. She’s gotten really good at that spell now.

Usually, powerful casters could banish people from a room, but it depended on the power of the caster. Valerie could send a bunch of people back, and Lucy, her daughter, learned how to a few years ago. Mom had never been good at it, not even with one person, but Lucy started working with her and Courtney on it, and mom could now do several people at once, just not at distances, and it made her feel weak. At the moment, that didn’t matter. She’d gotten them all from the room.

Hailey wanted to come in here to be nosy, Cameron said. Alyssa was telling Hayden about our last prank on her, and Hailey got angry about it. Someone’s gotta teach that girl that she doesn’t need to stick up for everyone like that, he added, rolling his eyes. Anyway, she used it as an excuse to come in here. She knows it could have waited. She’s getting worse.

Our little sister was going through a difficult stage, though mom and dad didn’t seem concerned. They said we went through it as well, and while I didn’t disagree (we’d been brats), she was worse than the two of us combined. The rules never seemed to apply to her, especially when she felt the need to have her say.

Sometimes I missed the cute little girl who’d spoken less than even Alyssa did, but she’d changed into a very outspoken kid. Being outspoken alone wasn’t bad, but she’d once teleported into Ava’s room while she was sleeping to yell at her. Boundaries didn’t matter when it came to Hailey; tonight was one of those, and that was just the beginning of it.

It doesn’t surprise me, I said. How long were my powers manifesting then? How long were they in here for?

Hayden and Alyssa stayed away, but Hailey came back, and mom and dad were arguing with her because she kept trying to put shields up. They sent her to her room, but she teleported to Uncle Stephen’s and Aunt Jennifer’s, Cameron said, laughing. So dad said he was going there to tell Stephen to ground her to her room there then. You were sitting there for nearly eight minutes. That seems even longer than when it happened to dad. I don’t remember how long it took for Lucy when she turned sixteen. It was four minutes when she turned twenty, so it must have been longer when she turned sixteen.

I didn’t remember either. All I remembered about Lucy’s party was the cake and pranking people. I remembered watching her when her powers first manifested, but as I recalled, it took forever because I’d gotten bored. So I’d slipped a potion I nicked from Valerie’s cupboard that was supposed to only make a person burp (I didn’t understand why a potion like that was even medical, even now.), into Alyssa’s drink. Instead of burping, though, it made her vomit.

We’d always loved pranking her, but not like that, especially since she was maybe three at the time. She knew I’d done something but wouldn’t even let me confess. She told mom right away that she had eaten too many sweets earlier. Even at that young age, she’d looked out for us. I reminded Cameron of this, who laughed and nodded.

Poor kid, I think she was throwing up so hard that her toenails came up too, he said. I don’t think mom and dad ever found out what you did, did they?

I shrugged. If they do, they don’t care anymore. I’m already feeling very hungry, even though we ate a couple of hours ago.

Well, mine still has to come in. What did it feel like? Was it warm and tingly again?

It was hot, and it was tingly. Think of the worst time your foot has fallen asleep, and multiply it by ten, I said. And I feel the energy even more than I did before. I wonder if that’s why we get it three different times. It was almost painful this time. I don’t want to imagine what it would be like if it all came at once.

Think it’s what mom and dad felt?

Valerie thinks it’s more for people born with it instead of given to. So dad would have felt it when he grew up. I’m not sure how he felt when he was turned back. You know, I bet if dad had been a caster when we were born, we’d be even more powerful, I said, and Cameron shrugged.

We’ll be powerful enough. I mean, you were glowing! That doesn’t happen to every caster! It didn’t happen to Hannah. Besides, Aldophous put powers in us when he made us, Cameron said. Remember? He wanted to see if he could because he wanted to be able to give all energy vampires help with babies, especially if they met a human.

Nope, I do not remember that. You know, I’ve never cared about how he made us. It’s boring when they start talking about that, and I hope you don’t get them started on it. You always do on one of our birthdays. I’m glad it worked out that way. It’s just something I’ve been wondering about since Laney was born. She’s second generation. She’ll be more powerful than us. Aldophous didn’t have to make her for mom and dad.

It wasn’t that I wanted to be more powerful. I was happy with what I had. After what I’d gone through four years ago, it was hard to take anything for granted, and I’d realized it, even more three years ago when Hailey had been kidnapped. I knew we’d be powerful enough. I’d learned that years ago. I was curious since both mom and dad were close to being originals, and they’d had our baby sister, Alana, the traditional way.

She’d had her second birthday months ago during our warm and wet season, and we often wondered if she was the reason Hailey had changed so much. Mom had gotten pregnant almost immediately after dad’s change, and shortly after, Hailey had been kidnapped. I believed the two events really affected her. The rest of us were excited, but Hailey, who had been the baby of the family for so long, hadn’t taken it too well.

At that time, Uncle Stephen and Aunt Jennifer had also taken in two little wildcat cubs; I believed it was another reason for her change. She still went there often, and she seemed to adore Maria over her own little sister, but at one time, she’d been the only little girl who dominated Uncle Stephen’s life, and now she wasn’t.

Won’t know until she’s seven. Ugh, why did I have to be so long after you? Cameron asked.

It’s twelve minutes. Brandon said that Landon is a half-hour older than him, I reminded him.

But they were given magic, and they’re older. They aren’t given more magic; it’s not the same thing, Cameron said. When they have their birthdays, it’s always at the same time. For us, I’m not technically sixteen until four seventy-two!

Could be worse, it could be fourteen seventy-nine pm, and it’s nearly time now, I said. You’ve got less than a minute. Better hope the family doesn’t pop back in.

I put up a strong enough shield to keep them out, but if you put one up-

Nope, I’m not doing magic until you can. It’s the deal, I said. It’s twenty more seconds now, Cameron. You might want to sit down, I added as he paced. It’s a lot different from the first time we got powers.

He didn’t respond but came over to sit beside me. Just as he sat down, it started. I heard him gasp. The glow didn’t start immediately, and it was a faint yellow glow around him, but noticeable.

Very cool, I said to myself.

Very cool, Hailey repeated as she appeared again.

How? I asked with shock. Cameron put up a shield. You’ve never been able to break our shields.

Cameron taught me that shield. I know how to break them if I know how to make them, she taunted, smiling at me. And I am getting better at breaking shields. I broke Ava’s last week!

But her magic has werewolf magic in it, too, I said. She’s not all caster, so of course, you can break it. Get out. Why don’t you respect boundaries? We said we wanted to be alone for this, and you should respect that.

"Why? You never respect people’s boundaries! She said. You’re always pranking people. You did it to Alyssa, and that’s why I came in here."

No, you did it because you’re a brat who thinks she should get her own way, I said. You wanted to watch our manifestation.

I’m telling mom and dad you said that, she responded, even though I knew she wouldn’t. She’d get in trouble, not me, and she never followed through on her threats.

No, you won’t. You’d have to explain to them why you’re in here, I said. You’re supposed to be at Uncle Stephen’s.

Uncle Stephen only wants me there when I can have fun. He said if I am grounded, I should be at home, but I don’t think I should be the only one grounded when Alyssa and Hayden came in here too, she said.

Go to your room, and I won’t tell mom and dad about this, I said. We wanted to be alone for this.

Why, though? Sixteen is when you get the most powers! You were glowing, and now Cameron is, Hailey said.

I sighed and then stood up and grabbed her arm. You and I are going to have a big brother and a little sister talk soon, but that moment is not now, and I teleported us back to her room. For now, we want to be alone, and you’re being punished. Now stay here. Go to sleep, or you’ll be too tired for the party later.

But I want to see- she began, but I left before she could finish.

I quickly put up a shield around Cameron’s room the moment I entered his room and then layered it. I could already feel how strong I was, and I enjoyed it so much that I went overboard. However, a caster could teleport past basic shields placed around rooms or homes if they were determined and strong enough. Hailey was so young, but I didn’t want to take chances. Shields worked differently around areas such as homes or rooms as opposed to around a person.

I’d become an expert at shields and layering them since the tree house. It was why Brad and Ross’s wife could only destroy some of our house. I’d told Cameron and Alyssa to ensure Hailey got out, but I’d stayed behind invisible and shielded the place as much as I could. I’d nearly finished the bedrooms and the kitchen when the Head Supernaturals forced all of us, kids, into Rebecca’s home.

Hailey knew a lot of magic. She’d been watching the two of us since she understood magic, and after Alyssa turned seven, she taught Hailey everything she knew and learned. Because of that, out of all of us, Hailey learned spells the fastest, but she was nine. She wasn’t strong no matter how well she mastered magic, so she’d never get past my shields. If she tried teleporting past them, it’d tire her too much, and she would keep hitting the barrier.

Cameron opened his eyes nearly eight minutes later and grinned at me.

"That was amazing! It was uncomfortable, but I feel so powerful now," he said.

Well, I had to use magic without you. Hailey broke your shield and teleported in here, I said.

But mom put anti-teleportation magic up, too, Cameron said. Even if she gets past your shields, she shouldn’t be able to teleport either way.

But mom has taught that to us, I reminded him. Hailey probably broke it too- seriously? How?

Hailey appeared again, but she fell to her knees, and it was apparent it tired her out. She was determined enough. I had to give her credit for that. I hurried over to her to ensure she was okay, but she was clutching her head, so she likely had a headache.

Hailey, take some energy from me. I have more than enough, I told her.

No matter how much she was being a brat, I didn’t like seeing her in this state. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she took deep breaths.

You little fool, why would you do it? I asked as I tried to push some energy into her and I felt her take hold.

To see if I could, she whispered.

Hailey, I know you’re not feeling well right now, but you need to stop this! You’ve ruined something we wanted to do together, Cameron said with annoyance. I don’t even think William should be giving you any energy. This should be a lesson for you! The shields were up for a reason. We wanted to be with each other when our powers manifested, and then we wanted to create a spell we made together. Mom and dad get it, so why don’t you?

She didn’t respond. She stared at the ground, tears still pouring down her cheeks. I took down the rest of the shield she hadn’t broken upon hearing mom and dad’s voices on the other side of the door and someone knocking.

Are we allowed to come in yet? Wait, what’s going on here? Mom asked.

Hailey was determined to be in here, and I put a lot of shields up. She still managed to break some and teleport past the last couple, I responded. She’s taking some of my energy now.

She can take mine, dad said, coming over to us. We came in to say Happy Birthday to you two and good night.

He lifted Hailey, and I felt her release on me. I was still so full of energy that it hadn’t affected me. I could have given her more, but I knew mom and dad wanted to talk to her.

We’ll put more spells up, mom said, coming over to hug and kiss us. You can tell us more about it tomorrow. Don’t stay up too much later. You don’t want to be tired tomorrow.

We might as well go to bed, too, Cameron said with annoyance. We can’t do anything now that William had to give Hailey some of his energy. We’ll wait until tomorrow once we’ve gotten some sleep… and food too. I’d rather eat right now. I’m famished.

Well, we have some food for you as well, mom said. We came in to tell you that. Go and help yourself, but don’t touch the cake yet.

Can’t we have it now as a family? I asked. We wanted to be alone for a reason, but since our plans were changed, we might as well do what you wanted. I don’t like blowing out the candles in front of everyone else, anyway.

"Hailey can watch you blow out the candles, but I think you need to spend the day in your room. You’ll stay there until the party, dad added to her. You’ve been disobeying a lot more lately."

Will Laney be there? She asked.

Of course, mom said. We let her stay up just in case. All of us can be there.

Then I’d rather go to my room, Hailey said. She’ll ruin it like she ruins everything else. Put me down, daddy. I can go myself.

Dad gave her a look and then teleported away. Mom sighed and then turned to leave the room. I thought she’d accepted her now, I heard her mutter as she left the room.

Cameron laughed and looked at me. Guess we can’t have plans with little sisters around. The last one downstairs gets the piece with the least icing, he said, then disappeared.

Well, that’s hardly fair, I said to myself before I, too, teleported.

William

Despite the way our birthday started out when we woke up later (a lot later than we’d planned, but it was customary for casters to sleep longer after they were given powers), everything else went well enough as it started. Either mom and dad must have finally gotten through to Hailey, or it was Uncle Stephen, who’d come over while we were still sleeping to lecture her, but she behaved at the party.

The first thing Cameron and I did after we’d eaten almost as much as dad when he’d first changed, we worked on creating our spell. It was a new version of the knockout spell, but everyone knew how we did that spell now. We’d realized mom had a point when she’d said it had too many obvious gestures. It’d saved us many times, but after having our community attacked twice in less than a year and having the spell fail on Alyssa when she’d tried to stop Rebecca from taking Hailey, we’d decided it was time to make a better one of it.

We still gave people the fingers, but we moved our tongues a certain way and wiggled our big toes at the same time before we gave them the fingers. It would knock them out the moment we did it, but we also wanted it to knock out several people at once. We weren’t sure how long they’d be knocked out or if it would work, but we were confident it would. We usually both had a good feeling in our guts that it would work. Usually, if we did, it did work.

With our magic combined, it would be a powerful spell. Valerie taught us how to create spells together when we first turned ten, but Brandon and Landon taught us how to do it so we’d work together well enough we wouldn’t be tired. Before, it used to drain us if we created a spell together. It did when we did it on our own as well, but oddly enough, together, it’d made us even more tired doing it Valerie’s way.

A person could always feel when their spells worked, and as Cameron and I gave the middle fingers to the wall opposite my bed, we felt its creation, and we both looked at each other excitedly.

We waited until everyone was gathered around us to wish us a happy birthday before we decided to try our spell out. There were several expressions of shock when we gave them the fingers, but they didn’t get the chance to respond. Every single guest in our backyard fell to the ground, passed out. I’d put cushioning spells down so no one would get hurt.

I didn’t think it would work that well! Cameron said. "I hoped it would, but I didn’t think we’d get everyone. We never got more than six people with the other spell. We better hope Ethan doesn’t get us back. We broke our truce."

Now we need to wait for them to wake, I said, figuring we’d be fine with Ethan. We were more powerful now. We won’t know how long it does work until then. I hope it is more than a minute.

It should be, Cameron said. Our first knockout spell was six and a half minutes long before our new powers came in.

They were out for nearly fifteen minutes. We were bored by that point, even if we were happy with the amount of power we were given. If our spell lasted fifteen minutes now, it meant as we got older, it would be potent, especially since we took out about thirty of our guests.

Really, boys? Mom asked after she stirred awake, and then she looked around at everyone else who was looking around with confusion. "Okay, that is impressive. Did you get everyone?"

Everyone, Cameron confirmed. We never got more than six people before. Would you all mind if we tried our two other spells on you?

Well, at least you’re asking now, Uncle Aiden said, chuckling. I don’t mind. I’m curious as well.

Go on, it’s your birthday, but I wish you two would come up with another way to put people to sleep other than with your middle fingers, mom said.

But we like that we’re knocking them out with our middle fingers, I said. That’s the whole point of the spell.

Everyone consented to try it with our other spells, but I could tell no one there was bothered by what we did. I didn’t even think Laney understood what happened, but Hailey giggled and acted like her usual sweet self, so I knew she was okay with it. Everyone else seemed as if they, too, were curious to see how strong the other two spells were.

Unfortunately, while our newest spell lasted fifteen minutes, the first knock-out spell we’d made was ten minutes, and it only knocked a few people out. The second one took out half the people, and it was nearly eleven and a half minutes. It meant our newest spell was strong on its own. And it likely would have been if we’d made it before we were sixteen, but I’d been hoping all three would be the same strength.

They’ve still grown, mom pointed out when Cameron complained about it. And they’ll still grow. Imagine how strong they all will be when you get the rest of your powers.

I think we’ll have more lessons now, Brandon said. And we’d like to see what we can produce with the four of us creating them together as well. We think with two pairs of twins fully grown that spells can be stronger. Maybe we will start with other members, too.

But I thought only twins could create spells together, Alyssa said.

Oh no, we can create spells together with anyone, but it’s a lot harder, Courtney said. It’s easier when you’re on the same level of magic. Your mom and I have tried because I’m only a bit stronger, but we’ve never been able to do it. It’s easy for twins because you’re so in tune with each other, but there’s a lot more to it than you two realize because it naturally works for you, she told Cameron and me.

So Ava and I might make spells together? Alyssa asked.

Yes, we’ll try that at our next lesson if you two want, Courtney said. We might as well do a joint lesson for that, she added to mom, who nodded.

They’re both old enough, so I don’t think it will drain them too much. It will tire you two out, she turned to Ava and Alyssa. But at your age, it shouldn’t be too bad. The boys have been doing it since they were eleven.

The two girls looked at each other excitedly. In the past, I’d been jealous of how fast Alyssa could master spells, but now I hoped it would work out for both her and Ava. They were best friends, so I figured it likely would, since they were close.

They’d always been close, but when Hailey had been kidnapped from Alyssa, the same happened to Ava with her little brother, Thomas. The two bonded even more because of that experience. Now it wasn’t often to see one without the other unless Alyssa wanted her alone time.

What about me? Hailey asked.

When you’re thirteen, like Alyssa, you can as well. It will tire you out too much, mom told her. I don’t think Thomas or Gavin will handle it too well either, and they’re the only ones we’d have you try with because you are best friends and close in age.

I expected her to argue this, but she nodded and leaned over to whisper something to Alyssa, who nodded.

We were given a lot of practical gifts, such as clothes or things we needed, but many casters gave us useful spells to create and use. Alyssa and Hailey, who were good at making (not creating, just coming up with combinations) spells together, gave us a privacy alert spell to create. We could put it up when we wanted to be alone, and it would make a gonging sound, letting the person know to leave us if they needed us. They could only contact us in an emergency, which the spell sensed. It was advanced for them, but they were good at creating creative spells.

This isn’t to be taken advantage of by you two, I said after I thanked them, though I was talking to Hailey more than Alyssa, who always respected our privacy. Still, the same couldn’t be said for us when it came to her. You can’t break it anytime you want.

It should tell you the moment someone tries to break it, Alyssa said. We can try to see, but the whole point is to ensure you have your privacy. It alerts you as well when someone wants to talk to you. We both get that sound. So if someone tries to break it, you can put it back up.

That’s a brilliant spell, mom said. It reminds me of the one we have around the community now.

That’s where we got the idea from, Alyssa said.

Since Brad’s break into the community, they’d designed a spell alerting them if someone unknown came within ten feet of the boundaries. A loud clanging sound could be heard all around the community. Since it had been up, it’d been innocent residents from other communities walking around, but our spells always deterred them away.

Hannah, a close friend of ours (and someone Hayden was in love with, but he wouldn’t tell her), gave us potions she called energy potions for battles, but she later told us they were ageing potions. She didn’t want our parents to hear.

And you can be any age you think of since, you know, they do ID people still, she’d said. You know, in case you want to sneak out and visit the cities now that you’re sixteen.

She amazed me with how fast she learned. James rescued her from her abusive mother. She and her mother lived in the mountains with a werewolf pack, and James came upon her when she’d been out and about alone. He’d wanted to know why a young human girl was wandering around alone, especially near werewolf packs. The story came out, and James, who detected all lies, brought her back to us.

She seemed strong most of the time, but we knew she was hurting. She’d been given her powers by Purolina on her fourteenth birthday, a couple of years ago, but she was years ahead. I believed it was because she worked harder at her magic than most people our age. She always took extra lessons when we wanted to hang out with her.

Valerie wasn’t there to give us the flowers she’d been promising since we were little kids, but Lucy gave them to us. We’d barely seen Valerie over the past few years since she was still looking for a caster named Joan and Hayden’s grandparents. They were related to us too, but our family tree was so messed up that they’d be our great-nephews far down the line. We considered him our brother. It was easier that way instead of thinking of the fact that he was a long-time descendant of dads.

The flowers were fair-sized with electric blue petals with white stripes on them. They were Valerie’s creation. They were a lot more work than the average flower; unlike Valerie’s flower, we only had to tend to our flowers for an hour every third resting day evening. She had to tend to hers every first resting day and night for three hours.

I’ll teach you the spells for them, and they can be moved if you decide to plant them outside. I know someday you’ll want your own homes. You’ll be able to take them with you, Lucy said.

Years ago, I hadn’t wanted a flower because of all the work it needed, but now that I had it, I was excited to tend to it. It seemed cool that this plant would stay alive depending on how well I took care of it, and I vowed to do whatever it took to keep it alive. I couldn’t wait to see Valerie again to thank her.

Just as I hugged Lucy, I heard people muttering around us that Rebecca and John were there. John was a welcome guest, but not Rebecca. I pulled away from Lucy in annoyance. The woman changed a lot in the past few years. Many forgiven her, and she’d done a lot around the community. John fell in love with her by some messed up miracle, but I could never forgive her. I didn’t want her there.

How could I forgive her for nearly mauling Alyssa and mom? She’d added insult to injury by kidnapping Hailey from Alyssa. She’d been one person I’d always respected, even when she’d made her rude comments, but I’d hated her since we’d learned that she’d tried to maul our little sister. Having her show up on our day infuriated me.

We did not invite you, dad told Rebecca. John may stay, but just because you two are married now, it doesn’t give you the right to be here.

Her friendship with mom and dad never recovered, though they did tolerate her better. I knew sometimes they talked to her, especially for John’s sake, but both were giving her stony glances now. Uncle Stephen, Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Aiden, and Aunt Susan were all glaring at her.

We know, but we were at Rebecca’s other place when we overheard some disturbing news, John said. We didn’t want to come now during William and Cameron’s party, but it’s worrying, Paul.

Why? What happened? Grandma asked, now looking concerned.

There are communities who have their members go missing, Rebecca said. I can’t get a hold of Purolina or Lonlia, and you know I’d never try with Aldophous, but John can’t either. One happened recently, and it’s been happening for the past few years. They get sick first, and then once they’re better, they disappear. Some have disappeared while on the mend. It’s not just that, though. There have been burls and wolves going missing too. I’ve been hearing reports of it for a while, but Purolina told me people always go missing without others being involved on this planet. She could be right, but they’ve gone missing near some of Cyrus’s old hangouts. We were going to wait-

But this can’t wait. We were going to approach them. They were two wolves, but they sensed us coming, and they got scared, transformed and left, John said.

But is there a reason you think this is connected to us? Everyone knows about Cyrus and his old hangouts by now. You clearly do. It could be a coincidence. Uncle Stephen asked.

There are reports they saw two strange-looking wildcats before some people disappeared, including some Sodarians, humans, and other people from other planets. You know, not everyone has seen the wildcats. They’re still in their experimental stage, John said. Rebecca was in her human form, but they sensed her strange energy. We don’t know if all the people who have disappeared have seen them, but some have enough to make us worry.

And because we don’t think they’re being kidnapped, Rebecca added. We think they’re all going on their own free will. The people who got away reported that they had the urge to seek them out when they recovered. They messed them up a bit and their memories were erased very poorly, but they were let go when they refused. Many of the people who have gone missing are people who were giving their communities a hard time, including many who were either rejected from here or even kicked out.

What about those from other planets? Grandpa asked. They’re supposed to be protected.

Some of them have been involved, too. You have to remember, not all are innocent, John said. And most people still haven’t met the new species or even heard of them. I don’t know how they’re not seen as suspicious, whoever they are.

But we can camouflage well enough to hide that, Hayden reminded her. "Ever since my sixteenth birthday last year, I’ve been able to resemble any of the wildcats we take after. I can look more like a Mion if I want to-" and he quickly transformed into his cat form. He couldn’t do it right away, but he looked like a real Mion after a few moments. It was a wildcat that was very similar to male lions on Earth, but for the dark orange colouring and a black and white fluffy mane.

I never knew we could do that, Rebecca said, and Hayden transformed back.

Not everyone can, Hayden said. Darius and Keisha still can’t, and neither can Lillian or Patrick. I doubt you can yet. You’re still having trouble with your form. Ross and Tamara might be good at it. We don’t know, since they pretended they couldn’t blend into their surroundings, but I saw what Tamara could do before she left. She nearly mauled a few people because she hid so well. Both she and Ross pretended they couldn’t even do it. Ross pretended to be useless while we were looking for the kids, but he knew what he was doing.

Well, the Head Supernaturals must be busy, mom said. I cannot reach any of them.

Lonlia told me she’d get back to me soon, Charlie said. I think they’re having more problems with the vampires on one of their other planets. They’re getting restless because they’re tired of being creatures of the night. They call themselves some variation of that in their language. They’re asking for more leniency to go in daylight without spells. Anyway, they’ve been attacking whatever the casters would be called on that planet to make a point. Whatever is happening there is far worse than what is happening here; otherwise, they’d be here. She promised she’d relay the message to the others, but they obviously didn’t find our situation more alarming or they would come. None of them would have wanted to miss the twin’s sixteenth birthday, especially Aldophous.

I often forgot that they had creatures on other planets. I’d lost interest long ago when we were told we had to wait until Hailey was old enough to visit other planets. Now we had Laney, so we had to wait longer. However, we’d been to Earth several times without Laney. It scared me a bit to fly, but I didn’t want to admit that. I wasn’t as keen on flying lessons as dad hoped. I knew he’d been looking forward to our birthdays for that reason.

At the moment, it did interest me that vampires, even on other planets, could cause problems, too. I didn’t know much about them except not all were energy vampires.

Then there isn’t much we can do about it now, John said. Just tell the Head Supernaturals to meet up with us later, and we can talk to them.

We’ll have a meeting when they arrive, grandma said. We all need to be involved, even if they still don’t want us to be involved. I feel I know what they’re trying to do, and we will not be caught off guard again. We’re having a party now, so let’s go back to that, and we’ll discuss the rest of this later.

We’ll go, or at least I will, Rebecca said. We didn’t want to crash the party but-

No, we needed to know this, dad said.

We don’t mind, Cameron said, knowing I felt the same way.

I honestly didn’t mind this time because it seemed they were planning some kind of army to attack us or someone. Why else were they getting people who were problems in their communities to join them?

You two might as well stay, I added.

Rebecca came to let us know, and I knew John wouldn’t stay if she didn’t. We liked John and invited him in person, so we’d hoped he’d come either way.

I fully expected this news to put a damper on the party, but everyone seemed determined enough not to let it. Stephen and Aiden began setting off some sparks as soon as the sky darkened. I knew it was selfish, and I knew my family would help either way, but I really hoped our community wasn’t targeted this time. I was tired of things happening to our family and us; even with Hailey’s attitude (which was likely a phase anyway), things seemed to be going back to normal. That’s all I wanted, but I knew it was selfish because it meant I was hoping they’d go for anyone but us, and that wasn’t okay, either.

Tiffany

After the fires and rebuilding, the community seemed to have grown stronger and closer in the three years since everything happened. We used a screening spell that sensed if someone’s darkness grew more over time, thanks to William, Cameron, Brandon, and Landon. Besides some people from the beginning who we had to force to leave since they refused help, we had no problems. If it detected any darkness in anyone, we gave them options, and most cooperated, and most went back to normal.

The community members always looked out for each other, especially the children, but we looked out for them even more now. We’d learned after Rebecca that even members of our community could be dangerous. There was a lot more surveillance around the boundaries. It always alerted us who was leaving or coming back, and there was an age barrier that didn’t allow any child under the age of sixteen out unless they were human. Human children had to wait until they were twenty, and even then, we had someone watching the humans at all times since they were vulnerable.

We’d all been worried about having Rebecca become a part-time community member again, and there even had been a vote shortly after Mallory had bitten Alyssa and Cameron. We’d wanted it to be a community-wide discussion and decision, but many were willing to give her a second chance as long as she kept away from everyone until her darkness was gone. It had taken nearly a year, but she’d gone back to normal, and somehow in that year, John had fallen in love with her.

Paul and I were still shocked about that. John disliked her intensely from the beginning. Even after she’d helped us, he still didn’t like her. He’d come to Paul and me complaining about what a pain she was because she still kept making excuses. As the months went by, he stopped complaining, and we noticed he started going there on his own when they weren’t having sessions. He’d sent George, who missed his community too much, home after four months of working with her and the two spent a lot of time alone together.

Paul had been upset at first when John first told us he planned to marry her (and Jennifer, Stephen, Aiden, and Susan refused to talk to him at first), but he’d been determined, and we could see the change in both of them. We talked to Rebecca maybe once or twice a month to check in on her, and we’d seen the change in her the most. John, who’d always been a kind fellow but had a bit of a chip on his shoulder from losing his whole family, seemed happier.

Who am I to stand in anyone’s way of love? Paul asked when his family reacted with shock and anger when he agreed to be John’s best man at their wedding. Don’t get me wrong, you all know how pissed off I was too, but can I really judge? I married someone I met after grieving for the same woman for years. I’m not standing in the way of anyone’s love.

I felt that John and Paul’s situation was very different, but I agreed. Why should we stand in their way? Our relationship was complicated in the way it started, no matter what. Why should anyone judge? The screening spell was used on Rebecca weekly at the time, and her darkness was kept at bay. If we pushed them out of our lives or somehow prevented John from marrying her, what would that have done to her? We didn’t need her going dark and going after our families again, and everyone deserved a chance at happiness.

She also proved to be a very devoted mother to their little boy, Petey, who was one of the first of his kind. He was nearing a year old, and John was hoping, despite our relationship with Rebecca, that Laney and Petey could grow up to be friends since they were so close in age, and I knew Paul wanted the same as well. After all, Petey was innocent, and we wanted to be part of his life. Understanding our feelings about Rebecca, John often showed up with him alone.

Laney had been a big surprise for both Paul and me, but we also both knew we should have shown some common sense. Since Alan, I hadn’t worried too much with protection because energy vampires couldn’t get others pregnant. We’d both known we could make a kid, but with all that was going on, we hadn’t thought to use any form of protection when Paul first changed. We’d planned to wait because so much happened to our family and we’d taken Hayden in, and the other four needed us. we knew another child would only take attention away from the five we already had.

However, you couldn’t always plan these things at times, and my pregnancy seemed to bring hope to almost everyone. Only about three months after everything happened, I’d found out I was almost two months pregnant (which meant Paul must have gotten me pregnant right away), and this news seemed to really bring the community back together again.

Nothing could ever be the same as before, but there was no longer a heavy feel in the surrounding energy, and everyone went back to their lives, and we’d even added more homes and expanded the lake some more. We built some small caves near it for wolf families who didn’t want houses like Gad and one for Darius and Keisha and their children. Aiden’s family from Earth also took up some houses near the lake. His mother moved here shortly after the community went back to normal.

The news that Hayden’s grandparents seemed to be getting more people on their side was worrying, but I didn’t think they could get into our community again. There was a meeting that night to discuss what we could do to prevent them from getting in here again and stop them from whatever they were doing. We knew they could cause problems for anyone, and it was time we finally caught the four of them for good.

I’d known for the past few years that we’d have to fight them again, but I’d secretly been hoping they’d give up and move on with their lives. I didn’t want to fight again, and as I glanced down at Laney, who was curled up in my arms, nearly asleep, I wanted more than anything to keep her from going through what the other children did. It was bad enough that they’d lost their innocence at a young age, but did she have to also?

I pushed a strand of her darkening hair out of her face as she lay there, fighting to fall asleep. At one time, we thought she’d have blond hair like Hailey, but it’d been slowly darkening for the past year. It was now a light brown colour. She was a combination of Hailey and Alyssa, but she was still relatively young, yet to really know who she looked like. I could see a lot of my mother in her, which was nice since the other four showed more Dixon than my side of the family.

There was a sudden bright glow in the dim room, which meant Hailey was teleporting into Laney’s room. Sometimes she liked to teleport while doing other spells, and lately, she’d been practising doing lighting spells. Sure enough, when she appeared, she was holding two palms out that were glowing a light yellow colour.

The room was slightly dark because I’d been hoping to get Laney to sleep before we left for the meeting, but the glow, which started out small, caught her attention, and she sat up to watch it until Hailey appeared.

Oops, I woke her up, she said as soon as her eyes fell on Laney.

You did that on purpose, I said. You know it’s her bedtime.

I knew without a doubt as Hailey gave Laney a tiny smirk that it had indeed been on purpose.

Why would you do that? I asked, and she shrugged.

Mommy, I want to go to the meeting too. I overheard William and Cameron talking now, and they said they’re going to ask you and daddy if they can go too. So we should be able to go as well, Hailey said. Are you going to let them?

That’s none of your concern, but you know you’re still grounded from the other night, I said. We made an exception for William and Cameron’s party, but you’re still being punished, and now you’ve come in here and woken your little sister up for no reason.

But we don’t even have bedtimes at this time of night, Hailey said.

And she came over to climb into my lap, so I shifted Laney over a bit so she could. I wrapped an arm around her and kissed her cheek. Soon enough, she’d be too old for this. I loved seeing them grow up, but at the same time, I didn’t like it either. There was a time when I’d have William, Cameron, Alyssa, and Hailey all trying to snuggle in my arms like this at the same time.

You know children her age sleep more, and she was awake too early today because of you, little missy, I said. Look, I know you think you hate her-

Hailey frowned and interrupted me. "I don’t hate her. Hate is a strong word. I don’t like that word. I just think she should never have been born. We were better off without her. Why didn’t you have another boy instead? I wouldn’t have minded a little brother."

Well, she was born, and you are her big sister. You’re supposed to look out for her the same way your brothers and sister do for you, I said. "And we’ve been through this.