Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Hello ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: EvilAngels 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Fantasy / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.06.2013 | Pages: 2 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 168 | Status: Work In Progress
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Fantasy / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.06.2013 | Pages: 2 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 168 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 2
The next morning when Leah woke to the sound of her alarm clock she went straight to the mirror to see if the beating that Mary had given her had faded; however her green eye was still surrounded by the black tinted skin of her healing face at the sight of it she became upset knowing that Mary must have been very sore if she had to hit her only niece as hard as she did. Leah knew that she had to find some way to conceal the bruise looking around for a dark pair of sunglasses but only finding a book with her spells when it dawned on her that a small healing spell would help her or at least cover the wound if she could not heal it completely. Only a small amount of time past until it was safe for Leah to move about freely in the house, where she was able to eat breakfast what she didn’t plan on was her grandfather still being in the kitchen.
“Oh, sorry I thought you had left already.” Leah said heading for the hallway when the old man’s gentle hand touched her arm giving off a wave of comfort that relaxed Leah’s nerves.
“Sit, you need breakfast too.” Although that’s all he said she picked up on the implied meaning that he wanted to talk about what happened at dinner last night. Leah sat in her seat as he brought over two plates both covered with pancakes with bananas and syrup. “Now let’s have a look at that eye.”
“It’s fine grandpa,” Leah stated in protest as he held her head and lightly touched it causing her to wince and wine in pain.
“Ah, concealment spells. You know that spell with only cover the wound but the pain is still there.”
“I know.” Leah said taking a bite of her pancakes. “I just need it to be covered; I can take aspirin for the pain.”
“If you think that no one is going to notice than I will agree with you about the aspirin, but sweet girl what if someone sees you in pain.” The old man said in a hypothetical situation but it took Leah off guard.
“I should be going. Is the second car still in the garage?” She asked grabbing her bag, “Some of us are going out tonight.”
“You and your friends or is Karen coming along.” Leah froze in the door way, no one knew that Karen was coming except for her. “Don’t worry sweetheart, your secret is safe with me. I think that it will be good for you to see more of your family no matter what Mary says.”
“Thank you.” Leah said softly as he handed her the car keys. Leah kissed him lightly on the cheek and ran for the door hoping that Mary didn’t figured out that her ex-husband’s car was missing. She kept everything quiet not even the radio was on until she reached the stop light far away from the house as she began to relax she heard her phone ring and slowly answered it fearing the worst. “Hello?”
“What are you so nervous about,” Sounded the voice of some one that Leah was glad to hear. She also knew that if Karen was calling her now that meant she landed at the airport.
“Karen, sorry I thought you may have been Mary.” Leah said thankful that she was still safe for the day at least. “So you’ve landed.”
“Yeah about two hours ago, I think it’s all a bit fuzzy.” Karen said and the more she talked the more Leah knew that something was wrong with her cousin if Leah knew better she’d say that Karen had raided at least three mini bars.
“Karen, are you ok?” Leah asked as calmly as she could pulling into the school parking lot driving up and down the rows looking for an opening. “You sound like you’re three sheets to the wind.”
“Karen, give me the phone,” a man’s voice came obviously watching her cousin make a fool of herself. “Hi, Leah I’m Adam. I tagged along with Karen. “
“Why, are the boys not with her?” Leah asked cautious of the boy who held her cousin’s phone. “And how do you know Karen?”
“Bryan and Scott don’t know that she left yet and I’m her boyfriend. We can talk later but we were wondering if you could give us a ride to Tom’s old safe house.” Adam said in a polite tone as Karen was laughing away about something that both of them were clueless about.
Leah thought about who she was talking to she didn’t trust Karen’s supposed ‘boyfriend’ and made him wait as she pulled in next to Anya’s car where they were waiting for her. “Yeah, I can do that but I don’t know where it is and I really doubt that Karen’s going to sober enough to give directions.”
“Tom wrote them down for her just in case.” Adam said calmly while Karen’s complaining about Adam being there but Leah dismissed it as her drunken babble. Leah said that she would be there soon and got off the phone to say good morning to her friends.
“Who were you talking to?” Anya asked as her best friend climbed out of her aunt’s car. Anya was a rambunctious girl never obeying the school rules by altering her school uniform and piercing her nose and eyebrows. She had dyed her hair about ten different colors so you could not tell what her original hair color was. Anya was accompanied by Tyler who was a hunter trained by the same people that have killed demons, witches, and non-humans was almost thrown out of his classes for not holding to the hunter code of not befriending those who were to be hunted. Tyler was a good enough guy even though he flirted with every woman that passed him on campus as well as on the street; even Leah and Anya were not excused from his attempts. Leaning against his 1988 blue Pontiac was Chris, he was just as high strung as anyone on campus course he didn’t fit in with any of the others that roamed the halls of their school, Leah always compared him to her cousins because Karen and her brothers are also called non-humans the term was new to everyone who went to Rush Hill but from what they could guess non-humans were a sub-species of demons but held none of the characteristics if any just saw them in the street or at a club you would guess they were human; however they are far from it with an immense amount of power that theoretically could either enslave every race in the world or destroy everyone and everything. Though everyone including Anya and Tyler feared the few non-humans that lived on campus Leah knew what to expect and how to handle whatever ability he possessed.
“Good morning everyone,” Leah said in a somewhat happy mood trying to hide her pain and it seemed to be working. “That was my cousin; she wanted to know if I could pick her up. I said that it wouldn’t be a problem if you could take notes for me Anya?”
There was a pause from Anya who normally skipped the first few classes and Leah for the notes. “This will throw off my entire day, but I can go to morning class. What’s your cousin doing here anyway?”
“Family business,” Leah said quickly maybe too quickly because her friends noticed within the first five seconds of her finishing the sentence. “She’s here to help me with something personal between Mary and me.”
“So go and get your cousin and plans still stand for tonight missy.” Anya mocked every adult that she ever met.
“Yes, mom,” Leah laughed as she started the car again hoping that one of the teachers didn’t notice as she headed for the airport.
The time it took for Leah to reach the airport was probably the fastest she’s ever been she assumed that it was because of her fear of being caught by Mary or another authority figure. She drove around the airport looking for some sign of Karen or her boyfriend which she still wasn’t sure about the fact. Leah circled and circled for about half an hour until she saw someone in a tight black tank and tight low rise jeans that made it appear that she had a big ass, but it was the tattoo that named the girl as her cousin. She pulled into a spot and parked as her cousin approached.
“So, what do you think?” Karen announced showing her intricate design that had Leah’s parents’ names in the middle. “Not what I thought about getting but I knew that you wouldn’t be able to get it for a few years so I did it for you.”
“Thanks, I think.” Leah said hesitant as to if it was an actual tattoo.
“Relax its henna.” Karen said laughing as she threw two bags in to the back of the car. “And yes, I have sobered up, and Adam is in the bathroom he’ll be out in a minute.”
“So he really is your boyfriend.” Leah said shaking her in shame for ever doubting that her cousin could get the man that she had a crush on since they were children and he moved in up the street from where they lived. “I don’t want to even know how you won that fight.”
“Same thing that I’m going to do to that girl who has been harassing you, I just need you and Adam to keep me in check,” Karen said softly trying to keep it low enough so Leah wouldn’t be able to hear it however it didn’t work because Leah just stared as Adam jumped into the back with the bags.
“What do you mean ‘keep you in check’?” Leah said staring the car but still looking at her cousin until they reached the main highway with oncoming traffic. “Karen, answer me.”
“Well, the thing is I have had a hard time controlling my abilities lately.” Karen admitted looking at her feet not wanting to go into further. Karen just sat their silent as Adam directed Leah to the safe house that surprisingly was not far from the school.
“Hey, my friends and I are hanging out after school we’re going to the local teen pub. I was wondering if you wanted to come and hang out with us,” Leah asked as Karen began to get out of the car.
“Sounds good, lets me get to know about who you called me about.” Karen said perking backup to her friendly self.
“Alright, I better head back to school the lunch bell is about to ring.” Leah said waving goodbye to her cousin who entered the rundown house that surprisingly had power still running through its electrical box. The drive was shorter than she expected because according to her watch she had about two minutes before the bell rang.
She parked and waited the two minutes that it took before everyone started filing into the café courtyard. She got out of the car heading to meet her friends for lunch, she raced to the crowd hiding from her teachers that were on patrol through the halls watching in case any students acted up. Surprisingly Leah was able to make it to the table where her friends were waiting patiently for her return. Chris was the first to see her enter and waived her over, though she tried not to look directly at him, he caught her attention anyway. She calmly walked over trying to stay clear of the adults that also ate lunch on the campus courtyard.
“Nicely done my young padawon,” Anya said quietly but in a serious tone that only made everyone laugh in the end.
“You are such a Star Wars nerd.” Tyler said trying not to have his milk come out his nose which it did anyway so everyone laughed harder.
“Yet you flirt with me anyway, how sad? So was your mission a success?” Anya said changing the subject from her Star Wars vice. Her hair fell in front of her face to hide the embarrassment that showed as she mentally kicked herself for not changing the subject sooner.
“Guys knock it off, so what if Anya likes Star Wars it’s a good series. Back to my mission, it was a success; Karen is at her dad’s safe house which still has power running.” Leah said not getting any further that saying ‘safe house before everyone started spewing questions. “Slow down, damn, Anya you first.”
“Ok, what the hell does her father do?” Anya asked calmly trying to figure the purpose of a safe.
“Well then, I have to explain my entire family history because it’s actually very complicated.” Leah said getting situation about her uncle’s safe house. “Karen is a half breed, well half non-human. Her father is a non-human from Ireland who fell in love with my dad’s sister, Ann. Here’s where it gets a little tricky,” Leah paused imagining how her friends would react when she told them the other half of her family were hunters. “Karen and her family are hunters.”
“Excuse me?” Anya announced dropping her fork into her pasta salad out of shock, Leah looked to her other friends, but Chris and Tyler held the same reaction as Anya.
“How the hell did that happen?” Chris asked also confused as to how a non-human can become a hunter.
“Back in the 1600s Tom was married and when they were leaving for the colonies they were ambushed by someone of something he has always assumed that it was her family or his, because the two of them eloped, about two hundred years later he found out that many demons and some non-humans were attacking villagers throughout the established states at that time and they have been protecting humans ever since. Of course they don’t want people to know about it especially other hunters, so please guys don’t say anything to anyone.” Leah pleaded knowing that her friends may still be pissed but hopefully take her request.
“Well, you have my word no questions asked; however I think Tyler maybe more angry about non-human hunters.” Anya said as Chris nodded in agreement that he too was fine with her cousin and the family history.
“It’s fine with me as long as they don’t take any of the targets I want.” Tyler said in a joking manner though no one else found it amusing. “My only question is; why is your cousin here?”
“Well, Karen is in New York to take care of a little problem that I have.” Leah said softly but Anya was able to catch the look in her best friend’s eyes and could tell that it was about John.
“You have got to be kidding me. She’s here about Miranda, are you that hopeless that you can’t come to me so I can rough her up a bit.”
“I would have, but it’s difficult.” Leah said just as John appeared at their lunch table.
“What’s difficult?” He asked standing next to her smiling that sweet smile that caused her to fall head over heels in love with the boy.
“Nothing that concerns you,” Anya said coldly giving the half-breed that she was holding back her rage and if he didn’t leave soon she was going to kick his ass.
“Well then, I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Um, sure I suppose. What’s tonight?” Leah said confused as to what he was talking about. She was trying her best to pretend that nothing was wrong and in John’s mind everything was but Anya, Chris, and Tyler knew that she was hiding her true feelings.
“You sent me that text earlier saying that we were going to hang out at that new teen club by the docks.” John said still smiling as it dawned on Leah where the text had come from and she shook her head to say that she remembered.
“Right, I must have forgotten. I’ll see you tonight then.” Leah said calmly as John walked away from the table to sit with Miranda and the other popular kids. “Anya, give me your phone please.”
“Did you seriously invite him?” Chris said as Leah pulled the phone out of Anya’s hand once it was out.
“No, I didn’t Karen must have stolen my phone and sent the text.” Leah muttered dialing her number waiting patiently hoping the bell didn’t ring anytime soon.
“Hello, I was wondering how long it would take before you realized.” Karen’s voice announced happily even though she knew that Leah was pissed.
“Why did you text him?”
“Oh you found out, goodness you’re running behind. Yes, I did invite John and Miranda to hang out with us.” Karen said calmly as silence fell over the phone line. “He didn’t tell you that Miranda is tagging along did he?”
“No, it slipped his mind.” Leah said through her teeth trying to stop herself from yelling in front of the entire student body, “Karen, have you lost your mind?”
“Not yet, relax kiddo if things get to emotional then I’ll take care of her at the club but I want to observe before I attack.” Karen said pulling a makeshift plan out of nowhere but it gave Leah some sense of security and faith in Karen.
“Don’t make me regret calling you Karen. You are not my last straw.” Leah said as the class bell rang and she hung up just as Karen started to talk again. “Here and thank you.”
“Not a problem.” Anya said putting her phone away before any teachers saw it. “We better get to class. See you boys after school.”
“Later.” Chris said as the girls walked off and Tyler went to the track field for his training session. I think I have to reorganize my plan. The Reid family was not supposed to be involved. He thought as he pulled out his own cell phone and made a call.
Karen just stared at her cousin’s phone thinking that what she had done was smart on her part but for some reason Leah didn’t see it that way. She put the phone back in its place and headed back to the master bedroom where her boyfriend was waiting.
“I take it she was upset that you texted the man that is giving her a problem.” Adam said kissing Karen on the head as she snuggled against his body.
“Yeah, but she called me so I’m treating this like any other job I observe, access, and then attack, I don’t see why she’s so mad.” Karen said as Adam hugged her laughing.
“Don’t worry about Leah; you just do your thing. I’m sure she’ll understand when we see her tonight.” Adam said lightly kissing Karen on the top of her head before the pair fell asleep.
Leah’s day continued like every other day she was at school. All of her teachers gave her too much homework and all she wanted was to take out some well-deserved stress and sleep of the next two days, the final bell rang for her to switch classes and she was stopped abruptly in the hall by one of her teachers, who looked every mad.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” Leah said looking at her shoes not daring to look at the teacher in case something else happened.
“Well good afternoon Miss Russell, I see that you are feeling better.” The teacher said and the second he spoke Leah went stiff and she mentally cursed at herself.
“Hello Mr. Anderson, I was actually on my way to the nurse again. I had some bad Chinese for dinner.” Leah said softly placing one hand on the abdomen to make it look like she was not well.
“Yes well, I still expect homework from you in the morning. Now go to the nurse’s station.” Mr. Anderson said politely but coldly as Leah quietly walked away suddenly feeling sick to her stomach and her eye was killing her. She finally made it to the nurse’s station a place where she went almost every day for some kind of fake illness to get her out of her Offense/Defense class, she already knew how to fight she didn’t need a retired hunter yelling at her over something small. “Hey Maria,”
“Leah,” the woman said in a German accent. Maria defected to New York in the 1950s but she didn’t look a day over 20 but she was sweet and kind to all the students who came into her station especially Leah. “How are you lieb?”
“Not so well, I just need to rest for a few classes.” Leah said sitting on the bed next to Maria’s desk, feeling that her eye hurt more than before so she knew that the drugs that her grandfather had given her were wearing off and knew that everyone would see the bruise around it as soon as the spell disappeared.
“You’re always welcome here child, as long as you organize my cabinet.” Maria said slightly laughing but knowing that something was wrong with her favorite patient she dismissed it because it would do no good for Leah except place her somewhere dangerous and sad. Think of Leah being somewhere like that caused Maria to remember her own childhood in the orphanage hiding from the German army that was looking for Jews and gypsies, thankfully they never found her. Maria shook the memory away coming back to her present day life glad to have survived a horrible time in history, she picked up her phone dialing a number that only she knew but had not used for many years.
Karen was surprised by the phone ringing; she had no idea that the old thing was still working much less connected to any phone company the safe house had been dormant for 20 years. Curious as to who knew her father back in the old days she answered the phone getting a hello from a female woman with a German accent. “Hello?”
“Who is this?” Marie said softly not wanting to alert Leah as to the private call, “Where is Tomas?”
“In Arizona, this is his daughter, who is this?”
“I am the nurse at Rush Hill High School. Do you know Leah Russell?” Maria stated calmly keeping an eye for Leah in case she came back to the desk and cot.
“Yes, she is my cousin.” Karen said trying to remain calm but her voice was slightly elevated but not high enough to where she would wake Adam. “Is everything ok?”
“I am not sure, I believe that she is being abused but I cannot act without evidence; are you coming to pick her up?” Maria asked knowing Tom’s strategy for catching criminals by working outside the law and becoming an anonymous tipster.
“What’s your name?” Karen asked politely thinking of how to catch that bitch beating her cousin. If Mary was hitting Leah she knew that had to be bruises she just had to find them one way or another as she saw Adam come out with a bed sheet wrapped around his body apparently cold and Karen pointed to the heater.
“Maria Auttenberg, your father and I were friends many years ago. How is he?” Maria asked not particularly waiting for an answer though one came anyway.
“He’s fine. I’ll get you the evidence, don’t worry about that.” Karen said hanging up the phone with a loud bang and slammed her fist down on the counter.
“Everything ok,” Adam questioned coming up behind Karen and wrapping her in his warm arms.
“Mary’s hitting Leah.” Karen stated anger between her teeth counting to twenty in her head trying to calm down.
“Shit, how are you going to prove it?” Adam asked knowing how Karen felt about family and what she was capable of if any of them were in trouble and refused to ask her for help.
“She’s bound to have some bruises even if she is able to hide the physical damage the pain is still there.” Karen said thinking of where the wounds were when a light bulb went off in her head. “Get dressed, school should be out soon.”
Leah watched as Maria hung up the phone and walked over to relax after organizing every drug and supply closet that occupied the nurse’s station which were set up for the health needs of the students so Maria was given every kind of medicine that has been created, it kind of surprised Leah when she found out that Maria knew how to administer all of the drugs correctly. She knew that Maria consulted on many hospital cases and she assumed that it was them she just got off the phone with. “I’m all done Maria.”
“Oh danke Leah,” Maria said calmly but Leah could tell that she looked shaken up about something and it probably had to do with some case at the hospital.
“Need help on a case?” Leah asked nicely wondering if she can help though her knowledge of medicine was small.
“I could. 15 year old girl was admitted with facial fractures. Doctors suspect child abuse but the girl won’t give police the name of the person who hit her.” Maria started noticing that Leah tensed knowing that the case came close to her home life. “The girl is one of our students so they called me to try to talk her into naming her attacker however I still am unaware as to why she would protect the people that are hurting her.”
Leah paused giving Maria the illusion that she was thinking of a plausible explanation for the girl’s reasoning. “Maybe she’s afraid that if she tells the police that they won’t do anything and she’ll get hurt more. Another reason may be that she be thrown out like trash.” The bell came as relief and rushed out to her car before Maria could comment on Leah’s psychology. She made it to the parking lot with relative ease and was happy to see her friends but not prepared to see who they were talking to. When she saw Karen standing next to her aunts car she missed her step and fell the remaining inches hitting concrete.
“You ok?” Karen said calmly helping her cousin up and checking her over. “You’re not hurt are you?”
“No Karen, I’m fine.” Leah said and tried to pull away but felt Karen’s grasp tighten. “Let me go.”
“You have a bump on your head.” Karen said her hand moving toward the side of her face where her bruise was and lightly pressed on it.
“Ow,” Leah whispered but loud enough for her cousin to hear, and when she saw the look in her cousin’s eyes she knew that she was pissed and knew what she was going to do when she pulled out her mobile. “Karen, please don’t call the cops.”
“Hi, I would like to report a case of child abuse.” Karen said turning away from Leah and pointing to the car, which Leah went to with no fight knowing that Karen would call the police anyway.
“Leah what’s going on?” Anya asked taking her best friend into a hug as she cried silently.
“Karen’s calling the cops isn’t she,” Adam said the only calm one out of Leah’s friends. Leah just nodded not wanting to talk to anyone, as Karen came back from her phone call. “She’s upset Leah; you know how protective she is.”
“Who are you?” Anya said looking Adam over pulling Leah into a tighter hug ready to attack until the rest of their friends showed up which took considerably less time that normal when they noticed two strangers and Leah crying.
“I’m family.” Adam replied and he was partly correct anyway he was considered family because he had known the Reid’s for a long time, but Ann and Tom had no idea that he and Karen were seeing each other or the fact that Karen had brought him with her to New York.
“I know she’s just trying to protect me but I can handle myself when it comes to Mary.” Leah said pushing her friends away as Karen hung up the phone and marched up to Leah.
“Can you, because clearly you have done a swell job so far.” Karen yelled as she got close to Leah face pointing at the current black eye.
“Karen, back off,” Adam stated trying to wedge his body between the pair. “If you transform in the middle of the day, Tom will more than likely kill you.”
It took her a few moments but Karen managed to calm down and it was a good thing too because people of all types were beginning to look and a few teens started chanting ‘cat fight’ which in turn gained the attention of the faculty and that would take a lot of explaining. “Adam, please bring Leah back to the safe house I’ll bring the car back before Mary gets home and the cops show up.” Karen stated taking the keys from her cousin and driving off before there was any protest.
Leah cried silently as she and Adam walked back to Tom’s safe house, though the walk was short it felt like it took hours before they were finally able to relax. When they finally entered the house, Leah sat breathlessly on the old sofa that let up a puff of dust making her cough and choke as Adam looked and chuckled from the kitchen as he brought out a couple of sodas and sitting next to her.
“Thanks.” Leah said taking the drink away from his hand. “Why do you love Karen so much, she never listens.”
“I love Karen because of the way she sees family.” Adam said thinking about Karen and when they were younger. “Your cousin is the kind of person who would do anything for the ones she cares about and you are a part of that family weather you like it or not.”
“I know that and it doesn’t bother me that they care, I just wish that Karen would think about what I am planning to do about my life.” Leah said taking a long swig of the soda and trying to calm down at least until Karen walked in through the door. “What did the police do?”
“They arrested her ironically in front of all her friends. I think she was cursing about our end of the family on the walk to the squad car.” Karen said hiding her laughter but Leah knew that it was there. “The police want to talk to you; I told them that they can do it later.”
“You told them? How did the police know that I was with you?” Leah questioned wondering how the Long Island police knew about Karen.
“One of Tom’s old friends is the captain of the precinct where Mary is being held. I told him where we are staying and they’ll be here tomorrow.” Karen said and ran for cover when she saw how red Leah’s face turned.
“Tomorrow, Karen why did you say tomorrow!” Leah shouted as Adam stepped out of the young teen’s way. Karen glared at the boy but understood why he did it, Karen had this coming to her she couldn’t hide behind her boyfriend. “If we weren’t family I would kill you right now.”
Karen saw the pain and anger the mixed in her cousin’s face while she scolded her for not asking Leah’s permission to speak about her family life to officers even if one of them was a family friend. Although Leah understood Karen’s reasoning it still bothered her maybe a little more that it should have and that was probably because she didn’t call Karen out here to fix her living situation only her love situation and she wanted everything else left alone, she still had no idea how Karen knew about the abuse and didn’t think of it much Karen always had a sixth sense when something was wrong or if someone was keeping a secret.
The afternoon progressed slowly Leah made the night’s plans with Anya who relayed the message to Tyler and Chris who apparently was too busy to answer so they all just left messages giving him details about when and where they were meeting up at, Karen suggested her place and everyone seemed to agree to it seeing as how none of Leah’s relatives knew about this safe house and wouldn’t be able to find her.
“I picked up some of your clothes while I was over at your house.” Karen said handing her cousin a bag that was stuffed full and almost overflowing.
“How did you get my clothes?” Leah questioned taking the bag not bothering to say thank you thinking that Karen snuck in while Mary was being arrested and stole her things.
“Your grandfather, he figured that you would need your things. He also packed you some pain pills just in case your eye was still hurting.” Karen said and Leah’s hand went straight for her eye where Mary had punched her the night before and was surprised that with all of the commotion she totally forgot that it was throbbing until she touched it and winced. “You want me to heal it for you?”
“No, thank you for getting my things Karen, I really appreciate it.” Leah said as she took some of the pain pills that were in the front pocket walking into the back room to go and get ready.
The next morning when Leah woke to the sound of her alarm clock she went straight to the mirror to see if the beating that Mary had given her had faded; however her green eye was still surrounded by the black tinted skin of her healing face at the sight of it she became upset knowing that Mary must have been very sore if she had to hit her only niece as hard as she did. Leah knew that she had to find some way to conceal the bruise looking around for a dark pair of sunglasses but only finding a book with her spells when it dawned on her that a small healing spell would help her or at least cover the wound if she could not heal it completely. Only a small amount of time past until it was safe for Leah to move about freely in the house, where she was able to eat breakfast what she didn’t plan on was her grandfather still being in the kitchen.
“Oh, sorry I thought you had left already.” Leah said heading for the hallway when the old man’s gentle hand touched her arm giving off a wave of comfort that relaxed Leah’s nerves.
“Sit, you need breakfast too.” Although that’s all he said she picked up on the implied meaning that he wanted to talk about what happened at dinner last night. Leah sat in her seat as he brought over two plates both covered with pancakes with bananas and syrup. “Now let’s have a look at that eye.”
“It’s fine grandpa,” Leah stated in protest as he held her head and lightly touched it causing her to wince and wine in pain.
“Ah, concealment spells. You know that spell with only cover the wound but the pain is still there.”
“I know.” Leah said taking a bite of her pancakes. “I just need it to be covered; I can take aspirin for the pain.”
“If you think that no one is going to notice than I will agree with you about the aspirin, but sweet girl what if someone sees you in pain.” The old man said in a hypothetical situation but it took Leah off guard.
“I should be going. Is the second car still in the garage?” She asked grabbing her bag, “Some of us are going out tonight.”
“You and your friends or is Karen coming along.” Leah froze in the door way, no one knew that Karen was coming except for her. “Don’t worry sweetheart, your secret is safe with me. I think that it will be good for you to see more of your family no matter what Mary says.”
“Thank you.” Leah said softly as he handed her the car keys. Leah kissed him lightly on the cheek and ran for the door hoping that Mary didn’t figured out that her ex-husband’s car was missing. She kept everything quiet not even the radio was on until she reached the stop light far away from the house as she began to relax she heard her phone ring and slowly answered it fearing the worst. “Hello?”
“What are you so nervous about,” Sounded the voice of some one that Leah was glad to hear. She also knew that if Karen was calling her now that meant she landed at the airport.
“Karen, sorry I thought you may have been Mary.” Leah said thankful that she was still safe for the day at least. “So you’ve landed.”
“Yeah about two hours ago, I think it’s all a bit fuzzy.” Karen said and the more she talked the more Leah knew that something was wrong with her cousin if Leah knew better she’d say that Karen had raided at least three mini bars.
“Karen, are you ok?” Leah asked as calmly as she could pulling into the school parking lot driving up and down the rows looking for an opening. “You sound like you’re three sheets to the wind.”
“Karen, give me the phone,” a man’s voice came obviously watching her cousin make a fool of herself. “Hi, Leah I’m Adam. I tagged along with Karen. “
“Why, are the boys not with her?” Leah asked cautious of the boy who held her cousin’s phone. “And how do you know Karen?”
“Bryan and Scott don’t know that she left yet and I’m her boyfriend. We can talk later but we were wondering if you could give us a ride to Tom’s old safe house.” Adam said in a polite tone as Karen was laughing away about something that both of them were clueless about.
Leah thought about who she was talking to she didn’t trust Karen’s supposed ‘boyfriend’ and made him wait as she pulled in next to Anya’s car where they were waiting for her. “Yeah, I can do that but I don’t know where it is and I really doubt that Karen’s going to sober enough to give directions.”
“Tom wrote them down for her just in case.” Adam said calmly while Karen’s complaining about Adam being there but Leah dismissed it as her drunken babble. Leah said that she would be there soon and got off the phone to say good morning to her friends.
“Who were you talking to?” Anya asked as her best friend climbed out of her aunt’s car. Anya was a rambunctious girl never obeying the school rules by altering her school uniform and piercing her nose and eyebrows. She had dyed her hair about ten different colors so you could not tell what her original hair color was. Anya was accompanied by Tyler who was a hunter trained by the same people that have killed demons, witches, and non-humans was almost thrown out of his classes for not holding to the hunter code of not befriending those who were to be hunted. Tyler was a good enough guy even though he flirted with every woman that passed him on campus as well as on the street; even Leah and Anya were not excused from his attempts. Leaning against his 1988 blue Pontiac was Chris, he was just as high strung as anyone on campus course he didn’t fit in with any of the others that roamed the halls of their school, Leah always compared him to her cousins because Karen and her brothers are also called non-humans the term was new to everyone who went to Rush Hill but from what they could guess non-humans were a sub-species of demons but held none of the characteristics if any just saw them in the street or at a club you would guess they were human; however they are far from it with an immense amount of power that theoretically could either enslave every race in the world or destroy everyone and everything. Though everyone including Anya and Tyler feared the few non-humans that lived on campus Leah knew what to expect and how to handle whatever ability he possessed.
“Good morning everyone,” Leah said in a somewhat happy mood trying to hide her pain and it seemed to be working. “That was my cousin; she wanted to know if I could pick her up. I said that it wouldn’t be a problem if you could take notes for me Anya?”
There was a pause from Anya who normally skipped the first few classes and Leah for the notes. “This will throw off my entire day, but I can go to morning class. What’s your cousin doing here anyway?”
“Family business,” Leah said quickly maybe too quickly because her friends noticed within the first five seconds of her finishing the sentence. “She’s here to help me with something personal between Mary and me.”
“So go and get your cousin and plans still stand for tonight missy.” Anya mocked every adult that she ever met.
“Yes, mom,” Leah laughed as she started the car again hoping that one of the teachers didn’t notice as she headed for the airport.
The time it took for Leah to reach the airport was probably the fastest she’s ever been she assumed that it was because of her fear of being caught by Mary or another authority figure. She drove around the airport looking for some sign of Karen or her boyfriend which she still wasn’t sure about the fact. Leah circled and circled for about half an hour until she saw someone in a tight black tank and tight low rise jeans that made it appear that she had a big ass, but it was the tattoo that named the girl as her cousin. She pulled into a spot and parked as her cousin approached.
“So, what do you think?” Karen announced showing her intricate design that had Leah’s parents’ names in the middle. “Not what I thought about getting but I knew that you wouldn’t be able to get it for a few years so I did it for you.”
“Thanks, I think.” Leah said hesitant as to if it was an actual tattoo.
“Relax its henna.” Karen said laughing as she threw two bags in to the back of the car. “And yes, I have sobered up, and Adam is in the bathroom he’ll be out in a minute.”
“So he really is your boyfriend.” Leah said shaking her in shame for ever doubting that her cousin could get the man that she had a crush on since they were children and he moved in up the street from where they lived. “I don’t want to even know how you won that fight.”
“Same thing that I’m going to do to that girl who has been harassing you, I just need you and Adam to keep me in check,” Karen said softly trying to keep it low enough so Leah wouldn’t be able to hear it however it didn’t work because Leah just stared as Adam jumped into the back with the bags.
“What do you mean ‘keep you in check’?” Leah said staring the car but still looking at her cousin until they reached the main highway with oncoming traffic. “Karen, answer me.”
“Well, the thing is I have had a hard time controlling my abilities lately.” Karen admitted looking at her feet not wanting to go into further. Karen just sat their silent as Adam directed Leah to the safe house that surprisingly was not far from the school.
“Hey, my friends and I are hanging out after school we’re going to the local teen pub. I was wondering if you wanted to come and hang out with us,” Leah asked as Karen began to get out of the car.
“Sounds good, lets me get to know about who you called me about.” Karen said perking backup to her friendly self.
“Alright, I better head back to school the lunch bell is about to ring.” Leah said waving goodbye to her cousin who entered the rundown house that surprisingly had power still running through its electrical box. The drive was shorter than she expected because according to her watch she had about two minutes before the bell rang.
She parked and waited the two minutes that it took before everyone started filing into the café courtyard. She got out of the car heading to meet her friends for lunch, she raced to the crowd hiding from her teachers that were on patrol through the halls watching in case any students acted up. Surprisingly Leah was able to make it to the table where her friends were waiting patiently for her return. Chris was the first to see her enter and waived her over, though she tried not to look directly at him, he caught her attention anyway. She calmly walked over trying to stay clear of the adults that also ate lunch on the campus courtyard.
“Nicely done my young padawon,” Anya said quietly but in a serious tone that only made everyone laugh in the end.
“You are such a Star Wars nerd.” Tyler said trying not to have his milk come out his nose which it did anyway so everyone laughed harder.
“Yet you flirt with me anyway, how sad? So was your mission a success?” Anya said changing the subject from her Star Wars vice. Her hair fell in front of her face to hide the embarrassment that showed as she mentally kicked herself for not changing the subject sooner.
“Guys knock it off, so what if Anya likes Star Wars it’s a good series. Back to my mission, it was a success; Karen is at her dad’s safe house which still has power running.” Leah said not getting any further that saying ‘safe house before everyone started spewing questions. “Slow down, damn, Anya you first.”
“Ok, what the hell does her father do?” Anya asked calmly trying to figure the purpose of a safe.
“Well then, I have to explain my entire family history because it’s actually very complicated.” Leah said getting situation about her uncle’s safe house. “Karen is a half breed, well half non-human. Her father is a non-human from Ireland who fell in love with my dad’s sister, Ann. Here’s where it gets a little tricky,” Leah paused imagining how her friends would react when she told them the other half of her family were hunters. “Karen and her family are hunters.”
“Excuse me?” Anya announced dropping her fork into her pasta salad out of shock, Leah looked to her other friends, but Chris and Tyler held the same reaction as Anya.
“How the hell did that happen?” Chris asked also confused as to how a non-human can become a hunter.
“Back in the 1600s Tom was married and when they were leaving for the colonies they were ambushed by someone of something he has always assumed that it was her family or his, because the two of them eloped, about two hundred years later he found out that many demons and some non-humans were attacking villagers throughout the established states at that time and they have been protecting humans ever since. Of course they don’t want people to know about it especially other hunters, so please guys don’t say anything to anyone.” Leah pleaded knowing that her friends may still be pissed but hopefully take her request.
“Well, you have my word no questions asked; however I think Tyler maybe more angry about non-human hunters.” Anya said as Chris nodded in agreement that he too was fine with her cousin and the family history.
“It’s fine with me as long as they don’t take any of the targets I want.” Tyler said in a joking manner though no one else found it amusing. “My only question is; why is your cousin here?”
“Well, Karen is in New York to take care of a little problem that I have.” Leah said softly but Anya was able to catch the look in her best friend’s eyes and could tell that it was about John.
“You have got to be kidding me. She’s here about Miranda, are you that hopeless that you can’t come to me so I can rough her up a bit.”
“I would have, but it’s difficult.” Leah said just as John appeared at their lunch table.
“What’s difficult?” He asked standing next to her smiling that sweet smile that caused her to fall head over heels in love with the boy.
“Nothing that concerns you,” Anya said coldly giving the half-breed that she was holding back her rage and if he didn’t leave soon she was going to kick his ass.
“Well then, I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Um, sure I suppose. What’s tonight?” Leah said confused as to what he was talking about. She was trying her best to pretend that nothing was wrong and in John’s mind everything was but Anya, Chris, and Tyler knew that she was hiding her true feelings.
“You sent me that text earlier saying that we were going to hang out at that new teen club by the docks.” John said still smiling as it dawned on Leah where the text had come from and she shook her head to say that she remembered.
“Right, I must have forgotten. I’ll see you tonight then.” Leah said calmly as John walked away from the table to sit with Miranda and the other popular kids. “Anya, give me your phone please.”
“Did you seriously invite him?” Chris said as Leah pulled the phone out of Anya’s hand once it was out.
“No, I didn’t Karen must have stolen my phone and sent the text.” Leah muttered dialing her number waiting patiently hoping the bell didn’t ring anytime soon.
“Hello, I was wondering how long it would take before you realized.” Karen’s voice announced happily even though she knew that Leah was pissed.
“Why did you text him?”
“Oh you found out, goodness you’re running behind. Yes, I did invite John and Miranda to hang out with us.” Karen said calmly as silence fell over the phone line. “He didn’t tell you that Miranda is tagging along did he?”
“No, it slipped his mind.” Leah said through her teeth trying to stop herself from yelling in front of the entire student body, “Karen, have you lost your mind?”
“Not yet, relax kiddo if things get to emotional then I’ll take care of her at the club but I want to observe before I attack.” Karen said pulling a makeshift plan out of nowhere but it gave Leah some sense of security and faith in Karen.
“Don’t make me regret calling you Karen. You are not my last straw.” Leah said as the class bell rang and she hung up just as Karen started to talk again. “Here and thank you.”
“Not a problem.” Anya said putting her phone away before any teachers saw it. “We better get to class. See you boys after school.”
“Later.” Chris said as the girls walked off and Tyler went to the track field for his training session. I think I have to reorganize my plan. The Reid family was not supposed to be involved. He thought as he pulled out his own cell phone and made a call.
Karen just stared at her cousin’s phone thinking that what she had done was smart on her part but for some reason Leah didn’t see it that way. She put the phone back in its place and headed back to the master bedroom where her boyfriend was waiting.
“I take it she was upset that you texted the man that is giving her a problem.” Adam said kissing Karen on the head as she snuggled against his body.
“Yeah, but she called me so I’m treating this like any other job I observe, access, and then attack, I don’t see why she’s so mad.” Karen said as Adam hugged her laughing.
“Don’t worry about Leah; you just do your thing. I’m sure she’ll understand when we see her tonight.” Adam said lightly kissing Karen on the top of her head before the pair fell asleep.
Leah’s day continued like every other day she was at school. All of her teachers gave her too much homework and all she wanted was to take out some well-deserved stress and sleep of the next two days, the final bell rang for her to switch classes and she was stopped abruptly in the hall by one of her teachers, who looked every mad.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” Leah said looking at her shoes not daring to look at the teacher in case something else happened.
“Well good afternoon Miss Russell, I see that you are feeling better.” The teacher said and the second he spoke Leah went stiff and she mentally cursed at herself.
“Hello Mr. Anderson, I was actually on my way to the nurse again. I had some bad Chinese for dinner.” Leah said softly placing one hand on the abdomen to make it look like she was not well.
“Yes well, I still expect homework from you in the morning. Now go to the nurse’s station.” Mr. Anderson said politely but coldly as Leah quietly walked away suddenly feeling sick to her stomach and her eye was killing her. She finally made it to the nurse’s station a place where she went almost every day for some kind of fake illness to get her out of her Offense/Defense class, she already knew how to fight she didn’t need a retired hunter yelling at her over something small. “Hey Maria,”
“Leah,” the woman said in a German accent. Maria defected to New York in the 1950s but she didn’t look a day over 20 but she was sweet and kind to all the students who came into her station especially Leah. “How are you lieb?”
“Not so well, I just need to rest for a few classes.” Leah said sitting on the bed next to Maria’s desk, feeling that her eye hurt more than before so she knew that the drugs that her grandfather had given her were wearing off and knew that everyone would see the bruise around it as soon as the spell disappeared.
“You’re always welcome here child, as long as you organize my cabinet.” Maria said slightly laughing but knowing that something was wrong with her favorite patient she dismissed it because it would do no good for Leah except place her somewhere dangerous and sad. Think of Leah being somewhere like that caused Maria to remember her own childhood in the orphanage hiding from the German army that was looking for Jews and gypsies, thankfully they never found her. Maria shook the memory away coming back to her present day life glad to have survived a horrible time in history, she picked up her phone dialing a number that only she knew but had not used for many years.
Karen was surprised by the phone ringing; she had no idea that the old thing was still working much less connected to any phone company the safe house had been dormant for 20 years. Curious as to who knew her father back in the old days she answered the phone getting a hello from a female woman with a German accent. “Hello?”
“Who is this?” Marie said softly not wanting to alert Leah as to the private call, “Where is Tomas?”
“In Arizona, this is his daughter, who is this?”
“I am the nurse at Rush Hill High School. Do you know Leah Russell?” Maria stated calmly keeping an eye for Leah in case she came back to the desk and cot.
“Yes, she is my cousin.” Karen said trying to remain calm but her voice was slightly elevated but not high enough to where she would wake Adam. “Is everything ok?”
“I am not sure, I believe that she is being abused but I cannot act without evidence; are you coming to pick her up?” Maria asked knowing Tom’s strategy for catching criminals by working outside the law and becoming an anonymous tipster.
“What’s your name?” Karen asked politely thinking of how to catch that bitch beating her cousin. If Mary was hitting Leah she knew that had to be bruises she just had to find them one way or another as she saw Adam come out with a bed sheet wrapped around his body apparently cold and Karen pointed to the heater.
“Maria Auttenberg, your father and I were friends many years ago. How is he?” Maria asked not particularly waiting for an answer though one came anyway.
“He’s fine. I’ll get you the evidence, don’t worry about that.” Karen said hanging up the phone with a loud bang and slammed her fist down on the counter.
“Everything ok,” Adam questioned coming up behind Karen and wrapping her in his warm arms.
“Mary’s hitting Leah.” Karen stated anger between her teeth counting to twenty in her head trying to calm down.
“Shit, how are you going to prove it?” Adam asked knowing how Karen felt about family and what she was capable of if any of them were in trouble and refused to ask her for help.
“She’s bound to have some bruises even if she is able to hide the physical damage the pain is still there.” Karen said thinking of where the wounds were when a light bulb went off in her head. “Get dressed, school should be out soon.”
Leah watched as Maria hung up the phone and walked over to relax after organizing every drug and supply closet that occupied the nurse’s station which were set up for the health needs of the students so Maria was given every kind of medicine that has been created, it kind of surprised Leah when she found out that Maria knew how to administer all of the drugs correctly. She knew that Maria consulted on many hospital cases and she assumed that it was them she just got off the phone with. “I’m all done Maria.”
“Oh danke Leah,” Maria said calmly but Leah could tell that she looked shaken up about something and it probably had to do with some case at the hospital.
“Need help on a case?” Leah asked nicely wondering if she can help though her knowledge of medicine was small.
“I could. 15 year old girl was admitted with facial fractures. Doctors suspect child abuse but the girl won’t give police the name of the person who hit her.” Maria started noticing that Leah tensed knowing that the case came close to her home life. “The girl is one of our students so they called me to try to talk her into naming her attacker however I still am unaware as to why she would protect the people that are hurting her.”
Leah paused giving Maria the illusion that she was thinking of a plausible explanation for the girl’s reasoning. “Maybe she’s afraid that if she tells the police that they won’t do anything and she’ll get hurt more. Another reason may be that she be thrown out like trash.” The bell came as relief and rushed out to her car before Maria could comment on Leah’s psychology. She made it to the parking lot with relative ease and was happy to see her friends but not prepared to see who they were talking to. When she saw Karen standing next to her aunts car she missed her step and fell the remaining inches hitting concrete.
“You ok?” Karen said calmly helping her cousin up and checking her over. “You’re not hurt are you?”
“No Karen, I’m fine.” Leah said and tried to pull away but felt Karen’s grasp tighten. “Let me go.”
“You have a bump on your head.” Karen said her hand moving toward the side of her face where her bruise was and lightly pressed on it.
“Ow,” Leah whispered but loud enough for her cousin to hear, and when she saw the look in her cousin’s eyes she knew that she was pissed and knew what she was going to do when she pulled out her mobile. “Karen, please don’t call the cops.”
“Hi, I would like to report a case of child abuse.” Karen said turning away from Leah and pointing to the car, which Leah went to with no fight knowing that Karen would call the police anyway.
“Leah what’s going on?” Anya asked taking her best friend into a hug as she cried silently.
“Karen’s calling the cops isn’t she,” Adam said the only calm one out of Leah’s friends. Leah just nodded not wanting to talk to anyone, as Karen came back from her phone call. “She’s upset Leah; you know how protective she is.”
“Who are you?” Anya said looking Adam over pulling Leah into a tighter hug ready to attack until the rest of their friends showed up which took considerably less time that normal when they noticed two strangers and Leah crying.
“I’m family.” Adam replied and he was partly correct anyway he was considered family because he had known the Reid’s for a long time, but Ann and Tom had no idea that he and Karen were seeing each other or the fact that Karen had brought him with her to New York.
“I know she’s just trying to protect me but I can handle myself when it comes to Mary.” Leah said pushing her friends away as Karen hung up the phone and marched up to Leah.
“Can you, because clearly you have done a swell job so far.” Karen yelled as she got close to Leah face pointing at the current black eye.
“Karen, back off,” Adam stated trying to wedge his body between the pair. “If you transform in the middle of the day, Tom will more than likely kill you.”
It took her a few moments but Karen managed to calm down and it was a good thing too because people of all types were beginning to look and a few teens started chanting ‘cat fight’ which in turn gained the attention of the faculty and that would take a lot of explaining. “Adam, please bring Leah back to the safe house I’ll bring the car back before Mary gets home and the cops show up.” Karen stated taking the keys from her cousin and driving off before there was any protest.
Leah cried silently as she and Adam walked back to Tom’s safe house, though the walk was short it felt like it took hours before they were finally able to relax. When they finally entered the house, Leah sat breathlessly on the old sofa that let up a puff of dust making her cough and choke as Adam looked and chuckled from the kitchen as he brought out a couple of sodas and sitting next to her.
“Thanks.” Leah said taking the drink away from his hand. “Why do you love Karen so much, she never listens.”
“I love Karen because of the way she sees family.” Adam said thinking about Karen and when they were younger. “Your cousin is the kind of person who would do anything for the ones she cares about and you are a part of that family weather you like it or not.”
“I know that and it doesn’t bother me that they care, I just wish that Karen would think about what I am planning to do about my life.” Leah said taking a long swig of the soda and trying to calm down at least until Karen walked in through the door. “What did the police do?”
“They arrested her ironically in front of all her friends. I think she was cursing about our end of the family on the walk to the squad car.” Karen said hiding her laughter but Leah knew that it was there. “The police want to talk to you; I told them that they can do it later.”
“You told them? How did the police know that I was with you?” Leah questioned wondering how the Long Island police knew about Karen.
“One of Tom’s old friends is the captain of the precinct where Mary is being held. I told him where we are staying and they’ll be here tomorrow.” Karen said and ran for cover when she saw how red Leah’s face turned.
“Tomorrow, Karen why did you say tomorrow!” Leah shouted as Adam stepped out of the young teen’s way. Karen glared at the boy but understood why he did it, Karen had this coming to her she couldn’t hide behind her boyfriend. “If we weren’t family I would kill you right now.”
Karen saw the pain and anger the mixed in her cousin’s face while she scolded her for not asking Leah’s permission to speak about her family life to officers even if one of them was a family friend. Although Leah understood Karen’s reasoning it still bothered her maybe a little more that it should have and that was probably because she didn’t call Karen out here to fix her living situation only her love situation and she wanted everything else left alone, she still had no idea how Karen knew about the abuse and didn’t think of it much Karen always had a sixth sense when something was wrong or if someone was keeping a secret.
The afternoon progressed slowly Leah made the night’s plans with Anya who relayed the message to Tyler and Chris who apparently was too busy to answer so they all just left messages giving him details about when and where they were meeting up at, Karen suggested her place and everyone seemed to agree to it seeing as how none of Leah’s relatives knew about this safe house and wouldn’t be able to find her.
“I picked up some of your clothes while I was over at your house.” Karen said handing her cousin a bag that was stuffed full and almost overflowing.
“How did you get my clothes?” Leah questioned taking the bag not bothering to say thank you thinking that Karen snuck in while Mary was being arrested and stole her things.
“Your grandfather, he figured that you would need your things. He also packed you some pain pills just in case your eye was still hurting.” Karen said and Leah’s hand went straight for her eye where Mary had punched her the night before and was surprised that with all of the commotion she totally forgot that it was throbbing until she touched it and winced. “You want me to heal it for you?”
“No, thank you for getting my things Karen, I really appreciate it.” Leah said as she took some of the pain pills that were in the front pocket walking into the back room to go and get ready.