Forever Here

by Harold Wall

  life. We must have gone on all the rides at least three times, even the ones that I was too short for because Dad told me to stuff extra socks in my shoes to make me look taller.

  And there was that huge candyfloss machine thing. You told me not to eat too much of it so that I wouldn't get too hyper, but I did anyway and then felt sick to my stomach for the

  rest of the night. And there was that tent with the psychic in; you told her you liked to look at the stars and it turned out she had majored in astrology, so she took you outside and

  set up a telescope to show you all the stars and what they meant and stuff. Dad and I were bored stiff, and we both knew that you always preferred astronomy over astrology, but

  you were so intrigued, we didn't have the heart to hurry you along."

  "It was the first time I'd ever looked through a proper telescope," I mused.

  "Yeah," he paused, "It was a good night."

  "Yeah, it was." For a few moments we both seemed to be lost in our own memories, me remembering how the 'psychic' girl had pointed out all the constellations, and how my

  youthful mind had drunk up every word she said, so amazed at the beauty of what was right above us. I sighed just thinking about a time where life was so simple.

  I heard a small commotion on the other side of the phone and frowned, listening curiously in to what was going on. "She's fine," I heard Mark say to someone on the other end, his

  tone exasperated. The other person said something else and though I couldn't make out the words, I would recognise that melodic voice anywhere.

  "Is that Jade?" I demanded, already knowing that it was. "Yeah," he answered cautiously, detecting the fierce older sister tone. "In your room, at god knows what hour?" I

  questioned. I strained to hear what was being said at the other end of the line, but only muttered whisperings made their way to me.

  "Come on, Mare, she's my soul mate!" Mark protested defensively, and I could picture his stricken face, as he no doubt looked to Jade for help. It seemed that she wouldn't offer

  him any and I wasn't about to make this easy for him either.

  "Were you having sexual intercourse?" I interrogated.

  "MaryLynette! You're my older sister, you can't ask me that!"

  "Were you using protection?"

  "Mare, I am seriously going to hang up on you."

  "So help me, if I come home and find out that you've made her pregnant I will throttle you, and don't even get me started on what Ash will do." I heard him gulp at that last part,

  right before the line went dead.

  I stared at the phone for a minute knowing it would be useless to call him back. I'd see him soon enough anyway, and I was too tired to lecture him anymore tonight.

  I struggled to my feet, stretching out my stiff leg muscles, and making my way back over to the mirror. There was only the ghost of the crazed looking girl I'd seen there earlier,

  she'd been replaced by the usual MaryLynette Carter that I knew well. She looked a mess, but she was me.

  Right now, even though my eyes were still bloodshot, and there were claw marks running down my head, my eyes were their usual calm blue and my mind was utterly still. I

  couldn't imagine the girl before me causing destruction, or putting those around her in harms way. But that other girl, the one with the dilated pupils and whose skull was on the

  verge of being blown to pieces, her I wasn't so sure about. I couldn't be certain of my actions when I was in that state, not when I wasn't completely and totally in control of my

  own mind. And that was the scariest part of all.

  I stayed outside the door for what felt like hours, my head propped up against the wood, my ears taking in the sound of MaryLynette's steady breathing. She'd fallen asleep right

  there in the bathroom, no doubt on the floor. I'd been tempted a couple of times to go in and carry her back to her bed, but she sounded so peaceful that I couldn't bear to disturb

  her. That and the fact that I was still unsure of where I stood with my soul mate at this moment in time.

  I could not ignore the feeling that something had drastically changed between us. There seemed to be an impenetrable wall of awkward tension separating the two of us, forbidding me from getting too close to her. I could only hope that this state we'd found ourselves in wouldn't last long. Surely this couldn't be the end. We were soul mates, the universe

  wanted us together.

  Voices sounded from behind the solid door with all the locks, and I was only vaguely aware of Daphne removing herself from her seat to let in my two best friends.

  My eyes flicked over to where Rashel and Quinn stood in the doorway, grinning like fools. Rashel had her arms wrapped around Quinn's waist, and he leaned down to draw her into

  a deep kiss.

  "Get a room!" I yelled, gagging as they jumped apart in fright. I knew it was probably cruel to ruin their romantic moment, especially seeing as there wouldn't be many chances for

  romance in the near future, what with the apocalypse fast approaching, but I couldn't stand to watch them advertise their love life right when mine had just vaporised. I'd have

  given anything to switch places with Rashel and Quinn in that moment.

  "Hey," Rashel said in a quiet voice, as if afraid to wake up the rest of the sleeping world. She looked at me in puzzlement for a second, frowning down at me on my place on the

  floor. "MaryLynette's in there," I said by way of answer, and Rashel nodded in understanding.

  "Do you want me to go in and check on her?" Rashel asked, moving over to where I sat. Relief threatened to swallow me whole, as I nodded a yes. Although I still didn't want to do

  anything to interrupt Mare's peaceful slumber, I was itching to see if she was okay. She'd sounded so worked up, so stressed out earlier; I just wanted to know that she was as well

  as she could be in such a situation. Even if I didn't have the guts to open the door and check on her, I would forever be grateful to Rashel for volunteering.

  I stood up to let Rashel past, shaking out my legs, which had become stiff. She offered me a smile, before opening the door and disappearing inside.

  Listening intently for a few painful seconds, I held my breath waiting for any form of reaction from Rashel. There was nothing, no horrified in take of breath, no shocked gasp or

  terrified squeak. I could only take that as a good sign.

  I heard some shuffling around and a few muffled whispers, before the door cracked open again. I took a step back to give them some room, but couldn't force myself to leave

  altogether.

  Rashel exited with an exhausted looking MaryLynette at her side. My eyes drank her up, every single tired inch. She was deathly pale, so much so that she could have been mistaken as a ghost. Dark circles under her eyes stood stark against her skin, and long red scratches screamed out on her forehead. I watched on silently, even as every part of me flared up into panic, and yelled at me to reach towards her.

  Rashel's eyes met mine over MaryLynette's head, their green depths filled with both confusion and worry. Still, there was the underlying message that despite my soul mate's

  hagged appearance, she seemed to be okay. I couldn't quite feel relieved, but for now I was satisfied that things would be all right.

  Rashel tossed me something, before guiding Mare to the room that they'd inhabited since coming here, slipping in and closing the door. I stood for a second, relaxed with the

  knowledge that Mare would be safe in the care of Rashel, but caught in a feeling of overwhelming guilt.

  I couldn't exactly place the source of it, although I could make countless guesses as to why I felt this way. First there was the fact that my reckless actions had forced MaryLynette

  into thinking that she had to face her troubles alone, also the fact that the reason she was probably so exhausted was simply because of this hectic life that I'd dragged her into. But

  underneath it all, there was the g
uilt that came from knowing a secret that I knew wasn't mine to keep. The possibility of MaryLynette having a curse was starting to eat away at me. What if something more sinister and entirely more dangerous was the cause of her stress and exhaustion?

  It would only be a matter of time before I found out for sure. Rashel had said that Winnie had returned to the mansion, Winnie who could apparently spot a curse a mile off. One

  way or another, in the next day, I would have to confront the issue of my soul mate possibly having been marked by the darkest kind of magic there was.

  I looked down at my hand to see that the thing Rashel had tossed at me was my phone. Warring with indecision, my thumb darted across the keypad, typing in Winnie's number.

  She picked up on the first ring. "Hello?" She said, her voice bright and chipper despite the late hour.

  "Hey."

  "Oh, Ash! It's been so long, how are you? I've missed you! You would not believe where Thierry sent us to look for the wild power! Nissa almost had a heart attack when she saw

  the dump of the apartment our source had told us to go to, of course she couldn't really have a heart attack, due to the whole vampire thing, but you know," she babbled, in a way

  that I would have found endearing if it hadn't been for how unsettled I was.

  "Uh, Winnie, I actually wanted to ask you something," I said, interrupting her excited chatter, though she didn't seem to mind too much. "Oh sure, what do you need?"

  "Can you meet me tomorrow? Away from the mansion? There's something I really need to speak to you about."

  "You can tell me now if you want, it's no trouble. I'm all ears."

  My eyes flicked down the corridor to where Quinn was in the lounge. Although he didn't seem to be paying much attention to my conversation, I didn't want him to overhear

  anything.

  "No, not over the phone. This needs to be private." There was a moment's pause where Winnie seemed to just listen down the phone in confusion, before agreeing in a puzzled tone.

  "I'll see you tomorrow then," I said after giving her the details of our rendezvous.

  Quinn and I arrived back at the mansion shortly before noon the next day. The air was that muggy sort of warm that came before a storm. On the horizon I could make out an army

  of grey clouds, slowly rolling closer and closer, unstoppable on their path.

  I could feel the beginnings of panic starting to swell in the pit of my stomach, despite knowing full well that my worries were completely irrational. Mare and Rashel would make it

  back well before the storm hit, and even if they didn't, Rashel was a perfectly capable driver. I had nothing to worry about, the girls had planned on leaving only a short half hour

  after we had, they'd get back before the storm.

  Stepping into the grand hallway of the mansion felt strangely comforting. I'd never stayed in one place for long enough to ever call somewhere home, but judging from the way my

  heart felt a little lighter at arriving back here, I think I was beginning to think of this place as just that.

  "Ash!" A voice came from above. I looked up to see my least favourite sister lounging against the banister, halfway up the staircase. "Kestrel," I replied, unsure of how else to

  answer.

  Since we'd both been living here, we'd miraculously not had any lethal fights, which I put down to the fact that I'd tried my very hardest to cross paths with her as little as possible.

  However that did not mean we were on civil terms in any sense of the words. She was the last person I would have expected to be on my welcoming committee.

  "I'm assuming by the fact that you have dared to show your face, that MaryLynette is safe."

  "Her safety was never in question," I snapped back, hating myself for allowing her to rile me up so easily. "But yes, she is fine. Her and Rashel are on their way back as we speak." With that, I turned my back on her, making my way to the kitchen.

  I internally groaned as I heard her almost silent footsteps descend the stairs and follow closely behind me. "Then maybe Rowan and Jade will forgive you one day," she said, a fake

  chirpiness lacing her tone. Although the barb stung, I refused to let her see that her words had affected me. Clenching my teeth, I said a simple, "Maybe."

  "But what about the lovely MaryLynette? Our precious MareBear. Seeing as she isn't with you, I'm guessing she didn't take your childish games so well?" Kestrel stopped in the

  doorway, lounging comfortably against the wooden frame. I was sure that it was no mistake that she just happened to be blocking my only exit.

  Everything about her from the dangerous glint in her eye, to the barely concealed malice in her tone was screaming for a fight. And to my dismay, I could feel myself being pulled

  into her mind games, being tempted by the idea of wiping that smirk off her face. We'd been in this position many times before, and when a fight ensued, things tended to get very

  bloody very quickly.

  I clenched my fists, feeling the tendons in my arms tightening to the point of snapping. Oh how satisfying it would be to let the old Ash take over for just a moment, to forget about

  all of the fear and the heartache that came with this life of being a good guy. The only people that would get hurt would be me and my insufferable little sister, and we both

  deserved everything thing we got. So, so tempting.

  And yet all I could do was grit my teeth and take a calming breath, because for whatever reason, MaryLynette had taken an unexplainable fondness to my little sister who I so

  badly wanted to attack right now. I'd already done enough things to make my soul mate hate me; I wasn't willing to add another thing to that list.

  "What do you want, Kestrel?" I growled, moving backwards to put as much distance between us as possible. She only looked slightly disappointed that I hadn't risen to her bait.

  "Oh, brother. Why must you always assume that I want something? Perhaps I am here for nothing more than a simple chat." Her pretend innocence was almost sickly to watch, with

  her wide eyes and plain smile. I could barely contain a gag as she batted her eyelashes.

  "Cut the bull. I know you're here for something, so spit it out." I raised my eyebrows, prompting her to speak. Something inside me warned me that I could be making a huge mistake here. Whenever Kestrel had you on her radar for something, it never ended in your favour.

  She cocked her head; the false smile dropping from her face as easily as a mask would. Her features instantly became harder, though no less dangerous. "I heard you on the phone

  with Winnie last night."

  "Yeah so?" I asked, as casually as I could. I'd gone to such trouble to avoid anyone on my end overhearing something they shouldn't, but it looked like Winnie hadn't taken the same

  precautions. I was just glad that I hadn't revealed anything important in my short phone conversation.

  "I heard you set up a meeting with her, which she just left for by the way." Well at least I hadn't revealed anything too important.

  "Yeah well, it doesn't concern you, so keep your nose out," I snapped, unsure of why Kestrel would even bother to bring this up to me. It wasn't as if she'd ever taken an interest in my life before; there was no reason for her to start now.

  "It concerns MaryLynette though, doesn't it? Probably about that little curse situation that you and Thea were stressing over," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly.

  I automatically stepped forward towards her, my eyes flitting over her shoulder to see if anyone had overheard. It was bad enough that Kestrel knew this piece of information; I

  didn't want it to reach anyone else's ears. "Keep your voice down will you?"

  "Worried, are we?" She questioned, an annoying smirk on her face that made me think that she knew full well how desperately I didn't want this information getting out. It would

  only send everyone into a panic, and I didn't quite know what the consequences would be for a situation like this.

&
nbsp; "Either way, it still has nothing to do with you, so leave it alone," I ground out through gritted teeth.

  "If it concerns MaryLynette, then it concerns me. You may have forgotten, but she's my blood sister now. I like to know if she's in possible danger." She said it in a way that almost made me want to believe her, that made me just for a second believe that perhaps she was capable of caring for another person that wasn't herself. Still, I could only scoff at her

  words, knowing better than to be fooled by such treacherous thoughts.

  "Come on, Kestrel. When have you ever taken an interest in her wellbeing? You're here simply because you're bored and can't stand to pass up the opportunity to mess with other

  people's lives."

  She let out a small, humourless chuckle that could make even the bravest person shiver. "Quite the hypocrite, aren't we, brother?" She drawled, straightening up so that she was

  standing to her full height, like a cobra preparing to strike. "If I recall correctly, you were the one who left her with no indication as to when you would be back. You were the one

  who completely trampled over her wishes and sent her packing. You are the one who is keeping this curse she has a secret from her. Excuse me if I fail to see how any of that is

  taking an interest in Mare's wellbeing."

  I clenched my jaw, locking in the rage that had begun to brew inside of me. Everything she had said had been a way of protecting MaryLynette; I was hardly being a hypocrite. I

  was about to say as much when she continued.

  "You were gone for six whole months, Ash. You have no idea what went on in her life during that time. Before she shut herself off, she was at the farmhouse every single day with me, Jade and Rowan, so don't tell me that her welfare doesn't concern me. I have a bigger investment in that girl than you would even know."

  I sighed, running my hands down my face. I didn't even know how to respond to such a statement. It was impossible to tell what was truth and what were lies, what was sincere

  and what was a manipulation when it came to Kestrel. Arguing with her would be pointless when I still had no idea what her agenda was.

  "What do you want, Kestrel?" I asked at last, fed up of this conversation. I was expected to meet Winnie in not too long and I didn't have the time to stand here and go round in