Secrets of the Past

Chapter 10

Carissa POV

Carissa appeared outside of her house, which was surrounded by beautiful light pink lilies and white lilac trees. The soft green grass was swaying calmly in the wind. She sucked in the cool autumn air and felt the wind lick her cheeks, she looked at the beginning of the sunset, which showed a mix of bright oranges and elegant light pinks. Everything was so peaceful.

She walked over to the swinging bench, under one of the pures. She remembered the times where her and her mother would talk and swing on the bench about everything and watch the sun slowly start to fade away. One of those nights, her mother had given her a ring with a tiny purple moonlark feather on it.

Carissa glanced down at it, remembering what her mother had said that night, "Caris, I might not always be with you, but I'm always a heartbeat away, ok?"

"Like a moonlark." Carissa muttered to herself, when she was little she'd always wonder why her mother chose a moonlark feather out of all of them.

She sighed and hugged herself, goosebumps crawling up her skin as the sky was now streaked with purple.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" Carissa jumped at the sound of a masculine voice and jerked her head around, she found Jett, leaning on the post of the bench, smirking.

Carissa smiled and was thankful it was dark outside, so that he wouldn't be able to notice her excitement, when he arrived.

"Y'know, you have a bad habit of sneaking up on people." Carissa smirked.

"That's just part of my charm." Carissa laughed. He looked out at the sky and turned to sit down next to Carissa, but stopped mid-way, when he realized he hadn't even asked if he could, Carissa scooched over, answering his question. 

She blushed and tried to calm her nerves down, but the thought of a beautiful sky in the background and then a cute boy right next to her, made her nerves spin out of control.

"I just wanted you to know Carissa, that..." He paused and spun to face her. Her heart was beating rapidly now, he continued, "That whatever we're about to find out or maybe even not find out, I'm with you all the way."

He smiled, Carissa's heart melted at his words. I'm with you all the way. She sat there silent for a moment, soaking up what he had just said.

Then realizing, she probably should say something, she composed herself and turned to look at him.

"Thank you Jett, it's nice to know that I won't ever have to worry about being alone."Jett smiled and they both watched the last rays of sun finally disappear. 

She wished she could hold on to this moment forever and ever, but sadly it was shattered by the shouts of Willow and Lily calling her name. They both jumped up and exchanged worried glances. They ran up to join them.

"What's wrong?" Carissa asked, realizing...

"Our parents weren't home." Willow and Lily said in unison and now that she came to think of it, Jett's parents weren't here either....

"Sorry, I forgot to tell you that mine weren't home either. I just wanted to let you know that...well, you already know..." He blushed, scratching behind his head. Lily and Willow looked at them with goofy grins and raised eyebrows.

Carissa, desperate to get out of the situation, offered everyone some snacks inside, but when Carissa started to turn the door knob she heard...people. And when she walked in, she was right.

Sophie POV

Each couple shouted their kids name at the same time in a jumble like, "Wililyetris"

The kids just stood there, gaping at their parents.

Finally someone spoke, "What are you doing here?" Lily asked, aiming the question not just at her parents, but glared at them the longest.

"Wait!" Willow shouted. She whispered something into Carissa's ear and she immediately lit up with determination and a look of success.

"Well, since you're all here, I'm sure at least one of you can explain who the Black Swan are." Everyone's eyes widened including Sophie's.

"Where did you hear that name?" Sophie asked, attempting nonchalance.

"Answer our question and then we'll answer yours." Carissa countered back, determination in her voice. 

All of the adults glanced around the room, trying to look at anything but their children. Sophie knew the only way she was going to get out of the situation was to be as vague as possible.

"They were a group of people, who tried to change the Lost cities for the better and defend it..." Sophie dared to glance up at her daughter and was surprised to find a confused expression written on her face. She expected frustration.

"Were? Then how come we got a note from them?" Carissa asked.

"That's impossible Riss!" Keefe argued, but retracted the thought, when he noticed the note in between her two fingers. Now it was the parents' turn to gape.

"Care to explain more specifically?" Carissa asked, her eyebrows raised and her hands were placed on her hips.

"Where did you get that?" Sophie demanded, a mix of anger and surprise in her tone. Why hadn't Carissa told her?

"It doesn't matter." Carissa shook her head "What does matter is to tell all of us who they are specifically!"

"Not now Caris. We were in the middle of a discussion." Sophie argued, she wasn't ready. She wouldn't be able to even glance at her daughter's expression when she found out who she really was.

"No, now!" But it wasn't Carissa who spoke, it was Jett! Marella and Tam jerked their heads up at their son's remark.

"Tell us! We've heard you talk about them, you must know something."

"It doesn't matter Jett..." Marella began, Tam finished the thought, "We aren't a group anymore." Everyone's eyebrows shot up at the accidental slip. Tam slapped his forehead and Marella cringed.

"Nice going Bangs Boy." Keefe muttered and started to rake his hand through his hair. Tam glared at him.

"We?" Questioned Willow, a look of pain on her face, her knees buckled and Jett helped her up to her feet and steadied her.

"That's enough! No more questions Carissa!" Sophie shouted, startled at her own loud, commanding voice. Carissa stared at her mother, a look of fire hot fury. 

She stormed up the steps, her friends following close behind. Sophie collapsed on the couch and buried her head in her hands.