Heartless

Chapter 7

I sat on the side of my youngest cousin's bed. I smiled down at her with my head tilted slightly. She yawns and tries to fight off her sleepiness but her eyelids have grown heavy and they slowly begin to close against her will.

I lean down and plant a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight, Jade." I whispered to her.

I never used to think that I liked kids but being stuck here with and responsible for them, I have grown to love them. It wasn't my fault that we were never close. My aunt kept us apart, even before she told me that I wasn't their sibling but their cousin. When we arrived in what would be our new home, I thought it mattered. I thought it made a difference. Now I know that it doesn't.

I love them and care for them. What I thought was a nightmare has turned out to be a dream. My new life can be whatever I make it to be.

I've been wasting the last twelve years keeping my cousins at arm's length. Sure, the twins aren't always the nicest to me but they're only kids too and right now, whether they admit it or not, they need someone. A mother of sorts. And I'm going to be just that. Not that I can replace their mother, no one can replace Brienna. She wasn't the greatest mother to begin with, but I can be better.

I sighed and tilted my head in thought as Jade fell asleep. Quin seemed alright. Weird. Definitely weird but alright nonetheless. I think she can really help us as we adjust to this new world.

Quin spent the night explaining to me how school works. I'm used to being taught at home with my cousins, never going to a whole nother building devoted to it.

I thought I would stand out here for having powers but it turned out that everyone was like that here, or at least most people. It's strange to think that not having powers isn't the norm. It was like I had finally found a place that I could belong. I had to hide my powers in my world. Maybe this could be the home I never had?

As bleak as my old life was, the thought of making a life here made me squirm. I don't know what it was, I just couldn't feel comfortable with the idea. I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't meant to stay here. I had the itching desire to leave and I feared the longer I stayed, the more that itching feeling would begin to burn and gnaw away at me.

I turned to leave but something made me stop. I heard that voice again. Stop. It told me and I couldn't help but obey. A moment later, the command rose and I left the room.

I proceeded down the hall and into Quin's room where she had already made up a bed for me on her couch. I got ready for bed in silence, nodding in thanks at the clothes she gifted me. The clothes here are strange. They were soft and brightly colored. She taught me how to work the shower. I jumped at the sudden spray of water.

I stared at myself in a full length mirror, admiring my complexion in my new clothes and my long damp hair that laid past my hips. So much is different here. It makes my old life feel so archaic.

I decided to fully assimilate into the new culture so the first thing I did was cut my hair. With Quin's help, of course. I sat in her bed as she clipped away at my long loose curls. I asked her about tomorrow.

"We'll go see the Dean before school starts." She said.

"Will I attend school with you?"

She shrugged, her brows furrowed in concentration as she looked to see if my hair was an even length. "I'm not sure. Let's just see what the Dean says."

I fidgeted with my thumbs. "What if he doesn't know about us? What if us being here was a mistaked?"

Quin paused her trimming to look me in the eyes. "We're going to figure this out. Everyone has a place somewhere and you traveled here on purpose, right? She will have the answers. Okay? I'm going to help you figure this out."