Change of Heart

Chapter 64

I shivered at his words. He was miserable? And I never knew.. Alex took a seat next to me taking a hold of my hand. I instantly held a tight grip.

"After I left, I felt bad. Actually, I should probably back up a bit. Going back to the guy you mentioned, Zeke." That name again. Even Caden knew him. What was their connection? Jake continued, regaining my focus.

"As I said before, Zeke was a complete loon, but he was crazy smart, and pretty strong despite his looks. Zeke never paid attention to me, but for some reason he just couldn't stand Caden. He'd practically torture the guy after school."

My heart fell to my stomach. I couldn't even believe my ears. Not once have I ever imagined him being bullied, and just hearing it now...it only proves how little I really knew about my own brother.

"There had been times where I tried to help him out, but, I wasn't even a match for Zeke." He stopped for a moment, letting out a deep sigh. "It's pretty surprising though how well he hid his scars and bruises."

I was unable to hold back my tears. Here I always thought I was the only one who suffered...and yet, Caden, he was bullied, just as I have been.

"I always wondered why he hid them, though I figured it was just so the others wouldn't see. Then again, he was never one who cared about what other people thought." Jake gave a sad smile as his eyes met mine. "Now that I know he had a little sister, well, now I understand completely."

"You didn't know?" I asked softly, my words coming out as sobs.

He shook his head. "He never told me. I always assumed he was an only child."

"I see.."

"After Zeke left, I also left. And, since then, I haven't seen him since." Looking up at Alex, he stared at Jake, almost expressionless. I wasn't even sure what to make of that. Catching my attention again, Jake sounded concerned. "Going off topic here, well sorta, but how did Caden even contact you?"

A nerve struck me and my body tensed. How was I supposed to explain he contacted me through heaven? "He, uh...contacted me through a dream." I stopped for a second thinking back to our encounter, remembering his expression. I had never seen him so grim. There's been times where he's been serious, but not once have I seen him at that level.

"A dream?" Jake questioned me again.

I nodded. "Yes, which reminds me...Caden also told me something about Zeke.." I choked on his name. To think that he had been the one to torment Caden in the past, not to mention he's..

"What about Zeke?" Alex and Jake both said in unison.

Before giving a straight answer, I took a deep breath. "He's just like you, Alex." My eyes shut as I said those words, so I couldn't see their reactions. Before either of them could say a word, I kept speaking. "Caden said that even with the same incident, somehow what happened to him, was slightly different, leaving him more demon than human."

"Zeke is a demon, too!?" Jake shouted as he flew to his feet. I jumped a little from the sudden reaction, and only gave a nod.

Alex's voice was so straightforward. "What else did he say?"

"He also said that..." I hesitated. Just thinking about it made my head spin. "...that Zeke, even though Zander was all demon...Zeke may be more trouble. He, he said that.." My words turned into a stutter, and my eyes began to tear up. I bit my lip hard to do my best to hold them back, but I was unable to.

Alex took a hold of my shoulders and turned my body facing him. "Serine, what did he say?" Demanding of me again, his eyes gleamed with curiosity.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Jake staring at us as he crossed his arms. It made me little more uncomfortable. Clearing my throat, I spoke yet again, still staggering. "He said...you can't win against Zeke...not directly, but, he mentioned your, human heart. It's what's keeping you from obtaining your full demon powers..." Alex's grip instantly tightened around my shoulders as his eyes shot wide open.

"M-my human heart?" Alex froze with shock. He almost looked terrified. I wasn't sure what was racing through his head the instant I said that, but whatever it was, it left Alex very unsettled.