Blood Ties

Chapter 2: Memories

Picture of James on the side, and Ileana was the picture in the first chapter. This story is slow for the first few chapters but will soon pick up pace, please stick with me and read it. I promise it will get good (I hope)

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What the...? Ileana said in her head. What’s happening? Ileana felt like she was floating and that nothing existed but the two of them in a universe all there own. Nothing bad could happen and nothing could get through. She could see his mind spread out in front of her, but not only what he was thinking but every memory and thought he had ever had. And she was free to explore it all. He let her go into his mind.

Ileana saw a happy family with a new baby, then a happy childhood with a nice school and lots of great friends. She saw a nice house and all the people that cared for him waiting for when he came back. Yet from his thoughts Ileana got the impression that he didn’t want to go back, but had no reason why to her. He had everything she never had.

She started to cry, and felt him hug her harder. They were on the floor in a gentle embrace and Ileana had her head rested on his shoulder. What’s wrong? He asked directing the thought to her. Ileana could feel him trying to explore her mind. She didn’t want him to see, so she thought of a brick wall around her thoughts to shut him out and thankfully it worked.  Don’t Ileana, don’t shut me out. Maybe I can help.

She directed the thought at him as a telepathic scream. You can’t. I don't even know you. So go away. She pulled away physically and mentally. It didn’t work. He was too strong being a shape shifter, and she couldn’t get free. He got into her mind and looked through her memories. She knew what he saw. A baby born into a rich family. Then a gap of a few years. The baby then being about five or six and being left on the doorstep of an orphanage in the middle a rainy night. The mother walking away, face hidden.

How did that happen?  He asked, concern filled his voice as well as his thoughts.

I don't know. I have no memories of that time. Its just a gap, like someone has taken them. 

Ileana explained close to tears again. She choked back the physical sobs not wanting to seem weak. He didn’t seem to notice. That’s horrible. Was the only thought she got. Sensing his shock towards the situation Crystal continued to tell him the story.

 I was adopted by this family shortly after that night and have lived here ever since. They always treated me as there own daughter but I felt out of place. And now with these things happening in the last couple of months, they think there’s something wrong with me, that I'm crazy or something. So i decided to leave. Today.

 She explained more calmly than she thought she could be. Everyone she’d told that story to she had ended up thinking she was mad to, all the shrinks and counsellors, but with him she felt that he wouldn’t judge her or disapprove like everyone else had. She felt cared for.

Ileana, you don't have to run away. You’re better than this, he told her.

How do you know what I am? You only just met me. She practically shouted at him mentally. Pulling away sharply she wrenched herself from his arms but was even successful in pushing him from her mind.

“Ileana please, consider what I’m saying. I know what I’m talking about. Please, come with me and all will be explained.”

Ileana kept her back to him and thought for a moment before she turned and spoke. “Ok. I’ll go with you. But if I don’t like the answers I get I’m coming straight home and carrying on with my original plan.”

James nodded. He stood awkwardly for a minute as Ileana continued packing. She giggled slightly. “You can sit down you know.” She nodded towards her bed where he went and sat down on the edge.

After about an hour she finished her packing, all her clothes put into the suitcase along with an assortment of other things. When she was done she picked up a book that was lying on the stand next to her bed and lead down on her stomach to read.  James silently leaned over her reading the book over her shoulder. Ileana turned to look at him smiling slightly and he backed away quickly retreating to the other side of her double bed.

They didn’t talk to each other; Ileana kept reading her book bunking off school while James sat quietly mostly just watching her. It was weird how he felt drawn to her for no reason he could explain. Even the distance of a few metres seemed like to much for him. He wanted to reach across and pull her towards him, holding her in his arms and never letting go. It was odd to say the least and it frieghtened James a little bit, not that he would admit that.

After a few hours it began to get dark and a car could be heard pulling into the drive way of the house. Ileana didn't seem worried so neither was James. It wasn't until she heard footsteps running up the stairs towards the room that Ileana took notice. Before she could react her bedroom door flew open and a small girl was stood in the doorway. "Hey Lil."

"Hey Lana, mum told me to tell you that you need to come down for dinner." the girl said quickely before she spotted James. When she looked at him she stopped dead, eyes widening as she stared at this stranger. James just smiled uneasily unsure of what to do. The girl ran from the room as fast as she could screaming "MUM! LANA'S GOT A WEIRD BOY IN HER ROOM" as she sprinted down the stairs.

"Great," Ileana said. 

James looked sheepish and Ileana tried to think up what to do and say to explain this to her parents. Suddenly it dawned on her; her parents already thought she was insane so why bother lying to them, just tell them the crazy truth. She took off down the stairs after her little sister to find her parents in the kitchen dishing out there dinner. Ileana acted natural and sat down in her usual seat. No-one said anything unitl they were all sat down when her mother asked her, 

"Ileana, Lily told me there is a boy in your room."

Ileana shrugged. "Yeah, but he's not really a boy." Her mother raised an eyebrow. "He's a shapeshifter and he's hear to help me understand what been happening in the last two months. We are going to see some kind of witch tomorrow I think who will be able to tell us what's wrong with me." With that said she went back to her food and ate in silence. Her mother just nodded, her father and sister remaining still and silent.

When she had finished eating Ileana left the table and went back upstairs glad to be away from her parents. Opening the door to her room she found James sat in exactly the same place he had been half an hour ago, seeming to have not moved in her absence. She walked to her closet and pulled a pillow and blanket out of the bottom throwing them at him. "Feel free to make up a bed out of these on the floor. I'm having a shower and going to bed." 

True to her word Ileana did exactly that and James curled up on the floor under the borrowed blanket as Ileana slept soundly on her double bed.