Vulpecula ✔️

Kayden.

"He likes you Ava. But don't give into him if you don't want to. If you don't like him, then don't. If you think that he will break you then don't give him your heart." Joanna said as she handed me two plates filled with snacks and fruits.

"Also if he ever hurts you, you know who to come to." Papa John said grinning innocently.

"Come to you for paying his hospital bills?" I smirked at him.

"Oh gosh." Joanna huffed. "Hope you remember how you were John. You broke my heart too many times and I still forgave you. I see you in Kayden. That boy is probably more troubled than you were."

Papa John didn't say anything but just gave her a look which said, 'we will talk about this later, and Joanna simply nodded at him. I took that as my cue to go to my room. Opening the door to my room was a bit difficult but I managed just fine with my legs. Of course, Kayden would not have woken up from the bed to help me.

Once I entered my room, I saw Kayden almost asleep. He can't fall asleep right now! Alarmed, I walked up to him and shook him awake. He cutely rubbed his eyes and looked at me, accusing me of his orbs. Like he was trying to say, 'how dare you to wake me up from my mighty slumber?' I smirked at the thought and forwarded the plate to Kayden.

"Who are you Kayden?" I finally did it. I did the one thing that I had to do for a long time but couldn't find my voice. I was scared of his reaction.

"Your assignment partner." He replied vaguely and began eating the things from his plate.

"Please. I need answers Kayden. I really need them. Just please tell me who are you and who is everyone else. I don't get it and it's weird. Why was Aldrik after me? What have I ever done to him? How did you all change?" I looked him right in the eyes and asked him.

He looked like he was having an internal battle with himself, and he sighed multiple times. His face was still stone cold but his eyes stated the war going on in his head. I don't know what is he thinking anymore. I feel tired and exhausted all of a sudden from everything. To top it all off, my lovely parents decide to come and pay me a surprise visit.

I don't want them here.

I don't want that man to come for me again.

I don't want anything bad happening to my family.

I just need answers.

"You are someone important Ava. This is all sorts of stupid and cliche but the world needs you. They need your safety. You're going to lead us in this fight against that man. We are supernatural beings." Kayden said slowly.

"This....Kayden...." I paused and took a deep breath. "I'm tired Kayden. I really am. And I just want answers, not these riddles. I'm no one special. Hell, I hadn't even interacted with anyone else other than my tutors, family or help. And now you say I'm gonna save the world."

"You're the one. From the time you were born and the day, everything is the same as the prophecy. You are the strongest of supernatural creatures. You will feel all the changes when you turn eighteen. You weren't even supposed to scream like a Banshee yet. But you did. You have some qualities of Sotera, you weren't supposed to show these yet."

"What is a Banshee and what else did you say?"

"Banshee is a lady in the Irish folklore. Woman of the fairy mound or the fairy woman. She is the harbinger of death. She predicts it and often expresses the despair through a wail or a yell. That's what you did. You predicted death, but you avoid it. You yelled to help us. One of us was going to die that day and you saved us."

"And what was the other thing?" Once again I felt like I was five and eager to listen to this bedtime story that Joanna and papa John fabricated. Only this time, it's real. Not a fairytale. Not a bedtime story. But a nightmare that I have to live with.

"Sotera is the Greek goddess for safety, preservation and deliverance. You predict something before it happens. It complements your Banshee side and that's how you become stronger. So far these are the only two things that I know you are."

I stayed quiet and let that sink in. My head began pounding painfully in its cage and all I wanted was to rip it out to have some peace. It's all so messed up. And I know I'm not dealing well with these things. For a person who lived a non-existent life and now suddenly they are thrown into the roller coaster that took them to the top and now is endlessly dropping down, they can't understand how to react. I am that person. That person is me.

And apparently I'm a supernatural. And I am the leader. And also I am supposed to be fighting that man. Just great! This keeps getting better. What next? I'm turning into a werewolf-like Jacob Black, one fine night?

"Okay. Thanks." I nodded and went back to eating. For obvious reasons, Kayden stared at me as if I'd grown a pair of heads. I would stare at myself too if I were him. But what can I do? I'm not good at dealing with things. I don't know what type of a person I am, but I know for sure that I can't deal with emotions too well. So right now he is waiting for an emotional reaction and I don't know what to say.

"Are you okay Ava?"

"I am."

"I don't believe you."

"Then don't."

He sighed and didn't say anything for sometime. He looked deep in though so I let him be and decided to channel all my energy into focusing on what I felt. Kayden then suddenly got up, picked up our empty plates and left the room. Was this his way of giving me space? Maybe.

But I had nothing to think. I'm excited. Scared? Thrilled? What else can I say or do? I need help in taking down that man. I need help to find my other abilities, that is if I have any. I don't think anything will ever be the same for me.

I still believe that I might wake up and realise that it was all a dream. But I don't have dreams. I have nightmares. And this is the reality. I have to go on and do what I am supposed to do to the best of my abilities.

"I'm a hell hound." Kayden's voice startled me back into reality. I looked up to see him, but only this time, it wasn't Kayden. I was seeing a man with orange glowing eyes, not Kayden's dark eyes. His body looked as if it was on fire and it didn't hurt him one bit.

This person looked more dangerous than Kayden ever did. But strangely I wasn't scared, just startled. This is new for me. I had only ever seen anything like this on my laptop or the TV. My heart was beating loud in my chest and my body broke out in cold sweat. The situation was scary, not Kayden.

"I am supposed to be your partner in the war. You and I go hand in hand. We both work together. And the creature that I am has supreme powers. Powers that no other normal supernatural has."

So there are normal supernaturals too? What next, supernatural dogs? Cows? Chickens? And we eat them because we supernaturals need supernatural food and milk?

"Okay. Wow. Now you can be Kayden. This is kinda scary." I mumbled and looked down. I heard a sigh and Kayden plopped down on the bed next to me. His eyes roamed my face while I just stared at his black eyes. They were so soft and calm. I found myself feeling the same calmness wash over me.

"You're stupid." He said softly.

"Gee thanks. And you're an asshole."

"You don't wanna call me names Ava." He growled lowly.

"Oh yea. The big bad hell hound would do what? Kill me? Rip my throat apart? With your teeth?" I taunted and picked up my laptop again but was roughly pulled back by my elbow. Kayden gripped the back of my neck and pulled my face closer to his.

"Mind your tongue. Just because we are partners does not mean that I'll tolerate a brat like you. Be within your fucking limits, Ava. I can be worse than what you saw." He warned me lowly.

"Why are you so rude to me? What did I ever do to you?"

"You annoy me. Your existence annoys me. And your voice is just fucking awful." Kayden pushed my face to the side and continued working on the laptop as if nothing happened.

I didn't let his words get to me. But a part of me still ached to hear those words. It wasn't because of what Kayden said. It was because a stranger, who doesn't know me, said that to my face. That must mean that I am indeed annoying. And that didn't sit well with me. I just feel like a bad person right now because I annoy people with my presence.