Broken Beginnings

Chapter One

Chapter One- A Home That Isn't Home

With the supernatural at our disposal, Sena sent us on our way. "Walk through that door and you will be in your home state." She instructed.
I listened to her directions intently adjusting my satchel so that it was more comfortable. It was Christmas Eve today and we dressed for warmth, knowing that the likelihood of snow would be high.

It was just Ashered and I going. No guards, nothing but ourselves.

Asherd had a small pack thrown over his shoulder and like myself he was wrapped in layers.
I looked around the office, the three women watching, waiting and then we stepped through the door.

The sound of bell dinging was what I heard first. And as Ashered and I walked into a dinner I knew I was in my hometown.
The atmosphere embodied the holiday, lights stung across the walls, Elvis playing in the background. I doubted that anyone would recognize me. Olives was the name of the dinner, the one I was supposed to go with Simone what seemed like decades ago.
Now I sat in a red booth across from Ashered, my other half, my special.

We ordered our food and as I suspected no one noticed me.
It was a relief to me. It was nice to feel normal and unimportant. Ashered dove into his burger as I picked at my fries. "The light fallen will meet us at your home?" I asked.
Ashered nodded finishing his burger in two bites, dusting off his hands and beginning to devour his fries. I smiled. It was nice to see him look so... normal.

He scrunched his eyebrows at me shoveling a handful of his food in his mouth. "What?" He asked with a mouthful of potatoes. I made a face at him and he laughed chewing before he spoke further.

He took a long sip from his coke. "I didn't realize how much I missed a good burger." I nodded at him. "I can tell." I laughed. The moment of simplicity was cut short as Ashered cleared his throat and straightened in his seat.
"Hold on." He said his demeanor changing as he slid out of the booth and walked outside. I watched out of the window as he made his way to a grey pickup truck, snow caking the top. It pulled up beside a small black mustang that seemed untouched amidst the heavy snowfall. My eyes widened, realizing that was Ashereds old car. Out from the drivers seat of his vehicle stepped Claire. I hadn't seen her since Ambrose had died. Her strawberry blonde hair was loose, cut down to her shoulders. She looked happier, healthier.

From the grey truck Gale and Alaric exited.

My eyes strayed to the bright red scar on her neck. It was still fresh, aside from the bags under her eyes she looked alive.

I was so focused on this that I failed to notice Xavier walk around the passenger seat of the mustang and slide an arm around my sister. She frowned at him, slapping it away.

I pulled a twenty from my pocket throwing it on the table before I ran outside forgetting Ashereds and my bag in the process. The cold air bit at me as I hurried down the snow slick stairs. Ashered hurried over to me, holding my hand before I could slip.
"Gale, Claire, Alaric-Xavier!"

Ashered watched as I enveloped each of them. "I'm so happy you are-alive." I hesitated nearly saying okay but I knew all of us were far from that.

Claire lightly punched my shoulder. "Glad to see that you didn't die." I managed a smile at this knowing she was trying but Ashered however frowned at the motion.
"I asked them to bring my car." He said. I nodded looking at the sleek beauty before me.
"What are you guys going to do now?" I asked, referring to the completed task at hand.
"Gale and I are going to grab a few things from her home but going to stop by before we head out."

I looked at them confused. "Head out? Stop by?"
"Gale and Alaric are stopping by your home but then they have to get back to the pack."

I turned to my friend. "You completed the bonding?" Gale placed her hand on her neck where her flesh was red. Alaric ran a comforting hand through her hair, moving her dark locks to cover it. "Yes."

I chewed my lip too keep from asking anything else. I would just have to speak with her alone later.
"We will see you all later." Alaric said cutting the silence before they left in the truck. I looked between Claire and Xavier as Ashered went to retrieve our bags. "So is this a thing?" I asked. Claire pushed back Xaviers hand again, flashing teeth at him. "No."
"Yes." They both responded.

A smile tugged at my lips. "I always thought you would go after Nova." I snorted.
Xavier went silent at this.
"She's gone."

My heart plummeted before Xavier continued. "May killed her."

I swallowed hard as Ashered came out of the dinner, tossing the bags in the trunk.

He came up beside me and held me against him, his hand snaking around my stomach. "She saved me." I looked up at Claire as she spoke. Her eyes were downcast and this time when Xavier placed a hand on her she didn't remove it.

I reached forward and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. If anyone understood the pain that went along with that I did.

Claire smiled at me gratefully as I let go of her hand.

"I'm sorry." I said turning to look at Xavier.

He shrugged indifferently, his eyes straying elsewhere. "It's not like she was anything special."

I stayed silent at the lie he spoke.

Ashered brushed my hair back as the two of them walked to the back seat of his car. "Are you ready?"

My insides twisted at the thought of going home without my parents. I knew it was needed. Ashered had insisted that we must stop there and that it would take most of tomorrow to drive where his home was. I had never been made aware of how far the light fallen base was but I soon would.

The only obstacle that stood in the way now was going home. It was going to be strange. When I was at home I had both parents and no sister, now the opposite was true.

With a deep breath I opened the passenger door, the wind brushed softly on my skin as if to encourage me. Ashered made his way to the drivers side, starting the vehicle before I sat down.

As we pulled out of Olives, the thirty minute drive to Maybrookes Washington began.