Deception

Chapter: Sixteen

Chapter: Sixteen

I knew this conversation was going to happen, but it didn't mean I was looking any more forward to it. Just as Mattie had helpfully warned me, Jayden wanted to have a conversation with me about everything that happened. I wouldn't have been in this situation if he and Mattie hadn't tricked me. Then again, I knew better than to go off alone with them like this. The three of us were supposed to be meeting Mom for dinner, but she hadn't arrived here yet and I hoped she hurried.

"Why do I feel like I'm having to act like our dad right now? Granted, he's not here, so someone has to be," he sighed.

Right about now, I wished our resident humans would have joined us for today. A family dinner didn't mean just specific family members the way we were all so close we were living together right now. Unfortunately, Jay had planned this just to yell at me and they were probably all in on it. As if I needed anyone else to be yelling at me right now. However, Jay just didn't realize that.

"Jay, you are the last person who needs to be anyone's father," I tried to lighten the mood.

"I have, you know, I think I'd made a great father. Right Mat?"

"You sure would," she smiled at him adoringly, and I fought the urge to call her a traitor.

"Look Brittany, I can get past a lot of things. I've tried to get past a lot of things and focus on the here and now. We probably need our attention to be there with everything that's going on. So since Victor showed us all those things that happened, I've tried not to question you about too many things. That included how Liam acted to you in the past. I thought he'd stopped and him being a fallen fire breathing freak means I don't want to fight him if I don't have to. But if he's doing it again. Upsetting you or anything, then I can't just ignore that and say nothing. I won't do that."

"Well, first off, I've never seen Liam breathe fire and I'm not even sure if he can."

"I bet he can," Mattie said thoughtfully.

"I dont know. As much as I've seen him lose his temper and yell, I think if he could, he would have done it by now," I reasoned.

"Back to the conversation at hand. I don't understand why you didn't tell me. Okay, so actually I kind of understand, and that's what Mattie has been trying to tell me. Still, I don't know how I'm supposed to excuse that. The way he acted, it's like he could have hit you. Someone who loves you should never do that. You don't see me hitting Mattie, do you? That should never happen."

"Well, if you hit her, I'd punch you in the face."

"Forget that. I'd punch him in the face myself. Actually, Britt, you did punch him, didn't you?" she chuckled.

"Yes, that did happen," I sighed.

Punching Liam was one of those memories that were both good or bad. I was both brave and stupid by punching him, but it sure felt good doing it. At least until he nearly hit me back.

"Look Britt, I understand you're going to be twenty years old in a few months, but I'm still your big brother, and I want you to tell me things. No, I don't need to know about your sex life. Believe me, that is the last thing I want to know anything about. However, if you're ever sad or in danger, I want to know about it. Let me remind you of one thing that happened when we hadn't even got here yet. I know it's tough to talk about, but I need to know these things, sis."

"I know, but Liam's not abusive to me. He's not hitting me all the time, and he's never actually hit me or anything. As for back home, that was such a different time. I'd probably feel a little better about telling you about that now. It's just I was ashamed of what could have happened and I didn't want you worried about that. There was so much I wanted to keep from you, but I didn't mean to worry you. I should have known I would have to tell you eventually or it would come out."