My Lock Of Lies

Prologue- Ethan

My Daddy tosses me in his arms as we run through the dark forest, dodging the scattered trees that stood in our way. Mommy holds Vivian close in her arms, telling her everything will be all right. This must be really scary for a three year old, in fact it's really scary for me, being chased by the family that wants to kill our parents for trying to kill their daughter and to bring us to the Light, to brainwash us into being one of them. Axel runs along side us, his feet scurrying across the cool damp ground. 

"Don't worry, we're almost there." Mommy assures us, but I know everything isn't. I hear shouting in the distance. They found us.

"Quickly!" Daddy says, ushering us into the cellar that blended in the ground. He drops Axel in and then me, but as he was picking up Vivi to put her in the cellar too, I heard footsteps coming  just a few trees away. "Come on," he tells Mommy and Vivian as he scooped her up and closed the cellar door. I hear their footsteps fade away as more passed by and then everything went silent.

My mind is filled with emotions I can't fathom. "I have to help," I whisper, mostly to myself, but Axel hears.

"You can't go out there," Axel says firmly, "They will take you away."

"What choice do I have?"

"You are only six! You'd be no help." Axel sends a glowing glare my way. I ignore it and start to push the cellar door open when he shoves me out of the way.

"Listen to me! If you go out there and they see you, you have to promise that you won't get in the way." 

My own brother doesn't trust me. "I will prove I'm loyal to you! Put a spell on me, that if I do harm Mommy and Daddy somehow, that I will do whatever you want!" I yell. Now that Axel's ten, he knows how to do some basic magic, but it's easier if the person is willing to do it.

He smiles, pleased. "Fine, if you wish." With his finger, he swirls it in a pattern I'm not sure of. When I feel a grip on my heart, I know he's done what I asked.

"Now go," he snarls. I pull myself up off the ground and run out of the cellar, towards the strange light in the distance. I hide behind a tree as I start to hear voices. 

"Thought you could get away, Grayson?" I hear a man's voice growl. I peer behind the tree and see my parents on the ground, ViVi nuzzles into my mother's neck and she holds her close, clearly afraid. 

Two people stand above them. One of them is holding a small girl, their daughter, I assume. She is about my age, if not younger. I squint in the darkness, looking closely to find her red hair covering her face. I find two bright green eyes in the tangles, though, staring back at me. I fade behind the branches, hoping she doesn't say anything. She remains silent, still staring.

"Might I say the same to you, Nathan." my daddy says menacingly, "But you won't be able to escape this time. And, unlike in the past, you've brought your daughter." His teeth shine white through the darkness. The man, Nathan, laughs.

"It's not like me to give up a fight. Plus, you know what you have attempted to do. Now I'll just return the favor, only I'll finish it . . . today." He lunges at my father. I want to scream for him to look out, but all I do is watch.

Daddy shoots his hand out, freezing Nathan in place. 

The little girl screams, "Daddy! What's happening?" as my father closes his fingers into a fist and Nathan falls to the ground, choking. I stare, my face blank. I watch the life drain from his body, and I shiver, restraining from rushing out there to help him. 

The woman, still standing above my parents, runs down to her husband. Tears snake down her cheeks as she yells, "Why did you do this? We've never harmed you!" She sets her daughter down gently and turns towards my parents, anger pulsing through her being. She whispers something I can't hear and both of my parents and ViVi collapse, falling limp to the forest floor. I wanted to help them, but I can't get in the way or my brother will control me for who knows how long. The girl stares at her father, tears streaming down her face. "Mommy, what is going on?" 

"It's okay, honey. You're okay." The mom kneels down to her daughter, eyes locked. She whispers something under her breath and a strange silver strains wrap around her head. 

I gasp. A memory spell. I turn my back and start to run towards the cellar, but as I turn my head I see the woman holding ViVi close in her arms. I let the tears silently fall as I return to Axel.