The Styles Brothers

Chapter Four: Magic Doesn't Exist

Harry sighed. His legs crumpled and folded underneath him as he collapsed onto the loveseat. James sat down much more gracefully than his brother, motioning for me to sit in the armchair adjacent to them.

"Sit," He offered quietly.

I eyed him warily as I obliged. "You didn't answer my question."

"Well, Elena.. we kind of can't," Harry said. I could sense the struggle to keep calm in his voice, the tense hold of his shoulders a dead giveaway. "I mean, you wouldn't believe us if we did."

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"Magic doesn't exist," James said carefully.

"That doesn't explain what's going on."

"We're not supposed to tell," Harry added in.

My eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Magic doesn't exist.." James began.

"But you know the myths you hear as a child? All those stories of sorcery and mischief?" Harry finished.

"But I thought..." I trailed off, not really understanding.

"Elena, we don't really know how to explain this. You're going to have to figure it out from what we can provide."

"Okay," I prompted, letting out a breath.. "Go ahead."

James paused. "We're not human."

A wad of fear was heavy in my stomach. "Okay."

Harry added in, "We're not going to hurt you," his eyes flashed crimson for a moment, "but we are dangerous."

I gulped, a shiver running up my spine. "Have I heard of... what you are before?" I asked, almost wary of their answer.

"Most likely not. We're an extinct hybrid breed-"

"James!" Harry bellowed, smacking him. "Speak of it too much, and you'll attract the lilim."

"The.. the lilim?" I questioned hesitantly.

"You've heard of demons?" Harry said quietly, turning to me.

"Of course."

"Well, they're real. Every myth you've ever heard, every legend and fairytale, they're all based off something true."

"Except vampires, of course," James rolled his eyes. "Humans have such ridiculous imaginations."

"No vampires?"

James scoffed. "Nope."

"What about..." I paused. "Werewolves?"

"Dangerous, but unlikely. Last time we saw one, it was in 1890," Harry mused thoughtfully.

"1890?"

"Christ," Harry smacked his hand over his mouth.

"So you don't age?"

"Technically, no," James butted in, glaring at his brother. "We only begin to age if we somehow lose our powers or break a Council law. Which we haven't done. Yet."

"You have powers too?" I said exasperatedly, sinking lower into my seat and tugging on my hair.

"I think you're aware most of them," James' voice was suddenly very close to me.

I shrieked, the twins suddenly on either side of me.

"Okay, you can teleport, whoop-de-do. Stop doing that," I scowled. In a flash, they were back to their spots on the couch.