The Secret

Chapter 10

It took way more then 30 seconds to convince Ryder to leave his own party. He insisted on staying until he had to cut the cake but the way Daniel spoke I knew we didn't have time for that. What made it worse was that since E was on his side, he was intent on staying. What made it more worse was that he had to leave Veronica, who I still haven't seen. But he lost and now he was sitting in the back seat with E while I was in the passenger seat of Daniel's car. 

"Can you tell me where the hell we are going?" Ryder asked for the fifth time. I didn't know if I was suppose to tell Ryder what was going on, maybe because I didn't really know myself. Plus every time I tried to speak Daniel shot me a look that said 'don't say anything'. He couldn't keep this up forever; I knew my brother and he won't stop until he finds out. 

"No," Daniel replied through clenched teeth. He was angry, anybody could clearly see that. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and the car started to feel warmer. 

"Daniel, it's already warm in here we don't need the heater," I told him.

"It's not the heater."

I was confused. If it wasn't the heater then what iwas it. "Then what is it?"

"May you please save your questions for when we get there?" he glared at me and his green eyes were bright. I cringed and looked away from him. He might not hurt me but he was scary. I gave Ryder a warning look when I saw he was about to say something. Nobody talked as we drove the rest of the way to Daniels house. In order to enter we had to go through a gate and travel up a winding street. His house looked like one that came right from a haunted movie. 

He parked the car in front of his house and quickly ushered us inside. The interior was completely different from the exterior. While the outside made you want to run for the hills, the inside made you want stay and have dinner. 

"Mom! Dad! Come quick! But I have company!" he yelled. We stood there very awkwardly as a young lady climbed down the winding stairs in front of us. She was a tall skinny woman with short copper hair and green eyes. She wore a night gown that swept the floor and she looked at Daniel confused. 

"Your father isn't home, he had-" she quickly darted her eyes to us then back at him."Business to attend to. Who are these people?" she spoke elegantly and she sounded older than she looked. 

"Sabrina visited her," he said holding his hand out for me to take and I took is hesitantly. "She told her it was time. I wouldn't have believed her if she didn't say Shaba."

"Oh dear," his mother said looking at me. She looked at me with much concern and guilt. "Sweety, what did she say to you?"

"What is going on? Who is Shaba?" E asked finally speaking up since we left the house. His mother looked at them as if finally realizing that they were there.

"Do they know?" she asked Daniel and he shook his head sadly. "Alright, how about we sit and drink some herbal tea while we talk? I bet you have a lot of questions, the main one being why you are here. My son and I will answer them but you have to answer ours as well. But before we get to that-" she paused and we waited as she closed her eyes and concentrated. 

"Mom, I don't think-" Daniel started but he was cut off by his mother.

"Hush son, this has to be done. I don't think Aura here will want to repeat her story a second time, right dear?" she asked opening her eyes. I paled as she said my name. Daniel hasn't said it and I'm pretty sure I didn't. This was all just too weird. 

"H-how did you know my name?" I stuttered and Daniel frowned at his mother. 

"Oh, don't look at me like that. This is why I don't allow others to come here, I just can't control myself," she said to Daniel. "I'm sorry dear, I'll explain everything when they all get here."

"Mom, E and Ryder know absolutely nothing. Only Aura had the encounter. I don't think this is a good idea." 

His mother turned to Ryder and E, her eyes shinning brightly. "You are to go upstairs and rest up. You look extremely tired, you've had a long day of partying. Ryder, your birthday party was everything you've hoped for and Ian you enjoyed yourself. Daniel invited you over and you accepted. Now go upstairs." They both nodded their heads and headed upstairs.

"W-w-what did you do to them?" I shrieked backing away. It was similar to what Sabrina did to me. I've had enough weird things happening for the day and I felt that I might pass out from all of this. It was just too much. 

"Aura, please just calm down. Look at me." Daniel walked toward me and rested his hands on my shoulders. "Hey, I'm still me. I won't hurt you and my mother won't hurt you. I know you're confused and you're wondering what's going on. I'll explained everything to you ok? Just relax." 

I remember what Rebecca told me on the phone that night. That seemed like such a long time ago.  She told me he burned her and at the time I found that ridiculous but now I was not so sure. I bet he didn't want to hurt Rebecca either but he did.

"Do you want to hurt Rebecca?" I asked him.

"What? Of course not! Why would you ask that?"

"Because you burned her. She told me herself on the phone and she was so scared Daniel. You didn't want to hurt her but you did." I backed away from him and he slowly lowered his hands while giving me a curious look. 

"When did you speak to Rebecca? I didn't even know you knew her." 

Damn, I wasn't suppose to say that. How could I get myself out of this? He crossed his arms and patiently waited for my answer. I look at his mother who was watching the scene with curiosity. If only she knew how bad I wanted her to interrupt this conversation. 

"I... uh... um... she... uh..." I stammered and his eyes narrowed. The room became really cold and when I blew a breath out I saw fog. 

"They finally arrived," his mother said and soon about thirty people appeared from mid air and surrounded us. They all wore cloaks covering their face and bodies. I screamed and grabbed at Daniel who held me tightly telling me to calm down. 

"You have summoned us Maira. This must be important," one of them said. I squinted my eyes trying to see behind the shadow the cloak provided but it didn't work. I didn't know who these people were but they weren't helping with my fear. They just materialized from nothing

"Is it them?" another asked.

The voices started to blur together and the room started to spin. This was just too much. I must be dreaming, this can't be real. People like this just didn't exist. The last thing I saw was someone about to take off the cloak before I passed out.