Omens (wattys2016)

Twenty-two.

     Dinner is a silent affair that night. Jackson had filled Liam and Max in on what had happened today but made them swear not to say a word to Gabriel. He was not sure how his brother would react if he found out that he had been around me while I was in that state without someone there to monitor us.

     "I spoke to Asher today," Gabriel announces, passing a bowl of soup in my direction. My stomach turns and my appetite disappears. I spoon the hot broth into my mouth anyways, not wanting to draw unwanted attention to myself. I have been wracking my brain for hours on how exactly to get out of here without causing a scene and have managed to come up with zero plans.

     "What did he say?" Liam asks. He dips a piece of bread into his bowl before cramming it into his mouth.

     "Well he wasn't too happy to here that we had invited Omera into the house without knowing what she was, but I explained the situation and he was willing to let it slide. He and Petroff will be taking the first plane out of California tonight. They should be here sometime tomorrow. Apparently Asher thinks it would be a good idea if he comes out here to meet her. Run a few tests."

     "Tests?" Jackson beats me to the question, his voice thick with worry. I watch him out the corner of my eye, as he moves closer protectively. My heart sinks. He is the first person to care about me, despite all my flaws and strangeness. I know my leaving will hurt him but, if I stay, something far worse could happen.

     "Nothing too harsh," Gabriel answers and Jackson eases out of his tensed state. "Just wants to take a few blood samples. That's why he's bringing Petroff. The guys a genius at identifying supernatural cells. Plus, he is THE oldest living hunter and might be able to point us in the right direction to figure out what she is."

     I stare at my bowl, the once amazing smell now turned sickening. There's something wrong with Gabriel's tone. Something off about how careful he is not to say anything to set me off. Usually he is all insults and snarky comments but tonight he has made it a point to be nice to me. Not once had he yelled about the burned down gazebo or attempted to pry into the lie Jackson had given him as to how it happened. It had been a poorly told lie too, something about me freaking out when he tried to talk to me about the attack and the gazebo falling victim to my power. He had just shrugged it off, telling Jackson to keep a better eye on me.

     The answer seems to sit well with the boys and they continue to eat. I move my spoon around, hoping none of them will notice my lack of appetite.

     The doorbell rings and I all but jump out of my skin. Gabriel stands up, motioning for us to stay seated as he makes his way to the door. I lean back in my seat, watching him greet the visitor.

     "She's not here." I hear him say, trying to keep his voice low. The visitor at the door barks back a response and the unnaturally high pitch of the voice sends me running towards the door. That voice, that shrill sounding voice, can belong to only one person.

     "Do I look stupid to you?" Daphne's voice grows louder as I make my way down the hall. "Cause last time I checked I did not have 'moron' printed across my forehead. I know she's here and I am not leaving until I see her."

     I push my way past Gabriel, stepping out onto the porch to face the loud blonde standing there. She pulls me into her arms, embracing me in a tight hug.

     "I was so worried about you," she says as she releases me. "Where have you been? You never called me after work last night. Then you completely bailed on school today. Then I went by the shelter and that jerk at the front desk told me you never came home last night and took most of your stuff with you."