Burning Desires

Chapter 4

Anastasia bolted upright with a start and tried to get her bearings. The first rays of light filtered through across from her as she remembered where she was. Memories of her anger and then Alexander warning her that he would use his powers on her were all it took for her to jump out of bed and run down the hall.

“Alexander!” Anastasia yelled out as she skittered down the steps to where the smell of bacon and eggs drifted. Looking up, Alexander’s startled face gave Anastasia the final push. Launching herself, Anastasia grabbed onto her brother’s back, bringing both of them to the ground with a loud thud.

“Wha- Ah!” yelped Alexander as Anastasia hooked herself onto him. Before he could say anything, Alexander felt to hands begin to attack his sides. The kitchen soon filled with Alexander’s hysterical laughter and the sound of chairs being knocked over as the two wrestled each other for dominance. Anastasia finally secured her position straddling Alexander, she continued her assault on his weakness. How ticklish he was on his sides.

“Say it!” she cried victoriously as her brother gasped for breath between fits of laughter. Alexander pinched his mouth shut as he stubbornly shook his head. A plan began to form in his mind and he grinned wickedly. Watching the sly smile stretch across her brother’s face, Anastasia put her guard up and narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“What are you thinking?” she asked slowly as she began pulling away from Alexander and whatever evil plan he had concocted. A large hand suddenly flew out to pin Anastasia’s wrists together and pull her down.

“Just this,” Alexander commented once he pulled his sister down and took control. Again fits of laughter echoed through the small house, but this time from Anastasia as Alexander attacked her mercilessly.

“Ok, ok I give! I give!” she cried out through giggles. With a final, satisfied smirk, Alexander released Anastasia, making sure to jump back before she could take another swing at him. Anastasia laid back again on the wooden floor, watching her brother look at her questionably, silently asking if she wanted some eggs and bacon too. Answering with just a nod, she focused her attention back on the peeling ceiling as memories of their childhood flashed through her mind.

When they were still too young to participate in the ‘family business’, Anastasia and her brother were always together, playing tag, watching a movie, but usually wrestling like wild children. A sudden image of a lady with dark brown hair that matched her own flashed briefly in Anastasia’s memories, freezing Anastasia in place. Focusing in on that one memory, Anastasia tried to grasp the thought that had so quickly come and gone from her. After a few seconds without success, she gave up and joined Alexander for breakfast.

“Do we have to go to school?” Anastasia whined for the millionth time since they had entered the car. Alexander snorted and gave her a quick eye roll.

“You know the answer is the same as it was the last few hundred times you asked that. Yes, because if we’re going to fit in, school is a must. Do you want to attract attention to ourselves?” he asked, giving Anastasia a pointed glance. Anastasia looked away before pouting at the car window and the trees that passed. She knew it was childish but she still could not forgive her brother for making her go to the local public high school.

“Look, I called the office and got as many classes as I could for us to be together. There will only be one class that we aren’t together and it’s in the morning so we get it over quickly, alright?” Alexander asked and Anastasia reluctantly nodded, hearing the pleading in his voice.

“Fine, but don’t expect me to make a bunch of friends or anything,” she mumbled as they pulled into the parking lot. After their small fight that morning, they ended up being late to leave the house so by the time they arrived; the school parking lot was filled with teens chatting with friends before the bell rung.