Children of Heroes

The Night Hides Its Children

Bethany's hands retracted further into the sleeves of the coat, and she pinched together their rims from the inside to keep the cold out. It was huge on her anyway - Rafe had lent her one of his coats, and the size difference was obvious now she wore it - and so it wasn't hard to keep her hands up inside.

Thankfully, Rafe had donated his coat despite her telling him she was getting picked up by her father. He'd told her that even if the distance to the car was short, she should keep herself wrapped up anyway. So he'd sent her on her way into the night, unaware that she'd lied to him so that he wouldn't offer to walk her home. She needed time to think.

Rafael's family was weird, to say the least. They were all pleasant - and that was the truth - but Annalise's knife incident had really cleared her mind. No eight-year-old could throw a knife with such pinpoint accuracy and land the hit. Her own sister was barely a year younger than Annalise, and she could hardly stand on two feet. Something was definitely different about that family.

What had Max said? Great throw, Annie! You're getting really good at this! Rafael had told her that Annalise learned a specific branch of karate which involved the use of weaponry. But there was no denying that, even if that was the case, Annalise's actions had been beyond natural. It was almost instinctive, like a reflex. Absently, Beth wondered if the whole family had learned such abilities. She wondered if Rafe could handle a knife that way. Maybe if he could, she thought, being with him was a little risky.

But that was the weird part. Rafael was the loveliest guy she'd ever met, and his family were easily as likeable. They were outgoing, caring and excellent conversationalists. She did not see a valid connection between such lovely people and people who could wield weapons like second nature. Rafe seemed so calm and collected, and so did Annalise.

She considered what Alec had said about the tattoos he and his son shared. It was tradition, apparently, for members of his family to get these strange shapes marked onto their bodies. Apparently Annalise was set to be tattooed for the first time very soon. What kind of people put their young children under the needle for the good of tradition. The idea that they could be satanists briefly flitted across her mind.

Beth had no idea what to do. She could, of course, voice her concerns to Rafe, but she didn't want to offend him by questioning his morals and way of life. But surely she couldn't just stay quiet either: she wasn't sure she entirely trusted the family. Surely she wouldn't offend Rafe. She would just be ensuring her safety.

Conflicted, she drew out her phone from her pinafore pocket, exposing her fingers to the night cold against their will. Her hands trembled as she found the contact of the only person she knew could think rationally for her at this moment. Beth wondered if she would even be awake, but she knew for sure she would. She was basically nocturnal.

The phone rung once before she picked up. "Beth, why are you calling me?" Beth grinned in spite of herself. Always so welcoming, was her best friend.

"Saffy, you have to help me. I have a real dilemma and I have no idea what to do."

"Hold up, hold up, hold up. Did something go wrong with the date? Was it his family? Were they weird?" Saffron was already panicking - Bethany wondered how she'd take the real news.

Beth shrugged. "Well, I turned up, and they were really lovely. His dads were really welcoming and nice, and his siblings seemed really likeable."

"... but..?"

Sighing loudly, she said, "Well, his sister threw a steak knife at a daddy-long-legs." Already, the scene replayed itself in her head, every strange detail. "And not just a typical little-kid-throw of-knife-at-annoying-insect kind of thing. She threw it, it hit the damned thing dead on centre, and stuck into the wall."