Ghost... Witch?

Swearing In

Drake POV

- Flashback -

I strolled into the living room. Mom suddenly doused the fire. I couldn't understand why. Both my parents loved fire. We were a family of fire elementals.

"Light the fire, son.", said Dad from his armchair.

My heart sunk.

Pushing down my trepidation, I stretched slightly trembling hand towards the fireplace.

A misshapen fireball splashed flame over the logs but it didn't catch.

He'd gotten it wrong. Again.

Mom huffed. "Can't you ever get it right?"

Dad: "Gods, son. You're seven. When are you finally learn to control your element?"

Mom: "Just don't ever attempt to light a fire in front of any guests. You're an embarrassment."

Pause. "Your sister could do this when she was less than half our age."

Dad: "We never had to light a fire for her since she was like 3."

Mom: "Why can't you be more like her?" Pause. "Always gets himself shown up by his YOUNGER sister. Thank God your sister's not like you."

Dad: "I wish SHE were the one to carry on the MacNamara name. You'll disgrace our legacy."

- End Flashback -

I wept in my room. Why? Why couldn't my parents ever like me? Why did I always have to be a disgrace? An embarrassment? Why could I never do it right? Why was it that Cait was so much better than me?

A soft knock sounded on my doorframe and I looked up to see Cait standing uncertainly in the doorway.

"What?", I snarled, "Come to add to how you're sooo much better than me?". I knew I was being unfair to my little sister. Cait had never flaunted her elemental superiority over me. In fact, I knew that she'd stopped showing off her new accomplishments to our parents to save me from their degradation. That didn't mean that I wanted her to see me bawling over our parents' comments. I just needed to be left alone until I could put on my 'I don't care' facade back on.

"Rough day?", she said softly, sympathetically. "I don't want to talk about it.", I growled, pressing the heels of my palms into my eyes. "Go away, Cait. I'm in no shape to talk.", I added, gentler.

"I take it that our parents decided to compare us again?", she stated, coming in and slipping down to the carpet to join me. "Do they have another theme?", I rejoined tiredly. If Cait wanted to talk, I for sure couldn't stop her. Some people stir a hornet's nest. My sister picks it up and puts in the shaker.

"Drake.", she called softly after a bit, "How would you like to have a different family?". I looked up to stare blankly at her face. A different family? What did she even mean? I couldn't go back and change who I was born to. We were stuck with our parents till they died or we got married. Actually even the marriage escape was only available to Cait. I would have our parents as my bosses until they died.

Cait read my thoughts on my face. "I don't mean it in that way. I meant it as in not having them direct our life and our missions any more. We could have a different support system. A different life. They wouldn't be able to comment and criticise on your life as a Clansman anymore.", she spoke more softly, "You wouldn't have to put up with them comparing us anymore.".

I knew it wasn't possible. But I couldn't stop the desperate surge of hope at her last statement. I fell back on the carpet. Looking up at the ceiling, I tried to quash the hope before it grew into something that would get me crushed alongside it, "Don't be ridiculous.", I scoffed, "We're siblings and I'm horrible at elemental work while you're a natural at it. People are always going to compare us to my disadvantage.". Cait interrupted my view of the ceiling and put a hand on my cheek, "Not these people. They might you push you harder than our parents ever did but they'll never compare you against anyone else,", she put her face close to mine to stare into my eyes, her voice growing more passionate, " only yourself.".