The Rarest One

Siblings Part 22

(Crystal)

I came face to face with a petite, short woman with brilliant blue eyes, and jet black hair down to her waist.  She stood the same height as me, and her beautiful face was guarded.

"You don't look like Steve's daughter," Melanie observed us warily.

"I was part of Gates's experiment," I told her, "It changed my physical appearance."  Intakes of surprised breaths came from behind me at my statement.  I handed her a picture, saying, "This was a picture taken two years ago."  It was a picture of myself and Dad before he passed away.  I was wearing skinny jeans, a blue plaid shirt that enhanced my already brilliant blue eyes, which were identical to Melanie's.   My jet black hair was pulled back into a pony-tail, but it still reached my waist.  

"Jesus," Scott murmured. "You look just like your aunt."

Melanie ran her thumb over her brother's smiling face, even though he was pale and weak in the photo.  She reached into her back pocket to grab something,  and I slid my hand for the gun.  She pulled something out, and I yanked my gun out, but Scott caught my wrist.  I looked up and glared at him, but he shook his head in warning, tilting his head in her direction that held a photo.  I tucked my gun back into my waistband. Scott sighed softly, and I thought, "Crisis averted."  I looked closer at the picture and realized that it was an exact replica of the one I handed her.  

"Your father, my brother," she motioned us to sit.  

Adrian, Scott, and I sat at the table with her, with Hugh and Victoria on the couch.   Kira and Puck closed the door.  

"He always tried to send me letters and pictures of you all, but it was hard for him to do with Rowan watching you like a hawk.  He didn't tell me that you found Damien after he went missing for seventeen years, which was very strange, even for him," her brow furrowed.

We all looked at each other, but Adrian stared at the floor.  

"Who the -ell is Damien?" Kira leaned forward, her face had an intense look.

Melanie let out a small gasp, and covered her mouth with her small hands.  She dropped her hands, "You mean, you don't know?"

"Know what?" I asked, as Adrian mumbled, stood and faced me.

"Chrissy?" Adrian spoke a name that I had not heard since I was one.  

"How do you know my nickname?" I asked, my face pale.

"Because I've known you for seventeen years, I just went missing when you were one," Adrian stepped forward, his eyes full of brotherly love.

"No, no, my older brother is dead.  He died, I....," I shuddered as I picked through my memories.  That was something I could do, just part of the photographic memory.  I could recall my memories like I was looking through a file cabinet.  It flashed through my eyes, a dark haired, chubby boy trifled with my hair,  I chased him, and I jerked out of the memory.  Adrian stood there, his hands twisting nervously.  I leaped up and he caught me in a hug, swinging me in a circle.  "I have been waiting so long.  I missed you Chrissy," Adrian murmured into my neck.  

I hugged his neck tighter, and put my head into his chest,"Me too."   We pulled apart, and began talking so fast and over one another.  Scott was shocked and everyone else was frozen. 

"What happened to you?" I exclaimed, taking my seat, wiping underneath my eyes.

"I was taken by a rogue, and was raised by them.  When I was twelve someone in my dreams told me to run to Eagle, and I did," Adrian explained, looking at our aunt.  "It was you in my dreams, wasn't it?"