***
Trouble ~ Valerie
***
From the outside, our house looked almost identical to the way we'd left it. The white walls cracking from years of being unkept, the exposed brick making it unappealing for anyone looking for a home to steal from. The faded black door was void of the house numbers, our priorities lying elsewhere to the point we forgot to put them back in place.
To anyone else, this place is nothing special. A rundown house with owners too lazy to cut the grass or touch up the exterior.
To me and Alec, this place used to be everything. The place we were born. The place our parents died. The place we transformed from Alec and Athena, the resident twins from Princeton High, to Alec and Athena, killers.
"Athena," Somehow, Alec had lost our house keys and with my very small desire to call Draven, myself and our self-invited guest had been sat on the outside wall waiting for Alec to perfect his lock-picking skills.
Alec is stood in the open doorway, head tilted in the way we do when we're purely confused. Jumping off the wall - Seth no doubt following quickly after - I find myself stood by Alec, my eyes scanning the area in front of us with similar confusion.
"Y'all not really big on interior decorating, huh?" With his usual arrogance, Seth completely sidesteps us, walking into our home as if it's his own.
Every since the early hours of this morning, he's been nothing but an asshole. Disagreeing with every suggestion, almost involving Kara and Autumn, insisting on taking his car. All petty arguments I can deal with; however, this, disrespecting my parents house, is too far.
Seth Silver needs to get a goddamn grip.
Alec Rose - P.O.V
Watching Seth walk a dangerous line would be amusing back at The Academy, my sisters jaw clenched in the way that usually signals a non-preempted death. However, in the real world, killing Seth is a suicidal move, a move I don't doubt Athena is willing to make.
Her eyes are trained on him, forgetting about the previous issue as she watches each step, every placement of his feet. Giving a small shake of her head she strides forward, pushing him a good few feet with her shoulder, forcing him to stumble slightly with an immediate look of frustration flitting over his face.
"Watch where your walking asshole."
And then she disappears upstairs, her footsteps silent with trained excellence. Glancing back at Seth, I'm surprised to find him frowning at the place he was so abruptly moved from before meeting my eyes.
"It's where our parents died. Just," I roll my head back, listening to the cracks of tension beneath the skin, "tread carefully. Now I need to go convince my volatile sister to call the one person in the world she doesn't want to see."
"Good luck."
"Yeah."
Athena Rose - P.O.V
Staring at my bedroom, I'm unsurprised at the lack of furniture, following the same trend as downstairs. The bed frame is still there, a small single matching Alec's.
I doubt he'd fit in his now.
The thought is sadder than I expected, possibly because of a lost childhood, a bedroom barely lived in before life turned to shit, a bedroom void of lullabies and night-time stories, a bedroom void of life; maybe its because I can't help but feel like we don't fit here anymore, in a family home, a place of innocence and love. We just... don't fit.
Sighing, I rub a hand over my face, sitting on the wooden floor farthest from the window. Peering down at my phone, the device I'd missed less than I predicted, I scroll though the contacts. Many aren't actual names, just reminders of their usefulness to me.
Draven is the exception.
Always the exception.
Beginning the call, I move the phone to my ear, resting my head against the wall behind me, relishing in its sturdiness. Alec appears in the doorway, his eyes finding me instantly and evaluating my soft smile before coming and sitting beside me, placing his head on my shoulder for the briefest second before moving away, not crowding me, just doing what he does best: he's being here for me.
"Athena?" Dravens deep voice forces me to inhale quickly. I haven't spoken to the guy for months, nevertheless... her.
"Yeah, Drave it's me."
"I guess you're back home?" Straining my ears I'm sure I can almost hear her. Dravens expectant silence louder and heavier than usual.
"Not for long. Draven, have you stolen our shit or not?"
"Oh yeah, that was me."
"Drave," letting out a small sigh, I pinch the bridge of my nose, earning a light laugh from the handsome guy on the receiving end.
"I didn't sell it."
Sitting up, I can't help but frown, Alec raising his hands in silent question.
"What? Drave are you feeling okay? Wait, are you dying?" I whisper the last question, shocked to find myself slightly concerned for his answer.
What would she do without him?
"You're hilarious. No. I'm not dying." This time it's his turn to sigh, almost making it hard not to miss the sadness to it merged with diluted acceptance.
"Emily wouldn't let me."
"Oh." Alec, somehow able to hear the conversation, repeats his earlier move, resting his head against my shoulder for a moment longer.
"She wanted one of your hoodies. I couldn't say no Athena, I'm sorry. I've got the rest of your stuff at the club, come down tonight if you can."
"We'll see you tonight, Drave."
"We?"
"Yeah. We."
***
Seth rests his head against the car window, tapping a impatient hand against the wheel. We haven't spoken, not more than two words, aside from vague directions when Alec lost the ability. He's overthinking - what, I don't know - but it's beginning to drive me crazy.
Shoving him at the house was actually a development on my part. It was a step down from murder, given that anyone who disrespected our parents or our home usually received less than friendly treatment. Honestly, I was surprised at my lack of reaction. Angry at myself for feeling as if he wasn't an invader, as if he was allowed to waltz around as if he belonged there.
What kind of daughter does that make you, Athena? Willing to let a stranger trample on the spot your parents died.
I was angry, because I wasn't. Not at him.
"Pull in here."
He does as I ask, impressively parking within seconds before climbing out of the car. Staring at the sign with tangible excitement for the unknown, he turns to us, arms wide.
"Why are we at a drag show?"
Unable to stop the inevitable smirk spreading across my lips, I begin to head to the entrance, desperate not to draw anymore unnecessary attention to my return.
"Welcome to Draven's Drag Club."
YOU ARE READING
Adrenaline
Action"You're an enigma, Athena Rose." "Maybe I just want someone to try and understand me." "Some would say thats impossible." "That's because no-ones ever tried hard enough. No-one but him." *** On the Rose siblings 13th birthday their parents are bruta...
