Wings

Ch. 13: Meeting The Family

Finally, Jasper could breathe. She looked around at the others and felt like she finally carried a lighter load; she no longer had to fight a battle and defend herself from those on her side. She had people she could rely on instead of worry whether or not they understood her.

"We try to catch the killer and prove Efah is innocent," Jasper said, "So that means we need to put aside our differences and work together." With a small smile, Jasper looked to Jisoo and then back to Efah. "Jasper, why don't you come with me to my house tonight and we can discuss this whole council thing further," Efah suggested. Jasper gave a slight nod.

"Wait, I'm higher in the council, so why not have me come over too?" Castiel asked. Everybody paused as Efah looked at him pointedly. "No, not after the last time you were at my house. Besides, my parents could be home and bringing a boy home would not be a good idea," Efah explained. Cas nodded without any words further.

Once everybody had left the cabin, Efah and Jasper climbed into Jasper's BMW and Efah directed them to her house. "Thank you," Jasper said quietly as her hands loosened their grip on the steering wheel. Efah's head slowly turned to look at Jasper. "Thank you for forgiving me and explaining to the others." Efah just nodded.

"I'm definitely not your best friend and I don't fully trust you, but I won't slander your name now that you've moved to make things better," Efah said with her eyes on the dashboard. Jasper pursed her lips and nodded her head as she turned the car into Efah's driveway.

The headlights of Jasper's car bounced off the rustic colored truck in Efah's driveway as Jasper turned the car off. "Shit," Efah whispered under her breath. Jasper gave her a look of question. "I was just hoping they wouldn't be home." Jasper's eyebrows rose slightly as she mouthed an 'oh' and got out of the car.

Jasper began slowly walking towards the concrete path to the house until Efah's fast stride passed her and she had to pick up her pace to keep up. Once they reached the front door, Efah whipped around to face Jasper. "Just try not to say anything. Be the goody-two-shoes that you know how to pretend to be," Efah said.

Slightly startled, Jasper only nodded and waited for Efah to unlock or open the door. Efah made a grab for the doorknob, but a woman inside pulled the door open instead. Efah's back straightened as her eyes met the older woman's and Jasper looked the stranger up and down. The woman looked nothing like Efah--except for maybe having similarly shaped lips.

The woman had shoulder-length hair of a dark, black, hazel eyes that looked almost too vivid, and a tightly clad dress that barely covered her waist. To go along with it, she wore tall stilettos and her posture screamed 'look at my obviously displayed chest'. As the woman tried to look Efah straight in the eyes, Jasper began to notice that the woman wasn't entirely sober.

The woman was cold and unemotional in her expression until her eyes caught sight of Jasper. Instantaneously, the woman's face expressed emotions of excitement and welcome as she wrapped an arm around Efah 'lovingly' and loudly asked, "Who's your lovely friend, darling?" Efah's posture tensed as she slowly removed the woman's arm and glanced at Jasper.

"This is my study partner, Jasper." The woman stumbled as she moved back to open the door more. "Come in, come in," she said in a high pitch of voice. Efah walked in with the posture of an army general while Jasper slowly followed behind, carefully taking in her new surroundings.

Jasper didn't like the house. She felt unsafe. The atmosphere gave off a feeling of danger and pain. She wanted to leave and take Efah with her. "Is that ugly little whor-" A man shouted as he stumbled into the room, but stopped short of finishing his sentence as his eyes met Jasper. Jasper almost ran in that moment.