The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 3 - THE REALITY

"The what?" Natalie stood up and asked.
"Octave!" Edward answered.
"What the hell is that? I'm a music note?" she looked at Edward like you would look at a crazy person.
"It's a community of magical beings." Edward smiled. Natalie looked at her parents and then burst into a fit of laughter. She laughed for several minutes until she stopped to breathe. Others stared at her in shock.
"Nat, dear! He's serious! This is serious!" Caitlyn said, she looked sad and grim.
"You want me to believe that crap? So, am I going to Hogwarts? That's your cover-up? Fine, don't tell me. I don't care. Just don't lie to my face!" she scoffed and started walking away.
"Nat, stop!" Edward pulled her back angrily.
"What the hell, Harrington!?" she pushed him. But he didn't let go of her arm. She tried and tried. Normally, she used to overpower him but today... nothing worked. She looked angrily around and grabbed the nearby vase. She raised it in the air but it flew out of her grip. She looked at it, floating away with her mouth open. She looked at her mother, who was moving her hand in the air as if giving the vase directions to move. She looked back at Edward, who was breathing heavily. Natalie froze as she saw his eyes glowing. She screamed at the sight of his fangs and claws.
"I'm not going to hurt you! I would never hurt you!" Edward said, his fangs still showing and eyes glowing golden.
"Honey, just listen. I know it is scary. But... but I can't hide it from you forever. You were right Garry. I... I..." Caitlyn started crying and Garry pulled her into a hug.
"I... I need some air. Let me go!" Natalie half-cried and tried to pull away.
"Where will you go?" Edward asked, still maintaining a firm grip over her arm.
"Out!! Just lemme go!!" she cried. She collapsed and he caught her. She jumped out of his grip. "Don't!! Stay away! Please, stay away!!" she cried.
"Nat, I'm not gonna hurt you!!" Edward said softly, his eyes softening. He transformed back and sat in front of her, on the ground. She hugged her legs, shaking.

Natalie was clearly terrified of what she had just seen. She couldn't even look at him. Edward moved back and sighed heavily. "Look, we didn't want to drop it on you like this! But you had to know. One way or another!" Edward moved farther away, sadly. Natalie stood up and ran upstairs. Edward took a few steps behind her but Garry stopped him.

Natalie bolted the door and crashed on her bed. She held her head in her hands and started crying. She couldn't believe a word of what she had heard. Or anything she saw. After a few minutes, she stood up and changed into warmer clothes. She ran downstairs and straight out of the main door.
"NATALIE!" Garry yelled after her, but she was already gone. Caitlyn cried.
"I'll bring her back!" Edward said and put on his coat.
"No, stay put!! You've already done enough!!" Caitlyn said angrily.
"Cate! Let him go. This had to be done!" Garry said. He beckoned Edward to go.

Edward sniffed his way to Natalie. She was sitting on a bench in the park. He stopped a few feet away from her. She was sniffling.
"I know it's you, Harrington! Just go away!" Natalie said, in a sore voice.
"Hey, please don't be scared of me. I know I look scary. But please, give me a chance to explain." he sat next to her.
"What can you possibly tell me that will help me? I just found out that my best friend is a frickin dog!!!" she said.
"I'm not... err... I can explain why you weren't told!" he said, placing his arm around her neck. She slapped it away and stood up.
"Please, I... I need some space! My life is suddenly a lie! Just..."
"I can understand! But please, you need to know! It's important for your own safety!" he said. She nodded and walked back home with him. She didn't say a word and maintained at least 2 feet distance between them.

When she entered her home, Caitlyn wrapped her hands around her. Natalie pulled away quickly and walked into the living area.
"I'm glad you're home!" Garry said.
"Now, tell me!" Natalie turned towards Edward, ignoring her parents.
"Uhh, yes!" he sat in front of her.
"Natalie, I'm..." Caitlyn stopped as Natalie raised her hand to stop her from talking. Edward gave Caitlyn an apologetic look.
"Octaves are beings with exceptional powers. We call these powers Energies. We all have the same energies. But everyone possesses a different ratio of it. As you must have guessed, there are 8 types amongst us, hence octaves! The energies are distributed amongst different beings: Humans, Werewolves, Vampires and Elves. With me so far?" Edward stopped to check if Natalie was okay. She nodded attentively. He continued. "You and your mother are humans. So don't worry, you won't have fangs like me!" he half-laughed. "I am a Werewolf... not a dog!! But I am also an Octave like you. We all have dominant emotions or energy and traits. In your case, it's your anger. I don't know what type of Octave you are. That's for the school to decide." Edward smiled.
"School?" Natalie asked.
"Hale School for Octaves!" Caitlyn answered.
"Where is it?"
"Far from here, in the North. In one of the hidden valleys." Garry answered.
"Wait, mom and I are human Octaves. Edward is Werewolf. What are you?" Natalie asked Garry.
"I'm an officer. A plain, normal human!" he smiled.
"Huh!" Natalie was shocked and kinda disappointed.
"Yes, We met shortly after I came here," Caitlyn said.
"I remember. It was my first day at the station. She was standing at a bus stop with a little bundle in her arms. She looked like she was going to collapse anytime. I reached out and asked her if she needed help. I will never forget that look on her face. She glared at me." Garry chuckled. "But we met again as she rented an apartment in the same building as me. I guess it was destiny!"
"No offence but don't want to know your love story right now. I want to know how and why you accepted all this. Didn't you freak out?" Natalie said, frustrated.
"Right, I did freak out. But I knew she was an amazing person. So I came around. Moreover, I grew close to you. Knowing that you both would be in danger alone, I couldn't stay away."
"Danger?" Natalie jumped in alarm. "You were running and hiding from someone?" she turned towards Caitlyn.
"Yes, I was!" she answered plainly.
"And...?" Natalie leaned in.
"And Garrett married me. I took his surname and raised you!" she said.
"You know that's not what I asked!!" Natalie frowned.
"There are more important things to talk about right now!" Edward finally spoke.
"Like what?" Natalie asked.
"Like, high school ends in March and we'll be at Hale's after summer!" he replied.
"What if I don't want to?"
"You will. Once you realise how dangerous it is. You will!" Edward said, turning towards Caitlyn.
"Fine! It's very dangerous. The school will teach you how to control your energy. You can hurt someone gravely if you don't learn." Caitlyn said, sadly.
"Have you ever... killed someone?" Natalie looked at her mother, suspiciously.
"I have! But it was a lesser being." Caitlyn answered.
"Lesser?"
"There are some creatures that don't like us. You can say, they are the demons of our world." Edward said.
"Huh? Werewolves and Vampires aren't demons?" Natalie asked. Edward laughed and shook his head.
"No, no! So that's what you've been thinking?" he continued to laugh. She shrugged in response. "The image you have of us isn't true! I'm not a werewolf that jumped out of those amazing supernatural movies! I'm pretty much human. Just armed with Fangs and claws! And a little longer life than humans!"
"So you're not immortal? Or a hundred years old?" Natalie tilted her head to one side to examine Edward. He cackled.
"Oh, my God!! Nat!!" he continued. Then he noticed her eyebrows rising. "No, I'm not immortal or 100 years old. I'm 18, just like you!"
"Oh?"
"You sound disappointed!" Edward smirked.
"Nope!"
"You okay, sweety?" Garry asked.
"I just... need it to sink in. I'll hear the rest tomorrow!" Natalie stood up.
"Okay, sure!" Garry smiled.
"I'll go home and check on my grams." Edward bowed out.

Natalie walked upstairs and sat on her bed. She wasn't sleepy. She couldn't stop thinking about it. After some time, Caitlyn entered with milk.
"You need some sleep." she set the mug on the side table and walked out. Natalie drank it in one breath and lay down. She closed her eyes.
"Natalie...?" a distorted voice called out.

*PRESENT*

"Natalie...?" Aaron patted her shoulder to wake her up. She sat up in surprise and hit her head above.
"Huh? Ouch!! What happened?" she gasped.
"Nothing. You slept overnight and they left a few hours ago!" he replied.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" she asked, rubbing her head.
"Because you slept after two days. Now, come on! The path is clear. We have to run towards the river and cross it before they sense our presence in case some of them stayed!!" Aaron walked out of the groove shelter, Natalie on his heels. They ran towards the river.