The Vanishing

Chapter 14

So this chapter reintroduces a character from the prologue/chapter 4 and it explains it but since this book has been edited/needs to be edited, you may want to reread for context
It does explain it though!
Thanks for reading!
Jess
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I couldn't sleep last night.

All I could think about was Henry potentially being my father. Why wouldn't he just tell me? I've known him for two years and he's been lying to me this entire time.I tossed and turned through the night remembering all of the times he gave such good advice. I thought about all of the times he helped me with my homework, and I realized that he was trying to look out for me.

Pushing that confusing notion aside, I got ready for class in a daze and walked through the halls completely disassociated and zombie-like. I didn't even notice Wyatt and Patrick walking up to me.

"Arden! My favorite Weasley. Come meet the newest recruit." Wyatt said. He and Patrick were standing in front of a dark-haired boy who was shorter than them.

The boy stepped in front of them with a smirk plastered on his face. "Arden and I go way back." He said.

I felt like a deer in headlights, stuck in place. One thing was clear: every cell in my body was telling me to run.

"Damien" was all I could think to say.

Wyatt looked puzzled, but Patrick was looking at me intensely before sizing up Damian.

I took a deep breath before saying, "I have class, I should go. See you later."

I made it maybe five feet into my bee line to the staircase before I broke. My breathing became ragged and my vision started to blur, but I was clamoring up the stairs nonetheless.

When I started to lose my balance, a strong hand grabbed my elbow and steadied me.

I couldn't focus my eyes enough to know who it was, but the familiar scent of sage and soap told me that it was Patrick.

He didn't say anything, but steadied me a couple more times as I made it up the stairs and into my room.

We sat on the bed as I breathed quick, shallow breaths.

"You're doing great." He said.

I just gave him a sideways glance.

"Wyatt used to have panic attacks growing up, he still does on occasion. I've learned all that I can really do is sit it out with you." He said.

When I finally settled, I nodded. "Would you mind handing me my water bottle that's on the desk?"

He went over and grabbed it, handing it to me with a look of concern as he sat back down next to me.

My clammy hands were shaking hard, but drinking the water seemed to help.

I gulped down some water to help with my dry throat. "How did you know?" I asked.

"Your heart rate went through the roof when you saw him." he said.

When I shot him a confused glance, he added, "Werewolf senses."

"Wouldn't Wyatt have noticed too?" I asked.

"He might have, but I think he stopped paying attention after you said you have class." he said

I just nodded while staring into space.

He nudged me slightly with his elbow. "When you excused yourself to go to class I knew something was wrong." he said with a smile.

"Oh, come on. I'm not that bad!" I couldn't help but smile back.

He just gave me an incredulous look and chuckled.

I sat there for a moment in the silence between us. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, it was nice. He wasn't pushing me for an explanation, but for some reason I felt compelled to tell him anyway.

"Damien is a walking trigger for me." I said after a while.

He didn't ask why, he just nodded.

I went on. "Do you remember that day we went to your house and practiced magic?" I asked.

He nodded yes so I continued. "You told me to think of something that scares me. I thought of him." I said.

He tried hard not to react, but a muscle in his jaw twitched angrily.

"The day of the fire at my old school, he was there with me. He started acting really strange and aggressive. When I was trapped, the fire distracted him and I got away." I said.

This meant two things: Damien is a prick, and he might know about my powers.

Patrick, practically reading my mind, said "He shouldn't be here."

"Honestly, I probably overreacted. He probably thinks it was some freak accident." I said.

He furrowed his brows. "Maybe. Regardless, we don't need dangerous students here, the headmistress will agree."

I didn't know what to say. Technically, Damien barely hurt me. And I set a school on fire. Doesn't that make me worse than him?

"I know what you're thinking. That your powers make you dangerous. I thought so too, once. Which is why learning control is so important. I'm not dangerous, and neither are you." He said with a shrug.

Running a shaky hand through my hair, I nodded.

After a few moments of silence, Patrick squeezed my shoulder.

"Want to get out of here?" He asked.

"That sounds exactly like what I need." I said.

"See, I knew you weren't going to class today." He nudged me again playfully.

I just chuckled in response as I got up from the bed and went over to the box from my house, pulling from it the picture of who I assumed were my parents. If we're going to skip class, we may as well do something productive. Although I wasn't sure questioning Henry would be productive, I had to try.

"We found something yesterday that I couldn't stop thinking about." I said as I pulled the photo of Henry and I from my wall collage.

First, I showed him the picture from my house. He looked at it curiously, and then back up at me as he studied our faces.

"You're thinking these are your parents?" he asked.

I nodded as I chewed my lower lip absent-mindedly.

He considered this for a moment, then nodded.

"I can see why you would think that. I can definitely see a resemblance." He said.

Then I handed him the picture of Henry and I. At first, he furrowed his brows in confusion. Then he looked at the two pictures side by side and his eyes widened when he understood.

"You think Henry is your father?" He asked.

"I mean, if you think about it, it makes total sense." I said defensively before adding, "He's the one who told me I should leave after the fire. He must have known about my powers and was worried Damien would say something to out me."

"Do you want to go talk to him?" He asked.

I hesitated. "Yes. No. I don't know." I said all at once.

"At least you'd get some answers." He said.

I nodded. After grabbing my coat, I headed to the door but paused in front of it.

What if I see Damien again?

As we began to walk out, Patrick slid his hand into mine and I looked up at him questioningly.

"Moral support." He shrugged.

Something told me I was going to need that moral support for this confrontation with Henry.
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Jess