Takabi pulled up in front of St. Heathers, putting the black 2008 Honda Civic in park. He looked at Shine in the passenger seat, then Frannie in the back seat.
He didn't exactly know what he could say to clear the awkward air. He debated a simple "Have a good day", but it sounded too strange coming from him.
Shine on the other hand, looked at Frannie and simply told her, "See you inside."
The girl looked between her friend and Takabi, then nodded and got out of the car, closing the door and melting into the pool of students hurrying into the school building. With a sigh, Shine faced her brother. "Thanks for the ride."
He looked at her, shaking his thoughts. "Oh. Yeah. No problem."
She smiled softly, but didn't get out. She was waiting for him to say something, and he couldn't figure out what.
A full minute passed in silence until Shine coughed into her fist. "So.. I have something I've been waiting to talk to you about." He didn't respond verbally. Instead, he let go of the wheel and leaned back in his seat. "I want to learn how to use magic too."
Takabi wasn't exactly surprised, but he still replied, "Why?"
"Well," She mulled over her thoughts, giggling mischievously. "I think it would be cool to do. I could do anything. Maybe cause some problems here and there. Or I could put some real power behind my spikes!"
"No." He said simply.
"Oh, I'm kidding! Don't be so serious."
"Magic isn't a joke, Shine." He sat up. "It's not a toy to play with."
"Still, you can do more than just fight bad guys with it, right? Maybe be a magician."
"Shine, listen. I don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but you need to understand our powers aren't a joke. If we're not careful, people can, and will, die." His tone was dark. His knuckles turned white when he gripped the wheel and sat back up.
Shine's smile faded, and she took a serious tone herself. "You think I'd be that reckless? Really? I can control my body and emotions just fine, so why wouldn't magic be the same?"
He took a deep breath, and shook his head. "We'll talk later about this alright? I have things to do."
Shine folded her arms. "Geez. Learn to loosen up. Not like you killed anyone with your powers." She opened the door and got out, continuing, "And if you trained me, it'd be fine. I'm not a little kid. We both grew up separately, and matured differently."
When the door shut, Shine slung her back over her shoulder and began to walk towards the school. Takabi watched her, frustratedly running his hand through his hair.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Answering, he hit the video call option and Kairas' face popped up on the screen as he started the engine. "What?"
"Hurry back. I'm tired of waiting for you. Oh, and bring back some burritos."
"You want burritos… At Eight in the morning?"
"I don't hear you saying no. Make sure they have extra sour cream too."
Rolling his eyes, Takabi pulled out of the school driveway. Heading down the road, he said, "Do you think we can start training Shine?"
Kairas raised his eyebrow. "Is that an actual question? I mean, I don't see why not."
"I just… I don't want her to be like us. To lose control of herself, lose her innocence." He turned the corner and swallowed the lump forming in his throat. "We're stained in blood. For good reason or not, we're killers, Kai. I don't want her to have to deal with death."
Kairas was quiet for a moment. Lying back on his bed, he touched his chin with his free hand, thoughts rolling around in his head. "I see what you mean. You and I both took innocent and non innocent lives. We're not saints, and we've been through a lot so far."
Takabi pulled into a Taco Bell drive-thru, stopping behind a couple cars before him.
"We're supposed to be protecting her though. Best way would be teaching her how to fight, if I had to guess. Let's run it by Garuga."
Takabi nodded, stepping on the gas and moving up a car as the line did. "Did Raia leave her room yet?"
"Nope. Today is looking like one of those days. She's alive though, so that's good." Kairas sat up, the sound of his door opening behind the camera. He nodded, saying, "I gotta go. Remember, extra sour cream!" The call ended and Takabi laughed.
Kairas was a child when it came to burritos. Takabi was thankful for that. It made them both feel more human.
Like normal, human, eighteen year old boys.
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The hours passed in a blur.
Shine's stomach was in knots for most of the time, going from nausea to extreme hunger in wild swings. Her body temperature rose and fell, from around one hundred degrees down to ten. During the transitions to class, she would spend most of her time in the bathroom by the toilet. Not how she would imagine most of her day, but she couldn't help it.
She knew it wasn't her time of the month. That was usually preceded by intense cramps and a heavy craving for chocolate.
A knock came to her stall door. Frannie's voice followed it softly, a worry lingering in the air. "Hey. You okay?"
Shine groaned loudly, standing and opening the door slowly. Her eyes peeked out from the other side, a faint cloud lurking in her violet orbs. "Hey. Can I go home?"
"Is it that bad," Frannie asked, Shine opening the door and stepping out.
She made her way to the sink, turning on the faucet and splashing water on her face. The liquid eased some of the heat in her skull, but only for a moment. It came back stronger, more intense.
Lifting her gaze up, her face quickly turned pale at the figure behind her. It had her shape, her face, but with such intensely dark skin. Pitch black, with glowing violet eyes, and wild hair down her back. Wings that reached out beyond the walls of the bathroom, and it emit a strong dark aura.
Fear. It sent intense fear down Shine's spine.
She knew the face. She knew who that was supposed to be, yet for whatever reason, she rejected it. It merely smiled at her, reading her thoughts, fading away, shaping into Frannie's concerned face. "Shine?"
"Huh," She asked. "Sorry. Something on my mind. I'm okay though." Her voice was distant, but she did feel better. The sweat quickly faded, and she buttoned her blouse. "Let's go get lunch."
"I brought some from home." Frannie replied.
When she reached into her bag, the bathroom lights shut off. Shine looked around the darkness, pulling her phone from her bra and turning the screen on. Frannie had a look of fright but tried to keep herself stern.
The blonde had been declining in confidence lately, and Shine was sure that this wasn't helping.
"What happened? Power surge?"
Shine remained silent.
Is it? Her breathing grew more and more hitched.
She wanted to think so, but there was something itching in the back of her brain. She felt someone coming. They were coming for her. The more she thought about it, she bit her lip, and felt her heart ramming against her ribs.
The bathroom door opened and shut. The lack of light made it impossible to see who came in. Footsteps pat quickly against the floor. Shine felt a breath against the back of her neck and she froze in place. Something tall hunched over her in the darkness.
"Shine… I'm scared. What's going on?" Frannie asked her.
She didn't respond. She didn't release her breath. She kept completely, utterly still, shivering faintly at the feeling of a tongue brushing against the back of her neck, followed by a voice that made both girls die of terror inside.
"Miss your big brother, Shine?"