"Secrets are funny
They could make you grow
Or fall."
-E. E. B
EMA's pov
"We should make a library here.", Astra said as we all exploder the rest of house. "We already have a lot of books in Zack's and my room. We could all bring our favorite books here and make one big library. Oh, and we should buy bunch of them too!"
I glanced at him. He was more alive than before because Connor took him for a swim somewhere on beach.
"Can you just imagine having personal library?" he continued, tugging on Zack's hand for attention.
"We'll make a library then.", Zack said looking proudly at his boyfriend.
Or better, fiancé.
"Who proposed to who?" I asked. it could be Zack because he seemed to be more dominant, but it could also be Astra because of his eagerness.
"It was Zack!" Astra answered. "On playground when we were eleven. He stole one of grandfathers rings and proposed to me. Thankfully his grandfather wasn���t angry and even found it sweet.", Astra giggled and reached for his necklace with ring tied to it. "Later grandfather took ring back and bought us matching rings that could fit on our hands. They are too little for us now, but we carry them around neck."
Zack doesn't show a lot of emotions. All I saw was his emotionless face, once anger and a lot of love and possessiveness for Astra. Somehow all he shows is for Astra, but now he looked at us with love. All of us. I didn't understand why was he looking at us like that or what was going through his head, but it made me feel warm in chest.
"Nobody will ever harm any of you.", he promised suddenly.
No.
All air left my chest and my head started to hurt.
I fell on my knees and saw everyone run to me. But they can't help me. The pain in my head was getting stronger and stronger.
Please take it away.
And I just slipped into another vision.
My head was still hurting, but it was better. I was on a field and, far away from me, stood a man. I couldn't recognize his face from this distance. I noticed that in this vision I had more control over myself then in other. Man walked towards me whispering something, but I couldn't hear.
He is not my enemy. I felt that.
So I walked towards him too until I heard his words. Suddenly someone else appeared behind him. Was that… Astra? And Zack? What was happening? Why are they here?
"Ema!"
No, I can't wake up now. I didn't hear what they were saying.
"Ema! Please!"
I felt my eyes open just to see my pretty soulmate. He brought me in his hands and sobbed. No… don't cry love.
"You fucking idiot never do that again, understood? I'll be super mad if you do. I- I can't take this fear.", he said through tears, holding me closer. "Promise me."
"I don't have any control over it.", I said to him and hugged him back. Behind Connor was Yuko, Malia and Fran. "Where are Zack and Astra?" I asked.
"They went to get you some water.", Connor said and slowly let go of me.
"I saw them. In my vision."
"What?" I heard Malia say. She looked frightened. "What did you see?"
"They were saying something, but I couldn't hear them. They were too far away."
Malia turned to Fran. She looked more scared than before. This was the first time I saw her scared. She usually looked so collected and calm. "That can't be good.", she whispered to us. Fran hugged her and petted her hair.
"You saw future. In your vision. That only means…no.", she said.
That must be wrong. Zack and Astra don't die. Why would they die?
"What happened here?" Astra asked as he walked into the room. I looked at Malia and Fran. We secretly promised each other not to say a word.
"Ema had another vision of apocalypse.", Yuko lied for me. Well for all of us. "She should rest some more. Connor, darling, take her home. We'll visit her soon there."
Connor nodded and helped me to get into one shadow of room. We disappeared form or home and appeared back in Croatia, in my room. It was around 5 in the afternoon here. There I collapsed on my bed and opened my arms so Connor knows he is welcome in them. He smiled and hugged me. I know my sudden unconsciousness was painful to him, but I couldn't help to feel happy that he cared for me. I was glad he loved me so much to even cry for me.
Because I would cry for him too.
"I should call my dad and tell him I'm home.", I said to Connor and he reached my phone for me. It was strange how little I used my phone now that I met my new family. Just being with them was fun enough.
14 missed calls from Luka?
Jesus, I'm so dead.
I let go of Connor and decided to check is Luka home. Connor noticed it and disappeared.
"Luka?" I asked as I walked into kitchen. "Are you home?" I came to door of his room and knocked. I heard something move quickly inside and door suddenly opened just to reveal my angry brother.
"Where were you?" he asked me before anything. Why was he even so mad?
"Hello to you too. My day was good, glad you asked.", I answered and decided to go back to my room. This is only going to end in a bigger fight and I didn't want that.
"I called every single person you could sleep over at and all of them had no idea where were you. Ema, I'm going to ask you once again before talking to dad about it. Where were you?"
He looked even angrier than before. But can I tell him? He is my brother. If anyone can understand, it's Luka.
"Just… there are more powers and I found them."
"What?" he said and pulled my hand. "You can't be serious."
"Didn't you think too how I can't be the only one with powers. Well there is seven of us.", I said, trying to fight his hold on my hand but it didn't work.
"I'm telling dad. He needs to know and you are not allowed to leave your room again. I can't believe I trusted you every single time you left home."
I don't know when was the last time I cried in front of my brother. Probably when mom died. I just never wanted to be seen as weak in front of him. I wanted brother to be proud of me. We did become closer with my powers. I showed him what I can do and look where it got us.
Tears started to drip from my eyes and my heart broke. Luka didn't understand. He could never.
"Please don't tell dad. Please Luka. Just listen to me. There is so much of it.", I tried to calm him down.
"You will not hand out with some freaks. And that's final."
"Freaks? I'm the same as them!" I said, now angry. How can he be so cruel?
"Right, you are. Powers aren't normal and so aren't your… friends. Dad and I will find you a good doctor and get rid of them."
I couldn't take it anymore. My heart was aching so much. Why is he like this?
"Go to your room.", he said and I just couldn't move my legs. He turned to me and saw me not moving. "Didn't you hear me? Go to your damn room. Now!"
Then he pushed me. I fell to the floor and sobbed even stronger. It's over now. Luka wants to fix me, even if I'm not really broken. He sees me as a freak.
Dad is going to hate me too.
I… I can't move. I can't talk.
He saw me sobbing on floor and guilt washed over his face, but he didn't let that change his mind. He went back to his room, waiting for dad to come home. I took few minutes to collect myself and walk into my room. There Yuko and Connor already waited for me.
They will always wait for me.
I fell into Connor's hands. He held me as I cried. I can't imagine how hard it was for him just to sit and listen to Luka and I argue. Yuko sat me down on my bed and gave me a tissue.
"You are safe now, dear.", Yuko said through link so Luka couldn't hear. I couldn't stop shaking. "We'll ask Malia to make you fall asleep. Everything will be better after some sleep, okay?"
I couldn't answer, but in few seconds I felt my muscles relax and sleep come to me. Yuko and Connor sat next to me and talked about something between themselves.
I can't leave everything behind. I have other friends and school and my dad. I can never just leave.
So where I belong? Do belong anywhere? I can't leave this place…
Or? Can I?
I woke up with pain in my chest. I grew up in this room yet it felt so unfamiliar. Like I don't belong here. I knew why my chest hurt. Because my real family was far away. Our bond was getting stronger and it started to hurt even more to be away from them.
I decided to leave my room and face dad. Luka probably told him everything when he returned from work yesterday. It was so early now and I stood in front of my mirror. My eyes were puffy and red, my head was aching, chest hurting and my heart was just standing broken. Can I do this?
I put on a t-shirt and jeans. Just dressing up seemed so hard to go. I wanted to go back to bed so badly.
I saw dad in kitchen. He was humming and drinking coffee. Did Luka even tell him?
"Hey dad.", I greeted him and he turned to me with a smile that instantly fell when he saw me.
"What happened kiddo? Did you cry?" he asked and set down his coffee.
"I… had a bad dream.", I said and hugged him. I see him so rarely these days. He is always working or I'm far away in England. Or Japan. Or Italy.
Then I heard Luka's door open. He stepped in kitchen and sat down.
"Dad we need to talk.", he said. I knew there was no fighting it. It needs to be done. Dad looked at Luka's serious expression and sat down across him. "Ema should stay home more. She is never home nowadays."
What? He didn't talk about powers?
"Luka you aren't home either.", dad said, defending me. "All day you are away with your girlfriend. Not to mention how many times you promised to take your sister out and diched you for Katie."
I watched Luka as he tried to say something, but didn't.
"Dad… I don't know who is she out with. She could be with some freaks!" he said and my heart ached even stronger.
���I think your sister is able to choose good people to be around. Maybe you just didn't meet them well enough.", dad said and started to get ready for work. Luka glanced at me.
He saw the mess I was and knew he was the one that did it. I think that is the reason he is keeping my secret even though he doesn't like it.
We watched dad leave and I headed to my room, but Luka stopped me.
"Sir down.", he said and pointed at chair across him. "We didn't finish talking."
I sincerely didn't want to talk to him anymore and just go back home to cuddle room and stay whole day, but I still did as he asked me to.
"Don't look at me like I'm some kind of a criminal. All of this is creeping me out. Just… try to explain it to me.", he said and I felt a little of hope in me.
"Do you know who Prometheus was? And Greek gods?" I asked him, looking at my lap.
"Yes, so?"
"Well they existed. And Prometheus killed them all, took their powers and gave it to us. I got power of hallucination.", I told him. "There is seven of us walking on this Earth with powers from Prometheus. And we are all connected with a bond. And…and I have a soulmate."
"Did you drink something?" he asked me. "What are you saying?"
I continued. "His name is Connor and he is my soulmate. He has power of darkness and can move through shadows. Every day he takes us all to his home and we hang out there. Luka…it hurts to be far away from them because of a bond.", I said and he stared at me.
He got up and started pacing around kitchen.
"I know it's a lot! But it's true. You can even meet them!"
"Go to your room and stay there.", he said quietly.
"-but"
"Go to your fucking room Ema.", he said loudly and I ran there.
I miss my brother and how we were.
I miss him loving my powers.