The next Sophie woke up with puffy red eyes and Rain was looking the same, Kat thought they both fought but didn't say much. When it was time for breakfast they all sat together and as soon as Kat could start the discussion, Sophie said, "You look terrible." to Rain.
Rain smiled, "You too."
"Did you guys fought?" Oliver asked while eating a spoon fool of mashed potato.
"No."Both Rain and Sophie replied to which Kat laughed and Oliver chuckled.
After breakfast Rain asked Kat if she could go to her high school's library as she wanted more books and Kat said yes, Rain knew that Steven would follow her and she would be safe.
Sophie decided to stay in her room and research about shadow people, or people with power, or anything that would tell her more about Steven or her mom. She was sure Steven didn't lie as she was one of them too but she was also sure Steven wouldn't even tell the whole truth to them. So she will have to do her research.
The day went by smoothly, Rain got a bunch of books, as well as a text to meet at 1 Am while she was in the library and Sophie did research and after some time got bored. Kat did the chores, sent some emails for joining the work again, and then did gardening till noon with Sophie. While Oliver went to work and came back in the noon to find Rain reading in the hall and Sophie and Kat gardening.
Once inside and changed, Oliver came into the hall and asked Kat to come inside as they have to prepare.
"Prepare for what, dad?" Sophie asked. Oliver still was not used to hearing dad, he got goosebumps on his arm as soon as Sophie said dad and he folded his arms to hide that.
"The family dinner," Oliver replied smiling. While Kat's eyes got big, "oh my god Oli, I forgot about that." She replied.
"About what." Rain asked while putting her book on the shelf.
"The family meeting, Rain. Remember the dress I bought you for this?" Kat remarked.
While nodded, "yeah!" Rain replied.
"What's today's date?" Kat asked suddenly hyper now, to which Oliver came near her and put his hand around her and said, "Don't worry we still have 2 days to that, and it's just a simple meet-out daughters party. Not something to worry about."
"Yeah! We just need a new dress, food, and decoration." Sophie cheered and Rain chuckled.
"No Sow, we are wearing the dress we were supposed to wear." Rain said reminding.
Oliver and kat smiled, while Sophie put at rain who was standing in front of her in the hall while her arms crossed.
This is going to be fun, they both are the loveliest girl anyone could ever have, everyone would like them. I hope, Oliver thought.
I am done, how am I going to do all this in 2 days? How can I forget about this? Kat thought, while still watching rain and Sophie debating about dresses.
The whole noon went in a second, while Finns were sitting, discussing, and making a list of all the things that they might need on the day of the party. At near 11, the list was done and was on the dining table, while Rain and Kat were doing dishes and talking excitedly over the dinner party and Sophie and Oliver doing a fashion show in Sophie's room for what should Sophie wear that day.
The time went by, it was 1 and Rain was slowly stepping out in the chilly night air from inside the house in their backyard. She watched the tree, the swing, the shadows and saw no one.
"Looking for me," Came the voice from behind, terrified Rain turned and Smacked her hands over Steven's forehead," Ow, Tiger, why always fighting?" He groaned while rubbing his forehead.
Rain chuckled, "Don't scare me next time."
"Of course mam." Steven bows down dramatically.
Rain started walking toward the swing while she knew Steven would follow her.
"Would you cry today as well?" He asked while following her towards the tree. Already trying to pick fights with her.
"What kind of question is that."
Rain turned and hopped on the swing and started to gently move forwards and backward. Steven noticed, she looked calm, she saw her laughing and smiling just today with her new parents, they are treating the kids right, he smiled and leaned on the tree while looking at her.
"I…" Rain paused and looked up. "I might cry again, I tried to hold yesterday but you should know that this is hard for me, to know that there was a different world, that my mom was from there and that someone from that world killed her and someone from that world is saving us." She calmly stated.
"I know," He replied.
Rain looked at him, he was not that scary after all. He was just protecting us.
"What is your age." This sudden question made him surprised, after about a second he chuckled and answered. "4 years older than you.
"You Mean you are 19?"
He nodded, "Why?"
"just so… I wanted to know." She looked up again and blushed while hiding it in the darkness, perfectly.
"Time runs differently in my world," He stated without knowing what other thing to say. She was not sassy or witty today so it was hard for him to act like he usually did, she was making him feel weird with her calmness, maybe she could be an Em.M., an emotional manipulator, maybe she is involuntarily using her powers to make him feel weird, he thought.
She looked at him and asked, "Different? How?"
"Two years here are our one year there. That's why we can only visit here and are not supposed to stay more than 1 week." He was spitting too much information, Ace wouldn't be happy about this, but he is always controlled why is he now behaving like an insecure fool.
She was surprised by his sudden frankness but smiled, "That's why my mom left your world."
"Yeah!" He needs to start discussing what he came to discuss he thought, "I didn't saw any shadows around you today."
"Why do you call it a shadow?" Once again Rain asked and completely distracted Steven from the topic. He thought that she needs to know so he couldn't do anything but explain.
"Because, they are not supposed to exist, they are the shadows of people who are proven dead by the government."
"So they are like a zombie?"
"No, no…" he laughed, " They are real people but somehow they are registered as dead so we call them shadows."
It was the first time Rain watched him laugh and there was no denying that his laugh was pretty. He somehow looked like a wolf when he laughed, with his green hooded eyes, thick arched eyebrows, and the smile with perfect white teeth but his canines were larger than his other teeth and pointy too. Just like a wolf.
He was handsome and also scary. Her eyes met his and she looked up at the stars again blushing.
He is far older than you Rain what are you thinking, she thought to herself.
To not extend this awkward silence he started again, "He must be around here, but we can't see. You need to be alert always."
"How do you know it's he?" She asked," Also that he is alone?"
"First because I saw him while he was trying to drown you, second because he stopped acting whenever you are not alone."
"Ohh," she exclaimed. " Then that is good right?"
"No, unfortunately not, he is testing you and Sophie, he is trying to see your powers if you have any…" He paused as he heard the glass door slide open. With a fast motion, he ran into the shadows as Sophie steps out. Rain got up surprised and sat again on the swing while pretending to sing a song.
She looked at Sophie surprisingly, "Sow, hey. What…"
"Can you guys chat in the room or something? If someone is following us then he is not deaf or dumb, he is following us still and maybe hearing your chat too." Sophie said, yawning in the middle.
Rain and Steven were surprised and shocked, with a feeling of dumbfounded they froze as soon as Sophie said that. Steven slowly stepped out of the shadows and Sophie looked at him, "You need to be better at your job."
"By the way can I join too." She asked grinning towards her sister who looked at Steven and they both chuckled and nodded.
It was already nearing 2 Am, Rain saw and decided to end it here and said, "You can join us next time, let us sleep for today."
After bidding good night to Steven both the sisters went inside while holding hands, Steven looked back at them before crawling through space and smiled, they both are one of a kind, and that little devil is smart.