Richard sat shocked and perplexed by his sister's actions. He hadn't expected what just happened, and still sat in place looking at her while waiting for an answer which never came. He didn't know how it felt being in someone's shadows, so he couldn't say he knew how she felt. She could be angry, depressed or just void of emotions at the moment
If she was mad about it, then he didn't really mind her taking out her anger on him. All he wanted was for her to be happy again. And if him staying away from her brought her happiness, then he would gladly do so. He didn't want his bond with his sister falling apart because of their parents mistakes. They were twins and if they didn't look out for each other, then no one will.
Aside from Rachel's absurd reaction to his touch, Richard had noticed something else about her. He wasn't sure, but there had been this wave of darkness and pure evil that had hit him the instant they touched bodies. It was faint and almost undetectable, but he noticed it. It had disappeared almost at the same time and that was why he couldn't be sure he actually felt or noticed anything. The presence disappeared just as fast as it appeared and had left him curious and confused.
He decided to ignore it. They were sorcerers and things like this weren't particularly new to him. He had decided to go with the option that it was Rachel's negative emotions that he had sensed. Even though what he had felt was completely different, and he doubted such an aura could belong to a human. Richard decided not to point fingers at her sister.
The aura he had sensed resembled that of a demon. But since they weren't any present, Richard ignored the sensation and concluded them to be Rachel's emotions seeping into her aura.
If that was really how she felt, then this family had really broken her.
Rachel hadn't intended to make the push disrespectful, or make it look like she was angry. She had pushed him away because she felt like she was about losing control. She had no idea what would happen if the evil side of her took over. It was best she kept her brother away.
She could already see the shock in his eyes, and she was sorry that she couldn't tell him what was happening. She was almost positive that Richard would detest her now. But he had reacted on the contrary. The shock in his eyes were replaced with one of compassion and empathy and she couldn't just hold back her tears.
She allowed her emotions flow and her tears likewise, before managing to fully cage her monster and keep it silent. She threw her body into her brothers embrace and wept into his arms. She was sorry for being selfish and taking out her anger on him when it wasn't really his fault. She had hurt him emotionally and probably mentally. But he still chose to love her no matter her mistakes and actions. He was the best thing that she could ask for at the moment.
A perfect brother and the best comforter.
She withdrew from the embrace and wiped her tears before the both of them chuckled at her childishness. She didn't care if she behaved infantile. What she only cared about at the moment was her brother, and the creature that she still felt loitering inside of her. As soon as she was done with Richard, the first thing she was going to do was drink water and hydrate, before she would proceed to handling whatever it was that had taken root inside her.
Richard was once again awestruck and at the same time happy and relieved. He hadn't expected his sister to burst into tears like she did. She was literally one of the strongest people he knew, and seeing her break like she did was completely shocking and overwhelming.
He was happy and relieved that she was at least back to her senses and he could tell that her gloomy phase definitely ended with the tears she shed. He didn't know the future but he sincerely hoped things went back to normal and remained that way. They didn't really talk much, but seeing her happy and vibrant, made his heart leap. And he was more than satisfied with that.
He had managed to solve one problem, but another one still remained. School. He had no idea on how to tell his parents what had happened without looking stupid, and without being scolded. There was no escaping from his punishment, and the best he could do was face it head on.
He just hoped he didn't receive any extra punishment from his parents, he had already suffered enough just from thinking about how to tell them about everything.
Rachel was already aware of her brother's involvement in the building's collapse back in school, but she hadn't said a word about it. She had already saved him enough from troubles that he had created for himself. But this time around, she wasn't going to flick a finger about it. In fact she was going to pretend like she wasn't aware of anything.
Using magic publicly was a big no no. And trying to help him in anyway would only get her dragged into the problem. She already had much on her plate, and didn't need another extra set of headache. The migraines she had suffered over the past few weeks were more than just enough for her.
Evening soon came and their parents had returned from wherever it was they had disappeared to. They listened to all that Richard had to say, and they had acted the exact opposite of how they were meant to. It was almost as if they had already been informed beforehand and only nodded to his story and words. He almost found it hard to believe that it was his parents sitting in front of him, but their looks and actions afterwards confirmed it was them.
Everything felt odd to Richard. But as long as this oddness made things go in his favour, then they should continue this way. Whatever or whoever that had made his parents act like they did should keep it up. As long as it didn't cause them harm, or bring any troubles to them, then he was more than happy with them this way.
*
*
Rachel stayed up in her room trying to bring forth whatever it was that inhabited her. But the being remained adamant. She could feel it inside of her, but the creature had refused to speak or even make it's presence known. She had tried exorcism spells, but trying to exorcise herself wasn't particularly easy as she had expected, especially when she wasn't ordained to perform exorcisms.
All the while Richard spoke to their parents, she had locked herself up trying to make this being appear. But it wasn't yielding. Something was missing somewhere and that was the last piece that she needed to make it appear.
An idea struck her brain, "hatred and anger" she almost shouted. Those were the key things she was lacking and she knew they were the right and final pieces. This being had showed up when her hatred and rage towards her family was at it's peak. And ever since then, it had fed off of her anger and hatred and had grown stronger as days went by. But now that had gotten rid of that hatred and that anger, the beings presence was slowly dwindling and it wouldn't be long before it was gone.
Whatever it was, it needed to stay. This being amplified her hatred and rage by ten fold, and she bet it could do the same for her powers. She was weak and there was no getting around that fact. This was the only way she could catch up to her brother and meet up with the Hardwood legacy. The Hardwood's were never weak and she wasn't planning on being the first.
She stayed calm and concentrated on all the negative emotions and memories that she had. The only way this being was going to manifest was if she reached her peak once again, so she wasn't going to stop until she did so.
She could feel it more than ever, her blood was boiling and her entire body was hot and shaking. It was there in her and it was stronger than ever. It's voice was louder than ever in her head and it almost felt like they were one.
Rachel went from being a complete embodiment of evil, to the most cheerful being, trapping the being for a moment with the sudden fluctuation in her emotions. Without wasting time, she performed a separation spell on herself and right before her eyes she saw it.
It was obvious, this was a demon. It was a lesser demon, but the it was clear that it was powerful in its own way.
"Who and What are you?"