“But...”
“No buts,”he said firmly.
They both stared at him with full, poutinglipsand pleading green eyes as they lifted damp, light blond hair and held it out. “The light isn’t as good,” Vicky protested.
“Victoria, there are other people that needthe bathroom. Go ahead Jack,” Isabelle’smother saidgently.
“Heyshouldn’t yourkidsgo first!” Ian protested instantly. “We’re filthy too!”
Jack was gone in a blur of motion before Ian even could finish his sentence. “Damn I have to learn how to do that,” Aiden said in awe. Isabelle flashed past him, pulling his hairas she moved. “Ow! You witch! That wasn’t fair!”
Isabelle laughedhappily as she returned to her spot on the counter. She had finally managed to master that particular power last year, when she had reached maturity. It aggravated the hell out of her brother’s that she could do it, and they couldn’t. She loved to use it on them. “What about us?” Abby demanded.
Her mother took a deep breath as she bit into her lip and closed her eyes. Her father wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest. “Use the bathroom in the basement,” hetold them. Thetwinssighed angrily before turning and stomping down the stairs. “You really want more?”
Her mother laughed softly as she shook her head.“Not for a long time.”
“Good,” her father said on a sigh of breath.
Isabelle watched as her parents grew quiet, and then her mother burst out laughing and hit her father playfully. She had long ago adjusted to the silent conversations they had with each other. Conversations that always left them smiling. Sometimes, when she watched them, she wondered what it would be like to meet someone that would make her that happy, but more often than not the idea frightened the hell out of her.
She couldn’t imagine needing someone so much that she would die withoutthem;it terrified her to even think about it.Itwas the main reason that she kept herself locked away, she was scared to death that she would accidentally stumble across the person that she couldn’t live without. That was the last thing she ever wanted to have happen to her.
She would gladly stay here for the rest of her existence before she gave up her heart, her soul, and her freedomto someone else. Her parents couldn’tbearto be apart for long periods of time, and when they were apart, they were in constant communication with each other’sminds. She knew that their love was rare, and precious, and something wonderful.But to never be able to part with someone was something that she didn’t even want to contemplate, let alone experience.
“So how are things goingwith the house?” her mom asked.
“They’re going,” Ethan answeredtiredly.
A knock on the front door snapped all of their heads around. “Whocouldthatbe?” Aiden pondered.
“Probably some of the material I ordered for the new house, it was supposed to come today,” her mom answered. She untangled herself from her father, headed swiftly past the fridge, and down the stairs to the front door.
“I’ll go help her,” Isabelle said.
She couldn’t wait to get her hands on the new material, and start planning exactly what they were going to do with it. It had to be the paint that they had ordered, or maybe the kitchen cabinets. She was beginning to really smile with anticipation when her father suddenly stiffened. His eyes flashed a vibrant red, before he was gone. They stood silently for a moment, gaping at each other, before turning and running toward the front door.
CHAPTER 3
By the time they reached the front door, her mother and father were outside, kneeling over a woman. Isabelle skidded to a halt, her eyes widening at the sight of the middle aged womanon the groundbetween them. “Kathleen!” Ethan gasped.
Isabelle’s mouth dropped open as she gaped in surprise. “What happened?” Aiden demanded.
Her mother looked up at him, unshed tears in her wide violet blue eyes. “She fainted,” she whispered.
“Mom! Mom!” It was then that Isabelle noticed the young girl kneeling over Kathleen, lightly tapping her facein an attempt to wake her.
“Who is that?” Aideninsisted.
“Kathleen,” Isabelle answeredabsently, horrified by the scene before her.
“Who?” Ian askedin confusion.
She sighed impatiently as she rolled her eyes at them. If it didn’t have to do with a girl, or blood, they paid no attention to anything.“Mom’s friend from college!” she snapped impatiently.
“Oh,” he said dully. “Oh shit!” He exclaimed more loudly when thefullrealization sank in.
“Liam, get her up, we’ll take her inside,”her mother ordered briskly
