FAMILY TREE
CHAPTER TEN

It was a mystery how she could walk so quickly when her entire body was shaking in fear, so terribly it could have been mistaken for a seizure. Though Dani's heart felt like it could explode and her eyes were watering to the point that she couldn't see a thing through the blur  Her aching legs continued to carry her through the uneven terrain, even despite her fears of what else could be hiding within the maze of green. The calls of Nick, who was racing behind her did nothing to slow her down– his words were completely incoherent to her. Blocked out by the thumping of her heart and the ceaseless repetitions of the very same thoughts that banged around the insides of her brain. She thought that following her dad into the woods would give her answers, but all she got out of the horror she had witnessed was more interminable questions that would keep her up at night.

"Where are you going?" His words had made their way through one of Dani's ears and directly out of the other; her mind was just too troubled and occupied to process them. "Daniella!"

She continued to walk at a speed that someone as unathletic as her shouldn't have been able to go. It was as though her racing thoughts and heartbeat were powering her body to move just as quick. Her one clear thought was that she had to go home to get an explanation from her brother and dad– this time verbally rather than visually. All the observations she'd made so far had only confused her further.

"Hey, hey, hey, slow down!" Nick's tall figure hopped in front of the panicked girl, blocking her from moving any further.

"Move, Nick!" She hissed. "I need to be home before my dad gets there so I can talk to him before he disappears again to do more insane stuff!" As she spoke, it began hitting her that all those times her dad had gone to work late at night may have been for the very same reason he went outside today.

"You're not thinking straight," Nick reasoned. He tried to make eye contact with her but she was too busy staring over Nick's shoulder at her house in the distance. Just seeing her dad's car already sitting in the driveway made her pick at her fingernails and want to run to her house. She felt like there was a burning fuse on her; that any second, she'd blow.

"Of course I'm not thinking straight! I just witnessed my dad and brother calling some supernatural creature in Latin like it was nothing– like it was so easy and normal," she exclaimed, wiping her sweaty forehead with the sleeve of her long sleeve shirt. "And the fact that you're not at all surprised or worried by what we just saw is freaking me out even more. Just go home, Nick. Don't try to stop me."

He looked taken aback– much more than when they had seen the smokey creature in the woods. Just the thought of Nick not even looking the slightest bit bothered by what they had seen was worrying to Dani, but she pushed it to the back of her head and focused on more pressing matters; her dad and brother.

"You know I'm not going to try and stop you." The raven-haired boy sighed and Dani was starting to notice that Nick looked almost as exhausted as she felt. "But I'm not going to leave you alone after that either. You go talk to them and I'll wait outside for you, okay?"

Forcing a small smile, she nodded. With Nick's hand reassuringly pressed against the small of Dani's back, they began walking again, but this time relatively slower. Slow enough for Dani to see clearly in front of her and be able to actually perceive the questions in her head regarding her family and that abnormal ritual they had performed. She just wished that there was less secrecy than explanations. Not that Dani wanted to be involved in the insanity that her brother and dad were doing, but she couldn't help but wonder why Calum, who was only a few years older than her, was involved, but not her. She also found herself wondering somewhere in the very back of her head whether things would be like they are now if her mother were still alive. Maybe her dad wouldn't be so protective and secretive toward her. Maybe they'd be less miserable and they wouldn't have had to move around so much.

Before another upsetting idea could make its way into her mind, Dani and Nick were stood by a bush near the porch steps. She glanced at Nick for some sort of solace before she went in for answers, and knowingly, Nick nodded with a small, genuine smile. She let out a long breath before making her way toward the wooden door and shakily opening it with her house key.

"Where the hell were you, Dani? Do you know how worried I was to come home and find you're not here?" She wasn't expecting to be bombarded with a frustrated and worried voice throwing tons of angry questions at her, so when she was greeted by her dad's worried face and fuming voice, she helplessly stood still. Her arms hung tiredly by her sides and her shoulders were slumped as she listened to her father yelling at her. Calum was stood beside him, a similar concerned look plastered across his face, but seemingly more sympathetic in the way his eyebrows weren't as angrily furrowed as their dad's.

"Were you with that Spellman or Scratch?" he continued, his arms folded sternly across his chest. Dani said nothing. "I can't believe you, Dani. I told you I want you home after school. No going out for now unless its with me or your brother.

"Technically, I was with both of you." Her laugh was evidently fake, eyes still pooled with tears. It was ironic, Dani thought. She had snuck out, but her brother and dad had been with her the entire time, so it wasn't exactly sneaking out, was it? She was just so angry with them and even herself for involving herself in all of this. Had she not been so nosy, she wouldn't have seen that frightening thing and she wouldn't be in this situation right now. She could have been having fun at the carnival with Nick.

"I'm not done, Dani. It only had to be a few weeks that you didn't go out with your friends. Is it so hard to listen to a simple request?"

"Dad..." Calum, eyes darting between his father and sister, reached a hand over their dad's shoulder and coaxed him to calm down. His sister's glossy eyes and pursed lips was enough for him to want to hearten her and make sure she was okay. He turned to Dani and nodded, "what were you saying, kiddo?"

"I want to know what the hell that was in the woods," she stated bluntly, "and why you had anything to do with it."

"What?" Calum's eyes were wide and his lips were parted.

"Nick and I saw you and dad in the woods!"

"That's impossible, Dani. I was at work and Calum was at his university. And hold on, you left home so you could be with Nicholas Scratch? Was Spellman there too? I don't want you around them anymore."

"Don't try to change the subject. And it's not impossible, Dad! Calum was reading a book in a different language– one of the books from your office..." she trailed, beginning to pace back and forth as she recapped everything. It replayed in her head like she was seeing it all over again– just as scary and dark and cold as it had been the first time she had seen it.

"Dani..."

"Then this creature... it just showed up out of nowhere and then you said something else in Latin and it vanished!" she continued, freezing in place and looking back at her family with wide eyes. "You have to tell me what the hell all of that was! Please, Dad, I can't deal with lies anymore."

After the stunned look in his expanded eyes faded, Matthew's face masked a look of worry. Dani knew better than to think it was true. Why couldn't he be honest and just tell her the truth? She knew her dad cared for her so incredibly much and that was probably what influenced all the secrecy, but she just wished that they could live normal lives where he wasn't always so protective and such a dictator. "I think you need to get some rest, honey," he patronized, beginning to approaching her.

"Enough, Dad! She's not blind. She saw us doing the exorcism." This time is was Calum who spoke with a raised voice. The angry and panicked rising and falling of her chest began to slow upon realizing that her brother was on her side now, that hopefully, she was going to be told the truth.

"Exorcism?" Dani was too drawn by what Calum had said to even pay attention to their father who had surprisingly surrendered and leaned against the wall behind him.

"What you saw was a summoning spell and an exorcism for demons." It was shocking how straightforward Calum was being. Though Dani didn't entirely understand, she stayed silent, being at a loss for words anyways, and allowed her brother to continue. She was finally getting answers that had been so difficult to receive, so she wasn't about to interrupt Calum while he was finally explaining things to her. "That's what witch hunters..." he paused and thought for a moment before correcting himself, "well, demon hunters... do."

"So... you're demon hunters?" She mumbled as she staggered backwards slightly, dumbfounded by what her brother's revelation. Had she not seen that inhuman creature, she would have believed he was lying and making up some sick, unnecessary story, but she had seen what she now learned was a demon, and as much as she wanted to believe this was just some sick lie, she couldn't. Dani watched as her brother nodded before glancing at their dad for some sort of assurance or support, but the only thing he did was shake his head and look to the floor in disappointment. The girl couldn't stop herself from feeling a tad bit guilty for putting Calum in this situation, but she needed this explanation and nothing was going to change that. "A-and what about... what about when you said 'witch hunters'?"

"Before being demon hunters, our ancestors used to be witch hunters. Back then, witches were seen as dark, evil spirits, but as time went on, hunters... I mean, most hunters– including our ancestors, decided that there were darker, more dangerous things than witches. That's why we only hunt demons now."

Although completely and utterly awestruck with lips gaped and eyes wider than ever, Dani was able to find the words to say, "are there witches here?"

"That's enough," their dad demanded, stepping between the two siblings.

"But I'm not done," Dani said, her voice pleading as her eyebrows pointed up. 

"There's nothing left to say," Matthew declared, the strict tone hardening with his eyes.

"One more thing, Dad, please," she entreated, her hands playing with the hem of her shirt. Matthew sighed and nodded in acceptance. "What about mom? Was she a hunter too?" It would make sense if she had been a hunter; it would explain why Sabrina's aunts had behaved so strangely around her. The words came out of Dani's mouth tentatively, though, like she was afraid. Truthfully, she was beyond terrified for the answer. Once all the words passed her lips, she started to regret ever asking the question. What if her mom had died hunting?

The look of despair on Matthew's face when the question met his ears– arms dropping from his chest to his sides and the emptiness in his eyes, that were usually full of expression and emotion– rose more anxiety in Dani than all the other times she had been nervous combined. She stepped forward, looking between her dad and brother. The way they stood still and expressionless made it seem like they had just seen a ghost, which she was sure they probably had at some point in their lives.

"Dad?" Her voice was shaky now and tears sprung into her eyes before she even asked her next question. "Did mom really die in a car crash?" The tears that sprung into her father's eyes was enough of an answer for Dani. The tears that had obediently remained in her eyes now fell one by one and even though her mother being dead was no secret, she felt her heart sink so low that she almost felt bile rising up her esophagus.

"Dani..." Consequent to when her father tried to approach her and pull her into a hug, she stepped back, tripping over her feet. Matthew held a broken and wan expression that was almost identical to the one on Dani's face and while she knew that it clearly wasn't easy for him to keep so much from her, she still backed away and rejected his open arms. "We'll figure this out, okay? Come here."

She shook her head, feeling the weight of the entire world crash down onto her tired, weak shoulders. She felt like a boulder made up of all the lies she had been told, the memory of the terrifying beast they had seen today and the thoughts in her head that continued to get wilder and scarier was sitting on her chest, preventing her from breathing properly. It was like with every breath she took, the next would be harder to inhale– just like the time almost a year ago she got trapped in the attic and couldn't handle its tightness. Except this was so much different. This was all the truths and the lies, mixing themselves in Dani's brain to form a blend of complete confusion, like the disgusting smoothie Calum had made days ago but real.

She gasped when her back softly bumped against the cold, hard door but twisted on the knob anyway and pulled it open.

"Daniella, please," her dad called out but she continued to ignore him and stormed out of the house. "Dani-" She slammed the door behind her.

Wiping her wet eyes with the back of her hands, Dani scurried down the porch steps to Nick who waited patiently exactly where she had left him with a smile on his face. The fresh tear stains on her cheeks and the mess that was her hair ensued Nick to hurry in Dani's direction, the upward curving of his lips immediately dropping. "Hey... hey, what happened?" He gripped onto her shoulders with both hands to acquire eye contact with the crying girl.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she muttered, wiping her eyes again.

"Try me."

"My family hunt witches or demons or something... I don't know." She sniffled, staring down at her hands that she had clenched into fists so much they were hurting. "I can't believe them! They've just been lying to me for so many years... sixteen freaking years! That's my whole life, Nick. I'm sixteen!" Enraged, she threw her hands up and huffed. Nick opened his mouth to speak but before he could say anything, Dani continued to ramble, blindly staring at her shoes through teary eyes. "And my mom... oh my gosh, my mom. Now I know why Hilda was being so crazy. They must have known my mom and known she was a hunter and that she was killed by a witch-demon thing. Do you think Sabrina's ancestors were hunters too? No, there's no way... And my dad even said that he doesn't want me hanging around you or Sabrina or the others anymore and I seriously don't get why!

"Dani-"

"Sorry, I bet you think I'm crazy. I don't blame you; even I think I'm crazy. My entire family is freaking crazy..."

"Dani." Nick's voice was gentle, just like his hand as he seized her by the wrist, pulling her against him. She was expecting to stare Nick in the eyes. To tell him that nothing he said would change her mind about her and her family being crazy. Instead, she met with his chest as his arms wrapped tightly around her, like a chain that locked them together. His body, pressed tightly against hers, radiating a warmth that Dani hadn't experienced in a long time– it was a cozy, homey feeling that she longed and that she hadn't yet felt in the months she had been living in Greendale. "Just calm down, alright?"

Daniella inhaled deeply, allowing herself to sink into his embrace, absorbing simultaneous feeling of a gentle duvet being wrapped around her, providing her with all the comfort she could ever want, and a protective human shield that guarded her from the cold of the night and all the fears that surrounded her. Simply Nick's strong arms being wrapped around her frail body and his soft chin being pressed against her head was enough for the world around Dani to melt away as her own arms found their way around his back. She wanted to hold on tight and never let go of the safety and security Nicholas provided her. She almost did when Nick began to pull away.

"You're not crazy," Nicholas whispered after the two pulled away from one another. He wiped away a tear on Dani's cheek that had not yet melted into another stain of sadness on her cheek, and smiled softly as he said, "but I think that if you keep stressing yourself out about this stuff you may just go crazy." She bobbed her head slowly and pursed her lips, pulling a lock of her hair behind her ear. Nicholas picked up both her hands and knelt down slightly to level with her height as he looked at her in her tired, brown eyes. "What do you say we go on our date now to have some fun and get your mind off this stuff? Sabrina and Harry and her other friends are probably still waiting for us."

She nodded in agreement, a small but realer smile visiting her face as Nick held his arm out for Dani to link her arm with as they began to walk down the dark street. Thanks to Nick and his charmingly clever ways, most of the things that had been bugging her were pushed aside enough that the two of them could walk to the carnival in peace. There were still a few things that refused to let themselves go unnoticed in Dani's brain.

"Nick?" Dani began, chewing on the inside of her cheek while she thought. "You wouldn't lie to me like everyone else has, right?" Nick shook his head and although it did comfort Dani, her stomach still wouldn't settle. "Promise?" It took a few seconds for Nick to respond, but when he finally did, Dani felt secure– like she had at least one person she could always trust.

"I promise."

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→ author's note

ahhh so dani has just found out a LOT but little does she know her beloved nicholas scratch and sabrina spellman are hiding something huge too.

what did you guys think of this chapter? let me know in the comments! i hope you enjoyed!