NEVADA

I was about to open my bedroom door when it burst open, nearly hitting me in the face. Luckily my reflexes had improved during my training sessions and I was able to jump out of the way in time. I was about to snap at whoever had come barging into my room when I saw the look on Nova's face. 

"What's wrong?" I asked, feeling myself instinctively go in alert.

"We need leave. Now!" Nova replied in a panicked as he grabbed my hand.

"Nova, tell me what's wrong?!" I demanded as I let him drag me towards the stairs.

"I can't stay here any longer. I have to go; I have to get away from here." He answered taking the steps two at a time.

"Where? Nova, slow down!" I cried, nearly tripping in his haste.

"Nev, I can't!"

We reached the bottom of the stairs and flew towards the living room, my mind racing as I tried to figure out what was going on. Footsteps pounded on the stairs behind us and I turned my head to look over my shoulder.

"Nova! Wait!" Hatter called, his tone pleasing and his eyes full of pain.

Nova ignored him as he drug me along behind him, headed in the direction of the garage. He yanked a set of keys off the hook by the door and pressed a button on the key fob. The lights on a black sedan blinked, flashing in the darkness of the garage. Nova released my hand and slid into the driver's seat, immediately starting the engine and waiting for the door to open.

He looked at me expectantly, ignoring Hatter's presence altogether as he stood in the doorway looking crestfallen. I knew it probably wasn't a good idea for us to go out on our own, not yet anyway, but there was no way I letting him go along. Nova was my best friend and my half brother, I couldn't leave him alone deal with whatever had caused this impulsive behavior. 

With one last look at Hatter, I climbed in the car. Nova didn't waste any time speeding backwards out of the garage and into the gravel drive and taking off. Gravel pinged off the side of the vehicle as he sped away from August's home, dust quickly clouding behind us.

Night had fallen, the sliver of a moon not allowing much natural light to penetrate the thick trees overhead. I remained quiet, not wanting to distract Nova while he tore through the dark countryside. This was unlike him, his feelings rolling off of him in waves so confusing I struggled to decipher them.

Whatever it was, I was almost glad it had happened. The tension in that house had been nearly suffocating. I had no idea how to deal with the sudden appearance of my birth parents or my instant connection with Alana despite the pain she had caused me. I couldn't face August, not after everything that had happened between us on top of the chaotic events of today.

How could I? What do you say to someone that had their head between your legs one minute, gone the next, and then shows up after days with your long lost parents? That's not normal behavior for a person, even a vampire as far as I knew. 

I pulled myself away from my thoughts when I felt the vibration of the car smooth out as we turned out onto the highway. I bit my lip, unsure of how to approach the situation without upsetting Nova even more. Finally, I took a deep breath and just jumped in.

"So… Do you plan on telling me what happened back there?" I ask cautiously. "And don't bother saying 'nothing' because I'm not an idiot."

Nova heaved a deep sigh but said nothing. He was quiet for so long I wasn't sure he was even going to answer. I was about to let it drop until I heard his voice quiet yet loud in the silence of the car.

"I nearly killed Hatter and then we kissed," he said, his tone unreadable.

Well, I wasn't expecting that… 

"What do you mean?" I asked in surprise. "How did you almost kill Hatter?"

"Exactly what it sounds like, Nevada." He replied in exasperation. "I lost my cool and snapped. He ended up catching the hit and if it hadn't been for Alana stopping me I probably would have killed him."

I gaped at Nova, shocked at his loss of control and lashing out at someone like that. It wasn't like him. I closed my mouth and looked out the window, thinking over everything that we had been through lately. It was no wonder Nova had lost it, not after the things that had happened and the sudden appearance of his, our, father. He had been through a lot, as had I. It could have easily been me.

"It's okay, Nova. No one got hurt," I told him quietly as I kept my eyes trained on the darkness of the night. "Everyone has a breaking point, even you. Even me. It could have been worse."

Nova didn't say anything and I assumed it was because part of him knew I was right. I understood his guilt over hurting Hatter, or anyone undeserving of such treatment, but it hadn't been intentional. Whatever had happened, I didn't believe that Nova would ever attack someone without cause.

If the look on Hatter's face as we were leaving was any indication, I didn't think that he blamed Nova either. That notion shifted my thoughts to the other part of Nova's confession. I rolled the thought around in my head for several minutes. Finally, I turned my head to look at Nova, his profile illuminated pale green by the dash lights. 

"You kissed Hatter?"

"Yes," Nova answered through clenched teeth. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked hesitantly, feeling as if I already knew the answer.

"No, not really," he answered tightly. Then his shoulders slumped and he let out a heavy sigh. "Sorry, Nev, just not right now."

I nodded. I didn't want to talk about August either so I decided not to push. Instead, I changed the subject.

"Well, at least tell me where we are going."

"Michael's," was all the reply I got.

"Michael? As in the guy you've been sexting that bought you those rainbow shoes?"

"Yep."

I waited for further explanation but after a few minutes of tense silence I gave up. His emotions were still all over the place, leaving my own energy going haywire along with my mind. I felt jittery and off balance, more than usual because of the lack of space in the small car.

Sighing in defeat, I switched on the radio and browsed the channels. Finally landing on a rock station, I leaned back in my seat and let my eyelids drift close. I had a feeling it was going to be a long ride.

●●●●

"Nevada, wake up. We're here," Nova said as he gently shook me awake.

I peeled my eyes open and looked around. It was still dark outside, the moon still visible in the sky. Looking at the surroundings, I could tell we were in some type of suburb; the houses moderately size and well spaced, the paved streets quiet and lined evenly with street lamps. We were parked in the driveway of a red brick home with white shutters and blue front door.

Slowly, I dragged myself from the car and joined Nova at the front of it just as a porch light flicked on in our faces. Light spilled out into the manicured lawn as the front door burst open and a young man came darting out. Magick hit me like a gust of wind, knocking me momentarily off balance as he approached, his handsome face split into a wide grin.

"Nova? You're here!" The man said happily with a slight accent I couldn't place while grabbing Nova's hand and thumping him on the back. "I wasn't expecting you. Was I?"

Nova chuckled, "No, it was an unplanned excursion. I hope you don't mind?"

"No, no, of course not. You know you're always welcome here," the man said, shaking his head. He finally seemed to realize I was standing there awkwardly during their reunion. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Michael."

I took his outstretched hand, shaking it lightly with a nervous smile.

"Nevada."

"Oh, you're Nevada… " Michael said in a tone of slight wonder. 

"Hate to cut the introduction short but can we go in?" Nova interrupted, glancing around nervously. "I'd like to keep our presence unknown."

"Yeah, sure. Come in, come in."

We followed him inside, the house cool compared to warm summer air a relief to my clammy skin. The sense of magick grew stronger either every step I took, making me wonder what kind of supernatural being he was. Michael led us to the living room and offered us something to drink which we each declined politely. After a few moments of awkward silence, Michael spoke up.

"Let's get this out of the way," he began, leaning forward with his elbows propped on his knees, "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this isn't a social visit."

"Not exactly, no," Nova answered, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's complicated."

Michael nodded as if he had expected as much. I decided to let Nova handle the situation since he was the reason we had left in the first place. Not that I was particularly disappointed or missed being stuck in that house, but it had been him that had dragged us out and brought us here. 

I didn't even know Michael, other than his name and what he looked like naked. I felt my cheeks flame at the memory of the text that Nova had received, Michael in all his birthday suit glory. Another piece of memory sparked in my mind of the same incident and mixed with what had happened between Nova and Hatter that had prompted our running away, it solidified my suspicions. 

So, Hatter was turned on by Nova's abrasiveness… 

"It always is complicated with you, isn't it?" Michael teased but I detected a hint of sadness in his eyes despite the playful tone. "So, I guess you'll both be staying for a bit?"

"We don't want to be a nuisance," Nova replied, trying not to sound hopeful.

"You know better than that, Dumont. Come on, I'll show you to the guest room," Michael replied as he stood and made his way towards the hall. "And don't worry, it has a trundle bed so you don't have to share if you don't want to."

As we followed him down the hall, I couldn't help but notice the confidence he held in his posture. I could feel power coming from him, but in a subtle way as if he was projecting it intentionally but rather it was just a natural occurrence, like the scent of a rose. Nova seemed to know him and to trust him, but after all the lies that had been told even before we had learned the truth of things, it was hard for me to trust anyone.

"It's not much but it'll work," Michael explained as he opened the door at the end of the hall, "but it has its own bathroom."

"Thank you, it's great." Nova replied absentmindedly as he took a seat on the bed.

It was a decent sized room with a full size trundle bed, two night stands, and a dresser with a mirror attached. The light blue walls sported dark blue trim with matching curtains over the large windows; simple yet welcoming. 

"Do you want to grab your things from your car?" Michael asked as he helped set up the trundle bed for us.

"Kind of left in a hurry so no bags. Just us," Nova shrugged, not looking at anyone. 

Michael studied him for a moment as if he wanted to ask more, but after a few seconds he went to the door. Turning back, he gave us a smile. 

"I'm glad you thought of me then," he said with a meaningful look at Nova. "I'll leave you two be, you seem exhausted."

"Thanks, Michael," I said just before he closed the door.

"You're welcome, happy to help." He said, his accent giving his voice a melodic tone. 

After Michael left the room, Nova and I finished making the beds in silence, each of us too exhausted to say much. With mumbled goodnights, we crawled into our respective beds. I was asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

●●●●

After a restless night's sleep full of dreams I couldn't quite remember, I finally woke to the sun peeking through the curtains as it danced across my closed lids. I rolled over in an attempt to fall back asleep but the smell of bacon wafted towards me from somewhere. Cracking open my eyes I was met with the sight of an unfamiliar room, the previous day's events flooding back into my mind. With an irritated groan, I sat up and rubbed my face before dragging myself to the bathroom. 

Finishing my business I washed my hands and went back into Michael's guest room and saw that Nova was nowhere to be seen. Yawning despite having washed my face to wake myself up, I trudged down the hall towards the smell of the bacon as it called my name.

I found Nova perched on a stool at the island with a cup of coffee in his hands and a disgruntled look on his face as he glared down at it.

"Remind me not to do whatever the coffee did," I told him as I took a seat on the stool beside him.

"He's Mr. Grouchy Ass this morning," Michael chimed in from the front of the stove where strips of bacon sizzled.

"No, just thinking," Nova muttered, taking a drink of his coffee. 

"Why won't you just tell me what's going on? Maybe I can help," Michael sighed as he tended to the bacon.

"There's nothing you can do, Mike. Just let it go, " Nova spoke the words as if he had already said them more than once already.

"You might be surprised, you know. All you have to do is ask," he smirked and he placed the platter of crisp bacon in front of us.

"What is it you think you could do?" I ask skeptically although I was secretly curious about Michael and his abilities. 

"Don't worry your pretty head, Princess." He answered causing me to choke on my bacon. "I'm quite gifted."

I gaped at him, his calling me,'princess' leaving me unnerved and a chill running down my spine. 

Is it possible he knows who we are?

"Of course I know who you are," Michael answered my thoughts casually as if I had spoken aloud. "I'm a warlock, love. I know many, many things and can do even more, some that would give you nightmares."

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A/N: I know this chapter is a bit shorter than normal but it's 1:30am and I'm exhausted.

My 1yo got shots today and hasn't been feeling the greatest so unfortunately I didn't get to work on this like I had hoped.

I hope you guys enjoyed it all the same! Let me know what you think!

I'm exhausted so there may be errors. Happily point them out, I don't mind!😊

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~SM~