First Draft

Fiona's POV

I stumbled back to the kitchen chair, sat down hard, and threw myself on the table as sobs wracked my body. Before long, I felt a hand rubbing my back in circular motions. I turned my face to find little Kyra looking at me with pity etched on her face.

"I take it you know the truth about your father," she whispered and took the seat next to me, reaching for my hand.

"Yes," I answered through hiccups, sitting up and wiping my tear-stained face. She looked like a miniature version of her brothers with lighter, curly long hair.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Fiona. I wouldn't have believed a bad word about my father from strangers, either."

"Kyra..." Rowan growled.

"What?" she asked, throwing him a grimace over her shoulder.

"There's more to it," he told her.

"Yeah, I heard from the hallway. Why don't you and Rian go do whatever it is, you must regarding this situation and leave me with Fiona? She doesn't need your scorn right now. We are going to take Kat a tray of food and see if we can get her to come around."

"That's a good idea," Rian stated.

"It is," Rowan agreed. "Just be careful what you say, especially around Kat. They could go home and tell everything to that murdering thug, Quinn and you know how dangerous he is!"

I couldn't believe my ears. After the way my father spoke to me on the phone, Rowan still thought I was the enemy. I'd proven I knew nothing of my father's devious deeds, and he still didn't trust me. I wanted to curse Rowan and scream until he apologized, but I felt defeated. He didn't seem like the type to apologize, anyway.

"Whatever..." Kyra ventured and rolled her eyes like a normal fifteen-year-old. It was hard for me to grasp that she was a werewolf, too.

I watched Rowan follow Rian from the room and wondered at the emptiness I felt inside in his absence. I should hate him, yet I yearned for him to return and say or do something kind to me.

My thoughts were clear since Kyra piped up and said, "Ignore my brother. He doesn't mean it. Ever since our dad died, he's been an uptight wanker."

My eyes widened at her profanity, and she giggled. "Well, it's the truth, but he has a lot of stress and responsibility now that he's the alpha. Let's go see if we can rouse your friend."

We gathered a tray of food and headed to check in on Kat. I couldn't help wondering why my so-called father only cared about her and not me. That Kat knew Father's dirty secrets crossed my mind, but I dismissed it as crazy. There was no way she knew. Kat wouldn't keep something like that from me. We were too close and told each other everything.

I followed Kyra through the house, into the bedroom where Kat still slept. "Thank you," I told her as she set the tray on the table by the bed. "I appreciated your kindness more than you know. I'm distraught by everything I've learned and can't believe all that's happened in less than twenty-four hours. Yesterday, my life was normal. I was nursing a bruised heart from a break-up, but otherwise, I was happy. Kat talked me into going out for girl's night, ya know, to cheer me up." I sighed. "Now look at me."

"It's a lot for you. I understand even though I'm young. I lost my father and your father is holding my best friend somewhere. So, I know about heartache and loss." Kyra glared at her hands, avoiding my gaze.

The bloody bastard! "Oh, sweetie. I'm so sorry and promise to do everything in my power to help bring your friend and... people home. I'm not sure what to call them. This is all so foreign to me." I approached with tentative steps and held my arms open. Without hesitation, Kyra allowed me to hug her, and we sat on the bed.

Wiping her tears away, she asked, "Have you heard of the Creatures of Primordial?"

I shook my head. "No. Should I have?"

"Well, no, but I thought because of your father and all..."

"Honestly, I never knew that side of him," I told her.

Kyra nodded and said, "I know, and most humans believe they are the only species on Earth. I know some people believe in aliens or ghosts but the majority think Mother Earth comprises just humans..."

"And it's obvious to me now that's not the case," I said with a raised brow and a cheeky grin.

Kyra giggled and continued. "Primordial means from the beginning. We have been here since Earth's creation, walking among you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and asked, "When you say 'we', what do you mean? I know about vampires and werewolves now." Clearing my throat, I gave her a pointed look.

She shrugged. "There's too many to list, but witches, warlocks, fairies, goblins, and gremlins, to name a few, since you know about us and vampires. It depends on what region of the world you live in with some races. There are a lot of werewolves, vampires, witches, and fairies here. I've never seen gremlins, goblins, or vampires, but my brothers keep me on a tight leash."

"It's because they love you," I said. "So, you've seen a proper witch?" My eyes widened like plates, expecting her answer. I liked the idea of seeing a witch-a nice one, of course. I always loved watching The Wizard of Oz as a child.

"Oh, yeah. Rowan has a friend who's a witch. I think she's pretty cool, but Rian doesn't like her." Kyra lifted her shoulders and let them drop. "She's badass!"

"Rian not liking someone is hard to imagine," I declared with furrowed brows. "I love the good witch, Glinda, in The Wizard of Oz. As a girl, I wanted to be her." I laughed at the absurdity of my statement.

"Well, she's not Rowan's friend. More like an acquaintance since all this unpleasant business with the Sexflex drug. It's affecting all the supernatural races, and she has offered to help. It's not normal for werewolves and witches to get along. Oh, and sirens!" she exclaimed. "I've never seen one, but I would love to. Rowan says they are very dangerous."

"Sirens?" I questioned. "You mean mermaids... Do they exist, too?"

"Yes! I think it would be so cool to be a mermaid. Don't You?"

A loud groan from Kat gained our attention, and I jumped from the bed. "Kitty Kat," I whispered, standing over her. I felt guilty that her breakfast and tea were cold by now. "Kyra, please bring her some fresh food and tea, or heat this? I fear we got carried away talking."

"What's all this about witches and mermaids and where the hell am I?" Kat asked, trying to raise herself on her elbows.

"Thank God you're awake and fine," I cried out as relief washed through me.

Kat fell back against the pillows, grabbing her head. "Shhh," she whispered. "I'm not fine. I feel like I'm going to die."

"You were drugged," Kyra told her. "And-"

"And you're fine now," I interrupted, for fear of what Kyra would tell her. I knew Kat needed to know everything, but she wasn't coherent enough at the moment.

"I'll give you guys some time and go fetch Kat some fresh breakfast and tea." Kyra grabbed the tray and winked at me.

"Coffee, please," Kat said. "Sweet and creamy, and can I also have some water?"

"Of course, and I'll be back in a flash."

"Thank you, Kyra." I helped Kat sit up and propped some pillows under her back.

"Where the fuck are we? And did you hook up?" Kat asked with widened eyes.

"It's a long, unbelievable story and no, I did not hook up! I was too busy fearing for your life. I'm so pissed off at you, Katrina!"

She looked taken aback with her mouth hanging open and her hand over her chest. Kat wasn't used to me yelling at her or calling her by her birth name. However, a confused look replaced the shock, and she asked, "Where's my necklace?"

Oh, boy... Well, there was no time like the present. "What's the last thing you remember?" I asked while she stared down inside her dress and threw off the covers, looking for the silver chain. "Calm down, Kat! It's not there. It's... gone."

"No! Oh, God. Oh, God. What will I do? He will kill me! This will be my third strike. He will kill me this time," she sobbed.

"Who? My father?" I asked. "It's just a silly necklace, Kat. If you're that worried, I'll give you mine." Alarm bells were ringing in my head. What did she mean? 'He will kill me this time,' sounded literal.

"Yours is different and he'll know!" she yelled and jumped from the bed, pacing the room.

"No, it's not. Our necklaces are identical," I told her, trying to calm her down.

"They are not the same! You don't understand, Fiona!"

"Then help me understand, Kat!"

"Oh, how I wish I could," she whispered and sat on the foot of the bed, her face covered with tears and red splotches of color. "Your father... he's not the man you think he is. I've already said too much." She placed her hands over her face and cried like a baby.

"My father isn't just a scientist. I know everything, Kat. He's a bloody monster. A villain straight out of a horror story. But if you knew he was a killer and a hunter, why have you kept it from me?" I asked, keeping my tone gentle.

"A killer... a hunter?" Kat lifted her confused gaze, meeting mine. "What are you talking about?"

I slapped my forehead in frustration. "What are you talking about? You just said he would kill you for losing a necklace." I sighed and sat down beside her. "Tell me what you meant by that, Kat. It's imperative that I know because we are in a hell of a mess!"

"I can't." Kat shook her head and scooted away from me up on the bed. Her body trembled all over.

"You must," I shouted and stood. "Lives depend on it, Kat. I'm sorry if you fear him, but it's not just about you now!"

She looked at me and took an angry swipe at the tears on her face. "So it's fine if he kills me the next time he does experiments on me? You're okay with that?"

My mind was whirling as my stomach churned. I stood stock still and felt the color drain from my face. I didn't know what to say or do.

"What's going on in here?" Rowan asked from the door, with Kyra beside him holding a fresh breakfast tray.

***

My goodness! Things are getting hectic and scary. Poor Kat! Please vote and comment if you enjoyed the chapter and story so far. It really keeps me writing to hear from you guys or know you're reading

Lisa xxxooo.