Chapter Thirty Eight

It's wakes me from my sleep. It feels like a heartbeat ran throughout my entire body, awakening something. I push myself up and breathe, unevenly. My heart pounds wildly. Something stirs from within and it's uncomfortable.

I tumble out my bed as I clutch my throat. I can't breathe. My lungs begs for air but no matter how hard I try to suck air in, the pleading doesn't stop. It feels like I'm drowning and the water won't ease up.

What's happening? I think to myself.

I fall to my knees still unable to breathe. My vision blurs in and out. I see a figure climb over the balcony and race my way. Maybe Ramadi did manage to get past the gates and the guardians. Maybe this was him doing this to me.

The figure bent down to my level and pulls me against them, holding me. I recognize the smell and the familiar sparks that always seems to travel through my body whenever he touches me.

Hayes. I think, trying but failing to look up at him.

"You're going to be alright, Boo." He promise me. "It'll pass soon."

The feeling of suffocating seems to last for hours but really it's only minutes before it dies down. Once it does, I cough repeatedly. I fill my lungs with much needed oxygen. Hayes doesn't say anything but rub my back, soothingly.

I glance at him. "What was that? What happened?"

"Once it hit midnight, the transformation started."

I frown. "Transformation?"

He nods. "You transformed into the siren."

I'm still confuse. "I thought I was already the siren."

"You are. Before you're powers were locked inside of you until your eighteenth birthday arrived to unleash them." He explains.

"Why was I suffocating?"

"Being connected with the moon means you control the waters and the animals." He says. "That part of the transformation is necessary because no matter where you are, water will always be with you."

I remember months ago when Abe told Lily and I about our powers. Of course be left out the most important part of all: the transformation.

"Did everyone go through this?"

"More or less."

"What's that suppose to mean?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"It means not everyone went through it. Jarlyn and Zarana it didn't happen to them but it went on to the next seer and siren."

"So it pretty much skips around."

He nods. "Pretty much." He repeats. He studies me, carefully. "Are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah I will be." I tell him, standing up. He follows.

He frowns and just as I'm about to ask him what's wrong, he presses on his earpiece.

"Okay. I'm on my way."

He drops his arms and looks at me. "I can't stay I have go."

I nod my head. "It's fine. Go."

I'm about to crawl into my bed when Hayes spins me around. I come face to face to him. There's barely two inches separating us. I can see a small smirk tugging on his lips.

He pulls me in a kiss. "Happy Birthday, Boo." He mutters against my lips.

I smile as I lean back. "I would say 'Thank you' but I'm not allow to."

Hayes looks like he wants to say something but someone on the other side of his earpiece stops him. He groans as he rolls his eyes.

"I'm coming!" He says.

"You better get going before I get you trouble."

"If you're the reason why I'm getting in trouble, I don't care."

He kisses me one more time before leaving and I crawl back into my bed.

Hours later, I wake up again but instead of it being of a transformation, it's my alarm. I turn it off and lay in my bed for a few minutes before I push myself to get up.

I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and splash water on my face. I put on my uniform and look in the mirror. I was about to add make up to face but I decide against it because Lou is coming later on today and I know she can do a way better job than I could.

Hayes arrives and he kept smiling on the way to school.

"What?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Nothing."

"Oh there's something. What did you do?"

"You're going to have to wait and find out." He grins.

I pout. "No fair."

I see Lily up a head and I take off running. I crash into her.

"Happy Birthday, Twin." I tell her.

She smiles. "Happy Birthday." She says, returning the hug.

I look at her remembering what happened last night. "How did your transformation go?"

"It was literally Hell. My whole body was on fire. It felt like I was burning alive. You?"

Lily's the seer and the Sun so of course she would feel a burning pain. Fire was spreading through her.

"I drowned." I tell her.

Throughout the day Lily and I got a lot of birthday wishes. But of course Guardian Lynn couldn't be a normal person and just tell us 'Happy Birthday' like everyone else did. No, he couldn't do that, instead he gave us eighteen birthday swats plus one more to grow on.

I mean I'm already sore as it is but now I can't feel my butt. I'm walking into my last class and my butt is still numb.

"I'm so excited for the party!" Sophie squeals.

"Me too." I tell her, sitting down carefully.

Lucas smiles. "Your butt still hurts."

I glare at him. "Not funny."

He shrugs. "I think it is." He says, sitting down beside me.

Mr. Dean gives us a free day and I talk to Lucas and Sophie until class ended. Heading back to the dorms, Lily keeps glaring at Sophie. I know they don't like each other very much but they haven't spoke to each other in a long time. I wonder why Lily is staring at her.

"Hey." I say to her, concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"Because you're shooting daggers at Sophie."

She shrugs. "I have a bad feeling that's all, don't worry about it."

I frown. "Bad feeling? Why?"

"I don't trust her that's why." Lily says.

She doesn't give me a chance to respond back before she runs up the stairs.

Sophie looks at me. "What's wrong with her?"

I shake my head. "I don't know."

"Oh well." She says. "I have this amazing dress for tonight I really hope you like it."

I smile at her. "I'm sure I will."

I head to my room and I pester Hayes.

"Are you going to tell me what you did now?"

He grins. "Nope. Not yet."

"Then when?"

"Soon." He promises.

We make it to my room and I give Hayes a quick kiss before walking inside.

An hour later, Lou arrives carrying my outfit and her make up kit.

"Princess Millian!" She exclaims, smiling. "Happy Birthday!"

"Hey Lou and thank you."

Before she gets started, I take my shower as usual and when I come out she all ready to get me beautified.

She begins with my make up and like always she says I don't need alot of it because I'm already beautiful. She moves on to my hair. I tell her I don't want anything extreme and she agrees it. She just straightens my wavy hair.

Finally we get to the dress. I pray it's not too much or tight like last time. My prays are answers because Lou unzips the black bag inside of it is my red simple above the knee dress.

I put it on along with the black leather jacket it came with. Lou finishes the outfit with black heels.

"Thank you, Lou." I tell her. "Your work never cease to amaze me."

"Your welcome." She smiles. "I know you hate when I go out the way so I decide since it's your birthday, I'd stay in the box. And" She adds. "I did it because I don't want Hayes to murder anyone tonight."

I frown. "What are you talking about?"

"Halloween Bash ring a bell?"

I shake my head. "No."

She shakes her head in disbelief. "Sweetie are you really that blind? Hayes was killing every guy with his eyes because they were staring at you."

"I didn't know that."

"I did it so Hayes can realize what he was losing. And guess what? It worked. I mean going out with Kyle was a bonus too."

As soon as she mention Kyle, I suddenly feel sad and guilty. It isn't like I don't see him during school, because I do and I feel really horrible. He's like a ghost walking the hallways. He doesn't smile or laugh anymore and that hurts me. I know I shouldn't have cheated on him but I couldn't help. I'm meant to be with Hayes whether Kyle knows that or not.

I'm bring out my thoughts when there's a knock on the door. Lou opens it to reveal a smirking Hayes.

"Why look at you." Lou says. "It feels like I haven't seen you in ages."

"Hi Lou." Hayes says giving her hug.

Hayes looks at me and doesn't stop looking at me. I grin.

"You look beautiful, Millie."

"Don't I always?" I joke.

"I wouldn't say always..." He trails, smiling.

I punch him lightly on his arm and he chuckles.

"Do you have my present?" I ask.

"Be patient."

I cross my arms. "You should know by now I don't have patience."

"Then I guess you're going to start right now." He says and I narrow my eyes.

"Jerk."

Lou laughs. "Just like old times."

We leave and I remember I'm wearing heels. I brought a coat but not flats to walk to the school.

"Relax." Hayes tells me. "We're not walking."

I don't know how he knew I was thinking about walking but I don't care because I didn't have to walk at all. He brought the SUV with him.

I smile. "Thank you so much. I wouldn't have made it in these shoes."

He opens the door for me and I climb in. To my surprise, Lily is in here.

"Took you long enough." She says, smiling.

"Sorry. I was-"

"Making out with your hot boyfriend." She interrupts me. "We know."

"We weren't making out." I tell her.

She rolls her eyes, playfully. "Mhm sure."

I decide to let it go and I take in her outfit. Lily likes simplicity like me too so her outfit is an all black spaghetti strap above knee dress. Underneath her dress she has on see through legging and on top of her naturally straight but now wavy hair is a black hat.

"I like your outfit." We say at the same time then we begin to laugh.

We reach the school and there's already groups of people heading inside. Reid opens the door for me and helps me out while Hayes does the same for Lily.

I notice Hayes is standing a little closer to me than normally and his grey eyes scans everything. Everyone is on edge because they fear Ramadi will attack tonight.

I step inside the gym, well I can't call it a gym anymore. Lou might be my stylist but she knows how to decorate and plan a party. My favorite color is blue and Lily is yellow like the sun and Lou intertwine the colors beautifully.

I wish I can describe every detail about the room but I can't. There's too much to describe. All I can say Lou's hard work didn't go to waste.

Laura and Daniella spots us and they rush up to us, grinning.

"This place is amazing." Laura says. "And your outfits are incredible."

"I agree." Daniella says, nodding her head.

"Thank you." Lily says.

We engage in a converastion until I catch Hayes staring intensely in one particular spot from the corner of me eye.

I follow his gaze and once my eyes catch watch his looking at, my jaw drops.

"Millie what are you staring" Daniella starts but when she see what I'm looking at she stop. "At?" She finish.

"Is..is the who I think it is?" Laura asks in don't believe what I'm seeing voice.

"Uh huh." Lily nods her head. "It's Sophie."

She's right but the girl I'm looking at doesn't look like Sophie. She has on a skin tight white short dress and high gold heels that brought the little gold on her dress out. But that's not the only problem, her boobs are pushing right out of her dress.

She throws her red hair behind her shoulders as she laughs. It's not a surprise she caught the attention of a group of guys.

I understand why Hayes is staring at her because he went into overprotective brother mode.

Sophie can feel us staring at her so she turns her head in our direction. She smiles and tells the guys something before heading our way.

"Hey guys!" She says cheerfully.

Hayes narrows his eyes. "What the hell do you have on?"

She looks down at her outfit. "Oh this. Nothing." She waves it off.

"It sure as hell doesn't look like nothing." Hayes says.

Sophie grins. "Hayes you have nothing to worry about. I know you're trying to be a big brother but there's no need for it."

I know Hayes wants to say something but I motion for him not to. Sophie walks away to her group of friends and the party begins.

Hayes keeps watching Sophie as she dances. Guys after guys fights for her attention but I notice one specifically catches her attention. She doesn't try to walk away instead they begin to talk.

I don't know how I'm suppose to feel watching my friend talk to my ex. Was I even suppose to feel something?

"I told you I didn't trust her." Lily says and I look at her.

"Why?"

"Something is off about her." Is all she says.

Abe arrives and I smile, brightly. He actually showed up. I run to hug him and Lily follows.

"Dad you came." I state.

"Of course I did. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

I wait a little longer before I decide it's time to give Lily her gift. I walk onto the stage.

"Excuse me, everyone. Can I have your attention?" The room dies down and I continue. "First of all I would like to say thank you for coming. It means so much to me and my sister. Secondly, I would like to dedicate this song to my twin sister, Lily."

I find Lily standing in the back with our father and she's smiling.

I grip the mic as I begin to sing.

If you're the sun then I'm the moon
If you're the words then I'm the tune
Yeah
If you're the heart then I'm the beat
Somehow together we're complete
Yeah

As I'm singing, Lily points behind me and I glance over my shoulder. A smile crawls across my face as I see what Lily's gift to me is. Somehow without me even knowing, she got a sideshow going on. It's pictures of us together. I don't know how she got them but I happy she did. Plus it goes perfectly with the song.

There are times when my world is crumbling
And the rain is crashing down
But wherever you are the sun comes out

Even when you're gone I feel you close
You'll always be the one I love the most
You're in my heart and on my mind
You are underneath my skin
And anywhere anytime that you need anything
Count me in

Abe mentioned before that Lily and I share a bond and I didn't know at first but now I feel it, I can feel her. I want Lily to know no matter what the situation is, she can always lean on me.

I don't need to say a word, no
Cause you know when I'm happy and when I'm hurt
We're close as pages in a book
Cause you make me feel better with just one look

Even when you're gone I feel you close
You'll always be the one I love the most
You're in my heart and on my mind
You are underneath my skin
And anywhere anytime that you need anything

Count me in
Count me in...

I finish the song and Lily is smiling hugely as everyone claps. I head off the stage and went to give Lily a hug.

"Thank you. I love it." She says.

"And thank you for all those amazing pictures." I tell her. "How did you do it?"

"I'm the seer, remember? It comes natural to me."

I nod my head. "When I asked what you were working on weeks ago, you were doing weren't you?"

She grins. "Guilty."

"Girls." Abe says and we look at him. "I have a gift to give you."

He gesture for one of his guardians to come forward. He does and he's holding two long skinny black boxes in each hands, carefully.

"I wasn't going to them to you girls until after graduation." He starts. "but I figure I kept you guys apart for awhile now." He opens one of the boxes and my eyes widen.

It's the necklaces. The same ones from Lily's drawing. The ones Monica and Nathan wanted. And Abe is about to give them to us.

"Happy Birthday, girls." He says, placing my moon crescent necklace around my neck.

As soon as it touches my skin, I feel powerful, more powerful than ever. And once he places Lily's sun on her, it grows even more.

Separated we're in danger. Together we're unbeatable.

Lily and I exchange glances and I feel a rush of energy surge through but the only problem is, isn't not coming for me. It comes from Lily.