Author's Note: 

Hello my loyal readers. I'm not sure if you are aware, but as a means of celebrating the 5th month anniversary of the launch of the Haven High Series, I've decided to start a contest that celebrates all things Fantasy. So if you have a urban fantasy/paranormal book please enter it. Even if you don't, and know know a few enthusiasts of this genre, please pass it on. I'd love to have lots of people enter. And if you'd like to judge the awards. I'm going to need all the help I can get. So don't forget spread the word. *hugs* 

When he met up with Travis at the terminal and he'd cocked an eyebrow at his scant attire Kyle quickly said, "don't ask," before they boarder the number 12 for home.

He was cold, tired, and frustrated beyond belief at his fucked up life. Just two days ago his brother was in a coma, his parents didn't even know he was at death's door, the council that had swore to protect their world proved once again that they would sell them out in a heartbeat, and now a kid he was spending all his extra time on was hell bent on making his life a living hell. SO excuse him all to fuck if he was having a little FML moment.

He sat arms folded over his chest shivering in frustration and fear. Damn Jonah! He made him want to cry and scream at the same time. He was lost in thought when he felt his brothers zip up hoody fall across his shoulders.

He looked up to see his concerned face and he just sagged in his seat in response. He told him everything then. The cockamamie way he'd handled things tonight and the result. The confrontation with the admin and the scattered remains of his work, the only thing he left out was the missing weapon.

When he'd finished he actually felt a little better for the telling of it.

"Shit Bro that really sucks! Is there anything I can do? "

"Nah Dude. What's done is done. Just gotta let the chips fall where they may, you know?" Kyle shrugged off the hurt.

And he was hurt by Jonah. After everything he'd done for him, to have him just turn on him like a viper. The saddest part though, was the knowing why he did it, because he was him just a few short years ago. He would have done the same thing.

He'd totally had a 'let the world burn' attitude back then. And that might be the only reason he'll finally get through to Jonah.

The remainder of the ride home he listened to Travis tell him all about his day. The bus was pretty empty and they were by themselves at the back so Travis felt comfortable enough to tell him all about the Manticore that refused to leave the clinic until he saw him and when he came back to school today he was waiting for him with his final riddle.

"I've been racking my brain all night dude, but I still can't figure it out." Travis exclaimed.

"Can you remember it? Maybe I can figure it out."

"Nah but Ms Murakami wrote it down for me. " He reached in his pocket and handed Kyle a crumpled piece of paper.

On it was the beautiful scrawl of the ancients. People just didn't write like this anymore. He's seen script like this in the school ancient library. The words on the paper read:

Useful tool for who in darkness dwell, within you, corrupting like a deadly spell.

What am I?

Kyle furrowed his brow. This one was a real stumper, but the last one he'd given them had turned out to be really important so he tucked this one away in his pocket to show it to Lauren the next time he saw her.

He had to hope though that this riddle didn't have to do with Travis, because it sounded pretty ominous.

When they got to their stop. he was surprised that Travis was still awake, but he did notice he looked especially stiff trying to get up from his seat and again when they exited the back of the bus.

"You all right dude?" He asked in concern. He had only left the hospital a couple of days ago, and it stood to reason he still had some healing to do, but Kyle couldn't shake the feeling that it was something else.

His brother only responded, "Dude you worry too much. It was my first day back at training and you'd be sore too if Steinman used you as a punching bag. I'm fine alright. Nothing that a good night's sleep won't fix.

When Kyle got to their door first, he had to stand aside when he realized his friggin keys were in the bag too, and cursed his luck again.

But when Travis went to swing the door open they were met with a growling snarling Lucky. He was sitting stiffly on the other side. When he and Travis ducked to the side anticipating him lunging at them, the dog used the opportunity to leap between. He ran full tilt in the direction they had come with them quickly at his heels. They couldn't leave a dangerous animal loose on the streets of San Fran.

When they made it to the corner they were shocked to see Lucky jumping up and down at the foot of a ladder. It was attached to a fire escape on one of the apartment buildings on their block. He was barking like he was telling something to get the hell down; so he could rip it apart.

Then it dawned on him that the mutt wasn't trying to run away, he was trying to protect them. Somehow he'd sensed that something was following them and he wanted a piece of it. When Kyle turned to Travis he was scanning the various balconies, so he must have come up with the same conclusions.

He realized that the night was getting even shittier be the minute, when he went for his pocket to grab his pen to realize it was gone too.

"AH . . . MAAAAAN! shit my pen's gone too. Trav can I use yours?"

Travis gave it up gladly. Kyle knew how embarrassed he was about his spelling, and he prayed that if he needed help in the future, it wouldn't get in the way of him magically texting for it.

When Travis went up to calm Lucky he said, "Good Boy, "As he grabbed him by the collar. The last thing they needed was the cops being called by an angry tenant.

Lucky was still making enough noise to wake the dead, and it was late enough for the early risers to be asleep already.

Thinking of early risers just made Kyle think of his foster parents, so he quickly said, "Bro we should get back to the house it's protected now, but I still don't feel right about leaving Bruno and Bo alone."

They booked it back to the house with a very reluctant Pit Bull who apparently still wanted some pay back for the intrusion on his territory.

Once they were safely inside Kyle texted:

Guys our stalker's are back. We were followed home. K & T

A few seconds later another text appeared on the wall:

Are U home safe? Z

Travis replied:

Yes we're home.

and if it wasn't for Lucky we never would have know we were followed.

Another text came through:

Sounds like it might be Lily that's following you.

An Aswang hunts at night and is virtually undetectable. M

Don't worry guys she can't get past my wards. L.N

Kyle wrote back:

What makes you so sure? They got by the school wards.

Home wards are different. M.M

Yeah they're strengthened by the love created within the four walls. C.M.

Yeah and from what I know about your family; you're all safer than the gold at Fort Knox. Q

Y'all are nuts if you think there's any gold left in Fort Knox. K

Kelly we've talked about this before. X

Sorry Xander baby, but they're interrupting my soak.

But if you'd like to come over and help me relax. K

The next text sent was a surprise to everyone:

;-P

The ancient emoticon's meaning could not be mistaken. She wasn't winking and sticking out her tongue to show she was joking she was being lurid. That tongue was a promise.

Eeewww! Guys group text remember? B

On that note we should all try and get some sleep. L.K

Yeah we'll talk about it at lunch. Z

But let's get the buddy system going again. L.N.

I've got Kyle and Travis R. A

I so have Liv M.V.

I can pick up Cam and Meg R.R.

I'll take real good care of Xander and I can pick up Donnie too ;-) K

Come on Kelly not the place for lewd comments. B

I've got Brenna and Connor CJ

And I've got Zach and Quinn covered L.N.

You can cover me any time baby Q

Okkkkkay! Now that we have that settled we'll talk about it tomorrow Z

Travis and Kyle flipped a coin to see who'd get first dibs on the shower and of course he won. Luck was always on his side. He grabbed a towel and stripped down to his boxers before locking himself in the bathroom. He cranked the hot water spout and stepped in even before he was sure it was safe thinking it was strange how luck was always on his side.

That was one of the reason's he was sure his mother had been human. There was nothing to confirm it, of course, but if she had been a fullblood like him there would have been no reason she'd lose. She probably met his father either already an addict or had become addicted to gambling as a result of meeting him.

He wondered not for the first time who he could be and what he looked like, and more importantly did he even know he existed, because if he did, he had abandoned him too. Probably even before he was born. He didn't know why that thought bothered him he was no stranger to rejection. And he hadn't been the only one rejected. Almost half of the halfbloods at his school had been rejected by their magical parents.

That really shouldn't surprise any of them, not after all the stories they'd heard about the magical races in magical history, if there was one constant theme they learned in their magic history class it was that many of the fullbloods were complete douche bags who were totally self-involved and narcissistic.

He let the hot water sluice down his tense muscles, while he leaned against the far wall like he was about to be frisked. How was he going to tell the gang he'd lost his weapon and his spelled pen?

He knew after they freaked out he would be teased endlessly about it. He just didn't know how else he was going to get it back. He'd have to ask for help. He didn't even know where Jonah lived. The kids records were locked up tight in the admin's office and there would be no way he could break in and look them up.

There was another good thing about the centre he worked at, they were so poorly funded that none of the recorded were digitized, they were all still in paper form. So if he did get in he could access them easily enough without frying a mainframe.

But how could he get Mr. Williams, the notoriously lazy and uninvolved administrator away from his desk for long enough to find the file that contained the address. He might not have magic to aid him, but he did have something else . . . A large number of seriously devious kids at his disposal, some of which were no strangers to B and Es.

He exited the shower a few minutes later with a rough idea of what he could do. He only had to pray that whatever was following them didn't want to confront them before he got his weapon and pen back, because if it did he'd be royally screwed chewed and tattooed.

When he exited the shower Travis was already asleep. Too bad he couldn't stay awake long enough to get a shower he smelled remarkably like wet dog. Travis set the alarm for a half an hour earlier so he'd have time in the morning and flopped on to his too small bed.

It took a long time for sleep to come. He couldn't stop going over his plan in his head. Everything would have to go like clockwork if not he'd get caught and subsequently kicked from the club, and he couldn't let that happen. It would be even better if Jonah just came back with the pack, but the odd of that happening were slim to none. He finally fell asleep, but not before sending out a prayer that his luck would hold out and everything would go off without a hitch. 

I hope you all liked this chapter.

Something is definitely not right. Why do they keep following the Bros?

And what could that riddle mean?

Tune in tomorrow to find out.

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