The Hidden Hybrid Within

Chapter 18: Two Years

TWO YEARS LATER

Sin’s POV

      “Sin what are you wearing to the ball tonight?” Eva asked me again for the hundredth time.

      It was my sixteenth birthday and Luca and Carol were throwing me a sweet sixteen ball. I had been here two years and life had become a lot easier. I had made some good friends; Eva and Claire were like my little sisters and Jake had become the brother that I never knew I needed.

       Claire and Eva got accepted in chemistry not long after me and for two years we have taken the classes together. and come to find out they both possess an elemental strength with their magic. Eva can control the water and Claire can control the fire. Me, surprisingly enough, I can control all four, I also learned that I can read people’s thoughts if I try and I can project memories on them. That was a little interesting when I first learned I could do it, but I have learned to control it. I have quite the knack for potions and have learned quite well how to cast a few spells. My strength and speed increased as well. The Warriors club had pushed me to make me better.

      I tried to stay clear of Xander the best I could the last two years. Yes, we train and compete together, but that’s it, when we aren’t in training together or meetings, I completely avoid him, and when we are together in training, I simply busy myself with the others in the group, never leaving us alone together.

      That kiss we shared the night he woke up was nothing short of epic, and although the voice in my head was telling me to do it, I had no way to explain it, or explain how I felt afterward so I ran and have been running for two years. I am always the one him or Jake call on to have their back and he tries to keep me close, but I just push him away. Him and Jess are still together I think but she hates me more than ever now, and he never looks happy like he once did.

      I finally filled out and now looked like a young lady rather than a small child. I grew to 5’ 4” and filled out in all the places that a girl should, my training had helped shape my muscles, so I still feel as strong if not stronger than the day I first stepped foot here.

     “Come on Sin, we have to get ready, now what are you going to wear?” Yes, Eva has talked me into wearing an evening gown.

      I walked to the closet pulling out my gown that I was going to wear, “I am wearing this one.” They all gasped as I held it against me, it was a baby blue Cinderella ball gown, with the lace and diamonds to make it twinkle and swoosh. I don’t know why, but lately I had been feeling like a Cinderella type girl waiting on my prince charming.

     I might be sixteen, but my life has been more than any sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure, as Jake once told me I have an old soul.

      “Oh, girl that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Now we are going to do your hair and makeup. No messy bun and all natural, tonight.” I wrinkled my face at that showing my disapproval before Eva continued, “No, no, no, you listen to me Ms. Sidney Lane. You have been here two years, you either always have jeans or leggings on, and either a tank top or t-shirt. No one has ever seen your hair down in all its glory or make up on that face, well except me and Claire a couple years ago when we tried to fix you up. So tonight, you are going to let us do this, and you are going to be your own Cinderella at your sweet sixteen.” I laughed at her fussing before rolling my eyes. But we were soon interrupted by a knock at the door.

     “Come in.” I shouted while giggling at Eva and Claire.

      “Good afternoon girls.” Carol greeted as she walked in. “Sin honey Luca and I need to see you in his office for a few minutes before you get ready.” I nodded hanging my dress up and following her out. I heard the girls fussing behind me and I just kept walking with a smile on my face.

     “Happy Birthday Sin,” Luca greeted me as I entered his office.

     “Thanks Luca.” Yea I have become accustomed to calling him Luca and her Carol. Everyone else here either called him Alpha or Sir. But, neither one of them wanted me to ever address them that way so I didn’t, I still didn’t understand the whole Alpha thing, at first thought I thought Luca was on a power trip but coming to know them over the last two years, I quickly concluded that wasn’t the case.

     “Sin I have news, I hate to tell you on your birthday, but I would never keep anything from you.” He stood and brought me and envelope.

      I opened the envelope and couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

          Dear Sin,

          Happy sweet sixteen my little angel. I am so sorry that you have had to endure everything that you have had to go through in your short life. I had no idea that your stepmother would allow such a monster into your life, but I am so proud of the young woman you have become. Dylan has collected the twins and they are safe and far away from your stepmother. We have been working hard on trying to get you away but after facing war the last two years, we figured you were much safer where you were. Luca and Carol are strong and will protect you, I promise my precious daughter I will come for you soon, and when I do, I will explain everything. I know that you probably have millions of questions and I want to answer as many as I can but for now, we must remain apart. I love you my angel and we will be a family again soon.

         Love Dad.

     I just sat there. My dad was supposed to be dead, my brother disappeared, we have tried to track the twins down for two years and nothing. Nothing, I can feel the tears filling my eyes and stinging the outer ridges wanting to escape. Not now Sin. I took my hands and wiped my eyes clear and realized the envelope still had weight to it. I tipped it over and emptied the contents into my hand. It was a small silver necklace with a beautiful pendant. When I held it up, I immediately recognized it, it was my mothers. The pendant was a crescent moon with a wolf standing across it with its head raised to moon like it was howling. The reason I knew it was moms is because dad had it specially made for her, the moon had a halo that wrapped around it. I held it in my hand and then the tears flowed, I couldn’t hold them in anymore. The memories of my mom flashing across my mind. The lights started flickering, great I am losing control, which never happens, I thought as everything was hitting me at once. 

       “Sin honey, you need to breathe. I know this is a lot, but please breathe.” Luca whispered while pulling me into his embrace. “May I see your letter?” I handed it to him and held my face in my hands taking deep breaths trying to calm myself while he read the letter.  “Sin if I show you a picture do you think you could look at it and tell me if you recognize anyone?” Luca asked after looking over my letter.

      “I don’t know what that has to do with anything but sure.” He was always talking in riddles. He walked to the bookshelf and took out a box and handed it to me. Opening it I saw that it was full of pictures. Some recent, some that looked to be ancient, I fumbled through them until I came to the last one. The picture was old, looked like it was set to be in the late eighteen hundreds. They were all dressed in old looking clothes and the picture was faded and frayed around the edges. “This one, I don’t know where it was made, but I give the artist kudos for the authenticity of it.  Anyway, this one right here, this looks like my father when he was in his late teens.” I laughed thinking about the pictures he would show me of him when he was younger, which he never really looked his age anyway.

     Luca took the picture and looked at it puzzled before looking back at me, “See this one next to him and this girl.” I looked at the two people he was pointing at, I nodded my head. “Sin that is me and Carol. We were all young then. And that is your father standing next to me that has his arm around me.” I know shocked was the least of the look on my face. “I should have known. Time has passed so long I never thought to put two and two together.” Carol walked over to me taking the necklace and placing it around my neck. “Sin we have much to discuss at a later time, but for now, will you try to go and have some fun?”

     I heaved my shoulders, “This is not over Luca. You realize that my brother was thought to have disappeared, I haven’t heard from him in years. My father was pronounced dead years ago and I was left in the care of those monsters. And now everyone wants me to just go have a good time after all this?” I was hysterical I know but I couldn’t just go about it like nothing happened.

      “I figured as much,” Luca reached in his desk and handed me a small box. “Me and Carol will leave now, take your time.”

      I sat the box on the table, I was trembling, I walked to the window looking out into the desert. The sun would be setting in a couple hours and looked like it would surely crash into the earth. I turned back to the box before taking a deep breath and opening it. There was a letter just in the top, “I knew just an envelope and necklace wouldn’t be enough for my angel. Pick up and press one,” I read the note out loud before laying it to the side and reaching to the bottom of the box pulling a small flip phone out. I pressed one and placed it to my ear.

       “Happy Birthday Sin, my little angel.” I felt like fainting at the sound of my dad’s voice. A voice I had longed to hear for so many years.

       “Daddy?” I couldn’t hide the quiver in my voice.

       “Yes!” he sounded so happy.

      “Daddy how is this possible?”

      “I have a lot to tell you, but for now, I was sent on a private mission and have been in hiding for the last three years, doing what I needed to do to stay alive and get back to you.”

      “Daddy when are you coming to get me?”

      “Honey I don’t know I will come as soon as I can. But for now, I need you to stay with Luca and Carol, they will keep you safe. And you need to continue your training. Unfortunately, there is a war coming and as much as I don’t want to admit it, you are in the middle of it.”

       “Dad what are you talking about?” He was starting to sound crazy. For two years all I have heard, is how special I am, how powerful I am, how I have a destiny and bright future to fulfill, but no one seems to be able to give me the answers, and I didn't even want to think about everything I had personally saw with my own two eyes. 

      “Sin, I am not quite ready to explain, especially over the phone. But in due time I promise.”

      “Daddy I miss you, and my brothers and sister.”

      “I know you do, and I am working on getting them there to visit you. Just be patient. Now tell me are there any special guys in your life, do you have friends, what have I missed?” I laughed. It’s like it used to be when he would go on a mission and come home. It didn’t matter what time of day, he would pull me out of school or wake me up just to talk to me, and he always wanted to know everything.

       “Boys no, I am too young. And yes, I have three awesome friends. Eva is Luca and Carol’s daughter, and Jacob is Eva’s crush and like a brother to me. They have really helped me make it through.”

      “Don’t Luca and Carol have a son as well?”

      “Yes, his name is Xander. He leaves this year though, something about leaving to take over his father’s business back home or something like that.”

       “I see.” I just rolled my eyes at his tone. “And there is nothing there?”

      “No dad, he is just a boy, and besides, he has a girlfriend.”

      Dad laughed before he said the next words that would stop my heart in an instance, “Sidney, boyfriends and girlfriends will come and go, soulmates can never be replaced and once you meet them and connect life will never be the same. Trust me.”

      “Dad I am too young, and I assure you when I meet my soul mate I will know.”

       “Sixteen isn’t too young. I met your mother when we were just a little younger than you. Unfortunately, life tore us apart and it wasn’t until two years before you were born that we reconnected, and life could not have been better.”

      “Wait, what dad? What about Dylan you guys had to have been closer than that before then.” He was quiet, “Dad what aren’t you telling me?” He was still quiet, “Seriously dad, what are you hiding?”

       “Well, I guess I might as well tell you, Dylan is my brother’s child, he was sent to live with me when he was only a couple of years old.”

      I was silent for a minute trying to wrap my head around what my father just told me, I thought he was dead and then come to find out my brother is not really my brother. “Dad, why? Why didn’t anyone tell me? Why did he run away and not come back for us? And if you have been alive all this time, why now?”

      He was silent for a moment, I almost thought he hand hung up on me, I was in tears, “Sin honey, I am so sorry, I wish I could explain. I wanted to wait till you were eighteen before I had to explain everything to you, and then everything happened, and you got shipped off. Something that tragic has already triggered your changes and I am afraid you will not wait till you are eighteen to for me to tell you. Sidney you are special, and I don’t know any other way to tell you, over the phone is not an option. I am sending Dylan there in two weeks, on the next full moon. I will arrange with Luca and Carol to meet with you. Promise me you will hear him out.”

      “Dad you aren’t making a bit of sense.”

      “I know I am not but promise me.”

      “Okay dad I promise I will listen to him,” I sighed. “Daddy I love you and miss you.”

      “My angel you have no idea how much I love and miss you. But be patient I will come for you soon. Now you go party, flirt with that cute boy and be a teenager. I must go now. We have been on the phone too long.”

      “I love you too daddy,” and just like that the phone call ended and left me sobbing like a child.

      “Sin are you in here?” I wept harder at the sound of Xander’s voice as he walked through the office door, I turned quickly to face the window so I could gather myself.

       The next thing I felt was his arms around me and him turning me and pulling me into his chest. He held me so close and rubbed my back, all I could do was cry. I know I shouldn’t show my weakness in his presence, but his arms were so safe feeling, I lost all will power I had. “Sin I am so sorry for whatever is going on, if you want to talk, I am here.”

      I pulled back and wiped my face quickly, standing straight and collecting myself, “Xander I am fine, I am sorry about that. Just one of those days you know, no family, stuck in here and supposed to be one of my happiest days. I should go, I am sure you have more important things to do.” I moved around him and headed toward the door before he grabbed my wrist stopping me.

      “Sin, we need to talk. You have avoided me for two years, and I can’t take it any longer. Promise me we will talk later, and I will let you go.”

     “Xander I don’t know,”

     “Promise me Sin,” he cut me off.

     “Okay fine, I promise.” I pulled my arm away from him and quickly made my way back to my room.