The minute Alexandra Underwood walked through the front door she was confronted with the sight of her mother sitting at the dining room table with folded arms. Alex couldn’t help but wonder just how long she had been sitting there, waiting to pounce. She slowly lowered her books to the floor as if by some miracle she could avoid drawing her mother’s fiery attention.<\/p>\n
I just need to make it to my room<\/em>, she thought as she tried to move out of her mother\u2019s line of sight.<\/p>\n “Welcome home, Alexandra.”<\/p>\n “Hi mom,” she tried on an overly cheerful voice. “I was just headed to my room to study.”<\/p>\n “Not before we have a conversation, you aren’t.”<\/p>\n “Look, I know I shouldn’t have messed with that kid, but he’s such a jerk!”<\/p>\n “Alexandra.”<\/p>\n Alex lowered her head and bit her tongue.<\/p>\n “You know that we can’t use our powers among the humans.”<\/p>\n “I know.”<\/p>\n “And you know we definitely can’t use them on humans.”<\/p>\n “Yeah, I know. But-”<\/p>\n “There is no but, Alexandra.”<\/p>\n “So I’m just supposed to put up with the teasing?”<\/p>\n “You are<\/em> smart, Alex. You don’t have to resort to your powers to deal with a bully like him.”<\/p>\n “Whatever.”<\/p>\n Her mother took a sharp breath in and let it out slowly. “The school called me because the young boy you assaulted is telling everyone who will listen that you made him hear and hit himself repeatedly in the head.”<\/p>\n Alexandra tried to suppress a grin as she remembered his stupid stunned face as the control over his body was stripped from him.<\/p>\n “Alex!” Her name cracked like a whip on her mother\u2019s tongue.<\/p>\n “I’m not sorry!” She stuck out her chin defiantly.<\/p>\n “Well you should be. If you had bothered to spend a minute inside of his head you would know that his father beats him.”<\/p>\n “And that gives him the right to pick on me?”<\/p>\n “Of course not Alex, but now he has been hospitalized for seeing and hearing things and will likely be put on antipsychotics.”<\/p>\n “Serves him right.”<\/p>\n “Alex.” Exasperation softened her mother\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n “Fine. I won’t do it again. Even if they deserve it.” She picked up her backpack and slammed it onto her back.<\/p>\n “Alex, where are you going?”<\/p>\n “Outside. To study! Or is that not allowed anymore either?” She didn’t wait for a reply slamming the door behind her with satisfaction. The old lady looked up from trying to open her door the next apartment over and shook her head.<\/p>\n Kids these days<\/em>, Alex heard the old woman think loudly.<\/p>\n “Whatever.” Alex mumbled and found her favourite bench under the shade of an oak tree.<\/p>\n \u201cJean?\u201d A man questioned moments later through the blaring of Alexandra\u2019s music. She scrunched her brow in concentration and hoped that the strange man would go away.<\/p>\n Instead of going away, however, he bent down and peered at her speculatively.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d Alexandra exploded as she pulled her earbuds out.<\/p>\n \u201cOh sorry. You are the spitting image of someone I used to know,\u201d he explained in a strangely precise tone, as if English wasn\u2019t his first language.<\/p>\n \u201cYou make a habit of befriending eight year old girls?\u201d Alexandra looked at the man suspiciously. He had movie star looks with blond hair and chiseled features. Alexandra looked around at the busy courtyard, to assure herself that there were plenty of potential witnesses.<\/p>\n \u201cA habit? I would not say that, no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay well, I\u2019m not this \u2018Jean\u2019 person, so you can be on your way now.\u201d She made a production of starting to plug her earbuds back in.<\/p>\n Man I wish I had the ability to push suggestions to make this guy go away!<\/em> She thought as the strange man lingered.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I am supposed to meet someone here. May I sit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh sure, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo how long have you lived here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay seriously, dude. I have an exam like tomorrow, so I need concentrate on this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh mathematics.\u201d He glanced at her scribbled notes.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, so unless you can tell me what the hell I did wrong, I need you to be quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh well, you did quite well, but you forgot to carry the one here.\u201d He immediately pointed to a smudged section of her wrinkled paper.<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2026 Thanks,\u201d she mumbled as she erased everything for the tenth time. \u201cWho are you supposed to be meeting anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA Sara Underwood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour mother?\u201d He chuckled oddly and shook his head. \u201cHow time passes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh yeah. I can take you to our apartment if you want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh no, I think not. I think she would prefer if we met down here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOoookay,\u201d Alexandra drew out the word and shook her head at the crazy man. \u201cWhatever. Then help me with this next problem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing with my daughter?\u201d her mother demanded.<\/p>\n Alex looked up to find her mother, arm extended toward the visitor, and a fierce look on her face. She looked back to the man and found his arms upraised and an indention across his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cMom, stop!\u201d Alex yelled when she noticed the man\u2019s lips turning blue. \u201cHe was just helping me with my studying!\u201d<\/p>\n Immediately her mother lowered her arm, though the hostility still remained.<\/p>\n \u201cHoly shit, mom!\u201d Alexandra knew that her mother had telekinesis and a temper, but she had never seen either in action before.<\/p>\n \u201cMind your mouth, young lady!\u201d<\/p>\n The man cleared his throat and massaged the reddening flesh.<\/p>\n \u201cAlex, go inside now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMom, seriously?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever.\u201d Alex muttered as she gathered her book, papers, and pencil. \u201cThanks for your help, mister.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d he answered with a new raspiness marring his previously smooth voice.<\/p>\n As if,<\/em> Alex thought. She peeked around the corner of her apartment building and held her breath to try to hear the conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want, Aulus?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am pursuing a line of investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n Alexandra tried to read the man\u2019s mind to get more information, but he was blocking all of her attempts. He cast a glance toward her shadow covered hiding place before turning back to her mother. Short though it had been, however, her mother must have seen the look and suspected the source.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might as well come out Alex. Perhaps you will be able to answer some of this man\u2019s questions.”<\/p>\n Alexandra crept forward not entirely sure what to expect.<\/p>\n “Alexandra goes to the same school as the Thompson girl. She might be able to answer more of your questions than I can.”<\/p>\n She had heard the news about a girl a few years ahead of her possibly being involved in her father\u2019s death, but the news had been keeping a fairly closed lid on it.<\/p>\n “I don’t know what I can tell you.”<\/p>\n “Well, have you ever tried to get to know her like you just tried to do with me?”<\/p>\n “You mean telepathy?” Alex wondered again about his odd phrasing.<\/p>\n He looked up at her mother with raised eyebrows. “Forgive me. I assumed that you were unaware of your abilities given that your family lives outside the community.”<\/p>\n “We felt it was better for her to understand than have her regret a flash of temper.”<\/p>\n “Quite right.” He nodded severely, before turning his blue green eyes back to Alex. “So have you?”<\/p>\n “Well no… Her mind was always felt… troubled… She always avoided most of us, anyway. Everyone thinks she’s a bit of a freak.”<\/p>\n “I see.”<\/p>\n “Did she do it?” Alex blurted out.<\/p>\n “Alex!”<\/p>\n “Do what?” The visitor questioned softly.<\/p>\n She felt more shame from the man\u2019s question than her mother\u2019s outburst.<\/p>\n “Kill her father.” Alex whispered.<\/p>\n “It would appear that way.”<\/p>\n “That’s crazy!”<\/p>\n “Is it?” He asked her.<\/p>\n Alex looked at her mother but she only shook her head and remained silent.<\/p>\n “Well, why would anyone kill their father?”<\/p>\n “Not all fathers are good.”<\/p>\n “I don’t understand.”<\/p>\n “And that is a good thing,” he answered cryptically.<\/p>\n “They believe her father hurt her, and possibly her sister,” her mother provided after a long pause. “In unspeakable ways.”<\/p>\n “Oh.” Alex felt the connection between her and her mother sever. She hadn’t even been aware one had been open until it completely shut down. She shook of the shiver that ran up her spin. “But… Why are you asking us about her?”<\/p>\n “We believe she is one of the rare humans capable of seeing the future.”<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I did hear about this one time she did pull the fire alarm before a fire even started. The fire department arrived right before the fire started. She\u2019s always just been a little strange like that I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. That was very helpful.\u201d He stood up and brushed the wrinkles from his pants.<\/p>\n \u201cSure. Sorry about earlier,\u201d her mother said stiffly.<\/p>\n \u201cI would expect no less from a mother protecting a child. I hope you find whatever you are looking for here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d Her mother wrapped a protective arm around her.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a pleasure to meet you Alexandra. I am sure this will not be the last I hear of such a promising young child such as yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen to her?\u201d Alex questioned as the stranger turned to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cTo Kayara?\u201d He continued when she nodded. \u201cI imagine she will endure untold hardships in the days ahead with the struggle to accept her gift as well as with the struggle to be accepted by those around her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStruggle to be accepted? I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is also a blessing. Some time in the future, however, I imagine you will come up against those who will try to harm you simply because of the gifts you and your kind possess. It is why your people usually live in communities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d She thought of the previous argument with her mother about the bully and how Kayara had always been avoided at school and suddenly knew his words to be true. \u201cBut can\u2019t the Guardians keep her safe then if she isn\u2019t safe among the humans? Isn\u2019t that what we do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, hon, that\u2019s not how it works.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a matter of fact, that might be one of the best ideas I have heard. Thank you Alexandra Underwood, daughter of Sara.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d Alex blushed at the unexpected praise even as her mother\u2019s grip tightened around her shoulder.<\/p>\n Mom, you\u2019re hurting me,<\/em> she thought loudly at her mother as she shifted her shoulder under the iron grasp.<\/p>\n Sorry,<\/em> her mother\u2019s voice sounded inside Alex\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u201cBe well, Underwoods. I hope you enjoy a long and plentiful life.\u201d<\/p>\n Her mother seemed slightly paler as the man walked away.<\/p>\n \u201cMom? Who was he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat, my dear Alex, Aulus Tuccius. The angel of death. I hope you never have the occurrence to meet him ever again.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex watched the strange man leave and thought he felt very lonely and not at all terrifying.<\/p>\n I hope you find happiness, <\/em>she thought after him, and for a moment he paused as if he might have heard her.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The minute Alexandra Underwood walked through the front door she was confronted with the sight of her mother sitting at the dining room table with folded arms. Alex couldn’t help but wonder just how long she had been sitting there, waiting to pounce. 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